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

TABLE

Hard Drive Aspect Improvement by HeliumStorage Capacity 40% more storage room

Power Consumption 23% less power used

Density 1/7 less dense

Number of Disks Increases from 5 to 7

Individual Disk Capacity Increases individual disk storage

Protection Enclosure blocks out harmful

contaminants

Thermal Conduction 4°C cooler

Hard Drive Noise Much quieter

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." Ars Technica. 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>.