The thin film disk includes a pre-seed layer of amorphous or nanocrystalline structure which may be AlTi or AlTa, and that is deposited upon a disk substrate. The pre-seed layer is followed by the RuAl seed layer, a Cr alloy underlayer, an onset layer composed essentially of CoCr and a magnetic layer. The onset layer has an optimal concentration of 28-33 at. % Cr and an optimal thickness of 0.5 to 2.5 nm and it increases coercivity and improves the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) of the disk. The magnetic layer is comprised of CoPt.sub.x CrB.sub.y, wherein x is the at. % concentration of Pt, y is the at. % concentration of boron, and x>4+y.