Smart Buyer
  • Shop On NeweggBusiness
  • Categories
    • Buying Guides
    • Components
    • DIY and How-to
    • Industry Trends
    • NetSec
    • Networking
    • Storage
    • Systems – PC & Laptop
    • Windows
  • About
  • Why NeweggBusiness?
  • Contact Us
Top Posts
PC Cooling: How to Set up Computer Case...
5 Ways to Stream from PC to TV...
How to Choose the Correct RAM Upgrade
How to Troubleshoot a PC Power Supply
Four Apps that Make Your Tablet a Second...
2019 Solid State Drive (SSD) Buying Guide
6 Reasons Your PC is Slow and How...
How-to Guide: Small Office Network Setup
Born in the USA: Computer Hardware Made in...
Computer Monitor Buying Guide 2019

Smart Buyer

  • Shop On NeweggBusiness
  • Categories
    • Buying Guides
    • Components
    • DIY and How-to
    • Industry Trends
    • NetSec
    • Networking
    • Storage
    • Systems – PC & Laptop
    • Windows
  • About
  • Why NeweggBusiness?
  • Contact Us
Industry TrendsStorageSystems - PC & Laptop

How Helium Drives Captured a Black Hole

by Sylvia Keller September 20, 2019
by Sylvia Keller September 20, 2019 0 comment 9969 views

On April 10, 2019, a world-spanning network of observatories, known as the Event Horizon Telescope, or EHT, focused onto the M87 galaxy – creating the first-ever picture of a black hole. Western Digital Ultrastar Helium Drives had quietly captured data in these remote, high-altitude locations all over the globe. These drives contained technology that made them the only ones capable of doing the job; suspending hard drive “platters” in helium. This technology quickly became among the highest standard features in enterprise-level storage. Here’s why.

HelioSeal Technology

Helium is one of the most abundant elements in the universe, and one of the lightest as well; about one-seventh the density of air. Traditional hard drives are typically vulnerable to both temperature and altitude, but Western Digital’s HelioSeal technology provided lighter suspension by floating disks in helium.

In high altitudes, air-filled drives are prone to having the reader heads crash into the disks, since the thinner air creates less of an “air bearing” that the heads normally float on. When helium is introduced, it’s lighter density by nature is undisturbed by higher altitudes, and thus remains stable. 

Turns out, that same technology increases efficiency, reliability, and value – even when they’re not operating on the tops of mountains. When the drives are allowed to spin more freely, they use less energy, cutting cooling costs in the process. Storage density also gets a massive upgrade; Western Digital was able to fit an 8th disk design into their Ultrastar lineup to fit up to 14 terabytes of data, within the same standard 3.5” drive format. Additionally, more data tracks could be utilized, since the lack of turbulence in helium drives allows for greater disk reading precision. 

Helium Drives: Black holes to Backups

The same drives that helped capture the first image of a Black Hole are also optimized to operate in systems that are in use 24-7, and provide the maximum density possible for data storage centers. Not only will they operate more efficiently, but they are quieter and up to 45% lighter than traditional air-filled drives, making them a perfect upgrade for business owners looking for high performance and efficiency.

Want to learn more? Watch the video below. You can find the spectrum of Ultrastar products available here.

Avatar

Sylvia Keller

Tech enthusiast, writer, passionate about making businesses better.

More Posts - Website

hard drivestoragewestern digital
0 comment
2
FacebookTwitterGoogle +PinterestEmail
Avatar
Sylvia Keller

Tech enthusiast, writer, passionate about making businesses better.

previous post
How Technology Improves Employee Experience
next post
Future-Proof your Business: 5 Key Trends to Watch.

Related Posts

CES 2021: 10 Transformative Technologies to Use at...

January 14, 2021

5 Ways IT Pros Upskill for Career Advancement

January 8, 2021

Top Small Business Technology Innovations for 2021

November 23, 2020

Top IT Tools and Tech Trends for SMBs...

November 9, 2020

New Rules for Retailers: Life After COVID-19

September 8, 2020

How Does USB-C Simplify Your Work Setup?

August 18, 2020

5 Ways to Backup a Home Office

August 4, 2020

Work Anywhere: 5 Great Thin Bezel Laptops for...

July 27, 2020

States and Nonprofits Provide Tablets for Assisted Living...

July 20, 2020

Is Your New WFH Setup a Tax Write...

July 6, 2020

What's your take? Cancel reply

Subscribe

Savings Spotlight
  • 1

    PC Cooling: How to Set up Computer Case Fans

    September 25, 2015
  • 2

    5 Ways to Stream from PC to TV or Digital Display

    May 23, 2016
  • 3

    How to Choose the Correct RAM Upgrade

    April 28, 2015
  • 4

    How to Troubleshoot a PC Power Supply

    July 11, 2018
  • 5

    Four Apps that Make Your Tablet a Second Monitor

    January 9, 2018
  • 6

    2019 Solid State Drive (SSD) Buying Guide

    December 6, 2018
  • 7

    6 Reasons Your PC is Slow and How to Fix It

    February 28, 2019
  • 8

    How-to Guide: Small Office Network Setup

    December 20, 2018
  • 9

    Born in the USA: Computer Hardware Made in America

    September 27, 2018
  • 10

    Computer Monitor Buying Guide 2019

    January 4, 2019

Newegg + Business

How is this different from Newegg.com?

Why NeweggBusiness?
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Email