Hybrid Drive Become an Options

Hybrid storage media is the solution for computer users who want improved performance, without sacrificing any capacity or affordability.

Increased computing performance of a computer if that computer significant uses storage media (storage) SSD (solid state drive) instead of HDD (hard disk drive). Cause, the SSD has a much higher speed than the HDD. However, the price of SSDs at the moment still too high compared to the same large-capacity HDD. Striking comparison can be seen in the production of Apple Inc., notebook portfolio, which offers a series of media notebook HDD and SSD storage.

With a budget of a thousand USD, consumers can buy the Apple MacBook equipped with a capacity of 250 GB HDD. But to buy an Apple notebook SSD storage of media, the MacBook Air, the consumer must prepare a budget of at least 1600 USD. That is, consumers can only get the MacBook Air equipped with a capacity of 120 GB SSD. But with the SSD, the notebook's weight can be lighter.

For comparison, MacBookAir using SSD weighs only 1.4 kg. Meanwhile, the MacBook is using HDD storage media lightest weighs 2.1 kg. Because SSD prices are still too high, the adoption of SSDs in the world is growing very slowly. Research firm iSuppli Corp. estimates that, until 2012 no SSD prices are still too expensive when compared to HDD. As a result, iSuppli predicts, by 2014 only 8 percent of the computers in the world equipped with SSD storage media.

SSDs are not seeing prices come down and visit the HDD speed not being up, the producer of the world's second largest HDD Seagate Technology Inc. offers an alternative. Seagate's product is a hybrid drive. Drive is called hybrid because it uses a mixture of technology, namely the HDD and SSD. XT named Momentus, Seagate's hybrid drive is actually the HDD. But to increase the speed, it merged with the SSD HDD. Seagate explains, XT is built based Momentus 2.5-inch diameter HDD speed 7200 rpm (rotations per minute).

The available of capacity are three options, 250 GB, 320 GB and 500 GB. To improve the speed, the HDD is combined with a capacity of 4 GB SSD. With the support of SSD, Momentus XT has a speed 80 percent higher than 7200 rpm HDD others. Most tangible benefits for users, a notebook that uses XT Momentus HDD can boot faster than traditional notebooks that use the HDD.

"We see, Momentus XT is a game changer. Therefore, a combination of HDD and SSD in XT makes Momentus notebook users no longer have to sacrifice cost for speed and capacity," said Executive Vice President of Seagate Technology Inc. Dave Mosley.

Seeing the presence Momentus XT, high-performance computer makers were soon welcomed. One of them is ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Asus said it will release a special notebook game, Republic of Gamers (ROG) equipped G73Jh Momentus XT storage media.

Based ROG G73Jh specification is very high-performance notebook. Because, ROG G73Jh armed Core i7 processor Quad-Core Intel Corp. production, DDDR3 memory capacity of 8 Gb, and the graphics processor ATI Radeon Mobility HD 5870. With the support Momentus XT, ROG G73Jh able to provide higher performance than if must use a traditional HDD. With the support Momentus XT also, G73Jh ROG could be marketed at a price much cheaper than if had to use pure SSD.

"With Momentus XT, Asus is able to present a balance of speed and capacity on high-performance notebook ROG G73Jh. Innovation Seagate is able to deliver equivalent performance of SSDs on the HDD so you can enjoy a wider audience," explained Vice President of ASUSTeK Computer Inc. PC Wang.

Research firm International Data Corp. (IDC) rate, hybrid drives are the solution for computer users who want improved performance, without sacrificing affordability or capacity, which often occur when consumers must choose between HDD or SSD.

"The dilemma is gone. Momentus XT Seagate is the first storage medium for notebooks that enhance the capacity and performance standards be affordable," said Director of Hard Disk Drives John Rydning IDC Research.

With hybrid drives, Seagate hopes to regain its glory in the global HDD market. iSuppli noted, Seagate still dominate the global HDD market in the fourth quarter (October to December) in 2009, with global market share of around 31 percent. In that period, Seagate is able to sell approximately 49.9 million units globally HDD. On the income side, Seagate able to reap USD3,03 billion. Consequently, Seagate is mastering HDD share of global income by 34 percent.