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Silver rectangular 3.5 inch bare hard drive with circuit board visible underneath

Maxtor

Maxtor Fireball 3 2F040L0 40GB 5400 RPM 2MB IDE 3.5" internal hard drive

SKU CH-0S64-GBJ32 MPN 2F040L0

A 40 GB 3.5" IDE desktop hard drive spinning at 5400 RPM with 2 MB cache and fluid dynamic bearing for quiet operation

  • PackagingBare Drive
  • InterfaceIDE Ultra ATA133 / ATA-7
  • Capacity40GB
  • RPM5400 RPM
  • Cache2MB
  • Average Seek Time12ms
  • Quiet operation from fluid dynamic bearing motor
  • Better airflow and cooling with low-profile design
  • Reduced shipping weight lowers transport cost
  • Shock and data protection systems improve reliability
  • 40GB capacity on IDE Ultra ATA133 interface

Purpose and audience

The Maxtor Fireball 3 2F040L0 is a 40GB desktop internal hard drive built for legacy IDE systems. It suits builders restoring vintage PCs or maintaining older industrial equipment that requires a 3.5 inch ATA drive.

Interface limits

The IDE Ultra ATA133 / ATA-7 interface caps burst throughput at 133 MB/s, while the 5400 RPM spindle and 2MB cache keep sustained rates modest. Average seek time is 12ms and average latency is 5.5ms, so the drive is not suited for modern operating systems or heavy multitasking.

Build and connectors

A fluid dynamic bearing motor reduces acoustic output during operation. The low-profile form factor aids airflow inside tight chassis, and the bare-drive packaging means no brackets or cables are included. Shock Protection System and Data Protection System features aim to improve reliability in daily use.

Highlights

  • Quiet operation from fluid dynamic bearing motor
  • Better airflow and cooling with low-profile design
  • Reduced shipping weight lowers transport cost
  • Shock and data protection systems improve reliability
  • 40GB capacity on IDE Ultra ATA133 interface

Specifications

BrandMaxtor
SeriesFireball 3
Model2F040L0
PackagingBare Drive
InterfaceIDE Ultra ATA133 / ATA-7
Capacity40GB
RPM5400 RPM
Cache2MB
Average Seek Time12ms
Average Latency5.5ms
FeaturesFDB (fluid dynamic bearing) motor for quiet operation
Low height to improve: airflow and cooling
Low weight to reduce: shipping costs
Improved reliability with: Shock Protection System, Data Protection System
Form Factor3.5"
Shipping weight0.45 kg
Package size25 × 25 × 25 mm

Questions about this item

Should I pick the 40GB 5400 RPM version or a larger capacity Fireball 3 model?

The 40GB 5400 RPM unit gives you 40GB of storage with a 12ms seek time and 5.5ms latency; larger Fireball 3 drives keep the same 5400 RPM speed and 2MB cache but simply add more gigabytes, so choose capacity based on how much data you plan to store.

What does the 5400 RPM speed actually deliver in everyday use?

At 5400 RPM the drive spins at a steady rate giving a 12ms average seek time and 5.5ms latency, which is typical for routine desktop tasks such as OS boot, office applications and media playback.

How fast can the IDE Ultra ATA133 interface really move data?

The IDE Ultra ATA133 interface caps the burst transfer rate at 133 MB/s, though sustained throughput will be lower and limited by the 5400 RPM mechanics and 2MB cache.

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