Documents, games, images, or sound files stored in high-quality lossless formats take up a lot of storage space and can affect the speed of your computer. A storage device with sufficient capacity is key to enjoying a good computer experience. Here's a guide to buying popular HDDs with recommendations from brands such as Seagate and WESTERN DIGITAL WD. Choose the right external storage device to boost your productivity.

Introduction

HDD stands for "Hard Disk Drive". Unlike SDD ("Solid State Drive"), HDD uses spinning discs to read and write data and is often referred as a "mechanical hard disk" or "traditional hard disk". Due to the large storage capacity and low cost, HDDs are used by many computer manufacturers and widely used for personal, business, NAS and surveillance video applications.

Reasons for Buying HDD

1. Value for money

Among all the types of portable hard drives, HDDs are relatively inexpensive and offer the most storage capacity. In addition, HDDs have a longer read and write life, making them suitable for storing important documents and high-quality audio and video files. HDDs are undoubtedly the best value for money for those who need to store large amounts of data.

2. Back up data

Although many store their data on cloud drives, the additional storage space requires a monthly or annual subscription and may not be readily accessible in the event of a vendor server crash. Using an HDD for daily storage and backup saves on rental costs and ensures that all your important data are backed up safely.

3. Privacy

If privacy is important and you want the convenience of cloud storage, consider building your own NAS private cloud. With a router setup, connect to your NAS anytime and anywhere to securely access and share your files. The NAS needs to be used in conjunction with an HDD installation so the capacity limit will be determined by your budget.

Shopping Tips

1. Capacity

The first thing to look for when choosing a storage device is the capacity. Currently, HDDs are commonly available in capacities ranging from 1TB to 8TB, with some models from 12TB to 18TB. A few manufacturers have announced the launch of products supporting 20TB. However, the higher the capacity of the HDD, the greater the failure risk. For the individual user, 1TB to 4TB is sufficient for daily file storage.

2. Maintenance and repair services

When you buy an HDD, it comes with a free limited warranty. This period depends on the type and capacity of the HDD. If you need to use the free warranty service, the product must comply with warranty terms set by the brand. Check the maintenance services offered by the manufacturer including data recovery and product replacement to ensure that your data is stored securely.

3. Hard Drive size

HDDs come in two sizes, 2.5" and 3.5", with different maximum storage capacities. The former is suitable for on-the-go use, while the latter is suitable for backup of data on company or personal computers. Consider actual usage requirements and the environment before you buy an HDD.

4. Additional features

For secure data storage on HDDs, it is advisable to choose a product with additional features to protect your data from the virtual to the physical level. Choose a product with anti-theft technology to avoid the risk of data leakage. In addition, HDDs are susceptible to shock and vibration damage, so choose products with protection features such as impact, water and dust resistance to ensure secure use.

5. USB interface specifications

The higher the specification of the USB interface, the faster the data transfer speed, which is particularly important when storing large amounts of data. Although USB connections are backwards compatible with previous generations and can be connected to different models via adaptors, it is important to check the specification of the USB interface used and whether the device you are using supports it.

6. Supported Systems

Mac OS, Windows and Linux systems support different file system formats and have their own optimal storage formats. You can reformat your hard drive at a later stage to reorganise your system format and structure of files.