
Travelstar™ 5K160
2.5-INCH HARD DISK DRIVES
The “Super-pendicular Drive”
Highlights
High reliability mobile drive using  
>
perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) 
80 GB/platter, with capacities up to 160 GB
>
Best-in-class for low-power utilization
>
Outstanding performance
>
PATA and SATA models
>
Applications
Notebook PCs
>
External storage
>
Gaming consoles
>
Portable video players
>
Features and Benefits
Capacity  Up to 160 GB of storage  * Capacity equivalence of 160 hours standard video, 
    57 movies, 40,000 4-min songs or 80 video games 
Performance  540 Mb/sec media transfer rate  Best 5400 RPM application performance 
    based on PCMark testing
Reliability  325 G operating shock  Exceptional ruggedness to withstand tougher 
  1000 G non-operating shock  handling and improve portability
  Advanced PMR head  Excellent soft error rate for improved performance 
  & media technology  Outstanding anti-corrosion properties
  IrMnCr read head  Better performance & reliability in harsh conditions
  Thermal Fly-height Control (TFC)  Better soft error rate for improved reliability
Power  0.60W low power idle  Industry-leading power management 
  Enhanced Adaptive Battery Life  implementation for low-power and 
  Extender™ (ABLE)  longer battery life
Acoustics  Quiet Seek Support  Optional mode for even quieter operation
Interface  PATA  ATA-6
  SATA  NCQ, Hot Plug, Staggered Spin-up, Link Power 
    Management™ and Asynchronous Notification.
*Actual storage may vary depending on the compression rate applied.
Feature / Function  Benefits
160, 120, 80, 60 and 40 GB | 5400 RPM 
PATA and SATA 1.5 Gb/s
New technology exceeds expectations
Travelstar™ 5K160, Hitachi’s first hard drive to use perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR), 
delivers superior technology and reliability. With capacities up to 160 GB, industry-leading 
performance, low-power consumption and excellent shock resistance, Travelstar 5K160 
has the key attributes to support the stringent demands of portable computing. Improved 
electronics design further reduces the power consumption of this 5400 RPM drive, which 
beats its industry-leading predecessor by 10%; the 5K160 also runs cooler than the competition. Hitachi has also implemented Thermal Fly-height Control (TFC) for improved error rates, 
and iridium-manganese-chromium (IrMnCr) read heads for improved reliability. Hitachi has 
done extensive testing to verify Travelstar 5K160‘s best-in-class standing, making it the 
“Super-pendicular Drive.”
Reliability leadership
With the transition to new PMR technology, Travelstar 5K160 demonstrates reliability that 
parallels or exceeds 50-year old conventional longitudinal technology. Hitachi has integrated 
second-generation PMR head and media technology, along with a new read channel and 
IrMnCr read heads. This successful transition required new materials, complex processes, 
tools and testing. Hitachi leveraged the depth and breadth of its internal resources to deliver 
the most reliable PMR mobile product in the industry.**
** Based on internal stress and reliability testing.
www.hitachiGST.com

Travelstar 5K160
Specifications
Model(s)
Interface
Capacity (GB) 
Sector size (variable, Bytes/sector)
Recording zones
Data heads (physical)
Data Disks
Max. areal density (Gbits/sq. in.)
Performance
Data buffer (MB) 
Rotational speed (RPM)
Latency average (ms)
Media transfer rate (Mbits/sec, max)
Interface transfer rate (MB/sec, max)
Seek time (read, typical) (avg. ms) 
Reliability
Load/unload
Power
Requirement
Startup (W, peak, max.)
Read / Write (W, avg.)
Active idle (W, avg.)
Low power idle (W, avg.)
Standby (W, avg.)
Sleep (W)
Physical size
z-height (mm)
Dimensions (width x depth, mm)
Weight (g, typ.)
Environmental (operating)
Ambient temperature
Shock (half-sine wave)
Environmental (non-operating)
Ambient temperature
Shock (half-sine wave)
Acoustics (A-weighted sound power)
Idle (Bels, typ.)
Op (Bels, typ.)
1
 One GB is equal to one billion bytes; accessible capacity may be less
2
 Upper 445KB of buffer capacity used for drive firmware
3
 Excludes command overhead
1
2
3
160 / 120 / 80 / 60 / 40
100 Ultra DMA mode-5
102 / 102 / 95 / 95 / 95
325 G (2ms), 160 G (1ms)
2.5 / 2.5 / 2.2 / 2.2 / 2.2
2.7 / 2.7 / 2.4 / 2.4 / 2.4
HTS541616J9AT00
HTS541612J9AT00
HTS541680J9AT00
HTS541660J9AT00 
HTS541640J9AT00
ATA-6 Serial ATA 1.5 Gb/s
512
24
4 / 4 / 2 / 2 / 1
2 / 2 / 1 / 1 / 1
131.5
8
5400
5.5
540 
16.6 PIO mode-4
11
600,000
+5 VDC (+/-5%)
5.0
1.8
0.80 0.85
0.60 0.65
0.2 0.25
0.1 0.2
9.5
70 x 100 
5o to 55o C
-40o to 65o C
1000 G (1ms)
HTS541616J9SA00
HTS541612J9SA00
HTS541680J9SA00
HTS541660J9SA00
HTS541640J9SA00
150
Hitachi quality and service
Hitachi Travelstar mobile hard disk drives are 
designed to the highest quality standards and 
contain field-proven components. Hitachi 
provides worldwide technical support and  
integration services to enable global customers 
to bring their products to market quickly.
Hitachi drives are backed by an array of technical 
support and services, which may include 
customer and integration assistance. Hitachi is 
dedicated to providing a breadth of hard disk 
drive solutions to satisfy all of today’s demanding 
computing needs.
How to read the Travelstar model number
HTS541616J9AT00 = 160 GB/8 MB buffer 
H
 = Hitachi 
T = Travelstar 
S = Standard (vs E for Enhanced Availability) 
54 = 5400 RPM 
16 = Full capacity — 160 GB 
16 = Capacity this model, 16 =160 GB (12 = 120 GB,  
  80 = 80 GB, 60 = 60GB, 40 = 40 GB) 
J = Generation code 
9 = 9.5mm z-height 
AT = ATA interface (SA = Serial ATA) 
0 = Reserved 
0 = Reserved
Information and Technical Support
www.hitachigst.com (Main Web site) 
www.hitachigst.com/partners (Partner Web site
North America 
support_usa@hitachigst.com 
Toll free: 1 888 426-5214, Direct: 1 507 322-2370
Asia Pacific 
support_ap@hitachigst.com / 65 6840 9595
EMEA and UK 
support_uk@hitachigst.com / 44 20 7133 0032
Germany 
support_uk@hitachigst.com / 49 6929 993601
Program Support 
Partners First™ Program 
channelpartners@hitachigst.com
)
Hitachi Global Storage Technologies’ trademarks are authorized for use in countries and jurisdictions in which Hitachi Global Storage 
Technologies has the right to use, market and advertise the brands. The Travelstar trademark is authorized for use in the Americas, EMEA, and 
the following Asia-Pacific countries and jurisdictions: Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Taiwan. Contact Hitachi 
Global Storage Technologies for further information. Hitachi Global Storage Technologies shall not be liable to third parties for unauthorized use 
of Hitachi Global Storage Technologies trademarks..
References in this publication to Hitachi Global Storage Technologies’ products, programs, or services do not imply that Hitachi Global 
Storage Technologies intends to make these available in all countries in which it operates.
Product specifications provided are sample specifications and do not constitute a warranty. Information is true as of the date of  
publication and is subject to change. Actual specifications for unique part numbers may vary. Please visit the Support section of our 
website, www.hitachigst.com/support, for additional information on product specifications. Photographs may show design models.
DSTS541607EN-01
© 2007 Hitachi Global Storage Technologies
Hitachi Global Storage Technologies 
3403 Yerba Buena Road 
San Jose, CA 95135 USA
Produced in the United States 5/06, revised 4/07, 5/07.  
All rights reserved.
Partners First™, Enhanced Advanced Battery Life Extender™ (ABLE) 
and Link Power Management™ are trademarks of Hitachi Global  
Storage Technologies.