The Best Large Hard Drive For 2024

Dan Simmons By, Dan Simmons
Updated
Best Large Hard Drive
Best Large Hard Drive

The Rundown

1. Best Overall: WD 22TB Hard Drive

This sleek powerhouse offers a massive 22TB capacity, ensuring you never run out of space for your photos, music, videos, and files. Its easy plug-and-play design makes expanding your storage a breeze, giving your computer the performance boost it deserves. Read Review

2. Best For The Price: Seagate Exos 18TB Drive

This enterprise-grade storage solution epitomizes efficiency, reliability, and scalability. Immerse yourself in a world of low latency, high data transfer rates, and robust security features with the Exos X18. Read Review

3. Best Technology: Western Digital 10TB Hard Drive

This product is a storage solution designed to streamline your NAS experience. With features tailored for small to medium-sized businesses and home users, this drive combines power, reliability, and compatibility to elevate digital content management. Read Review

4. Best Performance: Fantom Drives 22TB Hard Drive

The Fantom Drives 22TB Hard Drive is a powerhouse of capacity and performance. Designed for both Windows and Mac users, this external drive boasts impressive transfer rates and a durable aluminum body, making it a versatile solution for backups, gaming, and more. Read Review

5. Best Speed: LaCie d2 Hard Drive

The LaCie d2 Professional Hard Drive is the perfect storage solution for creative professionals. With USB-C compatibility, this drive lets you quickly and easily connect to any laptop or all-in-one computer with limited storage capacity. Read Review

Are you looking for a reliable and powerful large hard drive to store and back up your important files and data? If so, then you’ve come to the right place. With the ever-growing demand for more storage capacity, manufacturers are offering a wide variety of hard drives that offer huge storage capacity at affordable prices. In this article, we’ll be looking at the best large hard drives currently available on the market in 2024.

We’ll start by looking at the different types of hard drives available and why they are preferred for large storage needs. We’ll then discuss the features to consider when selecting a hard drive and the best large hard drives available. Finally, we’ll look at the advantages of large hard drives and what makes them so popular. So, if you’re in the market for a large hard drive, this article will help you make the right decision.

After spending 19 hours researching and assessing, We have identified the best large hard drive is WD 22TB Hard Drive. Its plug-and-play functionality simplifies storage expansion on Windows PCs, ensuring a seamless user experience. We've put up a buying guide and additional good alternatives to help you find the perfect one.

Our Top Picks

TOP Choice #1 WD 22TB Hard Drive
Our Score:
9.7
Western Digital

The WD 22TB Hard Drive is a testament to innovation, presenting an impressive 22TB storage capacity within an aesthetically pleasing design. Its plug-and-play functionality simplifies storage expansion on Windows PCs, ensuring a seamless user experience. When connected to a USB 3.0 port, this drive exhibits exceptional data transfer rates, preventing your computer from succumbing to the slowdowns associated with a full internal drive.

Versatility is a good feature, with compatibility extending to both USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 devices, making it a versatile choice for various setups. Initially formatted NTFS and compatible with Windows 10+, it can be easily reformatted for Mac users. The only downside is that the drive may emit a slight noise during read/write operations. This, however, is a small trade-off for the immense storage capacity and efficiency offered by the WD 22TB Hard Drive.

TOP Choice #2 Seagate Exos 18TB Drive
Our Score:
9.6
Seagate

This drive is engineered to run big data applications for hyperscale demands and delivers unparalleled efficiency. The enhanced caching ensures consistent performance with low latency, providing a responsive and reliable experience. The FastFormat support also allows for seamless integration with multiple interfaces.

Furthermore, it boasts a staggering 18TB. This makes it a powerhouse for organizations and individuals dealing with massive datasets, ensuring they can easily store and access their information. The helium-filled X class drives not only contribute to lower power consumption but also increase handling robustness, emphasizing Seagate's commitment to both performance and durability. With up to 270 MB/s data transfer rates, the Exos X18 ensures swift and reliable transfers of colossal data sets. Unfortunately, it may be a bit slow sometimes, but it doesn't affect the overall performance much, so you don't need to worry about that.

TOP Choice #3 Western Digital 10TB Hard Drive
Our Score:
9.5
Western Digital

The Western Digital 10TB Hard Drive is a comprehensive solution for NAS environments, delivering unmatched performance and reliability. Designed to effortlessly handle tasks such as streaming, backup, and content sharing, this drive ensures your digital content is accessible and secure. Besides, the NASware 3.0 technology enhances compatibility with existing networks and devices. This technology is the backbone of the drive's reliability, with an MTBF of up to 1 million hours, making it an ideal choice for the uninterrupted operation required in NAS systems.

Tailored for small to medium-sized business environments, the WD Red Plus drive packs the power to handle increased workloads and RAID array rebuilding. The 10TB capacity ensures ample space for archiving and sharing, while the drive's adaptability extends to systems using ZFS and other file systems. Nonetheless, the drive may generate heat during operations, but it is not a big deal.

4 Fantom Drives 22TB Hard Drive
Our Score:
9.3
Fantom Drives

The Fantom Drives Hard Drive is the perfect storage solution for your digital media needs. With transfer rates reaching up to 250MB/s, it outpaces its 5400RPM counterparts by a staggering 30%. The formatting convenience for both Windows and Mac adds versatility, while compatibility with USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 ensures seamless connectivity.

The fanless, hard-bodied aluminum design serves a dual purpose as a protective shield for your data and a heat sink for temperature control. From Windows to Mac OS X, and even PlayStation and Xbox, the GFORCE 3 Pro caters to a broad audience with capacities of a whopping 22TB. Fantom Drives sweetens the deal with a generous 2-year warranty upon registration. The only downside is that it has a slightly blue LED. While harmless during the day, it can be uncomfortable in a dimly lighted space at night. 

5 LaCie d2 Hard Drive
Our Score:
9.2
LaCie

The LaCie d2 Professional Hard Drive is the ideal storage solution for professionals who require fast performance and reliable data protection. Offering a substantial capacity and impressive speeds of up to 260 MB/s, it is a reliable companion for professionals dealing with data-intensive tasks. Its seamless compatibility with both Mac and PC makes it a versatile choice for users across platforms.

The inclusion of USB-C connectivity and an aluminum form factor not only future-proofs your investment but also minimizes noise and vibration during operation. The incorporation of BarraCuda Pro enterprise-class drives guarantees ultimate reliability and performance, with the added peace of mind from a five-year limited warranty, inclusive of Rescue Data Recovery Services. The minor issue is that the cable is a little short. But it's just a small compromise considering the myriad of features and benefits bundled with the LaCie d2.

6 SanDisk Professional 22TB Hard Drive
Our Score:
9.0
SanDisk Professional

The SanDisk Professional 22TB Hard Drive is designed for reliable, high-capacity storage. It features a USB-C interface with a blazing 280MB/s read and write speed for its colossal 22TB capacity. Crafted from anodized aluminum, the stackable enclosure not only exudes a premium aura but is also durable. Its design incorporates anchor points, facilitating easy attachment to a DIT cart, a cheese plate, or other production gear, catering to the diverse needs of creative professionals.

Plus, the LED light brightness customization allows you to personalize the aesthetics to your liking. Out of the box, the G-DRIVE is Mac-ready, streamlining the setup process for Apple users. In terms of performance, the G-DRIVE delivers on its promise, ensuring swift backup and access to your high-definition videos, photos, music, and other content. Nevertheless, it may occasionally be difficult to turn on/off, but you will get used to it after some use.

7 Toshiba N300 Hard Drive
Our Score:
8.9
Toshiba

The Toshiba N300 Hard Drive is designed to provide reliable storage and performance for all your data needs. Armed with built-in Rotational Vibration (RV) sensors and intelligent heat prevention controls, this drive protects against shock, rotational vibration, and heat-induced hiccups. The error recovery control also minimizes critical downtime and ensures your data is always at your fingertips when needed.

This product can handle high data workloads within a multi-RAID NAS environment. With a swift data transfer speed of up to 281 MB/s, courtesy of its expansive cache size and zippy 7200 RPM speed, it catapults your data management to new heights. Designed for 24/7 operation, the N300 NAS hard drive boasts advanced reliability, supporting up to 180 TB annually. One important thing to note is that the drive life depends on usage and workload and may exhibit variance, so you need to use it carefully.

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Things To Look For When Buying best large hard drive

There are numerous factors to consider when looking for the best large hard drive to purchase. The easiest way to figure out the right one is to read reviews from people who have already purchased it.

Throughout this article, we will go over certain most important factors to consider when purchasing best large hard drive. Please take your time reading and studying the items listed below!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

FAQs

What is a large hard drive?

A large hard drive is a type of computer storage device that is capable of storing large amounts of data. It is usually measured in terms of gigabytes or terabytes, and is typically used for long-term data storage and backup.

What are the benefits of using a large hard drive?

The main advantage of using a large hard drive is its capacity to store large amounts of data, making it ideal for backup and archiving purposes. Additionally, large hard drives are usually more reliable than smaller hard drives and can be used for storing large files such as videos and photos with ease.

How do I transfer data to a large hard drive?

You can transfer data to a large hard drive by connecting it to your computer and copying the files from your existing hard drive to the new one. Alternatively, you can use a USB flash drive, or an external hard drive to transfer the data.

Do I need to back up my large hard drive?

Yes, it is always a good idea to back up your data, regardless of the size of your hard drive. You can back up your data to an external hard drive, a cloud storage service, or an online backup service.

How do I choose the right large hard drive for my needs?

When selecting a large hard drive, it is important to consider the type of data you plan to store, the size of the data, and the speed of the drive. Additionally, you should consider the reliability of the drive and whether or not it is compatible with your computer.

How do I install a large hard drive?

Installing a large hard drive is generally similar to installing any other type of hard drive. The first step is to make sure the drive is compatible with your computer. Then, you need to physically install the drive in your computer case, connect the necessary cables, and format the drive. Finally, you can install any necessary software and begin using the drive.

Conclusion

The best large hard drive would be those who suit your needs and demands at the lowest possible cost. With more and more options available, it could be simple to find a design that satisfies all of these criteria. If you're not sure which one is best for you, take into account the Toshiba N300 Hard Drive for another option.


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About Dan Simmons

Dan Simmons

Dan Simmons is a writer who loves home theater and HiFi audio. As the editor of TheAudioInsights, he has helped countless people enjoy the best possible sound quality in their homes. He is an audiophile who takes great pleasure in helping others find the perfect audio equipment for their needs. When he's not writing or editing, Dan enjoys listening to music and spending time with his family.