Today I will tell you about how to choose external hard drive for your computer, laptop or tablet. Moreover, choose the right one, according to your needs, and so that the purchase lasts for many years.
In this article, I will tell you all the nuances of choosing external hard drives, I will consider in detail the parameters that you should pay attention to before purchasing, and, of course, I will compile a reliability rating for you.
1. External hard drive options
To correctly understand which external hard the disk is better and why, you need to decide on a list of parameters for comparison. Usually they focus on the following basic characteristics:
- form factor;
- interface;
- memory type;
- disk volume.
Additionally, the disk rotation speed, data transfer rate, level of electricity consumption, built-in backup capabilities, the presence of additional functions (moisture and dust resistance, charging) can be taken into account. USB devices etc.). Don’t forget about individual preferences, such as color or the presence of a protective cover. This is especially true in those cases when it is taken as a gift.
1.1. Form factor
The form factor determines the size of the drive. Once upon a time, there were no specialized external drives; in fact, ordinary disks were used. They were installed in a container with external power - and this created a portable device. Therefore, the names of the form factors migrated from stationary equipment: 2.5”/3.5”. Later an even more compact 1.8" version was added.
3,5”. This is the largest form factor. Due to the impressive size of the plates, it has a large capacity, the count goes to terabytes and tens of terabytes. For the same reason, a unit of information on them costs the least. Disadvantages: heavy weight and the need to carry a container with a power supply. Such a disk will cost from 5 thousand rubles for the most affordable model. The most popular external drive of this form factor for several months has been the Western Digital WDBAAU0020HBK. His average price is 17,300 rubles.
2,5”. The most common and affordable type of disk. And here’s why: quite light compared to 3.5”; There is enough power supply from USB (sometimes the cord takes up 2 ports); quite capacious - up to 500 gigabytes. There are practically no downsides, except that the price per 1 gigabyte will be slightly higher than in the previous version. The minimum cost of a disc of this format is about 3,000 rubles. The most popular HDD of this form factor is . Its average cost at the time of my review is 4,700 rubles.
1,8”. The most compact models that have not yet captured the market. Due to their small dimensions and the use of SSD memory, they can cost more than 2.5” drives, but are not inferior to them in volume. The most popular model is Transcend TS128GESD400K, which costs about 4,000 rubles, but reviews about it leave much to be desired.
1.2. Interface
The interface determines how the disk is connected to the computer, that is, into which connector it can be connected. Let's look at the most popular options.
USB- the most common and most versatile connection option. Almost any device has a USB output or a corresponding adapter. Today, the current standard is USB 3.0 - it gives read speeds of up to 5 GB per second, while the 2.0 version is only capable of 480 MB.
Attention! Version 3.1 with speeds of up to 10 Gb/s works with the Type-C connector: it can be inserted on either side, but it is not compatible with older ones. Before purchasing such a drive, make sure there is an appropriate connector and support from operating system.
Disks with USB 2.0 and 3.0 connectors differ slightly in cost; both options can be purchased from 3,000 rubles. The most popular such model is the already mentioned . But the few USB 3.1 models are noticeably more expensive - you need to pay 8 thousand or more for them. Of these I would highlight , with a cost of about 9,200 rubles. And by the way, he looks very cool.
SATA. The SATA standard has practically disappeared from the external drive scene; there are no models with it on sale. It allows speeds of up to 1.5/3/6 GB per second, respectively - that is, it loses to USB in speed and prevalence. In fact, SATA is now used only for internal drives.
eSATA– a subtype from the family of SATA connectors. Has a slightly different connector shape. It is also rare; for an external drive with this standard you will have to pay from 5 thousand rubles.
FireWire. FireWire connection speeds can reach 400 Mbps. However, such a connector is also quite rare. You can find a model for 5,400 rubles, but this is rather an exception; for other models, the cost starts from 12-13 thousand.
Thunderbolt works through a specific connector for Apple computers. The transfer speed, of course, is decent - up to 10 Gb/s, but incompatibility with more common types of connectors puts an end to the interface. If you plan to use only laptops from Apple, you can take it.
1.3. Memory type
External drives can handle either traditional spinning disk storage (HDD) or the more modern solid-state drive (SSD). There are also combined systems on the market in which a fast SSD is used for caching, and the HDD part is used for long-term storage information.
HDD- a classic disk in which the plates spin. Thanks to the developed technologies, this is a fairly affordable solution. A good choice for long-term storage since large capacity disks are relatively inexpensive. Disadvantages of HDD - slight noise, depending on the speed of rotation of the disk. Models with 5400 rpm are quieter than those with 7200 rpm. The cost of an external HDD starts at approximately 2800 rubles. Once again, the most popular model is .
SSD- a solid-state drive that does not have any moving parts, which seriously reduces the risk of failure if the device is accidentally shaken. It features increased data transfer speed and very compact dimensions. So far it is inferior in terms of available capacity and cost: for the cheapest 128 GB drive, sellers are asking 4000-4500 rubles. Most often bought Transcend TS128GESD400K with an average cost of 4100 rubles, but then they complain about it all the time and spit on it. So it’s better to overpay and buy a normal external SSD, for example , but the price tag will be about 18,000 rubles.
Hybrid HDD+SSD drive are quite rare. The hybrid design is designed to combine the advantages of the two listed above in one device. In fact, the need for such disks is doubtful: if you need to seriously speed up your work, you should take a full-fledged internal SSD, but a classic HDD is good for storage.
1.4. Hard disk capacity
As for volume, it is worth proceeding from the following considerations. First, as volume increases, the price per gigabyte decreases. Secondly, file sizes (take the same films) are constantly growing. So I recommend looking towards larger volumes, for example, choosing an external 1 TB hard drive, especially since the price for such models starts at 3,400 rubles. At the same time, prices for an external 2 TB hard drive start at 5000. The benefits are obvious.
- Transcend TS1TSJ25M3. Price from 4000 rubles;
- Seagate STBU1000200 - from 4500 rubles;
- ADATA DashDrive Durable HD650 1TB - from 3800 rubles
- Western Digital WDBUZG0010BBK-EESN - from 3800 rubles.
- Seagate STDR1000200 - from 3850 rubles.
- Western Digital WDBAAU0020HBK - from 17,300 rubles;
- Seagate STDR2000200 - from 5,500 rubles;
- Western Digital WDBU6Y0020BBK-EESN - from 5,500 rubles;
- Western Digital My Passport Ultra 2 TB (WDBBUZ0020B-EEUE) 0 from 6490 rubles;
- Seagate STBX2000401 - from 8340 rubles.
I see virtually no arguments in favor of a smaller volume. Unless you want to record a strictly fixed amount of data and give it along with an external drive to another person. Or the disk will be used, for example, with a TV that only supports a certain volume. Then there really is no point in overpaying for gigabytes.
1.5. Other criteria for choosing an external hard drive
Stationary or portable. If you just need to increase the available space without having to carry the drive anywhere, you can use hard drive containers. They can connect via USB, for example, and the disk itself to the container via SATA. It turns out to be a bulky, but quite workable bunch. Fully mobile drives can be very compact. If you choose a model with an SSD with a small volume, you can choose models weighing up to 100 grams. It’s a pleasure to use them – the main thing is not to accidentally leave them on someone else’s table.
Availability of additional cooling and case material. This parameter is relevant for stationary models. After all, a hard drive, especially a 3.5” form factor, heats up noticeably during operation. Especially if data is being read or written actively. In this case, it is preferable to choose a model with a built-in fan. It will, of course, make noise, but it will cool the drive and extend its operating time. As for the case material, metal dissipates heat better and, accordingly, is the preferred choice. Plastic copes with heat less well, so there is a risk of causing the disk to overheat and cause malfunctions.
Protection from moisture and dust, shockproof. The trend is gaining momentum to make at least several models in the line protected from the effects of various damaging factors. For example, from moisture and dust. Such drives can be used even in less than ideal conditions, and they will work properly. Of course, long-term swimming is not recommended, but you don’t have to be afraid of a drop of water. Discs with shockproof protection stand out. Depending on the severity of the standard, they can be safely dropped from a meter side or freely thrown out of a window from the 3rd or 4th floor. I wouldn’t risk the data like that, but it’s nice to know that at least in standard scenarios a la “fell out of hand” the disk will survive.
Disk rotation speed. Several parameters depend on the speed of disk rotation (measured in revolutions per second or rpm): data transfer speed, noise level, how much energy the disk requires to operate and how much it heats up, etc.
- 5400 rpm- the slowest, quietest drives - they are sometimes classified as “green” devices. Good for storing data.
- 7200 rpm- the average value of the rotation speed ensures balanced performance. If there are no special requirements, this is the best option.
- 10000 rpm- the fastest (among HDDs), the loudest and most voracious drives. They are inferior in performance to SSDs, so the benefits here are dubious.
Clipboard size. The clipboard is a small amount of faster memory that speeds up the disk. In most models, its size ranges from 8 to 64 megabytes. The higher the value, the faster the disk is processed. So I recommend focusing on a figure of at least 32 megabytes.
Supplied software. Some manufacturers supply discs with specialized programs. Such software can automatically copy selected folders in accordance with a specified schedule. Or you can make part of the disk into a hidden partition, access to which will be password protected. In any case, keep in mind that many of these problems can be solved with third-party software.
Additional connectors and types of communication. Some models come with a standard Ethernet network connector. Such drives can be used as network storage, accessible from various computers. A fairly popular option is to save downloaded files on them. Some external drives are equipped with a Wi-Fi adapter for connecting to wireless networks. In this case, they can be used as home file server and store multimedia files on it. Other drives may have an additional USB output on the case. Convenient if you need to quickly charge your smartphone, but are too lazy to go to the outlet.
Appearance. Yes, aesthetic considerations must also be taken into account. If the disc is being chosen as a gift, it’s a good idea to find out the tastes of the future owner (for example, strict black or playful pink, impeccable white or practical gray, etc.). For ease of carrying, I recommend purchasing a case for the disc - this way it gets less dirty and is more convenient to hold.
2. Major manufacturers of external hard drives
There are several companies that specialize specifically in the production of hard drives. Below I will look at the most popular of them and their ratings best models external drives.
2.1. Seagate
One of the largest manufacturers of external hard drives is Seagate (USA). The undoubted advantage of its products is their affordable price. According to various sources, the company holds about 40% of the domestic market. However, if you look at the number of breakdowns, it turns out that Seagate drives are handed over to various PC repair companies and service centers in more than 50% of cases. In other words, the chances of encountering difficulties among fans of this brand are somewhat higher. The cost starts at 2800 rubles per disc.
Best external hard drives Seagate
- Seagate STDR2000200 (2 TB) - from 5490 rubles;
- Seagate STDT3000200 (3 TB) - from 6100 rubles;
- Seagate STCD500202 (500 GB) - from 3,500 rubles.
2.2. Western Digital
Other large company– Western Digital (USA). It also occupies an impressive part of the market. The diverse ranges, including green, quiet and cool low-speed drives, are loved by customers. It is noteworthy that problems with WD drives are reported much less frequently. The price for Western Digital models starts at almost 3,000 rubles.
The Best Western Digital External Hard Drives
- Western Digital WDBAAU0020HBK (2 TB) - from 17,300 rubles;
- Western Digital WDBUZG0010BBK-EESN (1 TB) - from 3,600 rubles;
- Western Digital My Passport Ultra 1 TB (WDBJNZ0010B-EEUE) - from 6800 rubles.
2.3. Transcend
A Taiwanese company that produces all kinds of iron - from dies RAM to digital media players. It also produces external hard drives. As I wrote above, Transcend TS1TSJ25M3 is the most popular external hard drive among our compatriots. It is inexpensive, sold in almost every store, people like it. But there are plenty of negative reviews about it. Personally, I haven’t used it, I can’t say for sure, but people complain about it very often. In the reliability rating, I would not put it in the top ten for sure.
2.4. Other manufacturers
Next in the ranking are companies such as Hitachi and Toshiba. Hitachi has an excellent MTBF: the average service life before any problems arise exceeds 5 years. In other words, even with active use, these drives are on average more reliable. Toshiba rounds out the top four. The disks of this company have good characteristics. Prices are also not much different from competitors.
You can also note Samsung, which is diligently improving its performance. A portable external drive from this company will cost at least 2,850 rubles.
Companies like ADATA and Silicon Power offer many disks costing about 3000-3500 rubles. On the one hand, flash drives from these companies are often of questionable quality, either due to counterfeits or problems with components. On the other hand, the experience of using a shock-, moisture- and dust-proof disk from Silicon Power for me and many friends is purely positive.
3. External hard drives - reliability rating 2016
All that remains is to determine the best external hard drive. As often happens, it is impossible to give one exact answer here - too many parameters can influence the judges’ decision. If you need to speed up your work with data, for example, regularly process heavy videos, take an SSD drive. If you want to create an archive of family photos spanning a couple of decades, choose a spacious HDD from Western Digital. For a file server you definitely need something from the “green” series, quiet and inconspicuous, because such a disk will operate in constant mode. For myself, I highlight the following models in the reliability rating of external hard drives:
- Toshiba Canvio Ready 1TB
- ADATA HV100 1TB
- ADATA HD720 1TB
- Western Digital My Passport Ultra 1 TB (WDBDDE0010B)
- Transcend TS500GSJ25A3K
Every PC owner has thought about the question: how to increase storage space for information. This is especially true for laptop owners. They do not have the opportunity to install another HDD. What to do? Use external HDDs. Let's look at how to choose an external hard drive.
What is it
External HDD is a storage device connected to a PC via a USB interface. You can carry it with you. The principle of operation is no different from the HDD found in a PC.
Is this necessary?
What if you use a simple flash drive? External drives have a larger capacity. Documents will be stored on it longer because the hard drive has a greater number of rewrite cycles.
Let's look at what you need to know when purchasing, how to choose an external HDD 2018.
Selecting an external hard drive
Let's consider what you need to know when choosing:
- Memory type;
- Interface;
- Price;
- Capacity;
- Form factor;
- Speed of information exchange;
- Protects the housing from dust and moisture.
Let's take a closer look at these parameters.
What memory to use
A classic hard drive (HDD) consists of several disks. They have a special magnetic coating applied to them. Information is read using a reading head. It will mix above the surface of the disk.
This type of memory is a good option for long-term storage of large amounts of information. Convenient to use for photos, videos, films, programs. Disadvantages - fails from shocks, falls, vibrations.
(solid-state HDD) does not have rotating magnetic disks. The speed of its operation depends on the controller used and Nand memory chips (consists of cells where 1-2 bits of information are recorded). The controller divides the memory into cells into which data is written.
Its main advantage is high read/write speed (four times faster than HDD), high wear resistance. Take such devices with you without fear of damaging them. Disadvantages - high cost and small capacity.
Usually they are installed with OS and applications that consume a lot of RAM (for example, Photoshop).
Capacity and cost
Capacity is the second important parameter that you consider when choosing. Use the rule - the larger the disk capacity, the lower the cost of one gigabyte.
If there is little RAM, large external HDDs are purchased. For storage, running the OS and 3D editors, take a closer look at a solid-state drive.
Its peculiarity is the speed of operation depending on the size. For example, a sixty-four gigabyte HDD is slower than a 128 GB HDD.
Form factor
The physical dimensions of the device directly depend on the capacity. Form factor - size measured in inches.
2.5 inches
Advantages:
- No additional power;
- High capacity.
3.5 inches
The price per unit of memory is the lowest. 
Their differences:
- Price. 3.5 costs less per gigabyte. Therefore, a disk of the same capacity, but of different sizes, does not cost the same.
- Performance. It differs depending on which device manufacturer you choose.
- The 3.5 has more noise and energy consumption. Accordingly, it heats up more.
2.5 disks are mobile, so they are convenient to carry with you. HDD Format 3.5 is more suitable as a desktop option.
Interface
This is a way to connect HDD to PC. There are two options: 
Use USB version 3.0. It has a read speed of five gigabytes per second. U old version two - speed 480 megabytes per second.
Type-C. This standard is 3.1 with a Type-C connector. Provides data exchange speed of ten gigabytes per second. Found on PCs purchased after 2015.
We have looked at the main points to consider when purchasing. But there are additional ones that also affect the cost and ease of use.
Protection from impacts and moisture
External HDD is afraid of external influences. Therefore, if you frequently transport it, buy a device with drop protection. 
Speed
This determines: data transfer speed, noise level, heating. Slow devices with a rotation speed of 5400rpm (revolutions per minute) are used to store information that will not be used frequently. Devices with a rotation speed of 7200 rpm are a more balanced option. Suitable for frequent use. 10000 - the fastest and noisiest devices. For solid-state drives, this information is not relevant, since they do not have rotating elements.
Appearance
NCQ technology
Capable of increasing productivity. NCQ technology - optimization of the order of command execution. Therefore, the device spends less time processing data.
Manufacturer
Take a closer look at Western Digital models. The devices of this company are not only powerful, but also low noise. Developers are introducing additional useful features. For example, PMR technology increases recording density.
Taiwanese manufacturer Transcend. The products are valued due to their low cost and reliability. This manufacturer's product is available in any specialized store.
I recommend paying attention to equally well-known brands Hitachi and Toshiba. Models from the first manufacturer are reliable.
How to choose an external HDD for storing photos
I recommend purchasing the My Passport model from WD. This is a small 2.5-inch device with a capacity of five hundred gigabytes to two terabytes. 
If you prefer to look at photos of your home, buy the My Book model. It, as described above, is completed free application For backup data in automatic mode SmartWare. 
How to choose an external SSD drive
To get high data transfer speeds, use devices connected via USB 3.
According to the number of bits of information located in one memory cell, it is divided:
- SLC (one bit). Relevant for working on a server;
- Memory MLC, TLC (two and three bits of information in one cell, respectively). Choose from them. The first one is faster. The second can withstand fewer rewrite cycles.
If you need a device to solve office tasks use TLC memory. When editing video or working with “heavy” programs - MLC.
External hard drive for laptop
Carefully check the compatibility of the drive with your laptop. If in doubt, consult the seller.
HDD is slower compared to . The second one is designed for a larger number of rewrites. A power supply is not required for the device to operate as modern models use a USB interface.
Select the weight and size depending on how often you need to take it with you.
How to choose an external hard drive for your computer
The device must be compatible with the OS - NTFS or FAT 32. The difference is that the latter does not allow recording files larger than four gigabytes. It is not compatible with the old ones Windows versions and Apple Mac products. NTFS has no such restrictions.
A desktop PC does not require mobility, so I recommend using the 3.5 form factor. More spacious, less expensive.
Conclusion
We looked at how to choose a reliable external hard drive. To get high speed reading information, buy an SSD. To store information, use HDD from WD. Take a closer look at the models of the "" line. To watch videos and listen to music, purchase a device equipped with an HDMI connector.
To choose the right model, you need to pay attention to the following details:
- Form factor;
- Interface parameters;
- Type of memory;
- Amount of data stored.
Sometimes the disk rotation speed, the level of data reading and writing, energy consumption, and the presence of a standard rollback function are taken into account.
Many users often find it useful to recharge their phone and protect their device from mechanical damage, dust and moisture.
Color and other personal preferences are important when choosing a hard drive as a gift.
Criteria for selecting portable media
Presence of a cooling system and case material
The first parameter is more typical for stationary representatives, but is sometimes installed on portable ones. HDDs, especially those of the 3.5” form factor, get very hot during operation.
The temperature rises significantly during reading either.
If the disk is used frequently, purchasing a hard drive with a cooler will come in handy, since this part will significantly increase the durability of the device.
However, the presence of such a component also has negative consequences - the disk will make noticeable noise.
Regarding the choice of case material, it would be best to choose metal over metal, since it acts as a radiator and removes heat.
Their main advantage is that such media overheat much less often than plastic ones.
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HDD (hard drive) cooling systems
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Dustproof, shockproof and moisture resistant
Many electronic devices are beginning to provide similar capabilities.
Therefore, hard drive manufacturers are trying to keep up in this regard.
The presence of moisture protection will help protect the hard drive from short-term exposure to water, and not from long-term immersion.
The same applies to shock resistance:
You should not intentionally drop the device to check its reliability, despite the fact that the manufacturer’s documentation states that it can withstand a fall from the 3rd floor.
Disc rotation speed
The parameter is measured in revolutions per minute (RPM). The following parameters depend on this value:
- Data transfer speed;
- Noise exposure level;
- Power consumption for normal operation.
There is a classification based on rotation speed:
- 5400 rpm is the slowest available. They are classified as “green” devices. Best suited for data storage;
- 7200 rpm is the average quality class of hard drives; this speed ensures optimal parameters. Suitable for those users who do not need to perform constant complex tasks;
- 10,000 rpm - they are not only the fastest among HDDs, they are also the noisiest and most energy-consuming. However, they have worse characteristics than SSDs.
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Clipboard capacity
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Basically, the size of this drive ranges from 8 to 64 megabytes, and the higher this number, the correspondingly greater the performance.
It is best to choose representatives with a buffer size of at least 32 megabytes.
Availability of additional software
Some manufacturers include a package with a hard drive, using which you can copy folders according to a schedule, and allocate part of the partition to a hidden, password-protected area.
However, you do not need this software, since most of the tasks performed by this software can be easily accomplished with the help of others from the Internet.
Additional inputs and communication types
Read also:TOP 10 Best Network Attached Storage (NAS) for Home and Work | Rating of current models in 2019
In some types of hard drives, in addition to the main connectors, additional connectors, such as Ethernet, can be installed.
With the addition network port your device can perform the task of a full-fledged network storage, which can be accessed by several computers at once.
Various files are often downloaded to them. Some hard drive models have a module installed wireless access Wi-Fi.
Sometimes the drive is supplied additional USB port, with its help you can charge your phone from it without using an outlet.
Presence of NCQ technology
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This minor detail can improve the performance of the drive.
Its essence is that all commands form a queue, which the device can access repeatedly, spending much less time on processing.
To activate this add-on, you must configure the controller in the BIOS hard drive SATA to AHCI mode.
Compatible with computer operating system
This factor is influenced by the type of file system. There are two main types of it:
1 FAT 32– it can be used to process files whose size does not exceed 4 GB. The small volume is due to the fact that the implementation of this technology began back in 1998, and for that time such an amount of memory was considered serious;
2 NTFS– The system in question processes any files, regardless of their size, and also provides the ability to encrypt data. When you connect a portable HDD to a computer formatted in NTFS, the data on it will be accessible only in read mode.
Appearance
Aesthetic aspects are also important when choosing a hard drive, especially if it is purchased as a gift.
In this case, it is imperative to take into account the preferences, lifestyle and hobbies of the person for whom the surprise is intended.
To keep your hard drive clean and tidy for longer, you need to purchase a special case in which it is very convenient to store and transport it.
Form factor
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This parameter determines the dimensions of the gadget.
Previously, there were no specially designed models of external hard drives on the product market, so stationary storage media were used as an alternative.
A portable hard drive consists of a case in which the disk itself is installed.
Its diameter is 2.5 or 3.5 inches; a little later they began to produce a smaller model of 1.8 inches.
3,5”
The largest form factor configuration among those in operation.
Thanks to the large dimensions of the plate, developers are able to fit large amounts of memory into the device - 1 terabyte or more.
On top of that, the price per unit of memory in this technology is the lowest among those on sale.
The best-selling model among the product range in this price segment is Western Digital WDBAAU0020HBK.
2,5”
This form factor is used much more often than others.
This prevalence is due to the following advantages:
- Lower weight compared to model range 3,5”;
- The voltage generated by the USB port is sufficient for power supply;
- The capacity is quite high (approximately 500 GB).
One of the best representatives of the line is Transcend TS1TSJ25M3, its approximate price is about 4,700 rubles.
1,8”
The most compact line among the existing ones, which has not yet gained much attention among buyers.
Hard drives of this configuration are often used to produce models that operate on the SSD principle.
The most famous representative of its class is the Transcend TS128GESD400K.
Its cost is about 4,000 rubles. This drive is not in great demand among buyers, and reviews about it are quite mixed.
Interface
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This parameter determines through which computer input the hard drive can be connected to it.
Let's take a closer look at the most popular options.
USB
The interface is the most common and universal.
Many devices are equipped with this port. Recently, more than new version connector – 3.0.
Its implementation makes it possible to obtain a data reading speed of almost 5 GB per second, while previous version gave out only 480 MB.
Another new modification is .
Its main feature is that the cord can now be connected to either side, and the speed is 10 GB.
The modified development is not compatible with the previous ones.
The cost of hard drives with 2.0 and 3.0 differs quite a bit: the cheapest models will also cost about 3,000 rubles.
The most famous among its class is the previously mentioned representative of Transcend.
For devices running Type-C architecture you will have to pay significantly more – the most budget gadgets cost at least 8,000 rubles.
ADATA SE730 250GB is considered one of the best representatives of this class.
SATA
Due to the peculiarities of its design, a controller of this type is practically not used to create external drives.
The standard provides read speeds of approximately 6 GB per second, which is noticeably lower than USB.
Nowadays it is most used for connecting internal hard drives.
When buying an external hard drive, you should always be careful this process. Unlike conventional hard drives, such a device will be constantly subject to increased mechanical stress associated with constant transportation and not the most careful treatment.
To ensure that the information media you purchase can last a long time, meet all individual requirements and always delight you with its uninterrupted operation, you should rely on several important recommendations. You will find valuable tips on how to choose the right external hard drive in our article, which we prepared specifically for purchasing this device you will not regret the money spent.
Budget and purposes of use
When purchasing an external HDD, you first need to decide on your budget and the tasks that the drive will perform. So for normal data transfer between different devices You won’t need any special power or performance, which will allow you to stick to budget options. But when choosing a drive for a TV with 4K Ultra HD resolution, support for 3D, HDR or other modern technologies, you should opt for fast solid-state models. They will cost more, but their speed and reliability are better than conventional hard drives.
Criteria for selecting an external drive
First of all, you need to decide on the type of device. A good drive must fully meet the rhythm of life of its owner. So, for rare and careful use, an HDD is quite suitable, and if the disk will be used even in extreme conditions, then be sure to take a closer look at the SSD. In addition, the selected disk model must be capacious enough to accommodate all the information that you may need.
The form factor of the device is no less important. It affects not only the size and weight of the drive, but also the maximum storage capacity. And finally – interfaces. In most cases, an external drive for a laptop is connected via USB, but there are also a number of rarer connectors that, for example, may be required by owners of a MacBook or modern ultrabooks from other manufacturers.
Types
Today, the most popular external drives are conventional HDDs. In other words, we are talking about classic hard drives, inside of which there are magnetic plates and read heads. Such media are inexpensive, but they require careful handling, because strong impacts or falls can easily damage the disk. But SSDs or, in other words, solid state drives are not afraid of this problem. At its core, we have an ordinary flash drive, but with a large number of chips. The type of memory in such devices may differ, but even the simplest TLC options can last for many years without wear. In this case, based on the characteristics of external SSD drives, it is much more important to pay attention to the controller, because the service life of the information carrier primarily depends on it.
Capacity
Modern devices are at a level of development where, with small media dimensions, it can fit not only gigabytes, but even terabytes of data. Thus, among external drives, 1 and 2 TB solutions are in greatest demand. However, if necessary, you can take a more or less capacious device. However, do not forget that the size of the drive still imposes certain restrictions on the maximum capacity.
Form factor
Given the above, you will need to decide which external hard drive to choose based on the form factor of such devices. Today there are three of them on sale:
The first option is in greatest demand on the market, so any manufacturer offers its own 2.5-inch external drives. Such devices are small in size and minimal in weight, which makes them convenient to use with PCs and laptops.
But there are much fewer 3.5” drives on sale, because due to their bulkiness they are not so popular among buyers. In addition, with similar characteristics, the weight of 3.5-inch disks can exceed their 2.5-inch counterparts by 3-4 or more times.
It’s not for nothing that we placed 1.8-inch drives in last place, because there are even fewer of them on sale than 3.5-inch drives. Among the few options, the user can purchase a device from the ESD400 line from Transcend. This manufacturer offers users high-quality external SSD drives of 1 TB, as well as 512, 256 and 128 GB.
Interfaces
In other words, an external drive interface is a type of connector through which the drive connects to other devices. The most common option is USB 3.0 or USB 2.0 drives. This input is available on any computer, laptop, TV, and even router. Moreover, modern devices are always equipped with a standard 3.0 port, which allows you to transfer data at speeds up to 5 Gb/s. But USB 2.0 (up to 480 Mb/s) is gradually disappearing from the market, so popular external drive manufacturers are also abandoning this version of the Universal Serial Bus in their products.
An extremely progressive development of engineers from Intel is the connector Thunderbolt. However, as can be judged by reviews of external drives on popular forums, this interface, unfortunately, has not yet achieved the popularity it deserves. Despite the high data transfer speed (up to 10 Gb/s), Thunderbolt is used mainly in laptops and computers from Apple. Therefore, it is advisable to buy a disk with this interface only for such equipment. However, the situation may change in the near future, because market giants such as ASUS, DELL, MSI, HP and Lenovo are also gradually starting to add a Thunderbolt connector to their equipment.
Additionally, there are three more interface options used in external hard drives:
- WiFi
- FireWire
- Type-C
The first option is extremely convenient, because such drives can be easily connected to your home wireless network, tablet, laptop or other devices equipped with a Wi-Fi adapter. However, for this one module the user will have to pay 2-3 times more, which makes such a purchase impractical, so Wi-Fi in external “screws” is rare.
The FireWire interface is also not very widespread, but this is due to the fact that it has long been outdated. USB-C, in turn, is still too young and has not yet received sufficient distribution.
Nutrition
When choosing a compact 2.5-inch model or a 1.8-inch solution, you don’t have to worry about this issue. For small devices, no additional power is required, because the information carrier receives it directly through the port through which it is connected to the TV, PC or other device. An exception to this rule are drives with a Wi-Fi module that use a built-in battery. But large 3.5-inch models are necessarily equipped with an additional power supply, which adds weight and dimensions to an already rather large device.
Good to know
When choosing an external drive, many people try to figure out what file system it supports. In fact, we are simply talking about a way to organize data on an information medium. Therefore, cheap disk models support all types of file systems just as well as expensive ones. The choice depends on your operating system, but in most cases you will be dealing with NTFS or FAT32.
Clipboard capacity
Buffer size is an important parameter. It is a built-in memory where the most needed data is stored. Accordingly, the larger the clipboard (cache), the more information it can record. This way, you can enjoy improved system performance. For the same purpose, for example, many laptops are equipped with a separate SSD cache.
Protection from moisture and dust
A very useful addition for people leading an active lifestyle is the protection of information media. Of course, in terms of price-quality ratio, external drives of this class will be inferior to unprotected analogues. However, any additional, but not mass function increases the cost of any thing. As for drives, they can be equipped with protection from moisture, dust and even shock. Travelers or builders may need such capabilities.
Software
The last auxiliary option to pay attention to is software. It is rare, but it brings significant benefits. This way, applications installed on the disk can protect it from viruses or unauthorized access. The software also helps optimize energy consumption and backup data. However, if necessary, such programs can be found online, both paid and free.
Which external hard drive should I buy?
Today, only a few major manufacturers offer good, high-quality hard drives on the market. Their products are found in most laptops and computers. Therefore, even if you want to buy an inexpensive and good external drive, always give preference to well-known brands. This way you can be sure of the excellent quality of the product and its long service life. Moreover, even if the drive breaks, it will be much easier to solve the problem with products from a popular manufacturer, because its service centers are located in any country. Therefore, when buying expensive and budget drives, choose the following companies:
- Transcend
- Western Digital
- Seagate
- Toshiba
- Silicon Power
Conclusion
Overestimate the benefits of an external drive in modern world It's simply impossible. With the help of such a device, you can more conveniently transfer and store information so that you can access it anywhere. Teachers, students, businessmen and even owners of smartphones and tablets who like to watch movies on the go can benefit from information media of this format. However, when choosing an external drive, you need to be especially careful, because its convenience and durability depend on the quality and capabilities of the device. Our recommendations will help you choose the ideal drive that will perfectly suit your individual requirements.
Hello Friends! As practice shows, almost no user can do without an external hard drive. personal computer. This is no longer just a fashion accessory, but a necessary device. Nowadays it is much easier to purchase an external drive than an internal one for a computer. Installing the second one will entail an opening - voiding the warranty and you will have to think about it. In most cases, hard drives are usually located one above the other, and if there is no active cooling, this leads to significant heating of the upper HDD and a reduction in its service life. Adding another disk is not possible at all, only replacing the old one (for example), which is no less labor-intensive. This material will help you find the answer to the question how to choose an external hard drive.
An external hard drive consists of: a housing and an interface unit.
Let's look at the most common characteristics of external hdds in order.
A separate section is devoted to connection interfaces external HDDs. The emergence of the new Thunderbolt standard brings new heights of throughput to external hard drives. It is also worth noting the tendency of manufacturers to make a 3-in-1 connection interface, which provides additional flexibility in the use of drives.
Important! No manufacturer gives any HDD a 100% guarantee of the safety of your data. Therefore, to achieve this 100%, it is imperative to do backups to other media. This way you will save your information, nerves and money.
Video - How to choose an external hard drive
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