Well generally we buy an internal hard disk and after sometime feel that we made a wrong choice.
It happened with me too! That's why I am writing this guide to help everyone in not doing this mistake.
The steps are as follows: 1.
The capacity is the most important factor in selecting the perfect hard disk.
But, it does not mean you have to buy the hard disk with the highest storage capability.
First, estimate your capacity requirements then buy a hard disk with the capacity you will need, but always make it a point to keep some extra storage.
A 500GB HDD is the most decent buy, but it is high on cost per gigabyte.
But, then you should always get the biggest disk you can afford.
2.
The HDD spindle speed is a very important as it depends on the spindle speed, how quickly the HDD can transfer data.
7,200rpm (rpm stands for rotations per minute) is the most common speed in desktop computers, but it varies according to usage and purpose.
If you run high demanding applications on your computer, like video editing or audio production software, then a speed of 10,000rpm or more is essential but it will be more expensive.
We would recommend anything less than 7,200rpm is not worth buying.
3.
Check your system before purchasing any computer component.
There are two types of HDD majorly used, Serial ATA (SATA) and Parallel ATA (PATA).
SATA uses a thin cable for power supply and has a SATA power port for power input and PATA uses a wide ribbon cable which generically looks old and has a Molex port for power input.
Some of the PSU's (Power Supply Unit) in older computers have a Molex 4 Pin cable which is meant for PATA HDD and it cannot be connected to a SATA HDD which is technologically superior to PATA.
Although, there is a connector you can buy for a few extra dollars which connects to the Molex cable to create a SATA power cable.
4.
When you like a Hard Disk for its features and it suits your requirements check the period of the warranty and the factors the warranty covers.
Buy a Hard Disk with a long warranty as you can never accurately predict the life of a Hard Disk.
Also, use the internet to research about the company's technical support and reliability.
This is very important as everyone need quick support and the product should be a trusted one.
5.
Always go for the latest technology as it will keep your system up to date.
It is never recommended to buy a Hard Disk which is a derivative of older technology.
All new Hard Disks come with a technology called S.
M.
A.
R.
T.
which stands for Self-Monitoring, Analysis and reporting technology which helps to detect and report various issues the Hard Disk faces and tells you when it is time to change the Hard Disk.
A benefit of this technology is that, it gives you a chance to back up all your important data and when you report the error to the company's technical support they help you replace your HDD if it is in warranty.
Minimum Recommended HDD:- Capacity: 500GB.
Speed: 7,200rpm.
Interface: SATA.
Warranty: Minimum 1 year but we would always prefer 3 years.
It happened with me too! That's why I am writing this guide to help everyone in not doing this mistake.
The steps are as follows: 1.
The capacity is the most important factor in selecting the perfect hard disk.
But, it does not mean you have to buy the hard disk with the highest storage capability.
First, estimate your capacity requirements then buy a hard disk with the capacity you will need, but always make it a point to keep some extra storage.
A 500GB HDD is the most decent buy, but it is high on cost per gigabyte.
But, then you should always get the biggest disk you can afford.
2.
The HDD spindle speed is a very important as it depends on the spindle speed, how quickly the HDD can transfer data.
7,200rpm (rpm stands for rotations per minute) is the most common speed in desktop computers, but it varies according to usage and purpose.
If you run high demanding applications on your computer, like video editing or audio production software, then a speed of 10,000rpm or more is essential but it will be more expensive.
We would recommend anything less than 7,200rpm is not worth buying.
3.
Check your system before purchasing any computer component.
There are two types of HDD majorly used, Serial ATA (SATA) and Parallel ATA (PATA).
SATA uses a thin cable for power supply and has a SATA power port for power input and PATA uses a wide ribbon cable which generically looks old and has a Molex port for power input.
Some of the PSU's (Power Supply Unit) in older computers have a Molex 4 Pin cable which is meant for PATA HDD and it cannot be connected to a SATA HDD which is technologically superior to PATA.
Although, there is a connector you can buy for a few extra dollars which connects to the Molex cable to create a SATA power cable.
4.
When you like a Hard Disk for its features and it suits your requirements check the period of the warranty and the factors the warranty covers.
Buy a Hard Disk with a long warranty as you can never accurately predict the life of a Hard Disk.
Also, use the internet to research about the company's technical support and reliability.
This is very important as everyone need quick support and the product should be a trusted one.
5.
Always go for the latest technology as it will keep your system up to date.
It is never recommended to buy a Hard Disk which is a derivative of older technology.
All new Hard Disks come with a technology called S.
M.
A.
R.
T.
which stands for Self-Monitoring, Analysis and reporting technology which helps to detect and report various issues the Hard Disk faces and tells you when it is time to change the Hard Disk.
A benefit of this technology is that, it gives you a chance to back up all your important data and when you report the error to the company's technical support they help you replace your HDD if it is in warranty.
Minimum Recommended HDD:- Capacity: 500GB.
Speed: 7,200rpm.
Interface: SATA.
Warranty: Minimum 1 year but we would always prefer 3 years.
Source...