The 10 Best Budget Hdd Of 2024, Tested By Our Experts

Harlan Ellison By, Harlan Ellison
Updated
Best Budget Hdd
Best Budget Hdd

The Rundown

1. Best Overall: Seagate BarraCuda 2TB Internal Hard Drive HDD

The Seagate 2TB Internal HDD is a compact and powerful hard drive that offers the speed and capacity you need to hold all of your important data. With its 3.5-inch SATA 6Gb/s 7200 RPM 256MB Cache, this internal hard drive offers an industry standard for data storage. Read Review

2. Best For The Price: Western Digital 4TB WD Blue Internal Hard Drive HDD

Western Digital is your go-to provider for quality and reliability with the 4TB PC Internal Hard Drive HDD. It features a 5400 RPM speed and SATA 6 Gb/s interface for up to 256 MB of cache for improved performance. This hard drive is built to last with a 3.5" size. Read Review

3. Best Capacity: SP Silicon Power 2TB External Hard Drive

The SP 2TB Portable External Hard Drive is a shockproof, waterproof and dust-proof HDD that lets you store a lifetime of memories. It features sturdy aluminum alloy material for extra protection with an anti-scratch coating to prevent scratches on your beautiful photos. Read Review

4. Best Speed: Western Digital 2TB WD Blue Internal Hard Drive

Western Digital’s 2TB 3.5-Inch SATA 6 Gb/s Hard Drive is a durable, high-capacity storage device for your computer. This 2TB hard drive is the perfect solution for users who need an extra large storage space and has the speed to keep up with demanding applications. Read Review

5. Best Technology: Toshiba Canvio Flex 2TB External Hard Drive

Toshiba 2TB Portable External Hard is a sleek and stylish device that is compatible with PC, Mac, and your tablet. The included USB-C and USB 3.0 cables provide easy connectivity to your computer (or tablet), while the compact design allows for portability. Read Review

Today’s computers come with a huge storage capacity. In order to handle all of the information in your computer and other digital devices, you need a spacious hard drive. Hard drive is the most important component of your computer as it stores all of your programs, videos, pictures and everything else. It holds everything from your operating system, applications, photos, videos and other files. The speed of the hard drive directly influences the performance of your computer.

An external hard drive is the perfect solution to add space without taking up much room. Hence, choosing a good hard drive that suits your needs is very important. An affordable storage will do the trick but not a one as well. That is where the best budget hdd comes in. Today we will be discussing some of the best budget hard disk drives under $100 available in the market. These drives have been selected based on their price range, features they offer, user reviews and more.

After lots of research based on customer feedback, We think the best budget hdd is Seagate BarraCuda 2TB Internal Hard Drive HDD. This powerful and reliable hard drive has a capacity of 2 TB, is 7200 RPM and has 256 MB of cache memory to help your system run smoothly. The Seagate BarraCuda hard drive also features SATA III 6GB/s interface that provides faster data transfer speeds, up to 6 Gbps. We have provided you with a detailed buyer's guide and many other good choices so that you can decide which one is the best for your requirements.

Our Top Picks

TOP Choice #1 Seagate BarraCuda 2TB Internal Hard Drive HDD
Our Score:
9.7
Seagate

Build a powerhouse gaming computer or desktop setup with a variety of capacities and form factors

Confidently rely on internal hard drive technology backed by 20 years of innovation

Note: Graphics May Vary and Size (3.5") refer to the size of the data platters not the size of the hard drive mechanism

TOP Choice #2 Western Digital 4TB WD Blue Internal Hard Drive HDD
Our Score:
9.6
Western Digital

Free Acronis True Image WD Edition cloning software

Reliable everyday computing

Western Digital quality and reliability

TOP Choice #3 SP Silicon Power 2TB External Hard Drive
Our Score:
9.5
SP Silicon Power

ALL-ROUND DATA PROTECTION: Military-grade shockproof and IPX4 water-resistant protection,

PS4 / XBOX COMPATIBLE: Ideal for gaming enthusiasts Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS4, PS4 Pro and PS4 Slim (PS4 System Software version 4.50 or higher)

[For Mac Users] Reformatting will be required for Mac operating systems]

Massive capacity up to 8TB

Reliable everyday computing

Western Digital quality and reliability

USB-C ready, USB 3.0 compatible.

Designed for PC, Mac, and Tablet (check compatibility at Toshiba's Consumer HDD website).

Versatile design. Includes USB-C and USB-A cables.

3-year limited warranty

Available in capacities ranging from 2-6TB with support for up to 8 bays

5400RPM performance class

7 Western Digital 1TB WD Black Hard Drive
Our Score:
8.9
WD_BLACK

Performance 2 5-inch hard drives available in up to 1TB capacities

Enhanced-availability (EA) models for applications needing around-the-clock access to lower-transaction environments

Specifically designed for small form factor desktops laptops and Mac computers

8 Toshiba 1TB 5400RPM Hard Drive
Our Score:
8.8
Toshiba

9.5mm High, Rotation Speed of 5400RPM

8MB Buffer, SATA 3.0Gb/s Interface, 2.5inch Laptop Hard Drive

1TB Capacity

Works for any brand SATA Interface Laptop, Macbook, Notebook, USB Enclosure and etc

1 Year Warranty from Reseller

3 Terabyte Capacity, SATA III 6.0Gbps Interface, 64MB Buffer Size, 7200RPM Rotation Speed

Perfect for Datacenter Hard Drive, RAID System, NAS Network Storage, CCTV DVR and Desktop PC/Mac!

Maximum capacity, Heavy application workloads, 24x7x365 reliability

10 WL 3TB 7200RPM Hard Drive
Our Score:
8.1
White Label

Rotation Speed: 7200RPM

Interface: 3.5" SATA 6.0Gb/s

Capacity: 3TB

Product Images, Product Titles, Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API

What to Look For in the best budget hdd

Perhaps as a customer, you may be looking for a best budget hdd that may provide you with just what you want, such as being environmentally friendly, freely selected, and so on.

In this section, we will discuss with you the buying guides and main factors to consider when planning to buy the product from e-commerce websites, so that when the time comes to make your final selection, everything would be laid out in front of you.

Rotation Speed

Did you know that hard drives store information on spinning magnetic plates? The faster these plates spin, the faster the load and access time. The rotation is measured in RPM (Rotations per Minute), and although we recommend hard disks with 7200RPM, 5400RPM is still a good option.

Speed

HDDs, or hard drives, contain spinning disks that read and write your data. The faster these disks spin—rated in rotations per minute (RPM)—the faster the drive can access data and transfer it to your computer.

External Vs. Internal HDD

The main advantage of external hard disks is their portability. Which also makes them perfect backups in case your PC is compromised. Desktop PCs allow you room to add extra hard disks, but if you are using a laptop or other gaming device, you will have to replace your existing hard drive.

Cache Memory

This is a cache that functions much like Computer RAM Memory. It stores important files temporarily so that it takes less time to access them on the disk. The larger the cache size, the faster the hard disk will be. However, the difference is not major, and as such, this should not be the biggest determiner.

Size Of The Disk

I understand that you are buying the hard disk in order to eliminate the need to delete some files when you install a new game or add modifications. Also, at a time when a single game can take up to 100GB, Call of Duty WWII is 90GB; it only makes sense that you select the hard disk that will allow you sufficient storage space.

Reliability

All hard drives eventually die, and there’s no definitive answer on when that day will come. We recommend replacing your backup drives between the third and sixth years of use, if possible. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to get metrics on which hard drive models are more reliable over the long run, and even so, there will always be outliers and failures that occur sooner than expected.

Performance

Transfer speed is the feature that most people notice on a daily basis. We evaluated each drive with tests that replicated different real-world uses, and we focused on the drives that consistently outperformed the other contenders. Drives that did well on some tests but failed others were unreliable and not worth purchasing.

FAQs

What is a budget hard drive?

A budget hard drive is an affordable hard disk drive that offers basic storage capabilities at a lower cost than more expensive hard drives. Budget hard drives are often used for basic computing needs, such as storing music, photos, and documents.

What are the advantages of using a budget hard drive?

The main advantage of using a budget hard drive is the cost savings. They are generally much cheaper than other types of hard drives, allowing you to save money while still getting a reliable storage solution. Additionally, budget hard drives can be used to store a large amount of data, making them ideal for those who need to store a large library of music, movies, or other large files.

How long do budget hard drives last?

The lifespan of a budget hard drive depends on the quality of the drive and how it is used. Generally, budget hard drives can last anywhere from 5 to 10 years, though some may last longer depending on usage. It’s important to regularly back up important data to help extend the life of your hard drive.

Are budget hard drives reliable?

Generally, budget hard drives are reliable, though it’s important to do research and read reviews before buying one. Budget hard drives are typically more reliable than external hard drives, but may not be as reliable as more expensive hard drives.

Conclusion

In summary, the best budget hdd is the one that will provide you with exactly what you want. Provided that you are not satisfied with the models listed above, we propose Seagate Barracuda ST500DM002 Internal Hard Drive for you. 

If you are unclear about how to select an item for yourself or someone else at any time in this post, please let us know! Our team of professionals is always pleased to help you find the best match.


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About Harlan Ellison

Harlan Ellison

Harlan Ellison is a writer and audio equipment enthusiast. He's particularly interested in home theater HiFi audio, and he has been the editor of The Audio Insights since its inception. Harlan is known for his sharp wit and scathing critiques, but he also has a great love of music and audio gear. When he's not writing or editing, Harlan can be found listening to music or watching movies with his wife.