WD prepares 18 and 20 TB hard drives – review

Have begun hard drive trial supplies Ultrastar DC HC550 and Ultrastar DC HC650 18 and 20 TB. They were developed by the company Western digital, and trial lots have already been sent to OEM partners and data center operators.

These discs use EAMR technology (Energy-Assisted Magnetic Recording – magnetic recording with energy support). It allows you to increase the density of data storage. The younger model also uses the traditional recording method, while the more capacious one uses the tiled one.

Disks have nine magnetic plates. Inside the case is filled with helium. The drives themselves are designed for the corporate sector. Declared the presence of various systems to improve stability and safety. They have, for example, temperature and humidity sensors, as well as vibration compensation systems.

The models received a limited five-year warranty and are designed to overwrite up to 550 TB of information per year. Mass deliveries are scheduled for 2023, prices have not yet been indicated.