Seagate's new hybrid drive raises some old questions
The FireCuda Forge revisits an old idea, with some familiar questions.
via Ars TechnicaReported by 2 outlets
Seagate revives hybrid desktop storage with the FireCuda Forge
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AI summary of the reporting below · Updated · How we work
Seagate has introduced the FireCuda Forge, a new lineup of external desktop hybrid drives designed to deliver NVMe-level speeds alongside high-capacity traditional storage. The drive is currently available on Seagate's web store in 8TB for $699 or 20TB for $899 configurations. [1][2]
Unlike older hybrid models, the device does not come with flash memory included. Users must supply their own M.2 2280 NVMe solid-state drive running PCIe Gen3 or higher, with a maximum supported capacity of 1TB. To serve as the fast cache, the installed SSD requires minimum ratings of 2,400MB/s read and 2,000MB/s write, with Seagate recommending a model that includes a DRAM cache. [1][2]
The FireCuda Forge is Seagate's first device powered by its Alkemi intelligent storage platform, which caches frequently accessed files on the solid-state drive. Seagate claims overall combined system performance can reach 2,500MB/s read and 2,000MB/s write speeds, offering USB4 connectivity and compatibility with Windows 11 and macOS 26+. [1][2]
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2 outlets
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Seagate is bringing back the hybrid drive, but you have to supply the SSD
Seagate has introduced the FireCuda Forge, an external "desktop" HDD designed to approach NVMe-class data rates by embedding a smaller SSD in the same enclosure. Just like classic hybrid drives, FireCuda Forge can store frequently used data on a much faster solid-state cache. Unlike those older designs, however, the SSD...
via TechSpot