WD Builds High-Capacity, Helium-Filled HDDs 356
Lucas123 writes "Western Digital subsidiary HGST today announced that after 10 years of development it is preparing to release 3.5-in data center-class HDDs that are hermetically sealed with helium inside. The helium reduces drag and wind turbulence created by the spinning platters, all but eliminating track misregistration that has become a major issue to increasing drive density in recent years. Because of that, HGST will be able to add two more platters along with increasing the tracks per inch, which results in a 40% capacity increase. The drives will also use 23% less power because of the reduction of friction on the spindle. HGST said the new seven-platter helium drives will weigh 29% less per terabyte of capacity that today's five-platter drives. In other words, a seven-platter helium disk will weigh 690 grams, the same as today's five-platter drives."
Re:Why not a vacuum (Score:5, Insightful)
I meant against the platter.
Scarce(r) resource (Score:5, Insightful)
What about the impending Helium shortage?
http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/med-tech/why-is-there-a-helium-shortage-10031229
Re:Why not a vacuum (Score:5, Insightful)
Wouldn't that be like strapping an eraser to the end of your pencil so anything you write will be cushioned by the soft rubber?
Re:Done 40 years ago (Score:5, Insightful)
Not to worry, monitor indicator. (Score:5, Insightful)
anyone buying these need to ask what happens when the helium inevitably leaks out...
No worries; when the balloon attached to the side is half-full you know it's time to replace the drive and then find a child to give the balloon to.
Or if you are not in a hurry take the drive in to any Party Center USA store for a free refill.
Re:Done 40 years ago (Score:4, Insightful)
What would replace the helium atoms? If the case is rigid, and the pressure inside is equal to atmospheric pressure, and air can't diffuse back in since O2 and N2 molecules are larger, I expect that pressure alone will heep the helium from leaking significantly.
Re:Helium shortage (Score:4, Insightful)
There shouldn't be. Its a by-product of natural gas production. And what with the way that is growing, the supply coming out of the ground should be increasing as well.
If there is a shortage, the price should go up. And the gas producers will happily invest in the recovery equipment needed.
Re:Done 40 years ago (Score:4, Insightful)
Small price to pay for increased capacity and decreased volume per unit of capacity per disk.
Until it is all gone, or $10k for a recharge instead of $1.
There is a world wide helium shortage and a bunch of morons administrating the reserves. Average person just does not know, and why would they? We have been wasting it in balloons for most people's lives.
Barring a massive increase in technology, it is a completely nonrenewable resource. Unless you look at it in geological time frames, and even then, the planet only has so much.
By the time I retire MRI machines might cost several more times to operate just because of the helium costs alone....
Re:Scarce(r) resource (Score:5, Insightful)
You got the last apple of earth on your hand with no means to cultivate... What you do?
Reformat it and install Debian.
Re:Why not a vacuum (Score:2, Insightful)
+1 troll moderation is needed here.