5 tips to choose the right external hard drive for your computer

If you're looking to buy the best dj external hard drive for your computer, we've got 5 tips that should help you make the right decision. First off, do you need a portable or desktop device? Portable devices are lighter and more compact but can be more expensive than desktop models. Secondly, what kind of storage space do you need? 

Do you want to store photos, videos or music files? Thirdly because of this question it's important to know how many gigabytes (GB) per second your device needs. Lastly it's important to consider what file format(s) will be supported by the external hard drive so that all of your data is accessible and transferable without any issues! 

1. What is an external hard drive and why do you need one?

An external hard drive is a type of data storage device similar in function to a USB flash drive or other portable memory devices. 

Unlike these, however, it is designed to be connected to your computer for longer term usage and can store larger files such as videos, music files and photographs. External hard drives are the perfect accessory for when you need to store large amounts of data that you don't want to lose.

2. How to choose the right size for your needs

You may be wondering what you need to think about when choosing an external hard drive and how big it should be. 

You may also wonder if bigger is always better, and the answer is no! The capacity (in gigabytes) of an external drive can vary significantly from a few hundred GB up to several TBs. So the first thing you need to do when deciding on the size is decide how much storage you need.

If you're looking for an external hard drive just to store your photos and videos games, then you won't need anywhere near as much storage space than if you were planning on storing all of your music files or documents. As a general rule of thumb, your external hard drive should have approximately 10% of the storage space of the internal hard drive in your computer. For example, if you have a 1000 GB internal hard drive, then an external hard drive with 100GB would be sufficient

However keep in mind that there are many external hard drives on the market that already come installed with their own backup software which allow you to schedule automated back ups. 

If this is the type of external hard drive you are looking for, then it's important not to go overboard on size because these drives include an internal backup battery which can only hold a charge for so long.

3. What are the different types of external drives?

External hard drives come in many different types and there are 5 basic models to choose from:

Desktop external hard drive - this type of external hard drive is designed for stationary use on your office desk or at home. It comes with an AC cable that connects into the wall, but it also has a USB port for connecting to your computer.

Desktop external hard drives are generally larger than portable versions and usually have 1 TB or more storage space. These types of devices come at a relatively low cost, but because they require an AC power adapter you can find yourself tripping over its cable if you want to move it around the office or home

Portable external hard drive - this type of external hard drive is designed for use on the go, so it's great if you travel often. It has no cables attached to it and will be small enough to fit inside your pocket or bag.

Portable external drives usually come with a USB port for plugging into your computer while stationary, but don't have an AC power adapter. These types of don't want to be restricted by the cables.

4. Is it worth buying a portable or desktop external drive?

As you can see from the descriptions above, there are pros and cons of choosing a portable external hard drive or a desktop external hard drive. While desktop drives allow for more storage space without having to be limited by cables on your desk, they require an AC power adapter and don't usually have the same portability as a portable version.

Portable drives are generally much smaller and lighter, but have less storage space.

If you plan on using your external hard drive in the office, your bedroom or even in the living room while watching TV then a desktop drive is probably best for you. On the other hand if you're often on the go and want to take your data with you wherever you go then a portable external hard drive is more appropriate.

5. The best brands of external hard drives

When you start to shop for an external hard drive, you will quickly see that there are a lot of different brands on the market all fighting for your business. However not all external drives are created equal.

In our opinion some of the best brands on the market include Western Digital, Seagate and Toshiba. When choosing one of these brands, you can be confident that their products provide a high standard of quality and reliability.

Conclusion

External hard drives are a great way to store an extra backup of your most important data, but it's important to make sure that you buy the right type for your situation.

This article has shown you the most common types of external hard drive, how much storage space you need with different levels of internal hard drive in your computer and given some examples of the best brands on the market.

If you follow these 5 steps when shopping for an external hard drive, you should find yourself with a great device that will provide excellent results for years to come.