External hard drive: reliability rating, models, manufacturers, volume. Rated external hard drives HDD and SSD, which will give you convenience of use

When choosing a computer or laptop, you have to pay attention to many parameters. It would seem that it is not difficult to figure out what kind of video card, processor or memory should be. The difficulty lies in the fact that each of the parameters has its own characteristics. For example, to pay attention to its volume, speed or connection interface.

The choice of any device, especially one related to a PC, requires a very careful analysis. But what if you have chosen a great laptop, but its only drawback is the small amount of memory? The best external hard drive manufacturers have taken care of this.

For what?

It is rare when it turns out to buy a PC that would suit absolutely in all aspects. Sooner or later, "pitfalls" appear that you did not notice before. It happens that the video card is outdated, it happens that there is not enough memory. By the way, in this case, there is one caveat. The fact is that some users can load the computer with different programs. To meet their storage needs, they need to buy a new hard drive.

But there are times when the user works with a lot of material. This can be an editor or a photographer who needs to create their own archive. In this case, you can buy an external Reliability rating, we will consider a little later, and now we will learn about the advantages and disadvantages of these devices, as well as the reasons for their appearance.

Why?

An external railway appeared along with the fear of data loss. Many experts were faced with the fact that they did not have enough flash drives to store information. It is inconvenient to buy countless of them. Previously, floppy disks and disks came in their place, but now this option is even worse. As a result, an external hard drive appeared when more than 500 gigabytes of memory was needed, and ideally 1 terabyte.

The reason for the fear of losing information was the spread of viruses, Trojan horses, spyware and other things that could erase all important and necessary materials. External hard drives have become a lifeline in this situation. Their volumes could be large enough to upload not only important documents, but also your favorite multimedia files.

Reliability and durability

Such devices have many advantages. It absolutely doesn't matter if you have an external hard drive - 500 GB or 2 terabytes. It all depends only on your preferences. Its main advantage is its large memory reserves. His cooperation with the PC is also encouraging. You do not need to look for additional software to be able to connect a hard drive. Depending on the cable interface, you connect the wire with the correct connector. On the computer, the device is identified as an external drive. Before you - full access to all information.

By the way, the disc can also be protected from prying eyes. Unlike an integrated hard disk drive, this one can not only be screwed up, but also simply hidden away in the desktop. Also, as mentioned earlier, together with an external hard drive, the user is protected from any threat. For example, you worked with important documents and you need them to remain available. You can copy them to the hard disk drive, and in the event of a virus attack on your PC, all important information will remain intact.

By the way, there is another advantage. The external hard drive, the reliability rating of which we will find out very soon, has a very sturdy case. In general, the device consists of the railway itself and its sturdy box. Depending on the type, your hard drive will be more or less protected from external influences and wear.

Well, the last significant advantage is the structuring of information. Like a regular hard disk drive, the external one can also be divided into blocks in which information is stored. It is also easy to recover data from it, and to avoid the loss of materials from the internal HDD, it is easy to transfer them to an external one.

disadvantages

There is also a major drawback, which received an external hard drive for 1 terabyte. The price is sometimes very high. This is due to many reasons: sometimes it is artificially increased, sometimes due to the popularity of the brand. Although, all the same, buying a 1 terabyte hard drive will cost you less than purchasing 30 32 GB flash drives.

The more carefully the user treats the external hard drive, the longer he will live. Premature breakdowns are more often associated with external damage, especially during transportation. Somewhere accidentally knocked, somewhere dropped - sectors are damaged and data is lost.

The same story is with files that end up on the railway. If they are already damaged, once they have entered the device's memory, viruses can spread and destroy all data.

Types of external drives

To choose a quality product, you need to study the external hard drive you like. Volume is not the only parameter by which you can determine the model. You should pay attention to the types of HDD.

The first type differs in that its size is 3.5 inches. Usually this is bought by desktop owners. Unlike the second type, it has a larger size, so it needs additional food. Nevertheless, this option is considered excellent. Its main feature is the ability to automatically backup.

The second type is more compact - only 2.5 inches. He disposes to be always at hand. Very robust, this external reliability rating is always headed by devices of this type. This is due to the fact that they have excellent shock resistance. If he accidentally falls out of his pocket, he will not suffer much. Maybe the case will get scratched, and your information will remain safe. Although there are limits to everything: if you hit him well with a hammer, then, most likely, you can say goodbye to him.

The most reliable

Many specialists have checked the leading manufacturers of hard drives more than once. They found that at the moment the most reliable hard disk drive remains the device from Hitachi. In addition to the fact that this fact is confirmed by the opinions of users, a certain number of models from this company were also analyzed. Inspection results showed that Hitachi can only be damaged if handled carelessly. For the rest, neither a factory defect nor a weak node was found.

Once upon a time is not necessary

It is worth paying attention to other companies that produce external and internal railways. The main "loser" in terms of reliability is now Seagate. The developers created the disc design in a short time, which affected the quality of the product. The main problem of this company's hard drives is weak nodes. There is also evidence that there is a fairly large percentage of defects in the series. There are goods that have not lived for more than a year.

In general, a microcircuit failure remains a common problem that an external hard drive has received from Western, Samsung, Seagate and others. This affects the operation of the computer, it starts to slow down and freeze. If you restart the PC at the same time, the disk disappears from the system. This means that its microcode has already been destroyed.

There is also a problem with the motor spindle wedge in some batches. Usually such a breakdown occurs in an HDD that has a large amount of memory. In this case, a larger number of magnetic plates are used in the design. They overload the axle of the hard drive, under their weight it bends, and then stops rotating. It doesn't happen by itself. It is enough to accidentally hook on the railway or drop it. You can notice such a breakdown by listening to the noise of the HDD. Usually he starts to "hum" abruptly.

Very fragile

The WD 2Tb external hard drive has also let the user down more than once. Due to the large amount of memory, these products have a load of magnetic plates on the axis, so they often do not live for more than a year. They also have malfunctions in the magnetic heads. This is due to the fact that the disk overheats or receives external damage.

In general, the design of any HDD from this company is very flimsy. WD Elements external hard drive is shock and pressure sensitive. By the way, if you apply force to the case, the lid moves, and the magnetic heads are at a low angle to the magnetic plates. Such a breakdown will immediately "bury" all your information on the railway. Nevertheless, Western Digital is popular with buyers. These shortcomings are rare. Basically, most models are reliable mechanically and electronically.

Option for 500 GB

A huge number of external hard drives have appeared on the market lately. They are produced by different companies, and even those firms that no one knows now become sales leaders. An external 500 GB hard drive is the simplest and most common option among users. Its main advantage is its price.

There are two models in this category that are now considered leaders in terms of reviews and sales. For only 3800 rubles, you can purchase the ADATA DashDrive Durable HD650. The main highlight of this railway is its structural strength. In addition, the device has an interesting attractive design: bright colors and carbon fiber inserts.

For reliability, this drive received a three-layer rubberized casing, thanks to which it can absorb shocks during use and transportation. The plastic is strong enough and minimizes scratches.

This model is based on the famous Toshiba railway. Its speed is 5400 rpm. The Winchester is very compact and lightweight. The exchange of information can take place at a maximum speed of 120 mb / s. There is a status indicator and a USB 2.0 interface.

The second model in the category of inexpensive external hard drives is Western Digital WDBLNP5000A-EEUE. He has a very cute appearance. Inside there is a branded railway from the manufacturer. Rotation speed - 5400 rpm. 8 megabyte buffer. The data transfer speed is the same as the previous device. The drive works with a USB 3.0 interface. There is a status indicator. Unlike the previous model, the device is sold with diagnostic and maintenance software. The price of such a device is 5300 rubles.

Universal drives

Next, we'll take a look at a 1 terabyte external hard drive. Its price is on average 4-6 thousand rubles. Silicon Power Stream S03 now stands out among all. The railway has an interesting design. Outwardly, it is very similar to a notebook with rounded sheets and a curved top corner. This is where the work indicator is located. To exchange information through this drive, you can use the USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 interfaces.

The body materials are quite durable. It is made of high quality plastic, the surface is matte, so it attracts less fingerprints and dust. The shell has rubber seals that protect against impact. At the moment, this is the best external storage among terabyte versions for only 4300 rubles.

Among the disks with a memory capacity of 1 terabyte, the Toshiba STOR.E SLIM can also be distinguished. The design does not stand out for anything remarkable. Classic appearance, compact size and metallic color. The board has an integrated USB 3.0 or 2.0 interfaces functioning, displaying the working status in blue and white, respectively. Speed \u200b\u200bup to 110 Mb / s.

The drive has durable materials that increase its shock resistance. Also, the device can be protected from prying eyes by setting a password and setting an automatic. The main advantage of this hard disk drive is its heat resistance and quiet operation. The lack of hardware encryption is bad news. The price of this device is 4800 rubles.

Giants

One terabyte will not be enough for someone, for such people an external hard drive Toshiba CANVIO ALU with 2 TB was created. The body is made of aluminum, there are 4 colors of the device. It has a rough coating, due to which it does not slip out of your hands. The design has a shock sensor that enhances the integrity of stored materials. The transfer speed is about 115 Mb / s. The main advantage of this drive is the build quality. In addition, it works very quietly, does not overheat, and is also available along with a backup utility. Its cost is 6,600 rubles.

There is another model of the same size from Western Digital WDBU6Y0020BBK-EESN. It is slightly cheaper than the previous drive. Looks pretty simple too. It has a shock-resistant body and rough high-quality plastic. Works with a speed of 120 Mb / s and a USB 3.0 interface. Its main plus: quiet and low temperature during active work.

Giant

But the Seagate Backup Plus Fast Portable Drive is now considered a revolutionary drive. Its volume is already 4 terabytes. Fast backup is considered its main task. It can also serve as an excellent archive for important files. Its real data transfer rate is now considered uncompromising - 220 Mb / s. This is due to the fact that two hard drives were placed inside at once.

This decision also influenced the dimensions of the device: 307 grams is quite a lot for external media. Works with USB 3.0 interface. Can cooperate with two devices at once. This external hard drive also has disadvantages: noticeable heating and a very high price - 25 thousand rubles.

Among the users there were also dissatisfied. Many who came across this model complained about the brakes in operation. Moreover, if you can write information to the device without any problems, then it is more difficult to read it. The launch of the proprietary recovery program indicated bad sectors. As mentioned earlier, Seagate is currently the most unreliable. This is especially true for devices with a large amount of memory. Therefore, you can find more than once negative reviews from users about the Seagate Backup Plus Fast Portable Drive.

Outcome

Nowadays it is difficult to determine which is the best external hard drive. The reliability rating is also difficult to compile. This is due to the fact that the equipment is not always of high quality. Some devices come defective. The average survival of the outer disc is about 3-4 years. But not all companies can achieve such indicators. Devices from Hitachi and some younger models of Western Digital usually live for more than five years.

External storage devices, in contrast to compact FLASH-memory, allow not only storing large amounts of information, but also making backup copies of operating systems and databases. Compatibility with the vast majority of devices (PCs, laptops, game consoles, TV-boxes) make external drives universal. Equipped with high-speed interfaces allow you to download or copy data as quickly as possible, reducing the time of working with the disk.

Many global manufacturers of HDD drives rely not only on the visual appeal of their devices, but also on the amount of memory, data protection and compact size that allow you to keep the necessary information always at hand.

We've compiled a list of the best external hard drives based on expert opinions and customer reviews. Our recommendations will help you make the best choice for your requirements and desires. There are many competitors on the world market for equipment, but we have selected the best manufacturers and recommend that you pay special attention to them:

Western digital
Toshiba
ADATA
Seagate
Transcend

Volume: 500-1000 GB Volume: 2 TB Volume: over 2 TB Interface: USB 3.0 Form factor: 2.5 Form factor: 3.5

* Prices are valid at the time of publication and are subject to change without prior notice.