As faster networking, networked computing and other data-intensive applications push the throughput envelope for high-performance harddisks in workstations and servers, many individuals and companies need a solution that is both proven and capable of answering to the demand, but offers scalability as well.

For fifteen years now, SCSI has been the I/O and storage solution of choice for computers ranging from the original Apple Macintosh to today's most advanced, mission critical network servers. From its initial 5 MB/s throughput to today's 160 MB/s, SCSI has consistently offered the highest performance with the lowest CPU overhead available.

High-end computer systems need increased data transfer capacity for their storage subsystems to keep up with rapidly increasing needs. The SCSI bus is currently the only viable solution that has enough headroom and scalability to keep up with the annual 35% growth in the maximum harddisk throughput. Bus data transfer capacity needs to double every two years to keep the available bandwidth at four times that maximum throughput of a single harddisk, this partly to prevent the bus from saturating if more than one harddisk is connected, a common occurrence in a professional computing environment.

Quantum has been one of the leading SCSI harddisk manufacturers and technology leaders for years. Its Atlas range of harddisks has been one of the longest running brandnames in an industry fond of new buzzwords and acronyms. Quantum actually debuted 7200 RPM spindle speeds for SCSI harddisks with the introduction of the Quantum Atlas, a few years ago. Today it offers its second generation 10,000 RPM drive, the Quantum Atlas 10K II, which incorporates some new features such as an 8 MB data buffer, Quiet Drive Technology (QDT) and Data Protection System (DPS), as well as the Shock Protection System (SPS).