Rating of the TOP 13 best hard drives (HDD) for a computer in 2021. Review and selection tips

Despite the dynamic development of SDD drives, aging HHD drives are still widely popular among users .

This phenomenon is explained primarily by the price/volume ratio.

In this review, we will look at the most worthy HDD models for desktop computers, and we will look at what to look for when choosing such hard drives.

If you are in a hurry and want to immediately find out the best offers in each rating category from different online stores , you can familiarize yourself with the table and see the current prices on the Yandex.Market service by clicking on the “find out price” button in the table opposite the model.

Rating of the TOP 13 best hard drives (HDD) for a computer

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Types of hard drives

Laptops are equipped with different types of drives:

1. HDD is a mechanical device. The magnetic head writes/reads information onto the plates. HDD is not the fastest device, but it wins in terms of capacity, cost, and long service life.
2. SSHD is a magnetic hard drive that has an integrated solid-state drive. Most are 8 GB. This is an affordable option with high data caching speed.
3. SSD is a flash drive that has no moving parts and uses semiconductor technology. Its main advantage is high speed. However, the price for these models still remains quite high.

Criteria for choosing an internal hard drive for a desktop PC

Stay up to date! Stationary machines require the use of a 3.5-inch HDD, other important characteristics are given below:

• Disk space volume. The capacity of modern HDDs varies in the range of 256 GB-10 TB. The optimal volume for installing the operating system, programs and storing user data ranges from 500 GB to 6 TB.
• Connection interface. Modern hard drives use the SATA connector version 3 with a maximum throughput of 6 gigabits per second. Accordingly, the computer must have a similar connector for connection.
• Read and write speed. The higher this characteristic, the faster the OS will load, programs and games will run, and data will be copied or moved.
• Clipboard. This is the hard drive's own RAM memory - an intermediate link between the PC's RAM and the slow mechanical part of the HDD. In theory, a large cache memory has a positive effect on the speed of copying and writing massive data.
• Spindle rotation speed. For personal computers, disks with 5400 and 7200 revolutions per minute (rpm) are available. Each type has its own specific features, for example, HDD 5400 rpm is less noisy.

Alternative

To avoid spending $800 on the previous model, you can take a closer look at the T5 SSD. This is a product from Samsung that costs only $350. Its advantage is the relatively high speed and compactness of the device.

The model is available in variations from 500 GB to 2 TB. The drive has a USB 3.1 interface. Of course, this model is not as fast as the previous one, but even it can transfer 20 GB in 110 seconds.

If this model also seems expensive to you, you can take a closer look at the Seagate Backup Plus Portable. Depending on the capacity, it can cost from 50 to 160 dollars. The model works with the USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) interface. You can purchase a 1, 2 and 5 TB drive.

There is also an option that works with two built-in SSDs in a RAID array. This drive has 4 TB of free space. The advantage of this model is the speed of transferring large files, but the hard drive works slower with small documents.

Top HDD manufacturers

Keep in mind! In fact, there are not many companies that produce good hard drives.

The best ones are below:

• Seagate produces high-quality HDDs of various sizes. The models work using caching technology with several levels, which increases data loading/unloading.
• Toshiba - hard drives of this brand are known for their reliability and affordable price. Toshiba HDDs, due to their technical parameters, are optimal for home use.
• Hitachi is one of the oldest corporations on the market. The company's engineers develop hard drives of various capacities for desktop computers of various levels.
• Samsung - despite the fact that today the manufacturer has concentrated on solid-state models, the hard drives of this company remain one of the most attractive on the market.

Best External Hard Drive Manufacturers

Market leaders include:

• Seagate Expansion is one of the best hard drive manufacturers. They are distinguished by reliability, durability and noise.
• Toshiba Canvio - the Japanese have recently started producing external hard drives that satisfy users with all parameters. And they have been very successful in this, as confirmed by statistics and customer reviews.
• A-DATA Armor is a Taiwanese memory manufacturer, one of the leaders in the supply of SSD drives. External HDDs sometimes suffer from lack of power on laptops.
• Transcend StoreJet is a line of devices with a rubberized housing protected from mechanical damage. Sometimes they do not have enough power supply, sometimes they make a lot of noise.
• WD My Cloud and My Passport are among the TOP market leaders. They cost more than their competitors, but outperform them in almost all respects: acoustic comfort, speed, reliability, heating.
• SanDisk is a leader among flash memory manufacturers. According to various sources, storage devices occupy up to 33% of the market. In terms of cost they are inferior to many competitors, in terms of quality they are ahead of most.

The best 500 GB models

These are inexpensive devices with a relatively small amount of disk space by modern standards.

The best 500 GB models according to customer reviews and ratings.

Western Digital WD5000AZLX

The hard drive is guaranteed to provide high speed access to the information stored on it and is suitable for both home use and equipping office desktop computers.

High performance is achieved by using a 32 MB cache memory, high spindle speed and the use of NCQ (special technology to improve performance).

The Western Digital WD5000AZLX is distinguished by reliable mechanical components and high-precision electronics. This allows you to store any data long-term and securely.

The device is also equipped with an innovative vibration elimination system.

Specifications:

• read/write rate - 150/150 MB/s;
• buffer memory - 32 MB;
• rotation speed - 7200 rpm;
• noise level (max) - 30 dB;
• operating temperature (max) - 60 °C;
• power consumption - 6.8 W;
• declared service life is 2 years.

Advantages

• relatively quiet operation;
• reasonable price;
• reliability;
• high build quality.

Flaws

• low write/read speed;
• heating of the case during operation;
• small cache.

Seagate Barracuda 500 GB ST500DM009

The hard drive is a balanced model with standard mounting dimensions and is suitable for installation in a computer for any purpose.

A decent amount of disk space and sufficient cache memory can satisfy all the needs of home and office computer users.

The SATA 3 connection guarantees high levels of interaction with any motherboard equipped with this interface.

With low power consumption, the Seagate Barracuda 500 GB ST500DM009 has minimal noise levels both under load and when idle.

Specifications:

• read/write speed - 156/156 MB/s;
• buffer memory - 32 MB;
• rotation speed - 7200 rpm;
• noise level (max) - 24 dB;
• operating temperature (max) - 60 °C;
• power consumption - 5.3 W;
• declared service life is 5 years.

Advantages

• one of the cheapest models;
• compactness;
• no heating;
• low power consumption.

Flaws

• makes noise during operation;
• slowly comes out of sleep;
• small buffer volume.

What to look for when choosing

Basically, when choosing, you should rely on three points: volume, performance and quietness of operation. Nowadays, the most popular and in-demand volume is considered to be 1 terabyte, because computer games have already become much more demanding, and good quality video formats “weigh” a lot; in order to fit and store all this pleasure, more memory is required. The performance of your hard drive will be affected by the following parameters: interface type, cache memory size and spindle speed.

Accordingly, the higher the indicators of these parameters, the better. Nobody likes it when something buzzes next to you, it’s annoying and can cause headaches, so be sure to look at how many decibels the model you like produces. Noise is affected by the spindle speed, the higher the speed, the more noise, because of this you will have to look for a certain compromise, although 7200 rpm is not very noisy and you get used to it.

The best HDDs with a capacity of 1000 GB

Terabyte hard drives are the most popular category of internal HDDs for home and office use.

TOP 3 best models with a capacity of 1000 GB in terms of price and quality ratio.

Toshiba 1 TB HDWD110UZSVA

The model from the world famous company Toshiba is a high-performance, spacious and durable hard drive to satisfy any user needs.

This device is designed for installation in stationary personal computers for various purposes. The HDWD110UZSVA model supports the SATA 3 interface with a bandwidth of up to 6 Gbps. The presented device generates a low noise level and has good capacity. The device also boasts good data transfer rates.

Specifications:

• read/write speed - 196/196 MB/s;
• buffer memory - 64 MB;
• rotation speed - 7200 rpm;
• noise level (max) - 26 dB;
• operating temperature (max) - 65 °C;
• power consumption - 6.4 W;
• declared service life is 4 years.

Advantages

• time-tested brand;
• high write/read speed;
• large volume;
• long service life.

Flaws

• non-critical heating;
• slowly “wakes up”;
• high price tag.

Western Digital WD10EZRZ

The hard drive will definitely appeal to users of desktop PCs who do not need frills and are looking for a productive, practical drive.

The amount of free space in this disk will be enough to install the system, programs and games, and store file archives.

The noise level of the Western Digital WD10EZRZ ranges from 21 to 24 dB at idle and under load, respectively.

During operation, the device consumes only 3.3 W, being one of the most economical HDD representatives.

Data transmission and reception speeds are sufficient to perform most standard tasks.

Specifications:

• read/write speed - 150/150 MB/s;
• buffer memory - 64 MB;
• rotation speed - 5400 rpm;
• noise level (max) - 24 dB;
• operating temperature (max) - 60 °C;
• power consumption - 3.3 W;
• declared service life is 2 years.

Advantages

• quiet hard drive;
• the speed corresponds to the declared one;
• no heating;
• high quality workmanship;
• impressive volume.

Flaws

• frequent head parking;
• short service life;
• meager equipment.

Western Digital WD1003FZEX

The model, which attracts attention with its serious volume and impressive performance, is a representative of drives for installation and operation in small-sized desktop system units.

High speed of reading and writing data, one terabyte of disk space, good performance allow you to install and create backup copies of the operating system, store software, multimedia files and documents.

The SATA 3 interface with a bandwidth of up to 6 Gbps allows you to use the Western Digital WD1003FZEX drive in almost any modern desktop computer.

The power connection is made via the SATA 15 pin interface.

Specifications:

• read/write speed - 150/150 MB/s;
• buffer memory - 64 MB;
• rotation rate - 7200 rpm;
• noise level (max) - 30 dB;
• operating temperature (max) - 60 °C;
• power consumption - 6.8 W;
• declared service life is 5 years.

Advantages

• high speed;
• does not get very hot;
• low power consumption;
• long warranty.

Flaws

• vibrates during operation;
• high price;
• small cache.

Best lists

We have presented for your consideration the seven most popular models of microwave ovens, but we will not limit ourselves to this; there are several more selection criteria, in each of which we will try to highlight the best devices for you. This short rating includes the following categories:

• affordable price;
• large amount of cache memory;
• for laptops.

Let's take a closer look below.

Affordable price

The 1Tb Western Digital Blue (WD10EZRZ) is suitable for those who need frills and don't expect to empty their wallet too much to buy a hard drive. Yes, the amount is still several thousand, but for a volume of 1 TB, especially for a well-established brand, this is very good. The main advantages of this model are silence and efficiency, with a good amount of memory.

Average cost: 3200 rubles.

HDD 1Tb Western Digital Blue (WD10EZRZ)

Large cache memory

The 1Tb Seagate Constellation ES.3 (ST1000NM0033) has quite powerful parameters and good shock resistance. The device's cache memory is twice as large as that of its competitors, and its fast operating speed will ensure comfortable operation for the user. The manufacturer claims a service life of up to 1,400,000 hours of operation.

Price range: 4000 – 5000 rubles.

HDD 1Tb Seagate Constellation ES.3 (ST1000NM0033)

For laptops

The 1TB Seagate BarraCuda ST1000LM048 stands out among its competitors with its excellent power and fantastic durability. If you believe user reviews, the hard drive heats up to a maximum of 28°C, and this is a very good temperature indicator. There is practically no noise from its operation.

Cost: 3500 rubles.

HDD 1TB Seagate BarraCuda ST1000LM048

Best 2000 GB Hard Drives

Two terabytes allow you to store large amounts of data, be it multimedia files or documents.

Seagate Barracuda 2TB ST2000DM008

The model stands out for its excellent characteristics, which is not surprising, because reliable and high-quality components were used for its assembly.

The two terabytes of memory provided by the Seagate Barracuda 2 TB ST2000DM008 will be enough to store significant amounts of data.

With a spindle speed of 7200 rpm, sectors with recorded data are located on the disk incredibly quickly.

An additional 256 MB cache acts as a buffer and increases the overall speed of the device.

Connection to the motherboard is made via the SATA 3 interface.

Specifications:

• read/write speed - 220/220 MB/s;
• buffer memory - 256 MB;
• rotation speed - 7200 rpm;
• noise level (max) - 28 dB;
• operating temperature (max) - 60 °C;
• power consumption - 4.3 W;
• declared service life is 2 years.

Advantages

• speed corresponding to the passport data;
• large amount of cache memory;
• small sizes;
• attractive price tag.

Flaws

• clicks when positioning heads;
• there is heating during operation;
• short service life.

Western Digital WD2003FZEX

A hard drive designed for use in system units of desktop computers can boast good speed characteristics and a long service life.

This 3.5-inch drive connects to the SATA 3 interface with a bandwidth of up to 6 Gbit/s.

Power is supplied via the SATA 15 pin interface. Two terabytes of disk space allow you to store a large amount of digital data.

The increased processing power of the Western Digital WD2003FZEX model allows the product to be used as a component of a gaming PC.

Specifications:

• read/write speed - 164/164 MB/s;
• buffer memory - 64 MB;
• rotation speed - 7200 rpm;
• noise level (max) - 34 dB;
• operating temperature (max) - 60 °C;
• power consumption - 9.5 W;
• declared service life is 5 years.

Advantages

• reliability;
• speed;
• performance;
• no heating.

Flaws

• there is noise under load;
• “wakes up” for quite a long time;
• expensive model.

Toshiba 2 TB HDWD120UZSVA

The model, designed for installation and operation on desktop computers, is suitable not only for installing an operating system, but also for storing large amounts of information.

Other indicators do not lag behind the volume.

The high-speed spindle ensures fast media processing.

The Toshiba 2 TB HDWD120UZSVA model is relatively silent. The third generation SATA interface allows data processing at speeds up to 6 Gbit/s.

Capacious buffer memory makes it possible to avoid downtime when the computer is turned on and contributes to even greater efficiency of the hard drive during operation.

Specifications:

• read/write speed - 190/190 MB/s;
• buffer memory - 64 MB;
• rotation speed - 7200 rpm;
• noise level (max) - 28 dB;
• operating temperature (max) - 65 °C;
• power consumption - 6.4 W;
• declared service life is 4 years.

Advantages

• the speed corresponds to the declared one;
• budget price tag;
• long service life;
• low power consumption.

Flaws

• case heating;
• dropping performance when writing large amounts of data;
• high noise level.

HDD 2.5"

WD Blue 2.5"

Read also: TOP 12 Best external hard drives | Review of current models: choosing which one is better in 2019 + Reviews

No. 1. WD Blue 2.5” An advanced line from the legendary manufacturer Western Digital. WD products are extremely popular. And the Blue series of HDDs for laptops is distinguished by excellent reliability and good technical characteristics.

These hard drives have a fairly decent spindle speed of 5400 RPM. At the same time, the drives have a cache of 8 or 16 megabytes. This allows you to quickly search for the necessary files on the disk surface.

There are versions with volumes from 250 to terabytes. Of course, this is not 10 terabytes, but in most cases a laptop does not require huge volumes. But the price of such drives is quite reasonable.

PROS:

• Excellent performance
• They work very quietly
• There is a choice of different volumes
• SATA III connection interface
• Terabyte models available
• High quality workmanship
• Adequate price tag

MINUSES:

• Service life is not very long
• Large volume models are very difficult to find

WD Black 2.5"

Read also: TOP 10 Best SSD drives for your laptop or computer. Choosing which one is better: SATAIII, M.2 or PCIe in 2021

No. 2. WD Black 2.5” “Black” version of the hard drive from WD for laptops. If the previous one was positioned as a simple and inexpensive device, then this hard drive belongs to the performance class. This is indicated by the technical characteristics of the HDD.

The spindle rotation speed here is already 7200 RPM, which is significantly higher than that of the previous model. Also, the cache size here is noticeably larger - 32 megabytes. It is the combination of these characteristics that improves hard drive performance.

Volumes ranging from 250 gigabytes to 1 terabyte are available for purchase. These drives are best suited for modern laptops. But only in conjunction with solid-state drives. The price of the discs is quite reasonable.

PROS:

• High performance
• Increased cache size
• Wide range of volumes
• High spindle speed
• Exceptional reliability
• High quality workmanship
• Adequate price tag

MINUSES:

• Very noisy at maximum speed

Seagate Barracuda 2.5"

Read also: TOP 12 Best memory cards for smartphones, cameras and DVRs | Review of popular models + Reviews

No. 3. Seagate Barracuda 2.5” Seagate Barracuda is a true legend in the world of HDDs. Disks from this manufacturer were extremely reliable and continued to work no matter what. Modern laptop models have good performance and exactly the same reliability.

This drive has a spindle that rotates at a speed of 5400 RPM. This is a standard result for modern state employees. But the cache size here is 128 megabytes. And in any model. This is an excellent result.

A wide range of models are available with different capacities: from 500 gigabytes to 5 terabytes. Such a huge volume will be sufficient for almost everyone. This drive also has very low noise levels even at high speeds. And the price is good.

PROS:

• Good performance
• Huge cache size
• Very quiet operation
• Large selection of volumes
• There are versions for 2, 3, 4 and 5 terabytes
• High quality workmanship
• Incredible reliability
• Adequate price tag

MINUSES:

• Not detected

Toshiba L200 2.5"

Read also: SSD drive for a laptop: choosing the best option, review of popular models of 2021 + Reviews

No. 4. Toshiba L200 2.5” A good budget hard drive from the legendary Japanese manufacturer. Its characteristics are quite average, but it is almost inaudible and has good endurance. But first things first.

This mechanical drive can accelerate to 5400 rpm. Not a bad result for a budget employee. The cache size here is only 8 MB. This is quite enough, since this model does not have particularly large volumes.

Users have access to hard drives of the L200 line with a capacity of 500 GB and 1 terabyte. Toshiba believes that nothing more is needed for laptops. Indeed, a terabyte should be enough. The price of such hard drives is quite reasonable.

PROS:

• Good performance
• High reliability
• Excellent workmanship
• Built-in shock protection
• Sturdy and reliable body
• Legendary Japanese quality
• Very quiet operation even at high speeds
• Adequate price tag

MINUSES:

• Only two volume options
• Cache is too small

The best 4 TB models

Four terabyte hard drives can be used in home and office computers, including server machines.

Western Digital WD40EZRZ

Four terabytes of hard drive, designed for use in all-in-one PCs and desktop PCs, will allow you to forget for a long time about the lack of free space for HD movies, lossless music and other large files.

Impressive volume is not the only advantage of this model.

With a maximum spindle speed of 5400 units, the Western Digital WD40EZRZ consumes very little power at 5.3 watts, making it a more than economical component.

Its SATA interface of the third version is distinguished by its high throughput, and the latency when working with data is a record 5.5 ms for an HDD.

Specifications:

• read/write speed - 150/150 MB/s;
• buffer memory - 64 MB;
• rotation speed - 5400 rpm;
• noise level (max) - 28 dB;
• operating temperature (max) - 60 °C;
• power consumption - 5.3 W;
• declared service life is 2 years.

Advantages

• low noise level;
• excellent volume/price ratio;
• high read and write speed;
• There are no speed drops when the cache is full.

Flaws

• Not fast enough for gaming;
• short service life.

Seagate Barracuda 4TB ST4000DM004

The model refers to high-performance equipment on which you can store huge arrays of various files.

The Seagate Barracuda 4 TB ST4000DM004 hard drive has good maximum data transfer speeds.

The connection interface used is SATA 3.

A large amount of memory allows you to simultaneously install several operating systems, make backup copies of them, place programs, games, and even after that the user will have several thousand gigabytes of free space for other needs.

The drive also stands out for its shock resistance - the indicator is 70 G.

Specifications:

• read/write speed - 190/190 MB/s;
• buffer memory - 256 MB;
• rotation speed - 5400 rpm;
• noise level (max) - 26 dB;
• operating temperature (max) - 60 °C;
• power consumption - 5 W;
• declared service life is 5 years.

Advantages

• costs less than competitors' analogues;
• large amount of buffer memory;
• does not heat up during operation;
• good read and write speeds.

Flaws

• becomes slow as it fills;
• There is a low frequency hum when under load.

Toshiba 4 TB HDWE140UZSVA

A hard drive is the best option for a home station or advanced gaming PC for storing large amounts of game and multimedia data.

Several of these disks can become elements of a server machine or cloud storage.

The Toshiba 4 TB HDWE140UZSVA device surprises not only with its disk space capacity, but also with other technical data.

First of all, this is a high maximum reading and writing speed, long-term operation and a guarantee of the safety of stored files.

In addition, almost silent operation increases the comfort of using this equipment.

Specifications:

• read/write speed - 200/200 MB/s;
• buffer memory - 128 MB;
• rotation speed - 7200 rpm;
• noise level (max) - 31 dB;
• operating temperature (max) - 60 °C;
• power consumption - 11.3 W;
• declared service life is 4 years.

Advantages

• large volume;
• impressive writing and reading speed;
• compact dimensions;
• high reliability.

Flaws

• the price is high;
• uneconomical in terms of electricity consumption;
• Heating occurs during operation.

The best HDDs with a capacity of 6 TB

Six terabyte hard drives will be indispensable for storing huge amounts of data on a computer .

Seagate Barracuda 6TB ST6000DM003

The 3.5-inch hard drive, thanks to its impressive capacity, will appeal to owners of home and office personal computers, as well as system administrators of enterprises and server stations.

Six terabytes of disk space are suitable for storing a huge number of large files.

Other features of the Seagate Barracuda 6 TB ST6000DM003 model include reduced spindle speed, low noise level, and SATA 3 connection with 6 Gbps bandwidth.

Minimum energy consumption makes the model one of the most economical in its class. The light weight of the device facilitates its installation.

Specifications:

• read/write speed - 185/185 MB/s;
• buffer memory - 256 MB;
• rotation speed - 5400 rpm;
• noise level (max) - 26 dB;
• operating temperature (max) - 60 °C;
• power consumption - 5.3 W;
• declared service life is 2 years.

Advantages

• excellent price/quality ratio;
• impressive volume;
• reading speed corresponds to the declared one;
• no heating;
• low energy consumption.

Flaws

• noise under load;
• recording speed is lower than stated;
• budget package.

Western Digital WD6003FZBX

The model, specially designed for installation in desktop computers, is an ideal solution for storing large amounts of digital data in the form of programs, games, multimedia materials and documents.

The Western Digital WD6003FZBX drive not only has an impressive amount of disk space, but also a decent cache capacity.

At the same time, the maximum data transfer speed in it is a record 227 MB/s for an HDD.

This 3.5-inch drive in a silver metal case weighs 720 g.

Power supply is provided via the SATA 15 pin interface. The energy consumption of this model is relatively low - at 9.1 W.

Specifications:

• read/write speed - 227/227 MB/s;
• buffer memory - 256 MB;
• rotation speed - 7200 rpm;
• noise level (max) - 36 dB;
• operating temperature (max) - 55 °C;
• power consumption - 9.1 W;
• declared service life is 5 years.

Advantages

• high speed characteristics;
• large capacity;
• no heating;
• high quality packaging.

Flaws

• high price tag;
• noisy start;
• Clicking of the parking heads when idle.

Seagate Exos X16 ST10000NM001G 10 TB

• Manufacturer code: ST10000NM001G
• HDD capacity: 10 TB
• Cache capacity: 256 MB
• Spindle speed: 7200 rpm
• Maximum transfer speed: 245 MB/s
• Interface: SATA III
• Hybrid SSD buffer: no
• Helium filling: yes

The ten-terabyte Seagate Exos X16 is intended primarily for corporate use and installation in servers, but its use in home or office network storage is also quite justified. For a home PC, the model is noisy, but if this does not bother you, then you can easily purchase it for storing a media collection, or for tasks related to professional and creative activities. As for reliability, it has not caused any complaints so far, but not much time has passed since the release of this HDD, and, to generalize a little, all buyers of new drive models are taking a certain risk. However, in the case of helium hard drives, this risk is relatively small: the quality of such hard drives for manufacturers is largely a reputational issue, moreover, the requirements for their filling and the tightness of the case set a higher production culture than for the production of air HDDs.