Die hohe Kapazität des Caches wird mit einem NAND-Flashspeicher realisiert. Dadurch können Zugriffe auf die mechanisches Teile der Festplatte reduziert werden und damit die Lautstärke gesenkt und die Lebensdauer erhöht werden. Mit dieser Technik soll Windows Longhorn dann deutlich schneller starten, vermutlich werden dann auch Betriebssysteme wie Linux davon profitieren.
Die Technologie soll vorrangig zuerst in Notebooks eingesetzt werden - der Anwender profitiert dann von einer höheren Akkulaufzeit. Ende 2006 sollen die Hybrid-Festplatten dann markttauglich sein.
Pressemitteilung
Samsung Teams with Microsoft to Develop First Hybrid Hard Drive with NAND Flash Memory
Seattle,
WA - April 25, 2005: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the world leader in
advanced memory technology, today announced that its OneNAND Flash
memory has been incorporated into the design of Microsoft Corp.’s
prototype Hybrid Hard Drive (HHD), the first fully functional disk
drive to combine NAND-based Flash with rotating storage media. The
hybrid drive, designed to work with the next version of the Windows
operating system, code-named “Longhorn,” is being exhibited for the
first time at the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) in
Seattle at the Washington State Convention Center from April 25 to
April 27.
Instead of replacing the HDD, the hybrid hard drive
architecture incorporates a small OneNAND device from Samsung that
works within the hard disk’s architecture. The hybrid device promises
to leverage the benefits of magnetic storage and solid state storage
without compromising the cost of the computer housing it. The
ultra-high-density benefits of magnetic storage technology are
preserved, while the ultra-low-power, ultra-high-reliability and fast
read/write access of advanced NAND technology such as OneNAND enhances
the overall value of the hybrid drive at little or no additional cost.
Since
late 2003, Microsoft has been working closely with Samsung to develop
the next generation of ultra-low-power disk drives for notebook
computers.
The hybrid hard drive will eliminate costly
inefficiencies caused by the need for the hard disk drive to continue
to spin whenever the computer is on. Additionally, the hybrid drive
design also can provide significantly faster boot times when a computer
running “Longhorn” computer starts up.
“Hybrid drive
architecture is extremely important to the future design of mobile
computers. It is an advancement that will improve the performance and
reliability of any computer using the Windows “Longhorn” operating
system. We are delighted with the performance in our initial testing of
the Samsung hybrid hard drive prototype,” said Tom Phillips, General Manager of Windows Hardware Experience Group for Microsoft. “This
is another example of where Microsoft is working with the industry to
dramatically improve the overall Windows computing experience for our
customers.”
The hybrid hard drive prototype uses 1 Gigabit
OneNAND Flash as both the write buffer and boot buffer. In the hybrid
write mode, the mechanical drive is spun down for the majority of the
time, while data is written to the Flash write buffer. When the write
buffer is filled, the rotating drive spins and the data from the write
buffer is written to the hard drive.
The hybrid drive saves power
by keeping the spindle motor in idle mode almost all the time, while
the operating system writes to the OneNAND write buffer. Moreover, by
using OneNAND Flash with hard disk drive technology, disk drive
performance is not compromised relative to conventional disk drives.
This is due, in large part, to OneNAND’s ultra-fast read speeds, which
can be fully leveraged during the flushing of the contents of OneNAND’s
write buffer to the rotating drive. In addition, since the Samsung
hybrid disk drive operates at a lower temperature than traditional
rotating media, it greatly reduces the possibility of shock and impact
damage, improving the overall reliability of the disk subsystem.
While
the cost of hybrid disk drives may slightly increase with the addition
of OneNAND, any increase will be mitigated by several factors,
including lower maintenance costs, 95 percent power savings when the
disk is not spinning, faster boot time and substantially increased
reliability. All of these changes are crucial to the ever increasing
needs of today’s mobile customer, making it likely that hybrid hard
drive technology will enjoy rapid market adoption.
“Through
our collaboration with Microsoft, Samsung OneNAND Flash memory supports
the most advanced and cost-effective solution to enhance the
performance of a HDD in mobile computing. PC manufacturers will
recognize the improved performance and increased battery life made
possible through the use of NAND Flash technology,” said Jon Kang, senior vice president, technical marketing group, Samsung Semiconductor, USA.
The
HHD prototype will be converted into products manufactured and marketed
by Samsung's HDD division as well as other HDD OEMs. Samsung’s OneNAND
will integrate with the HHD SOC via its NOR interface as a standalone
memory device or in a multi-chip package. Samsung and Microsoft have
worked together developing a robust set of ATA (advanced technology
attachment) commands that will be used to fine-tune the efficiency with
which HHD supportive software controls the Longhorn-based computer in
which it is used.
“Samsung, in cooperation with Microsoft,
will work aggressively with drive manufacturers to transition the
hybrid disk drive prototype into world-class commercial products. When
they take a close look, they will find that OneNAND is the memory
device most ideally suited for hybrid hard drives,” said Ivan Greenberg, director of strategic marketing for Samsung Semiconductor, USA
Samsung expects HHD-enabled notebooks to begin shipping in large quantities in late 2006.