Features:
SoftSonic FDB motor:
• Delivers inaudible operating acoustics
QuietStep ramp load technology:
• Enables whisper-quiet load/unload acoustics and 900 G's of non-operating shock tolerance
8-Mbyte cache buffer:
• Optimizes performance so applications run fast and smooth
5400-RPM spin speed:
• Provides almost 50 percent more performance for notebook computers while maintaining battery longevity
Distinctions:
• 4200-like power consumption for maximum battery life
• Whisper-quiet load/unload acoustics
• Operating shock of 250 Gs to withstand rugged notebook environment
From the list of features and specifications we can see a few key items right off the bat. One is that the low noise and low power consumption features are touted. These are of great interest in any setting, but in a near silent, passively cooled HTPC they are quite critical. The Momentus drive is also available in a 7200 RPM version, but I feel the 5400 RPM model chosen for this review may offer more of what we are looking for.
In addition to all of the other items presented, one of the nicest things to see is the five year manufacturer's warranty. All Seagate drives carry this, and it is two to four years longer than most other brands. You hope nothing happens to your drives, or more importantly your data, but having a manufacturer back a critical product for such a long time is definitely a strong selling point.
Physical Features:
The Seagate Momentus 5400.2 120GB hard drive is sold as an OEM product, and as such you do not receive fancy retail packaging, any cables, or even any documentation. The drive ships exactly as shown in the below left image, in an anti-static bag. The below right image shows the drive removed from the bag, where you can see the various markings regarding model number, serial number, and basic configuration data.
 
The below left image is provided to show the exposed PCB on the bottom of the drive, and the below right image provides a close up of the power/data connection at the end of the drive.
 
That may be the briefest photo documentation of any item we have ever reviewed, but that is about all that is required. The performance is of most concern, and we will spend some more time on that aspect.
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