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                                                                    Exhibit 23.1



                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration
statement of HMT Technology Corporation on Form S-8 (File Nos. 333-51767) and
the registration statement of HMT Technology Corporation on Form S-3 as amended
(File No. 333-24385) of our reports dated April 16, 1999, on our audits of the
consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules of HMT
Technology Corporation as of March 31, 1999 and 1998 and for years ended March
31, 1999, 1998, 1997, which reports are included in this Annual Report on Form
10-K. We also consent to the incorporation by reference of our report on the
Financial Statement Schedules, which appears on this Form-10K.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers  L.L.P.

PricewaterhouseCoopers  L.L.P.

San Jose, California
November 3, 1999