Samsung (http://www.samsung.com) has announced the F4EG, which it describes as the world’s highest-density, environmentally friendly hard disk drive (HDD) for the desktop market.

The EcoGreen F4 features a 2TB capacity -- 667GB for each of its three disks -- and is capable of storing up to 880 hours of DVD video or 500,000 songs in MP3 format. The internal F4EG utilizes Samsung’s high-density design technology to provide better performance, low power and improved reliability to its ‘EcoGreen’ hard drives, according to I.C. Park, vice president, Storage Sales, Semiconductor Business, Samsung Electronics.

With its three disks and advanced technology, the F4EG drive is 19 percent better in standby time performance and has 23 percent lower power consumption in standby mode than the previous four-disk model, the F3EG, he adds. Eliminating halogen compound and brominated flame retardant from the PCBA, the new model is produced with eco-friendly materials and meets all the environmental regulations including RoHS (Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment) which is applied worldwide, including the European Union.

The F4EG incorporates a 3.0Gbps SATA interface, Native Command Queuing and a 32MB buffer memory. The 3.5-inch F4EG drive is available in 1.5TB and 2TB capacities in the United States and EU markets at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of US$119.99. Initial shipment is scheduled for early September.