Data Storage with Internal Hard Disk Drives
A hard drive is a key component in any computer system, and there's a huge variety of options out there when purchasing a replacement drive or backup. From traditional hard disk drives in 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch form factors to solid-state state drives and even hybrid options that combine features from the two, it can be difficult to know what to buy. So you should know which drive is suitable for your computing system and some of the features you should look for when buying a hard disk drive.
What Is a Hard Disk Drive?
A hard drive is an electromechanical device for storing data that uses one or more rotating disks coated with magnetic material. These internal hard drive units slot into a computer or laptop, but you can also find external disk drives for additional storage.
- The most common types of hard drives are 3.5-inch for computers and 2.5-inch for laptops, with a maximum capacity of 12 TB for the former and 4 TB for the latter.
- Most modern HDDs use SATA connectors, while older ones use IDE connectors. For external use, you need to connect your HDD through a USB port.
Should You Buy an HDD or SSD?
Solid-state drives use integrated circuit assemblies as their data-storing memory and don't have any moving mechanical components. This makes them more resistant to physical shock, as well as wear and tear, when compared to hard disk drives.
- Solid-state drives also have quicker access times, but are only available in much smaller storage capacities when compared to hard disk drives, which is one of their main drawbacks.
- SSHDs are solid-state hybrid drives that combine elements from solid-state drives (SSDs) and hard disk drives, with the controller chip deciding what to store on the SSD and whatever remains on the HDD.
What Should You Look for When Buying a Hard Disk Drive?
One of the most important considerations when buying a hard drive is its storage capacity, with most capping out at 16 TB. Another feature to take into account is the drive's transfer speeds, indicated by revolutions per minute (rpm).
- The larger the memory cache, the more data you can store and access, so look for a drive with a higher MB cache if this is important to you.
- HDDs are prone to failure over time, so always research how robust the drive you're considering is before purchase and what its failure rate is like.
- Seagate's FireCuda and BarraCuda hard drives both enjoy renown for their performance and speed, with the BarraCuda ST2000LM015 also boasting a thin form factor.