Hard drives seemed to hit a wall in capacity and speed. Western Digital has found a way to combat the traditional limitations and just announced the release of the He6 Hard Drive. This hardware device promises to revolutionize disk storage technology and offer more storage space with less power usages, which means it could be the answer for data centers that want to Go Green.
How He6 Works
Traditionally, hard drives were built in a dust-free environment. The assembly filled the hardware with air, the platters were put together within the hard drive’s case, and then the drive was tested for any mechanical issues.The air we breathe comprises of several atomic parts, but helium is a single atom that is much less “heavy” than air. Because helium does not take up the same space as air, Western Digital was able to fill the hard drive case with seven platters. Traditionally, hard drive cases were filled with five platters, which reduced the amount of data they could contain.
More Energy Efficient
The use of helium also reduces the amount of turbulence experienced by the hard drive’s platters as they spin. The spinning platters consume energy, and heat is exerted as they spin. The result is more energy consumption, and more work for your computer to keep the internal components within the computer case cooled.
More Hard Drive Space
The third advantage is the increase in hard drive space available to data centers. Traditional hard drives were capped at 4 terabytes. With the new Western Digital hard drive, data centers can purchase 6 terabytes, which is an incredible amount compared to older hard drives.
With the push for the Go Green movement, data centers constantly look for more efficient ways to consume energy without wasting natural resources. This new hard drive can save data centers with better energy costs, and it offers a better way to keep technology without using more natural resources.