Rating of TOP 8 hard drives (HDD) for laptops in 2021. What to look for when choosing a model?

The advent of SSDs has shaken the monopoly of hard drives. Most laptops today come with solid-state drives.

At the same time, it is still too early to write off classic hard drives; in some cases, installing an HDD is preferable and more profitable.

If you are in a hurry and want to immediately find out the best offers in each rating category from different online stores , you can familiarize yourself with the table and see the current prices on the Yandex.Market service by clicking on the “find out price” button in the table opposite the model.

Rating of the TOP 8 best hard drives (HDD) for a laptop

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The best hard drives over 2 TB

For an avid movie buff or gamer, 1000 GB of free space may not seem enough. Modern games can weigh up to 100 GB, and on the hard drive, in addition to games, you want to store other data. In such cases, it is important to choose drives with a capacity of more than 2 TB.

Toshiba HDWD130UZSVA

Toshiba P300 is one of the best hard drives for a computer. Its volume is 3 TB, which is quite a lot even now, when HDDs already seem to hold a lot of information. This drive is installed in desktop computers, since the spindle speed is 7200 rpm, which causes vibration. But it is precisely this speed that allows the device to process data faster compared to laptops.

The data processing speed is 6 Gbps, as it is connected via a SATA III connector. The hard drive weighs only 680 g and its dimensions are 2.61 x 14.7 x 10.16 cm.

Advantages:

• good speed for copying large files;
• the speed does not slow down even when connected via SATA II;
• relatively quiet;
• price.

Flaws:

• low speed when working with “light” files;
• starts 6 – 7 seconds.

The average price is 5050 rubles.

Toshiba HDWD130UZSVA

Western Digital Blue Desktop 4 Tb (WD40EZRZ)

The capacity of this disk, designed for all-in-one computers and desktop computers, is 4 TB. Volume is not the only advantage of the WD40EZRZ. The spindle rotates at a speed of 5400 rpm, while the power consumption of the device is 5.3 W, which indicates efficiency.

Bandwidth is 6 Gbps, which is provided by the SATA III interface. The speed of reading and writing information is 150 MB/s. You won't have to wait for a long time if you need to transfer a file. At the same time, the model is quite productive, since the cache memory is 64 MB. When working with data, the average latency is 5.5 ms.

Advantages:

• reasonable price for a drive with such a capacity;
• does not heat up;
• quiet.

Flaws:

• sensitive to shaking;
• actual volume – 3.6 TB.

The average price is 7265 rubles.

WD40EZRZ

Western Digital WD6003FZBX

6 TB drive used for storing documents, multimedia, programs, games. Spindle rotation speed – 7200 rpm. Cache memory capacity is 256 MB, data transfer speed is up to 227 MB/s. The form factor of the model is SATA III, providing a throughput of 6 Gbit/s.

The drive with a silver metal casing has dimensions of 101.6 x 147 x 26.1 mm, and its weight is 720 g. Long-term memory is powered via a SATA 15 pin connector. Noise during idle – 29 dB, in working condition – 36 dB. One of the advantages is low power consumption of 9.1 W.

Advantages:

• capacious;
• large cache memory;
• does not heat up;
• warranty – 5 years.

Flaws:

• price.

The average price tag for this model is 18,120 rubles.

WD6003FZBX

Recommendations for choosing a laptop hard drive

Important! Laptops support 2.5 inch internal HDDs. In addition, when choosing, you should pay attention to the following points:

• Connection interface. The ancient IDE remains only in very old devices. Modern laptops are equipped with a SATA connector, most often the third version. A hard drive with SATA 3 will also work in a laptop with SATA 2 support, but at a reduced speed.
• Rotational speed. The most common discs are with 5400 and 7200 rpm (revolutions per minute). The higher the spindle spin, the faster the disk works. But high-speed HDDs make a lot of noise, heat up and are expensive.
• Disk space volume. HDD capacity for laptops can vary widely, starting from 256 GB. The minimum option is suitable for installing an operating system, installing programs and storing a relatively small amount of user data. The best option for a laptop would be to purchase a HDD from 500 GB to 2 TB for all needs.
• Read/write speed. The higher this parameter, the faster the OS will load, launch programs, copy and move files. Manufacturers do not always indicate such data, but the results of independent tests for a specific model are available on the Internet.
• Cache memory size. The larger the cache buffer, the better. This parameter has a positive effect on overall performance.

Regular hard drive

If you need a simple and inexpensive hard drive, any popular 2.5″ HDD model of the size you need will be sufficient. Typically these are drives with a spindle speed of 5400 rpm - they do not make much noise or heat up, which is important for laptops.

We recommend paying attention to Western Digital (WD) drives from the Blue series - they have proven themselves well and are the most popular today.

As for the volume, the minimum option for today is 500 GB, this will be enough for many undemanding users, especially if the laptop is not your only PC.

If a laptop is your main computer, then it is better to give preference to a 1 TB model; this volume is optimal for today and such a drive does not cost much more. But a volume of 2 TB will cost almost twice as much and not everyone needs it.

The best hard drives for a 500 GB laptop

Models with a small capacity of 500 GB by modern standards are suitable for installing an operating system, programs, games, and storing user data.

TOP 3 rating of the best HDDs for a laptop in terms of price and quality ratio.

Western Digital WD5000LPLX

A hard drive is an excellent choice when upgrading a laptop to improve system speed and responsiveness, or simply to increase the overall memory capacity of the device.

This model supports the SATA 3 interface, which has a throughput capacity of 6 Gbit/s.

Increased spindle speed has a positive effect on disk writing and reading.

The built-in cache optimally distributes information between sectors of the Western Digital WD5000LPLX disk, keeping the highest priority data in memory.

This helps to increase the service life of the device and prevents errors associated with the mechanical part of the HDD.

Key parameters:

• Buffer capacity - 32 MB;
• rotation speed - 7200 rpm;
• impact resistance (operation/storage) - 400/1000 G;
• noise level (idle/operation) - 23/25 dB;
• power consumption - 2 W;
• overall dimensions (WxHxD) - 69.85x7x100.2 mm;
• weight - 92 g.

Advantages

• no vibration;
• no heating;
• compactness;
• long service life.

Flaws

• long startup after “falling asleep”;
• clicks when parking heads;
• high price.

Seagate 500 GB ST500LM021

The model, specially created for installation in laptops and ultrabooks, stands out not only for its ultra-compact dimensions, but also for its excellent speed, capacity and energy consumption.

The Seagate 500 GB ST500LM021 device has a standard 2.5-inch form factor.

Low power consumption saves battery power, allowing the user to focus on priority tasks.

The model is distinguished by high impact resistance.

When the device is turned off, the reading head instantly moves to a safe position, preventing various types of mechanical damage.

The declared service life of the hard drive is 2 years.

Key parameters:

• Buffer capacity - 32 MB;
• rotation speed - 7200 rpm;
• impact resistance (operation/storage) - 400/1000 G;
• noise level (idle/operation) - 23/24 dB;
• power consumption - 2 W;
• overall dimensions (WxHxD) - 70.1x7x100.5 mm;
• weight - 95 g.

Advantages

• low power consumption;
• high data transfer speed;
• 7200 rpm in a compact 2.5-inch design;
• affordable price tag.

Flaws

• small amount of buffer memory;
• heating during operation;
• Quite a noisy model.

Toshiba 500 GB HDWK105UZSVA

The hard drive, being a model for installation in laptops, is one of the ultra-light and thin 2.5-inch HDD drives.

The Toshiba 500 GB HDWK105UZSVA model interacts with the motherboard via a high-speed SATA 3 interface.

This hard drive is distinguished by its increased energy efficiency, sufficient disk space capacity to accommodate large amounts of data, and reduced spindle speed, eliminating strong noise and vibration during operation.

The service life of the model declared by the manufacturer is 2 years.

Key parameters:

• Buffer capacity - 8 MB;
• rotation speed - 5400 rpm;
• impact resistance (operation/storage) - 400/1000 G;
• noise level (idle/operation) - 19/21 dB;
• power consumption - 1.5 W;
• overall dimensions (WxHxD) - 69.85x7x100 mm;
• weight - 92 g.

Advantages

• very quiet operation;
• economical in terms of energy consumption;
• thin body;
• high write/read speed according to tests.

Flaws

• heating during operation;
• short service life;
• scanty buffer memory.

Which hard drive is best for a laptop?

In my personal opinion, it is better to choose an SSD hard drive for a laptop.

But to complete the picture, I’ll tell you about all the parameters that are worth paying attention to.

There are two main requirements for a hard drive. It must be reliable in operation and work at high speed.

Reliability

A laptop is a non-stationary device. During handling and vibration, the read head may catch the surface of the disc, damaging it. The latest generation HDD models provide that the head can touch the drive after finishing work.

Speed

This setting affects recording, booting and shutdown times. It is especially important for a laptop, because it determines how long you can work autonomously. Typically, the indicators range from 5200–7200 rpm.

But it should be borne in mind that the higher the rotation speed, the higher the noise level. At the highest RPM, the recording speed will increase by 20–30%, but such a laptop will also consume much more energy.

The faster the spindle rotates, the hotter the laptop will heat up. So at 7200 rpm the device needs a cooler.

The best 1000 GB models

Due to the best price-to-capacity ratio, 1 TB hard drives are the most popular HDD category in laptops for office and home use .

Review of the best non-1000 GB models based on customer reviews and ratings.

Western Digital WD10SPZX

The model has an impressive amount of long-term memory and a 128 MB buffer device, which guarantees reliable storage of digital data arrays and minimal response time.

The device is connected to the motherboard via a high-bandwidth SATA 3 interface.

Most laptops are equipped with this technology.

Made in a 2.5-inch format, the device allows you to store up to 1 TB of information on it.

The Western Digital WD10SPZX device is very economical; at maximum load it consumes only 1.5 W of electricity.

Key parameters:

• Buffer capacity - 128 MB;
• rotation speed - 5400 rpm;
• impact resistance (operation/storage) - 400/1000 G;
• noise level (idle/operation) - 19/21 dB;
• power consumption - 1.5 W;
• overall dimensions (WxHxD) - 69.97x7x100.2 mm;
• weight - 90 g.

Advantages

• large amount of disk space;
• compact dimensions;
• low power consumption;
• excellent volume/price ratio.

Flaws

• noise and vibration during operation;
• not the most outstanding write and read speeds;
• short warranty period.

Toshiba 1TB HDWL110UZSVA

The terabyte hard drive, made in a compact 2.5-inch format, is a high-quality data storage device that can be installed in any laptop.

The model is distinguished by its reduced spindle speed, which guarantees the absence of noise during operation, and a substantial amount of cache memory.

The speed characteristics allow you to use the device as a system drive.

The Toshiba 1 TB HDWL110UZSVA hard drive has a standard case thickness and low weight. The declared service life of the model is 4 years, the warranty is 2 years.

Key parameters:

• Buffer capacity - 128 MB;
• rotation speed - 5400 rpm;
• impact resistance (operation/storage) - 400/1000 G;
• noise level (idle/operation) - 19/24 dB;
• power consumption - 1.5 W;
• overall dimensions (WxHxD) - 69.85x7x100 mm;
• weight - 92 g.

Advantages

• quiet operation;
• absence of critical temperatures;
• large buffer memory capacity;
• affordable price.

Flaws

• 2 year warranty;
• unpresentable packaging;
• low operating speed.

Western Digital WD10SPCX

Possessing an impressive amount of internal memory of one terabyte, the model allows you to install several operating systems, place their backup copies and install countless programs.

The reduced spindle speed has a positive effect on the quiet operation of this disk.

At the same time, parking the reading head and accessing information are much faster here compared to analogues.

A smart bad sector search system bypasses and blocks damaged clusters, ensuring that there is no risk of losing information on the disk.

The Western Digital WD10SPCX model interacts with the motherboard via the SATA 3 interface.

Key parameters:

• Buffer capacity - 16 MB;
• rotation speed - 5400 rpm;
• impact resistance (operation/storage) - 350/1000 G;
• noise level (idle/operation) - 20/21 dB;
• power consumption - 1.7 W;
• overall dimensions (WxHxD) - 69.85x7x100.2 mm;
• weight - 90 g.

Advantages

• relative noiselessness;
• thin slim body;
• an impressive amount of disk space;
• low power consumption.

Flaws

• frequent head parking;
• Quite slow HDD in tests;
• decent price tag.

The best HDDs for a 2000 GB laptop

An impressive 2 TB capacity in this category of HDD for laptops allows you to store a large amount of data, including capacious high-definition video files.

Western Digital WD20SPZX

The super-capacious drive, designed for use as part of a laptop, has not only a significant amount of memory, but also excellent speed in read and write modes.

The drive is connected to the motherboard via SATA 3 with a bandwidth of 6 Gbit/s.

This hard drive, with 2 TB of disk space, boasts a fast and capacious buffer memory of 128 MB.

All elements of the device are mounted in a 2.5-inch metal case. The Western Digital WD20SPZX device has a standard service life of 2 years.

Key parameters:

• Buffer capacity - 128 MB;
• rotation speed - 5400 rpm;
• impact resistance (operation/storage) - 400/1000 G;
• noise level (idle/operation) - 23/24 dB;
• power consumption - 1.7 W;
• overall dimensions (WxHxD) - 69.85x7x100 mm;
• weight - 90 g.

Advantages

• volume - two terabytes;
• good sequential read/write speed;
• compact dimensions;
• low energy consumption;
• excellent cost/volume ratio.

Flaws

• speed drop when recording random blocks;
• not suitable for torrents;
• Quite a noisy model.

Toshiba 2 TB HDWL120UZSVA

The 2.5-inch drive, thanks to its significant amount of disk space, allows you to store a large amount of data, including photos, videos and large file archives.

The model with a case thickness of 9.5 mm is compatible with laptops designed to mount disks with the appropriate overall dimensions.

With a spindle speed of 5400 rpm, a huge capacity of disk space, a buffer capacity of 128 MB, a SATA 3 connection, low power consumption and high shock resistance, the device can be considered one of the best in its class on the market.

The MTBF of the Toshiba 2 TB HDWL120UZSVA device is 600 thousand hours.

Key parameters:

• Buffer capacity - 128 MB;
• rotation speed - 5400 rpm;
• impact resistance (operation/storage) - 400/1000 G;
• noise level (idle/operation) - 23/24 dB;
• power consumption - 1.65 W;
• overall dimensions (WxHxD) - 69.85x9.5x100 mm;
• weight - 117 g.

Advantages

• affordable price;
• large capacity of disk space;
• compact dimensions;
• high quality workmanship.

Flaws

• vibrations and noise during operation;
• slow block writing;
• Quite heavy for a laptop.

The best hard drives for 1 – 2 TB

Many models can be included in the rating of hard drives with this amount of memory. Even 1 TB of storage is enough to create a multimedia library on your computer.

WD 3.5 SATA 3.0 1 TB 7200RPM 64 Mb Cache Caviar Blue (WD10EZEX)

This is an internal hard drive model, productive and durable, which is why computer owners love it. Form factor – 3.5 inches, capacity – 1000 GB. Suitable for both office PC and gaming build. Connects via SATA III connector.

Advantages:

• performance. Spindle rotation speed – 7200 rpm. The cache size is 64 MB, which in total gives the hard drive the ability to quickly read and write data;
• reliability. Working all day long, this hard drive will easily last at least 7.5 years;
• quiet work. The noise level of the hard drive when reading data is 30 dB.

Flaws:

• "flimsy" packaging.

The average price is 2790 rubles.

WD10EZEX

Seagate SATA 1 Tb 7200RPM 6GB/S 64Mb (310506)

This is a drive from the popular “Barracuda” series. The memory capacity is used to the maximum, so this hard drive can be called universal: it is suitable for office tasks, multimedia and computer games.

This is one of the best hard drives for desktop computers, having a 3.5-inch form factor. You won’t have to wait for a long time to download or read files, which ensures the speed of the model. Manufacturer's warranty – 2 years.

Volume – 1 TB. Spindle speed – 7200 rpm, cache volume – 64 MB. These characteristics provide it with fast writing and reading of files. To increase performance, manufacturers used technology that optimizes data flows. In short, this is multi-level caching using two types of memory (DRAM and NAND).

Advantages:

• nimble;
• quiet;
• doesn't heat up.

Flaws:

• supplied "in a bag".

The average price is 2747 rubles.

Seagate Barracuda

Seagate ST2000DM008

Fast, voluminous, affordable in terms of price and quality. This is a drive with one platter and two heads, almost silent, supported by NSQ (command queuing) technology. The volume parameter is 2 TB, cache memory is 256 MB, which is decent for its price.

The read and write speed, as stated by the manufacturer, is 220 MB/s. If serial mode is enabled, then in practice the speed is even higher. Manufacturer's warranty – 2 years.

Advantages:

• write and read speeds;
• cache size;
• quiet;
• easy.

Flaws:

• speed drops when filling.

The average price is 4024 rubles.

ST2000DM008 2 TB

Toshiba 3.5" SATA III 2 Tb HDWD120UZSVA

Drive with a 3.5-inch connector and one platter design. Spindle rotation speed – 7200 rpm. Suitable for games, office programs and multimedia viewing. Despite the speed, it is quite quiet in operation: in idle mode it produces no more than 27 dB. In operating condition, when reading or writing data, the noise level rises by only 1 unit, to 28 dB. Data processing speed is 6 Gbit/s, since the media interface is SATA III. Cache volume – 64 MB.

The hard drive has special protection that ensures the safety of the screw and stored data during transportation.

Advantages:

• quiet;
• fast;
• volume.

Flaws:

• warming up.

The average price is 4057 rubles.

Toshiba HDWD120UZSVA