which hard disk will last long external or internal?

[darshan15]

i want to buy an external 2 tb hard drive
i am going to use it for backup
i want to know which will last longer?

i think external will last longer because the hard disk wont be spinning all the time like an
internal hard drive
i use my pc more than 6hr a day

i want some suggestions on this matter

 

[boosted1g]

No the internal drive will spin as much as the external, whenever it is used it will spin otherwise it will power down.

Your current hard drive in your tower is spinning all the time as your OS and programs are constantly loading files into memory. A backup drive will only operate when it is being used.

An internal drive is built with more quiality thus it is more likley to last longer, an internal drive will also not get knocked off and hit the floor while spinning.


For backups, it is much easier to get an internal to keep the same drive letter while an external is not as stable. Thus it is much much easier to schedule automated backups with an internal over an external.

In short, the internal will be better all around.

FYI I use syncback for automated file backups and macrium reflect for full disk images.

 

[makkem]

Hi
Difficult to say,but a major factor in reducing the lifespan of external drives is dropping them on to a hard surface which can cause you to lose all your backed up data unless you use a very expensive recovery company.

 

[geofelt]

First of all, buy a good hard drive.
This link might help:
http://www.behardware.com/articles/881-6/components-returns-rates-7.html

Wear on a hard drive will come from heat and start/stop cycles.
If you use a external enclosure, get one with some active cooling.

If your backup cycle is occasional, say once per week or longer, then I think external is likely to be better.

If your cycle is daily or less, I might use internal.
That said, you will protect against more failures(like malware, virus, operator error) if you use external regardless.

 

[boosted1g]

If he leaves the external pluged in all the time then an external wont reduce the risk of any viruses or opperator error vs an internal

 

[USAFRet]

Its basically the same drive in each.

External has the drawback of falling off the desk.
External has the drawback of maybe the enclosure also failing
Internal, for a backup, has the drawback of being physically in the same system

Which drive will last longer? Impossible to say on an individual basis. I've seen drives die within 60 days, or last 15 years. Both internal and external.

 

[boosted1g]

If he leaves the external pluged in all the time then an external wont reduce the risk of any viruses or opperator error vs an internal

 

[darshan15]

i think external will last longer because it will not all the time when my pc is on

i will use to keep videos and photos so i will using it like once in a month

 

[geofelt]

If he leaves the external pluged in all the time then an external wont reduce the risk of any viruses or opperator error vs an internal

External drives may have an on/off switch for when not in use, or they may be unplugged from a usb port.

Sounds like external is a more reasonable choice for occasional backup.

 

[USAFRet]

i think external will last longer because it will not all the time when my pc is on

i will use to keep videos and photos so i will using it like once in a month

Just don't let it fall off the desk.

 

[ex_bubblehead]

Doesn't even have to fall off the desk. All it has to do is fall over on its side while running. Watched a WD external (3.5") do that and the spindle seized immediately. At that moment all rotation was immediately transferred to the outer case. You should have seen the dance that thing did :lol: