- Mar 27, 2009
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With NAND prices dropping and controllers getting better the price per GB gap between NAND and spinning platters (while still fairly large) is decreasing.
Also I have to wonder how much areal density will improve. If it doesn't improve quick enough maybe it is better to move to bigger platters rather than increasing platter count and using Helium to reduce friction.
Personally, I would prefer to a single platter 2TB drive in 5.25" form factor to one 3.5" with two 1TB platters if it meant reduced cost and power with improved performance.
P.S. One downside to 5.25" platters (vs. 3.5") might be decreased storage density (re: larger platter in a square box will probably have more empty space in the corners when compared to a greater number of smaller (3.5" or 2.5") platter drives of equivalent capacity.) With that mentioned, I'll bet this is fixable at the cost of some of other metric.
Also I have to wonder how much areal density will improve. If it doesn't improve quick enough maybe it is better to move to bigger platters rather than increasing platter count and using Helium to reduce friction.
Personally, I would prefer to a single platter 2TB drive in 5.25" form factor to one 3.5" with two 1TB platters if it meant reduced cost and power with improved performance.
P.S. One downside to 5.25" platters (vs. 3.5") might be decreased storage density (re: larger platter in a square box will probably have more empty space in the corners when compared to a greater number of smaller (3.5" or 2.5") platter drives of equivalent capacity.) With that mentioned, I'll bet this is fixable at the cost of some of other metric.