Fun fact: The dimensions of a magnet (a bit of data) on an HDD are actually rectangular. It's about 3-5x wider than it is long. This favors read/write speed, si

Fun fact: The dimensions of a magnet (a bit of data) on an HDD are actually rectangular. It's about 3-5x wider than it is long. This favors read/write speed, since you cover more bits per rotational length. Aside from the obvious speed boost you get from it, it's also done to make it easier to stay on track. One of the huge limitations with bit width is the ability to keep the actuator arm stable within the 15 or so nanometers because of the air turbulence. That's why they fill the drives with helium now, less aerodynamic drag/turbulence means you can either cram more platters in (which increases the turbulence back to where it originally was) or make narrower tracks since you have more precision.