Choosing An External Hard Drive

External hard drives have become one of the most popular pieces of computer hardware. An external hard drive, similar to the one already in your computer, is used for storing documents, programs, music and more. It also gives you a place to back up your computer, all without consuming space on your computer. Additionally, these hard drives can be taken anywhere- it's ultra portable. This is a great bonus for people who want access to their stuff using different computers. Choosing the right one, however, can be a daunting task.

First, consider the storage capacity of the hard drive. The storage amounts are provided in gigabytes. Higher gigabytes translates into more storage. To determine the size you need, think about what you will be using the hard drive for. If you only plan on using your hard drive for documents, music, pictures or short video clips, you won't need a drive with a gigabyte that is in the hundreds. If you're planning on using the hard drive for back up, you may not need such a high gigabyte amount but over time you will; choose a hard drive at 150 gigabytes or higher.

After storage capacity, you need to consider the cache. The cache size determines the speed of copying. The cache acts like a go-between with your computer and the hard drive. When your data transfer levels become higher than the hard drive can handle, the excess data gets sent to the cache to wait until the drive can catch up.

The interface is another thing to consider when choosing a drive. There are two types of interfaces that you can choose from: USB and Firewire. The USB interface connects your computer and the hard drive using the USB ports and a USB cable. In comparison, the Firewire interface connects the two through a direct Firewire port. Usually, hard drives are capable of either interface type, but some will be one or the other.

Once you've gotten a general idea of the specifications, you can start considering manufacturers. All the major brands, like Toshiba and Western Digital, have models they manufacture. There are also some names you may not have ever heard of. Try not to limit yourself to one specific brand. Not all brands will have hard drive models that will meet your needs.

When you're considering the brands, you should do some research on the models. Check review sites to see what other consumers are saying. Look at the manufacturer's warranty to see what is covered and for how long- just in case. In some cases, you can opt to purchase extra coverage.

Once you've found a few hard drive candidates, look at the size of the drives. Different models have different sizes. You will notice that some hard drives are made thinner than others. Generally, faster drives tend to be a bit thicker and a little more expensive.

Most importantly, if you come across any external hard drive that says it uses an external power source, don't buy it. The majority of the models should be powered by the interface port that you choose. There are a few models that run with external power, but they're usually more trouble than they're worth.