External hard drives description. What to look for when choosing an external hard drive

Today, information can amount to terabytes, and therefore the most convenient way to use it for transfer or storage is an external hard drive.

Also, the device will be very helpful if something happens to your personal computer, if you first download all the necessary data to an external hard drive or operating system. Each specific model has enough parameters to get confused in choosing the right device.

Drive size

To achieve maximum ease of use, you need to decide on the size of the device. The lineup is represented by external hard drives of 2.5 and 3.5 inches. The first type is compact and lightweight, its maximum weight reaches 180 g. And a USB cable is used as a power source.

The disk is 3.5 inches larger and is practically no different from the built-in hard drives of a desktop computer. This means that such drives are quite heavy, their weight reaches one and a half kilograms. The disadvantage is the need to connect to the network. But despite this, the 3.5-inch type of external drive is still popular due to its very large memory capacity and affordable price.

Having determined for yourself what is more important in using such a device, you can make a choice. If it is mobility and small dimensions, then preference should be given to the first type 2.5 inches. When you need an economical option without losing the capacity of the device, then a 3.5-inch removable hard drive is the most suitable option.

External hard drive capacity

First of all, you need to consider what exactly is supposed to be stored on such a device. If there are large quantities of video materials, then a 3.5-inch model will certainly be suitable.

This is explained by the fact that the capacity of such devices can reach terabytes, and this is a very impressive figure. The average capacity of 2.5-inch drives usually ranges from 250 to 500 gigabytes.

Type of memory used

There are only three types:

  • HDD - most often used in personal computers. Its disadvantage is the presence of moving parts in the structure. That is why this type of memory is least suitable for a portable hard drive due to low reliability as a result of possible damage.
  • SSD - unlike the first type, it is more reliable, since it has no moving parts, which means that during transfer and various types of impacts the likelihood of avoiding damage increases. In addition to this, the reading speed of the hard drive will increase if you choose this type of memory. The device's energy consumption is reduced.
  • SSHD is an average option that combines the functions of previous types. This combination of properties makes it most attractive to the user, given its affordable price.

Device speed

This parameter refers to the transfer of data, its processing, as well as the speed of finding the information of interest. The most common option for connecting an external hard drive to a PC is USB 2.0. But this type of connector also provides the slowest speed. general work drive - up to 480 MB/s. It was replaced by the USB 3.0 standard, providing the device with higher operating speeds (4.8 Gb/s). However, the disadvantage is that it cannot be connected to a 2.0 standard connector. By the way, it will be said that the reverse connection is quite possible.

At the USB 2.0 level, eSATA is used, which provides speeds of up to 3 Gb/s. As you can see, such a standard can provide high speed operation of the device. An obvious disadvantage is the shape of the connector, which is not very common and is not available in all drive models.

Thunderbolt is the fastest format; when available, the operating speed can reach 10 Gb/s. The only downside is the limitation on use, since this type of data transfer is used only in Apple products.

And finally, there are models with Wi-Fi connectivity. Depending on the technology used, data can be transferred at a speed of 6 Gb/s or as little as 450 Mb/s.

Also, the speed of operation depends on the capabilities of the drive when rotating the spindle in the device design.

The 2.5-inch removable disc accelerates to 5,400 rpm, while its larger 3.5-inch brother spins at 7,200 rpm. Accordingly, the priority of these device operating features depends on the purpose that the drive will serve.

Compatibility with a PC is very important, since if you do not take into account all the possibilities, you can only access the drive’s files in read mode. Thus, the most common file system today is FAT 32. Its disadvantages include the small size of opened files - 4 GB. The NTFS system is less demanding here and much more capacious files are opened through it. The advantage of FAT 32 is its compatibility even with the most outdated operating systems.

External drive case material

You should not focus solely on the technical capabilities of the device. After all, if you have to carry the drive with you often enough, the likelihood of dropping or damaging the drive increases, and therefore the choice of case material is important.

The model range is represented by the following types of materials:

  • plastic;
  • rubberized surface to ensure better adhesion to the surface on which the device is placed, thereby reducing the likelihood of it falling due to slipping;
  • the metal case is more reliable, as it takes on the greatest load when hit or dropped.

When choosing a removable hard drive for your own use, you can pay attention to stylish models. For example, the manufacturer Transcend represents a wide the lineup attractive and functional devices.

Additional software

When choosing a drive, you often acquire even greater capabilities for it. For example, there are a number of programs that ensure security when copying data and also reduce the power consumption of the device. For the same purpose, you can set software, allowing an external removable drive to “go to sleep” if it has been inactive for a certain time. For security purposes, backup data storage is configured at user-specified intervals. In cases where it is necessary to protect information from prying eyes, special programs allow you to encrypt data using a 128-bit key.

There are models equipped additional button. Its purpose is to back up data, which is performed automatically when pressed.

Which external hard drive should you choose?

The above parameters reveal the functionality of almost all removable devices. Having studied this information, you can identify the most important parameters for yourself, and also rank them in order of importance, in accordance with the purpose of using the device.

After which you should definitely pay attention to the cost of the model you like. It is important to remember that the following drive parameters are involved in pricing: overall operating speed, type of memory used, case material, hard drive capacity, and its size. The combination of the best and most efficient characteristics is an indicator that the model belongs to the highest price category.

The 2.5-inch drive format with a capacity of 320 GB is one of the most affordable models - 1,500 rubles. A 3.5-inch external hard drive with a capacity of 1 terabyte will go to the owner for approximately 2,500 rubles. Seagate can be called a prominent representative of such devices. The 3.5 format can have a capacity of 4 and 6 terabytes, which, accordingly, will increase the cost of such a device. And the price will go beyond 11,000 rubles. Thus, the most suitable option at an affordable price is 2.5 format external hard drives, since their capacity has limits.

List of online stores with discounts on external hard drives

The advantages of external disk drives are a large amount of memory, ease of operation and compatibility with a huge variety of equipment - from TV to mobile phone.

The main functions of an external hard drive are not limited to expanding the memory on a computer or transferring large amounts of information. Portable HDD very convenient to use as installation disk, to change the configuration of the working system and to store backup copies of files.

In order to choose a portable hard drive with optimal characteristics, you should determine the goals and purposes for which you plan to purchase it. Let's look at the main parameters that you need to pay attention to when choosing an external disk drive.

Capacity (memory capacity)

Of course, capacity is the most important characteristic of an external hard drive, which largely determines its capabilities. The amount of memory directly depends on the size of the device. A 2.5-inch drive can hold up to 2 TB, and a 3.5-inch drive can hold up to 3 TB. However, when choosing an external drive, you should not concentrate only on its capacity. Be sure to balance the storage capacity of the drive with its cost and performance.

Size

Typically external hard disks are presented in standard dimensions - 2.5 or 3.5 inches diagonally.

2.5-inch representatives of external drives have the advantage of being compact and light in weight. Such discs easily fit in your pocket, providing their main advantage - mobility.

3.5-inch devices are heavier and larger, and usually require a power supply. Basically, they are used permanently, connected to a specific computer. The advantage of these external drives is that they are much stronger and more durable than their smaller counterparts.

Performance

The operating speed of a portable hard drive is always assessed in conjunction with its capacity and size and is determined by the rotation speed, access time and type of interface. The fastest data exchange protocols are USB and eSATA, but you should consider their compatibility with other devices.

The average read speed of 2.5-inch external drives is 35 MB/s, write speed is up to 30 MB/s. 3.5-inch drives usually work faster: in read mode – from 70 to 90 MB/s, write – from 60 to 80 MB/s. In other words, the choice towards device mobility will require certain sacrifices in the form of loss of disk speed.

Interface.

Today there are several main interfaces - eSATA, FireWire, USB 3.0 and USB 2.0. The latter is the most popular, although relatively slow. The main argument when choosing an interface is the requirements for device compatibility and speed of operation.

Many modern manufacturers, concerned about limited compatibility with USB 3.0, eSATA and FireWire interfaces, provide drives with the ability to work with multiple interfaces, and of course, such devices expand the scope of their application and are more preferable when choosing.

Material, construction and design

The material from which the case is made is a very important characteristic of an external drive. The advantage of metal over plastic is obvious, since the metal case will reliably protect the fragile internal structure of the disk from mechanical damage and temperature changes. The plastic case is undoubtedly cheaper, however, it is less durable and reliable.

The design of external drives is extremely varied and its choice depends only on the aesthetic taste of the buyer. The standard rectangular shape is no longer the rule, and the market offers many models of original designs.

Manufacturer

ASUS, Transcend, Samsung, Verbatium, Toshiba are just some of the companies that have proven themselves in the field of external drives. Basic specifications storage devices depend very little on the manufacturer. The choice of manufacturer can only be determined by the presence of additional functions, design, etc.

Additional features

Some important functions, which can be implemented in a portable hard drive:

— a reboot button, which turns out to be especially useful when installing and configuring an operating system when the drive is included in the list of boot disks;

— an information protection option that will prevent data loss due to careless or ill-considered actions;

— presence of built-in cords;

- a display on the case that displays the occupied disk space, free space, operating speed, temperature, etc.

The choice of a portable hard drive is mainly determined by the requirement or lack of requirement for mobility, along with the volume, dimensions and speed of operation. It is these parameters that you should first pay attention to when looking for the best option.

Having an external hard drive greatly simplifies the life of any personal computer user.

After all, thanks this device became possible:

  1. Keep confidential information, work files and important large documents with you at all times, protecting yourself from theft;
  2. Keep a large amount of information (family photos, movies, music, home videos) on an external external device, which reduces the likelihood of them being lost when the operating system crashes.
  3. Significantly increase the space on your main HDD by moving rarely used files to an external hard drive.
  4. Create backups files, archived copies of operating systems, and immediately send them for storage to a remote device.
  5. Create and store a backup of important computer information in a separate, safe place.

How to increase data storage space

The topic of increasing data storage space requires a separate chapter. A lot here depends on what type of PC you have: a computer, laptop or netbook.

Computer

To increase data storage space on your computer, you can go in several ways.

Buy a second hard drive.

But for many PC users, this can cause a problem, because you will have to disassemble the computer, you need to be able to correctly connect the purchased hard drive to the motherboard.

In most cases, you will have to go into the BIOS and change settings, and such actions require knowledge, because you can get so tricky that the computer won’t start at all.

Also, do not forget that the presence of two hard drives significantly reduces .

Upgrade your hard drive.

For example, you have a 300 GB HDD, which is not very much these days. You have decided to purchase a 1 TB hard drive.

But again, you will have to disassemble the computer, reinstall the system, and transfer data.

The HDD must have an interface that is supported by your PC's motherboard - IDA or SATA. In general, there is a lot of hassle.

Laptop, netbook

It is not possible to install a second hard drive in these devices; you will have to upgrade the latter, and this may cause the difficulties described above.

So how to get out of the situation?

In most cases, a remote hard drive can save the situation, which can work with any type of personal computer, since it connects via USB and supports many other interfaces.

In general, what can I say, such a device is convenient, useful and, most importantly, practical.

Choosing a remote hard drive is not easy, because the offers on the market range from different manufacturers the darkness is dark.

Pricing policies are also different, so in order to make the right choice and at the same time save on your purchase, you need to understand the topic. And we will help you with this.

Criteria for choosing an external hard drive.

These criteria include:

  1. Device types;
  2. Storage capacity;
  3. Typical size (Form factor);
  4. Power connector type;
  5. Spindle speed;
  6. Supported data transfer rate, respectively supported interface USB 2.0, USB 3.0 and others;
  7. Buffer volume;
  8. Appearance;
  9. Weight, dimensions, color;
  10. Type of shell;
  11. Manufacturer.

The selection criteria listed above in most cases are very intertwined with each other.

Therefore, we will not dwell specifically on each point, but will consider the most important points, where all the others will be considered.

Device types

External hard drives are divided into two types:

  1. Portable;
  2. Stationary (desktop).

Portable devices.

They have a more elegant appearance and compact size. Accordingly, their weight is also small. There are models weighing 200 grams.

They are powered via a USB cable, which means they do not require a 220V network.

The advantages are obvious, but there are still disadvantages in such devices:

  1. This is a high cost of memory per 1GB;
  2. Lower spindle speed is 5400 RPM, and this affects the speed of the device, although only slightly;
  3. Limited disk space of 500 GB. There are models up to 1.5 TB in size, but they do not work as fast as we would like.

Stationary external drives.

Although they are large in size and weight, which can certainly cause some discomfort when using them, they still have a number of advantages.

These include this:

  1. Spindle rotation speed is 7200 – 10,000 rpm, which ensures fast and stable operation;
  2. Large disk space sizes up to 2 TB or more;
  3. The price in relation to the cost per 1 GB is lower than in portable devices.

Still, do not forget that the spindle rotation speed of 7200 and 10,000 rpm is provided by a power supply operating from a 220V network, and this limits the mobility of using an external drive.

Storage capacity

The first thing that buyers of external hard drives pay attention to is, of course, their capacity.

But as the practice of using such external devices shows, the capacity of the container varies. Much depends on the type of device used.

If you need a portable drive for everyday mobile work that will not depend on a 220V network, then pay attention to models with a capacity of up to 500 GB, since devices with a large internal size can slow down (there are models with a capacity of 1.5 TB).

After all, as a rule, in such models the spindle rotates at a frequency of 5400 rpm. If you still want to buy such a HDD, then pay attention to the clipboard exchanges, but more on that a little later.

For example, the Silicon Power SP010TBPHDA60S3K model, 1 TB in size, has a 32 MB buffer. At 5400 RPM of the spindle it gives not bad results in data transfer speed.

If you plan to use an external hard drive as remote storage for data on a stationary PC and count on its high speed + large amount of data from 500 GB to 2 TB or more, then stationary external devices will be appropriate here.

Spindle rotation speed 7200 - 10,000 rpm, built-in cooling system (for some models), connection to a 220V network via an adapter, all this will allow you to process large amounts of data without feeling the difference where they are located, on the built-in HDD or external.

For example, the Transcend StoreJet 35T3 model with a capacity of 3Tb shows good results.

Model characteristics.

Real disk capacity.

Many buyers of external hard drives noticed that the disk space sizes stated in the specifications did not correspond to the actual ones.

For example, a 1 TB disk has an actual capacity of 931.51 GB. But we want to reassure you, there is no deception here, this is marketing ploy memory device manufacturers. Although….?

But many have already become accustomed to such a seemingly “divorce” and do not pay attention to it, since this is accepted throughout the world.

It’s all about the “Binary” and “C” measurement systems. In "C" they measure in thousandths (kilo, mega, etc.).

In the binary system of measurements, calculations occur differently - in gigabytes, megabytes, terabytes, bytes.

The operating system simply counts in a binary system and shows us the sizes in this system.

The larger the capacity of the external hard drive, the greater the difference in numbers you will see.

But in order not to delve into the jungle of science, let's give an example.

For example, a 500 GB disk, the operating system will see it as 465 GB, the difference is 37 GB.

The system will see a 1 TB disk as 931.51 GB, a difference of about 69 GB.

You just have to come to terms with this.

Form factor

External hard drives are available in several form factors or types of sizes - 1.8, 2.5 and 3.5 inches.

The first 1.8-inch form factor was not widely used, and you are unlikely to see it in a store.

The 2.5-inch size is typical for portable types of devices, and the 3.5-inch form factor is typical for desktop devices.

This indicator only indicates the size of the disk without a case, but since all external drives have different cases, it is easy to understand that the physical capacities of the disks will be different.

Frame

If you plan to use an external drive only at home, which is typical for desktop devices, then it will be enough to choose a model with a plastic or plastic case.

This will protect it from minor damage in the form of scratches and light impacts.

If you have to carry the device often and even use it outdoors, then you need to be more meticulous in choosing the case material.

Pay attention to metal cases, for example aluminum, with rubber seals. This will protect not only from impact when falling, but also from moisture penetration inside.

For example, the model.

In most cases, in the description of a particular device model it is difficult to find information about what the case is made of.

Typically, housings are part of a single shockproof system, which includes multi-level protection that completely absorbs vibrations.

Pay attention to the presence of a silicone shell, shock-absorbing pendants, whether the case is drop-resistant, etc.

Model characteristics.

Although the case of this model is made of plastic, its design allows you to protect the drive from the most serious external influences.

The case of model SILICON POWER SP020TBPHDA30S3K is made of rubber.

The shock-resistant case allows you to operate the device in very difficult conditions, under constant external loads.

The case of the TOSHIBA HDTD205ES3DA SILVER model is made of aluminum, which is quite durable protection.

The case of model 3Q 3QHDD-T225-EB500 BLACK is made of leather and aluminum. This symbiosis allows not only to increase the degree of protection, but also gives this model a more aesthetic appearance.

Power connector type

The type of power connector directly determines whether the device is portable or desktop. Although some desktop models can also be portable, their mobility is limited by the presence of a 220V network.

In portable devices, a voltage of 5V is supplied to the external drive via a USB cable. This ensures stable operation of the device with a spindle speed of 5400 rpm.

Desktop models typically run at speeds of 7,200 rpm or more. For such speeds, 5V is not enough, so 12V is supplied to the device through a special adapter that comes with the kit.

There is nothing more to add here, one thing we can say is that the type of power connector for the external hard drive is paid attention to at the final stage of selection.

Connection interfaces

USB.

Almost all the latest models of external drives support USB 3.0. This interface allows data transfer at a speed of 625 Mb/s.

Of course, this figure is impressive, but there is no need to rejoice, because HDD hard drives operate at speeds several times lower - 60 - 160 MB/s, depending on the model.

Definitely, these opportunities are laid down for the future and should not be abandoned.

Another good thing is that USB 3.0 is backward compatible with USB 2.0, which transfers data at a speed of 60 MB/s.

But don't expect to get that speed either. For various technical reasons, you are unlikely to see more than 30 Mb/s, although this figure is quite acceptable for work.

Also pay attention to the USB cable that comes with the kit. As a rule, there should be a USB Standard A connector on one side.

And on the other side is USB Mini B, which is supported by most types of external storage devices.

Interface type LAN (Ethernet).

Allows you to use an external hard drive as a network shared data storage. Movies, music and other information can be available to all network users and even the Internet.

An example is the Seagate STCG4000200 model.

As a rule, external hard drives with a LAN interface belong to the category of so-called NAS drives, albeit in a simplified version.

Data transfer over the local network can be carried out at a distance of up to 100 meters.

Wi-Fi.

External hard drive support for this technology allows you to connect it to a wireless network and provide network users with access to a free multimedia library.

Everyone decides for themselves whether it is worth paying extra for such an opportunity.

SATA.

Some models of external hard drives support interfaces from the category. Of particular interest are models with support for SATA3 (ATA-600). The number 600 tells us that the theoretical data transfer speed will be 600 Mb/s.

Such hard drives can be directly connected to the motherboard, which gives the user additional features fast data processing.

You can safely install an operating system on such disks, boot from them and work.

An example is the Buffalo HD-PA128TU3S model.

eSATA and eSATAp interface.

eSATA is a modern interface providing data transfer speeds of up to 157 Mb/s.

Designed to work only with external hard drives and requires a special adapter, which is a slight drawback.

As an example, we can cite the G-technology 0G02530 model.

An even more modern eSATAp interface allows for the operation of an external drive without an adapter, which makes such models more attractive.

An example is the FANTEC 225U3eSATAp 1TB 2.5 USB 3.0 eSATAp model.

Brief characteristics of the device.

As we can see from the characteristics, the disk is not intended for use as data storage on a network.

The disadvantage of the eSATA and eSATAp interfaces is the support for relatively short cables up to 2 m. Only with this cable length is it possible to best quality data transmission.

FireWire400 and FireWire 800.

Less popular interfaces are somewhat similar to the already well-known USB.

FireWire400 (IEEE 1394a) has a data transfer speed of 400 Mb/s, FireWire800 (IEEE 1394b) – 800 Mb/s.

The advantage of FireWire over other interfaces is that data is transmitted equally to several simultaneously connected devices without failures.

An example is HDD LaCie 9000454.

Model Seagate STDR1000203.

Device characteristics.

For FireWire400 and FireWire 800, cables no longer than 5 meters are used.

SCSI.

This interface is more suitable for working with high-performance workstations. It is rarely used in external drives; as a rule, it accounts for no more than 20% of the market.

Of course, to work with such a disk you need a SCSI controller on your computer.

In general, SCSI is a specific interface that most PC users do not need, since it can be successfully replaced by more common options.

An example is the external device model Transcend TS500GSJ25M3.

Brief characteristics of the device are presented below.

As can be seen from the characteristics of the Transcend TS500GSJ25M3, it is a universal model and supports USB 2.0, 3.0, SATA interfaces.

HDMI.

You are unlikely to see such a connector in a regular HDD. The HDMI interface is used to transmit video and audio signals, which means it can only be found on multimedia external storage devices.

This topic is for a separate article, so we will not dwell on it here.

An example is the Archos TV Plus multimedia external drive.

If you still want to watch the video on big screen TV, then you can connect your computer to the latter via hdmi cable, how to do it .

This is a new data transfer technology developed by Apple. At the moment it is only used on expensive devices.

The prospects for using Thunderbolt technology are obvious, because data transfer speeds over two channels in both directions can reach 10 Gbps through a single connector.

In Thunderbolt 2 version given speed has already increased to 20 Gbit/s.

The interface cable looks like this.

An example is the G-Technology G-Drive Thunderbolt external hard drive model with a capacity of 3 TB.

To connect the device you can use:


Of course, external data storage devices with a Thunderbolt interface deserve attention, but not everyone is still ready to fork out for them.

This type of device is a modern data storage on which you can organize a huge multimedia database with access to it over the network.

In fact, this is a real computer, only without the usual mouse, keyboard and monitor.

But it supports all existing data transfer protocols, including Wi-Fi, LAN (Ethernet) and others.

Data transfer in such devices can also be organized via the FTP protocol, which simplifies working with a large array of multimedia files.

But NAS drives, although external, are more related to stationary devices, with the exception of the simplified options that we mentioned above.

In most cases, simple models with standard capabilities are suitable for everyday use at home or at work.

Therefore, before purchasing NAS (Network Attached Storage) drives, you should think about the feasibility of this choice, because you simply do not need most of the functions.

Clipboard capacity

Everything is simpler here than more buffer data exchange, the better. This affects the stability and stability of information transfer and the speed of disk operation.

IN modern devices The clipboard can vary from 8 to 64 MB. You need to understand that as the number increases, not only the performance of the devices will increase, but also their price. Therefore, the most acceptable buffer values ​​are 16 and 32 MB.

However, if funds allow, preference should be given to devices with a 64 MB buffer, so to speak, for the future.

What is more important: interface or spindle speed?

Both the type of interface and the spindle speed affect the performance of external drives.

The data clipboard is also of great importance.

Let's say you are faced with a choice of which device to buy, the one with a spindle that rotates at a speed of 7200 rpm, but little support for interfaces, for example, only USB 2.0, with an 8 MB clipboard.

Or a device supporting USB 3.0 with a 16 MB clipboard, but with a spindle speed of 5400 RPM.

The second option is more acceptable, since it will work faster and more stable, and the price most likely will not differ much.

As an exception, we can give a comparative example of devices with spindle speeds of 4200 and 10,000 rps.

The latter will, of course, work faster, but they also make more noise and, as a rule, are always stationary.

Overheating of any device can cause interruptions in its operation, and external hard drives are no exception.

As a rule, natural cooling is sufficient for their stable operation.

But if you work in fairly hot conditions, then you can purchase ready-made solutions with coolers.

Or buy a special cooler.

Brand meaning

The number of external hard drive manufacturers on the market is simply off the charts: Samsung, Transcend, Silicon Power, A-Data, G-Technology and many others.

But you need to understand that only two companies in the world actually produce the internal hardware of these devices - Western Digital and Seagate.

All other brands are just making their own design, control controllers, and introducing modern interfaces.

Western Digital and Seagate are companies that have proven over many years on the market that their HDDs are reliable, durable, and stable in operation.

Therefore, if you take any modern external HDD, then at least half of it will be manufactured by one of two companies. Therefore, there is no need to worry about the internal filling.

You need to worry about the build quality, the case material, the correct operation of the controllers and how much you like the design of the device.

But we already talked about this above.

Let's sum it up

So, to choose the right external hard drive, you definitely need to have some knowledge.

All of the selection criteria listed above are based on two main ones: do you need a portable HDD or a desktop one.

If portable, then the selection priorities will be:

  1. Small size and weight;
  2. The strength of the case and its shock resistance;
  3. Supports a large number of interfaces.

If you are planning to purchase a desktop device, then the priority selection criteria will be:

  1. Disk capacity;
  2. Spindle speed – no less than 7200 rpm;
  3. Support for high-speed interfaces – USB 3.0, FireWire, SATA3.

NAS drives would be a good solution, provided that it will only be used as stationary storage for both personal data and those publicly available on the network.

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The demand for external storage media has become especially evident in recent years. The reason for this was not only the constantly increasing weight of multimedia content, but also the daily growing activity of virus attacks and the risk of data loss.

In the huge variety of HDDs and SSDs, it is difficult to determine which one to choose - the most productive or the cheapest. The purpose of this article is to give an objective idea of ​​all aspects of choosing this device.

Why do you need a hard drive?

A portable hard drive is a portable storage device.

Its main functional features:

  1. high capacity. The device allows you to store and transfer huge amounts of information - from hundreds of gigabytes to several terabytes. It can be used as a second hard drive, as an operating system bootloader;
  2. mobility. Can be connected to several computers via a standard USB interface and transferred from place to place;
  3. safety. You can duplicate and store information outside of your PC or laptop and limit access to it by third parties.

Higher data storage reliability and necessary files always at hand.

Selection options

Among the criteria for choosing an external hard USB drive You can note capacity, throughput, warranty period, low power consumption.


  1. making it easier to work with the disk;
  2. convenient copy saving mode;
  3. improved energy saving;
  4. encryption of information;
  5. synchronization with the system;
  6. the ability to restore files, etc.;
  • appearance. Pocket options are available in a wide range. Creative people will appreciate devices in a bright, eye-catching case. Models in a stylish aluminum case will complement the image of a respectable businessman. Stationary hard drives are less varied, but they can be selected to suit any interior;
  • guarantee. Depending on the manufacturer, from 1 to 5 years.

Format factor: pocket and desktop

The format factor is one of the key indicators of a hard drive.

Photo: Seagate Slim Portable Drive 2.5 inches

SSD and HDD hard drives 2.5 inches are the most popular. Their dimensions do not exceed the size of a smartphone - they easily fit into a pocket or handbag. These devices are characterized by low power consumption and can operate from a standard USB connector on a computer or laptop. Their volume does not exceed 2 TB.

Photo: Samsung STORY™ Station 3.5 inches

3.5-inch drives are stationary options. Compared to pocket models, they weigh more significantly (up to 1.5 kg) and have a maximum capacity of up to 4 TB. They may require separate power to operate. Some manufacturers produce sets of several hard drives. The volume of such a kit can reach 20 TB.

Photo: Toshiba-STOR E-STEEL 1.8 inches

Ultra-mobile options – 1.8-inch SSD drives.

Type: SSD or HDD?

Based on media type, hard drives are divided into SSD and HDD.

Photo: magnetic (HDD) hard drive A-Data

HDD is an electronic-mechanical device made of aluminum or glass plates coated with a ferrimagnetic layer. During operation, the plates rotate, and the magnetic heads hover above the surface at a height of 10-12 nm and do not touch the surface of the plates.

Solid state drives are chip-based storage devices.

The write/read speed of an SSD is approximately 5 times higher than that of a HDD, but its capabilities are limited by low-speed interfaces.

SSDs are absolutely silent and resistant to mechanical damage. Their disadvantages are the high price with minimal volumes and a limited number of rewrite cycles. Some enthusiasts have long predicted the victory of solid-state SSDs over HDDs, but the price of such an alternative is too high.

Connection interface

The speed of the portable drive depends on the connection interface.

The most common is USB 2.0 with a transfer speed of 480 Mbps. This is not a high figure.

Today, almost all modern laptops are equipped with a USB 3.0 interface with speeds of up to 4.8 Gbps.

Additionally you can use:

  • FireWire – high-speed interface 400 – 800 Mbit/s;
  • eSATA – standard with bandwidth up to 3 Gbit/s;
  • Ethernet is an interface that turns an external drive into a network drive.

Ethernet and FireWire only support 3.5-inch hard drives.

Video: selecting an external drive

Which brand is better to choose an external drive?

Which company's external media are the best? Fierce competition in this market segment has long driven out the weak. The remaining “old” manufacturers are Seagate, Western Digital and Toshiba.

Seagate Technology is the largest American company founded in 1979. Produces SSD, HDD and hybrid models. It owns the trademarks Barracuda, Cheetah, Savvio, Constellation, Pulsar, DiamondMax, Momentus. Bought out the Samsung hard drive production segment.

Seagate hard drives are characterized by the highest performance.

Western Digital is an American computer electronics manufacturer. The only company that provides a service warranty for the return of a faulty product. In 2012, it acquired the Hitachi Global Storage Technologies division. Hitachi storage media is considered one of the most reliable.

Toshiba is a large international concern specializing in various areas of electronic technology.

Although Samsung and Hitachi exist only as brands, their products have a wide presence in the market.

Among younger companies we can note Transcend Information, ADATA Technology, Silicon Power.

For 500 GB

Pocket media with a capacity of 500 GB is the most compact, reliable and silent. Conventionally, they can be divided into 2 classes: high-speed devices with a rotation speed of 7200 rpm and economical ones with a rotation speed of 5400 rpm. Economical models are almost comparable in price to solid-state drives of the same capacity.

Media from Transcend and Western Digital are reliable and travel well. The devices are made in thin cases and come with software that implements a wide range of security functions.

Seagate Slim and Samsung G2 Portable are some of the most compact devices available today.

G2 Portable has average performance, but has several original innovations:

  • designed using special USB on-board technology (the USB controller is located directly on the hard drive board);
  • comes with software that allows you to encrypt data in real time and set a password to access important information.

Transcend StoreJet 25M3 has the best shock protection, as it is mounted on special shock-absorbing suspensions. It also features fairly good throughput – 89 MB/s.

For 1 TB

1 TB is the most popular capacity.

For those who value the miniature size of their device, the WD My Passport Ultra is an excellent choice. You won't find a more compact terabyte.

If the safety of information comes first for you, then you should opt for the Transcend StoreJet 25M3, which works best with large files and has a super shockproof body.

The 3.5-inch Transcend StoreJet 35 Ultra combines large volume, high transmission speed and efficient power consumption. The portable drive from the same series, StoreJet 35T, has a lower transfer speed, but a very attractive price.

For 2 TB

2TB devices are chosen by those who store large amounts of data.

Photo: WD My Passport Wireless WDBDAF0020BBK-EESN

The WD My Passport Wireless model WDBDAF0020BBK-EESN supports Wi-Fi networks and reads external SD cards. The device is made in a 2.5-inch form factor. It combines all the popular technologies, is independent of the power source and is very reliable.

Hitachi hard drives, unlike media using Advanced Format technology, allow you to install the OS without partition alignment.

The STBV2000200 model leads the Seagate drive line in terms of performance.

Review of prices by manufacturer

Although the price of storage media is falling, 1 TB portable hard drives are still leaders in sales.

500 GB 1 TB 2 TB
Seagate Expansion Portable From 2935 rub. from 3,550 rub. from 4,800 rub.
Western Digital Elements Portable From RUB 2,999 From RUB 3,799 From 6,999 rub.
Toshiba Stor.E Plus USB 3.0 from 2,860 rub. from 3,820 rub. from 5,890 rub.
Samsung HX From 3,440 rub. From RUB 4,169 From 6500 rub.
Hitachi Touro USB 3.0 From RUB 3,880 From 4,070 rub. From 4,420 rub.

With the advent of the third version of the USB interface, external media can provide a significant increase in data exchange speed.

When choosing a portable hard drive, you need to decide on its tasks. If you need it at home to store media files, it is better to choose spacious, but not the fastest models.


If you plan to use it for work, compact, shock-resistant units are suitable. In any case, it is desirable that the device is compatible with modern interfaces.

You should not save money by buying hard drives of dubious brands. There is a high risk of losing not only money, but also important information. Well-known brands also experience mistakes in the form of mass defects. Therefore, before purchasing, it is better to go to the manufacturer’s website and read reviews about a specific model. Today I will tell you about how to choose an external hard drive

for your computer, laptop or tablet. Moreover, choose the right one, according to your needs, and so that the purchase lasts for many years.

In this article, I will tell you all the nuances of choosing external hard drives, I will consider in detail the parameters that you should pay attention to before purchasing, and, of course, I will compile a reliability rating for you.

1. External hard drive options

  • To properly understand which external hard drive is better and why, you need to decide on a list of parameters for comparison. Usually they focus on the following basic characteristics:
  • form factor;
  • interface;
  • memory type;

disk volume. Additionally, the disk rotation speed, data transfer rate, level of electricity consumption, built-in backup capabilities, the presence of additional functions (moisture and dust resistance, etc.) can be taken into account. USB charging

devices, etc.). Don’t forget about individual preferences, such as color or the presence of a protective cover. This is especially true in those cases when it is taken as a gift.

1.1. Form factor

3,5”. This is the largest form factor. Due to the impressive size of the plates, it has a large capacity, the count goes to terabytes and tens of terabytes. For the same reason, a unit of information on them costs the least. Disadvantages: heavy weight and the need to carry a container with a power supply. Such a disk will cost from 5 thousand rubles for the most affordable model. The most popular external drive of this form factor for several months has been the Western Digital WDBAAU0020HBK. Its average price is 17,300 rubles.

2,5”. The most common and affordable type of disk. And here’s why: quite light compared to 3.5”; There is enough power from USB (sometimes the cord takes up 2 ports); quite capacious - up to 500 gigabytes. There are practically no downsides, except that the price per 1 gigabyte will be slightly higher than in the previous version. The minimum cost of a disc of this format is about 3,000 rubles. The most popular HDD of this form factor is . Its average cost at the time of my review is 4,700 rubles.

1,8”. The most compact models that have not yet captured the market. Due to their small dimensions and the use of SSD memory, they can cost more than 2.5” drives, but are not inferior to them in volume. The most popular model is Transcend TS128GESD400K, which costs about 4,000 rubles, but reviews about it leave much to be desired.

1.2. Interface

The interface determines how the disk is connected to the computer, that is, into which connector it can be connected. Let's look at the most popular options.

USB- the most common and most universal option connections. Almost any device has a USB output or a corresponding adapter. Today, the current standard is USB 3.0 - it gives read speeds of up to 5 GB per second, while the 2.0 version is only capable of 480 MB.

Attention! Version 3.1 with speeds of up to 10 Gb/s works with the Type-C connector: it can be inserted on either side, but it is not compatible with older ones. Before purchasing such a drive, make sure that it has the appropriate connector and is supported by the operating system.

Disks with USB 2.0 and 3.0 connectors differ slightly in cost; both options can be purchased from 3,000 rubles. The most popular such model is the already mentioned . But the few USB 3.1 models are noticeably more expensive - you need to pay from 8 thousand for them. Of these, I would highlight , with a cost of about 9,200 rubles. And by the way, he looks very cool.

SATA. The SATA standard has practically disappeared from the external drive scene; there are no models with it on sale. It allows speeds of up to 1.5/3/6 GB per second, respectively - that is, it loses to USB in speed and prevalence. In fact, SATA is now used only for internal drives.

eSATA– a subtype from the family of SATA connectors. Has a slightly different connector shape. It is also rare; for an external drive with this standard you will have to pay from 5 thousand rubles.

FireWire. FireWire connection speeds can reach 400 Mbps. However, such a connector is also quite rare. You can find a model for 5,400 rubles, but this is rather an exception; for other models, the cost starts from 12-13 thousand.

Thunderbolt works through a specific connector for Apple computers. The transfer speed, of course, is decent - up to 10 Gb/s, but incompatibility with more common types of connectors puts an end to the interface. If you plan to use only laptops from Apple, you can take it.

1.3. Memory type

External drives can handle either traditional spinning disk storage (HDD) or the more modern solid-state drive (SSD). There are also combined systems on the market in which a fast SSD is used for caching, and the HDD part is used for long-term storage of information.

HDD- a classic disk in which the plates spin. Thanks to the developed technologies, this is a fairly affordable solution. A good choice for long-term storage, since large-capacity disks are relatively inexpensive. Disadvantages of HDD - slight noise, depending on the speed of rotation of the disk. Models with 5400 rpm are quieter than those with 7200 rpm. The cost of an external HDD starts at approximately 2800 rubles. Once again, the most popular model is .

SSD- a solid-state drive that does not have any moving parts, which seriously reduces the risk of failure if the device is accidentally shaken. Is different increased speed data transmission and very compact dimensions. So far it is inferior in terms of available capacity and cost: for the cheapest 128 GB drive, sellers are asking 4000-4500 rubles. Most often bought Transcend TS128GESD400K with an average cost of 4100 rubles, but then they complain about it all the time and spit on it. So it’s better to overpay and buy a normal external SSD, for example , but the price tag will be about 18,000 rubles.

Hybrid HDD+SSD drive are quite rare. The hybrid design is designed to combine the advantages of the two listed above in one device. In fact, the need for such disks is doubtful: if you need to seriously speed up your work, you should take a full-fledged internal SSD, but a classic HDD is good for storage.

1.4. Hard disk capacity

As for volume, it is worth proceeding from the following considerations. First, as volume increases, the price per gigabyte decreases. Secondly, file sizes (take the same films) are constantly growing. So I recommend looking towards larger volumes, for example, choosing an external 1 TB hard drive, especially since the price for such models starts at 3,400 rubles. At the same time, prices for an external 2 TB hard drive start at 5000. The benefits are obvious.

  1. Transcend TS1TSJ25M3. Price from 4000 rubles;
  2. Seagate STBU1000200 - from 4500 rubles;
  3. ADATA DashDrive Durable HD650 1TB - from 3800 rubles
  4. Western Digital WDBUZG0010BBK-EESN - from 3800 rubles.
  5. Seagate STDR1000200 - from 3850 rubles.

  1. Western Digital WDBAAU0020HBK - from 17,300 rubles;
  2. Seagate STDR2000200 - from 5500 rubles;
  3. Western Digital WDBU6Y0020BBK-EESN - from 5,500 rubles;
  4. Western Digital My Passport Ultra 2 TB (WDBBUZ0020B-EEUE) 0 from 6490 rubles;
  5. Seagate STBX2000401 - from 8340 rubles.

I see virtually no arguments in favor of a smaller volume. Unless you want to record a strictly fixed amount of data and give it along with an external drive to another person. Or the disk will be used, for example, with a TV that only supports a certain volume. Then there really is no point in overpaying for gigabytes.

1.5. Other criteria for choosing an external hard drive

Stationary or portable. If you just need to increase the available space without having to carry the drive anywhere, you can use hard drive containers. They can connect via USB, for example, and the disk itself to the container via SATA. It turns out to be a bulky, but quite workable bunch. Fully mobile drives are very compact. If you choose a model with an SSD with a small volume, you can choose models weighing up to 100 grams. It’s a pleasure to use them – the main thing is not to accidentally leave them on someone else’s table.

Availability of additional cooling and case material. This parameter is relevant for stationary models. After all, a hard drive, especially a 3.5” form factor, heats up noticeably during operation. Especially if data is being read or written actively. In this case, it is preferable to choose a model with a built-in fan. It will, of course, make noise, but it will cool the drive and extend its operating time. As for the case material, metal dissipates heat better and, accordingly, is the preferred choice. Plastic copes with heat less well, so there is a risk of causing the disk to overheat and cause malfunctions.

Protection from moisture and dust, shockproof. The trend is gaining momentum to make at least several models in the line protected from the effects of various damaging factors. For example, from moisture and dust. Such disks can be used even in less than ideal conditions, and they will work properly. Of course, long-term swimming is not recommended, but you don’t have to be afraid of a drop of water. Discs with shockproof protection stand out. Depending on the severity of the standard, they can be safely dropped from a meter side or freely thrown out of a window from the 3rd or 4th floor. I wouldn’t risk the data like that, but it’s nice to know that at least in standard scenarios like “fell out of hand,” the disk will survive.

Disk rotation speed. Several parameters depend on the speed of disk rotation (measured in revolutions per second or rpm): data transfer speed, noise level, how much energy the disk requires to operate and how much it heats up, etc.

  • 5400 rpm- the slowest, quietest drives - they are sometimes classified as “green” devices. Good for storing data.
  • 7200 rpm- the average value of the rotation speed ensures balanced performance. If there are no special requirements, this is the best option.
  • 10000 rpm- the fastest (among HDDs), the loudest and most voracious drives. They are inferior in performance to SSDs, so the benefits here are dubious.

Clipboard size. The clipboard is a small amount of faster memory that speeds up the disk. In most models, its size ranges from 8 to 64 megabytes. The higher the value, the faster the disk is processed. So I recommend focusing on a figure of at least 32 megabytes.

Supplied software. Some manufacturers supply discs with specialized programs. Such software can automatically copy selected folders in accordance with a specified schedule. Or you can make part of the disk into a hidden partition, access to which will be password protected. In any case, keep in mind that many of these problems can be solved with third-party software.

Additional connectors and communication types. Some models come with a standard Ethernet network connector. Such drives can be used as a network storage device accessible from various computers. A fairly popular option is to save downloaded files on them. Some external drives come with Wi-Fi adapter to connect to wireless networks. In this case, they can be used as a home file server and store multimedia files on it. Other drives may have an additional USB output on the case. Convenient if you need to quickly charge your smartphone, but are too lazy to go to the outlet.

Appearance. Yes, aesthetic considerations must also be taken into account. If the disc is being chosen as a gift, it’s a good idea to find out the tastes of the future owner (for example, strict black or playful pink, impeccable white or practical gray, etc.). For ease of carrying, I recommend purchasing a case for the disc - this way it gets less dirty and is more convenient to hold.

2. Major manufacturers of external hard drives

There are several companies that specialize specifically in the production of hard drives. Below I will look at the most popular of them and the rating of their best external drive models.

2.1. Seagate

One of the largest manufacturers of external hard drives is Seagate (USA). The undoubted advantage of its products is their affordable price. According to various sources, the company holds about 40% of the domestic market. However, if you look at the number of breakdowns, it turns out that Seagate drives are handed over to various PC repair companies and service centers in more than 50% of cases. In other words, the chances of encountering difficulties among fans of this brand are somewhat higher. The cost starts at 2800 rubles per disc.

The Best Seagate External Hard Drives

  1. Seagate STDR2000200 (2 TB) - from 5490 rubles;
  2. Seagate STDT3000200 (3 TB) - from 6100 rubles;
  3. Seagate STCD500202 (500 GB) - from 3,500 rubles.

2.2. Western Digital

Another large company is Western Digital (USA). It also occupies an impressive part of the market. The diverse ranges, including green, quiet and cool low-speed drives, are loved by customers. It is noteworthy that problems with WD drives are reported much less frequently. The price for Western Digital models starts at almost 3,000 rubles.

The Best Western Digital External Hard Drives

  1. Western Digital WDBAAU0020HBK (2 TB) - from 17,300 rubles;
  2. Western Digital WDBUZG0010BBK-EESN (1 TB) - from 3,600 rubles;
  3. Western Digital My Passport Ultra 1 TB (WDBJNZ0010B-EEUE) - from 6800 rubles.

2.3. Transcend

A Taiwanese company that produces all kinds of hardware - from RAM sticks to digital media players. It also produces external hard drives. As I wrote above, Transcend TS1TSJ25M3 is the most popular external hard drive among our compatriots. It is inexpensive, sold in almost every store, people like it. But there are plenty of negative reviews about it. Personally, I haven’t used it, I can’t say for sure, but people complain about it very often. In the reliability rating, I would not put it in the top ten for sure.

2.4. Other manufacturers

Next in the ranking are companies such as Hitachi and Toshiba. Hitachi has an excellent MTBF: the average service life before any problems arise exceeds 5 years. In other words, even with active use, these drives are on average more reliable. Toshiba rounds out the top four. The disks of this company have good characteristics. Prices are also not much different from competitors.

You can also note Samsung, which is diligently improving its performance. A portable external drive from this company will cost at least 2,850 rubles.

Companies like ADATA and Silicon Power offer many disks costing about 3000-3500 rubles. On the one hand, flash drives from these companies are often of questionable quality, either due to counterfeits or problems with components. On the other hand, the experience of using a shock-, moisture- and dust-proof disk from Silicon Power for me and many friends is purely positive.

3. External hard drives - reliability rating 2016

All that remains is to determine the best external hard drive. As often happens, it is impossible to give one exact answer here - too many parameters can influence the judges’ decision. If you need to speed up your work with data, for example, regularly process heavy videos, take an SSD drive. If you want to create an archive of family photos going back a couple of decades, choose a spacious HDD from Western Digital. For a file server you definitely need something from the “green” series, quiet and inconspicuous, because such a disk will operate in constant mode. For myself, I highlight the following models in the reliability rating of external hard drives:

  1. Toshiba Canvio Ready 1TB
  2. ADATA HV100 1TB
  3. ADATA HD720 1TB
  4. Western Digital My Passport Ultra 1 TB (WDBDDE0010B)
  5. Transcend TS500GSJ25A3K
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