It's a bit ridiculous how massive gaming installations are becoming, with the new Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 With a storage capacity of 309GB, it's possible to expand the system with a new solid-state drive or hard disk drive. We've found some great deals on internal and external drives from all the top manufacturers, and this month looks like a good time to find some seriously low prices as Prime Day approaches. Here are the best SSD and HDD deals in early July 2024.
The best deals on hard drives and SSDs of the moment
The best deals on internal SSDs
The traditional way to do this is to keep the drive inside the computer, and internal SSDs are faster and less expensive than external drives. Definitely check that these storage devices are compatible with your desktop or laptop. With capacities up to 2TB, you won't need much more than this to keep your data close by.
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Samsung 990 PRO 2TB Internal SSD
PCMag praised the “blazing speed” of this internal drive in Your review, “It earns high marks for raw speed, everyday application performance, a solid software suite, and hardware-based encryption.” It's a powerful and reliable SSD with a peak read speed of 7450 megabytes per second and 2TB of total storage, and the controller's new 8-nanometer architecture makes it 50% more energy efficient than its predecessor.
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Crucial BX500 2TB Internal SSD
Here we have a budget SSD that has been reduced to a really attractive price. PCMag reviewed The Crucial BX500 is a solid drive for mainstream use thanks to its comprehensive software control panel and reliable performance. Because it's a SATA 3.0 drive, it's not as fast as PCIE storage, but what you get in return is low cost and reliability. Micron's 3D NAND technology provides increased power efficiency. This drive comes with a three-year limited warranty from Crucial.
WD_BLACK SN850X 1TB Internal SSD
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WD_BLACK SN850X 1TB Internal SSD
Getting a full $100 off the retail price puts this device in focus for gamers. Solid state drive Hitting a sweet spot. Compatible with most computers, as well as Sony’s PlayStation 5, this internal SSD delivers data at a top rate of 7,300MB per second, with fast streaming and support for a host of high-end optimization features like predictive charging and over-discharge balancing. An internal heatsink helps keep things cool.
The best external SSD deals
If you need a little more portability without sacrificing space, an external SSD is the best option. These drives have come a long way from measly flash drives and can now store massive amounts of data and transfer it back and forth via USB-C to laptops, desktops, and other devices. They're also housed in rugged casings to withstand frequent transport.
Samsung T9 4TB Portable SSD
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Samsung T9 4TB Portable SSD
The Samsung T9 is an expensive portable hard drive, but for the price you get an unbeatable combination of durability and speed, and right now it's on sale. PCMag gave this drive an Outstanding rating in Your reviewcommenting that it “achieves incredible performance speeds when connected to a compatible PC, making it a go-to external SSD for content creators.” It also won PCMag’s coveted Editors’ Choice award. With read/write speeds of 2000MB/second, it’ll handle large files with ease. Samsung’s Dynamic Thermal Protection keeps the drive cool and your files safe no matter how hard you push it, and it’s compatible with just about everything.
SanDisk Extreme 2TB Portable External SSD
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SanDisk Extreme 2TB Portable External SSD
This is a great price for a rugged, easy-to-use drive that can handle some serious situations. USB Type-C for connectivity means solid read and write speeds — over 1,000 megabytes per second. The casing is durable and has a handy loop for a lanyard or carabiner. 128-bit AES encryption helps keep content safe if you lose it, and Samsung’s standard five-year parts and labor warranty has your back in case of emergencies.
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Samsung T7 2TB Portable External SSD
This is one of the smallest portable drives you'll find in this capacity—it's about the size of a credit card and fits easily in the palm of your hand—while still offering good performance. PCMag reviewed The Samsung T7 is a compact, crowd-pleasing external hard drive, with great security and a sturdy aluminum chassis. 256-bit AES encryption helps keep files safe from prying eyes, and when it comes time to offload them from the device, you can expect read speeds of up to 1050Mb/s. It's also pretty durable, with shock resistance and drop protection of up to 1.80 meters.
The best deals on hard drives
For maximum storage capacity, you should opt for a traditional hard drive. While these are more vulnerable to mechanical wear and tear than solid-state drives, hard drives are a proven technology that is reliable and affordable. This category includes both internal and external drives, some designed for desktop computers and others for laptops.
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UnionSine 500GB Ultra Slim Portable External Hard Drive
Need something slim and portable that still uses hard drive technology? This is a super-affordable 500GB drive that ticks all the boxes. USB 3.0 support gives it read/write speeds of over 100MB/s, and the JMicron 578 noise-free solution keeps it running quietly throughout the process. An isolating diaphragm helps keep the drive clean and free from interference. It's compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android devices, as well as all major gaming consoles.
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SanDisk Professional G-Drive 6TB External Hard Drive
This is a rugged external hard drive with plenty of protection. Designed for business use, this high-capacity drive connects via USB-C to reach maximum read/write speeds of 250MB per second. The stackable anodized aluminum enclosure keeps the 7200 rpm Ultrastar drive stable and secure. It's easy to plug and play on Windows or Mac systems and comes optimized for Time Machine backup. At $60 off, this drive is in a very attractive category.
WD Black D10 8TB External Hard Drive
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WD Black D10 8TB External Hard Drive
This is an absolutely fantastic external hard drive, and PCMag gave it an “Excellent” rating in its 2020 review. reviewIf you're setting up your gaming battlestation with a small internal SSD for system files, this will be the add-on that stores all your downloads. The Black D10 isn't the fastest drive on the market, processing data at 140MBps, but what it lacks in speed it makes up for in capacity. The rugged, easy-to-grip casing looks fantastic, too.
SSD and HDD Buying Guide
Thinking about upgrading your storage? Keep the following in mind:
Internal hard drives and SSDs come in a variety of form factors, with the most popular currently being the M.2 “gumstick” type, though 2.5-inch drives still have plenty of uses. Solid-state drives generally have more variety because they don’t require a mechanical spool. Make sure the model you’re buying fits your machine—check the manual or the manufacturer’s website for specifications.
Storage drives also use a number of different interfaces, and compatibility is important here as well. The two main options are SATA and PCIe, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Additionally, the data transfer protocol is also different between drives. Make sure they match up.
When it comes to performance, there are two factors that matter: size and speed. Both add to the cost, so it's critical to balance your budget with the amount of space you want. Fortunately, drive prices are lower than ever when you consider their capacity, so you can get multi-terabyte drives for fairly cheap.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hard Drives and SSDs
How do I know which SSD to buy?
The sheer variety of solid-state drives on the market can be overwhelming. Buying with a purpose is the way to get the best value in the future. If you're going to be moving files between locations, you'll obviously need an external SSD. If you plan to build a desktop computer that keeps system files on an SSD and program files on an HDD, a smaller solid-state drive will be more cost-effective. If you need to store large amounts of data on a budget, an HDD will be the best choice.
Which SSD is better, SATA or NVMe?
The main difference between solid-state drives is their interface method. Serial ATA technology is older and works like traditional mechanical drives, while Non-Volatile Memory Express was designed to work exclusively with SSDs. NVMe uses the PCIe bus, which is periodically updated and expanded to take advantage of more data transfer lanes, increasing speed and capacity with each generation. NVMe will generally provide better results, but SATA may be supported by more systems.
What size SSD do I really need?
As the great computer scientist Tupac Shakur said, “Only God can judge you.” We’re all for investing a little more than you think you need to get a more spacious drive. Given the skyrocketing growth in file installation sizes, with some AAA games topping out at 100GB, any drive you buy is going to fill up quickly. It’s smart to future-proof your setup now rather than buying a patchwork of external storage later.
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