Seagate Adopts Helium For a 10TB HDD (computerworld.com)

Lucas123 writes: Seagate has finally adopted helium as an inert gas in its data center drives and has used it to produce a 10TB HDD for cloud-based data centers. Seagate had relied on its shingled magnetic recording technology for high-capacity drives right up until its last 8TB HDD, even after WD has used helium in several iterations of its hermetically sealed, 3.5-in HDDs. The lighter-than-air helium reduces friction on platters and allows more to be used. In Seagate's new HDD, it crammed seven platters 14 heads, a 25% increase in disk density over its 8TB drive.

Comments

Re:Oh yeah!

[fnj]

No, just bits of synthetic rubber and screw down on them really tight. If the pressure difference isn't huge between external and internal it's not very hard.

If you knew anything whatsoever about helium permeation, you would know what a preposterous statement you made.

It's the difference in PARTIAL pressure that matters. There is almost certainly one atmosphere of helium on the inside vs zero on the outside. About the same as a rubber circus balloon. You know, the kind that lose all their lift in a day or two. Rubber is about the most laughably ineffective helium barrier there is.