Constant Linear Velocity

(C-L-V)

A rotating media storage system designed to provide a constant data access rate, no matter where on the disk the data is stored. Since less data fits on inner tracks, when these tracks are accessed the disk rotation must speed up. Since drives are designed to accommodate the fastest rotational speed they can use, when CLV is used and data is on the outer tracks the drive slows to less than optimum resulting in a performance hit. CLV is often used with CD-ROM drives with over 12X transfer rates. (Also see CAV.)

More Information

• CAV/CLV Discussion