Laptop Hard Drive
Replacing the hard drive inside your laptop
A laptop computer has a hard drive significantly smaller than that of a desktop; it generally has a 2.5" hard drive as opposed to the usual 3.5" in a desktop, though some now use a more portable 1.8" hard drive. Due to their smaller size, laptop hard drives are more expensive and more prone to crashes than desktop hard drives. Fortunately, most laptop hard drives can be easily replaced, and finding a cheap laptop hard drive is possible. Smaller-capacity hard drives (around the 20 GB mark) can go as low as $25. However, if you want a large capacity at a low price, a used laptop hard drive is something to consider. Some buyers turn to eBay to find cheap, used hard drives and other computer parts, but shoppers should thoroughly read item descriptions and buy only from sellers with high ratings. If you're careful, eBay can be an excellent source for a variety of products at low prices.
A new moderately sized hard drive for your laptop doesn't have to break the bank, however. A Toshiba laptop hard drive with 80 GB of space can be purchased for around $80, while a Dell laptop hard drive of the same capacity can sell for around $65.
Must-Have Features
- A 60 GB to 80 GB capacity, unless you intend to store music, movies or lots of pictures.
- A minimum rotational speed of 5,400 RPM; 7,200 RPM is preferable.
- An easily removable hard drive if you plan to upgrade someday.
Major Considerations
- How much storage do I need based on my computer use?
- Would a flash drive be better suited to my needs?
- How much am I willing to spend?
- Is a removable or a fixed hard drive better for my needs?
Top Manufacturers
- Toshiba
- Western Digital
- Seagate
- Dell
- Hitachi
Common Accessories or Add-Ons
- Hard drive retail kit
- External drive or thumb drive for extra storage
Price Range
Laptop hard drives without a lot of space can sell for prices in the twenties range. However, if you want adequate space, hard drives of 80 GB or more can range from under $100 to around $300. A flash drive is another option; however, flash drives come in smaller capacities and can be up to $500 more than a regular hard drive.
Summary
With the increasing popularity of laptop computers as the main computer for business people and students, reliable storage is extremely important. While small laptop hard drives may be more prone to failure than desktop hard drives, there are, fortunately, several cheap and easy solutions to replacing or upgrading your laptop's hard drive.
Comments (0)