Samsung has launched a new 500GB-per-platter desktop and server HDD, the Spinpoint F3. Operating at 7200RPM, the drive is available in capacities of up to 1TB (two 500GB platters). The company says their new drive delivers a higher performance with less power consumption. They claim that by utilizing a high areal density, the Spinpoint F3 offers up to a 30% higher performance than three-platter 3.5” 1TB HDDs.


Furthermore, by reducing the number of mechanical parts, the F3 is less susceptible to shock and less failure-prone. The Spinpoint F3 features SilentSeek and NoiseGuard technology, makes use of the SATA II interface and hosts 16MB/32MB of cache. The 500GB version is currently available worldwide, and the 1TB drive is expected to ship at some point in August. There is no mention of an MSRP.