Berliner Tageszeitung - Seagate FireCuda Forge Revives Hybrid Drive Concept for 20TB Storage

Seagate has reintroduced the hybrid storage concept with its new FireCuda Forge external drive, aiming to merge high-capacity magnetic storage with solid-state responsiveness. The device utilizes Seagate’s Alkemi platform to automatically manage data between a mechanical hard disk and a user-installed NVMe SSD, targeting gamers and content creators who require both speed and scale.

The FireCuda Forge represents a modern iteration of a technology first explored approximately two decades ago. In the mid-2000s, manufacturers sought to bridge the performance gap between traditional hard disks and emerging flash memory. Seagate itself launched the Momentus 5400 PSD hybrid drive in 2007, which combined conventional magnetic storage with flash memory to improve everyday computing performance while retaining affordability.

The new FireCuda Forge applies this principle through a distinct hardware arrangement. The device features a dedicated M.2 slot where users can insert their own NVMe SSD to work alongside the built-in mechanical drive. Unlike earlier hybrid drives that integrated fixed flash components, this approach allows for user-upgradeable speed capabilities.

Seagate’s Alkemi platform monitors file activity and automatically determines which information deserves space on the faster installed SSD. Frequently accessed files are prioritized on the NVMe SSD, while less active material remains on the larger mechanical disk. The system adjusts data placement as usage patterns change, allowing both components to appear as one unified storage volume. This arrangement effectively gives the HDD an SSD-assisted operating model, although it does not transform its mechanical storage into flash memory.

"For years, external storage has forced users to choose: speed or scale. Forge is built on the idea that they shouldn’t have to," said Lance Ohara, VP of Edge IoT Marketing at Seagate. "It combines the responsiveness users want with the storage capacity they need in one intelligently managed system to give gamers and creators the best of both worlds."

Seagate advertises sequential read speeds of up to 2,500MB/s and write speeds reaching 2,000MB/s for the FireCuda Forge. Connectivity is provided via USB4, with supported operating systems including Windows 11 and macOS 26 or later.

However, the device comes with a significant caveat: Seagate does not supply the NVMe SSD required for operation. Customers must purchase and install a compatible M.2 drive separately. From initial testing, the FireCuda Forge cannot be accessed until an SSD is installed, with recommendations suggesting a capacity of about 1TB.

The FireCuda Forge is available in two configurations through Seagate’s online store and authorized retail partners. An 8TB model is priced at $699, while a 20TB version sells for $899. Both configurations contain upgradeable mechanical storage.

The pricing structure makes the product more expensive than ordinary external HDDs, particularly because buyers must budget separately for the required SSD. Seagate is therefore asking customers to pay a premium for automated storage management rather than receiving a conventional high-capacity drive alone.

D. Meier--BTZ