HGST designed helium filled hard drives to address problems with air filled drives like limited memory space and high energy usage. Filling drives with helium increases storage capacity by 40%, reduces power consumption by 23%, and allows drives to be up to 4C cooler and run more quietly. It also allows disk tracks and platters to be placed closer together, increasing the number of disks that can fit in the 3.5 inch enclosure from 5 to 7. The benefits lead to significant increases in individual disk capacity and storage within each disk.

1. Helium Drives
G. Shiva ram
19K81A0578

2. HDD Problems
• Air filled hard drive problems
• Memory space
• Energy usage

3. Introduction
• Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (HGST)
• HGST designed helium filled hard drives
• Addresses these persistent problems

4. 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

5. 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

6. Some Numbers
• Increases hard drive storage capacity by 40%
• Reduces power consumption by 23%

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. security
• Helium hard drive is hermetically sealed to keep
helium in
• Also keeps out contaminants
• Dust, humidity, water etc.

11. 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

12. Comparision table
Hard Drive Aspect Improvement by Helium
Storage 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

13. 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/

14. 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

15. The Past future
• Helium filled hard drives released in 2013
• HGST hopes to revolutionize hard drive industry
• Also wants to compete with main developers of hard
drives

16. 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>.