- Seagate's prototypes reach 7TB per platter, which is the highest density for hard drive research.
- Thanks to ten-platter drives, the total capacity of experimental hard drives reaches 70 TB.
- HAMR uses localized heating to write data onto smaller magnetic bits.
Seagate Technology has announced plans to commercialize a 3.5-inch hard drive with a total capacity of 70 TB.
This follows research-grade prototypes reaching 7TB per platter, which is the highest recording density among HDD prototypes.
The company presented these results at a symposium organized by the Japan HDD Association and a workshop organized by the National Institute of Materials Science.
Ultra-high performance technology
According to Seagate, this achievement is an important step towards achieving 10 TB per wafer by 2028.
The drive prototype is based on a combination of heated magnetic recording (HAMR) and shingled magnetic recording (SMR).
HAMR uses localized heating to write data onto smaller magnetic bits, while SMR partially overlaps the tracks to increase storage density.
These innovations are based on perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR), which has been used for about two decades to increase recording density but is now reaching practical limits.
Additional supporting technologies include granular iron and platinum ferromagnets, glass wafer substrates, and multi-sensor magnetic heads with two read heads.
Collectively, these innovations allow prototypes to achieve densities of approximately 8 TB per wafer, with projections that once HAMR and SMR are fully optimized it could reach 10 TB per wafer.
Seagate's roadmap shows steady improvement in wafer density over the past decade.
Capacity has increased from 3 TB per wafer in 2018 to 6 TB in 2024, thanks in large part to subsequent generations of HAMR technology.
At the same time, the increase in the number of platters in high-capacity drives has contributed to the overall growth in data storage volumes.
Ten-platter drives are now common among experimental ultra-high-capacity hard drives, allowing them to become largest hard drives commercially available by late 2020s.
The combination of these innovations with optimized read/write technologies also makes these drives one of the best fastest hard drives currently in development.
HAMR technology has gradually increased the recording density from 1.3 Tbit/sq. inch in 2017 to 3.7 Tbit/sq. inch by the first half of 2025 in combination with SMR.
Projections show that 10TB per wafer drives will theoretically be possible within a few years.
In addition, achieving 15 TB per wafer will require breakthroughs such as full-bit structure media for complete isolation of magnetic bits.
Seagate's research points to a realistic, albeit experimental, path to best hard drives in terms of capacity.
While 70TB drives may now seem achievable by late 2025 or early 2026, the timeline for commercially available 10TB per wafer drives remains uncertain.
By using PC watch (original in Japanese)
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