Choosing your new hard drive

There are many different manufacturers, the most popular brands being Western Digital, Hitachi and Seagate. Western Digital drives are known for their reliability, reducing concerns of potentially disastrous drive failure. Seagate drives used to be known for frequent failures but of late, their reputation has improved, making them a worthwhile consideration.

Hard drives

Price wise the Seagate drives are usually cheaper in comparison to the Western Digital brand drives. However, if you keep your eyes open, you should be able to get the same size Western Digital drive for around the same price if on sale. .

Solid State

Solid-state drives are a newer option which offers great reliability due to the absence of any moving parts. Unfortunately, this advantage comes at a price premium compared to traditional drives. In the solid-state category, Samsung has an excellent reputation. Kingston's drives are also quite reliable and often more affordable. Prices fluctuate greatly and shopping around is recommended.

Tools

No specialized tools are required. A Phillips head screwdriver will suffice. As well, you will need your serial ATA or IDE cable and power cable making sure they can reach your intended installation place. Depending on your hard drive purchase you may need to obtain appropriate screws separately as they are not always included. You can pick these up at your local computer store.