A hybrid hard drive (HHD) is a mass
storage device that contains both a conventional
hard drive and a flash memory module. The flash memory handles the data most frequently written to or retrieved from storage. Several companies have begun offering variants of this technology, which is expected to become popular in high-end systems, particularly
notebook
computers and
personal digital assistants (PDAs).
Hybrid hard drives have several advantages over conventional hard drives, including:
- Faster data storage and retrieval for applications such as word processors
- Reduced system boot-up time
- Lower power consumption
- Decreased heat generation
- Extended hard drive life
- Extended battery life for notebooks and PDAs
- Reduced levels of operating noise.
Limitations of HHDs include:
- Longer seek time for data stored on the hard drive
- More frequent hard-drive spin-up and spin-down
- Impossibility of data recovery from failed flash memory modules
- Higher overall hardware cost for the system.
This was last updated in April 2007
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