Western Digital Is Preparing 40TB HDDs, but It's Not Stopping There

Western Digital's 40TB HDDs: A Stepping Stone to 100TB

Western Digital (WD) is gearing up to launch 40TB hard disk drives (HDDs), but their ambitions extend far beyond that. This move is a crucial step in WD's roadmap to achieve its ambitious goal: HDDs exceeding 100TB of storage by 2030. This leap will be powered by Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR) technology.

HAMR, a revolutionary technology expected to redefine HDD capabilities, utilizes nano-patterned magnetic storage to dramatically increase data density and capacity. WD's competitor, Seagate, is also aggressively pursuing this high-capacity market, having already released a 36TB HAMR drive and planning for a 60TB model. Seagate's recent acquisition of Intevac, a key HAMR equipment supplier, adds another layer of complexity, potentially impacting the supply chain for all HDD manufacturers, including WD.

The drive towards 100TB HDDs isn't just about technological prowess; it's about market viability. While the average consumer may not need such massive storage, the burgeoning field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents a lucrative market. AI's immense data processing needs make these high-capacity drives highly attractive.

Looking beyond traditional HDD technology, WD is also exploring cutting-edge storage solutions like DNA-based and ceramic-based storage. These technologies promise exceptionally high storage density and exceptional long-term data preservation, ideal for applications in archiving and data preservation in fields like medical research, scientific research, and libraries.

Sources: PC Watch, TechRadar

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