Western Digital Adds Helium-Filled 10TB Drives to Consumer, Business Lines

[froggyboy604]

Over the last few years, we’ve seen helium-filled hard drives go from an out-there idea to a shipping solution. Until now, however, these drives were effectively confined to the enterprise market, where high capacities and reliability are paramount. The high storage capacity of helium drives has helped differentiate them from SSDs, since hard drives still have vastly lower prices per GB than any solid state storage on the market, but consumer access has been slower to roll out.

Western Digital did ship 8TB drives in its Red and Purple product lines last year, but it’s increasing their capacity up to 10TB and aiming to expand its addressable market.

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10TB of space is a lot of space.

 

[Demon_Skeith]

I can't imagine ever needing 10 TB, but this is good for media people but at the same time will never reach most consumers since SSD usage is taking over for day to day users.

 

[froggyboy604]

I can't imagine ever needing 10 TB, but this is good for media people but at the same time will never reach most consumers since SSD usage is taking over for day to day users.

If I had a faster internet connection, and a lot of money to buy a lot of PC games, music, HD and 4K digital movies, cartoons, anime, and TV show series from online video stores, I maybe able to eventually fill up 10TB hard drive. It is also a good idea to download online videos from video sites because the videos could be deleted or blocked in your country because of copyright laws, censorship, or the video maker decides to remove their videos from the site. More online video is being recorded in 4K these days.

I know a lot of cheap $100-200 PCs come with 32-64GB SSDs which are okay for web browsing, but once you install a few programs like office suites, photo and video editors, and games these smaller size SSD becomes full. Bigger size 1TB SSD still cost a lot of money, and the size of files like game and video files are becoming bigger because of higher resolution video, and longer length videos, and features like 3D and VR video, and surround sound audio which makes a video file use more storage space.

 

[zoldos]

It's actually 12TB now. I want one!!!

 

[froggyboy604]

It's actually 12TB now. I want one!!!

I would want two 12TB drives to back up all my data twice for all my computers, tablets, phones, and other stuff. I think eventually as computers become more powerful, monitor resolution becomes 8K, and the internet becomes a lot faster, there would be some games, videos, and programs which use TBs of data.

Back in the past, people said 250GB of data was a lot of space, but now that internet connections are a lot faster compared to 1998, and PC games and some HD movies are digital-only downloads, it is very easy to fill up 250GB of data in a few weeks to months. I think eventually 1TB won't be much space as people demand higher quality video which is more realistic, and recorded in 4K, and someday 8K resolution.

 

[Demon_Skeith]

I suppose if you are a 4k nut then you would need it. But I'm find with good old HD.

 

[froggyboy604]

I suppose if you are a 4k nut then you would need it. But I'm find with good old HD.

I think some users with Gigabit or faster internet, a lot of money to buy digital PC games, and a fast computer or game console may need a large hard drive because they may eventually want to buy a ton of games.

I read articles online of gamers having a very large collection of PC games which they bought from Steam, GOG, Humble Bundle, and Emulators.

Their huge collection of PC games may be over 10TB if they also buy foreign games from Japan, Korea, China, and other countries.

 

[zoldos]

I have about 20-30 PC games installed. Still only using a bit more than 1TB out of 2TB. When prices come down, I may get like an 8TB.

 

[froggyboy604]

I have about 20-30 PC games installed. Still only using a bit more than 1TB out of 2TB. When prices come down, I may get like an 8TB.

I think files and programs like PC Game mods, custom skins, DLC, Game Add-ons, virtual items, and expansion packs for PC games could also use up some space as well.

There are some older games which only work on older versions of Windows like Windows 7, 8.1 and XP, so you need to create a Dual-boot or Triple Boot PC to install Windows 7, XP, and 8.1 onto the same hard drive by creating three or more hard drive partitions.

If you make a dual, triple, or greater multi-boot PC, you would need a lot of hard drive space especially if you plan on installing many versions of Windows, Linux, UNIX, and Android on the same computer hard drive.

 

[zoldos]

I'm not worried about it. Single boot system, lots of cool games. It's all good. hehe

 

[froggyboy604]

I'm not worried about it. Single boot system, lots of cool games. It's all good. hehe

Your PC setup sounds nice especially the part with lots of cool games.

 

[zoldos]

Thanks! I'm somewhat of a PC "enthusiast". I spent a pretty penny, but man, it was worth it!!!

 

[froggyboy604]

Thanks! I'm somewhat of a PC "enthusiast". I spent a pretty penny, but man, it was worth it!!!

I agree spending money on PC parts, and games are worth it. A PC is something most people use everyday, so having a fast, and nice PC could make using a PC less stressful, and more fun when you can run programs, and games quickly, and it crashes less often.

The PC is my favorite electronic device since it can do so many things, and I can fix and upgrade it myself most of the time. There are also a lot of games, and software for PC.

 

[zoldos]

hehehehe