An important condition for the full and maximum productive work of a personal computer is the correct choice of hard drive. Professional programmers apply the unspoken rule: the higher the coefficient of performance of the device, the more memory it requires, which means that the hard drive must have a sufficient amount. After reading the article, you can familiarize yourself with the basic rules and recommendations for choosing a hard drive for your computer.
PC memory
To store movies, games, photos, home videos and other files on your computer, enough memory is required. The volume provided by the standard equipment of the device may not be enough, so users increase it themselves by installing a more capacious hard drive, or HDD (these are additional names for the hard drive). The choice of this module is of fundamental importance for the operation of the entire system, while many people have no idea what it should be, what configuration it has, and what parameters it is also necessary to pay attention to.
The PC drive must be a reliable device that is selected individually. The choice of hard disk drive (HDD) depends on various criteria. To select a storage module for saving information that works on the principle of magnetic recording, you need to understand how it works. Inside the case of the hard drive there are metal or glass disks with magnetic dusting. It is in the surface layer that the basic information is contained.
Given that the HDD stands for Hard Disk Drive, it is easy to guess why it is called hard. The choice of drive for a computer depends not only on memory, but also on the format of the device. For example, today in the Russian market, 3.5-inch hard drives are popular. They are represented by dozens of models. Smaller devices (2.5 inches) are more suitable for laptops. The choice of a hard disk is also determined by the speed of the module, its internal configuration and other characteristics that should be understood.
When the question arises of buying a hard drive?
As the development and invention of modern technologies, computer devices began to be produced in reduced sizes. Over time, they acquired almost "pocket" dimensions. A similar situation occurred with hard drives. In the matter of choosing an external hard drive, an important nuance is not only its size, but also the ratio of dimensions with functional characteristics, ease of use. The higher they are, the higher the price, respectively. At the same time, it is far from always advisable to purchase powerful devices if the goal is not to “squeeze” the maximum out of your computer.
Typically, users are faced with the need to increase the amount of memory. If you just need to increase the available memory, it is not necessary to make a choice in favor of an external hard drive. A more economical option is to purchase a hard drive with the appropriate PC configuration, which can be connected as an additional platform for the accumulation of information.
If the main PC hard drive breaks down, it is better to stop the choice on the internal model of the device with a good write speed and sufficient storage capacity. In cases where you need a mobile drive that can be transported for use and, if necessary, connected to other computers, it is better to pay attention to modules equipped with a USB connector. Such external drives are connected to the system without opening the case of the system unit or laptop. To connect it, there is no need to delve into the wires. In addition, the rational choice of an external hard drive will be in those cases when it is planned to be used together with video players, televisions and other systems, in addition to a personal computer.
Device structure
Regardless of the choice, hard drives are designed for permanent data storage. Unlike random access memory, the hard drive is not tied to a power supply and is a non-volatile system element. All available information is saved on the drive even when the power is turned off.
Winchester is a complex electromechanical device equipped with moving parts that consist of several elements. Such a system is integral. It manages the processes of recording and reproducing information. In the case of the hard drive itself is:
- spindle (electric motor) - its main function is to rotate the disk;
- reading head (rocker) - a moving part that reads information from the carrier itself;
- magnetic disks - their number depends on the choice of hard drive (usually they are placed on top of each other).
According to this principle, all three types of hard drives are arranged, which are produced and sold on the market today. These include:
- HDD - the most common format of a hard disk with magnetic recording;
- SSHD - a hybrid type hard drive with a minimum amount of flash memory;
- SSD is a solid state medium.
The latter type of hard drives is considered the most expensive, but in terms of performance and characteristics, it has a significant advantage over the HDD in terms of reading and data transfer. Choosing a hard drive is of particular importance for a fast boot of Windows. Winchester type SSHD is a kind of "middle ground" between solid-state media and magnetic, so it is ideal for any operating system.
HDD Type Reviews
First of all, it is worth noting the cost of the hard drive HDD 3.5 inches. Such a hard drive will cost several times cheaper than a hybrid device, which is an important nuance for most users. The volume of the HDD can be different: the most common models have 4, 6, 8, 10 TB of memory, and the maximum capacity of an SSD is no more than 2 TB. Choosing a hard drive with a mixed format for storing information will cost an order of magnitude more expensive.
According to reviews, the HDD has high performance and resources. By purchasing such a hard drive, there is no doubt that you can rewrite material many times. In addition, such a hard drive allows you to extract information even in case of failure. Recovering data from a faulty hard drive is sometimes of great importance.
Among the shortcomings of the HDD, users note their fragility and fragility. An important condition for choosing an external hard drive is the reliability and durability of the device. The magnetic type carrier has minimal impact resistance. Even minimal mechanical damage, exposure to moisture can lead to the need to replace the drive. Magnetic carriers are particularly fragile here. In addition, the HDD in almost all cases cannot be repaired in the event of a breakdown.
Compared to hybrid hard drives, magnetic drives have a low speed. For many, this flaw plays a crucial role. Moreover, the difference can be multiple. But at the same time, standard media is much larger, more massive and heavier than solid state drives. Care must be taken when choosing a HDD device, even if it is 2.5 inches in size. A Winchester of such a plan is not convenient for carrying. In addition, HDD is far from the best choice of a hard disk for a laptop.
The disadvantages of installing a magnetic hard drive include its noisy work. Users consider this a significant drawback, since noise, crackling and other extraneous sounds are quite noticeable and interfere with normal operation, and prevent concentration. Many users are afraid that during operation such a hard drive gets very hot, because the electric motor of such a hard drive works at high speed.
If it comes to choosing a hard drive for a stationary PC system, many experts recommend purchasing a 3.5-inch HDD. For a desktop home computer, this is an optimal and inexpensive option. If the goal is to increase the download speed, the choice of hard drive must be approached more responsibly. In this case, it is best to buy an external hard drive such as SSD or hybrid SSHD media.
Winchester SSHD: comparison with SSD and HDD
The mixed-type hard drive is an ordinary magnetic hard drive with the addition of a small amount of flash memory. Typically, most devices have 8 GB of memory. Compared to a solid state drive, this is quite a bit.
Added flash memory acts as a cache for the hard drive. All the data that the user often accesses is automatically stored on the solid-state section, which makes it possible to speed up access to relevant information. The essence of the work of this system is as follows: upon request, the device provides information first in the first level cache (memory of magnetic disks), and then in the second level cache, which is a solid-state addition of 8 GB.
SSDs are rarely chosen in favor of a hard disk because of its high cost. At the same time, the hybrid hard drive does not accelerate the pace of loading the operating system, since the flash segment is activated only after Windows is fully loaded, and at the same time it positively affects the speed of the programs. Unlike a magnetic drive, a hybrid hard drive allows you to access files much faster, although the maximum data transfer speed differs from the HDD slightly - by about 10-15%.
Choosing a 2 TB SSHD hard drive is what you need for a home PC. Such a device helps to speed up work with a significant amount of storage. Thus, the hybrid hard drive is one of the most popular modern storage media for PCs, which is inferior to HDDs only in its availability: the price of an SSHD hard drive is two times higher, and not all computer models support RAID optimization (this function is usually used programmers in their work, but for the average user its presence is not important).
At the same time, one should not forget about SSDs that work on solid media. Unlike magnetic devices, these do not have spindles and consist solely of information storage chips. Winchesters of this type have a much higher speed, they do not make noise during operation, but at a high price it is difficult to call them reliable. It is not possible to recover data in the event of an SSD device failure. According to user reviews, in the event of a sharp voltage drop, the internal hard drive dies and cannot be repaired.
Recommended Memory Capacity
Speaking of the first level cache, it is worth noting that its volume can vary from 16 to 256 MB. We are talking about high-speed flash memory that speeds up the hard drive. However, this acceleration is negligible and amounts to no more than 5-10%; it is not used for all operations. So, for example, when playing information from a hard disk or transferring large files, the difference in the cache will not be noticeable. Experts do not recommend stopping your choice on a 1Tb hard drive even with maximum cache parameters of the first level. The effectiveness of its work is more determined by the productivity of the algorithms than by the volumes. In addition, manufacturers of hard drives tend to choose the most appropriate cache size for each model.
The direct relationship between the cache size and the total storage capacity cannot be discounted - for devices with a volume of less than 0.5 TB, 16 MB cache is more suitable, and with 2 TB the minimum cache is 32-64 MB. However, such devices may not be the fastest in operation. To speed up the disk, you should choose a cache of standard size - 128 MB. Despite the fact that this parameter is not critical for the speed of the HDD, with a slight difference in cost, a hard drive with a larger capacity is more preferable.
What is the best amount to work?
Immediately it is worth noting that manufacturers of hard drives often shy away from indicating the exact amount of memory, denoting it in the decimal system. Many users do not know about this method of counting megabytes. It makes no sense to dive into the essence of complex software calculations, so we pay attention only to the fact that the difference between the declared and actual memory can reach 10%.
The choice of a portable hard drive, however, as well as an internal hard drive, depends on the purpose of the PC. For an office computer, where you do not need to store a large amount of data, install numerous programs, 250-500 GB of memory is enough. This place is enough to host important media files. Such a limited amount will not affect the operation of the operating system, if the main part of the information is stored on a separate disk.
For a home computer, it is not recommended to purchase a system with a hard drive of less than 1TB. The choice of an external hard drive is not tied to this device, but it is the internal memory that is used to install computer games and store video files, photos (files with high resolution quality have more weight, which must be taken into account). For an average user, 1 TB is the standard amount of memory, but if necessary, a more capacious hard drive (up to 4 TB) can be purchased for a home PC.
Drives with a maximum magnetic memory can hold 5-10 TB. This option will cost quite expensive, especially when it comes to an external hard drive. The choice of such a device is advisable for continuous work with heavy photo and video files (for example, for professional installation).
Does spindle speed matter?
It turns out that this parameter is considered one of the main indicators of the hard drive’s functionality. It is the spindle speed that affects the speed of the computer and the loading of the operating system: if the read head passes the desired positions quickly, then the recording or playback will happen faster. Today, the average speed parameter of standard magnetic HDDs is 5400-7200 rpm. Also on sale you can find hard drives in which spindles spin at a speed of 10 thousand revolutions per minute and even more, but today they can hardly be called popular because of the high cost. The price of such magnetic devices is comparable to solid-state carriers SSD, and sometimes exceeds their price tag, but at the same time, HDD-drives are inferior in speed and reliability.
To select a hard drive with a speed of 5400 rpm, you will need a minimum budget (an average of 3000-5000 rubles). Such HDD models are sometimes produced at a higher speed, but not higher than 5940 rpm. Magnetic drives, although they work slowly, are practically not heated during PC operation, they produce little noise and are characterized by their long service life due to the reduced load on the mechanical components. It is necessary to choose a hard disk with a minimum speed if it is necessary to ensure maximum capacity and reliable storage. Winchesters of this type perfectly cope with the role of library storages, are used in small-sized systems, where minimal heat emission is of particular importance.
Most magnetic drives have speeds in the range of 7200 rpm. Such models are faster than previous ones, suitable for standard PC cases. For their use, it is advisable to take care of the organization of a normal ventilation system in advance, since 7200 rpm disks cannot be overheated. Magnetic devices are sensitive to operation and make a little noise during operation.
In addition to standard speed parameters, technology such as Intelli Power is often used. This system involves the choice of speed for each HDD in an individual order. The optimal performance is determined at the testing stage. Typically, the speed of such hard drives is within 5400 rpm. The use of such a device reduces the likelihood of breakdown and increases durability.
Maximum data rate
Not in all cases the final parameter of the information transfer speed depends on the spindle speed. In addition to this indicator, there are also work algorithms and the configuration of the hard drive itself inside. , 1 , 250 .
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Customer comments regarding manufacturers of computer equipment and components are mixed. It is quite difficult to come to an objective conclusion about which of the hard drives is the sales leader. However, in most reviews, users confirm that facing the choice of an external hard drive (2 TB), they preferred leading companies specializing in the development of hard drives - Western Digital and Hitachi. If you believe the responses, then these companies produce the most reliable hard drives, which:
- do not get warm;
- do not break;
- multifunctional;
- correspond to the declared characteristics.
In addition, such devices are easier to optimize for a RAID array of several disks. In some cases, instead of several separate hard drives, the system recognizes the integrated drive, which increases the operating speed of the devices.
Seagate is also often mentioned in positive comments. In reviews of the most short-lived magnetic drives, the first place could be taken by Samsung devices. With hard drives of this particular brand, users often turn for warranty service.
How much are hard drives: average prices
Devices that are present in the price segment up to 5,000 rubles can be attributed to the most affordable budget category. These are standard hard drives up to 2 TB, equipped with a first-level cache. At the same time, experts do not recommend purchasing a hard drive with such capacity for this money. It is better to pay attention to devices with a memory capacity of up to 1 TB, because they will be able to boast of higher speeds and other performance characteristics.
For home computers, they often purchase hard drives worth more than 5 thousand rubles. up to 10 thousand rubles In this case, you can select the drive that will meet the requirements of the user. If the amount of memory is of paramount importance, for this money you can buy a capacious 4 TB disk. For high-speed operation, a SSHD hybrid hard drive up to 2 TB is more suitable. Within the specified amount, a RAID array of up to 2 TB is available.
For 10-20 thousand rubles. You can purchase a 4 TB hybrid or solid state device with an available memory capacity of 6-8 TB and an increased file transfer rate. The purchase of a hard drive for a price of more than 20 thousand rubles for an ordinary user of a personal computer is impractical. Such models can have the maximum possible amount of memory, representing a capacious, almost limitless storage with the highest speed and level of reliability. In addition, with such a hard drive, you can develop a capacious RAID-array.
To summarize: general device selection rules
So, taking into account all the parameters and criteria of the hard drive, it is worth again listing the nuances that you need to rely on when buying. Choosing a hard drive can be fraught with various difficulties. Looking for a model in one or another price segment, you need to pay close attention to:
- The amount of memory that determines how much information the hard drive can store. As you might guess, a hard drive is not a limited capacitive drive. If it is full, the computer will warn you that it is not possible to write to the disk. For home use, which involves storing video files and installing games, most often 1 TB is enough.
- Manufacturing company. Despite the lack of a clear leader in this area, several companies are still considered the best. Winchesters issued by reliable companies are covered by the warranty. Such models were able to confirm their performance and reliability in practice.
- The amount of cache memory is an indicator that sets the rate of processing information by a computer. This parameter determines how fast the operating system will load, process files, requests, etc.
- Type of connector. It should fit the interface of a computer or laptop. This criterion also determines the quality of system throughput.
- Spindle speed This indicator is reflected in the pace of information processing.
That the Winchester worked long
If the hard drive runs continuously and often overheats, it will quickly fail. It is important to create the most favorable conditions for the functioning of the device. In order to prevent breakdowns and delay the need for repairs, an uninterruptible power supply should be used - such a device will protect against sudden voltage drops, power outages and will allow you to finish the job, save data.
It is also important to use programs and services to monitor the state of the hard drive in order to monitor the functioning of the personal computer and its individual components. Some of them indicate spindle speed. If at least periodically check, you can timely detect a breakdown or a prerequisite for its occurrence and give the hard drive for repair.
In order for the hard drive to work as long as possible, it is important to provide it with constant cooling. Magnetic hard drives can heat up to such an extent that the cooling systems that the PCs are equipped with do not always cope with the load. If overheating occurs, you should consider adding fans to the system unit. In addition, it is important to choose the right power supply. With an uneven distribution of incoming electricity, the device can instantly die, so you cannot neglect the need to select a high-quality power supply or, as already noted, use an uninterruptible power supply.
Is it necessary to repeat that the highest quality hard drive is one that has all the above characteristics. A good hard drive cannot be cheap. At the same time, when buying this device, it is important to consider its purpose. With a reasonable ratio of hard disk performance and real user needs, you can purchase a functional and affordable hard drive that meets all the needs of the owner.