Differences Between Hard Drives

Hard drives provide much-needed computer storage, and, according to Microsoft.com, new hard drive installation "is one of the most common upgrade tasks." However, there are some crucial differences between hard drives to consider before making any upgrade decisions.

Internal Hard Drives

Built into virtually all computers, internal hard drives offer cheap onboard storage. Unfortunately, they are not easily removed or re-installed for use with other computers.

External Hard Drives

Portability is a major selling point when it comes to external hard drives. They are typically connected to PCs using a USB cord for easy removal; however, they are usually more expensive than internal drives.

Storage Capacity

In addition to internal and external considerations, storage differences between drives are very important. Typically measured in gigabytes, a higher storage rating means more files will fit on the drive.

Data Transfer

Hard drives have different transfer speeds. Generally speaking, internal hard drives are faster because they are not limited by USB serial-bus transfer rates.

Size Differences

Relevant for both fitting internal specifications, as well as ensuring the best external portability, hard drive size differences are important. Hard drives vary in length from only 3 to 4 inches up to nearly 1 foot.

References

• Microsoft: Windows Help and How-To, "Install or Remove a Hard Disk Drive."