Running out of storage on your desktop PC or laptop? Want to add a backup of all your photos and videos? The easiest way is by adding an external desktop drive. Whether it’s for one computer or all the devices in your house, an external drive is a great way to help make sure you don’t lose all your data as a result of a crash or other mishap.
What’s an external desktop drive?
External desktop drives are just like the hard drives inside your computer except they have their own enclosures. Usually they connect via USB to just about any device, Windows or Mac. Some models can also connect to your home network, though drives specifically for this use are called Network Attached Storage (NAS).
External desktop vs portable drives
External desktop drives are technically portable. They range in size, but most can fit into a backpack without issue. If you’re looking for something that fits easily in a computer bag, purse, or pocket, they’re too big for that. Instead, check out our External Portable Drives.
What storage capacities are available?
It’s easy to get a huge amount of hard drive space with an external desktop drive. Smaller models are in the 1-4TB range. Many models are available up to 16TB. If you’re backing up multiple computers or want to archive lots of video files, get the biggest drive you can afford.
A larger drive will also allow you to set up what’s called a RAID 1 array, which essentially saves your data twice on your single hard drive. While this decreases the total amount of storage space by half, you’ll have a better chance of recovering your data if there’s any issue with the drive in the future.
What interfaces are available?
Most external desktop drives connect with USB. Ideally, your computer will have USB 3.0 for fast transfer speeds. Some models have USB-C connections, but if your PC doesn’t have this, you can get a cable with USB-C on one end and the rectangular USB-A on the other.
Some models have Thunderbolt, which is common on Apple computers. A few have the eSATA interface, though these are more often saved for professional use.
What companies make external desktop drives?
You’ll find external desktop drives by Seagate, Western Digital, and more at Adorama.
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