Quick Answers
For most people, the brand or model of external hard drive you buy likely won’t make a huge difference in performance or reliability. However, there are some key factors to consider when choosing an external hard drive:
– Storage capacity – How much storage space do you need? Will 500GB be enough or do you need multi-terabyte storage?
– Data transfer speed – Faster USB interfaces like USB 3.0 and USB-C allow for quicker data transfers. Look for drives with these.
– Portability – If you plan to travel with the drive, look for one that’s slim and lightweight. SSD drives tend to be more portable than larger desktop HDDs.
– Ruggedness – If you need to store important or sensitive data, consider getting a rugged drive that can better withstand drops, shocks, dust, water, etc.
– Security – Some external drives have added features like hardware encryption to keep your data secure.
– Price – More affordable drives will work fine for less demanding users. Professional photographers, videographers and power users may want pricier models.
– Brand reputation – Stick with brands like WD, Seagate and Toshiba that have a solid reputation. Avoid no-name brands.
Overall there’s no “best” external hard drive brand but consider factors like storage space, speed, reliability and price before choosing a drive that matches your specific needs. The differences come down to performance factors, features and warranty rather than outright failure rates.
What are the main uses for an external hard drive?
Here are some of the most common uses for external hard drives:
– **Extra storage space** – External drives provide a simple way to expand the storage capacity of your computer. This is useful for storing large files like photos, videos, music collections, or games that don’t need to be on your primary internal drive.
– **Backups** – One of the most popular uses for external storage is to backup your important files. Having an external backup allows you to store your files safely in case something happens to your computer.
– **Transferring files** – External hard drives make it easy to transfer large amounts of data between different computers. For example, creative professionals may use them to transfer work files between home and office computers.
– **Expanding storage for games consoles** – Most games consoles only have limited onboard storage. An external drive can instantly provide more space for large game file downloads that don’t fit internally.
– **Time Machine backups** – Mac users can use an external drive to store backups via Apple’s built-in Time Machine software. Time Machine makes it easy to restore files if your main drive fails.
– **Booting and running different operating systems** – External drives allow you to boot up alternate operating systems on a computer. This allows you to test out Linux OS variations or run diagnostics tools without dual-booting your main system drive.
– **Increased security** – Some external drives offer password protection and hardware encryption to keep your data secure if the drive gets lost or stolen. This provides an extra layer of security if you want to store sensitive files externally.
What features should I look for in an external hard drive?
Here are some key features to consider when shopping for an external hard drive:
– **Storage capacity** – One of the most important factors is the size of the drive. How much storage capacity do you actually need? For simple file transfers and backups, a 500GB to 1TB drive should suffice. Media professionals will likely want larger 2TB to 8TB (or more) capacity drives.
– **Connection interface** – Most modern external drives connect via USB, with faster USB 3.0 and USB-C interfaces allowing for quicker data transfer speeds compared to older USB 2.0 drives. Thunderbolt 3 connections are even faster but less common.
– **Transfer speed** – Faster rotational speeds (5400 RPM or 7200 RPM) and built-in memory caches help boost the maximum data transfer speeds. Useful for moving large blocks of data like photos, videos, and games.
– **Portability** – If you plan to travel or regularly move your drive, look for a lightweight and compact drive that you can easily tuck into a bag or desk drawer. SSD-based drives tend to be more portable than larger desktop hard disk drives.
– **Ruggedness** – Rugged external drives have shock-resistant build quality, dust/water resistance, and an overall sturdy design to withstand travel and outdoor use. Helpful for on-location photographers.
– **Security** – Some drives offer password-protection, hardware encryption, and other security features to keep your sensitive files safe if the drive gets lost or stolen.
– **Warranty** – Look for at least a 1 to 3-year warranty. Higher-end drives often offer longer 3 to 5-year warranties for more peace of mind.
Are external SSDs better than HDDs?
Solid-state drives (SSDs) do have some clear advantages over traditional hard disk drives (HDDs) in the external storage market:
– **Speed** – SSDs have much faster read/write times, allowing for quicker file transfers and overall snappier performance. The best external SSDs can reach peak transfer speeds over 1,000 MB/s.
– **Durability** – With no moving parts, SSDs are more shock- and vibration-resistant. Dropping an SSD is less likely to cause damage compared to an HDD.
– **Size and weight** – External SSDs are much smaller, thinner and lighter than portable HDDs, making them easier to slip into a bag or pocket when traveling.
– **Noise** – SSDs are completely silent since they don’t contain spinning disks or moving read/write heads.
However, HDDs do still have some benefits compared to SSDs:
– **Price per gigabyte** – HDDs are significantly cheaper in terms of cost per GB of storage. You can get 8-10TB or more HDD storage for the same price as a 1TB SSD.
– **Capacity** – Consumer HDDs are available in larger capacities up to 16TB+. Most external SSDs still max out at 2TB to 4TB.
– **Write endurance** – HDDs can withstand more write cycles before drive failure. SSDs wear out after too many writes to any single storage block.
So in summary, SSDs are better for performance, portability and ruggedness. But HDDs remain a good value for large capacity storage at a lower price point. For a balance of speed and capacity, some choose SSDs for their main workspace files and HDDs for mass photo/video archives.
What size external hard drive should I get?
Choosing the right size external hard drive depends on your specific needs:
– For **simple backups** of documents, photos, music, etc, a **500GB to 1TB** drive is probably sufficient for most home users. This capacity range is a good balance of storage versus price.
– For **video storage and editing**, consider at least a **2TB** drive. RAW video files take up massive space, so 4TB or higher is better for 150+ hours of HD footage.
– **Photographers and creative pros** working with high resolution RAW images/media files will want a minimum of **2TB to 4TB**. But 5TB+ is better for convenience, space for growth and large project archives.
– For a **basic Time Machine backup drive** for a Mac, 500GB may be sufficient, but it’s smart to get at least **1TB to 2TB** for more elbow room as your backups grow over months.
– For **gamers**, a **1TB** drive gives enough room for dozens of large game installs (50GB+ each), though 2TB+ offers more flexibility.
– As a **media drive** for downloading movies/shows for travel, **1TB to 2TB** is a sensible range – enough for 10+ HD films.
– If you have an **older laptop** with very limited 250-500GB storage, even **1TB** externally can feel huge by comparison.
In summary, 1 to 2TB is a good starting capacity for general home/business use. Creative professionals working in 4K should consider 4 to 8TB models. Maximum capacities from top brands go up to 16TB or higher.
Are Seagate and Western Digital external hard drives reliable?
Seagate and Western Digital are generally considered two of the most reliable brands for external hard drives. Here’s an overview:
**Seagate**
– One of the largest hard drive manufacturers
– More than 60 years in the data storage business
– Manufacture their own drives – high level of control over component quality
– Wide range of external drive product lines for various use cases
– Typically a 3 year warranty on their external drives
– Reliable workhorse drives, reasonably priced
**Western Digital (WD)**
– Another huge HDD company with strong reputation
– Over 50 years experience in drive technology
– Own several key storage brands including WD, SanDisk and G-Technology
– Comprehensive external portable & desktop drive lineup
– Most models include 3-5 year warranties
– Known for quality and reliability at competitive prices
Both Seagate and WD dominate the hard drive market and produce drives of similar quality and reliability. For typical home backups and storage uses, it would be hard to go wrong with either brand. Performance, price, warranty length and product design may be more differentiating factors between specific drive models. But both brands deliver proven reliability over years of storage innovations.
Should I get a desktop or portable external hard drive?
Here’s a quick comparison of desktop vs portable external hard drives:
**Desktop external drives**
– Designed to stay in one place, usually need a power cable
– Mainly 3.5 inch form factor, require external power
– Offer much higher storage capacities, typically from 2TB up to 8TB+
– Spin at faster 7200 RPM speeds for better performance
– Require more space and aren’t very portable
**Portable external drives**
– Specifically made for travel or on-the-go use
– Most are 2.5 inch notebook drive size and powered just by the USB cable
– Top out at 2TB to 5TB capacities in most brands
– Slower 5400 RPM speeds but still decently fast for backups
– Can easily fit in a pocket or bag to carry with laptop
**Verdict:**
For home office use or as a basic desktop backup drive, a desktop external HDD is probably fine, giving you faster speeds and higher maximum capacities. But if you need to regularly transport or move around the drive, a portable/mobile form factor external drive is a far better choice, sacrificing some storage space for convenience. Photographers and creative pros dealing with big file sizes still may want a roomy but still reasonably mobile portable HDD solution.
How reliable are Toshiba external hard drives?
Toshiba has built a strong reputation for making reliable external hard disk drives. Here are some reasons why Toshiba external HDDs are a good choice:
– Toshiba is an established HDD maker with proven experience in hard drive manufacturing. They have been making drives since the 1950s.
– A wide selection of both portable and desktop external hard drives is available. Models range from 500GB portables up to high capacity 8TB desktop drives.
– Toshiba drives come with standard USB 3.0 interfaces for broad compatibility and decent performance. Some drives include USB-C and USB 3.1 support.
– Most Toshiba external HDD product lines include sturdy 2-3 year limited warranties protecting your investment.
– Their Canvio portable hard drives are compact and slim for easy mobility. The Canvio Advance adds password protection and backups.
– For desktop drives, the Toshiba Canvio Basics provides solid reliability at affordable prices making it ideal for backup.
– Toshiba external drives have strong reviews from independent technology sites regarding performance, quality and reliability.
While not considered cutting-edge, Toshiba external hard disk drives offer proven reliability, the latest connectivity standards, competitive cost-per-gigabyte value, and adequate warranties making them a wise choice for extra storage needs.
What capacity external hard drive is best for PS4?
For PlayStation 4 external storage needs, here are some recommended hard drive capacities:
– **500GB** – A basic starter size good for 5-10 average-sized games, or 2-3 huge blockbuster titles. Also suitable for casual gamers or students on a budget.
– **1TB** – The most popular PS4 drive size, capable of fitting 15-25 typical games downloaded from PSN. Gives a nice balance of price versus storage space.
– **2TB** – A solid mid-range option with room for 50+ downloaded titles. Ideal for hardcore gamers who play multiple massive games.
– **4TB** – One of the largest PS4 compatible single-volume drives available. Allows 80+ huge AAA games. Excess overkill for casual gamers.
– **8TB** – Only recommended for ultra-avid gamers who build enormous libraries and download lots of DLC. Very expensive overkill for most.
Other factors like drive type (HDD vs SSD), interface speed and physical size should also be considered when choosing an ideal PS4 external hard drive. But overall, the 1TB to 2TB range hits the sweet spot for majority of gamers based on price, capacity and performance needs.
Conclusion
While there are many quality external hard drive brands to choose from, ultimately the right drive comes down to matching storage needs to the appropriate drive specifications. Key considerations include available capacity, performance speed, physical portability, and warranty length to ensure dependability. Budget is also a factor, and external HDDs still provide far more affordability over SSDs for higher capacities. For most home or business uses and even gaming, leading manufacturers like Western Digital, Seagate or Toshiba all provide reliable external hard disk drives. Selecting the drive size and features that align with your specific usage needs is more important than fixating on brand alone when choosing a new external HDD.