26 best hard drives
The modern hard drive market is replete with a variety of models with a variety of technical parameters - capacity, nominal read and write speed, form factor, and so on. This segment of the electronics market has become particularly capacious after gaining competitiveness with solid-state SSD drives. Expertex Exper.com has figured out the incredible variety of available hard drives and formed a rating of the best models for you for certain tasks.
Top hard drives rating
Top SSDs for the desktop
To begin with, let us consider the best, in the opinion of our experts, solid-state SSD drives, which every year more and more confidently push their predecessors - mechanical HDDs. Expertex experts have identified four prominent models from different manufacturers. All presented devices support an extended format in which the size of the sectors is 4 KB.
Plextor PX-512M8SeY
Rating: 4.9
The first number in the review is a very good drive of the prominent brand Plextor (Taiwan). Its capacity is 512 GB, TLC memory is used (three bits per cell). Writing data at a speed of 1 thousand, reading - 2.45 thousand MB per second, random recording - 175000 IOPS. 1024 MB is reserved for the buffer. The data flows are controlled by the Marvell 88SS1083 controller, and this is a distinct advantage of the model due to its power and efficiency.
High speed of operation is partly provided by the high-speed type of connection PCI-E 3.0 x4. There is compatibility with the NVMe standard, the TRIM command is supported. The total recording resource is 320 TB.
The “physics” of the drive is as follows: dimensions - 22.39 × 121.04 × 176.33mm, the device weighs 200 g. In operation and during storage, its shock resistance is 1500 G - a very high figure. The operating temperature limit is 70 ° C.
The drive, although designed to be installed in a desktop computer case, is not without aesthetic qualities. An impressive radiator with curved edges smoothly wraps around the blue inset with the logo, and on the top edge is another glowing Plextor logo and LED strip. All this gives the device an expressive, even “gaming” look and the drive looks very impressive in an open or transparent case.
Virtues
powerful, highly efficient controller;
spectacular design;
high-quality cooling;
easy setup, management and update;
fairly high write / read speed.
disadvantages
- pronounced minuses are not noticed.
Corsair CSSD-N1920GBXTI
Rating: 4.8
Further in the ranking, expert.bigbadmole.com/en/ experts offer to consider the Corsair drive, which the manufacturer positions as a game drive.In fact, its technical characteristics speak of high suitability for modern video games, as well as for working with heavy, resource-intensive graphics. The form factor 2.5 "allows you to install a hard drive not only on desktops, but also in many laptops.
The most noticeable feature of a hard disk is its capacity, which is 1920 GB. In many ways, it was this circumstance that affected its more than palpable value. Uses MLC memory (two bits per cell), which has a number of important advantages over TLC, like the previous model and a minimum of drawbacks.
The nominal read speed is 550 MB / s and a similar record. This is significantly less than that of the model discussed above, but this indicator is more realistic and correlates better with the bandwidth of the interface. Connects the device via SATA 6Gbit / s. Random entry - 85 thousand IOPS.
The physical characteristics of the drive are as follows. Dimensions - 70x7x100 mm, weight - 55 g. The resistance to static and operating conditions is 500 G. The limit on working temperature is 70 ° C.
The manufacturer provides a full five years warranty on this model. Supplied with 9.5 mm adapter.
Virtues
5 years warranty;
high-quality protection against power drops;
increased reliability;
game;
improved error correction methods.
disadvantages
- not noted.
Intel SSDPED1D960GAX1
Rating: 4.8
Now within the framework of the rating prepared by our specialists, we will consider the high-performance SSD from the “avant-garde” market of microelectronics - Intel. With half the size of the previous model (960 GB), the device is twice as expensive. This is a tangible disadvantage from the point of view of an ordinary buyer, but for good reason.
This model uses high-performance and fast memory type 3D XPoint, which was presented by Intel and Micron companies literally "yesterday" - in mid-2015. Work speed: write - 2.2 thousand MB / s, reading - 2.6 thousand MB / s. Random entry - as many as 550 thousand IOPS. Connection is via PCI-E 3.0 x4. Compatible with NVMe standard. There is a built-in data encryption function.
The physical data of the drive is as follows. Dimensions - 17.2x68.9x168mm, weight - 230 g. On average, when working, it consumes about 16.40 W of electricity. The safe operating temperature limit is 85 ° C. The resistance of the device is the lowest in this group - 50 G in statics and in operation, but this figure is still disproportionately better than that of any mechanical disk.
Intel engineers even paid serious attention to the exterior of the drive. It is made in a spectacular and slightly "predatory" design with LED backlighting. Therefore, the model is perfect for gamers, although it is not directly positioned by the manufacturer as a game.
Virtues
highest speed and performance;
spectacular design;
exceptional durability;
innovative type of memory;
The highest write / read speed in the group.
disadvantages
- high price.
Western Digital WD BLUE 3D NAND SATA SSD 500 GB (WDS500G2B0A)
Rating: 4.7
The final item in the first group of the rating is an inexpensive, and at the same time definitely worthy of attention drive from Western Digital. Despite the very "budget" cost, the hard drive is positioned by the manufacturer as a game, and quite objectively.
The drive is made in the form factor 2.5 ", which allows you to install it in desktop PCs (possibly through an adapter), and in laptops. Its capacity is 500 GB, TLC 3D NAND memory is used. It is controlled by a high-performance Marvell 88SS1074 controller. with a speed of 560 MB / s, recording - 530 MB / s, random recording - 84 thousand IOPS. Connected via SATA 6Gbit / s interface. NCQ and TRIM command are supported. The total resource of the recorded information is 200 TB.
The linear dimensions of the device are 69.85x7x100.2 mm, the minimum weight is only 37 g. The limit on safe working temperature is 70 ° C. The hard disk has a high impact resistance in statics and operation - 1500 G. In operating mode consumes about 3.35 watts.
The warranty period of use, set by the manufacturer, is 36 months.
Virtues
game;
minimum power consumption;
powerful controller;
affordable price.
disadvantages
- not noted.
Best HDD Hard Drives for Desktop
Now consider the traditional type of drives - mechanical HDD with reversing magnetic plates. Analysts at expert.bigbadmole.com/en/en/ ranked three noteworthy models from the world's most famous companies - Seagate, Western Digital and Toshiba.
All three hard disks have a number of common characteristics: support for the extended format (4 KB sectors), 3.5 "form factor, connection via the SATA 6Gbit / s interface, 600 MB per second — external data transfer speed.
Seagate ST4000DM004
Rating: 4.9
Opens the top three best HDD for PC "Winchester" produced by a famous American company, which for several decades has been associated exclusively with this class of components.
This is the largest storage device in this group - 4 thousand GB. In addition, it also differs in the impressive space allocated for buffer memory - 256 MB, which has a very positive effect on the speed of working with data.
The hard drive is designed and manufactured in the 3.5 "form factor, it contains two magnetic plates and four heads. The spindle rotation is 5400 revolutions per minute. The nominal data transfer rate is 190 MB / s. It is connected via a common SATAIII interface (6 Gb / s). It supports hardware command queuing (NCQ). According to users' observations, the actual reading speed of large sectors is fully consistent with the stated.
The physical parameters of the device are as follows. Dimensions - 101.6x20.17x146.99 mm, weight - 490 g. In operation mode consumes about 5 watts. Temperature limitation in operating mode - 60 ° C. The maximum declared noise level - 27 dB, and according to numerous reviews of real users, this figure is fully true.
For this model, the manufacturer provides a guarantee of 24 months.
Virtues
advantageous combination of cost and volume;
quiet;
minimal heating;
large amount of cache memory.
disadvantages
- low revs (partly compensated by a large cache).
Western Digital WD Blue Desktop 2 TB (WD20EZRZ)
Rating: 4.8
Further in the ranking, we represent another decent model from a no less worthy manufacturer. This hard drive is two times less capacious than the previous one - 2 thousand GB, but also significantly cheaper. In addition, it has some important advantages.
The hard disk is made in the 3.5 ”form factor with dimensions of 101.6x26.1x147mm and weighing 600 g. The nominal read speed is equal to the write speed of 147 MB / s. 64 MB of disk space is allocated for the buffer. The spindle turns at a speed of 5400 rpm. SATA III port (6.0 Gb / s)
Remarkable physical characteristics of the device. If Seagate is trying not to advertise its shock resistance with respect to the above model, then this parameter is even emphasized - 30 G at work and 250 G in statics in storage. Nominal noise does not exceed 27 dB at full load and 23 dB in idle. Safe operating temperature limit 60 ° C. Average power consumption - 4.10 watts.
With all the visible benefits, this model is not without disadvantage, since it is easily curable. By default, the hard drive is too zealous with head parking - the bill can go to thousands of parking lots per day, and this is a direct way to a quick failure. Therefore, it is recommended to adjust this setting through a special utility.
Virtues
quiet;
does not overheat;
shock resistant;
affordable price.
disadvantages
- head parking frequency
Toshiba DT01ACA300
Rating: 4.7
And completes the ranking of the best HDD for PC according to expert.bigbadmole.com/en/en/ hard disk production of the super-distinguished Japanese old-timers Toshiba electronics market. Here it is necessary to clarify that the presented model was developed in the walls of Hitachi and made on their own equipment, which after the sale of Western Digital’s business went to Toshiba. In this particular case, the product such "mnogohodovka" went only benefit.
The capacity of the hard disk is 3 thousand GB. 54 MB of disk space is reserved for the buffer. The average speed of reading and writing is quite high due to the accelerated rotation of the spindle - 7200 rpm.Very good indicator of the speed of access track to track - 0.5 ms.
The dimensions of the drive are 101.6x26.1x147mm, weight. Like the previous model described, this hard disk is characterized by high mechanical resistance - 70 G in operation and 300 G in statics in storage. Rated noise in an operating mode should not exceed 28 dB. Some users note a noticeable “crunch” at work, but there are no obvious complaints at this moment. Nominal downtime noise is almost the same - 27 dB.
The network can detect a suspiciously noticeable percentage of reports of rapid failure, but in-depth analysis reveals that these cases are mostly due to improper operation of the device. Therefore, our experts did not make this circumstance in obvious shortcomings.
Virtues
profitable "megabyte price";
fairly quiet;
high speed;
does not overheat without external blower (if there is no overload).
disadvantages
- hypersensitivity to power outages.
Top SSD Laptop Hard Drives
Now, as part of our rating, we will consider a group of solid-state drives suitable for installation in laptops and all-in-one computers. The main requirement for such devices is compactness. That is why our experts have chosen the best SSD solely from the minimum form factor of 2280.
We consider three models of different brands - Samsung, ADATA and Plextor. All of them support the extended format (4 KB sectors), connected via connector M.2.
Samsung MZ-V6E500BW
Rating: 4.9
Let's start with the solid-state disk produced by the South Korean technology giant Samsung. This is the most expensive model in this group, but for a number of characteristics, its acquisition is quite reasonable for solving certain problems.
The storage capacity is 500 GB in TLC 3D NAND flash memory. The device is remarkably high write speed - 1800 MB / s. The reading speed is almost twice as high - 3200 MB / s. Random entry - 330 thousand IOPS. Connection interface - high-speed PCI-E 3.0 x4. Supported by NVMe and the TRIM team. Built-in data encryption.
The physical characteristics of the device are as follows. Dimensions - 22x2.3x80 mm, weight - 8 g. High impact resistance - 1500 G in statics and operating mode. The maximum safe operating temperature limit is 70 ° C. On average, a drive consumes up to 5.4 watts of power.
In order for the drive to demonstrate maximum performance, in a number of notebook models it is necessary to make changes to the BIOS settings. This moment often becomes a factor of false and unreasonable claims to the speed of the hard disk.
This model is covered by a manufacturer’s warranty of 36 months.
Virtues
high read and write speed;
one of the best price-performance-performance ratios;
high resistance to mechanical stress;
TRIM command.
disadvantages
there may be problems with the operation of RAPID Mode with AMD processors;
high price.
ADATA XPG GAMMIX S11 480GB
Rating: 4.8
Now let's consider the second position of this group of rating - SSD-drive manufactured by ADATA (Taiwan). The model is notable for the ratio of miniature size, almost zero power consumption and more than decent performance.
The capacity of the drive is 480 GB. High speed (1.7 thousand MB / s - write, 3.05 thousand MB / s - read) provides innovative TLC 3D NAND memory and controller Silicon Motion. Random entry - 280 thousand IOPS. The device is connected via the PCI-E 3.0 x4 interface, there is support for NVMe. The total recording resource is 320 TB.
Now a few words about the physical parameters of the drive. Its dimensions are 22x3.5x80 mm, weight - only 8 g. In work, on average, consumes extremely little electricity - 0.33 W. The maximum safe operating temperature limit is 70 ° C. Impact resistance in statics and in work - 1500 G.
The tiny size of the drive did not prevent the developers to create for it an attractive "game" appearance, and by the manufacturer it is positioned as a game.
ADATA provides a record warranty for this model - 60 months.
Virtues
"Gaming" performance;
durability;
slight heating;
microscopic power consumption;
five year warranty.
disadvantages
- not noted.
Plextor PX-256S3G
Rating: 4.7
And this ranking group from expert.bigbadmole.com/en/en/ completes the drive produced by the famous Taiwanese (originally Japanese) company Plextor. Like the previous model, this manufacturer describes the SSD as a game.
The capacity of the drive is 256 GB. Used memory type TLC (three bits per cell). The data flows are controlled by a Silicon Motion controller. This combination provides a speed of 510/550 MB / s (sequential write / read). Random entry - 71 thousand IOPS.
The model is notable for more than impressive space allocated for buffer memory - as much as 512 MB, due to which the overall performance increases significantly. The TRIM command and NCQ technology are supported. Connects the drive through the interface SATA 6Gbit / s. The total resource of the recorded information is 70 TB.
This model is even more miniature than the previous one - 22x2.3x80 mm, weighs 10 g. The limit on the maximum safe temperature is the same - 70 ° C.
Plextor provides a 3 year warranty on this model.
Virtues
reliability and durability;
slight heating;
high speed;
minimum sizes;
affordable price.
disadvantages
- clear deficiencies not identified.
Best HDD Laptop Hard Drives
Now in the rating from expert.bigbadmole.com/en/en/ we will pay attention to another three hard drives for laptops, only these will be classic HDDs with mechanics and magnetic plates inside. All the proposed models support an extended format (4-kilobyte sectors), made in a compact 2.5-factor form factor, connected via SATA 6Gbit / s high-speed interface, possess exceptionally high impact resistance - 400 G in operation and 1000 G in static storage.
Seagate ST500LM021
Rating: 4.9
To begin, consider the high-performance hard drive manufactured by Seagate. In addition to excellent key features, this model is also the most affordable system compared to the neighboring solutions in the group. The device is part of a series of Laptop Thin HHD, and already the nomenclature itself hints at its compact size.
The total capacity of the hard disk is 500 GB, 32 MB of memory is allocated for the buffer. The main working component is one magnetic disk and two heads. The spindle handles speeds of 7200 rpm, which ensures a high average speed of data exchange - about 135 MB / s (independent tests show full compliance of this parameter with reality). The average wait time is about 11 ms.
The physical data of the hard disk is as follows. Dimensions - 70.1x7x100.55 mm, weight - 95 g. Nominal noise in operation - 24 dB, in idle time a little less - 23 dB. The work consumes about 1.8 watts of electricity.
Seagate provides a 24 month warranty for this model.
Virtues
high speed;
thin;
quiet work;
affordable price.
disadvantages
- There is reason to doubt the declared shock resistance.
Western Digital WD Black 1 TB (WD10JPLX)
Rating: 4.8
Next in our ranking should be a compact "laptop" hard drive from Western Digital. According to the form factor, the device coincides with the previous disk, but its thickness is noticeably larger, which imposes some restrictions on the possibility of its installation in one or another laptop model.
The capacity of the hard disk drive is twice as large as that of the first model in the group - 1 thousand GB. Under the buffer allocated the same amount of memory - 32 MB. The spindle handles 7200 rpm. Independent testing shows a data transfer rate of 127 MB / s (write) and 123.5 MB / s (read).
This model uses a proprietary dynamic caching algorithm developed by Western Digital, which minimizes delays in work and optimally distributes the buffer memory between write and read operations.
The physical indicators of the device are as follows. Dimensions - 69.85x9.5x100.2 mm, weight - 115 g. In operation mode consumes about 1.8 W of electricity. Nominal noise in the work - 27 dB, in idle time - 25 dB.
Due to the fact that the hard disk case is noticeably thicker than the first model in the group, it will not fit into every laptop and is not suitable for ultrabooks.
The manufacturing company provides for this model a serious warranty period of 60 months.
Virtues
high speed;
reliability;
five year warranty.
disadvantages
- noticeable heat and noise.
Toshiba HDWL120UZSVA
Rating: 4.7
And the latest model in this rating group is the Toshiba compact mechanical hard drive. This is the most voluminous model in the group and is expected to be the most expensive. The device is part of a series of L200, which Toshiba experts have developed specifically for portable computers, game consoles and various kinds of peripherals.
The capacity of the device is 2 thousand GB. 128 MB of memory are defined for the buffer. The spindle turns at a speed of 5400 rpm. NCQ technology is supported. The average delay time is about 5.56 ms. The manufacturer was able to qualitatively optimize all processes, due to which it was possible to achieve high rates of data exchange, even at low spindle speeds. At the same time heating and noise are minimal.
This model has the following physical parameters. Dimensions - 69.85x9.5x100 mm, weight - 117 g. The power consumption in the operating mode is about 1.65 watts. In operation, the nominal noise should not exceed 24 dB, in idle - 23 dB. The maximum safe operating temperature limit is 65 ° C.
The resistance of the device when working nominally is 400 G, statically in storage - 1000 G.
Virtues
spaciousness;
high enough data exchange rate due to optimization of all processes;
safety of data safety during transportation (ramp loading technology).
disadvantages
- not found.
Best server hard drives
We now turn to the rating of hard drives, the technical characteristics of which allow using them as part of servers. Our specialists included five models in the review, including three mechanical manufactures manufactured by HGST, Seagate and Intel; and two solid-state production Western Digital and HGST.
Since server arrays can use whole arrays of hard disks, such a parameter as time between failures begins to gain weight, therefore, experts added this characteristic to the device descriptions. All of these samples support the extended format (4 KB sectors).
HGST HUSMM3240ASS204
Rating: 4.9
We start this part of the review with a solid-state SSD-drive manufactured by the American company HGST (owned by Western Digital). The immediate assembly of finished products is made in Malaysia.
The capacity of the disk is 400 GB, using innovative memory MLC 3D NAND. Write speed is 2050 MB / s, read - 2100 MB / s. Random record - 200 thousand IOPS, random reading - 400 thousand IOPS. Connects via SAS interface. The estimated time between failures is 2.5 million hours. Built-in function Secure Erase. External data transfer - 1200 MB / s. Built-in data encryption is not provided.
The hard disk is made in a compact form factor 2.5 ". Its dimensions are 70.1x15x100.6 mm, weight - 140 g. Impact resistance in the operating mode - 500 G, statically in storage - 1000 G. Limit on safe working temperature - 60 ° C .
The manufacturer provides warranty for this model for a period of 60 months.
Virtues
reliability;
high speed write and read;
durability;
five year warranty.
disadvantages
- overpriced.
Seagate XF1230-1A0960
Rating: 4.8
The second position in today's ranking from expert.bigbadmole.com/en/en/ is a large, productive and relatively inexpensive SSD-drive corporate level production of Seagate.
This model is much more capacious than the previous one - 960 GB. Used memory type eMLC. The sequential write speed is 490 MB / s write and 560 MB / s read; random entry - 16800 IOPS. Connects the device through the high-speed interface SATA 6Gbit / s. The TRIM command and NCQ technology are supported. External data transfer rate - 600 MB / s. The estimated time between failures is 2 million hours.
The hard disk is made in the 2.5 "form factor with linear dimensions of 70.1x7x100.25 mm. The device weighs 85 g. The average power consumption is 4.20 W. The limit on safe working temperature is 70 ° C. The resistance in operation and in statics is 1500 G.
An important advantage of this model is the optimal combination of reliability and performance with full-fledged ability not to break the outdated storage infrastructure.This allows the company to save maximum cash when upgrading server systems.
Virtues
ease of deployment as part of legacy storage infrastructure;
optimal IOPS performance matching to maximize random access speeds;
profitable "megabyte price";
increased reliability and protection of the integrity of the enterprise data.
disadvantages
- pronounced deficiencies not found.
Intel SSDSC2KI010T801
Rating: 4.7
Next in our ranking is a server solid-state drive from the "most" Intel. This cost model is commensurate with the previous example, but slightly more capacious and has some additional advantages.
The capacity of the disk is 1024 GB. High-performance innovative TLC 3D NAND type memory is used. The sequential write speed is 450 MB / s, readout is 550 MB / s. The device is connected via the SATA 6Gbit / s port. The estimated time between failures is 1.6 million hours. There is a built-in data encryption function.
The drive was manufactured in a compact 2.5 "form factor with linear dimensions of 100x70x7 mm. The device weighs 82 g. The nominal power consumption is 2.3 W. The resistance in operation and in statics is 1500 G. The limitation of the maximum operating temperature is 70 ° C.
Intel provides a 3 year warranty for this model.
Virtues
increased reliability;
profitable "megabyte price";
famous brand;
durability;
built-in data encryption.
disadvantages
- not found.
Western Digital WD Gold 1 TB (WD1005FBYZ)
Rating: 4.6
The penultimate model in this group of rankings from expert.bigbadmole.com/en/en/ is a mechanical HDD disc from Western Digital. The model is uniquely positioned as a server by the manufacturer, and its characteristics directly indicate this. With all this, this model is the most affordable in this group review.
The capacity of the drive is 1000 GB. 128 MB is reserved for the buffer. The read and write speeds are identical - 184 MB / s. The spindle handles 7200 rpm. The device is connected via the SATA 6Gbit / s port. NCQ technology is supported. Estimated time between failures is about 2 million hours.
The hard disk is made in the form factor 3.5 "with linear dimensions of 101.6x26.1x147 mm. The device weighs 641 g. At work, it consumes an average of 8.10 W. Inside contains one magnetic plate and two heads. The resistance in operation is 65 G, during storage in statics - up to 300 G. Nominal declared noise level during operation - up to 28 dB, during idle time - no more than 25 dB.
Virtues
increased reliability and durability;
HelioSeal technology;
The most affordable price in a group.
disadvantages
- not found.
HGST HUS726040ALE614
Rating: 4.5
And closes the top five best server hard drives in the rating from expert.bigbadmole.com/en/en/ another drive from the company HGST, this time mechanical. This is the most capacious disk in this group with the most profitable “megabyte price”.
The capacity of the hard disk is 4 thousand GB. 128 MB of memory is reserved for the buffer. The average access time for reading is 7.6 ms, and 8 ms for writing. The average latency is 4.16 ms. The spindle handles 7200 rpm. The device is connected via the SATA 6Gbit / s port. The estimated time between failures is about 2 million hours. Secure Erase and NCQ technology are supported.
The drive was made in the 3.5 "form factor with dimensions of 101.6x26.1x147 mm and weighing 715 g. In the operating mode it consumes about 9.10 W of electricity. The resistance in operation is 70 G, in statics - up to 300 G. The working noise level should not exceed 36 dB, in idle time - 29 dB. The working space of the device consists of as many as five plates and ten heads.
This model comes with a 60 month warranty.
Virtues
Virtues
durability;
five year warranty;
reliability;
large volume;
favorable price for this volume.
disadvantages
- noisy.
Top external hard drives
Now we come to another important category of our rating - portable hard drives. Here, our experts have identified six models as the best, which can vary considerably in parameters, but each of them has one or another key advantage. All presented models support an extended format with 4 KB sectors.
Samsung Portable SSD T5 500GB
Rating: 4.9
Let's start with a simple and concise solution from Samsung, which, due to its remarkable qualities, has won the most serious market demand. This is a solid-state drive, made in the form factor 1.8 "with dimensions of 57.3x10.5x74 mm and weighing 51 g. The design of the device is as minimalist as its dimensions.
The capacity of the carrier is 500 GB. High-performance TLC 3D NAND memory is used, the TRIM command is supported. There are integrated data encryption tools - this function is not convenient for every user, and it can be turned off if you wish. The carrier is highly resistant to shock loads - 1500 G, which is important for a portable device.
The data exchange rate (both recording and reading), declared by the manufacturer, reaches 540 MB / s. Reviews of real users speak about the full compliance of the nominal indicator with the actual capabilities of the device.
This hard drive is notable for an extended package. So, the package includes two additional cables for connecting to the USB Type C port and an adapter from Type C to Type A. The hard disk itself is optimized for connecting to a PC via a new generation USB - 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C.
The South Korean company provides a three-year warranty on this model.
Virtues
minimum dimensions and weight;
impact resistance;
integrated data encryption;
equipment;
data rate.
disadvantages
- very limited connection cable length.
Transcend TS240GJDM725
Rating: 4.8
Further, within our rating, we will consider another solid-state external drive of the well-known trademark Transcend (Taiwan). This is a very interesting item, as in fact it is not even just an external hard drive, but a whole functional set for upgrading Apple computers. Thus, the disk can be used as external, and can be installed permanently, as internal.
The capacity of the carrier is 240 GB; a reliable MLC memory is used. Reading speed reaches 570 MB / s, writing - 460 MB / s. Supported team TRIM, NCQ technology and ECC. Connects the device via USB 3.0.
The device is extremely compact - 37.2x10.8x110.9 mm, weighs only 65 g (the whole set weighs 250 g). The exterior of the drive is fully consistent with its "specialization" - an elegant elongated body of white color.
Now a few words about the configuration. The package includes the drive itself, an external aluminum case, installation tools (T5 and P5 screwdrivers), USB cable, case screws, rubber backing, transport case, USB cable, installation instructions, documentation for the device.
The developers have focused on the 100% compatibility of the disc with MacBook Pro (Retina) 15 ". A 24-month warranty from the manufacturer is provided.
Virtues
exceptional reliability and performance;
full compatibility with MacBook Pro (Retina) 15 ";
possibility of use as a stationary system disk;
extremely rich equipment.
disadvantages
- not found.
ADATA SD600 256GB
Rating: 4.7
The third position of this group of the best external drives rating from expert.bigbadmole.com/en/en/ is an extremely interesting solution from ADATA. This is a solid-state SSD drive, and it is already remarkable for its design and shape. It is made in a non-standard form factor with a bright "game" appearance.
The capacity of the drive is 256 GB; high-performance innovative TLC 3D NAND memory is used. The sequential write speed is 430 MB / s, and the read speed is MB / s. ECC technology is supported, NCQ support and TRIM commands are not implemented.
The dimensions of the device are 80x15.2x80 mm, weight - 90 g. The device has the same high impact resistance as the previous models - the permissible load up to 1500 G in work and in statics. The range of permissible operating temperature is from 5 to 50 ° C. Connects to the USB 3.1 Gen 1 interface.
Manufacturer's warranty for this hard drive is 36 months.
Virtues
impact resistance;
high performance memory;
spectacular design.
disadvantages
- no support for the TRIM team.
Western Digital My Passport 2 TB (WDBUAX0020B)
Rating: 4.6
The mechanical external hard disk made by the famous company Western Digital continues the group of the best external media rating. Along with the model from ADATA, which we will look at next, this is the most capacious external drive in this group.
The device is designed for 2 TB of information, 32 MB of memory is defined under the buffer. The spindle turns at a speed of 5400 rpm. The average delay is 5.6 ms. There are integrated 256-bit AES data encryption tools.
The hard disk is made in the 2.5 "81.5x21.5x110 mm form factor and weighing 250 g. The working parts are one magnetic plate and two heads. The exterior of the device deserves special praise - a spectacular body, visually consisting of two halves with different texture, high-quality plastic , deep anthracite shade (there are also other bright colors). A 35 cm long long hard cord is supplied.
The drive is connected and powered via USB 3.0 port. External bandwidth for data exchange is 500 Mb / s. Safe working temperature is in the range of 5 to 35 degrees.
In the appendage to the basic configuration is a set of convenient proprietary "software" for backup, security, data integrity, maintenance and other tasks.
Virtues
bright, effective and at the same time practical design;
slight heating;
increased reliability;
a set of convenient working utilities.
disadvantages
- there are cases of imbalance, causing increased vibration.
Toshiba CANVIO BASICS 500GB
Rating: 4.5
The penultimate position in the external drive rating group is a Toshiba mechanical hard drive. In some respects, this solution loses to other models in the group, but it has an important advantage - an extremely affordable price.
The capacity of the carrier is 500 GB. Under the buffer allotted 8 MB. Spindle circulation - 5400 rpm. Working parts - one magnetic disk and two heads. NCQ support not implemented. The speed of external data transfer reaches 500 MB / s, the nominal waiting time - up to 12 ms. The claimed direct data exchange rate is up to 112 Mb / s. Independent testing has shown that the real indicator is only slightly lower than the nominal one, practically within the limits of statistical error.
The drive is made in the form factor 2.5 "with linear dimensions of 79x15x119 mm and a weight of 230 g. The case is made of aluminum with a black coating. The design is minimalistic, but elegant and attractive.
Included is a useful backup utility NTI Backup Now EZ.
Virtues
- high build quality;
- low noise level;
the most affordable price in the group;
reliability.
disadvantages
- There may be problems installing the disk as a boot disk.
ADATA HV620 2TB
Rating: 4.5
And in conclusion, the ranking of the best external drives consider another model from ADATA, this time mechanical. Like the above solution from Western Digital, this drive is the most capacious in the group.
The capacity of the disk is 2 TB. The amount of buffer memory is small and similar to the previous model - 8 MB. The working area consists of three magnetic plates and six heads. The spindle turns at a speed of 5400 rpm. The data exchange rate at the port is up to 500 MB / s. Compatibility with NCQ is not provided.
Made hard disk in the form factor 2.5 "with dimensions 78x21x115 mm and weight 230 g. Connects via USB 3.0 port. The case is made of high-quality black plastic. The mirror surface adds advantages to the attractive appearance of the device, but automatically implies an improved marzime. It is completed with an auxiliary software - utility Quick Start Guide.
Virtues
high-quality assembly;
attractive design;
large volume.
disadvantages
- very sleek body.
Best hard drives - hybrids HDD + SSD
Finally, the last group of devices in the rating review from expert.bigbadmole.com/en/en/.These are hybrid carriers that combine both types of drives in a single device - mechanical HDD and solid state SSD. Many analysts agree that the near future of hard drives is behind such technological solutions. Our specialists have identified two models from the current market offer - Seagate and LENOVO. Both solutions support extended format.
Seagate ST2000LX001
Rating: 4.9
This hybrid carrier marketers Seagate positioned as a game. Actually, the very idea of creating such hybrids was largely due to the desire to maximize the satisfaction of the requirements of "professional" gamers.
The device is made in the form factor 2.5 ", which allows it to be used to equip not only desktop PCs, but also portable ones. Its dimensions are 69.85x7x100.35 mm, weight - 96 g.
The mechanical part consists of two magnetic plates and four heads. The capacity of the mechanical part is 2 TB. Under the buffer allotted as much as 128 MB. Spindle speed - 5400 rpm. The access parameter track to track is 1.5 ms. The average delay time is 5.6 ms.
The solid-state part of the device has a capacity of 8 GB and is formed from a reliable MLC-type memory (two bits per cell). Compatible with NCQ.
Connects the device through the high-speed port SATA 6Gbit / s. The intensity of data exchange at the port - up to 600 MB / s. The disk is characterized by a very good “physics” - high impact resistance at 400 G in the operating mode and 1000 G in statics in storage. Nominal noise in operation does not exceed 24 dB, while waiting - 22 dB. Safe operating temperature limit 60 ° C.
Virtues
best suited for PS4 PRO;
affordable, as for a hybrid, cost;
noticeable increase in performance compared to conventional HDD;
noise in the normal range, as usual HDD.
disadvantages
- no obvious cons.
LENOVO 4XB0M33238
Rating: 4.8
Finally, the final position in this group of rating at the same time and completes the entire review. This is a hybrid hard drive from LENOVO - a Chinese manufacturer known for its low-cost but high-quality electronics. As well as the device described above, this hard disk is defined by the manufacturer as gaming.
The parameters of memory in this case are completely similar to the previous model - 2 GB mechanical disk and 8 GB solid-state part. A significant difference in the speed of rotation of the spindle - here it is significantly higher and amounts to 7200 rpm. The device is connected via the SATA 6Gbit / s port with a bandwidth of 600 MB / s.
The form factor, in which the device is made - 3.5 ", hints at the possibility of its use only in desktop PCs. The model dimensions are 101.6x26.1x146.99 mm.
Virtues
reliability;
quality service (warranty service);
increased performance.
disadvantages
- pronounced deficiencies are not noted.
Attention! This rating is subjective, is not advertising and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you should consult with a specialist.
