{"id":1105,"date":"2023-02-03T12:00:23","date_gmt":"2023-02-03T11:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bananahdd.nl\/?p=1105"},"modified":"2023-03-02T14:02:05","modified_gmt":"2023-03-02T13:02:05","slug":"ibm-deskstar-120gxp-ic35l040avvn07-0-40gb-2002","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bananahdd.nl\/index.php\/2023\/02\/03\/ibm-deskstar-120gxp-ic35l040avvn07-0-40gb-2002\/","title":{"rendered":"IBM Deskstar 120GXP IC35L040AVVN07-0 40GB (2002)"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 120GXP’s came fairly close after the dreaded 75GXP<\/a> line, although not before being preceeded by the 60GXP line. While many have better experiences with the 120GXP’s (myself included), this one hasn’t kept its side of the bargain.<\/p>\n

One of the more uncommon experiences where the drive failed catastrophically while in use, audibly crashing in a terrible way. A head-crash on a glass-medium platter is slightly more interesting…<\/p>\n

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Unassuming beginnings.<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
  Drive Attributes<\/strong><\/em>\r\n  -------------------------------------\r\n  IBM Deskstar 120GXP IC35L040AVVN07-0\r\n  -------------------------------------\r\n  Capacity      40GB\r\n  Mfc Date      2002-04-19\r\n  Format        3.5\"\r\n  Interface     PATA\r\n  Platters      1\r\n  Heads         2\r\n  Cache         2MB\r\n  RPM           7200\r\n  Origin        Thailand (IBM-SP)\r\n  -------------------------------------<\/pre>\n
This one only has a single platter, alongside two heads (well, this one only has one remaining, as seen below…).<\/p>\n
There’s nothing too special concerning the design of these, it carried well into the Hitachi-era with this model remaning in production until late-2003, from both ExcelStor and Hitachi alike.<\/p>\n
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A different label.<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Curiously, IBM elected for a full date of manufacture on these, which carried into a few different drive models during this era. It’s something that didn’t last long, but it’s an interesting point compared to the usual Deskstar models. This one was produced in Thailand, thus being a native IBM (and in a short few months, Hitachi) factory.<\/p>\n
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A thousand and one.<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The usual backside remains obvious. The spindle motor is provided by PM DM-T, a choice IBM continued to use for lower end models for the most part.<\/p>\n
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The PCB.<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The microcontroller IC is a custom IBM chip, Hitachi again comes into play for the motor controller IC. Much the same with these specific 120GXP’s, where Mitsubishi halted being the major microcontroller vedor for IBM.<\/p>\n
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Certainly a failure.<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
While a head-crash on a standard aluminium-medium platter creates a nice gouge, on a surface such as the one above, being a glass-medium, it takes the surface coating right off. We can see right through to the other side of the platter! (which is in perfect condition, not that it matters)<\/p>\n
The internals of these is incredibly basic, being a cheaper design in general compared to higher-end 120GXP’s, such as with the IC35L080AVVA07-0<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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The actuator arm.<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
A nicely machined aluminium actuator arm. It won’t be serving much use anymore though, unfortunately. Luckily, IBM moved into ramp loading drives incredibly early on, making the mechanism as a whole quite pleasing to see in a drive this old.<\/p>\n
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The stopper\/actuator assembly.<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
While rubber rot is beginning to plague these, this one is in perfect condition still.<\/p>\n
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There goes the data.<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
What would have been a usual Windows XP installation turned into disaster. Suffice to say, this one didn’t end up being the drive I installed.<\/p>\n
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Where did it go?
<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Amongst the crash, the top head flew away. The bottom one remains intact, but that’s not anything to be happy about in the end.<\/p>\n
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There it is…<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
It had a grand comeback at the end. It was floating around the air filter.<\/p>\n
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Without the top magnet.<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Looks neat. A nice basic assembly. While the disintegrating rubber in these is never a nice feature, at least there isn’t a bumper under the platter (thanks, Quantum).<\/p>\n
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The preamp.<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Unlike drives of yesteryear, the preamp is directly attached to the actuator arm. There are a multitude of reasons for this, IC shrinking aside, but comparatively this one is huge compared to modern drives of today.<\/p>\n
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The air filter.<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
An underside air filter is always a strange sight, but one which isn’t particularly uncommon (particularly with modern Toshiba 3.5″ constructions).<\/p>\n
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The end.<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Another dead Deskstar. Although not a model with the worst<\/em> track-record, it’s not like IBM were champions of reliability at the time.<\/p>\n
Some may argue that these are as bad as the 75GXP’s, but usually I don’t think they’re too bad. It’s a shame to see this one go.<\/p>\n
IBM Deskstar 120GXP Series Specifications Manual (pdf)<\/a><\/p>\n
If you missed the video I made on this drive, you can find it here:<\/p>\n