Cheap Computer Hard Drives

   Next to the CPU and motherboard, the most critical computer component is the hard drive. A slow hard drive will lessen the apparent speed of even the fastest CPU and will drop the performance of the entire system--sometimes dramatically. Matching the hard drive to your motherboard and CPU will result in better fine tuned system. Also, getting the right hard drive for the type of usage it will receive are important buying decisions. So, how do you determine the best hard drive for your computer? Here are some ideas to keep in mind when choosing your hard drive.

External Hard Drives and USB External Hard Drives 

   Most hard drives produced today are internal--meaning they are made to fit inside a computer. But there are very good external hard drives today also. External hard drives are great for people who need portability for very large size storage capacites. Today, for example, you can get a 1TB (terabyte) external USB hard drive for under $100. External USB hard drives are popular because you can plug them in hot--meaning you don't have to turn your computer off to plug it in. It used to be when a peripheral was attached to a computer, the system had to be completely shut down so nothing was damaged electrically while the device was attached. A USB external hard drive allows connection without power down.

   In addition, the following table may help in making the decision on the right hard drive for the way you plan on using your system. All systems do not need the biggest and latest hard drive. Like surfing the Internet with a dial-up modem, the computer is limited to the download speed of the modem. Use the following table as a basic guideline for choosing a hard drive based on the use it will receive.

 

Computing Use	Minimum Size	Minimum Speed
Word Processing	8 - 20 GB	5400 rpm
Web Surfing	10 - 20 GB	5400 rpm
Light Gaming	40 GB	7200 rpm
Digital Music	60 GB	5400 rpm
Heavy Gaming	60 - 80 GB	7200 rpm
Graphics/Sound	80 GB	7200 rpm
Digital Video	100 - 120 GB	7200 rpm

  If you are looking for a great deal on External Hard Drive, check out the links on this page.

Hard Drive Articles

Secure Your Hard Drive: Wipe It Clean