If you are running out of space on your computer or find that programs load a little slow, or that big files take a long time to open, it may be time for a new hard drive.
Making a more careful decision about the hard drive can mean a much longer working life for the hard drive. Better reliability, allowing the hard drive to run for many years without mechanical failures or the worst of all, losing your precious data to errors on the drive.
Obviously the main thing that people think about when getting a new drive is size. Although a 400GB drive sounds great, there are very few people who actually use this much space. Only if you save DVD movies to your hard drive, or if you do serious amounts of video editing will you need this much space. The smallest size drives available today are about 40GB and will suffice for all your needs. However if you want the latest technologies, bigger sizes are inevitable.
Over the years the speed at which hard drives work has increased. One of the main technologies to improve is the connection between the hard drive and the rest of the computer. It passes the information back and forth from the hard drive, the faster it is the faster information can be passed, and so speeding up the programs you use and the files you use.
There are 2 main varieties for this connection:
The old IDE kind, which comes in 4 flavors: ATA33, ATA66, ATA100 and ATA133, each number corresponding to the transfer rate in MB/s, the bigger the faster. This type is pretty standard. If your computer is older, you may only be able to use this kind, and depending how old will determine which speed.
SATA is a newer kind. It uses a different cable and allows much faster information transfer. The slower kind is 150MB/s and the faster is 300MB/s, so they are much faster than IDE.
A newer technology called Native Command Queuing (NCQ) speeds up how fast things are found and done on the hard drive. Just briefly, it orders the read and write commands given to it in such as way as to get the tasks done quicker and with less delay.
Drives are most often separated by their size and this is a big factor in the pricing of a drive. The smallest drives today are around 40GB, you can get a little smaller, but no point really. The largest of 400GB will be enough for a really long time.
The other thing that affects pricing is the rotation speed, which is the speed at which the big disk spins inside the disk drive. The faster it spins the faster information gets found. Look for rotation speeds of 7200RPM as standard and 10000 for the fast end.
With all of this it may be hard to decide, but here are my suggestions.
For a main drive, which has your Windows and programs on it, go for something faster, but bear in mind that even for me my ATA66 drive is fast enough for my uses. But a faster one will speed up how fast your programs go. It might be a good idea just to go for one big, fast drive.
Brand name drives are often worth getting, as manufacturers like Seagate, Maxtor and Western Digital are well known for long lasting quality products, which will not make any difference in the short term usually, but will pay off with long life and reliability.
If you want or need two drives the second one can sacrifice speed for size, as that's what's most often needed for a second drive, which usually stores all your information.
You should now have enough to make a smart choice in your next hard drive purchase. A good one can be kept for a very long time and minimize any hassles in the future.
Peter Stewart is a computer enthusiast, his interest in computers and focus on practicle down to earth advice inspired his two websites.
http://www.computer-buying-guide.com - Practical buying tips
http://www.computer-reviews.net - Fair and honest reviews and opinions
Take a good look at your notebook computer screen. Do... Read More
Have you ever felt like throwing the fax machine out... Read More
DVD is an optical disc storage media format that can... Read More
Protecting Against A Power Surge:Your computer is an expensive investment;... Read More
The data on your hard drive is the most critical... Read More
Hard drives - Hard drives are a little more complicated.... Read More
Roll over lumbering desktop computers, the limber laptop is here,... Read More
IntroductionThis document explains topics relating to wireless networks. The main... Read More
The gaming laptop is coming of age! It is steadily... Read More
Before you upgrade your PC hardware it's best to search... Read More
We've all been there. You're in the middle of printing... Read More
It is true. You can save a lot of time... Read More
Science-Fiction meets reality with this new video display technology.The Heliodisplay... Read More
When buying a new computer, or upgrading your monitor, you... Read More
PC cooling systems are one of the hottest - and... Read More
Are you getting tired of the high cost of printing?... Read More
Many technicians are confused on how to really read a... Read More
A fuse is a very thin wire, which either melts... Read More
Wireless Consulting and Solution Providers have always been important to... Read More
In May 2005 U.S hardware history was made.This was the... Read More
The following is a list of tips to help safeguard... Read More
Crystal are use to keep the frequency of the clock... Read More
To Wire or Not to Wire Wireless networks... Read More
Whereas 2D bar codes offer more security and safety for... Read More
What is so important about cables anyway?One of the most... Read More
Why are there faint areas or gaps in my print... Read More
When bought personal DVD player, the very next thing to... Read More
As the proud owner of a laptop computer, you'll want... Read More
Who needs an LCD display? Well, if you're like me,... Read More
Today, small form factor computers demolish the myth that bigger... Read More
Most people understand preventive maintenance like changing the oil in... Read More
A laptop computer certainly provides you with an unprecedented level... Read More
Whenever there is a complaint about monitor contrast problem I... Read More
With all the technical terms out there, it is becoming... Read More
ROUTING PROTOCOLSA generic term that refers to a formula, or... Read More
After twelve years of owning desktop computers, I finally opted... Read More
Notebook Computers Are Sexy!Granted, the notebook computer may just be... Read More
This is the step takes the most time and consideration.... Read More
Many people simply go to the retail store and get... Read More
Digital voice recorders have become increasingly popular over the last... Read More
A Good Notebook BagForget those that are bundled with your... Read More
The gaming laptop is coming of age! It is steadily... Read More
As we study the issues associated with teaching kids in... Read More
A recent Tech Tip covered the basics of selecting a... Read More
Laptops are lovely. They are convenient, mobile, powerful and prestigious.... Read More
OverviewAs "generic", "remanufactured", and "new compatible" inkjet printer cartridges and... Read More
Think you got a great deal on a printer? Like... Read More
This is the first article in the Understanding Your Computer... Read More
For Video cards - Most PC video cards these days... Read More
OK I confess I've bought at least 10 inkjet printers... Read More
What is Video Encryption?Video Encryption is an extremely useful method... Read More
If you have not seen the newest addition to the... Read More
How To Choose the Best Student Laptop?Merchants are singing those... Read More
Used laptop computers are everywhere these days. How can you... Read More
Data loss is an expensive reality. It's a hard fact... Read More
There are many fancy add-ons for computers, but the basic... Read More
Whenever there is a complaint about monitor contrast problem I... Read More
Now you can more easily access the Internet wherever mobile... Read More
Computers often break down at the worst of all times.... Read More
Before you upgrade your PC hardware it's best to search... Read More
The other piece of vital equipment to accompany the rack... Read More
Hard drives - Hard drives are a little more complicated.... Read More
Digital cameras have really taken off in popularity in recent... Read More
A laptop computer certainly provides you with an unprecedented level... Read More
The number of different formats available in DVD drives can... Read More
Who needs an LCD display? Well, if you're like me,... Read More
Computer Hardware |