Seagate: 30TB second-generation HAMR hard disks are almost here

Ahead-looking: Seagate has invested an enormous amount of cash and vitality right into a HAMR-powered future for storage primarily based on magnetic know-how. Now the corporate says it is virtually able to carry its subsequent technology of HDDs to enterprise and client prospects alike.

The way forward for magnetic storage will start within the third quarter of 2023, as Seagate has introduced its newest plans to start out mass manufacturing of second-generation HAMR-based exhausting disks. In its newest conference call for buyers, the storage large stated that the launch of its latest HDD “platform” might be “forward of schedule,” whereas efforts to enhance yields (and, in fact, margins) are ongoing.

Regardless of the dire situation the storage market is experiencing proper now, Seagate is wanting on the future: Warmth-Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR) makes use of a laser diode connected to every recording head to “momentarily heats a tiny spot on the disk,” the corporate explains, in order that knowledge bits written on a magnetic platter grow to be smaller and extra densely packed than ever “whereas remaining magnetically and thermally steady.”

Seagate has already shipped restricted quantities of HAMR-powered HDDs to chose prospects for testing, however the know-how is seemingly virtually prepared for the mass manufacturing of client and enterprise exhausting drives. The velocity of the preliminary HAMR quantity ramp-up “will rely on a variety of elements,” Seagate stated, akin to product yields or buyer qualification timelines.

For the primary and second quarters of 2023, Seagate nonetheless plans to depend on typical magnetic recording applied sciences to push HDD capacities to new heights. In Q1 or Q2, the corporate will launch new 10-platter fashions utilizing perpendicular or typical magnetic recording (CMR/PMR), cramming 2.2 terabytes on each platter for a complete 22TB capability. Utilizing the slower shingled magnetic recording (SMR) tech, Seagate will supply 24TB fashions to prospects keen to undertake it for “sure purposes.”

Second-gen HAMR platters will ultimately be capable of cram 5 terabytes of information on a single platter, Seagate estimates, whereas the primary mass-produced HAMR HDDs will supply “solely” 30 terabytes of nominal storage capability. HAMR exhausting disks with 40TB of storage are anticipated for 2024 or 2025, whereas 50TB fashions might arrive in 2026.

For now, the primary drawback of HAMR drives is yield – and it’ll keep like this for the upcoming years as nicely. In 2023, Seagate stated, the share of HAMR-based HDDs available on the market will most likely nonetheless be “comparatively low.” Main manufacturing enhancements ought to arrive in 2024, with additional acceleration in 2025. Improved yields will carry the heat-assisted know-how to midrange and even low-range HDD fashions as nicely.