IBM Deskstar 180GXP

IBM Deskstar 180GXP Capacities Model Number Capacity IC35L180AVV207 180 GB IC35L120AVV207 120 GB IC35L090AVV207 90 GB IC35L060AVV207 60 GB IC35L030AVV207 30 GB Lowest Real-Time Price: Introduction IBM's Deskstar GXP series sports a long yet checkered history. Reader interest in the Deskstar 14GXP was quite high at the time of its initial announcement (back when the Deskstar 8 was king!) and eventual release. The 14GXP proved to be a performance winner and set the stage for its successors.

Then came the 75GXP. Although the drive continued to deliver first-rate size and speed, an unusually large number of users complained about reliability problems with the model. A similar though lesser situation arose with the 60GXP, though its unclear whether or not users unfairly attributed "mundane" problems that occur with all drives (and/or all users) to the 60GXP's lineage. SR does not hold an opinion one way or another on the matter; we simply point out what we've observed.

Consumer confidence in the Deskstar line has been shaken regardless of the legitimacy of these problems. Fortunately, the chorus of reported troubles has subsided with the 120GXP. Even now reader interest in IBM's latest runs high.

The Deskstar 180GXP is IBM's entry into the 60 GB/platter game. These 7200 RPM drives feature up to three platters, yielding a flagship capacity of 180 gigabytes. IBM specifies average read seek times at 8.5 milliseconds.

Though the 180 GB and 120 GB models are purportedly available in models featuring both 2 megabytes and 8 megabytes of buffer, in practice the 180-gig version is always equipped with an 8-meg cache while the 120-gig unit features 2 megabytes. Check the suffix of the drive's model number when ordering. A "-0" signifies a 2-meg buffer while a "-1" indicates 8 megabytes.

There's more at stake than just performance when it comes to buffer sizes. All IBM ATA drives purchased after November 15th, 2002 are backed by a one-year warranty unless the drive features an 8-meg buffer. IBM provides a three-year warranty on drives equipped with the larger buffers.

IBM debuts fluid dynamic bearing (FDB) motors with the 180GXP. Already in use by some competitors, FDB motors significantly reduce idle noise floors when contrasted with the more traditional ball-bearing paradigm. FDB motors also increase a drive's shock resistance, hopefully improving a drive's overall dependability.

Our review unit is a 180-gigabyte model equipped with an 8-megabyte cache. To access the drive's full 180 GB capacity we utilized a Promise Ultra133 TX2 controller. Remember that you must have a motherboard or an ATA controller that supports 48-bit LBA addressing to utilize the full capacity of drives greater than 137 GB in size. We're also planning a look at a 120-gig 180GXP with a 2-megabyte buffer in the near future.

Does the Deskstar 180GXP rate when put up against the competition? Let's take a look!