Identify the best external hard drive It is not such a simple task, especially when you do not know much about the subject. Therefore, before launching into the purchase of an external hard drive, it is necessary that you know what types exist and thus identify which one best suits your case.
In this article we will give you the information you need to know, so that you can choose at your discretion which is the best external hard drive for which you can choose.
What is an external hard drive?
The first thing you should do to find out which is the best external hard drive is know what this device is about. An external hard drive is one in which a large number of files can be stored, since its storage capacity is quite high. These are usually quite compact, their size is very similar to that of a book.
What makes it different from a traditional hard drive? That this is very similar to the concept of flash memories, but much larger, that is, they are portable and you can connect them to any computer through a USB port.
Currently, the use of external hard drives has become essential, since these are not only used to save work files, but also you can store and install games for consoles, use them on Smart TV and some other electronic devices.
Are there types of external hard drives?
At present you can find two types of external hard drives, these are:
- Hard Drive Disk (HDD). These usually use the traditional system of hard drives, that is, mechanical operation. These use magnetic fields to store information. In standard manufacturing you can find two 3,5-inch and 2,5-inch sizes. These are usually cheaper and have a high storage capacity, but are often noisier and more vulnerable to damage due to shocks.
- Solid state drive (SSD). These work differently than HDDs, as they do not use mechanical parts. These are responsible for storing the data in memory chips that you can access almost immediately. These They are faster, durable, silent and consume less energy than HDDs. These tend to be much more compact, since its size is around 2.5 inches. One of its main advantages is that in the event that they suffer damage, it is easier to recover the data in it. The price of these is usually much higher, so the acquisition of one must be based on its operation.
These are the two types of hard drives that you can find today, both have pros and cons. Hence, in order to select which is the best external hard drive for you, you must consider the use that you are really going to give it and thus determine the best option when buying one.
Advantages and disadvantages of an external hard drive
In order to select which is the best external hard drive, you must know what they are the advantages and disadvantages to use these devices. Next, we leave you with the main advantages and disadvantages of these devices:
- Count on high storage capacity.
- can be damaged in case of very strong falls.
- They are light and therefore easy to move.
- Liquids can seriously damage them.
- can be blocked through a password and so protect your data.
- In hot times they can overheat if they are used excessively.
- They are usually compatible with different devices such as computers, Smart TV, consoles, among others.
- If a serious fault occurs, it can be lose all information stored.
- You do not require software installation to be able to use them.
- It is necessary to connect them to another device to be able to.
- You may need to format them before you can start using it.
- There are some models that require power adapters, especially those that are 3.5 inches.
What should I take into account to select the best external hard drive?
There are some criteria that you can take into account to select the best external hard drive for you. Here are a few that may be useful to you:
Storage capacity
This is one of the criteria that you should take into account when buying an external hard drive. You have to keep in mind that the greater the storage capacity, the greater the number of files you will be able to store. However, the more storage the higher the cost Of the device.
In the case of HDD disks, it is recommended that as minimum have 1 TB, while on the disks SSD the recommended minimum is 512 GB.
In the event that you are going to use your hard drive to store 4k movies, ISO images of operating systems, games or files of this type, the ideal is that select one from 3 to 4 TB.
transfer capacity
Transfer capacity is another primary factor to consider when selecting the best external hard drive for you. Since depending on the use that you are going to give it, speed will be a determining factor.
If you require an external hard drive to make backup copies, you can resort to an HDD that is compatible with USB 3.0 or a 3.1 of the last generation. Now, if what you need is to expand the storage of a console, the ideal is to use an SSD disk, because it has a higher data rate.
Good compatibility with Bus Powered
This is an extremely important feature, since it depends on whether the power of the device can be obtained from the same USB port. This will make no additional power source required. This feature is ideal in the event that you are going to use it to connect to your Smart TV or monitor, since you do not require an extra connection for the external hard drive.
Size and weight
The characteristics of weight and size They are very important because if what you are looking for is portability, the ideal is to select an SSD disk that does not have mechanical parts or a 2,5-inch HDD. In the event that you want to use your external hard drive to connect it to your Smart TV, a large one would not be a big problem, since it would remain connected to your TV all the time.
Software
When it comes to using an external hard drive to store files, it is necessary that it have a software with which you can make backup copies of your files. But also that you can protect your data from third parties, all this using a password system.
Trademarks
Although many consider that this is not an important feature, buying a disc from a recognized brand can help you with the issue of the warranty in case of a factory fault. But also with the quality of the materials that these are manufactured, therefore, its durability.
If you take into account all these characteristics that we have given you, you will be able to determine which is the best external hard drive that you can buy. Whether you want to backup information or use it for your video game consoles.