The Register: HAMR time: Seagate unleashes 30 TB disks to feed the AI beast

Source URL: https://www.theregister.com/2025/07/15/seagate_hamr_drives/
Source: The Register
Title: HAMR time: Seagate unleashes 30 TB disks to feed the AI beast

Feedly Summary: Exos and IronWolf drives show spinning rust isn’t going anywhere
Seagate has released two 30 TB hard drives based on its HAMR technology, pitching them as more energy efficient cheaper options for datacenter operators dealing with AI workloads.…

AI Summary and Description: Yes

Summary: Seagate has introduced two new 30 TB hard drives that utilize HAMR (Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording) technology, positioning them as energy-efficient and cost-effective solutions for data center operators, particularly in the context of managing AI workloads. This development highlights the enduring relevance of traditional HDDs in an era increasingly dominated by cloud and AI requirements.

Detailed Description: Seagate’s latest hard drives, equipped with HAMR technology, represent a significant advancement in data storage, especially for sectors that are heavily reliant on AI and large-scale data processing. Here’s a deeper exploration of the key aspects of this development:

– **Product Introduction**: Seagate has unveiled two new 30 TB hard drives that leverage HAMR technology.
– **Technology Highlights**:
– HAMR allows for higher data density and efficiency compared to traditional hard drives.
– The new drives are designed to meet the demands of modern data workloads, particularly those associated with AI.
– **Cost-Effectiveness**: These hard drives are marketed as cheaper alternatives for data center operators, which is critical in an economy where operational costs must be minimized.
– **Energy Efficiency**: Seagate emphasizes that these drives will provide improved energy efficiency, an essential feature for data centers aiming to reduce their carbon footprint and operating expenses.
– **Utility in AI Workloads**: The discussion around ‘AI workloads’ suggests a growing need for robust and scalable storage solutions that can handle large datasets, which is vital for machine learning and data-intensive applications.

Overall, the introduction of these hard drives underlines the continuing significance of traditional storage technologies amidst the rise of cloud computing and AI, reinforcing their role in data center infrastructure. This is particularly relevant for professionals in security and compliance, as the choice of storage solutions can significantly impact data integrity, access controls, and overall security posture as they handle sensitive and large-scale data.