There are not a few users who, when mounting a new PC, continue to buy an internal hard drive to use as massive data storage , so they do not have to use the precious SSD for this purpose. However, these disks will always be connected and can suffer unnecessary wear, especially when there is the option of having an external disk connected by USB to use it only when needed, so which of the two options is better?
Actually both options are perfectly valid to store data in bulk and avoid using an SSD , which has a write limit, for this purpose. However, both one option and the other have their advantages and disadvantages and depending on the type of use you are going to give it, one option may be more beneficial for you than the other. Let’s see what they both offer to see which one best suits what you need.
Internal or external hard drive, advantages and disadvantages
In terms of performance , nowadays there is no difference as any external hard drive that is connected using USB 3.0 interface already matches the performance of a mechanical hard drive connected by SATA 3. Obviously we take for granted that, for mass storage, We are choosing a mechanical hard drive and not an SSD, because as we have already mentioned these have a defined number of erasure and write cycles and buying a separate disk for mass storage is precisely to avoid wear and tear.
One of the greatest advantages of having an internal hard drive is undoubtedly its convenience: it does not take up space since it is installed inside the computer and therefore you do not have more devices or cables on the desk as you would with an external disk ; Furthermore, as it is always connected, it is always working and that means that you always have it available to use when you need it.
An external disk with a USB connection will have to be kept separately, that is, it must be stored in a drawer or closet. When you want to use it, you should go for it and connect it to your PC via USB, which can be a nuisance due to the simple fact of having to do this and, at the same time, because it takes up space on the table or anywhere where put it. This is avoided, to a certain extent, with a DAS or fixed external disk , since you could always have it on the table and always connected but only turn it on when you need it, although it is true that even then you will have to have it connected to the current and you will be increasing the number of cables and connections required on the outside of the equipment.
The biggest advantage of using an external USB drive is, however, that it allows you to connect it only when you need it and therefore its durability is maximized. Likewise, this allows you greater versatility because nothing prevents you from having several external drives for different purposes and connecting the one you need each time, or even several at the same time if your PC has enough USB ports available. And when you need more storage, you just have to buy another external disk and that’s it; Obviously, if you prefer an internal disk, you can also buy more and install them, but you will have to go around opening the PC and connecting its wiring from the inside, and also both the PC box and the connections on the board have a limit.
Finally, an external hard drive with a USB connection has a primary advantage over using an internal one, and that is that it is much easier to carry it from one place to another to use your data on other computers or devices. This is something that, using internal disks, would be a nuisance since you would have to go around opening the PC to dismount it and then mount it on the other.
Conclusion, which option is the best?
As always, it all depends on your needs. If you intend to have an additional disk in your computer as mass storage to avoid using the SSD for it but you are going to make sporadic use of it, the ideal is to have a large capacity internal disk because it will be much more comfortable for you and, really, you can forget about connecting or disassembling anything.
However, if you are a user who makes intensive use of mass storage, then probably the best option for you would be to acquire a large capacity DAS or fixed disk, since it will allow you to always have your data accessible but only when you need it, safeguarding slightly more device integrity compared to an internal disk that is always on.
Now, if you are a laptop user, we would tell you not to hesitate and go for an external hard drive with a USB connection, and in fact for a 2.5-inch one so that you do not need additional power. Adding an internal disk to a laptop can be a headache to install, and also adds consumption and weight to the equipment. However, with a 2.5-inch external drive you can always have it accessible and take it back and forth along with your laptop without too much inconvenience. In addition, as there are 2.5-inch external drives with up to 5 TB capacity, it is not that you will quickly run out of space.