A Guide to Choosing the Right External Hard Drives
Hard Drive is an electromechanical data storage device that effectively stores digital data and retrieves the data from it when needed. Hard Drives have two varieties, one external and one internal. The external hard drives provide extra memory capacity for the user. Hard disk as an entity came into existence in the year 1956. There are dominant secondary storage devices and come in handy while storing extra data and documents.
While the internal hard drives are an inseparable part of the computer or mobile, the external hard drives come off as a handy alternative. The same drive can be used in multiple devices and is very easy to carry and use. The internal hard drives use a SATA connector to plug in directly into the motherboard while the external hard drives use a number of different connections like:
- Thunderbolt
- Firewire (800 or 400)
- eSATA
- USB C ( or USB Type-C)
- USB
Types of External Hard Drive devices that can be used on regular basis:
- Cloud Storage Drives- This is a more secure and efficient way of sharing or streaming data without any wire. The user can also access a personal cloud and get connected with multiple users and serve from the click of the user. Devices as different as Android, iOS, MAC, and others. Since cloud storage is directly connected to the internet, therefore, remote service is also provided to the users.
- Portable Wireless Drives- This is very popular amongst tablet users, and it further allows the users to connect to an external device without using any wires. Each wireless device has a battery capacity of about ten hours.
- Portable USB 3.0 Drives- These drives are normally ten times faster than the earlier USB 2.0 and have the potential of transferring the data at the speed of 5Gbit/s, or 625MBps. Can be used in most laptops or desktops or mobiles or tablets.
There are two types of external hard drives namely Desktop-style drives and External Solid State Drives (SSDs). While the desktop drives are designed to stay in one place only. The external solid-state drives are found in notebooks. They are used rarely because they are cost-effective and the cost per gigabyte is very high.
The terms that the user must know about External Hard drives are as follows:
- Buffer (Cache)- When the external hard drive accesses the data, it is for the time being stored in the memory buffer or more popularly called as cache. Hence, the user can make use of a larger buffer to further enhance the style.
- Gigabytes- This is the measuring unit of a byte. One GB is further equivalent to one thousand megabytes. (1GB= 1,000 MGB)
- Megabytes per second (MPS)- This refers to the speed at which many megabytes can be processed every one second.
- Networking- The hard drives that are new to the market have this provision to offer a network-attached storage drive facility also known as (NAS). This kind of drive further comes with a built-in Wi-Fi facility or an Ethernet port.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Are external hard drives a good idea?
Yes, external hard drives are a great solution for backups. They offer the advantage of no monthly service charge, allowing you to have full control of your data. However, it's important to note that external hard drives are not completely infallible and can still be subject to issues.
2. How do I choose an external hard drive?
To choose an external hard drive, consider the type and amount of data you need to store. If you only have documents and files, a 500GB external hard drive will be sufficient. However, if you have larger files or need more storage space, opt for a higher capacity drive.
3. How long will an external hard drive last?
The average lifespan of an external hard drive is around 3-5 years, assuming no physical damage occurs. It's recommended to consider replacing your external hard drive every few years to ensure the safety of your data.
4. Which is better SSD or HDD?
SSDs (Solid State Drives) are generally faster and more reliable than HDDs (Hard Disk Drives), but they are also more expensive. If you prioritize speed and performance and can afford the higher cost per gigabyte, an SSD is worth considering. However, if you need a larger storage capacity at a lower price, an HDD may be a better option.
5. Do hard drives go bad if not used?
Yes, a hard drive can deteriorate if it is not used for several years. It is recommended to keep using it regularly to keep it in good working condition, similar to how regular use can keep a car or a house in good shape.
6. What should you not do with an external hard drive?
Avoid overloading your external hard drive with too much data, as it can strain the drive and impact its performance. It's important to keep the drive from working too hard to ensure optimal functioning.
7. Are external hard drives becoming obsolete?
While SSDs are gaining popularity, external hard drives are still far from becoming obsolete. They remain a cost-effective storage solution for computers and servers, making them a practical choice for many users.
8. What's the difference between an external hard drive and a portable hard drive?
External hard drives typically consist of a plastic case housing a 3.5-inch desktop hard drive and require an external power supply. Portable hard drives, on the other hand, usually contain a 2-inch laptop hard drive and can be powered directly through the USB connector.
9. What is the difference between 2.0 and 3.0 external hard drives?
The main difference between USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 external hard drives is the transfer speed. USB 2.0 offers transfer rates of 480 Mbps, while USB 3.0 offers transfer rates of 4.8 Gbps, which is 10 times faster. However, it's important to note that the actual transfer speeds can also depend on the device, bus type, USB ports, and cables in use.
10. Is it bad to leave external hard drive on all the time?
It is recommended to only power on your external hard drive when you need to use it, whether it's internal or external. The more the hard drive is active, even if it's idle, the more wear and tear it may experience. Minimizing its usage can help prolong its lifespan.
11. Which lasts longer SSD or HDD?
SSDs (Solid State Drives) tend to last longer than HDDs (Hard Disk Drives). While HDDs generally last around 3-5 years, SSDs can last up to 10 years or more. This is because SSDs have no moving parts, reducing the risk of mechanical failure over time.
Editor's Notes
During our external hard drive research, we found 24 external hard drive products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 3,118,428 customer reviews through our big data system to write the external hard drives list. We found that most customers choose external hard drives with an average price of $126.77.
The external hard drives are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of external hard drives, including Seagate, WD, TOSHIBA, Western Digital, Maxone. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 385 consumers with an average rating of 4.7.
Mike Davis is a professionally trained electrician with six years of working experience in the electronics industry. He has written an array of web and mobile-based articles for e-magazines and blogs. He loves trying out some novel and popular gadgets and his expertise is in the areas of electronics and computers which is built over many years of working and personal experiences.
