Best hard drives

The main device whose function is to store information in a computer is a hard disk. Winchester is a set of glass, ceramic, brass or aluminum plates. They are located one above the other and are connected to each other by a special axis. Data registration to the drive is carried out according to the magnetic recording principle. Replacing the drive is recommended when it breaks down, which threatens unstable computer operation and loss of important information, as well as a desire to increase the amount of memory. Based on tests, analysis of user and expert opinions, the best hard drives of 2024 were selected for the review.

Which hard drive is better to choose

The electronics market is filled with various storage device models. The best manufacturers of hard drives are American and Japanese companies. When compiling the rating, the reputation of the following companies, whose activities include the production of HDDs, were taken into account:

• Toshiba Corporation - was founded in Tokyo in 1938, but this name was registered only in 1978. The company's infrastructure assumes its division into 4 departments, each of which manufactures products of a certain type. The popularity of hard drives is due to their high reliability and reasonable price.
• Seagate Is an American company. The company released the first 5 MB drive in 1980. The use of innovative caching technology in the creation of HDD allowed the brand to become the market leader. In 2006, Forbes named Seagate Company of the Year. The devices have received many positive user reviews. The firm is considered the largest manufacturer of hybrid hard drives.
• Hitachi – Japanese financial and industrial group, founded in 1910. It includes over 1000 companies. She released her first hard drive with a capacity of 1 TB in 2007. Leading positions in the ratings of the best hard drives are due to a wide variety of models of various capacities and their high reliability. In 2011, the device division was acquired by Western Digital.
• Dell - manufactures drives in various form factors. Large models are suitable for environments that do not require high device performance. 2.5-inch hard drives have more power, less power consumption. Dell has a wide range of models to provide users with the choice of a device for a variety of applications.
• Western - The company was registered in the USA in 1970, but production plants are located in China, Thailand and Malaysia. The release of drives began in 1988. The brand's engineers have developed a variety of innovative technologies in this industry. They were the first to create a 10 TB hard drive with a rotational speed of 10,000 rpm. The brand takes the lead in the ranking of the best external hard drives.
• Maxtor - founded in 1982 by former IBM employees. In 2005, it took 3rd place in the top of the best manufacturers of hard drives. In 2006, it was acquired by Seagate, but continued to release devices under its own brand name.
• Lenovo Is a Chinese company whose drives are popular due to their versatility, compactness and high performance. The model range is dominated by models of the internal type.The policy is based on the principle of creating devices that will empower and enhance human capabilities.
• Samsung - South Korean corporation, which after the war in 1953 was responsible for the development of electronics in the country. According to company executives, the devices created should meet the interests of consumers. In 2010, Samsung's owners announced the transfer of production to Seagate.

Hard drive rating

The quality of the device's performance depends on the characteristics of the hard drive. When buying, you need to consider volume, form factors, and other parameters. The best models were selected for the rating based on comparative tests of the following indicators:

• Drive type;
• Noise level;
• Data transfer rate;
• Capacity;
• Format;
• Interface;
• Susceptibility to mechanical stress;
• Dimensions;
• The weight.

The level of energy consumption was taken into account, which affects the heating of the hard drive, its reliability and durability. For most users, the important point is the availability of the drive, the price-quality ratio. The rating did not ignore the reviews of users and experts. According to certain characteristics, the nominees are divided into 6 categories, in which their description, pros and cons are presented.

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Best hard drives under 2TB

Medium-capacity hard drives are suitable for ordinary users who do not need to store a large amount of information. Text documents of schoolchildren, students and office workers usually occupy no more than 100 GB, an operating system with programs - 150-200 GB. The remaining volume is quite enough for storing various multimedia data. Out of 5 models, 2 nominees were selected based on test results and analysis of user reviews.

Seagate ST1000LM049

The HDD model has a capacity of 1 TB and an optimal rotation speed of 7200 rpm. Due to support of 4 KB sectors, the hard drive makes the most of the usable volume. It is released in a 2.5-inch form factor. Equipped with a dynamic bearing motor for low noise levels. The transition time between tracks is 0.5 ms, which indicates a high speed of the disk. The presence of 1 plate provides low heating, good reliability of the device.

Advantages

• Support for NСQ technology, which increases the performance of hard drives;
• High impact resistance;
• Light;
• Compact;
• A good amount of cache memory is 128 MB.

disadvantages

• The clicking of the levers is heard when the heads are moved;
• High price.

For functionality and quality, users give this model a score of 4. The parameters of the characteristics that are indicated in the instructions correspond to their values. Works quickly, heats up and makes noise within normal limits. At the same time, some respondents note its rapid failure, therefore, when buying, it is advised to take into account the shock resistance parameter during operation.

HGST Travelstar Z7K500.B 500GB

The model is used for laptops or desktop computers, it is produced in a 2.5-inch size. In terms of volume and time characteristics, the drive is inferior to the previous nominee, but the rotation speed, shock resistance and interface are identical. Access time - 12 ms, capacity - 500 GB. Consumes the minimum amount of energy during operation.

Advantages

• Compact;
• Light;
• Good file transfer speed;
• Low price.

disadvantages

• You can hear the clicking of the levers during operation, grinding when turning off;
• Frequent complaints about marriage.

Most experts confirm that users often contact service centers. Often discs after 1-2 months. operations begin to make a lot of noise, do not load the OS.

The advantages include speed and low price, but the quality makes many refuse to buy this model.

Best hard drives over 2TB

Devices with a large capacity are chosen by people whose activities involve working with large files. A hard drive for computers 2 TB is necessary for avid gamers, because the plots and graphics of many games, together with other data, often take more than 50-100 GB.The category contains the 2 best nominees who, based on comparative tests, took the leading positions among 5 models.

Dell 2TB 7200rpm 400-ATKJ 3.5 ″

Premium HDD hard drives are used for servers or computers. Its volume is 2 TB, the rotation speed is 7200 rpm. The model is produced in a standard size of 3.5 inches. The SATA III interface provides good disk bandwidth and performance. The weight of the model does not exceed 0.5 kg. Advanced Format support allows you to make the most of your storage space.

Advantages

• High data transfer rate - 12 Gb / s;
• Low power consumption;
• Compact;
• Quiet work.

disadvantages

• High price;
• It gets very hot.

Users rate the performance and quality of the nominee at 4. Some note the strong heating, the fragility of the hard drive. The rest of the characteristics correspond to the parameters specified by the manufacturer.

HGST HDS723030ALA640

The volume of this model has been increased to 3 TB, so it will suit people who store a lot of multimedia files, heavy games in their computer. The parameters of the interface and the rotation speed of the hard drive are identical to the previous nominee. In terms of shock resistance, it is inferior to drives with a capacity of up to 2 TB. During operation, it is only 70 G, and during storage - 300 G.

Advantages

• Low power consumption;
• Quiet work;
• Compact;
• Average price.

disadvantages

• Heats up well when working;
• Strong vibration.

Users find the model reliable and durable. Some users claim that the drive gets very hot during operation. Experts do not attribute this feature to disadvantages; they advise installing an additional fan.

Best SATA 3Gb / s Hard Drives

This type of hard drive operates at 3 GHz. Interface with Native Command Queuing technology provides bandwidth up to 300MB / sec, multiple commands running simultaneously. SATA II is usually compatible with the previous version, but in some devices the user needs to manually set the operating mode. For example, there is a special adapter for Seagate drives. After testing 10 nominees, the presented 3 models became the best in this category.

Seagate ST3160318AS

HDD hard drive is produced in 3.5-inch size. It is inferior to the previous nominees in terms of volume, which is only 160 GB. The latency is 4.17 seconds, which is considered normal for models with a SATA II interface. Shock resistance during operation is 70 G. The parameter is not critical, since the disc is not subjected to mechanical stress. And the shock resistance of 350 G during storage requires the purchase of a protective case, which will prevent damage to the device.

Advantages

• Compact;
• Light;
• Works quietly;
• Good data transfer rate;
• Low price.

disadvantages

• Small volume;
• Poor performance.

Users give this Top 5 nominee a solid 5 for reliability and functionality. They note that the disc has been working without breakdowns for over 10 years. At the same time, it does not make noise and does not heat up. The reason for not being used is an obsolete volume parameter.

Western Digital WD Blue 80 GB (WD800JD)

Designed for home or office computers. This is indicated by the word "Blue" in the model name. The capacity of the 80 GB hard drive is enough to store text documents, photos or small videos. The interface provides a good data transfer rate. At the same time, in many respects the drive is inferior to the previous nominee.

Advantages

• Minimum power consumption;
• Compact;
• Low price;
• High quality build;
• Long service life.

disadvantages

• Noisy;
• Small volume.

There are practically no negative reviews about the top nominee on the forums. Users confirm the smooth operation of the hard drive for more than 7-10 years. The pluses also include a low price, a high level of reliability.

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Maxtor STM3500418AS

In our review of SATA III devices, this nominee has the largest volume at 500 GB.The model is identical to Seagate ST3160318AS in terms of dimensions, axis rotation speed, shock resistance and noise level. The higher price is due to the increased capacity of the hard drive. Therefore, if there are no restrictions in the purchase budget, you can choose the Maxtor model with a larger capacity.

Advantages

• Average price;
• Light;
• Compact;
• Good work speed;
• Low noise level.

disadvantages

• Not identified.

The main disadvantage of the nominee, users highlight its discontinuation. There are no claims to the manufacturer regarding the build quality and functionality of the disc. Calls to service centers about breakdowns and defects were not recorded.

Best SATA 6Gb / s Hard Drives

The release of the devices began in 2009. SATA III supports disk throughput up to 600 Gbps, continuous data transfer commands for high priority process. The interface is backward compatible with the previous version. Based on the results of comparative tests, the 2 best nominees were selected out of 5 models.

Toshiba HDWD120UZSVA

The disc is made in a 3.5-inch form factor. They use it in desktop computers. The speed parameters are identical to the previous nominees. Shock resistance during operation is 70 G, and during storage - 350 G, which indicates the need to purchase a protective cover. The noise level does not exceed 28 dB, so when using the drive, users do not feel discomfort. The production of hard drives is carried out in China.

Advantages

• Average price;
• Self-diagnosis function;
• Low power consumption;
• Light;
• Large volume.

disadvantages

• Strong heating, the temperature during operation reaches 50-60 degrees;
• Possible marriage.

When analyzing user reviews, complaints about the functioning of the hard drive were not identified. The respondents confirm the noiselessness, high speed and reliability of the nominee. For most, he worked for more than 5 years without breakdowns.

Lenovo 4XB0F28665

The drive with a capacity of 1 TB and a rotation speed of 7200 rpm is used for servers or desktops. It is made in a standard size of 3.5 inches. The SATA III interface provides up to 600MB / s bandwidth. The dimensions of the hard drive are identical to the previous model, and by weight it is 200 g lighter.

Advantages

• Good read and write speed;
• Quiet work;
• High energy efficiency;
• Compact.

disadvantages

• Doesn't support NCQ;
• Obsolete data storage area markup format;
• High price.

The build quality and speed of the nominee are rated at 5. Experts consider this model outdated, as it does not support the latest innovative technologies. Moreover, the average price of a hard drive is often 8-10 thousand rubles.

Best laptop hard drives

The assortment of 2.5-inch hard drives is smaller, their cost is higher. They are subject to more stress as users move laptops frequently. Therefore, when choosing a drive, you must take into account the shock resistance parameter. Which hard drive for a laptop is better to choose depends on the type of information used. When working with text documents, devices with a small capacity are suitable; for multimedia files, it is advised to choose from models with a volume of 1-2 TB. Based on this parameter and other technical characteristics, 3 best hard drives were selected out of 10 nominees.

Western Digital WD Black 500 GB (WD5000LPLX)

The word Black in the name of the model indicates the possibility of using the disk for increased loads. Drives are installed by users who work with resource-intensive programs. The WD Black 500 GB is considered the best option for buyers on a budget. The model is equipped with 1 plate, which reduced the noise level during operation by up to 25 dB. In the active state, it can withstand shocks up to 1000 G, and at rest - up to 400 G.

Advantages

• SATA III interface, which ensures high speed of the disk;
• The minimum indicator of power consumption;
• Thin;
• Light;
• Low price.

disadvantages

• Possible marriage;
• Strong heat.

The respondents rated the performance, durability and quality of the model at 4.5. The disc works from 3 to 5 years without breakdowns, does not make noise.

Experts also consider the drive to be the best in its category and recommend buying it.

Samsung HM160HC

The spindle speed of the model was reduced by the manufacturer to 5400 rpm, which made it possible to reduce vibration and noise during operation. These indicators are important for most users, since laptops are often put on their knees when working. Parallel IDE is deprecated. It has lower bandwidth and data transfer rates. The connection loop is a wide tape with 80 cores. This shape of the cable causes incorrect air circulation in the case, interferes with the installation of accessories. At the same time, several devices can be connected to it at the same time.

Advantages

• Compact;
• Light;
• Low susceptibility to mechanical stress;
• Average price.

disadvantages

• Small volume, 160 GB;
• Power supply of devices only through the molex connector.

The usability and functionality of the nominee for the rating of the best hard drives are rated by users at 5, but its build quality and reliability at 3.5. When idle, it heats up to 45 degrees, and during operation, the temperature reaches 50 degrees. Users note that after 1 month of operation, the disk contains reassigned sectors. This indicates the presence of microscopic damage to the plates.

HGST HTS725032a7e630

The HDD capacity is 320 GB, the rotation speed is 7200 rpm. Support for 4K sectors allows for efficient use of memory space. Due to the SATA III interface, the disk's bandwidth is increased to 6 Gb / s, which provides good read and write speeds. The power consumption is the lowest among the nominees in the category. Shock resistance parameters are identical to WD5000LPLX.

Advantages

• Quiet work;
• Light;
• Thin;
• Low price;
• Minimum heating.

disadvantages

• Loud clicking of heads;
• Possible marriage.

Users note the good build quality and durability of the drive. When working in office applications, it heats up to a maximum of 40 degrees. But the advantages are attributed only to the original models; in Chinese fakes, marriage is often found.

The best hard drives for video surveillance systems

To monitor the situation in a certain area, people often install special systems, the device of which involves a connection between cameras and a monitor. Keeping a video archive is impossible without a hard disk. Winchesters of this type must be resistant to voltage surges, loads, consume a minimum of energy, and maintain communication with high-resolution cameras. The main parameter when choosing a drive is the ability for continuous year-round video recording in several video streams. After testing the technical data of 5 models, the 2 best nominees were selected.

Western Digital WD Purple 4 TB (WD40PURZ)

The drive is specially designed for use in surveillance systems, as indicated by the word Purple in its name. Equipped with built-in video processing software, data loss protection, and vibration resistant. Its capacity is 4 TB, and the spindle speed is 5400 rpm. These parameters allow you to save a large amount of information in the archive, reduce the noise level during operation up to 26 dB. The model can be used in security systems with 64 cameras. You can store it at temperatures from -40 to 70 degrees.

Advantages

• High throughput;
• Light;
• Good read and write speed;
• Low power consumption;
• Uptime is over 41 thousand days;
• Guarantee up to 3 years;
• Compatible with equipment from most manufacturers.

disadvantages

• Low impact resistance;
• Possible marriage.

Users and experts for the build quality, performance, and reliability put this model firmly at 5. No failures in the hard drive have been recorded. It heats up a little, but not critical, does not make noise, withstands voltage drops.

Toshiba HDWU110UZSVA

1TB Surveillance HDD 5400 RPM. It is designed for round-the-clock recording from 8 cameras. Reading and data transfer speed - 600 MB / sec.The drive is equipped with innovative technologies that reduce the noise level and the degree of heating of the hard drive during operation. Operation is possible at temperatures from 0 to 65 degrees.

Advantages

• Average price;
• High quality build;
• Low power consumption;
• Light;
• Quiet work.

disadvantages

• High susceptibility to mechanical stress;
• Small warranty period.

The respondents point to frequent defects in hard drives, but there are no problems with replacement. It works quickly and quietly, does not heat up, there are no broken sectors. The purchase of this model is recommended by about 60% of users.

Which hard drive is better to buy

There are 3 types of drives with different technical characteristics on store shelves. Which hard drive is the best to buy depends on the area of ​​use. Form factors 3.5 are suitable for desktops and server platforms. Size 2.5 is used for laptops. The type of working documents determines the parameters of the volume and speed of the device. For a number of features, the following models were selected from each category:

• The best hard drive up to 2 TB in the price-quality ratio - Seagate ST1000LM049;
• The most reliable and durable model with a capacity of more than 2 TB - HGST HDS723030ALA640;
• The best SATA II drive in terms of volume - Maxtor STM3500418AS;
• The most inexpensive SATA III hard drive is Toshiba HDWD120UZSVA;
• Most Energy Efficient Laptop Hard Drive - HGST HTS725032a7e630
• The best uptime drive for video surveillance systems is Western Digital WD Purple 4 TB (WD40PURZ).

It is not easy for an ordinary user to find a high-quality hard drive. When buying, you need to take into account the technical characteristics, the meaning of which may not be clear to most. The rating will help you compare the best models, analyze their advantages and disadvantages.