Why do you need an external hard drive?

An internal hard drive is installed in your mainframe or laptop computer and is responsible for storing your data. This includes programs and files for your entire operating system, without which your computer would not function. An external hard drive, as the name implies, is a storage device that is placed outside a computer and has three main purposes:

1. Free up internal space

Internal space is limited especially in lightweight and thin laptops. A typical word processing computer has 256GB or even only 128GB of internal memory so there's not much room left after loading a program! If you don't have enough memory, your computer will slow down or even crash. Moving other files to an external hard drive is a great way to free up space in your computer.

2. Increase writing/reading speed

The quality of photos, videos, games are getting higher and even files are getting larger. The situation is even more apparent if you are using programs that require a high level of system requirements, such as for photo editing and watching videos. For this reason, external hard drives are a must-have for designers, photographers, and YouTubers to work more efficiently. Many PlayStation and Xbox gamers add external hard drives to their consoles for a smoother and more seamless playing experience.

3. Backup

The internal hard drive contains the memory of the computer so if it goes funny – such as if it overheats, attacked by a virus, crashes, accidentally submerged in water and other unexpected incidents, there is a chance that it will not work properly, lose data or even fail to turn on. Why not use an external hard drive to back up your data regularly?

4. File transfer

An external hard drive is a plug-and-play device. There’s no need to install a program or connect it to a network to access your files which makes it very convenient. When you need to transfer huge files, it can take some time to upload and download them. In case of poor network reception, you need to repeat the process. This is where an external hard drive can be used to transfer files in a matter of seconds or a minute.

What external hard drives are out there?

Should I go for HDD or SSD technology?

HDD refers to traditional hard disk drives, while SSD is a new type of solid-state drive that outperforms HDD in terms of read/write speed and durability. The biggest attraction of HDDs is that they are very affordable, meaning that you can get more storage space than SSDs for the same price. The protection technology of HDDs has also improved. They are more durable than ever before so there is no shortage of fans.

The choice of HDD or SSD depends on application. If you need to read large files, such as pictures, photos or film clips, or if you want to improve the smoothness of your e-game, an SSD is the ideal choice. For general paperwork or backups, an HDD is sufficient. Choose one with a larger storage space according to your budget.

How much capacity do I need?

The simplest and most honest advice is to look at your budget and buy a large one as a long-term investment. In the future, the load on internal hard drives will only get larger, and the number of files that needs to be moved to external hard drives for backup will increase. In fact, the more you use external hard drives, the more durable your computer.

However, be aware that the larger the capacity, the heavier the hard disk. If you need to carry one with you, consider buying a large one and a small one. One for backup and one for temporary file storage.

What is the connection method?

Usually, it’s USB 2.0, 3.0, 3.1 Gen1 on the specs. If you find this confusing, rest assured you are not alone. Simply put, the higher the number, the newer the model and the faster the transfer speed. USB is backwards compatible, so you can access files no matter which you choose.

Also, pay attention to which connector you use on your computer. For example, Macs made after 2016 only have Type C ports, so simply choose a drive with a Type C cable. Note that with each new USB standard, the delivery capacity has nearly tripled, so the old standard will gradually be phased out and would more likely require a card reader.

Should I choose a hard drive specific to my operating system?

Each operating system has its own language. Most external hard drives have a default format of NTFS which is only compatible with Windows. If you need a hard disk for a Mac, you need to format the drive and change it to HFS. If the drive needs to be used between the two systems regularly, choose a language common to both, such as FAT32 or exFAT.

Recommended brands: SanDisk, WESTERN DIGITAL WD , SAMSUNG, Lexar, Seagate ,HP, Verbatim , Adam Elements