The Need for 4KB Sectors to Advance the HDD Capacity Space Race

Abstract

This IDC study looks at the HDD industry preparing to change the layout of data sectors on the disk surface from 512-byte to 4KB sector sizes to continue scaling the capacity per disk and use error correction code technology efficiently.

"Achieving higher storage capacities continues to be a key competitive dynamic for HDDs makers. However, the HDD industry has reached a point of diminishing return with current 512-byte sector formats. Making a change to 4KB sectors will make possible higher-capacity disk drives that reliably store users' data." — John Rydning, IDC' s research director for hard disk drives

Table of Contents

• IDC Opinion
• In This Study
• Situation Overview
• Disk Drive Sector Layout
• HDDs for Compute and Consumer Electronics Applications
• Performance-Optimized Enterprise-Class HDDs
• Capacity-Optimized Enterprise-Class HDDs
• Impact of HDD Scaling on Error Correction Codes and Data Sector Size
• Relationship Between HDD Areal Density and Error Correction
• Error Correction Improvements and Data Reliability
• Timing for Industry Transition to 4KB Sectors
• 512 Bytes to 4KB Compatibility and Emulation
• Read/Modify/Write
• 4KB Sectors in SSDs Pave the Way for HDDs
• Future Outlook
• Essential Guidance
• Learn More
• Related Research
• Synopsis
• Table: Adoption of 4KB Sector Technology by HDD Form Factor
• Figure: Worldwide HDD Terabyte Shipments, 2005–2009
• Figure: Typical HDD 512-Byte Sector Layout
• Figure: Impact of HDD Media Defect at Two Areal Densities
• Figure: Illustration of HDD Format Efficiency Gain by Changing from 512-Byte to 4KB Sectors