How to Buy the Right Backup Hard Drive for Your Computer

Since it becomes so frequently to store files, photos and videos in computers for most people, creating backups is becoming a crucial part. You can know how to buy the right backup drive for your computer in 2019 in this news. MiniTool Partition Wizard is a great backup tool.

It Is Necessary to Create a Physical Backup

You may use services like iCloud and DropBox to make a copy of everything created and saved on a computer (like written documents, presentations, images, videos, or anything else) and avoid data loss in daily life.

However, they are not absolutely safe solutions. For instance, this kind of services may go out of business or be acquired, and it is possible to be attacked by a hack. What’s more, it will be troublesome if you decide to shift from one of these services.

In addition, if you want to manage large files or large quantities of files, it may take much longer time to download everything from a cloud-based backup service than restore them from a hard drive attached to a computer with a cable.

In case, you’d better have a personal backup for your computer, and you don’t need to pay monthly charge.

Best Practice: 3-2-1 Backup Strategy for Home Computers & Businesses.

How to Buy the Right Backup Hard Drive

How to get a reliable external hard drive? Before you buy a backup drive, please note that there are various options you need to take into consideration, such as features, designs and prices.

Connectivity options

1. Wireless backup drive:

A wireless backup drive is a good choice, such as the Western Digital My Passport Wireless Pro. It includes a 6,400 mAh battery and Wi-Fi, so you are able to take it out on the road, keeping a laptop backed up, completely wirelessly.

However, there are two disadvantages of a wireless backup drive: the process of backup will be slower without a cable; and you need to pay a lot for it.

Tip: According to Western Digital, one of the largest and most trusted makers of hard drive, you need to pay up to $135 for a 2TB wireless drive, which could be used to buy an 8TB wired alternative.

2. USB backup drive:

If you want to save money, an USB backup drive is a good choice.

A backup drive with a single USB-A port may take a long time to back up files, but it can be set to take place in the background while you are working on something else.

Most drives offer USB 2.0, while higher-performance drives with USB 3.0 have faster data transfer speed.

Size Options

For the size, you need to take both the physical size and storage space into consideration if you want to buy the right backup hard drive.

Usually, there is a close correlation between the amount of storage and the size (and price) of the device. HDD is larger in capacity (up to 10TB) than SSD (up to 4TB), while SSD is physically smaller with higher performance. And SSD is more expensive.

Generally, a backup drive with 2TB or 4TB is enough for those who want a fast and compact option but don’t need masses of storage. For example, Samsung’s T5 is available with 1TB of storage for $165 (currently down from $250), or 2TB for $278 at Amazon, down from the $480 list price.

For those who need to back upplenty of videos or large Photoshop files, of course you’d better choose a drive with more space — and perhaps a professional-grade raid array for extra reassurance and multiple backups of every file.

4 Types of Backup Drive

What is a good brand for external hard drives? Here are 4 types for you.

Samsung T5 SSD

Connect to computer with USB-C
Capacity: 2TB
Price: $278
With high speed and portability
Fit for Windows, Mac and even Android devices running version 4.4 or higher

Western Digital 2TB Elements Portable Hard Drive

Connect to computer with USB 3.0
Capacity: 2TB
Price: $60

Western Digital My Passport Wireless Pro

Connect to computer with USB 3.0 and Wi-Fi
Capacity: 2TB
Price: $135
With battery which can offer 10 hours of life on a charge
With another micro USB port for connecting other devices like video cameras

Seagate Backup Plus Hub

Connect to computer with USB 3.0(two USB can work at the same time)
Capacity: 6TB
Price: $130
Available for both Windows and Mac
powered from a wall outlet with an included cable

About The Author

Sherry

Position: Columnist

Sherry has been a staff editor of MiniTool for a year. She has received rigorous training about computer and digital data in company. Her articles focus on solutions to various problems that many Windows users might encounter and she is excellent at disk partitioning. She has a wide range of hobbies, including listening to music, playing video games, roller skating, reading, and so on. By the way, she is patient and serious.