I used to be able to read drive model numbers from computer shopper like family circus jokes from Sunday funnies back when I was shopping for a Caviar 280, but I find it gets hard to remember back 30 years for some reason. Is this your fault, Tequila?
First I found this guide to reading part numbers from 2005 forward:
https://i.redd.it/4sg8kvhe1nuy.png
That referred me to the legacy guide:
https://studylib.net/doc/18079990/wd-legacy-m … d-order-numbers
But that still isn't old enough. Bad news when the legacy part number catalog isn't old enough.
The last 4 digits are the capacity, 1200 MB, but the first digit used to indicate the form factor and the number of platters. There should also be some letters to indicate the controller.
The AC21200 would be ATA2, 5200rpm, 1.2GB; MTBF300,000 hours, Buffer Size 128 KB, 2 platters
The AC11200B would be ATA-33, 5200rpm, 1.2GB; MTBF350,000 hours; Buffer Size 256 KB , 1 platter
Just guessing on the platters, but it seems to jive with the MTBF number.
https://www.cnet.com/products/wd-caviar-1-2gb-5400-rpm/
https://www.cnet.com/products/wd-caviar-ac112 … -1-2-gb-ata-33/
* Edit Fixed the platter info, it is 1 & 2, not 2 & 4
http://www.mfarris.com/hard_drives/western_di … al_ac21200.html
Specifications for the WD Caviar AC21200
Recommended Setup Parameters
Cylinders 2484
Heads 16
Sectors/Track 63
Landing Zone 2484
WPC 2484
Formatted Capacity* 1,281 MB
Interface 40-pin EIDE
Actuator Type Rotary Voice Coil
Number of Platters 2
Data Surfaces 4
Number of Heads 4
Bytes Per Sector 512
User Sectors Per Drive 2,503,872
Recording Method GCR 8,9 - PRML
ECC Reed Solomon
Contact Start/Stop Cycles (CSS) 40,000 minimum
http://www.mfarris.com/hard_drives/western_di … al_ac11200.html
Specifications for the WD Caviar AC11200
Recommended Setup Parameters
Cylinders 2484
Heads 16
Sectors/Track 63
Landing Zone 2484
WPC 2484
Jumper Setting Information Ten Pin Drive
Physical Specifications
Formatted Capacity* 1,282 MB
Interface 40-pin EIDE
Actuator Type Rotary Voice Coil
Number of Platters 1
Data Surfaces 2
Number of Heads 2
Bytes Per Sector 512
User Sectors Per Drive 2,503,872
Servo Type Embedded
Recording Method GCR 8,9 - PRML
ECC Reed Solomon
Head Park** Automatic
Contact Start/Stop Cycles (CSS) 40,000 minimum