Network-attached storage (NAS) is a great away to share data at home between machines while keeping it secure, but which drive should you use in the NAS devices when they arrive, since they are often sold without that piece of hardware?
If you've got one lying around, consider a desktop hard drive, suggests German computer magazine c't. Bear in mind though, that a lot of manufacturers only recommend running these 2,400 hours a year, which amounts to about 10 hours a day. That means, specially designed NAS hard drives, which usually come with a three- to five-year guarantee are better.
The smaller NAS drives also only clock about 5,400 rotations per minute, which mean they produce less noise and don't heat up so quickly.
If you buy one, check out the compatibility list that most NAS manufacturers provide. Most will want a 3.5-inch drive with data transfer rates of about 150 megabytes per second. That's usually more than enough for streaming films. Higher rates would only generally be needed for copying large quantities of data. Don't think you have to buy special drives if you want to compensate for vibrations and high error rates. Experts say normal NAS drives are usually just fine. Also don't feel tempted to reach for a solid-state drive: You need a newer 10-gigabit network before you'll notice the benefit of these snappier drives. Plus, classic drives are better for backup purposes.
If you do decide to use old hard drives or SSDs that come in a 2.5-inch format, you'll need to get an adapter to let them fit into your NAS housing. And if you opt for one of the newer 2.5-inch models that are a little slower but incredibly quiet, check what the manufacturer has to say about its ability to work for lengthy durations.
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