I'm looking for suggestions on a reliable external drive with at least 5 TB of storage for daily travel and use. I'm currently using a 2018 Dell laptop running Windows 10, which I plan to keep for a while. I'm no tech expert but I have some experience with drives, though the options out there are overwhelming.
As an autistic music collector, I have a massive collection of carefully curated live music, currently stored on two WD 8TB drives. My daily drives are two WD MyPassport Ultras, one 2TB and one 5TB, both of which are nearing their capacity and age. I've had issues with one previous drive failing, so I want to upgrade before I lose anything.
I've heard about using an SSD without an enclosure or buying an already enclosed drive. My budget is limited to roughly $150-175. Any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
4 Answers
Consider getting a 4TB or 8TB 2.5-inch SATA SSD like the Samsung 860 EVO or 870 EVO, along with a rugged waterproof SATA HDD case. It might be a bit above your budget, though!
You might want to check out the Toshiba X300; it should fit your budget well. Just keep in mind that prices can fluctuate from when it was first released five years ago.
Thanks for the suggestion! I’m curious though, would you recommend an SSD or HDD for my use? And is it better to get a non-enclosed drive and put it in an enclosure, or just buy one that's already enclosed?
Have you thought about getting a NAS? That way, you wouldn't have to worry about carrying around large drives every day. It’ll give you peace of mind with built-in redundancy.
Going all SSD is definitely pricier, but it’s a solid option. For instance, there's an enclosure you might like, paired with a decent M.2 SSD that can give you 8 TB. I also recommend the Samsung T7 Shield for a portable SSD, although it maxes out at 4 TB, so running two of those could work.
I’m okay with running two drives since I like to separate live audio from studio recordings. Do you prefer SSD over HDD? I hear SSDs are safer, but HDDs last longer. I plan to use these drives daily and transport them frequently.
Sounds interesting! What’s the difference between 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch drives? Also, that option is a bit steep for me, haha.