Top three recommended HHDs
I want to clarify one thing: a hard drive can be a solid-state drive or an NVMe. Also, a solid-state drive. But the "hard drive" HDD is technically a traditional mechanical hard drive. Unlike the solid-state drive, data is stored on moving disks.
Nowadays, the HDD is rarely used as a primary boot drive. Instead, there more or less used as a backup option. Moreover, when it comes to performance, they are not as fast as solid-state drives. Still, HDDs are reliable storage options and are the best in terms of value. Regarding storage capacity, you get more for the buck; It's not surprising to find a 3-TB HDD for under $50. With that said, here are my Top Three recommended HDDs.
(Disclaimer: the HDDs listed below have been used in all of my desktop builds)
WD VelociRaptor
The WD VelociRaptor has been around for some time and is still a popular drive used for PC gaming. It's a valuable alternative to SSD, not because of its 1TB storage capacity. This HDD has an astounding 10,000 rpm spin speed. This HDD can be a primary boot drive for any gaming system. The VelociRaptor can store many game libraries and have ultra-fast platters.
The Specs
Up to 1TB capacity, 10,000RPM , 64MB cache
Where to buy it? Amazon
Seagate BarraCuda
The Seagate BarracCuda may not be as fast as the VelociRaptor but certainly is reliable. It offers a significant gigabyte-per-dollar, decent 7200 rpm platters, and high-density data. I've been using this particular HDD for years and have not once experienced any drive failures.
The Specs
2TB storage capacity, 256MB cache, 7200RPM
Where to buy it? Amazon
WD Blue
What we have here from Western Digital is another price-friendly HDD from the WD Blue product line. Storage options range from 500GB to 6TB. But, of course, the best choice for consumers is the WD Blue 1TB PC HDD, with a 7200 RPM spin rate.
The Specs
1TB storage capacity, 64MB cache, 7200RPM
Where to buy it? Amazon
