Disk drive having a high performance access mode and a lower performance archive mode

A disk drive comprising:

• a disk comprising a plurality of tracks;
• a head actuated over the disk;
• and
• control circuitry operable to:
• define a plurality of zones on the disk, including a first zone and a second zone;
• configure the disk drive to operate in a high frequency access mode when accessing the first zone, wherein the disk drive is configured according to a parameter so as to increase the performance of the disk drive;
• configure the disk drive to operate in a low frequency access mode when accessing the second zone, wherein the disk drive is configured according to the parameter so as to increase the reliability of the disk drive;
• monitor a write frequency of write data received from a host for the first zone;
• and
• when the write frequency for the first zone falls below a threshold, copy data stored in the first zone to the second zone.

A disk drive comprising:

• a disk comprising a plurality of tracks;
• a head actuated over the disk;
• a means for monitoring a write frequency of write data received from a host;
• when the write frequency falls below a threshold, a means for configuring the disk drive to operate in a low frequency access mode when accessing the disk, wherein a parameter of the disk drive is configured to decrease a throughput of the disk drive;
• and
• when the write frequency rises above a threshold, a means for configuring the disk drive to operate in a high frequency access mode when accessing the disk, wherein the parameter of the disk drive is configured to increase the throughput of the disk drive.

A disk drive as comprising:

• a disk comprising a plurality of tracks;
• a head actuated over the disk;
• and
• a means for defining a plurality of zones on the disk, including a first zone and a second zone;
• a means for configuring the disk drive to operate in a high frequency access mode when accessing the first zone, wherein the disk drive is configured according to a parameter so as to increase the performance of the disk drive;
• a means for configuring the disk drive to operate in a low frequency access mode when accessing the second zone, wherein the disk drive is configured according to the parameter so as to increase the reliability of the disk drive;
• a means for monitoring a write frequency of write data received from a host for the first zone;
• and
• when the write frequency for the first zone falls below a threshold, a means for copying data stored in the first zone to the second zone.