Alienware makes contact with Seagate
System builder's top-end notebooks will feature manufacturer's Momentus hard drive
System builder Alienware has teamed up with hard-disk drive manufacturer Seagate to raise the bar for notebook PC storage and performance.
Originally a leading US-based system builder, Alienware, which launched its European operations 18 months ago, has said its top-end notebooks will feature Seagate's Momentus 100Gb 5400.2 hard drive. Most 2.5in mobile hard disk drives range in capacity from 40 to 80GB.
The new drive spins at 5,400rpm; currently a speed of 4,200rpm is more common. The notebooks will be targeted at high-performance users and gamers. The 100GB Momentus 5400.2 will be the premium hard drive offered on both the Alienware Area-51m gamer-targeted notebook and Sentia ultra-portable offering.
Alienware recently expanded into the business sector for the first time, offering notebooks and PCs for the corporate, SME and home-working markets.
"Seagate's combination of a huge 100GB capacity and a fast 5,400rpm spin speed is exactly the kind of innovation that we strive to deliver to customers," said Brian Joyce, director of marketing at Alienware.
"Powered by Momentus, which sets the benchmark for fast hard drives that are also reliable and energy efficient, our notebooks consistently match desktop PC performance."
Brian Dexheimer, executive vice-president of global sales and marketing at Seagate, said: "Alienware puts the latest innovations at customers' fingertips. It ranks among the first system manufacturers to deliver breakthrough technologies such as the Momentus 5400.2 hard drive.
"It maintains the highest standards in its selection of hard drives and other components. Every detail of an Alienware system is carefully scrutinised and optimised prior to shipping, with a rigorous 200-point quality-control inspection and numerous performance benchmarks."
Seagate previously announced the high-end Momentus 7200.1 drive for notebooks, with a spin speed of 7,200rpm and capacities of up to 100GB. The drive is expected to ship later this month.