How to Choose the Right Hard Disk Drive for Your Needs

I need one of them to load Windows in a few seconds. The second one is a little slower, but larger - I store movies and music archives on it. The third disk is just for work. And two more external disks, where I store what did not fit on the others.

This division is convenient: if the operating system crashes, I don't have to restore my work files, because they are stored on another physical disk.

What we call a hard disk drive

"Hard Disk Drive" is the device on which we store files and programs. There used to be only one type of such devices - HDD. Then SSDs were added, but many people still call them hard disks out of habit. In this article I talk about all the main types of storage devices.

I will tell you how to choose a hard disk drive without the advice of salesmen and so that you do not confuse anything.

What is better: HDD or SSD

These are two different types of storage devices. Here's how they differ.

HDD (hard disk drive). A hard disk drive is literally a disk that is housed in a box with a reader.

The inside of the HDD slightly resembles a vinyl player

In fact, there are several such disks, they are located one above the other. Each disk has a special magnetic coating, thanks to which information is recorded on the disk. The technology is non-volatile: the information remains on the disk without electricity connection.

HDD has a big disadvantage - fragility. A small impact is enough and the disks will move from their place, the sputtering will be damaged and the data will be lost. That's why HDD are either used inside the system unit or laptop, or placed in a special case and treated super gently. But there is a small possibility to recover data even from a partially defective disk.

HDD nowadays is useful only for specific tasks: storage of large amount of files or archive of important photos.

In addition to cheapness, HDD win over other storage standards with the ability to partially recover deleted files. If you are lucky, an accidentally deleted table with a quarterly report can be retrieved without data corruption.

SSD (solid-state drive). A solid-state drive consists of a controller and a set of chips that store information.

The smallest elements within the chips take on the value "1" or "0". Then the processor reads these values and converts them into the files we are used to: documents, pictures, videos. SSD can be compared to an advanced and voluminous flash drive.

SSD disadvantages are usually the price and capacity: it is difficult to find SSDs with a capacity of more than 2 TB on sale. And such disks usually cost more than HDDs.

It makes sense to install SSD disks in most modern builds. Their price is decreasing every year, while their quality is increasing. Paying twice as much, in some cases you can get 10-100 times higher speed.

Fast operation of PC will be useful not only for users of professional software: the system and programs will start loading faster, and copying files will take less time.

SSD can be installed even in old computers equipped only with SATA-sockets for hard disks.

There is a third type called an SSHD (solid-state hybrid drive). This is a device that stores data on both disks and flash memory.

Such devices improve computer performance due to a special architecture: they write to the SSD part of the disk the information needed to boot the operating system. The next time the computer is turned on, the system will run faster because its data is located on the fast part of the disk.

In some moments such devices work faster, but in essence they remain the same HDDs with all their disadvantages.

 

Hybrids look like regular HDDs

Which HDD is better: external or internal

The drives can be installed inside a computer or laptop or simply carried around like a flash drive.

Internal hard disks are placed inside the system unit or laptop. What matters here is the form factor, which is the size and shape of the hard drive. This is usually specified in inches.

For example, if you buy a 2.5-inch-wide hard drive for a typical system unit, you'll have to think about where to put it: standard mounts are designed for 3.5-inch drives. Laptops usually use the 2.5 form factor - you just can't fit a larger drive in there.

SSD disks have a different form factor and are labeled with four numbers: 2242, 2232 and beyond. Before choosing an internal hard disk drive, check your computer or laptop manual to see what form factor you need.

To connect the internal drive, you need to turn off the computer or laptop, open the case, find the necessary connectors for data exchange and power, and connect the device.

 

Any internal HDD will look like a metal heavy box

External HDDs can be carried around, so the form factor is all about convenience. I'm comfortable using a large 2.5 inch drive, while someone prefers the tiny 1.8 inch ones.

External disks most often use USB connectors, so to connect them you just need to insert the wire into the right slot - like a flash drive.

 

The Toshiba external drive is slightly smaller than a pen. I just carry one of these in my back pants pocket

How a hard drive connects to a PC

Interface refers to the physical connector, and the software method of transferring data. There are several modern ones.

SATA is the main standard for connecting both HDD and SSD drives. The SATA port can usually be found on the motherboard. There are three generations of these connectors, they differ mainly in bandwidth speed:

1. SATA I: 1.5 gigabits per second. Under ideal conditions, an 8GB movie will download in almost a minute.
2. SATA II: 3 gigabits per second. A movie should take 30 seconds to download.
3. SATA III: 6 gigabits per second. A movie downloads in 10 seconds.

The manufacturer specifies the maximum throughput speed of the interface: the speed at which files will be written in reality is affected by hundreds of factors - from disk wear and tear to the characteristics of the files.

Therefore, to obtain real data, the maximum speed should be divided by 3-5. That is, on a high-speed SATA III the movie will be downloaded not for 10 seconds, but for about a minute. On SATA I you should count on a few minutes.

New devices are released mainly on the basis of SATA III.

PCI-E - this interface is used for connecting solid-state disks - SSD. There are several connectors based on PCI-E, for example M2. PCI-E ports are located only on the motherboard.

 

SATA III connector on a standard HDD

 

M2 connector made on the basis of PCI-E

USB - This interface is used to connect external disks, the ports are located on the PC case. Here are the popular versions:

1. USB 2 - quite slow, but common format for HDDs and flashcards. The maximum speed is up to 60 megabytes per second. In reality, such HDDs write about 1-10 megabytes per second, that is, a movie weighing 8 GB will take about 10 minutes to download.
2. USB 3.0, aka USB Super Speed 5, aka USB 3.1 Gen 1, aka USB 3.2 Gen 1 × 1 - a modern standard with high speed, bandwidth up to 4.8 gigabits per second. If you look at the tests, a hard drive via USB 3.0 can write at 1-15 megabytes per second. A movie will download in 1-3 minutes.
3. USB 3.2 Gen 2, aka USB Super Speed 10, aka USB 3.2 Gen 2, aka USB 4 Gen 2 × 1 is a USB specification with even higher speeds. Throughput up to 10 gigabits, in reality such a disk can deliver up to a few tens of megabytes per second. You can literally record a movie in a minute.
4. USB 3.2 Gen 2 × 2, aka USB Super Speed 20, aka USB 4 Gen 2 × 2, aka USB 4 Gen 3 × 1 is an even more modern standard. It supports speeds up to 20 Gbps and USB-C plugs.

Suitable interfaces should not only be in the hard drive, but also in the very device to which you will connect the drive. So before you buy an internal hard disk drive, check if the motherboard has the necessary interfaces. You can do this in the free program HWiNFO in the Motherboard section.

If you buy an external disk, consider backward compatibility: you will be able to use a USB 3.0 disk in an old USB 2.0 connector, only the speed will be minimal. Therefore, there is no point in buying an expensive external SSD for an ordinary notebook without "fast" connectors.

What does HDD data transfer speed depend on?

From the spindle speed. This is the axis that spins the very plates:

1. 5400 rpm - slower, less noise, less heat generation, and therefore more reliable;
2. 7200 rpm - faster, more noise, slightly less reliable.

If you need an internal hard disk for your operating system, go for a 7200 RPM SSD or HDD. This way your computer will boot up and run faster.

For data storage, go for a 5400 RPM HDD. It's quiet, reliable.

HDD with USB 3.0 interface is convenient as an external hard disk. Most laptops, computers and even TVs will have this interface.

What the HDD buffer affects

Buffer or cache is a separate type of memory inside HDD, which is responsible for working with the "queue". That is, those programs and processes that are not yet processed by HDD, but will be soon.

 

Buffer memory is similar to SSDs and is also located on the board.

The larger the cache, the more operations the drive can store - and the less frequently the system accesses it, reducing wear and tear. In addition, working with a disk with a larger buffer feels faster.

HDDs with buffer memory ranging from 8 MB to 4 GB are available on the market today, but a hard disk with a 256 MB cache will suffice for everyday use.

Which memory size to choose

HDDs generally have memory capacities from 500GB to 10TB, while SSDs range from 128GB to 2TB. Exactly how much memory you need depends on your tasks, but there are a few specifics:

1. Prices for HDDs up to 2TB will be almost the same: there is no point in saving money and buying a 500GB disk if you can buy 2TB for the same amount.
2. For disks with 4TB and above, the price tag grows proportionally: it is easier to buy five 2TB disks than one 10TB disk.

Frequent Questions When Choosing Hard Disk Drives

Noise. HDD can't help but make noises - there is a disk spinning inside that is constantly being touched by the read coil. HDDs may hum, buzz, or even clang slightly while recording or backing up information. These are all normal occurrences.

Because of the presence of moving elements, disks are easily damaged. Therefore, after a fall HDD may start to make more sharp sounds. Here are what defects are indicated by HDD sounds:

1. Grinding. Most likely, due to physical impact the hard disk was damaged or displaced, and now the reader head scratches it. Such a disk should be immediately disconnected and taken to a repair center: it will be difficult to repair it on your own.
2. clicking. In small volumes clicks are normal for HDD. But if they are heard too often, the problem lies in the defect of the reading coil. You can't fix the coil yourself - the disk will also have to be repaired.
3. Squeaking. Even a healthy disk will occasionally squeak, but if especially loud and frequent squeaks are heard immediately when turning on the PC, the problem is in the position of the hard disk. If the disk is recognized after that, perform its diagnostics with a special program e.g. HDD Sentinel.

Example of a grinding and squeaking hard disk drive

Brand. A general rule of thumb is to avoid buying unknown brands and suspiciously cheap devices. A 1TB hard drive costs about $30 right now. The price for reliable 4TB drives starts at $70.

Among the brands, Western Digital, Seagate, Toshiba and Kingston are sure to have reliable devices.

How to choose a hard drive: checklist

1. Decide what you need a hard disk drive for: HDD will only come in handy for inexpensive storage of large amounts of information. Any computer will benefit in speed from switching to an SSD.
2. Decide on the shape, interfaces, and speed. Hard disks are vulnerable to physical impact, so it's better to choose internal models with support for the fast SATA standard.
3. For external hard drives: make sure your PC or laptop supports fast USB transfer - at least version 3.0.
4. If you decide to buy an SSD: the choice of SSDs is radically different from that of hard disks.
5. With HDD memory, it is better not to save money and buy models from 1 terabyte. For massive storage, you can safely consider models from 4 terabytes.