3 Essential Tips in Choosing New External Hard Drive

Today, with lots of data and stuffs to save and store, having external hard drive is a must. In the past, you only need a floppy disk (ever heard that?) to store your data. Then, come CD for bigger data storage, and followed with thumb drive for a more practical plug-and-play data storing. Lastly, you get in touch with external drive.

You might a bit confused about the difference between external hard drive with portable hard drive. The difference is in their power sources. Portable drive uses computer power when plugged in, while external drive uses external power outlet. It is sometimes equipped with fan to reduce the heat when used. The following are three important things you should consider when choosing an external hard drive.

  1. The capacity

You need to figure out on how much storage capacity that you need. You need to consider the kind of data and their capacities that you want to save. This is also linked closely with the price; the more capacity, the higher the prices. If you have no intention of storing videos, music, movies, your design or movie-related jobs, then you should choose lower capacity drive. Well, the drive has ranges of storage capacities from hundreds to thousand GB (this last one is now termed with Terabit or TB). So, it’s back to your needs. It’s a redundancy to buy high capacity drive just for your Word or PowerPoint, though?  Be wise in choosing the drive storage capacity.

  1. Automatic Backup

Your need to buy an external hard drive is to back up your data, right? So, do not forget to get some dependable automatic backup software. Having the program will ensure you to always have the backup tasks to be always done. For your convenience, always check that the software is working well.

  1. USB 3.0

If you have decided you need storage capacity, now you should find the external hard drive which has been equipped with USB 3.0. Now, if you have to transfer data up to terabit level using the old 2.0, you’ll surely have to have lots of patience. Theoretically, USB 2.0 has max data transfer up to 480 MB per second, while USB 3.0 could transfer up to 5 GB per second, up to 10 times than the 2.0. So, if you need the real quick transfer data capability, choose the drive with USB 3.0 feature.

Those are 3 important tips in choosing external hard drive for you. The tips are easy to follow but they might offer more secure feeling when you are about to purchase one.