{
  "id": 19563417,
  "title": "Seagate is bringing back the hybrid drive, but you have to supply the SSD",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/seagate-is-bringing-back-the-hybrid-drive-but-you-have-to-supply-the",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-11-11T22:18:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TechSpot",
    "slug": "techspot",
    "url": "https://www.techspot.com/news/114522-seagate-bringing-back-hybrid-drive-but-you-have.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Seagate is reintroducing the hybrid drive concept with its FireCuda Forge external HDD, but users must provide their own SSD. The device aims to deliver NVMe-class data rates by combining a smaller SSD cache within its enclosure. Seagate introduced Alkemi, a new I/O management technology utilizing an FPGA chip and embedded Linux OS, to optimize caching policies for individual users' needs. The FireCuda Forge is available in 8TB and 20TB capacities, priced at $699 and $899, respectively. It supports M.2 2280 and PCIe Gen3 or newer SSDs and is compatible with Windows 11 and macOS 10.6. While the hybrid drive behaves as a single storage unit, the reliance on separate SSD and HDD components may pose reliability risks. On paper, the FireCuda Forge offers high-bandwidth throughput of up to 2,500MB/s read and 2,000MB/s write over USB4, with a cache hit rate of 90% in gaming tests. However, the device's high cost may limit its popularity despite growing demand for HDDs in AI data centers.",
  "summary": "Seagate has introduced the FireCuda Forge, an external \"desktop\" HDD designed to approach NVMe-class data rates by embedding a smaller SSD in the same enclosure. Just like classic hybrid drives, FireCuda Forge can store frequently used data on a much faster solid-state cache. Unlike those older designs, however, the SSD... Read Entire Article",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Ars Technica",
        "title": "Seagate's new hybrid drive raises some old questions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/10/seagates-new-hybrid-drive-raises-some-old-questions",
        "published": "2026-11-10T23:30:56.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}