Best Hard Drives of 2024 – Best Internal HDD Desktop, Laptop, and NAS

As you decide to upgrade your computer hard drive you’ll have to make several online searches until finding the right one. You may think that only going to tech store websites and looking for the best offer will be enough. However, choosing the best internal HDD takes a lot more than just a good deal.

Learn which are the best internal hard drive models for each need and how to choose an HDD on your own by its specifications.

Best internal hard drives of 2024

The best HDD depends on the purpose of its use. If you want a good hard drive for gaming you’ll need one that has different specifications from an HDD for personal use.

This is a list of 2024 best HDDs for different uses and purposes.

Best internal HDD overall – Seagate FireCuda

Although FireCuda is a hard drive primarily designed for gaming, its performance, storage capacity, and reliable read/write speed make this a great option for any need. Plus, it has a 5-year warranty.

Seagate FireCuda Gaming is a hybrid SSHD disk that combines both HDD and SSD best aspects. It has the speed from the last, working up to 7200 RPM, and the storage capacity from the first, with up to 8TB storage space.

However, modern SSDs still surpass the Seagate FireCuda’s great performance.

Best budget internal HDD – Western Digital Blue Desktop

The Western Digital Blue Desktop is the perfect hard drive for everyday use, especially if you want a hard drive with great storage capacity and save some money at the same time. That’s because this dive has several storage options, going from 1 TB to up to 8 TB, while still keeping the prices low.

Plus, this Wsetern Digital drive has Free Acronis True Image WD Edition cloning software to help you protect your data.

However, it has a short-term warranty of only 2 years and low read/write speeds.

Best internal HDD for gaming – WD VelociRaptor

The Western Digital VelociRaptor is a fast hard drive with an RPM of 10.000 that will not freeze your game.

It has a wide range of storage capacities, going from 250 GB to 1 TB. You also can store all of your games with no worries.

The downside is the VelociRaptor’s high price, which is close to SSDs. Also, this drive is not available in every country yet, meaning that the US is the most secure market to buy the WD VelociRaptor HDD.

Best internal HDD for high-performance needs – WD Black

The Western Digital Black hard drive is the best choice for those who need a high-performance HDD.

The WD Black is reliable, has storage options from 500GB to up to 6TB, and a warranty of 5 years. Its speed is catchy for those who work with heavy applications, such as video-editing software, and for gamers as well.

Best internal HDD for NAS – Seagate IronWolf 

If you need a reliable and fast drive for your business, Seagate IronWolf is your best choice.

This is a high-performance drive that can store your business data for the long term. Besides its high speed, IronWolf hard drive also has storage options for all needs, offering possible drives for both small and medium-sized businesses.

The drawback is that different storage sizes have different RPMs as well. Mind this when buying your new NAS HDDs.

Best internal HDD for Enterprise – Toshiba X300 PRO

The Toshiba X300 PRO is the perfect hard drive for users requiring high-workload performance drives and for creative professionals. The 3.5-inch internal HDD has up to 300 TB/year workload rate and a read/write speed of 7200 RPM.

This Toshiba device is designed for professional desktop workstations and high-performance PCs. The Toshiba X300 PRO can deliver high-level performance in real-time thanks to its large cache size.

The drive has also multiple storage size options, ranging from 4 TB to up to 20 TB. Plus it has built-in shock sensors to help protect your content.

13 Key specifications to consider before buying an internal hard drive in 2024

The first step when choosing an internal hard drive is to determine what are your needs and goals. To do so, you can answer questions such as:

• How much storage space do you need?
• What type of files will you be storing on your hard drive?
• Are you looking for a fast hard drive or a cheap one?

1. File types 

What type of files do you need to save on your hard drive? Your answer affects what other specifications you should look for in your internal hard drive.

If you only plan on storing music and videos, then any type of hard drive will work. However, if you’re planning on storing large applications or games, you’ll need to make sure you get a hard drive that’s fast enough to keep up with your needs.

Your data type has an impact not only on the computer hard drive speed, but also on the cache, format, and if you need your files to be encrypted. Which makes your files a heavy factor of your goal with the hard drive, leading to your decision.

Pro tip: SSDs are the best choice for gamers and power users who need the fastest possible speeds.

2. HDD Storage space

When it comes to storage space, you have a few different options. You can choose from traditional hard drives, which offer a lot of storage space but are slow, or you can opt for solid-state drives, which are much faster but usually come with less storage space.

If you’re not sure how much storage space you need, you can check our hard drive storage capacity guide to get a better idea of how the hard disk space impacts its performance.

3. HDD RPM 

The speed of an HDD is measured in revolutions per minute (RPM). The rotational speed is how fast the platters inside the hard drive spin. The higher the RPM, the faster the HDD can access data.

For example, an HDD with a speed of 7000 RPM can access data about 25% faster than an HDD with a speed of 5400 RPM.

The physical size and the capacity of the hard disk don’t directly impact its speed.

HDD Desktops usually are faster, reaching 15,000 RPM, while laptop HDDs are slower, at around 7,200 to 5,400 RPM.

So, if you need it to access and write data fast, you should look at a high rotational-speed hard drive. However, if your goal is only to browse online and use it for reading and writing documents using common and simple software, then you can choose a hard drive with a minimum rotational speed.

4. HDD cache size 

The cache is a section of fast memory located on the hard drive. It’s used to store frequently accessed data so that it can be quickly retrieved by the drive.

A larger cache size will result in better performance. So, depending on the type of software and programs you use, you may need a large cache size.

For example, a gamer requires a hard drive with more cache than a kid using the computer only to study and write their homework.

5. HDD form factor 

The form factor is the physical size of the hard drive.

The most common form factor for desktop computers is the three-and-a-half-inch drive – 3,5’, while laptops typically use two-and-a-half-inch drives – 2,5’.

Here is not much about your goal, but if you have a laptop or desktop and the hard drive slot size. So, check with your device manufacturer to make sure which size is your slot.

6. Hard drive buffer 

The buffer is a section of fast memory located on the hard drive. It’s used to store frequently accessed data so that it can be quickly retrieved by the drive.

A larger buffer size will result in better performance.

7. Hard drive interface 

The interface is how the hard drive connects to your computer. The most common type of interface is SATA, but there are also SAS and IDE interfaces.

Most hard drives are universal and work with any SATA-enabled motherboard as well. Here you must check with the manufacturer again to discover which interface your PC or laptop has.

8. Self-encrypted internal hard drives 

Self-encrypted hard drives are hard drives that come with built-in encryption.

This means that your data will be safe even if the drive is lost or stolen. So, if you manage sensitive data, this is the best choice for you.

9. Vacuum-sealed drives 

You may find hard drives that are vacuum sealed. These drives use helium to create the necessary space between the read/write heads and platters.

Because of this, vacuum-sealed hard drives have a higher capacity, lower operating noise, and lower power requirements. However, they are used more by enterprises, having a few options for personal use.

10. Shock-resistant drives 

Shock-resistant drives are designed to withstand being dropped or jarred without losing any data. These drives are ideal for people who are constantly on the go and need to take a laptop with them.

11. HDD warranty 

When you’re buying any type of electronics, it’s always a good idea to check the warranty. That way, if anything goes wrong, you can get it fixed or replaced without having to pay for it out of your pocket.

Most hard drives come with a two or three-year warranty, but some brands offer longer terms.

12. HDD price

Traditional hard drives are much cheaper than solid-state drives, so if you’re on a budget, they’re a good option.

After checking all hard drive specifications and relating them to your goal, you can then find the best hard drive options and compare prices and sellers.

Whichever type of hard drive you choose, make sure you compare prices and read reviews before making your purchase.

13. Internal hard drive brands & models

There are several brands, and many more models, of the hard drive. Again, is your goal plus all the characteristics you checked that will tell which device you should get.

For example, WD Black is a great choice for high-performance applications due to its speed, while WD Purple is great for DVRs and Seagate IronWolf has an extra warranty and reliability, making it a good choice for businesses.

Quick Summary

Choosing an internal HDD will depend mostly on your goal with the device. By taking the time to figure out your purpose (gaming, storage, high-performance, etc.), you can find the best hard drive for your needs and budget.

So, learning more about what affects your HDD performance and which factors impact your needs more can prevent you from buying the wrong drive for your PC.

If you have any problem with your device or need help with your internal hard drive data recovery, contact SalvageData recovery experts 24/7 for an emergency and secure recovery. With over two decades on the market, SalvageData can guarantee your whole data back and bring you to the process by enlightening you about every step.