The 6 best hard drives 2020 - hard drive test & comparison
Nowadays, the computer has invaded our interiors. We have to admit that we know almost everything about its components. This is the case with the hard drive where we keep more and more data. And it is all the more difficult to choose the best.
Hard drive list of best products 2020
How do we proceed?
Our products are tested according to standard standards and checklists, they are certified by external testers. Customer reviews allow us to offer products of very good quality and at the best price. If there is any doubt about a particular product, we will initiate new testing procedures with the support of our partners. We do not work for any organization, our product choices are made independently.
What is a hard drive?
Before looking at this comparative test, let’s define what the hard drive is. In the field of computing, the hard drive is a computer device invented in 1956. It is presented in the form of a case containing circular support covered with a thin layer of magnetic material to store the memory. The disk is called “hard” because it is rigid, unlike floppy disks. It is used to store stored digital data when the computer is turned off.
Mass memory, it keeps operating system data, installed software and your personal data. In other words, your best files, photos, music, movies, videos…
Information on the 7 main manufacturers or brands
The market for the best hard drive manufacturers has seen corporate takeovers and mergers. Today it boils down to three world leaders present in our comparative test.Western Digital
Seagate Technology
Toshiba
Samsung
Crucial Technology
Maxtor
Lacie
Born in 1970, Western Digital is currently the world’s leading manufacturer of computer equipment. It currently accounts for 45% of global sales. The first hard drives were designed and manufactured in 1988. Since then, the company has released the unique SATA hard drive running at 10,000 rpm. The group acquired the hard drive department of Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (HGDT) in 2011 and Sandisk in 2015.
Founded in 1987, Lacie has been a subsidiary of the American group Seagate Technology since 2012. It designs and develops high-end, elegant and high-performance hard drives. Its best SSD discs are renowned for the strength of their components and durable aluminium housing. Drawing on top designers, such as Neil Poulton, she targets the clientele of film and video professionals.
How does hard drive work?
To make the best choice in our comparison test, take the time to understand the elements that make up the hard drive and how it works. Your opinion will only be better.
Several circular glass trays are covered with a thin layer of aluminium or nickel on each side. It is on this magnetic medium that the data are stored
Two types of technology organize magnetic particles on the tracks during magnetic recording. Perpendicular recording (PMR) allows you to reach 1 TB per square inch versus 100 to 200 GB for longitudinal recording LMR. This results in a higher surface density.
The motor allows the trays to be run thanks to the motor axis. It is located on the chassis. The interface or controller carries the necessary electronics to connect the hard drive to the motherboard. The jumper allows running the disk in master (main disk) or slave (secondary disk). The power supply provides the electricity needed for rotation.
Benefits and Areas of application
You will choose the best hard drive according to your budget and desired usage.
Entry-level hard drives are suitable for hosting a computer’s operating system. Intended for office automation and Internet browsing, they do not require any exceptional performance or storage capacity.
High-capacity hard drives store large amounts of data. They do not need to be very efficient and are not necessarily expensive.
What types of hard drives exist?
Originally, the internal hard drive is integrated into all desktops and laptops. Also called “HDD”, for “Hard Disk Drive”.
The external hard drive is an internal hard drive placed in a transportable housing. It connects to the computer via a USB 2.0 or 3.0 cable.
The rapid evolution of technologies has led to the emergence of three main categories useful for our comparative test:
The IDE hard drive: The IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) is the first type appeared in desktop computers. It used the ATA (Advanced Technology Attachment) protocol and was connected to the motherboard by a cable table whose production stopped because it was very cumbersome.
SATA Hard Drive: The SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) offers a power connector and the SATA I connector that allows much faster read and write speeds. This strong point has constantly evolved to give SATA II and the current SATA III.
SSD: The SSD (Solid State Drive) has the same data storage function as the traditional hard drive. It uses flash memory chips instead of mechanical components. It ensures mobility and allows a higher speed of access to information.
There are three hard disk formats that match the disk diameter.
The 3.5-inch hard drive features desktop computers, towers, consoles and Vcrs.
The 2.5-inch hard drive is for laptops.
The 1.8-inch hard drive and the 1.3-inch hard drive equip mobile devices because they are small in size.
This is how the hard drive is tested
Here are the main criteria of the comparative test to help you make the best choice.
Storage capacity
The storage capacity indicates the volume of data that can be stored on this hard drive. It depends on the number of trays and the encoding process. It is expressed in megabytes (MB).
The speed of rotation
The discs turn very fast and at constant speed. It is expressed in revolutions per minute (rpm or tpm), at 7,200 rpm for desktop hard drives and 5,400 rpm for laptop hard drives.
The transfer rate
This is the amount of data that is read or written in a given amount of time. It is expressed in megabytes per second (MB/s).
Speed of data transmission
This is the amount of data transmitted from the hard drive to memory for a given amount of time. It is indicated in millions of bits per second (Mbit/s).
The average access time
This is the time required to find any information on the disk. It is calculated in milliseconds (ms).
The longevity
Robustness is tested by assessing resistance to mechanical stresses, such as vibration and falls.
Evaluation of the product
Here are three products from the Amazon Best Sellers list. The advantages and disadvantages are based on the best comparative reviews of customers.
Toshiba HDTB410EK3AA
Elegant with its matt finish, the Toshiba HDTB410EK3AA is part of the Canvio Basics series. According to comparative tests, this portable HDD external hard drive offers a nice storage capacity of 1TB. Small in size (10.9 7.8 1.4), it does not weigh heavy (140 g). Thanks to its port 3.0, you can quickly transfer heavy files.
Port 2.0 will allow you to connect it to old generation IT hardware. Moreover, this hard drive is compatible with the Windows operating system and the latest game consoles.
It has a Plug-and-Play function that allows you to use it as soon as it is plugged in. It also uses Ramp-Load technology to raise the read and write heads of the disk. It helps protect your data when you move.
Comparative advantages:
No need for installation.
Easy to carry around.
Two USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports.
Comparative disadvantages:
Case sensitive to falls.
The protective cover is essential.
Insufficient length of supplied USB cable.
Crucial CT240BX500SSD1 BX500 Internal SSD (240 GB)
According to the comparative tests, the Crucial CT240BX500 is the best internal SSD disc to equip you at a low price. With a small storage capacity (240 GB), this portable disk has perfectly good performance for an entry-level disk.
Thanks to SSD technology, they really approach those of a new computer. The startup is faster and the file loading time is much shorter.
At the player level, it has the software for cloning and data transfer. The flow rates are good for sequential reading (540 MB/s) and sequential writing (500 MB/s), especially when the SLC cache is active.
If you are an individual, it will suit you to install it in a laptop intended for gaming. You have simple instructions and explanatory videos.
Comparative advantages:
Simple installation.
Better performances.
Quick start.
Comparative disadvantages:
Operation of the random cloning software.
Out-of-cache sequential write rate.
Western Digital – WD Caviar Blue Hard Drive
According to comparative tests, Western Digital WD Caviar Blue is a 3.5-inch internal hard drive that combines reliable technologies. Intended for desktop computers, this HDD provides a large additional storage capacity of 1TB. Its main advantage is its affordable price and reasonable power consumption, with 5.400 rpm.
Its 64 MB cache allows boosting its performance a little low. Note 120 MB/s in reading and 115 MB/s in writing. Its operating temperature is low thanks to its low power consumption. This hard drive is compatible with an SSD drive to achieve impressive performance and capacity for your PC.
On the other hand, it can quickly fail and its longevity can suffer.
Comparative advantages:
Large storage capacity.
Reduced energy consumption.
Reduced noise and vibration.
Comparative disadvantages:
Not always recognized.
Not so quiet in time.
The advantages and disadvantages described in the customer comments
Here is a list of the 10 key points summarizing the best positive and negative customer reviews.
The 10 best benefits:
Léger.
Easy to install.
Just do the job.
Good investment quickly amortized.
Storage capacity.
Longevity.
Save you the time.
Super quiet.
Quality of the brand.
Successful aesthetic.
The 10 best disadvantages:
Product of poor quality.
Insufficient value for money.
Insufficient price-performance ratio.
High noise level.
Fragile material.
Repeat breakdowns.
No detection by the system.
Formatting is not possible.
Reading and cloning failed.
Lack of longevity.
Frequent Failures and Deficiencies – What should you be careful when purchasing a hard drive?
The best hard drive comparative test should also identify what can damage the integrity of the best hard drive.
Due to a fall, virus or malfunction, you may lose access to your data.
This means that the memory areas are damaged, or that a degaussing has occurred, which can lead to a gradual slowdown in the reading speed of the data, or even to the “crash” of your PC.
Not surprisingly, entry-level hard drives are to be avoided, they are less qualitative and less reliable.
Alternatives to hard disk
To backup your data before it flies away when your hard drive crashes. Here are the best ways to replace it.
On a computer, the good old DVDs and CD-Rs are always on the market and ready to help you, even if you need a sprain.
USB flash drives are also suitable for massive and massive backups, as their storage capacity has increased considerably.
On mobile devices, SD cards and Sandisk allow you to improve your storage capacity.
The cloud has become the best way to backup and stores its documents.
Internet or speciality store: where should I buy my hard drive instead?
Here, the match between buying on the Internet and buying in specialized stores turns to the comparative advantage of the first. If you go to a specialized store, you won’t be able to do a comparative test, such as when you buy a computer or tablet.
Even if you get the best advice from the seller, this does not replace the comparative hard drive tests you will find on the Internet.
FAQ
Here are the ten questions often asked when you want to make the best comparison before buying a hard drive.Are there ecological hard drives?
The best brands market green discs that consume less electricity.
Are the hard drives toxic?
Hard drives include environmentally harmful materials.
Are hard drives affected by programmed obsolescence?
Some suspect that manufacturers voluntarily limit the life of their hard drives. But there’s no evidence of that, and the guarantee is usually two or three years.
Are the hard drives recyclable?
Yes. Never throw them in the garbage can of common waste. Leave them in the service of specialized shops or in the waste disposal of your home.
What is the difference between hard disk repair and recovery?
The repair concerns the mechanical elements while the recovery consists in extracting the data stored on the hard drive.
Can I repair my hard drive alone?
Disassembly and repair of the hard disk by yourself are to be prohibited. It is better to entrust it to professionals who will treat it in the cleanroom of their laboratory.
How to format the hard drive?
The majority of disks are factory formatted. If not, go through the Mac disk utility and disk management for Windows.
Can you format a hard drive to repair it?
Sometimes the system asks you to format the hard drive to repair it. Before doing so, recover your data as it will be permanently erased by this operation.
Are the hard drives interchangeable?
Some hard drives are compatible with a single operating system. Others allow several.
How do I check the status of her Windows hard drive?
Use the CHKDSK command from the “Run” menu. There are also software solutions, such as Test Disk or Applejack.
Should we defragment a hard drive?
This is strongly recommended, but defragmentation is now automatic.
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