Seagate has released the FireCuda Forge, an external storage product that combines the high capacity of a hard drive with the speed of an SSD. It is the first drive powered by Seagate's Alkemi intelligent storage platform, which automatically moves frequently used files to the SSD based on data usage patterns to speed up access. The product is now on sale through Seagate's online store, with the 8TB version priced at $699 and the 20TB version at $899.
Product details and pricing
The FireCuda Forge comes in 8TB and 20TB capacities, and the hard drive portion is user-replaceable. However, the product does not include an NVMe SSD; users must supply their own M.2 2280 SSD. In its hands-on report, Tom's Hardware recommends using a 1TB SSD with DRAM cache for best results.
According to The Verge, the Alkemi platform learns how users' data is used and relocates files that are currently in use or used most frequently to the faster SSD, balancing the capacity advantage of a hard drive against the performance advantage of an SSD. The outlet noted that this is the first time Seagate has applied Alkemi technology to an actual product.
| Capacity version | Price |
|---|---|
| 8TB | $699 |
| 20TB | $899 |
Hands-on experience and market context
In its hands-on experience, Tom's Hardware said that once the SSD is installed, the overall experience is "pretty seamless," describing it as a throwback to the days of hybrid drives. But the outlet also noted that if users do not already own a usable SSD, the overall cost is still quite high.
The launch of the FireCuda Forge is Seagate's answer to high SSD storage prices.
The storage market currently faces high SSD prices and a memory supply shortage. The Verge noted that the launch of the FireCuda Forge is Seagate's answer to high SSD storage prices. By combining a high-capacity hard drive with a user-supplied SSD, the product seeks to offer a middle-ground choice between price and performance.
What to watch
The FireCuda Forge's actual performance, whether the Alkemi platform's file migration strategy is smart enough, and the extra cost of users supplying their own SSD will be key factors affecting the product's market acceptance. In addition, whether this hybrid approach can attract enough consumers during a storage price upcycle remains to be seen.