Drive Layout

     As you can see from the picture, Seagate drives are not just PATA drives that have been converted to run SATA.  These drives are native SATA and that means you will have to use the SATA power connector.  You will not be able to use the 4-pin molex power connector unless you are using a converter.

     On the left is the last generation 7200.7 PATA hard drive from Seagate and on the right is the new 7200.8 SATA drive.  While the drives have the same physical characteristics the layout is completely changed.

     The Seagate 7200.8 drive is loaded with 400GBs of storage room.  How did they cram all of that room into a 1" thick case?   Well the Seagate 400GB drive wasn't the first on the market to sport 400GBs, but it was worth the wait.  Seagate was able to put all of that room on just 3 platters, the competition uses 5.  This means that the Area Density of the Seagate is greater.  Big deal, right?  Well it is a big deal and here's why.  Because the Seagate 7200.8 can pack 133GB on one platter, it doesn't have to look through 5 platters for the information.  The heads are going to travel less and the performance is going to be a little faster.