Get answers to the most common hard drive questions. Learn what you need to know before buying your next storage device.
HDDs have spinning disks inside that store your data. They work like old record players. SSDs have no moving parts and use memory chips instead. HDDs are cheaper and hold more stuff, but SSDs are way faster. Think of it like the difference between a filing cabinet and your brain. For storing lots of movies or photos, get an HDD. For running your computer and apps, get an SSD.
Start by thinking about what you actually do. Basic stuff like browsing and documents? 500GB to 1TB is plenty. Gaming or lots of photos? Go for 2TB to 4TB. Making videos or running a media server? You need 6TB to 12TB. Professional video work? 14TB or more. Pro tip: keep about 15% of the space free so things run smoothly.
Take the price and divide it by how many terabytes it holds. Simple math that shows you the real value. Bigger drives almost always give you more storage for your dollar. A $100 drive with 4TB costs you $25 per TB. A $60 drive with 2TB costs $30 per TB. First one saves you money. Use this to compare any drives and find the best deal.
Sometimes. You can save 30-60% off the new price, and many come with warranties. But they've been used before, so they might die sooner. Only buy from sellers you trust. Check how many hours it's been running if they tell you. Good for backups or extra storage. Bad idea for your only copy of important files.
Big 3.5-inch drives go in desktop computers. They hold more (up to 20TB) and cost less per TB. Small 2.5-inch drives fit in laptops and portable cases. They use less power but max out around 5TB. Get whatever fits your computer. If you have a choice, go big for better value.
Pretty important. Longer warranty means the company thinks it will last. Basic drives get 2-3 years. NAS drives get 3-5 years. Heavy-duty drives get 5+ years. Better warranty usually means better build quality. It won't stop a drive from dying, but at least you get your money back if it does.
CMR writes data in clean, separate lines. SMR crams data closer together by overlapping the lines. CMR is faster and more reliable. SMR is cheaper but slower when writing files. If you're building a NAS or server, get CMR. For basic backup storage, SMR is fine and saves money.
Depends on the specific drive, not just the brand. Western Digital, Seagate, and Toshiba all make good drives. They also all make some bad ones. Backblaze tests thousands of drives and shares the failure rates every year. Their NAS and enterprise drives last longer than basic models. Check reviews for the exact model you want, not just the brand name.
NAS is a box that stores files on your home network. Think of it like your own personal cloud. Regular drives will break in a NAS because they run 24/7 with multiple drives vibrating next to each other. NAS drives like WD Red or Seagate IronWolf are built tougher and have special features to handle this. Worth the extra cost if you're serious about it.
Basic HDDs run $15-20 per TB. Mid-range drives cost $20-30 per TB and last longer. NAS and pro drives are $25-40 per TB but built way better. SSDs are expensive at $50-150 per TB, depending on how fast you want them. External drives cost a bit more because of the case. Shop around and watch for sales.
RPM is how fast the disk spins inside. 5400 RPM is slower but quieter and uses less power. 7200 RPM is faster but makes more noise and heat. Get 7200 for gaming or your main computer. Get 5400 for backup drives or laptops where battery matters. Pro drives spin even faster for max speed.
Look at the price per TB first. Compare it to other stores like Amazon, Newegg, and B&H Photo. Check if it's a new model or old stock they're clearing out. Read recent reviews to make sure it's not a lemon. Use price tracking sites to see if it's actually cheap or just normal price. Real deals save you 15-30% off the usual price.
Yep. Most external drives are just regular drives in a plastic case. You can crack them open (called shucking) and use the drive inside your computer. Saves money on big drives. Just know that it kills the warranty. Going the other way is easy. Buy an enclosure for $10-30 and pop your internal drive in. Make sure big 3.5-inch drives get enough power.
Gaming: WD Black or Seagate FireCuda. NAS: WD Red Plus/Pro or Seagate IronWolf/Pro. Security cameras: WD Purple or Seagate SkyHawk. Servers: WD Gold or Seagate Exos. Cheap backup: Seagate BarraCuda or WD Blue. Running your OS and apps: Get an SSD like Samsung 870 EVO, WD Blue, or Crucial MX500. Don't overthink it.
This page covers the basics so you can buy the right drive without wasting money. We talk about different storage types, how much space you need, and what to look for when shopping.
Want more detail? Check out our brand pages for Western Digital, Seagate, Samsung, and others. Or browse by capacity to see what fits your budget and needs.
Still have questions? Use our comparison tables to filter by size, price, brand, and tech specs. Find what works for you.