Our Favorite Storage Drives

There are so many storage drives out there with so many options that it can be hard to pinpoint exactly which ones we really need. So, today we are going to take a look at several different types of storage drives designed for your needs!

HDDs

Seagate BarraCuda SATA Internal HDD

When it comes to HDDs, having a high-capacity unit that can store your important files is essential, especially if you are a content creator. One of our favorite SATA solutions is the Seagate BarraCuda Internal HDD. This family of HDDs offers a scalable capacity and speed so you can ensure you have enough room for your projects and ensure quick performance when scrubbing through content and finding the right moment in a clip.

Seagate 2TB BarraCuda SATA III 3.5" 7200 rpm Internal HDD (OEM Packaging)

WD Purple Internal Surveillance HDD

If you are in the market for an HDD to use with a surveillance system, look no further than the WD Purple Internal Surveillance HDD. Unlike other types of drives, this drive is designed for constant use. It can handle multiple recorded files from up to 64 HD cameras, which is nice to have for both small and large security systems. There are multiple capacities available, allowing you to scale space to your system.

WD 2TB Purple SATA III 3.5" Internal Surveillance HDD

You can still use a surveillance HDD in your regular PC but be warned that you may end up overpaying. Because of how this drive is designed, you may end up with features you won’t use. Although, if you are creating a home server that requires constant runtime, then these could be great.

WD Red Plus Internal NAS HDD

If you have a Network Attached Storage (NAS) system, the WD Red Plus Internal HDD is a great option. This family of drives are intended for large-scale storage solutions that leverage RAID technologies. Like the rest of the drives here, you have scalable capacities and cache, giving you ample choices when it comes to outfitting your NAS.

WD 2TB Red Plus 5400 rpm SATA III 3.5" Internal NAS HDD

Just like the WD Purple drives above, you can install this NAS HDD into your home system, but you might be overpaying for features. Because it is tuned towards RAID configurations, you would be way better off using it in that type of environment.

2.5” SSDs

Samsung 870 EVO SATA Internal SSD

When it comes to 2.5” SSDs, the Samsung 870 EVO is one of the best drives out there. Not only is it known for having some of the longest lifespans around, but it is also fast. Doubling the speed of the average HDD, the 870 EVO is an impressive drive. It has a large, dedicated cache along, with a custom controller to help with read and write speeds.

Samsung 2TB 870 EVO SATA III 2.5" Internal SSD

PNY CS900 Internal SSD

The PNY CS900 is a great internal SSD that sacrifices some performance elements in leu of cost. It still delivers great performance for the form factor, and it implements some technologies that make the drive worthwhile such as TRIM support and a long MTBF rating. Besides that, the CS900 is a great, affordable SSD intended for anyone looking for some extra performance.

PNY 1TB CS900 SATA III 2.5" Internal SSD

Crucial BX500 Internal SSD

Crucial’s 2.5” BX500 SSD is proof they can deliver on performance without going too overboard on price. The BX500 is fast, and it has a long lifespan, making it a solid choice for anyone. Crucial offers multiple different capacities for the BX500, from 240GB all the way up to 4TB, making it usable in many different scenarios. The flexibility of the BX500 is where this drive shines.

Crucial 2TB BX500 SATA III 2.5" Internal SSD

M.2 SSDs

Samsung 9100 PRO PCIe 5.0 M.2 SSD

The Samsung 9100 PRO PCIe 5.0 M.2 SSD is one of the fastest and most reliable drives on the market. When I reviewed this drive a few months ago, it quickly became one of my absolute favorite drives. It blew me away with its raw speed, making it one of the first PCIe 5.0 drives that feels as fast as it says. Gaming enthusiasts and creatives alike will find the 9100 PRO’s uplift in performance over previous generations to be outstanding.

Samsung 2TB 9100 PRO PCIe 5.0 M.2 Internal SSD

Crucial P310 PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSD

If you are looking for great speeds but you are on a budget, the Crucial P310 PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSD is a great option. It uses PCIe 4.0 technology, which is still incredibly fast. It is compatible with a wide range of systems, making it great for a first-time OS installation or replacing an older drive. This also saves a bit of money too as PCIe 4.0 drives tend to be more affordable over faster drives. The capacity options are quite limited, but for the average user or gamer, the 2TB model is more than enough.

Crucial 2TB P310 PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 Internal SSD

WD_BLACK SN850X PCIe 4.0 SSD

Designed with gaming enthusiasts in mind, the WD_BLACK SN850X PCIe 4.0 SSD strikes a great balance between performance and cost. It operates on the PCIe 4.0 interface, which gives it fast read and write speeds. It also has a massive endurance level, making it great for those who like to constantly download new games. Despite the focus on gaming, this is also an excellent drive for storing important assets like video and music files for editing and posting online. It is a great drive all around and one I can easily recommend.

WD 2TB WD_BLACK SN850X Gaming Internal NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD

There you have it, a list of some of the best internal storage drives out there. If you would like to know more about each product, make sure you hit the links above for more info.