Seagate’s FireCuda Forge moves your data between a hard drive and SSD for better performance - The Verge
Seagate has announced the FireCuda Forge, an external storage device that combines an SSD and hard drive using Alkemi intelligent storage technology to optimize performance.
The FireCuda Forge is the first drive powered by Seagate's new Alkemi intelligent storage platform, which learns how data is used and relocates frequently accessed files to the faster SSD. The device is now available through Seagate's online store with an 8TB hard drive for $699 or a 20TB hard drive for $899, both of which are user-replaceable.
Hybrid technology
While combining hard drives with flash storage isn't new, the Forge allows users to choose their preferred hard drive and SSD combination. Unlike NAS solutions that temporarily cache frequently accessed data, Seagate's Alkemi technology uses machine learning to dynamically move data between drives based on current workload requirements.
The system continuously reorganizes data across both drives as needs change, while appearing as a single drive connected to a PC. The FireCuda Forge offers read speeds up to 2,500MB/s and write speeds up to 2,000MB/s on computers running Windows 11 or macOS 26.
Cost considerations
The NVMe SSD is not included with the purchase, which will significantly add to the Forge's total price amid the ongoing memory shortage. This additional cost may impact the device's value proposition for budget-conscious consumers despite its performance benefits.
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