When it comes to video editing, having the right hard drive is crucial for smooth and efficient workflow. The best hard drives for video editing have high read/write speeds, high storage capacity, and good connectivity. In this article, we’ll compare the top options on the market to determine the ideal hard drive for different video editing needs.
Quick Answers
Here are quick answers to common questions about hard drives for video editing:
- For most users, a portable SSD like the Samsung T7 Touch is the best option. It offers fast speeds, reliability, and portability.
- For large projects with high resolution footage, a desktop RAID array provides excellent performance and capacity. The LaCie 12big RAID is a top choice.
- On a budget? An HDD like the WD Black 6TB gives you a lot of storage for the price.
- Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C connections ensure maximum transfer speeds when using SSDs.
- 7200 RPM is ideal for HDDs used in video editing rigs.
Speed: SSD vs HDD
When it comes to speed, SSDs (solid state drives) are much faster than traditional HDDs (hard disk drives). SSDs can read and write data at speeds of up to 560 MB/s, while HDDs max out at around 120 MB/s.
This is because SSDs have no moving parts – data access is handled electronically using flash memory chips. HDDs use spinning platters and a moving read/write head to access data, which is much slower.
For video editing, speed is critical when scrubbing through footage and during activities like rendering previews and exports. Using an SSD as your primary scratch and project drive will make the whole editing workflow feel much more responsive.
While HDDs are cheaper per gigabyte, the speed advantage of SSDs makes them worth the higher cost for video editing purposes. The faster performance will save you time and frustration in the long run.
Capacity: How much storage do you need?
When choosing a hard drive for video editing, you’ll want one with sufficient capacity for your needs. Here are some storage requirements to consider:
- OS and applications: 250GB – 500GB SSD
- Project files and scratch disk: 500GB – 2TB SSD
- Source footage: 1TB HDD or larger
- Final exports and project archives: 2TB+ HDD
A good workflow is to use one or more SSDs for active projects and scratch space, while storing source files and exports on cheaper high capacity HDDs. Actual needs depend on factors like video resolution and frame rates.
For professional work with multiple concurrent projects, opt for higher capacities to give yourself plenty of elbow room. It’s better to have too much storage than not enough.
Typical storage needs
Here are some typical storage capacity needs:
| Video resolution and format | Storage needed for 1 hour of footage |
| 720p HD video MP4 | 5GB |
| 1080p Full HD MP4 | 10-20GB |
| 4K UHD H.264 | 40-90GB |
| RED RAW 8K | 275-650GB |
As you can see, storage needs jump up quickly with higher resolutions. Plan accordingly when choosing your hard drives!
Interface: Thunderbolt 3 vs USB-C
The interface used to connect your hard drives has a big impact on transfer speeds. For optimal performance, choose drives with Thunderbolt 3 or USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 compatibility.
Thunderbolt 3 offers incredibly fast transfer rates up to 40Gbps. This makes it the top choice for connecting high performance RAID arrays where maximum throughput is needed. However, it comes at a premium price.
USB-C 3.2 Gen 2×2 offers more affordable high speed connectivity up to 20Gbps. Portable SSDs like the Samsung T7 Touch can reach their maximum speeds of over 1,000 MB/s over USB-C.
USB-C is compatible with both Windows PCs and Macs natively. Thunderbolt 3 is found primarily on Macs, though there are Windows PCs with Thunderbolt support. Having drives with both Thunderbolt and USB-C gives you flexibility.
Portability: Desktop vs portable drives
If you primarily work in a desktop video editing suite, then desktop hard drives are a good choice. Options like the LaCie 12big RAID can stay permanently installed and connected to your workstation.
But for videographers who work on location or travel often, portable SSDs offer big advantages. Their small size and rugged designs let you easily transport projects and footage anywhere.
Top options like the Samsung T7 Touch and SanDisk Extreme Pro are about 4 inches long and can slip into a pocket. Some portable drives also include handy features like built-in cables and fingerprint security.
One caveat is that portable SSDs top out around 2TB currently, though 5-10TB models are on the horizon. For massive amounts of stationary storage, a desktop RAID array is still preferable.
Reliability: RAID and backups
With any hard drive, failures and data loss are always a risk. Critical projects require redundancy and backups for peace of mind. Here are some ways to guard against disasters:
- RAID arrays: Use multiple drives in a RAID setup for redundancy. If one fails, no data is lost.
- Backups: Maintain up-to-date backups of all projects and source footage on separate drives.
- Cloud storage: For key project files, storing copies in the cloud acts as an offsite backup.
A properly implemented storage workflow minimizes the chances of ever losing data to a drive failure. It requires some diligence but is well worth the effort.
Our Top Hard Drive Picks for Video Editing
Based on the criteria discussed, here are some of the best hard drive options currently available for video editing needs:
Best portable SSD: Samsung T7 Touch
- Transfer speeds up to 1,050 MB/s
- Rugged metal case with fingerprint security
- Available capacities: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB
- Interfaces: USB 3.2 Gen 2, USB-C
With its blazing speeds, encrypted fingerprint login, and durable design, the Samsung T7 Touch is hard to beat for video editors on the go. It’s compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, and iPad Pro.
Best desktop SSD: WD Black SN850
- Blazing read/write speeds up to 7,000/5,300 MB/s
- PCIe 4.0 x4 interface for max performance
- Capacities from 500GB up to 4TB
- 5 year warranty
WD’s flagship SSD harnesses the bandwidth of PCIe 4.0 for wicked fast transfers and smooth editing. A heatsink version is also available for demanding workloads and hot operating environments.
Best RAID array: LaCie 12big Thunderbolt 3
- Up to 60TB capacity and 2,600MB/s speeds
- Dual Thunderbolt 3 ports for daisy chaining
- Hardware RAID for data protection
- Quiet, efficient cooling system
With massive capacity potential, great RAID features, and quiet operation, the LaCie 12big is a stellar choice for high end video editing needs. The 7200RPM Seagate IronWolf Pro HDDs offer good performance.
Best budget HDD: WD Black 6TB
- 6TB capacity at a reasonable price point
- Speeds up to 261MB/s
- 7200RPM with 256MB cache
- 5 year warranty
For affordable bulk storage, the WD Black offers a great balance of performance and high capacity. It’s a workhorse hard drive suitable for storing mountains of footage.
Conclusion
When selecting a hard drive for video editing, SSDs are strongly recommended over HDDs for active project work and scratch disks. Look for drives with Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C connectivity to max out transfer speeds.
On the desktop side, blazing fast options like the WD Black SN850 allow you to take advantage of cutting edge interfaces like PCIe 4.0. For portable use, the Samsung T7 Touch is a compact yet powerful choice.
High capacity RAID arrays like the LaCie 12big are ideal for professional studio setups that demand excellent performance and redundancy. And for archiving finished projects, cheaper high capacity HDDs get the job done affordably.
By choosing the right storage solution for your specific video editing needs and workflow, you’ll get the smoothest possible experience that saves time and dramatically boosts productivity.