Step 1 – Define Your Use Case
Different workloads have fundamentally different requirements. Start here before looking at any specs.
Gaming
NAS
Backup
Video Editing
Step 2 – Choose Capacity
Buy more than you think you need. Storage fills up faster than expected.
Gaming PC → 1–2TB SSD
NAS → 16TB+ HDD
Backup → 8–20TB HDD
Step 3 – Check Recording Type (HDD Only)
For hard drives, CMR vs SMR is the most important factor most buyers overlook.
NAS / RAID → CMR only
Heavy writes → CMR only
Cold storage → SMR acceptable
Step 4 – Compare Price Per TB
Sort by $/TB, not total price. A $300 20TB drive at $15/TB beats a $240 14TB drive at $17/TB every time.
Step 5 – Check Warranty & Workload Rating
A 3–5 year warranty is a strong indicator of manufacturer confidence. For NAS drives, check the TB/year workload rating — 180 TB/yr minimum.
3–5 year warranty
180+ TB/yr workload
No workload rating → skip
Quick Decision Guide
| Use Case | Type | Capacity | Recording |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gaming PC | NVMe SSD | 1–2 TB | — |
| NAS | SATA HDD | 16–22 TB | CMR |
| Backup | SATA HDD | 8–20 TB | CMR or SMR |
| Video Editing | NVMe SSD | 2–4 TB | — |
| Cold Archive | SATA HDD | 8–20 TB | SMR OK |
Frequently Asked Questions
SSD or HDD — which should I buy?
For speed (OS, gaming, editing): NVMe SSD. For capacity and value (NAS, backup, bulk storage): HDD. For general secondary storage on a budget: SATA SSD.
How much storage is enough?
For gaming: 2TB is comfortable. For NAS: start at 16TB and plan for expansion. For backup: match or double your primary storage size.
Is a refurbished drive worth it?
Only for non-critical storage. Never use refurbished drives in RAID or as your only backup. For primary NAS drives, always buy new.
Does brand matter?
WD (HGST), Seagate, and Toshiba are the three major HDD manufacturers. All are reliable when you choose the right product line. Brand matters less than choosing the correct model (CMR, NAS-rated).
Ready to find the best deal?
Compare prices across Amazon regions — sorted by price per TB.