Summary
Choosing an external hard drive can be a challenging task due to the wide range of options available. However, once you find the right one, it becomes a straightforward and user-friendly device. This article provides a comprehensive guide on selecting the perfect external hard drive to suit your specific requirements.
Factors to Consider When Purchasing an External Hard Drive
External hard drives come with different storage capacities, technologies, and connection options to suit your needs. It can be quite challenging to make a decision in this situation. Remember these important points:
- Price
- Storage technology
- Storage capacity
- Connection type
- Power requirements
How Much Should an External Hard Drive Cost?
External hard drives continue to offer great value for higher storage capacities. Opting for a single external drive with the desired capacity is a more cost-effective choice compared to buying multiple smaller ones.
External solid-state drives have unique characteristics. The price of drives with larger capacities tends to increase rapidly. For instance, 16TB drives are frequently priced at over $1,000. Opting for multiple smaller drives is a more cost-effective choice compared to purchasing a single larger one.
| Price Range | What You Can Expect |
|---|---|
| $30 – $50 | An external hard disk drive with a storage capacity of 500GB to 1TB. |
| $50 – $100 | Consider getting an external hard disk drive with a storage capacity ranging from 1TB to 4TB, or an external solid-state drive with a storage capacity ranging from 500GB to 1TB. |
| $100 – $200 | An external hard disk drive with a capacity ranging from 2TB to 8TB, or an external solid-state drive with a capacity ranging from 1TB to 2TB. |
| $250 – $500 | A range of external storage options are available, including hard disk drives with capacities ranging from 8TB to 20TB, as well as solid-state drives with capacities ranging from 2TB to 4TB. |
| $500+ | Consider using an external hard disk drive with a capacity of 20TB or more, or an external solid-state drive with a capacity of 8TB or more. Some products may come with a high-quality casing or an extended warranty. |
Higher-priced drives typically do not offer any distinctive features in comparison to their more affordable counterparts. The price is determined by the storage capacity. That being said, higher-priced drives may attempt to distinguish themselves by featuring a high-quality metal enclosure or offering an extended warranty.
What Storage Technology Should an External Hard Drive Use?
There are two storage technologies used by external hard drives. There are two types of drives: hard disk drives and solid-state drives.
Hard disks consist of physical metal disks housed within an enclosure. They rotate when data needs to be written or retrieved. These characteristics can make them less durable, less efficient, and more noisy during operation. There is a restriction on their size, as the smallest hard disks measure 2.5 inches in diameter. Despite the challenges, the affordability of hard disks makes them an attractive option due to their superior storage capacity.
Solid-state drives are incredibly durable and reliable. They lack any moving components and instead utilize electron shuffling to store data. This enhances their reliability, as the drive does not have any moving parts that are prone to failure. They are typically quiet and compact compared to external drives with a hard disk. Nevertheless, the cost of their solid-state chips is higher, resulting in a higher price per gigabyte.
How Much Storage Capacity Should an External Hard Drive Have?
The answer is simply to use the amount that is necessary. However, it can be quite a task to figure out if the files you wish to store are scattered across various folders on your computer. Using a disk space analyzer can be quite useful in this situation.
Prices in this market are known to be volatile, so it’s wise to consider a 1 terabyte (1TB) model. These drives provide ample storage space and typically come at a slightly higher price than smaller capacity drives.
A larger drive may be required to accommodate numerous hours of 4K video, a multitude of DSLR photos, high-resolution images, or vector-based art. If you’re familiar with handling such files, you probably have a good understanding of their size and the quantity required for storage.
What Connection Type Should an External Hard Drive Use?
External drives typically utilize one of the various USB standards that are currently available. Previous generations of devices utilize USB Type-A and USB Type-B for connectivity, whereas more recent models adopt the USB Type-C interface. Most external drives are typically bundled with a cable, leaving the only factor to consider as the compatibility with your computer’s port.
It is important to be aware of the type of USB ports your computer possesses. If you connect an external drive to a slow USB port, you might experience underwhelming performance, even if the cable fits perfectly into the port on your computer. If this is the case with your computer, it might be worth considering opting for a slower and more affordable external hard drive. This way, you won’t be able to take advantage of the advancements in newer and faster models.
USB-C is the latest connection option, providing fast data speeds and the convenience of power delivery through a single cable. USB Type-C has distinct physical characteristics that set it apart from older connection types. If your computer doesn’t have a USB-C port, you can purchase a USB-C to USB-A adapter. However, it’s important to note that the USB Type-A port may not be able to supply power to the drive if the drive doesn’t come with its own power supply.
There is one final connection worth mentioning: Thunderbolt. Thunderbolt 3 and 4 have physical compatibility with USB-C, but they tend to be faster, boasting a required bandwidth of 40 gigabits per second. Many external drives do not utilize Thunderbolt as USB typically provides sufficient speed. However, it is possible to come across Thunderbolt on premium external drives. In order to fully utilize this connection, your PC will require a Thunderbolt 3 port.
What Power Requirements Do External Hard Drives Have?
Many of the latest external hard drives can operate without the need for an external power source. They are powered solely through USB, drawing power from your computer. That implies there is no requirement for utilizing a power brick.
There are exceptions to this, though. External hard disk drives with larger storage capacities typically require external power sources. This is also applicable to older external drives manufactured prior to the standardization of USB 3 and Thunderbolt.
A portable external hard drive that requires power is not designed for frequent movement, despite its technical capability to be transported. If you don’t plan on moving your external drive often, it’s advisable to opt for one with a power brick.
Who Should Buy An External Hard Drive?
If you’re in need of additional storage without the option or desire to upgrade your computer’s internal hard drive, an external hard drive would be a great solution. Upgrading internal hard drives can be a cost-effective option, although it does require a bit more technical know-how. It’s worth noting that not all laptops are compatible with these upgrades.
If you often find yourself switching between different computers, having an external hard drive can be quite beneficial. Because an external hard drive is physically detached from your computer, it can be effortlessly shared with others or transported to another computer.
In comparison to USB flash drives, these drives typically offer greater storage capacity. However, it’s worth noting that certain high-end flash drives can match the storage capabilities of certain external hard drives.
What to Do After You Buy An External Hard Drive
External hard drives are incredibly convenient to use. They can be easily plugged in and used right away, without the need for any extra drivers or software installation. Ensure that you connect it to the most optimal USB port on your computer, or if applicable, a Thunderbolt port.
Your computer should detect the drive almost instantly; if not, you can utilize the links provided below to get the drive ready.
More Tips for Buying an External Hard Drive
External hard drives are straightforward devices with minimal hidden features or idiosyncrasies.
It would be wise to take into account the warranty or expected lifespan of a drive. The warranties can vary from one to ten years, depending on the manufacturer. If you’re worried about data loss, it might be worth considering a drive with a longer warranty period. A more extended warranty can be a good indication of better reliability.
One crucial tip to remember is to closely monitor the price. When it comes to external hard drives, the differences between brands and features are so minimal that it’s usually wise to prioritize finding the best price.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of SSD and HDD?
SSDs outperform HDDs in terms of speed, durability, and storage capacity. That’s the reason why all external drives currently manufactured are SSDs.
How can I efficiently back up my computer to an external hard drive?
To perform a PC backup on an external drive, navigate to the Start menu, then access the File History option in Windows 11 or the Backup settings in Windows 10. From there, select the option to add a drive. Backing up a Mac is made easy with Time Machine.
How can I transfer my iPhone data to an external hard drive?
To back up your iPhone to an external drive, navigate to Finder, then select Locations, followed by your iPhone, and finally click on Manage Backups. Select a backup and click on “Show in Finder”. Next, simply drag the backup to the external drive located in the “Locations” section.
How can I transform an internal hard drive into an external one?
To convert an internal hard drive into an external one, simply place the internal hard drive into an external enclosure. After connecting it to a computer, you can easily follow the plug-and-play instructions to complete the setup.
