In their fifth world document in tape storage since 2006, analysis scientists at IBM have made an advance meaning you could possibly fit 330TB of uncompressed data on a prototype Sony tape cassette.
This tape is unlikely to ever hit the mainstream, so it is best to look into getting one in every of the best SSDs around as an alternative.
That’s proper folks, tape’s not carried out but. IBM have simply managed to set the document for areal density – the amount of data that may be saved in a given space – on magnetic tape developed by Sony. The 201Gb/in² (201 billion bits per sq. inch) document means the potential capability of a single tape cartridge now sits at 330TB. Still not sufficient for all my video games, however it’ll do, I suppose…
The tech permitting them to do that is known as sputtered tape. While common storage tape makes use of a layer of nano-scale barium ferrite particles, coated onto the tape in liquid kind, sputtered tape makes use of a number of layers of steel movie, coated onto the tape utilizing vacuum sputter expertise, much like the expertise used to make built-in circuits.
This means it’s taken IBM simply over a decade to take the storage capability of tape from 8TB to the now-record 330TB – that’s over 41 occasions bigger, and all on tape that’s now four.7 micrometers thick, 1.four micrometers smaller than their 8TB tape from 2006. The diminished thickness means they will squeeze 1098m of tape into the identical cartridge that when held 890m.
Of course, there’s a purpose we’re not nonetheless utilizing tape for our gaming rigs – it’s a lot slower at accessing data, making the format higher suited to the long-term storage of data that is not usually required. In different phrases, until you are okay ready six months to load a degree in Rainbow Six Siege, you’re most likely higher off sticking to one of many speedy li’l SSDs you’re used to.
IBM’s Dr. Mark Lantz, nonetheless, is worked up about what this implies for the long run. “This really demonstrates the potential to continue scaling tape technology, basically at historical rates, of doubling the cartridge capacity every two years for at least the next ten years.” 337,920TB in a cartridge the dimensions of your palm, anybody?
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