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Helium Filled Hard Drives. Jordan Rowley. HDD Problems. Air filled hard drive problems Memory space Energy usage. Introduction. Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (HGST ) HGST designed helium filled hard drives Addresses these persistent problems. Helium. 2 nd lightest element
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Helium Filled Hard Drives Jordan Rowley
HDD Problems • Air filled hard drive problems • Memory space • Energy usage
Introduction • Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (HGST) • HGST designed helium filled hard drives • Addresses these persistent problems
Helium • 2nd lightest element • Behind hydrogen (Lightest element) • Very good choice for hard drive • 23% of mass of universe • 2nd most abundant element in universe
More helium • However, not as abundant on earth in pure form • Gravity cannot keep helium in atmosphere • Found as component in natural gases in America • Compose up to 7.6% of these gases • Abundant enough for HGST to use in hard drives
Some Numbers • Increases hard drive storage capacity by 40% • Reduces power consumption by 23%
benefits • Helium results in “less drag on the head arms and the spinning disk track” • http://www.gizmag.com/hgst-helium-filled-sealed-hard-drive/24190/ • Less power is used to perform tasks like these • Moving and positioning heads over tracks
Benefits leading to benefits • Less power and movement leads to something else • Results in data tracks and disks being placed closer together • All this means that they can store more data in the hard drives
More numbers • Increases density within each disk with infusion of helium • Means each disk can store more data • Number of disks increases from 5 to 7 • All within the 3.5 inch enclosure of hard drive
security • Helium hard drive is hermetically sealed to keep helium in • Also keeps out contaminants • Dust, humidity, water etc.
shhhhhhh • Helium hard drive run with more efficient thermal conduction • 4°C cooler than regular air • Means that helium hard drive runs much quieter than air filled hard drives
HGST Figures it out • Three things needed to be solved in order to design helium filled hard drive: • “How to build a drive structure stiff enough not to flex with pressure changes • How to seal in helium, a gas known for its remarkable diffusion properties • How to manufacture such drives in high volume at a competitive price” • http://www.zdnet.com/helium-filled-drives-announced-7000004222/
Interesting aspect • Gives us more capacity in our hard drives which will become more important in our lives • More energy efficient, which our generation needs to address • Becoming more “green” • Shows how advanced all aspects of technology are becoming
The future • Helium filled hard drives set to realize in 2013 • HGST hopes to revolutionize hard drive industry • Also wants to compete with main developers of hard drives
references • "ArsTechnica." ArsTechnica. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. <http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2012/09/helium-filled-hard-disks-will-lead-to-higher-capacities/>. • "Helium (He) (chemical Element)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/260101/helium-He>. • "Helium-filled Drives Announced." ZDNet. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. <http://www.zdnet.com/helium-filled-drives-announced-7000004222/>. • "Helium-filled Hard Drives Promise Capacity Boost." Helium-filled Hard Drives Promise Capacity Boost. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. <http://www.gizmag.com/hgst-helium-filled-sealed-hard-drive/24190/>. • "HGST Announces New Helium-Filled Hard Disk Drive Platform." Tom's Hardware. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. <http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Helium-Filled-Hard_Disk-hdd-western-digital,17573.html>.