TOP 5 optimal hard drives for a gaming PC

Firecuda looks unusual compared to other models of this class. Instead of 2 TB of data, there is only 1 TB, and instead of the standard scheme, the drive uses a hybrid one: large-capacity platters from classic HDDs + small storage with fast NAND cache memory, which we are used to seeing in SSD drives. This allowed, with some reservations, to take the best of both worlds and keep the sane price tag of $70. For comparison, this money is enough either for a regular 2 TB HDD or a 480 GB SSD.

FireCuda works like this: all data is stored on the main hard drive, but as soon as the system sees that a certain application or game is launched more often than usual, its important data will be transferred to a fast SSD cache. Its here, by the way, 8 GB. As soon as a new programme or game with a higher launch frequency appears, the system will immediately update the cache, overwriting important data. It is equally important that the SSD part is made of ultra-wear-resistant SLC memory, which has a generation resource many times higher than conventional SSD drives. It's not for nothing that Seagate gives the Firecuda a full five-year warranty instead of the standard two.

By the way, even without using a fast cache, FireCuda is one of the fastest HDDs on the market. Its "hard" part gives out approximately 210 MB / s in sequential read and write. It will be almost impossible to find an HDD faster. No less great is that despite the spindle speed of 7200 rpm, the drive turned out to be very quiet. Much quieter than the popular BarraCuda.

WD Blue is one of the most popular HDDs in recent years. With a wide choice of models and a record high price-to-volume ratio, it is an perfect candidate for a PC file storage that runs the OS on a fast SSD.

Higher capacity drives can be considered more valuable in the line - they provide a higher ratio of capacity to the dollar spent. And if you need more speed, there are also 7,200 rpm discs among these models, the cost of which is not very high. As for this 2 TB model, here we have an average speed for linear reading and writing at the level of approximately 150 MB / s. For a disc of this class, this is quite a high figure.

Low-speed WD Blue are distinguished by reduced noise levels, heating and, as a result, greater durability. The minimum noise level during search/recording is 27 dB, unlike most competitors, which give out 30 dB or more. The idle speed is even less - 23 dB. This one works discreetly even at night, taking downloaded torrents or unpacking a new toy. Plus, it has a built-in power saving function that completely turns off the engine when idle.

Seagate seems to be one of the few HDD manufacturers who is not sitting still. First they launched an unusual hybrid HDD and SSD called Firecuda, then they brought success to the new BarraCuda line, which stands out with a gigantic 256 MB buffer, which allows you to operate with small files much more dexterously. Previously, only solid-state drives could boast such a large buffer. Compare this to the standard 64 MB found on most competitors.

Thanks to the spindle speed of 7200 rpm, this model provides good performance. So, when reading and writing large files with a volume of 10 - 20 GB, the drive showed an average speed of around 200 MB / s. This allowed the Seagate Desktop HDD to enter the TOP-10 fastest HDDs on the market. Given its ability to quickly handle smaller files thanks to its larger cache, the BarraCuda looks like a particularly good choice for PCs that will use a single hard drive for both system setup and file storage.

Overall, it's not surprising that BarraCuda scores excellent in tests and hangs at the top of most e-shops. Indeed, in addition to speed, it boasts one of the most favorable ratios of volume and price - 33 GB for $ 1. It turns out that with a volume of 3 TB, it costs less than some 2 TB models. Well, plus everything, it turned out to be quiet and cold, so it can be easily installed in the case without rubber vibration-absorbing sleds.

The Caviar Black line is designed primarily for avid gamers, streamers and anyone who works with multimedia content. This is one of the fastest HDDs on the market (average speed 200 MB / s), and even with a five-year warranty (against the standard two-year one). True, the noise level and the ratio of dollars spent in exchange for gigabytes of memory are not the most optimal here. But all this is justified by a pack of additional goodies.

For example, unlike the WD Blue and Green lines, the WD Black family of drives are equipped with two processors and support for StableTrac and NoTouch technologies. Thanks to the first, the motor shaft is fixed at both ends, which reduces the influence of external vibration and stabilizes the rotation of the plates. The second is responsible for reducing the wear of heads and disks, as well as for more reliable protection of drives during their transportation due to the fact that the head does not come into contact with the platter surface. Well, a dual-core processor, along with dynamic caching mechanics, allows the disk to turn on faster, run the necessary tasks faster and operate with arrays of small files.

As a bonus, WD Caviar Black comes with the free Acronis True Image WD Edition utility that allows you to clone disks, as well as create backup copies of the operating system, some necessary applications, settings, or specific folders. Also, if a new HDD is installed in the system, this utility allows you to transfer the system and all its data to it in just a few clicks.

When it comes to the best hard drives, the Toshiba X300 is one of the first models that pops up in the conversation. Slightly more expensive than the popular WD Blue and Seagate BarraCuda, this Japanese HDD delivers maximum performance and speed. Not without reason, it is recommended for optimal gaming PCs and workstations for design and rendering, where the ability to quickly move large amounts of data is important.

All X300 series drives spin at 7,200 rpm and have an increased buffer capacity of up to 128 MB. This model with a capacity of 4 GB produces an average of 220 MB / s when copying large files. This is one of the best results on the market, for comparison, the popular WD Blue does not exceed 150 MB / s. An increase in speed of almost 30 percent is a serious argument when choosing an HDD. And this is not to mention the fact that the average 220 MB / s is only 2 times slower than the average SSD. It is equally important that Toshiba also took care of data security by equipping the HDD with a built-in shock sensor, strengthening the fixation of heads in the off state and adding built-in self-diagnostics of the disk.

Given the rather high price, we have a few niggles. The disk is quite noisy. Moreover, it is not the heads that make noise, but the disk itself vibrates. Therefore, he must be prescribed a soft suspension. Well, heating. At idle (but without head parking), the temperature regime is not so favorable: without any load, the drive on the test bench did not cool down below 40 °C even after several hours of idle operation. In operating mode, it easily warms up to 50 ° C, so it is advisable to take care of proper cooling of the case, stuffing it into a compact box with passive cooling is not an option.