Internal vs. External Hard Drives: Which Is Better?

When it comes to buying a hard drive, the big question is often whether you should get an external or internal one. While a lot of this depends on whether you have a desktop or laptop, there are some factors that are always important. Chief among these is deciding on the size of the drive you need. If you're storing a lot of games or movies, you might find that an external hard drive is more suitable, and it will work well with any kind of Windows device you own.

Internal hard drives, however, have their undeniable advantages. For one, they are highly reliable and easy to install, allowing you to build your own PC and tuck them inside the cabinet. If you don't need to transfer the drive frequently between computers, an internal hard drive is a great choice. You don't have to worry about keeping them connected since they're mostly connected directly to the motherboard, usually offering better speed and reliability. On the other hand, external hard drives are user-friendly and portable.

In this article, we will explore the various pros and cons of choosing an external hard drive versus an internal hard drive.

Internal Hard Drive vs. External Hard Drive

While both types of drives offer similar functionality, there are some differences in terms of speed, portability, how they connect to your computer, and price.

Storage that is connected directly to the motherboard is called internal storage. Storage that is connected to the motherboard via an external cable is called external storage.

In terms of speed, internal drives – especially NVMe drives – are the fastest. Being closer to the motherboard and CPU allows for quicker data transfer. External hard drives tend to be slower and more susceptible to damage, but if you buy one with a high-quality casing, this isn't much of an issue.

In terms of price, internal drives aren't always cheaper than external ones. External drives can be more affordable depending on their speed and capacity. The cost of an internal drive may depend on its type. Solid State Drives (SSDs) are more expensive than Hard Disk Drives (HDDs), and NVMe drives are pricier than internal SSDs.

Advantages of Internal Hard Drives: 1. High Capacity: Internal hard drives offer substantial storage space, ranging from hundreds of GB to several TB, catering to extensive data storage requirements. 2. Fast Performance: Directly connected to the computer, internal hard drives typically boast high read and write speeds, making them efficient for frequent data access and processing. 3. Stability: Being inside the computer, they are well-protected and less susceptible to external environmental influences, ensuring higher stability. 4. Cost-effective: Compared to external hard drives or other storage solutions, internal hard drives are often more cost-efficient. 5. Continuous Power Supply: They are powered directly by the computer's power source, eliminating the need for additional batteries or charging devices. Disadvantages of Internal Hard Drives: 1. Portability Issues: Unlike external hard drives, internal ones are not easily portable, making it difficult to transfer data between different devices. 2. Installation Requirements: Swapping or upgrading an internal hard drive requires technical knowledge and physical manipulation, which may not be suitable for all users. 3. Failure Risk: A faulty hard drive can lead to data loss, with recovery costs potentially being high. 4. Vulnerability to Physical Damage: While protected, internal hard drives can still be damaged if the computer is dropped or experiences vibrations. 5. Data Security: Although data protection methods like encryption can be used, the security of data on an internal hard drive might not be as robust as cloud storage or encrypted external hard drives. Consider these pros and cons based on your specific application and needs.

Here's a list of pros and cons of internal hard drives. Note that many factors depend on the type of internal hard drive you choose for your computer.

Advantages:

• Connects directly to your computer for faster speeds.
• May offer better storage capacity depending on the type.
• Tends to be more expensive; SSDs may have a shorter lifespan due to a finite number of write cycles.
• Highly durable with almost zero risk of physical damage.

Disadvantages:

• HDDs are not easily removable from computers. Sometimes they are embedded into the motherboard, so you may have to partially disassemble your computer to replace one.
• They are not very portable, so they are not ideal for temporary data transfers.
• Advantages and disadvantages of external HDDs:

Advantages and Disadvantages of External Hard Drives External hard drives have become an essential tool for data storage and backup. They offer both convenience and potential drawbacks. Here's a breakdown of their advantages and disadvantages: Advantages: 1. Portability: External hard drives are compact and lightweight, making it easy to carry large amounts of data wherever you go. 2. Expandable Storage: They provide additional storage space when your computer's internal storage is full, allowing you to store more files, photos, videos, and applications. 3. Backup Solution: Regular backups can protect your valuable data from loss due to hardware failures, viruses, or accidents. Many external hard drives come with backup software for automated data protection. 4. Compatibility: Most external hard drives work with both Windows and Mac operating systems, making them cross-platform compatible. 5. Speed: USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt interfaces offer faster data transfer rates compared to traditional internal hard drives, reducing the time spent transferring large files. 6. Cost-Effective: External hard drives are generally affordable compared to cloud storage solutions, providing a cost-efficient way to store and manage data. Disadvantages: 1. Vulnerability to Physical Damage: External hard drives are susceptible to damage from drops, spills, or other physical impacts, which can lead to data loss. 2. Limited Lifespan: Like any electronic device, external hard drives have a limited lifespan. They may eventually fail, necessitating regular backups and replacement. 3. Connectivity Issues: Connection problems can arise, especially with older interfaces like USB 2.0, leading to slower transfer speeds or connection instability. 4. Security Risks: Data on external hard drives is not inherently secure. Without encryption, your sensitive information could be accessed if the drive is lost or stolen. 5. Power Dependency: Some external hard drives require an external power source, which can be inconvenient when using them on the go. 6. Dependence on Software: Relying on specific backup software can create issues if you switch to a different device or operating system, as compatibility might not be guaranteed. In summary, external hard drives offer convenient, portable, and cost-effective storage, but they also come with potential risks, such as physical damage and limited lifespan. It's important to weigh these factors when deciding how to manage and protect your data.

Here's a list of pros and cons of external hard drives: Pros: 1. Increased storage capacity: External hard drives provide extra storage space, allowing you to store large amounts of files, photos, videos, and other data. 2. Portability: Most external hard drives are compact and easily portable, enabling you to carry them around and transfer data between different devices seamlessly. 3. Compatibility: They are generally compatible with various devices, including desktops, laptops, Macs, and Windows systems. 4. Secure backup: You can regularly back up important data to an external hard drive as a safeguard against accidental loss or computer failures. 5. User-friendly: They are easy to use; simply connect them to your computer via USB, and you're ready to go without complicated installation procedures. Cons: 1. Vulnerability to physical damage: External hard drives can be damaged by drops, impacts, or other physical harm, potentially leading to data loss. 2. Transfer speed: Compared to internal hard drives, external ones may have slower read and write speeds, especially when using interfaces below the USB 3.0 standard. 3. Need for additional power: Some external hard drives require an external power adapter, which can be inconvenient in certain situations. 4. Security risks: If not encrypted, data on an external hard drive can be easily accessed by unauthorized individuals. 5. Potential for failure over time: Like any hard drive, external ones have a lifespan, and prolonged usage and frequent read/write operations might lead to failures. Please note that these pros and cons may vary depending on the specific brand and model.

Advantages:

• Portable, connectable to any computer via USB port. You can carry it in your backpack and use it for data transfer at a friend's house or school.
• No installation required on the computer, allowing you to store it anywhere and access it even offline. If you manually back up files and only connect the drive when needed, this is a great option.
• Regularly backup to free up computer space; you can use it to temporarily or permanently move infrequently used files, freeing up more space on your system drive.
• External hard drives are generally cheaper than internal ones since they still employ older technology and contain moving parts. As their primary purpose is for backup, consumers tend to opt for larger storage capacities rather than smaller, faster drives that might be more suitable for other uses.

Disadvantages:

• Size your storage based on your budget. When buying an HDD, make sure to calculate the cost per TB or GB.
• External hard drives are more susceptible to physical shock or water damage and have less protection. This is mainly because they are mechanical and contain moving parts, which can lead to data loss due to failure, wear and tear – something that can happen if they're not handled properly.

Which is better for you?

When it comes to choosing which is better, the answer is very subjective. However, in my personal opinion, external hard drives are superior, as they are more affordable, convenient, and essential for backing up your data.

Internal storage is used for gaming, video editing, apps, and of course, work.

While building a computer, most of the storage work is done internally, with external drives used for the rest. External drives can also be used for a NAS, which helps centralize data backups, though at a cost.

Now that you know which hard drive is best for you, it's also important to optimize your hard drive with Partition Master. This tool lets you manage partitions on your hard drive.

Tip: How to optimize your hard drive?

As you use your hard drive, you may notice that it becomes slower over time. This is because the drive can become fragmented, to the point where it has trouble finding information quickly. External hard drives are especially prone to this and need to be optimized as much as possible for faster data retrieval.

Partition Master Features:

• Migrate/Resize/Move partitions
• Clone/Create/Format/Delete partitions
• OS migration to SSD
• Combine partitions
• Duplicate Disk/Partition
• Dynamic Volume Management

You can use a disk partition tool to get space from an adjacent partition to increase the system drive without having to reinstall the OS. Similarly, if you have extra partitions, you can merge them. One useful feature is migration to SSD, which comes in handy when you don't want to install everything again. This lets you replace the hard disk in your computer quickly and easily. Be sure to change the boot drive the next time you restart.

Please see how to extend System/C Drive:

Option 1. Extend System C drive using unallocated space

1. Right-click on the System C drive and select "Resize/Move." 2. Drag the system partition towards the Unallocated space to add it to the C drive. Then, click "OK." 3. Click "Apply" and "Execute Task" to perform the operation and extend the C drive.

Option 2: Extend System C drive without unallocated space

1. Right-click on a large partition with enough space in the system disk and select "Allocate Space." 2. In the "Allocate space from (*) to" section, choose the system drive. Drag the end of the C drive system partition to the unallocated space. Click "OK" to confirm. 3. Click "Perform Tasks," which will list the pending operations. Then click "Apply" to save the changes and extend the C drive.

0:00-0:26 Extend the system drive with unallocated space; 0:27-0:58 Extend the system drive without unallocated space.