@regis_lesnums) Updated 22/10/21 at 11:00 a.m. Share:
Whether you are running out of space for storing data in your machine or looking for a data backup solution, adding an external hard drive or SSD is the ideal solution. Nothing to dismantle, nothing to install: everything is automatic!
Until now, the external hard drive market has been split in two, with one 3,5 "and another 2,5" offer. Under these inches hides in fact the size (format) of the device, the 3,5 "is bulky, requires an external power supply but offers higher capacities at a cheaper price. Those in 2,5" are powered by their USB port and fit in one hand.
Recently, a third thief was invited to the program, it is the external SSD. Often much smaller than the 2,5 "external HDD, it is much faster - the data is transferred at a higher speed -, offers an incomparable response time and, without any mechanical part (flash memory), it is more resistant to transport and drops The other side of the coin is the pricing, which is higher than that of external hard drives which, on the other hand, offer much higher storage capacities.
As for the choice of model, once the capacity is defined, it will depend on performance (reading and writing speed to copy files), format, build quality and design. These are all points that we review during our rigorous laboratory tests.
Whether you are running out of space for storing data in your machine or looking for a data backup solution, adding an external hard drive or SSD is the ideal solution. Nothing to dismantle, nothing to install: everything is automatic!
Until now, the external hard drive market has been split in two, with one 3,5 "and another 2,5" offer. Under these inches hides in fact the size (format) of the device, the 3,5 "is bulky, requires an external power supply but offers higher capacities at a cheaper price. Those in 2,5" are powered by their USB port and fit in one hand.
Recently, a third thief was invited to the program, it is the external SSD. Often much smaller than the 2,5 "external HDD, it is much faster - the data is transferred at a higher speed -, offers an incomparable response time and, without any mechanical part (flash memory), it is more resistant to transport and drops The other side of the coin is the pricing, which is higher than that of external hard drives which, on the other hand, offer much higher storage capacities.
As for the choice of model, once the capacity is defined, it will depend on performance (reading and writing speed to copy files), format, build quality and design. These are all points that we review during our rigorous laboratory tests.
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Editorial buying guide
What are the best external hard drives?
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What are the best external SSD hard drives?
Let yourself be guided by our experts
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? Which interface for an SSD or external hard drive?
External hard drives and SSDs run on a USB interface. If the bulk of the market offers a classic USB-A connection, most models are now moving towards a USB-C connection. Most laptops, whether PCs or Macs, now offer this type of USB port which is tending to become the standard.
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? External hard drive or SSD, what to choose?
The choice between an SSD and an external hard drive will be based on several criteria. Those for whom the transfer of data must be done quickly will be well advised to turn to an external SSD whose speed is significantly higher than that of external hard drives. Those who need a large storage space will rather opt for external hard drives, capable of offering several terabytes of space for data.
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? Synchronization, backup and encryption, what free utilities are provided?
Some brands ship a backup utility with their device. This allows files on a computer to be synchronized with those on the external hard drive, a way of automating backups. Still others offer something to encrypt data.
