Though it may seem like a simple component, a hard drive is a lot more complicated than it seems. Having the right one for your computer – be it a desktop or laptop – is important for ensuring proper data storage and transfer.
Whether you are looking to buy a new backup drive or trying to replace a drive that has seen its best days, there are a few simple tips that can go a long way. Here are a few considerations to make when choosing a new hard drive.
Price
Like it or not, price is going to be the most important factor to most consumers. While you can click here to quickly find a great variety of drives, not all of them will fit what you’re looking for. As is the case with any tech, budget factors into the equation which makes it important to find something that fits within a specific price range.
The more storage space, the more it will cost. Going with an SSD versus an HDD will cost substantially more. It all comes down to how much storage space and what kind of quality and longevity you need out of that drive. Investing in an SSD might cost a little more upfront but will likely provide greater longevity.
External vs. Internal
The great thing about buying a hard drive is that you don’t have to wait for the drive in your computer to fail. Having an additional drive can provide more than enough storage space while also giving the user a bit more flexibility for transferring files while on the go.
An external drive is a great thing to have if you are often transferring files between devices. They are highly portable and can simply be plugged into a USB jack to access instantly. When working on projects as part of a team, having a hard drive is the best way to carry any necessary files or media.
Gaming Hard Drives
One of the most common reasons to buy a hard drive has to do with gaming. There are millions of gamers out there, whether it be on a laptop, PC, or using a gaming console. The key is to find a drive that is best to use with the device in question. Something that isn’t compatible will just lead to frustration and wasted money.
Standard SATA connections are fine for laptops or PC. Gaming consoles like the Xbox or Playstation require a specific kind of drive, usually a 2.5-inch drive. Make sure to check the specs on your device first before making a purchase. Having additional console space can be great so that there is no need to delete old game save files.
Storage Capacity
Aside from price, one of the biggest considerations to make is the size of the drive. While physical size is important, there are only two standard sizes. No, when referencing the size of a drive, it is more in reference to the storage capacity of that drive. Given that there are a few different means of storage, this can get confusing.
Most hard drives run somewhere in the 128GB-756GB range. That said, modern drives can get well into the 5-6 TB range, providing more than enough storage for documents, videos, and more. Most average users can get away with something in the 256GB range without worry. Those who do a lot of photo or video editing may benefit more from something around 1TB or higher. In most cases, users should come nowhere close to maxing out their storage use even after years.
