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Hybrid Drives Ready at Last Part II

Seagate - The Year in Storage
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Now we have Windows 8. For the first time, an operating system contains native support for the hybrid command interface. Specifically, Windows 8 incorporates support for ATA-8, which allows the host both to manage attached NAND memory but also to “pin” key OS files into this memory in order to accelerate performance. On top of this, drive manufacturers are free to devise their own in-drive acceleration algorithms. Each vendor will approach this differently. Seagate, for example, calls its approach Adaptive Memory technology. In essence, Adaptive Memory analyzes which files are most commonly accessed and copies these from disk storage into flash for faster access. As the space allocated for Adaptive Memory fills up, the least-used of these files gets pushed out to make way for more important data. Note that disk-based data is never moved by Adaptive Memory, only copied. This ensures a higher level of data protection above that already provided by the drive’s normal error correction.

In 2012, there was a significant push-back against low-RPM hard drives as many reviewers began to realize that the energy savings posed by dropping spin rates from 7,200 to 5,400 RPM were not worth the performance hit, especially with faster drives adopting more intelligent power-saving routines. However, with NAND memory now providing the bulk of needed performance gains, disk platter RPMs can dial back and save more energy. Again, it’s the best of both worlds. Expect to see these energy-saving changes in hybrids next year.


ybrid drives are sorely needed at a point when Ultrabooks and other notebook designs are fighting to deliver higher-end specs at lower price points. For the near future, at least, hybrids will only be available in the 2.5” form factor, because that’s where manufacturers anticipate the bulk of demand will be. Mobile users already appreciate the 2.5” format’s mix of small size, high capacity, and light weight. Now those drives can deliver the same benefits, perform much faster, and consume less energy, which will translate into longer battery runtime.

Better yet, the price gap between SSHDs and HDDs has dropped to only $10 or $20. (As of this writing, the online retail difference between the 500 GB Seagate Momentus 7200.4 and the 500 GB Momentus XT hybrid was exactly $10.) This brings us back to the original question of hybrid vehicles. If someone could buy an equivalent hybrid for little to no price premium, what reason is there not to do so? Because of this, we expect SSHDs to finally enter the mainstream and become 2.5” storage buyers’ first technology choice.