The hard drive is one of the most important components of our computer. It is not for less, considering the large number of digital files that we usually keep. It is essential to have a good hard drive to back up and transport our most precious information . So that you can make a good purchase, safely and without having to pay more than what you are going to take advantage of, we offer you these tips that will help you make a good decision.
If you are thinking of renewing your hard drive because you need more space, it works slow and you suspect that at any moment it could leave you lying. Surely the time has come to change it for a new one . First of all, pay attention to the advice we give you so that you can choose what best suits your needs.
1. External or internal hard drive
It is one of the main questions that you have to consider. Internal hard drives are integrated into your computer's hardware to improve both its performance and capacity. If you have a tower with space you can incorporate it without problems. Among their advantages, it stands out that they need less space, are cheaper and are always available immediately; being constantly connected working.
External hard drives are the most used today . Being portable they are more comfortable and it is easier to carry our files from one place to another between different computers. Among its advantages, in addition to portability, it stands out that they do not increase the demand on your computer's cooling system.
2. Speed
This is one of the most important decisions you will have to make when buying a hard drive . Depending on the speed that best suits what you need, the price can vary considerably. These are the three types of access speed on hard drives:
HDD
The HDD (Hard Disk Drive ), are the cheapest but also the least fast. If you need to buy a hard drive with a lot of memory at a reduced price , these may be the ones that interest you the most. They are very suitable as a secondary hard drive and for storing a large number of files. In addition to speed, another disadvantage they have is that they are more sensitive to mechanical damage.
SDD
The SDD ( Solid State Drive ) type, although it is faster, is also somewhat more expensive. It uses solid flash memory as its main storage , which does not spin the disk. In addition to being faster, their other advantages are that they are smaller in size, quieter, save energy and take less time to start. Its useful life is also longer, so if you are looking for something of higher quality, this option may be convenient for you.
SSHD
An average alternative is the SSHD ( Solid-State Hybrid Drive ), which are at an intermediate level between speed and price . A suitable balance for those who are a little tighter financially, or simply do not need much more.
3. Storage capacity
Another aspect to consider is the need you have for storage, this is one of its fundamental characteristics. It will depend on the type of files you want to save, which can take up little space or be heavier. It is clear that each year more storage capacity is needed, because the files have a higher quality and take up more memory. Currently we are talking about Terabytes (1 TB corresponds to about 1,000 GB). Depending on what type of files you need it for, you will be interested in more or less memory. If most of the files are usually images and documents, it is possible that with 1 TB you will have enough. On the other hand, if you need it to store many videos, movies and a large number of images, you probably need something else. Currently, hard drives of up to 14 and 16 TB can already be found.
4. Hard disk size
Hard drives are generally classified into two sizes: 2.5 and 3.5 inches. These sizes correspond to its physical dimensions and not to its internal structure. The 3.5-inch ones are mostly used for towers, while the 2.5-inch ones are used for laptops. Currently, the smaller ones, that is, the 2.5-inch ones , are especially recommended . Not only because of their smaller size, but because they tend to be faster in finding files, are more resistant and consume less power.
5. Access to information or RPM
What indicates the speed of access of the computer to the information of the hard disk is the RPM (revolutions per minute). To get faster access to information from the computer, the RPM must be higher. Average speeds for 2.5-inch hard drives are typically 4,200, 5,200, 5,400, and 7,200 RPM. While the 3.5 inches range from 5,200, 7,200, 10,000 up to 15,000 RPM. In both cases, an RPM of 7,200 may be an acceptable choice.
6. The cache or buffer
This is also an important parameter when choosing a hard drive. It corresponds to the capacity of the hard disk to access the files that are used most frequently , in a more immediate way. In this way, the internal memory of the hard disk accesses more quickly "with less effort", when it comes to accessing files that you usually use often. In this sense, the larger the cache or buffer memory of the hard disk, the better it will work.
These are some of the keys that you should take into account before buying a hard drive . Take your time to look at each of the features and finally decide on what best suits the use you are going to give it. You don't need to spend a lot of money to find what works best for you.