Seagate has unveiled the FireCuda Forge, a new external data storage system that combines a traditional hard disk drive (HDD) with the option to install an NVMe SSD. The device allows users to add a fast SSD unit to classic high-capacity storage, but without the automatic data management found in conventional hybrid drives.
The FireCuda Forge is available in two configurations based on hard disk capacity — with an 8 TB or 20 TB HDD. The NVMe SSD is not part of the base package; instead, users purchase it separately according to their own needs and preferences. This approach leaves the decision on SSD capacity and speed entirely to the user.
When an SSD is installed in the FireCuda Forge, the system supports read speeds of up to 2,500 MB/s and write speeds of up to 2,000 MB/s, according to the manufacturer. To achieve these speeds, Seagate states that a computer running Windows 11 or at least macOS 26 is required.
Seagate emphasises that the FireCuda Forge is not a traditional hybrid drive where the SSD acts as an automatic cache for the HDD. Instead, the user installs the NVMe SSD themselves and decides how to distribute data between the fast SSD unit and the larger-capacity hard disk.
The device has already appeared in the inventory of certain European retailers. In the German market, the model with an 8 TB HDD costs around €795, while the 20 TB version is sold for approximately €1,060.
