When money is tight, hard drives are a good option because they are large and less expensive than SSDs. We’ve compiled a list of the best budget hard drives for gaming and video editing. Though fast SSD storage is required for quick boot times when building a gaming PC or workstation rig, good hard drives are required for storing operating system backups, personal servers, and NAS with large data files. Not to mention that they are excellent for long-term data storage. While newer options such as NVMe SSDs and M.2 SSDs are popular, don’t overlook the tried-and-true technology of hard drives.
You’ll find the greatest hard drives capable of providing dependable storage at a low cost per GB of data space. In this evaluation, we’ll look at hard drives with plenty of storage space as well as hybrid HDDs with lightning-fast speeds. So, before making your final selection, check the criteria. Trust me, you won’t be sorry. You can use an HDD as an internal drive or make a portable external hard drive for on-the-go backup.
Even while SSDs are catching up in terms of speed, dependability is still a challenge, thus HDDs are still required for all systems. Whether you are planning a gaming PC or creating a contemporary professional machine, a decent HDD may be utilized to store large files as well as back up your operating system. The rationale is straightforward: mechanical discs do not lose data and are easily recovered if removed. In theory, HDDs can live a decade, but SSD data is unrecoverable once TRIM is engaged, which crushes deleted data for the sake of performance and maintenance. So you’ll neglect the possibility of speed.
| Award | Design | Storage Drives | Retailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best high capacity hard drive |  | View | |
| best budget external hard drive |  | View | |
| Best hard drive for gaming |  | View | |
| Best hybrid hard drive |  | View | |
| Best hard drive for PC |  | View | |
| Hard Drive for PC |  | View | |
| Best hard drives for NAS |  | View | |
| Best HDD for NAS, Servers, and Video Editing |  | View |
The first thing to check before buying a hard drive is the size of it. Most importantly, you need to be sure that it is large enough to accommodate your games and applications without any issue. The size of a hard drive, also known as its capacity, is measured in gigabytes (GB=1000MBs) and a terabyte (TB=1000GBs). It can range from 128GB to 20TB maximum which is .less than the SSDs max limit of 30.72 TB. The size of your hard drive depends on the cost and speed of reading and writing sequence and the type of games you play.
The hard drive is one of the most basic components of a computer, and owning a good hard drive is crucial for gaming as a secondary storage drive after SSD as a boot drive. Hard drives are vital for storing the large games, applications, and other things you need without any issues. They can be divided into different categories, depending on their performance and connections. Several types, including SATA (serial ATA), which is commonly used in desktops and laptops with 2.5-inch dimensions. The other type is SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) which is somewhat rare.
Why Dexplora is trustworthy because our expert reviewers put in a lot of time and effort to test and compare different products and services, allowing you to make informed decisions about what is best for you. Find out How We Review
The Best Hard Drives (External & Internal)
Best Hard Drives For Gaming And Video Editing At A Glance:
- Toshiba X300
- WD VelociRaptor
- WD Blue Desktop
- Seagate Firecuda Hybrid Drive
- SK Hynix Gold S31 PC Hard Drive
- MaxDigitalData MD1000GSA6472
- Seagate BarraCuda HDD
- Seagate IronWolf NAS
Toshiba X300
Best high capacity hard drive
SPECIFICATIONS
Form Factor: | 3.5-inchCapacities: | 4TB – 8TBInterface: | SATA 6.0 Gbit/sSequential Reads: | 225MB/sSequential Writes: | 175 MBpsWarranty: | 5 years
REASONS TO BUY
✓Faster 7200 RPM rotational speed
✓Advanced UEFI formats supported
✓Shock sensors and encryption
✓Good for 4K editing
✓Long-life data storage
REASONS TO AVOID
✗Bulky for bulk work
✗Short warranty
The Toshiba X300 is a quality hard drive that is durable to work for both internal and external hard drive jobs and offers high storage capacity ranging from 4TB to a max of 8TB. This device can store up to 8TB of data, which is more than enough space to store your photos, videos, and files. We find Toshiba X300 HDD good for long-lasting memories and featured as the best high capacity hard drive with stable platter technology that lowers the vibrations and improves the performance for quick and easy transfer of data between your computer and other devices.
It has a dual-stage actuator structure for accuracy and instant access to your data. This also means it can sustain high temperatures and workloads of data transfer tasks. We test it with the fastest read and write speeds of 225MBps read and 175MBps write sequence allows performing better on the most important data and server files backup with ease. The best read and write speeds of this HDD are suitable for gamers and professionals who want to backup or transfer data from their devices. Its basic model has a 4TB storage capacity, which is enough to store all your important files.
The Toshiba X300 storage hard drive is designed for high performance and long-term reliability. It also features shock sensors to protect data in the event of a drop or sudden movement and is also halogen-free for reduced environmental exposure. The hard drive also uses an advanced format that reduces the size of the data stored on the drive, making it more efficient to store and carry around. This hard drive is RoHS compliant, ensuring that it meets European Union safety standards, which makes it an ideal storage solution for professionals who need to store large amounts of critical data.
WD VelociRaptor
best budget external hard drive
SPECIFICATIONS
Form Factor: | 2.5-inchCapacities: | 1TB – 8TBInterface: | SATA 6.0 Gb/sSequential Reads: | 147 MBpsSequential Writes: | 146 MBpsWarranty: | 5 years
REASONS TO BUY
✓Safety cautious casing
✓Multipurpose, internal and external
✓Good for backups
REASONS TO AVOID
✗Slightly up in cost
WD VelociRaptor PC Storage HDD is designed to deliver the performance you need for your powerful computer. With up to 1TB to 8TB of capacity, this hard drive is perfect for storing your games, document files, photos, videos, and music collections. Thanks to its fast read speeds of 147MBps and durable construction, WD VelociRaptor PC Storage HDD will help you get the most out of your computing experience.
When you are looking for a high-performance hard drive that can handle your demanding PC needs. The WD VelociRaptor is perfect for you! This 3.5-inch SATA 6.0 drive boasts speeds of up to 6 Gbps, making it ideal for data-intensive tasks like video editing or gaming. Plus, its 64MB cache means quick access to your files. So whether you’re looking for a dependable storage solution or just want to get the most out of your system, the WD VelociRaptor is a great choice.
WD VelociRaptor Hard Drives are perfect for the discerning PC gamer. They come with a 72,000 RPM speed which guarantees responsive gameplay and minimal lag time. Additionally, their durable casing will keep your data safe and secure. Whether you’re looking for an affordable storage solution or a high-quality gaming drive, WD VelociRaptor Hard Drives are a great option.
WD Blue Desktop
Best hard drive for gaming
SPECIFICATIONS
Form Factor: | 3.5-inchCapacities: | 500GB – 6TBInterface: | Serial ATA-600Sequential Reads: | 159.8 MBpsSequential Writes: | 142.8 MBpsWarranty: | 2 years
REASONS TO BUY
✓Good for gaming PC secondary storage
✓Easy up-gradation
✓Low-power consumption
✓NoTouch RAMP load technology
REASONS TO AVOID
✗Short warranty
✗Lower capacity than competitors
WD Blue Desktop PC storage hard drive is a great storage option for desktop and laptop users. It offers fast speed, large capacity, and flexible storage options. The WD Blue HDD comes in a 3.5-inch form factor and has a SATA 6Gb/s interface for increased speed. It also features the latest 64MB buffer size technology and an exclusive write-protect switch to protect your data from accidental erasure.
Do you need a good-quality gaming storage option that won’t break the bank? The WD Blue PC HDD is perfect for you! This has capacities ranging from 500GB to 6TB and offers blazing-fast data transfers and plenty of space to store your big games and even make a NAS for video sharing and backup. Best of all, it’s available in a 3.5-inch form factor, so it’ll fit perfectly on any desktop PC. So what are you waiting for?
The WD Blue Desktop PC Storage Hard Drive is currently the best hard drive on the market for value. It reads and writes at a speed of 142.8 MB/s and 159.8 MB/s, which is significantly faster than most other hard drives. Additionally, it comes with a 2-year warranty, which is always a plus.
Seagate Firecuda Hybrid Drive
Best hybrid hard drive
SPECIFICATIONS
Form Factor: | 2.5 inchCapacities: | 2TB – 8TBInterface: | SATA 6 GB/sSequential Reads: | 560 MBpsSequential Writes: | 540 MBpsWarranty: | 5 years
REASONS TO BUY
✓5x faster than an ordinary HDD
✓Fast boot times and application loading
✓Tireless durability
✓Cost cheaper than an SSD
REASONS TO AVOID
✗External use required docking
✗Not portable
The Seagate Firecuda Hybrid Drive is a smart hard drive that is a 2.5-inch size to fit in most laptops and gaming PCs. It measures 0.87 inches in thickness and has capacities from 2TB to 8TB. The Firecuda uses a new heat-spreader technology that makes it more resistant to thermal shock, allowing it to withstand extended usage in high-powered computers. The hard drive also offers 540 Mbps speeds and can work as both internal and external hard disks.
Fircuda’s superior performance for hybrid drive storage has a power-saving mode, and tireless durability to deliver consistent performance and reliability with less thermal shock. This enhanced design eliminates performance degradation over time and ensures consistent data access for up to 10 years.
SK Hynix Gold S31 PC Hard Drive
Best hard drive for PC
SPECIFICATIONS
Form Factor: | 2.5-inchCapacities: | 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TBInterface: | SATA 6GbpsSequential Reads: | 560 MBpsSequential Writes: | 525 MBpsWarranty: | 5 years
REASONS TO BUY
✓Good as internal and external
✓secure erase command
✓LPDDR3 DRAM cache.
✓A cheaper option for any PC
REASONS TO AVOID
✗1TB maximum capacity
✗Lacks the AES 256-bit hardware encryptions
The SK Hynix Gold S31 PC Hard Drive is a great storage option for your computer. It has a SATA 6Gb/s interface, so it can transfer data quickly. The drive has a capacity of max of 1TB, so you can store a lot of files. It also has a 7200RPM speed, which will allow you to quickly access your files. It is a budget-friendly option that boasts a 1.5 million hour MTBF.
It’s perfect for users who need an affordable HDD that can handle heavy workloads and extended periods of use. It is a reliable 2.5-inch drive to add speed and stability to your gaming PC. We find SK Hynix Gold S31 drive is a great addition to your computer with the SATA III interface, so you can quickly access and transfer data.
Getting a fast drive can suffice your desire for games and SK Hynix Gold S31 PC Hard Drive may be the perfect option for you! This hard drive is built with speed and reliability in mind, making it perfect for use on any gaming PC. Plus, its unique design makes it compatible with a wide variety of systems. So whether you’re looking for an affordable solution or something that’s built to last, the SK Hynix Gold S31 is a great fast storage choice!
MaxDigitalData MD1000GSA6472
Hard Drive for PC
SPECIFICATIONS
Form Factor: | 3.5-inchCapacities: | 1TBInterface: | SATA 6.0Gb/sSequential Reads: | 160 MBpsSequential Writes: | 80 MBpsWarranty: | 2 years
REASONS TO BUY
✓Standard for PCs
✓Cloning software included
✓64MB cache
✓7200RPM speeds
REASONS TO AVOID
✗Not very economical
MaxDigitalData MD1000GSA6472 is an ultra-quiet hard drive that runs at 7200 RPM. This drive allows for quick access to data and reduces fan noise levels. It is a reliable and really quiet hard drive under heavy loads. The 3.5inch size with a 16MB cache, makes it perfect for video editing, and computing applications including games storage. The drive comes with a 2-year warranty and is backed by a 7-day money-back guarantee.
The size allows it to be used in computers, not laptops, and other devices that need low-noise hard drives. We like the new brand MaxDigitalData hard drive for making the competition alive with the fastest HDD available. Its speeds can go up to 150MBs in continuous loads and help speed up your computer with defragmentation. Additionally, this HDD is affordable and perfect for smaller computers or laptop systems.
PC gamers have plenty of choices when it comes to hardware, but when it comes to storage, budget is always an important consideration. That’s why the MaxDigitalData MD1000GSA6472 PC hard drive is a great option for budget-conscious gamers. This hard drive is ideal for storing games and other data files easily without breaking the bank. The capacity of 1TB is not a huge bump but enough space for everything. Plus, its low price makes it an affordable choice for anyone looking for a reliable storage solution.
Seagate BarraCuda HDD
Best hard drives for NAS
SPECIFICATIONS
Form Factor: | 3.5-inchCapacities: | 2TB – 8TBInterface: | SATA 6GbpsSequential Reads: | 540 MBpsSequential Writes: | 520 MBpsWarranty: | 2 years
REASONS TO BUY
✓Unmatched performance for NAS
✓Can work as a gaming hard drive
✓Secret hybrid technology
✓Smart NAND flash layers
✓Fastest in the hybrid drive league
REASONS TO AVOID
✗At max usage, it can create noises
✗Competitive pricing with SSD
The Seagate BarraCuda Desktop gaming PC hard drive is a great option for computer users who need plenty of storage space that can work as an internal or external drive. But what I’ve tasted in the lab, is the Seagate BarraCuda HDD with a capacity of 2TB, suitable for most NAS (Network-attached storage) projects where a high store is required for data sharing with multiple computers remotely.
This can be enough for video production sites to build out a custom NAS out of multiple Seagate BarraCuda hard drives. On the side, those gamers are looking for the best internal hard drive for gaming, this can help with reliable storage that can work great for gaming as well as video editing. However, storing large files and backup folders requires multiple disks for a proper NAS or server building.
Our test results are impressive for BarraCuda HDD, its faster data rate of 540 MBs is extraordinary, which makes it quickly load your favorite files at speedy cycles. The Seagate Expansion desktop hard drive is a great option for anyone looking for an affordable and reliable storage solution. It has a capacity of 2TB, which is enough space to store the most important files and folders.
When it comes to storage, there are a lot of options available from SSDs and hard disks. But the reason we can go for a traditional hard drive is for cheap and reliable storage that is risk-free, error-free, and most likely secure for all kinds of data for years of backup. This is something more than the innovative SSDs since they need more reliability for the greater good of data.
But what if you want something even bigger and better with speed like an SSD? Well, our lab backed this hybrid drive as a great alternative to modern SSDs with low chances of data loss and likely to survive sudden power outages. This is the store you can rely on for the rest of your data. It can be used as an external hard drive with a drive mount docking station or plugged into the internal SATA connection for a stable storage option for your big computer.
It measures 102mm wide by 560mm tall by 508mm wide, which means it’ll fit perfectly onto most computers. The impressive MTC technology ensures that your data will be stored reliably and quickly. Plus, its NAND flash technology means that your data won’t suffer from wear and tear due to writing operations. We like how Seagate BarraCuda comes into play for most users with the standard size of a 3.5-inches allowing it to fit in most ATX PC cases.
When you are looking for a reliable and fast hard drive for your PC, we recommend the Seagate BarraCuda Desktop case. It is the best HDD for editors and gamers with a maximum read and writes of 540/520 MB per second, it is our ideal hard disk option for loading large files quickly. Additionally, the 2-year warranty guarantees that you’ll be satisfied with your purchase.
Seagate IronWolf NAS
Best HDD for NAS, Servers, and Video Editing
SPECIFICATIONS
Form Factor: | 3.5-INCHCapacities: | 4TB, 10TBInterface: | SATA III 6 Gb/sSequential Reads: | 417MBpsSequential Writes: | 361 MBpsWarranty: | 3 years
REASONS TO BUY
✓Heavy usage for NAS, raid, plex
✓Best hard drive for NAS Synology
✓Ready for servers
✓Backup software included
REASONS TO AVOID
✗Pricy than other options
✗RPM is not as high as claimed
The Seagate IronWolf NAS hard disk is a beefed-up version of the popular IronWolf external hard drive. The NAS PC hard drive comes with support for multiple protocols and can be used as a storage solution for your home or office servers, gaming PCs, and backup servers. We like the huge capacities that can be up to 18TB, making the Seagate IronWolf NAS a perfect HDD for storing your movies, music, and photos.
In our digital lives, storage is a precious commodity, especially for computer users. With so many devices and files to manage, it’s important to have a hard drive that can hold everything you need. The Seagate IronWolf NAS can be a perfect storage option for a hard disk drive that comes in a 3.5 inches standard SATA III 6 Gbps design, which is easy for most network-attached storage (NAS) systems as well as desktop computers.
It has a rotational speed of 7200 rpm and supports Serial ATA (SATA) 3Gb/s and 6Gb/s interfaces for compatibility with motherboards that support those speeds. The drive is powered SATA III interface and supports ATA/ATAPI drives up to 2TB in size. Considering the price, features, and performance of this hard drive, it would be an excellent choice for anyone looking for a high-capacity storage solution for their NAS system.
In our testing, the Seagate IronWolf NAS PC hard drive is perfect for use in a home or small office setting with faster reads writing at 417 ± 362 MB/s, making it one of the fastest on the market. The addition of a 3-year warranty provides peace of mind that your data will be safe and you will not have to worry about it going missing or failing.
Buying Guide For Hard Drives
Are HDDs safer than SSDs?
In terms of data safety, hard disk drives (HDDs) and solid-state drives (SSDs) have their own strengths and weaknesses.
HDDs are more susceptible to physical damage and data loss due to moving parts and magnetic storage, while SSDs are more reliable and less prone to physical damage as they have no moving parts. However, SSDs are more susceptible to data loss due to wear and tear, as their cells have a limited number of write cycles.
Both HDDs and SSDs are capable of retaining data even after a power outage, but HDDs are the preferred storage option for backups due to their dependability in keeping data for long periods of time. Due to the use of mechanical discs rather than circuits, you can anticipate that a typical hard drive will be able to retain its data for 9 to 20 years. While solid-state drives, or SSDs, are renowned for their faster read and write speeds but extremely low data retention rates.
Specification for Hard Drive
Why prefer HDD over SSD?
Storage is the deciding factor when choosing between a hard disc drive (HDD) and a solid-state drive (SSD). HDDs are the best option for those looking for low-cost storage solutions. They are less expensive per unit of storage than SSDs on average, which means you can have more storage than SSDs in the same price range.
Pros and Cons of Hard Drives
When will SSD be cheaper than HDD?
According to r/hardware estimates, SSDs will be cheaper than HDDs by 2025. Although many factors, such as market trends, technological advancements, and demand for data security, continue to influence availability. Even so, it is widely assumed that as technology advances and demand for SSDs increases, the cost of SSDs will fall and become more affordable when compared to HDDs.
FAQ about Hard Drives
Conclusion
There are many great hard drives on the market for pc users. It is important to do your research and find the driver that fits your needs. Whether you are looking for speed, capacity, or price, there are several best hard drives for everyone. If high performance, long-term reliability, or affordability are important factors to you then the Seagate IronWolf NAS PC hard drive is a great choice. This hard drive can be used in many different NAS systems, including Synology and QNAP. When Choosing an internal Hard Drive for your system, you want to make sure that the hard drive you are buying will work well with your computer. It is important to find a drive that meets the following criteria: read/write speeds, Storage, Size, and RPM the better.
