If you just want raw storage at the best value possible, this new deal is actually better than the sold-out 24TB BarraCuda we were recommending previously. Of course, this is an external, rather than an internal drive, but it is excellent value and, in the right hands, could be an internal solution, too.
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LaCie's Rugged drives are, well, rugged. They might not be the fastest or cheapest, but 2TB of storage capacity in a bombproof enclosure is pretty enticing.
You can never have too much NAS storage, and you can also save a hefty chunk on the 26TB model, which comes with all of the same stats as the 18TB Red Pro.
Two together in a RAID array for 40TB of storage, now $700 off. The 2big features 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports, SDXC Card Slots, and even DisplayPort 1.4, the ultimate all-in-one desktop solution.
This Western Digital alternative from Toshiba gets you 24TB of NAS storage for $399, replete with 512MB cache, 7200 rpm speeds, and SATA III 6 Gb/s interface.
$20 coupon added in cart. Get a whopping $190 off this 20TB professional desktop hard drive, with another $20 off thanks to an in-cart coupon. 290 MB/s data transfer speeds and 7200 rpm Disk Speed make this a reliable drive for professional and business needs. Inside, you'll find the Seagate IronWolf Pro.
Designed primarily for surveillance, the Skyhawk AI drive is a 20TB number with 512MB cache, 7200 rpm speeds, and SATA III 6 Gb/s connectivity.
Western Digital’s 18TB Red Pro NAS HDD ( $289.99 ) using CMR tech is designed for high-intensity workloads like NAS systems, but is suitable for desktop PCs as well. The 3.5-inch, CMR-based drive spins at 7,200 RPM, has 256MB of cache, and transfers data at speeds up to 272 MB/s. WD stands behind these drives with a 5-year limited warranty.
This 3.5" high-performance drive with desirable CMR tech is good for desktop PCs or NAS. It spins at a speedy 7,200 RPM, has 512MB of cache, hits a blistering 285 MB/s, and has an excellent five-year warranty.
The largest Red Pro NAS drive with a massive 26TB capacity, this HDD has a 7200 RPM spindle speed and boasts a speedy 272 MB/s transfer rate. This model features WD's latest 11-platter helium-sealed platform.
This drive is designed specifically for high-performance PCs, with a top speed of 267 MB/s from its 7,200-RPM spindle speed, fast CMR recording tech, and 256MB of cache. It comes with an excellent five-year warranty.
The 5TB version of LaCie's Rugged drive is much cheaper than typical pricing, at $144.99. These drives come with 130MB/s data transfer speeds. While they won't light up any benchmarks, but are great if you need a hard drive that can withstand the great outdoors, construction, or anything else you can think of.
A massive 26TB of storage on a 3.5" Seagate HDD inside a rugged plastic enclosure. Connect this external storage expansion to a power outlet and your PC to instantly copy and store files onto the drive.
This drive features 6TB of spacious storage, a two-year warranty, and communicates via a USB-A connection at 5Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 1). The drive is 4.35 x 3.23 x 0.83" as well, so it's a nice compact form factor that weighs in at a mere half a pound. It comes wiht a two-year warranty.
This drive uses speedy CMR magnetic recording tech and spins at 5,400 RPM. The drive has a two-year warranty and communicates via the USB 3.0 interface with the host. It also includes a power connector.
This drive uses speedy CMR magnetic recording tech and spins at 5,400 RPM. The drive has a two-year warranty and communicates via the USB 3.0 interface with the host. It also has an included power connector.
It is important to be aware of the drive’s form factor , with 3.5” being the most common for the best HDDs (this is the only type we cover). If you need 2.5”, your options are more limited, especially for capacity. Otherwise, your computer case’s ability to house a certain number of 3.5” drives might be your primary limitation.
The ubiquitous SATA interface is used for desktop PCs, and most motherboards have ample available ports, which makes expansion easy. Most consumer NAS systems also use SATA, with the SAS interface typically reserved for servers and enterprise-class NAS.
If you're shopping for an HDD, you’re probably looking for the lowest possible cost per terabyte, but you should also consider performance and support for specific applications. There are several potential performance pitfalls to consider when purchasing a new HDD, and the type of recording technology is one of the most crucial factors. Unless you are solely interested in cost and willing to sacrifice performance, we only recommend conventional magnetic recording (CMR) drives and not shingled (SMR), as the latter comes with performance and operational caveats.
For performance, HDDs are also often gauged by rotations per minute (RPM), which is usually a direct indicator of performance. The RPM value affects both sequential transfers and random access latency . Lower RPM drives tend to be quieter and more efficient, while higher RPM drives have better performance. There are also variable RPM drives that try to achieve the best of both worlds. Power draw, heat, and noise are factors related to performance.
HDDs also have a certain amount of DRAM to help temporarily cache data. This amount of cache typically scales with the drive's capacity . More cache is, of course, better, but if it comes at the expense of something else — for example, a support service — then you should carefully consider your priorities when making a purchase.
You will want specialized drives for NAS, surveillance/DVR/NVR, raw storage for media and backups, or for heavier workloads. Certain drives will offer a better value for the money if you just want the extra capacity, or you may require a lower RPM drive to avoid the noise associated with faster drives.
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Reference reading
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Informational only. No financial advice. Do your own research.