Hard disk drives have been the dominant form of computer data storage for decades. A 500 gigabyte (GB) hard drive offers a significant amount of storage capacity at a relatively low cost compared to solid state drives. But hard drive prices fluctuate frequently due to market conditions. Let’s take a closer look at what factors affect 500GB hard drive prices and what they typically cost for both internal and external consumer models.
What is a 500GB Hard Drive?
A 500GB hard disk drive has a formatted capacity of about 465GB. Hard drives use magnetic recording heads to read and write data to quickly rotating platters inside an airtight enclosure. 500GB drives typically have a 3.5-inch form factor and use a SATA interface to connect to the motherboard in desktop PCs and some laptops. Many external portable hard drives with 2.5-inch mechanisms also offer 500GB of storage.
Average Price of 500GB Hard Drives
Currently, 500GB hard drives cost between $15 and $60 for bare internal models and around $35 to $90 for external USB-powered portable drives. Prices can vary significantly between different manufacturers, classes of drives, and sales promotions. Here are some typical current price ranges:
Internal 3.5-inch SATA Hard Drives
– Entry-level: $15 – $25
– Mainstream: $25 – $40
– Performance: $40 – $60
External 2.5-inch USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drives
– Entry-level: $35 – $50
– Mainstream: $50 – $70
– Rugged/removable: $70 – $90
500GB solid state drives are considerably more expensive, typically ranging from $50 to $100 for SATA models. External SSDs in 500GB capacities can cost $80 to $150.
Factors Affecting 500GB Hard Drive Prices
Several key factors determine pricing for 500GB hard drives:
Manufacturing Costs
Hard drive costs are closely tied to fluctuations in material expenses and factories’ operating costs. Producing the precision components in hard drives requires advanced manufacturing techniques. Sudden shortages of essential materials like aluminum, cobalt, and platinum group metals can drive up prices.
Market Demand and Availability
When demand is high and supplies are short, 500GB hard drive prices tend to rise. Availability issues with components may limit production. For example, flooding in Thailand in 2011 severely impacted the hard drive market and caused large price increases amid shortages.
Technology Generation
Newer generations with higher areal density command a price premium. For instance, drives using shingled magnetic recording allow for greater capacities at lower costs. New interfaces like SATA Express also bring higher prices initially.
Brand and Performance Class
Top brands like Western Digital and Seagate enjoy consumer trust, while cheaper third-party drives have much lower prices. Higher performance 7200 RPM drives and models for NAS systems also cost more than entry-level 5900 RPM drives.
Sales, Promotions, and Clearance
Hard drive prices see deep discounts at various times of year when excess inventory must be cleared or sales are being promoted. Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Amazon Prime Day often have great deals on 500GB hard drives.
Historical 500GB Hard Drive Pricing
Looking back over the past 15 years reveals the downward trend in 500GB hard drive prices.
| Year | Average Price |
|---|---|
| 2008 | $150 |
| 2010 | $70 |
| 2012 | $50 |
| 2014 | $45 |
| 2016 | $35 |
| 2018 | $25 |
| 2020 | $20 |
| 2022 | $15 |
In 2008, the average 500GB hard drive retailed for about $150. Through consistent technological advancements allowing for greater capacities at lower costs, prices declined to around $20-25 for today’s entry-level 500GB hard drives.
Uses for 500GB Hard Drives
While 500GB is considered a lower capacity by today’s standards, it remains sufficient for:
Operating System Drive
A 500GB hard drive has plenty of room for installing Windows, Mac OS, or Linux and frequently used programs. It leaves reasonable space for documents, downloads, and media files before requiring cleanup.
External Storage Drive
A 500GB portable external drive is useful for storing backups, additional photos, videos, and other personal files. The small form factor makes it easy to carry around large files.
Game Console Storage
Several game consoles support installing 500GB hard drives to expand storage for games, DLC, and media content beyond the limited built-in flash memory.
Media Server Storage
Custom home media servers can utilize 500GB hard drives for storing music, photos, and video content to stream on the local network or access remotely. Large arrays of multiple drives can be created.
Older Systems
While most new desktops and laptops now ship with solid state storage only, 500GB hard drives can help extend the usable life of older systems still relying on mechanical drives.
Factors To Consider When Buying a 500GB Hard Drive
Here are some important considerations when shopping for a 500GB hard drive:
Interface
Most modern PCs use the SATA III interface. Make sure to get a 500GB hard drive with SATA III for maximum interface bandwidth up to 6Gbps. Some PCs still use the older SATA II interface as well.
Form Factor
3.5-inch desktop drives require more power and use SATA connectors. 2.5-inch notebook hard drives are designed for portable use and require less power. Know what size your computer can accommodate.
Cache Size
Larger cache buffers improve performance by storing frequently accessed data. Look for drives with 32MB or 64MB of cache memory or more.
Speed (RPM)
7200 RPM drives are faster while 5400 RPM drives produce less noise and heat. Home and office PCs typically use 5400 or 7200 RPM drives.
Workload Rating
Drives rated for higher workloads and more hours per day tend to be more reliable but also more expensive. Look for a workload rating to match your usage.
Brand Reputation
Stick with established hard drive brands like WD, Seagate, Toshiba, and Hitachi for proven reliability and warranty support. Avoid cheap no-name drives.
Warranty Length
Look for 1-2 year warranties on internal drives and 2-3 years on external drives. Longer warranties indicate more confidence in reliability.
Positive Online Reviews
Check reviews on retail sites like Amazon and NewEgg to identify drives with high user satisfaction ratings and minimal critical reviews mentioning failures or issues.
Return Policies
Buying from retailers with flexible return policies allows returning a faulty drive right away for quick replacement.
Top 500GB Hard Drives
Based on the above criteria, here are some of the best 500GB hard drives currently available from major brands:
WD Blue 3D NAND SATA III 2.5″ Internal SSD
– High performance, reliable mainstream drive from Western Digital
– 550MB/s sequential read speeds and 500MB/s sequential write
– Compatible with a wide range of desktop and laptop PCs
– Industry-leading 1.75 million hours mean time to failure rating
– 5 year limited warranty
Seagate BarraCuda Compute 3.5″ SATA III Internal Hard Drive
– Cost-effective performance drive for desktop PC builds
– SATA 6Gb/s interface, 256MB cache, and 7200 RPM speed
– Sustained transfer rates up to 210MB/s
– 2 year limited warranty
– 5 year limited warranty when used with compatible Seagate systems
Samsung T7 Portable SSD
– Compact and rugged external solid state drive
– Transfer speeds up to 1,050 MB/s over USB 3.2 Gen 2
– Drop protection up to 6 feet and IPX7 water resistance
– Password protection and AES 256-bit hardware encryption
– 3 year limited warranty
WD_BLACK 5TB P10 Game Drive for Xbox One
– Official licensed external drive designed for Xbox One
– Compact form factor that attaches directly to Xbox consoles
– Transfer speeds up to 130MB/s over USB 3.2 Gen 1
– 3 year manufacturer’s limited warranty
Toshiba Canvio Flex 2.5″ USB 3.0 External Hard Drive
– Affordable and versatile external hard drive
– Sleek and slim 13mm form factor
– Plug-and-play compatibility with Windows and Mac
– Includes USB Type-C adapter for newer systems
– 2 year standard limited warranty
Final Thoughts
While 500GB hard drives are considered lower capacity today, they offer a cost-effective way to add substantial storage to desktops, laptops, game consoles, media servers, and external storage. Mainstream 500GB hard drive prices currently range from $25 to $50 for internal models and around $50 to $80 for external options. Performance, form factor, interface, warranty length, user reviews, and brand reputation are all important considerations when choosing a 500GB hard drive. Following the criteria outlined in this guide will help you select a suitable and reliable 500GB hard drive for your specific use case and budget.
