Whether removable hard. Which is better: a flash drive or an external hard drive? Protection from moisture and dust

Using an external drive is the easiest way to increase storage space for files and documents. This is very convenient for laptop owners who do not have the opportunity to install an additional drive. Users of desktop computers without the skills to mount an internal HDD can also connect an external hard drive.

For a successful purchase, it is important to know the basic nuances of choosing an external hard drive. So, what should you pay attention to, and how not to make a mistake in purchasing?

Since there are certain types of hard drives, it is necessary to determine in advance which parameters to focus on when choosing:

• Memory type;
• Capacity and price;
• Form factor;
• Interface type;
• Additional features (data transfer speed, case protection, etc.).

Let's look at each of these parameters in more detail.

Memory type

First of all, you need to choose the type of memory - HDD or SSD.

HDD- hard drive in its classical sense. This type of hard drive is installed in almost all computers and laptops. It works by rotating the disk and recording information using a magnetic head.

Advantages of HDD:

• Availability;
• Ideal for long-term data storage;
• Acceptable price;
• Large capacity (up to 8 TB).

Disadvantages of HDD:

• Low read and write speed (by modern standards);
• Slight noise during use;
• Intolerance to mechanical influences - shocks, falls, strong vibrations;
• Fragmentation over time.

This type of memory is recommended for those who like to store a large amount of music, movies or programs on disk, as well as for people who work with photos and videos (for storage). It is very important to treat it with care - do not shake, drop, or hit, since the fragile design makes it very easy to break the device.

SSD- a modern type of storage device, which, however, cannot be called a hard drive, since it does not have mechanical moving parts, like an HDD. Such a disk also has a number of pros and cons.

Advantages of SSD:

• High write and read speed (about 4 times higher than HDD);
• Complete silence;
• Wear resistance;
• No fragmentation.

Disadvantages of SSD:

• High price;
• Small capacity (up to 512 GB can be purchased at an affordable price);
• Limited number of rewrite cycles.

Typically, SSDs are used to quickly launch the operating system and heavy applications, as well as for processing videos and photos with subsequent saving to the HDD. For this reason, there is no point in purchasing a large capacity and overpaying several thousand rubles. You can freely take such drives with you anywhere without fear of damage.

By the way, about the limited number of rewrite cycles - new SSDs have a very large reserve, and even with daily load they can work for many years before the speed begins to noticeably drop. Therefore, this minus is rather a formality.

Capacity and price

Capacity is the second most important factor on which the final choice depends. The rules here are as simple as possible: the larger the volume, the lower the price per 1 GB. You should start from what you plan to keep on the external drive: multimedia and other heavy files, whether you want to make the drive bootable, or store small documents and various small files on it.

As a rule, users purchase external HDDs because they do not have enough built-in memory - in this case, it is best to choose among large volumes. For example, at the moment the average price for a 1 TB HDD is 3200 rubles, 2 TB - 4600 rubles, 4 TB - 7500 rubles. Considering how the quality (and size, respectively) of audio and video files is growing, it simply doesn’t make sense to buy small-capacity discs.

But if you need a drive to store documentation, run an operating system or heavy programs like powerful editors/3D design from it, then instead of an HDD you should take a closer look at an SSD. Typically, the minimum volume of external solid-state drives is 128 GB, and the price starts from 4,500 rubles, and 256 GB costs a minimum of 7,000 rubles.

The peculiarity of a solid-state drive is that the operating speed depends on the capacity - 64 GB is slower than 128 GB, and it, in turn, is slower than 256 GB, and then the increase is not particularly noticeable. Therefore, it is best to choose a disk with 128 GB, and if possible - with 256 GB.

Form factor

Its physical performance also depends on the storage capacity. The standard size is called “form factor”, and it comes in three types:

The first two options are small and mobile - you can easily take them with you. The third is tabletop, and is intended for use without transportation. Typically, the form factor is important when purchasing internal drives, since in this case it is important to fit the drive inside in the available space. However, this parameter will play an important role when choosing an external drive.

The most current form factors are 2.5” and 3.5”, and they differ as follows:

1. Price. The price per 1 GB for 3.5" is cheaper than for 2.5", so the same 4 TB drive can cost differently depending on the form factor.
2. Performance. 3.5" hard drives lead in performance test results, but depending on the manufacturer, a 2.5" drive may be faster than a 3.5" drive. If the speed of the HDD is important to you, then refer to the comparison tables of benchmarks.
3. Weight. 2 hard drives with the same capacity can have a significant difference depending on the form factor. For example, 4 TB 2.5” weighs 250 g, and 4 TB 3.5” weighs 1000 g.
4. Noise, power consumption, heating. The 3.5" format is noisier and requires more power than 2.5". Accordingly, the greater the electricity consumption, the stronger the heating.

Interface type

Such a characteristic as the interface type is responsible for the way the drive is connected to the PC. And there are two options: USB and USB Type-C.

USB- the most popular option, but sometimes inexperienced users can purchase a disk of the wrong standard. Today, the modern and relevant standard is USB 3.0, whose read speed is up to 5 GB/s. However, older PCs and laptops likely don't have it and use USB 2.0 with read speeds of up to 480 MB/s.

Therefore, be sure to find out if your PC supports USB 3.0 - such a drive will work many times faster. If there is no support, then connecting a drive equipped with 3.0 will work, but the output speed will be reduced to the 2.0 standard. The difference in standards in this case has virtually no effect on the price of the disc.

USB Type-C- a new specification that appeared literally 2.5 years ago. It is a USB 3.1 standard with a Type-C connector and speeds of up to 10 GB/s. Unfortunately, such a connector can only be found in laptops or computers purchased after 2014, or if the user separately changed the motherboard to a modern one that supports Type-C. Prices for USB Type-C hard drives are much higher, for example, 1 TB costs from 7,000 rubles and above.

Extra options

In addition to the main criteria, there are also secondary ones, which in one way or another affect the principle of use and the price of the disk.

Protection from moisture, dust, shock

Since an external HDD or SSD may be located in a place that is not intended for this purpose, there is a possibility of it breaking. The ingress of water or dust will have a detrimental effect on the operation of the device, including complete failure. In addition, the HDD is also afraid of falls, shocks, and shocks, so during active transportation it is better to buy a drive with shock protection.

Speed

This HDD parameter determines the speed at which data will be transferred, what the noise levels, energy consumption and heating will be.

• 5400rpm - slow, quiet, suitable for USB 2.0 or for storing data without active reading;
• 7200rpm is a balanced option in all respects, intended for active use.

This information does not apply to SSDs, since they have no rotating elements at all. In the "Capacity and Price" section, you can find an explanation of why the size of the solid-state drive affects the speed of operation. Also look at the declared read and write speeds - for SSDs of the same capacity, but from different manufacturers, they can differ significantly. However, you should not chase the highest rates, since in practice the user does not notice the difference between average and increased SSD speeds.

Appearance

In addition to a variety of color options, you can find a model with indicators that help you understand the condition of the disk. Also look at the material from which the device body is made. Metal is known to conduct heat better than plastic, so it will better protect against overheating. And to protect the case from external influences, you can purchase a protective case.

We have talked about the main points that you should rely on when choosing an external hard drive or solid state drive. A high-quality drive, if used correctly, will delight you with its performance for many years, so it makes sense not to skimp on your purchase, but to approach it responsibly.

An external hard drive is Memory device, which the user can carry with him and connect it to any device, be it a computer or laptop via a USB cable.

It differs from a flash drive in that it has a larger storage capacity. If previously the limit for memory capacity was set at two terabytes, now the release of a hard drive with a capacity of one petabyte is being announced. Such capacity is not yet available only to ordinary users.

The hard drive is designed to store user information. Video files, audio files and other data will be stored in it much longer than on a flash drive. The hard drive has a large number of rewrite cycles.

Now let's look at the existing types.

Types of hard drives

There are several types of hard drives in the world:

Mobile

This is exactly the same external drive. They buy it for memory expansion home computer. It is recommended to store information on it that you do not use often or want to put aside for later. It is a kind of library for the modern user. Only such a library will fit in his pocket.

Mobile external drives can have a memory up to 5 terabytes. If the capacity is more than five TB, then this media becomes stationary.

Stationary

This is the same external drive for a computer, only with a memory capacity of more than five terabytes. This portable media cannot be placed in a pocket. However, you can add all the necessary and not only digitized data into it. From mobile he The only difference is capacity and size.

It should also be selected by manufacturer and memory capacity. Many of these hard drives have an HDMI output for connecting to a TV, as well as interfaceWi— Fi. That is, you don’t need any wires, connect power to the external storage device, set up access to your network through the web interface and enjoy movies and music recorded on it.

HDD

This is an internal hard drive that is installed in a system unit or laptop. As external ones, they are installed in a special pocket with cooling and connectors for connecting a power supply and USB. For laptops, these media are available in sizes of 2.5 inches, and for desktop computers - 3.5 inches. These hard drives have a capacity of 500 gigabytes or more.

Previously, these drives were connected to the motherboard using a 40 and 80 pin cord and had an IDE interface. Data transfer rate The first drives are several times smaller than the current ones. A new hard drive interface standard has now been developed - SATA. Spindle speed 7200 rpm. This improved the write and read speed. And also its performance.

The operating system is installed on the HDD and data is also stored.

SSD

Solid State Drives. Such hard drives operate at high speed. The information transfer speed via the SATA III cable is 500 MB/s. Previously, such disks were sold with a capacity of no more than 240 gigabytes. Now the memory capacity has increased to 1 terabyte.

Advantages This hard drive is that data opens faster on it, programs run at high speed and Windows loads. This disc is more resistant to mechanical damage. It runs on a small amount of energy and is silent. Among the shortcomings It should be noted that it is expensive and has a short operating time for wear and tear. It quickly begins to crumble.

SSHD

This is a hybrid hard drive.

Such drives differ from the first ones high performance. They are much more efficient and have high speed, since they have one disk bay, unlike the ones described above. Memory amount currently reaches 4 Terabytes. File access time is 0.3 milliseconds, while a simple SSD drive is 24 ms. The difference is significant. Added to this is the low cost compared to SSDs.

Principle of operation

The HDD hard drive consists of an electronic board, a motor, a spindle, magnetic heads, and a magnetic disk. When turned on the motor begins to rotate, using magnetic disks. Due to rotation, a dense air flow is formed. It prevents the head from falling onto the disc.

Reading in progress information. If the sectors where the information is stored are damaged, then it will not work. If everything is normal, the head begins to process data. They are distributed along the tracks and are located in different sectors. Changing a magnetic field the head writes, and by capturing the magnetic flux, it reads.

Formatting– recording of service information on the disk, data on the location of sectors and tracks. After purchase, when installing the system, the hard drive is always formatted.

How to choose a hard drive

When purchasing, it is recommended that you first pay attention to device memory. Disks from 500 gigabytes and above are now offered. In general, it is recommended to buy hard drive with memory no more than 1 TB, in extreme cases 2 TB. To archive and store work projects and family videos, it is better to purchase a separate external drive. Its volume depends on what you are going to store on it and how much in volume.

Then we should pay attention to form factor. It can be 3.5 - standard size and 2.5 miniature, like for laptops. If you are going to carry it with you all the time, then it is better to purchase a smaller size - 1.8. The latter size has the most compact external dimensions to date.

At the moment, the interface for connecting the hard drive to the computer includes new modifications. U connectorusb 3.0 The speed of interaction with the computer will be greater than USB 2.0. New interface models are usb type C. However, this type can only be found on new laptops and system units. Its throughput is up to 10 gigabits per second.

The next point that you need to pay attention to is the speed of work. Reading speed SSD drives are noticeably higher than conventional HDDs. And equal to 400 mb/s. And Windows starts on such a disk in 8 seconds, as opposed to 40 on the HDD. The execution speed can be checked with special programs.

Another point is the choice of HDD or SSD. First slower and durable, second quicker, but is designed for a short number of rewrites. The power supply is also the main part of the removable hard drive. Most modern models do not require separate power and are equipped with two USB cords. One for data transfer, the other for power from the computer.

When purchasing, you also need to pay attention to multitasking or the presence of NCQ (hardware command queuing), which can significantly increase access speed by simultaneously working with several requests. SSDs have more impact protection and damage when falling from a height, since they do not have mechanical parts. If you buy a hard drive with a large amount of memory and a separate power supply, do not forget about cooling system– it must correspond to the required data. At the moment, hard drives from Western Digital, Seagate Barracuda, A-Data, and Kingston are in use. In general, you should pay attention to reviews on the Internet, since now there are many young companies that produce excellent and high-quality models at an affordable price.

How much do the devices cost?

The price category of media varies. Of course, SSD models are more expensive than HDDs with more memory. SSDs on average have prices ranging from 2500 rubles for a 120 gigabyte drive, and 1 terabyte can be purchased for 29 000 rubles Since SDDs are famous for their speed of data processing and shock resistance, they are therefore more expensive.

While a 500 GB HDD costs 5,000 rubles, and at 10 terabytes - 28,000 rubles. HDDs are gradually becoming obsolete, unable to compete with new high-speed devices. Therefore it is recommended To work with the system, buy a small size SSD, and for archive or data storage HDD.

What to choose

Before you buy media, you need to understand why you are buying it. If you need it to store family archives, photos, music, movies, then buy stationaryHDD with a large amount of memory and a modern interface. If you are going to work on it and be constantly on the move, then a mobile SSD is suitable.

The external hard drive must have rubberized body. This will slightly protect him from damage caused by falling from a height. To watch videos and listen to music through a TV, it is advisable to buy drives with connectorHDMI to connect to a TV.

Since today the quality of video and music is improving every day, it is recommended to purchase storage devices with capacity 1 terabyte or more. This will protect you from running out of memory prematurely and purchasing an additional disk.

Silence during operation and small dimensions are the parameters of an ideal hard drive. All of the above parameters are specified in the product characteristics. Now you know what you need to pay attention to first of all when viewing a particular product.

Below are the best external drive models available today.

Adata Dash Drive durable hd650 1 TB

The case is made of plastic and silicone, which protects data when dropped. There is a blue LED on the body activity indicator. Available in black and red. Sold in a cardboard box along with a USB cord.

• Volume – 1 terabyte;
• USB 3.0 interface;
• Form factor – 2.5;
• Device dimensions - 121 x 21 x 81 mm;

Costs 4369 rubles. Quite decent for this hard drive.

Western digital WD BUZG0010BBK-EESN

Comes complete with preinstalled program backup with WD Smart Ware Pro and USB cable. Thanks to the proprietary utility, the user can save data both to an external drive and directly to the cloud.

• Volume – 1 terabyte;
• USB 3.0 interface;
• Size – 2.5 inches;
• Data transfer speed 500 megabits per second;
• Weight – 130 grams;
• The body is made of plastic. Dimensions - 82x15x111 mm.

Smallest among all drives. Because of this it is fragile. Costs 4200 rubles.

Toshiba canvio ready 1TB

Third place in the ranking. Interface compatibility USB 2.0 guarantees the user stable operation with a previous generation computer. The hard drive is compatible with Windows and Mac OS operating systems. The body is made of plastic.

• Volume – 1 terabyte;
• USB 3.0 connector;
• Form factor – 2.5 inches;
• Speed ​​500 MB per second;
• Dimensions - 80x15x119 mm.

Has the lowest cost. Protected from impacts and damage from falling.

Flaws– a short cord and an inconvenient connector on the hard drive side. Price – 3,800 rubles.

Seagate STEA500400

From shortcomings slippery and smooth surface. From advantages– long cable.

• Volume – 500 gigabytes;
• USB 3.0 interface;
• Form factor – 2.5;
• Speed ​​- 20 megabits per second;
• Weight 170 grams, dimensions - 117 x 80 x 14.8 mm.

Supplied with a USB cord. Compatible with Windows only. Price 2990 rubles.

ADATA HD 720 1TB

The device complies with American standard MIL STD 810 G. The advantages are a durable body and stylish design.

• Volume – 1 terabyte;
• USB 3.0 interface;
• Form factor – 2.5;
• Speed ​​500 megabits per second;
• Dimensions - 97.9x20.2x129.4 mm.

Price 4200 rubles.

ADATA NH 13 1TB

Compatible with USB 2.0 standard. Reliable, protected from moisture, durable.

• Volume – 1 terabyte;
• USB 3.0 connection connector;
• Size – 3.5 inches;
• Operating speed 500 megabits per second;
• Dimensions - 77.8x16x118.8 mm.

Metal finish. Price - 4200 rubles.

WD My Passport Ultra

Size - 1 TB. Compatible with Windows, Mac OS. Has a program for Reserve copy WD Smart Ware Pro. A password is set to protect information from other people. Compatible with USB interfaces 2.0 and 3.0. Runs quietly no vibrations. Dimensions - 81.6x15.84x110 mm. Weight – 160 grams. Speed ​​– 500 megabits per second.

Among the shortcomings it should be noted soft body, which attracts dust. Price 5000 rubles.

Silicon Power Stream S03

The drive mostly resembles a notepad. There are special rubber inserts which protect him from blows. The advantage is an attractive design.

• Form factor – 2.5 inches;
• Data transfer speed – 500 MB/s;
• The USB interface is compatible with 2.0 and 3.0;
• Capacity of 1 terabyte;
• Weight – 145 grams;
• The dimensions of the device are 77.5×13.3×122.5 mm.

No deficiencies found. Price – 3890 RUR.

Sony HD E1

The body is made of metal. Has rubberized legs. Weight – 250 grams, which greatly distinguishes it from other drives. Dimensions - 80x126x16 mm. Doesn't heat up, compatible with all operating systems, as well as third generation SONY PS game consoles. Hardware encryption. No noise was noticed during operation. Capacity 1 terabyte. Form factor – 2.5 inches.

Disadvantages: high price, hard USB cable included. Price – 5090 rub.

A computer is a complex technical device, which, in turn, consists of a number of individual devices that together ensure the coordinated operation of the system. Today in the article we will take a closer look at what an external hard drive is, what it is needed for, and what criteria exist when choosing this device.
The built-in hard drive, which is based on the principle of magnetic recording, is responsible for storing information on your computer. Such a device is aimed at long-term storage of information and allows you to store literally everything: from the installed operating system to downloaded files from the Internet.

What is an external hard drive?

In turn, it is easy to guess that an external hard drive is the same hard drive that is in your computer, with one small exception: it does not need to be built into the computer.

Connecting an external hard drive is usually done to a USB connector on a computer or other device. That is why, when there is no need for an external hard drive, it can be easily disconnected and put away in a secluded place, and when the need arises, it can be connected again at any time.

What is an external hard drive for?

Today, an external hard drive is not a whim, but a necessity for most users, since this device may be needed in a variety of situations:

1. Expand your computer's memory. If your computer's hard drive is almost completely full, an external hard drive can correct the situation. Today there is a wide choice of hard drive manufacturers that offer different capacities: from several gigabytes to several terabytes.

2. Unload your computer's hard drive. It's no secret that the information accumulated on the hard drive directly affects the performance of the computer. In order not to load the computer’s hard drive, most of the information can be taken over by an external HDD.

3. Mobility. The most important advantage of an external hard drive is its portability. If you have to work with large amounts of data both on your home and work computers, then it is much easier and more convenient to transfer information on an external hard drive, most models of which can easily fit into any woman’s handbag. Thanks to this advantage, many users have abandoned the use of laptops.

How to choose an external hard drive?

When choosing an external hard drive for your computer, the user needs to rely on several criteria:

• 1. Manufacturer;
• 2. Memory capacity;
• 3. Price;
• 4. Dimensions of the device;
• 5. Security;
• 6. Possibility of connecting to a TV.

Manufacturer selection

Today there is a fairly wide selection of external hard drive manufacturers: Samsung, Toshiba, Verbatim, Seagate, Transcend and many others. By and large, it doesn’t matter which manufacturer you choose: they all work the same and are in approximately the same price category.
The only thing worth paying attention to is that it is better to choose a well-known manufacturer. Of course, you can order a hard drive on Aliexpress at a very reasonable price, but from an unknown Chinese manufacturer, but you shouldn’t expect miracles - such hard drives are extremely short-lived.

Memory

Here you should proceed from the purpose for which the external hard drive will be used. If you plan to store all your films and TV series on it, then you should definitely watch larger discs, for example, from one terabyte.

If you plan to store work information on the disk for convenient transfer from one computer to another, then perhaps a more compact model, for example, around 500 GB, will be sufficient in your case.

Price

The price of external HDDs consists of several factors: the name of the manufacturer, the amount of memory, and the materials used in the device’s case.

For example, the price of an HDD will be significantly higher if the external hard drive is from a well-known manufacturer, has a large capacity, and is also made of premium devices, for example, aluminum, rather than ordinary plastic.

External hard drive dimensions

As a rule, the larger the capacity of the hard drive, the correspondingly larger its dimensions. If you need to carry a hard drive with you often, you will have to sacrifice capacity for portability.

If the hard drive will be permanently connected to the computer and is not intended for transportation, you can safely look at capacitive models.

Device security

Separately, the market offers hard drives with an increased level of protection, which will ensure reliable security of confidential work information. Such hard drives will cost more, but if in your case information security is paramount, you should pay attention to such models.

Possibility of connection to TV

Many users purchase hard drives to store their media library (music and movies) and allow the TV to quickly access it.

In this case, you will need to clarify which file systems your TV can read. Most often, hard drives and computers work with the NTFS file system, so you need to make sure that the TV can work with it.

And a small summary

The choice of hard drive depends on your needs, and there is practically no single recipe. When choosing an external hard drive, do not forget to pay special attention to reviews of specific models on the Internet: even from an extremely well-known manufacturer, rather unsuccessful models may go on sale that are best avoided, but such cases are rare today.

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, power consumption level, built-in backup capabilities, the presence of additional functions (moisture and dust resistance, charging USB devices, etc.) can be taken into account. 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

The form factor determines the size of the drive. Once upon a time there were no specialized external drives; in fact, ordinary disks were used. They were installed in a container with external power - and this created a portable device. Therefore, the names of the form factors migrated from stationary equipment: 2.5”/3.5”. Later an even more compact 1.8" version was added.

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 supply 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 versatile connection option. 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. It features increased data transfer speed 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 can be very compact. If you choose a model with an SSD with a small volume, you can select 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.

Disc 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 are equipped with a Wi-Fi adapter for connecting 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