SSDs may be leading the way on performance storage, but they still can’t compete with hard drives on price or level of storage per drive. And now TDK has pushed the bar even higher by increasing the areal density of its hard drives by 50%.
What TDK did was to employ a new magnetic head that uses thermal assist recording and a near-light field. Where as previously TDK had maxed out areal density at 1Tbit/inch2, this new head and associated tech increases that density to 1.5Tbits/inch2.
In real terms that means TDK can offer 1TB of storage per platter in a 2.5-inch hard drive, and 2TB of storage per platter in a 3.5-inch drive. That means we will see 1, 2, and 3 platter 3.5-inch hard drives offering 2TB, 4TB, and 6TB of storage respectively. 2.5-inch hard drives and the Ultrabook-friendly 7mm drives will also benefit from a stroage increase.
TDK will officially unveil its new hard drive technology during CEATEC Japan 2012, which starts today. Unfortunately, consumers won’t be able to get their hands on hard drives using the new thermal assisted magnetic head until 2014. However, it’s good to know the technology is there to take us to 6TB hard drives and possibly beyond.
Earlier this year Seagate broke through the 1 terabit barrier using HAMR technology debuted by TDK last year. HAMR is thought to scale up to 10Tbits/inch2 and suggests a 60TB hard drive is eventually possible. TDK’s new magnetic head is sure to aid in that quest, but looking at the short term it at least ensures we’ll get 6TB drives within the next two years.
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