18 best hard drives

A hard disk or hard drive is one of the main elements of any modern computer, which is responsible for storing information. The device consists of magnetic disks - aluminum or glass plates of a round form and an information reading / recording head. The main qualitative characteristics of a hard disk are capacity, speed of reading and reading data, rotation speed, sector search time, noise level and impact resistance during operation (for HDD). In addition, for many users when buying a hard drive, a very important characteristic is the reliability and durability of the device.

In compiling the rating of the best hard drives, technical characteristics, popularity of the device, availability on store shelves, an optimal price-performance ratio and feedback from real users were taken into account.

The best HDD hard drives for a 1-2 TB desktop computer

HDD (Hard Drive Disk) - the most popular type of drive for a personal computer. Such hard drives have been on the market for a very long time and are still in high demand due to their large capacity, reasonable price and relatively long service life. The main disadvantage of HDDs is low resistance to mechanical damage. In particular, such devices are afraid of shocks and shaking during operation. Therefore, choosing a reliable HDD drive is important to look at parameters such as impact resistance during operation and storage.

The most popular manufacturers of HDD hard drives for desktop computers are Toshiba (Japan), Western Digital (USA) and Seagate (USA).

3 Western Digital WD10EZRZ

The inexpensive Western Digital WD10EZRZ model ranks third in the HDD HDD rating for personal computers. The drive has a volume of 1 TB, having a democratic price, which makes it quite popular in the market. Thanks to the support of 4 KB sectors, the disk uses its usable volume as efficiently as possible. The read speed and write speed are the same and are 150 Mbps.

Among the advantages in the reviews, customers indicate fast work, low noise and low operating temperature. It consumes a bit of the device, only 3.3 W, so there will be no need to replace the power supply when installing a disk. An important parameter of the drive is the jump time between different tracks, which here is 0.4 seconds, which ensures high speed of work. The disadvantages include only some of the difficulties with the setting.

2 Seagate ST1000DM010

The silver prize winner is a very affordable model from Seagate. According to its characteristics, it is very close to the WD representative, but at a slightly lower cost it offers higher characteristics.Volume - 1 TB - the best option for most home users. The stated read and write speeds are 156 Mbit / s, but user reviews say even higher numbers — up to 200 Mbit / s with sequential reading.

Also, the advantages should be attributed to a relatively low noise level and minimal heating: under load, the disc warms up to 41 degrees, although the maximum permissible is almost a third higher. The only complaint about Seagate is that its energy saving controls are too strict. Yes, the hard drive consumes 5.3 watts, but because of the factory settings, the disk goes to sleep very quickly, which is why there is a noticeable delay when switching music tracks, for example.

1 Toshiba HDWD120UZSVA

Leadership in the category will give the most capacious hard drive. The Toshiba model with a capacity of 2 terabytes a few years ago might have seemed redundant and expensive, but today, due to the increasing amount of information and cheaper technology, it is becoming quite relevant.

The device is made in the 3.5 ’form factor. The disk rotation speed is 7200 rpm, which provides an acceptable speed of 150 MB / s for writing and reading. The manufacturer claims that during operation, the disc produces only 28 dB of noise, which is confirmed by users in the reviews. Among the shortcomings - high heat. Temperatures easily reach 50 degrees, with a critical level of 65 C. Of the pleasant features, we note the self-diagnostic function of the disk, which is designed to extend the service life and maintain the speed of work at the initial level.

The manufacturer offers only two years of warranty, but users talk about trouble-free operation for 4-5 years, and therefore there is no doubt about reliability.

The best hard drives for a desktop computer with a capacity of more than 2 TB

Most users use 1-2 terabytes of memory for personal use. You can store all files, music and even a collection of your favorite movies. But sometimes it takes significantly more memory. Video operators, editors and other professionals who work with very large files need 3-4 or even 10 TB of memory. For these people, we picked up the four most capacious hard drives.

4 Western Digital WD Blue Desktop 4 TB (WD40EZRZ)

Let's open the category with a fairly modest hard drive from the well-known Western Digital. The official disk capacity is 4 TB, in fact, users complain about the availability of only 3.63 TB. On the other hand, the average cost allows you to forgive many flaws.

The disk rotation speed is 5400 rpm, the cache size is only 64 MB. Because of this, the overall speed is low - with sequential writing / reading, the speed is kept at 149-155 MB / s. But such modesty allowed WD Blue Desktop 4 Tb to be as quiet and quiet as possible.During operation, the noise level does not exceed 28 dB, the vibrations are almost completely absent, and the temperature, even at maximum load, does not exceed 40 degrees. This allows you to collect very quiet reliable computers with several disks at once - collected a couple of such HDDs in RAID 1 and you can not worry about the safety of data.

3 Seagate ST3000DM007

The top three HDD for desktop computers includes the BarraCuda lineup model from Seagate. The price for one terabyte is higher than that of the previous participant, but most ordinary users will probably be more interested in the bronze medalist. 3.5 ″ capacity of 3 TB disk. This is more than enough to store a personal archive of photos, music and TV shows.

The rotation speed of the disks is again only 5400 rpm, but due to the larger cache - 256 MB - slightly higher read / write speeds are provided - about 180-185 MB / s. Also, users will appreciate the low noise level: 27 dB at work and only 22 dB in idle - it will not even interfere with sleep! Heating is also extremely low - users talk about 26-28 C under load. Finally, it consumes a disk when running at just 3.7 watts.

On the reliability of information from users almost none. Officially declared service life of 1800 days (5 years), warranty 720 days.

2 Western Digital WD Black 6 TB (WD6003FZBX)

If Western Digital's “Blue” line is intended for home use, then “WD Black” is positioned as a tool for professionals. Capacity of the model 6TB. Such volumes will be useful, for example, to operators and editors, who have to deal with source codes of several tens or even hundreds of gigabytes.

The disk rotates at a speed of 7200 rpm, which, in combination with a buffer of 256 MB, provides write and read speeds of 225-230 MB / s - these are record numbers in the class. In this case, it is necessary to put up with a fairly high level of noise: when operating, the disc gives 36 dB, and in idle time - 29 dB. Also, the user will have to provide good ventilation in the PC case, because the operating temperature range is small (from 5 to 55 degrees), and the heating level is high due to the high speed of work. Power consumption - 9.1 watts.

In addition to high speed manufacturer guarantees maximum reliability of storage. 1800 days official warranty. What are the disadvantages? High price. 1 TB of memory on this disk is one and a half times more expensive than its competitors (~ 3250 rubles)

1 Toshiba HDWR11AUZSVA

In contrast to the previous participant, we offer a model with a minimum cost of memory. For 10 TB will have to pay only 17-18 thousand rubles.The application of the model is still the same - storing and processing high-quality video materials. Of course, you can also look at larger capacity models - other manufacturers offer hard drives up to 14 TB for home use - but the cost of one terabyte of memory in this case will be much higher.

In addition, our leader can boast not only quantitative but also qualitative indicators. The disk rotates at a speed of 7200 rpm, the cache size is 256 MB - the read and write speeds are kept at 200 MB / s. The model undoubtedly refers to noisy - even in a simple noise level reaches 34 dB. Unfortunately, due to the novelty of HDD, there are no reviews about its reliability, but the manufacturer provides 730 days of warranty and claims 600,000 hours of time between failures - an excellent result.

The best hard drives, hybrids HDD + SSD

A hybrid hard drive is considered a more advanced data storage device, as it combines the positive aspects of HDD and SSD drives. The hybrid drive first saves the data to flash memory, and then transfers it to a magnetic drive. This increases the speed of information transfer, increases the service life of the carrier and reduces energy costs. The only significant drawback of the “hybrid” is the high price.

2 Seagate ST2000DX002

Need a classic HDD capacity with SSD speed? There are no miracles, it is impossible to combine these qualities in one device, but the opening model of the category is as close as possible to this. The capacity of the “hard” part is 2 TB, which should be enough even for the most demanding users. 8 GB flash memory is designed to provide speed.

The test results do not hit: a consistent reading speed of about 180 MB / s, writing - 220 MB / s. Similar results can boast top classic HDD. But the ST2000DX002 has an important feature - the effect of its work will become visible after a time. The disk analyzes which files are most often used (as a rule, these are system files and the most frequently used programs) and transfers them to flash memory in order to speed up their launch in the future.

Separately, it is worth noting the excellent acoustic comfort - the disk is almost inaudible at work - and the traditional 720-day warranty for hard drives (5 years service life).

1 Seagate ST1000LX015

The leader of the ranking is another representative of the line of hybrid drives Seagate. The main difference from the previous participant is the form factor 2.5 ’. This is suitable for installation not only in the desktop, but also in a laptop. The volume of the hard disk is 1 TB, another 8 GB carries a flash drive. The rotation speed of disks is only 5400 rpm, which is hardly a high result. The sequential read and write speeds are at 140 and 110 Mb / s, respectively.

Acoustic comfort, judging by the statement of the manufacturer, is simply excellent - only 22 dB at work. However, some users note a slight noise when positioning the head. Although with everyday use, you are unlikely to pay attention to it.

Best Laptop Hard Drives

3 Western Digital WD5000LPLX

Opens the top three hard drives for laptops in 2019 model Western Digital WD5000LPLX. Due to the widespread 2.5 ”form factor, it will fit into the vast majority of portable computers. The storage capacity is 500 GB, which is quite enough to store a large amount of documentation. HDD technology extends the life of the media and allows you to operate it for several years without resorting to replacement.

The advantages of this model in the reviews, customers include a good speed of data exchange, a guarantee of 5 years and an acceptable cache size. The external data transfer rate is about 600 Mbps, which allows you to quickly display the requested documents.Among the weaknesses of this device is heating during intensive work and a fairly high noise level when reading from the drive.

2 Seagate ST1000LM048

Silver category will give away the model from Seagate. Winchester is about midway between competitors in terms of cost and performance. A 2.5 ’disk capacity is 1 TB — the optimal solution for most users. Spindle speed 5400 rpm Together with the 128 MB cache, this ensures a sequential read speed of 125 MB / s, and a write speed of 88 MB / s.

Separate attention are important for mobile computers indicators of temperature and noise. According to the reviews, the disk heats up to a maximum of 27-28 degrees. It should be borne in mind that this figure can vary greatly depending on the model of the laptop, namely, from its ventilation. The noise is just fine. When working volume does not exceed 22 dB - you will hear only in the quietest room. Finally, shock resistance at work - ST1000LM048 can withstand overloads up to 400G!

1 HGST HTS721010A9E630

The leader in the rating is the model from HGST, which is a subsidiary of Western Digital. Format, as befits a model for a laptop, 2.5-inch. Storage capacity - the usual 1000 GB, which is the golden mean for most users. The operation speed is not surprising - due to the high rotational speed (7200 rpm), the read speed is about 115-120 Mb / s. It is worth noting the high speed access Track to track - only 1 ms. The average delay time is 4.2 ms.

Other features include a rather low power consumption - 1.8 W, which is especially valuable for a laptop, and a small impact resistance - the hard drive during operation will transfer overloads up to 400 G without consequences for stored information.

Top external hard drives

3 Toshiba Canvio Ready 1TB

The third place in the ranking of the best external hard drives is Toshiba Canvio Ready 1TB. This model has the lowest cost among the competitors in the TOP, but in terms of characteristics it is not inferior. As the drive is used HDD with a capacity of 1 TB, which copes with the storage of large files. Thanks to the USB 3.0 interface, a good data transfer rate is achieved - up to 500 Mbps. The practical plastic case perfectly transfers mechanical loads and reliably saves contents.

In the reviews, the advantages of this model include the small size, low weight and high reliability. In addition, the drive has sufficient protection from shocks and falls. Literate software allows you to interface media with a variety of multimedia devices. Shortcomings include a short cord and a non-standard connector for connecting it from the side of the hard disk.

2 Western Digital WDBUZG0010BBK-EESN

In second place in the ranking of the best external hard drives in 2019 is the Western Digital model WDBUZG0010BBK-EESN. The USB 3.0 data transfer port provides high-speed data traffic between media and a third-party device. The volume of the drive is 1 TB, which allows you to store not only text files and photos, but also movies on it. The main carrier is set to 1 HDD with a 2.5 ”form factor.

In numerous positive reviews, customers talk about small size, good reliability and quiet operation. Among all the models presented in the TOP, this one has the smallest weight - only 130 grams. The package, in addition to the drive itself, includes a data cable. Among the weak sides of this model are a fragile plastic case and driver problems.

1 ADATA DashDrive Durable HD650 1TB

First place in the ranking of the best external hard drives in 2019 is ADATA DashDrive Durable HD650 1TB.This 1 TB drive is one of the most popular on the market today. Thanks to the USB 3.0 connection, data transfer rates of up to 500 Mbps are provided. The standard 2.5 ”form factor makes the drive quite compact (weight is only 201 grams.) 1 HDD is installed in the storage device.

Among the strengths of this model in reviews, users highlight a pleasant appearance, good speed and shock-resistant body. Engineers paid special attention to the strength of the device, since external drives are often subject to physical influences. The disc is compatible with most modern devices, starting with laptops and smartphones, and ending with TVs. The disadvantages include a short cord and low build quality.

Best server hard drives

Hard drives for servers are characterized by increased reliability and speed of operation (rotation speed up to 15000 r / m). To connect the server disk, use parallel (SCSI) and serial (SATA, SAS) interface. The uptime of such devices, as a rule, exceeds 1 million hours. The most common width (form factor) of hard drives for a server is 3.5 inches, but 2.5-inch devices have become increasingly popular. It is known that the smaller the width, the more economical is the hard drive.

3 Seagate ST1000VX000

Closes the top three rankings of the best hard drives for the 2019 server model Seagate ST1000VX000. This device has the lowest cost relative to competitors, however, is not inferior to them in performance. This hard drive is specifically designed for installation in video surveillance systems, which determines its ability to function around the clock for a long time. A high read speed of 210 Mbps will allow you to quickly access the stored information.

Among the advantages of the device in a review, users allocate volume (here it is 1 Tb), low cost and low noise level during operation. Thanks to the two writing heads, a maximum write speed of 156 Mbit / s is achieved. NCQ support provides multitasking. The weak sides of this HDD include a small speed of instantaneous exchange and difficulty with the firmware.

2 Seagate ST1000NM0033

The second place ranking of the best hard drives for the server is Seagate ST1000NM0033. The volume of the drive is 1 TB, which allows you to store in a constant memory a sufficiently large amount of data, and this is important for the server. The buffer size is 128 MB - two times more than the competitors. Such indicator provides high speed of work and resource, declared by the manufacturer, up to 1,400,000 hours.

The strengths of the device buyers in the reviews include excellent data transfer speed, high reliability and the presence of a humidity sensor. In terms of characteristics, this is one of the best models for the server, but the power consumption is quite large, and is 8.1 watts. The disk has a good protection system and will save data upon impact with a load up to 300G. Among the minuses - heat during operation and a fairly high noise level during recording.

1 Western Digital WD20EFRX

The leader of the best server hard drive rating is the Western Digital WD20EFRX model. The drive has a capacity of 2 TB and, thanks to the SATA 6GB / s interface, provides a maximum data transfer rate of up to 600 Mbps. The uptime, stated by the manufacturer, is 1,000,000 hours, which indicates the high reliability of the device. Successful engineering solutions allow you to store a disk at temperatures from -40 to 70 ° C.

In numerous reviews, users talk about quiet operation, increased warranty and no vibrations, as the strengths of this model. Thanks to the unique NCQ technology, the disk can process several commands at once, which positively affects its performance. Regarding the TOP neighbors, it is the most economical - consumption is only 4.4 watts.The disadvantages of this device include overpriced and rather stringent requirements for ambient temperature during operation.

How to choose the best hard drive

Hard disk, at first glance, is not the most important part of the computer. Yes, "not with that" model, your PC will still work. But in order to choose a quality drive, pay attention to our tips.

• Drive type First, decide which type of drive is right for you: HDD, SSD or HDD + SSD. Detailed information about them in the summary table above.
• Manufacturer. Information is the main value of the modern world. To keep your data for years to come, choose products from trusted manufacturers. For example, those we have listed above.
• Capacity. For operating systems and programs, 250 GB is enough. Store a lot of photos and music - 1 TB of your choice. The hand does not rise to remove your favorite TV shows and movies - look at the "screws" from 2 TB and above. The greater the volume, the higher the price.
• Form factor 2.5 ’hard disks are installed in laptops, 3.5’ in desktop PCs. Be sure to check which format is supported by your device.
• Spindle speed. It happens from 5400 to 10,000 revolutions per minute. Higher rate - better performance. The best option are models with a speed of 7200 rev / min.
• Noise. Many users collect the quietest cooling systems. Because of this, the crash of a hard disk can become audible. Check this in advance will not work - just know that this situation is the place to be.

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ADATA

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Toshiba

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