The Best Networked Hard Drives For 2024

Tim Powers By, Tim Powers
Updated
Best Networked Hard Drives
Best Networked Hard Drives

The Rundown

1. Best Of The Best: SanDisk SDPHF1A Hard Drive

Store and share all of your files with this SanDisk SDPHF1A Hard Drive. With a capacity of up to 12TB, you can rely on this drive for fast backups. The Anodized aluminum housing offers durability and LEDs can be adjusted to 3 different brightness modes. This hard drive is compatible with any desktop or laptop computer, so you can easily share files with family and friends or back-up important documents for work or school. Read Review

2. Best Bang For The Buck: Asustor AS5304T Hard Drive

Access all your content and stream in 4K HDR with the Asustor AS5304T Hard Drive. With large storage, this HDD is the perfect way for you to expand your storage capacity with ease and enable up to 150% faster performance. In Link Aggregation mode, users can enjoy a 5 Gbps transfer speed between two or more drives for an all-around improved experience. Read Review

3. Best Reliable: WD WDBU6Y0050BBK Hard Drive

This WD hard drive offers you improved PC performance, high capacity in a small case, and a small and lightweight design. With up to 5TB capacity, this hard drive is perfect for your desktop or laptop computer. And with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 compatibility, this drive lets you transfer files at full speed. Read Review

4. Best Quality: BUFFALO Hard Drives

BUFFALO Hard Drives offers a simple way to enjoy network storage without the hassle. Simply connect your NAS to your router for network storage without any setup. Back up multiple PCs and devices and manage your data with a private mode that lets you share a folder among members of the same family. Read Review

5. Best Performance: Seagate ST6000VX001 Hard Drives

Seagate Hard Drives are designed to help you get more done with less wait. With 3x the workload of a desktop drive, Seagate Hard Drives provide industry-leading performance for surveillance systems and 10TB of storage capacity. The ST6000VX001 is a great solution for workgroups or individual PC owners who want to add external storage without breaking the bank. Read Review

When it comes to storing your data, every bit of extra space is important. That’s why we’ve put together this guide on the best networked hard drives so that you can choose the right one for your needs. Why are networked hard drives important? They allow you to access files from anywhere in your home at any time.

This means they’re perfect for accessing your photos, videos, and other digital files quickly and easily. However, not all hard drives are created equal. Some are simply better than others in certain situations. Instead of just buying the first one you see because it’s, or even spending a lot more money on one that is actually worth it, let us help you make an informed decision by revealing everything you need to know about them.

After doing extensive study and analysis over a 24 hours, We think the best networked hard drives is SanDisk SDPHF1A Hard Drive. You can do more than just store your files in the SanDisk SDPHF1A Hard Drive. A high-speed USB-C (10Gbps) drive enables fast backups, while rugged aluminum housing provides durability and a wide range of compatible software options for added convenience. You can consider Asustor AS5304T Hard Drive as an alternative if you're still undecided. Other suggestions on this list are definitely worth considering, and we've put up a useful shopping guide to help you decide!

Our Top Picks

TOP Choice #1 SanDisk SDPHF1A Hard Drive
Our Score:
9.7
SanDisk Professional

Three modes of brightness to adjust the LED lights

Mac Ready, Apple Time Machine compatible; easily reformatted for Windows

Stackable, anodized aluminum enclosure offers premium durability

USB-C (10Gbps) drive for fast backup with up to 250MB/s read and 250MB/s write (1 MB/s = 1 million bytes per second. Based on internal testing; performance may vary depending upon host device, usage conditions, drive capacity, and other factors.)

High-capacity, enterprise-class Ultrastar 7200RPM drive inside

TOP Choice #2 Asustor AS5304T  Hard Drive
Our Score:
9.5
Asustor

Features HDMI 2.0a with 10bit 4K hardware decoding, HEVC decoding and VP9 10bit Profile2 decoding for overwhelming 4K HDR Experience

2 x 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports. Enable up to 150% faster performance and up to 5 Gbps in Link Aggregation mode

Intel Celeron J4105 Quad core CPU with 4GB DDR4 RAM (expandable up to 8GB) for power user and enthusiast

3 year manufacturer warranty

Compatible with 2.5" or 3.5" SATA SSD/HDD drives up to 72TB (18TB x 4). Expand as much storage as needed with ease

TOP Choice #3 WD WDBU6Y0050BBK Hard Drive
Our Score:
9.4
Western Digital

Improve PC performance - When your internal hard drive is almost full your PC slows down. Don’t delete files. Free up space on your internal hard drive by transferring files to your WD Elements portable hard drive and get your laptop moving again.

Adding extra storage for your videos, music, photos, and files..Date transfer rate:5Gbps

High capacity in a small enclosure – The small, lightweight design offers up to 5TB* capacity, making WD Elements portable hard drives the ideal companion for consumers on the go.

Plug-and-play ready for Windows PC

Transfer data at maximum speed with USB 3.0; USB 2.0 compatible

4 BUFFALO Hard Drives
Our Score:
9.2
BUFFALO

HASSLE-FREE INSTALLATION – Hard drives included, and no computer needed for setup. Simply connect the NAS to your router for instant shared network storage for all your devices at the same time. Product is compatible with PC, macOS, Android, and iOS.

MADE IN JAPAN - Quality Devices.

24/7 US-BASED SUPPORT - With 3-year warranty, including hard drives.

SECURELY SHARE FILES WITH FAMILY & FRIENDS – Create individual access of folders to ensure your data remains private while securely share storage space or files with others.

SMALL OFFICE / HOME OFFICE NETWORK ATTACHED STORAGE: Optimized to organize, store, share, and back up your important files.

DIRECT COPY - Back up your devices via USB. Copy photos/videos/files without a computer.

SECURE YOUR PRECIOUS DATA - Storage designed to keep your data safe, the NAS features a closed system to reduce vulnerabilities from 3rd party apps and SSL encryption for secure file transfers.

8 TB Total capacity – 2 Drive Bays ships with RAID 1 (Automatic Backup) = 4 TB usable capacity. Set to RAID 0 to use the full 8 TB.

BACK UP MULTIPLE COMPUTERS & DEVICES – PC backup software included, and you can set up automated backups of data on your computers and mobile devices.

SUBSCRIPTION-FREE PERSONAL CLOUD – Store and back up videos, music, and photos and access them from anywhere without paying any monthly storage charges.

5 Seagate ST6000VX001 Hard Drives
Our Score:
9.1
Seagate

Up to 10TB of capacity to store up to 10,000 hours of HD video

Rotational vibration (RV) sensors help maintain performance in RAID and multi-drive systems (4TB or higher)

Maximum 180TB/year workload rating—3× the workload rating of desktop drives—for reliable performance in write-intensive surveillance systems

Custom-built for surveillance applications with Image Perfect firmware for crisp, clear, 24×7 video workloads

6 WD_BLACK 8TB D10 Hard Drives
Our Score:
8.9
WD_BLACK

Purpose-built for gamers based on WD_Black quality and reliability.

Features two 7.5W USB Type-A charging ports to charge your gaming gear and accessories.

Speed up to 250 MB/s rated at 7200RPM with active cooling technology to help you stay in the game.

Extra storage to capture and collect your best in-screen game captures.

7 LaCie  Hard Drives
Our Score:
8.7
LaCie

Quickly and easily connect to the latest Windows and Mac computers with Rugged’s reversible USB-C cable, or legacy computers using the included USB 3.0 adapter

Enjoy fast USB-C 5Gb/s file transfers, backups, and image browsing

Take advantage of a complimentary one-month membership to the Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps Plan for access to awesome photo and video editing apps

Confidently tackle any terrain with drop, crush, and rain resistance

8 WD WDBWLG0060HBK  Hard Drive
Our Score:
8.5
Western Digital

High-capacity add-on storage

Plug-and-play ready for Windows PCs

Fast data transfers

WD quality inside and out

Includes an 18 inches USB 3.0 cable and 18 watt power adapter

An external hard drive for Windows or Mac computers, simply back up with a quick drag and drop

Ideal for the home, office, or dorm, the Seagate Desktop Drive offers 8TB of enormous desktop storage for photos, movies, music, and more

The perfect laptop hard drive or PC drive, just plug into to a computer for automatic recognition no software required

10 WD WDBBGB0060HBK Hard Drive
Our Score:
8.0
Western Digital

SuperSpeed USB (5 Gbps); USB 2.0 compatible

256-bit AES hardware encryption

Massive capacity, up to 18TB capacity (1 1TB = one trillion bytes. Actual user capacity may be less depending on operating environment.)

Includes software for device management and backup with password protection (Download and installation required. Terms and conditions apply. User account registration may be required.)

Product Images, Product Titles, Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API

What Does Our Expert Advice You To Consider For Selecting best networked hard drives?

best networked hard drives is chosen based on a number of parameters. Depending on the product category, the learning process differs. And so, we're here to consult, guide, and address your product-related problems.

Please keep in mind the following points before selecting best networked hard drives:

External Vs. Internal HDD

The main advantage of external hard disks is their portability. Which also makes them perfect backups in case your PC is compromised. Desktop PCs allow you room to add extra hard disks, but if you are using a laptop or other gaming device, you will have to replace your existing hard drive.

Reliability

All hard drives eventually die, and there’s no definitive answer on when that day will come. We recommend replacing your backup drives between the third and sixth years of use, if possible. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to get metrics on which hard drive models are more reliable over the long run, and even so, there will always be outliers and failures that occur sooner than expected.

Rotation Speed

Did you know that hard drives store information on spinning magnetic plates? The faster these plates spin, the faster the load and access time. The rotation is measured in RPM (Rotations per Minute), and although we recommend hard disks with 7200RPM, 5400RPM is still a good option.

Performance

Transfer speed is the feature that most people notice on a daily basis. We evaluated each drive with tests that replicated different real-world uses, and we focused on the drives that consistently outperformed the other contenders. Drives that did well on some tests but failed others were unreliable and not worth purchasing.

Size Of The Disk

I understand that you are buying the hard disk in order to eliminate the need to delete some files when you install a new game or add modifications. Also, at a time when a single game can take up to 100GB, Call of Duty WWII is 90GB; it only makes sense that you select the hard disk that will allow you sufficient storage space.

Speed

HDDs, or hard drives, contain spinning disks that read and write your data. The faster these disks spin—rated in rotations per minute (RPM)—the faster the drive can access data and transfer it to your computer.

Cache Memory

This is a cache that functions much like Computer RAM Memory. It stores important files temporarily so that it takes less time to access them on the disk. The larger the cache size, the faster the hard disk will be. However, the difference is not major, and as such, this should not be the biggest determiner.

FAQs

What is a networked hard drive?

A networked hard drive is a type of external storage device that is designed to be connected to a network. It allows users to store and access files from multiple computers and other devices, such as smartphones or tablets, on the same network.

What types of files can I store on my networked hard drive?

You can store any type of file on your networked hard drive, including photos, videos, music, documents, and more. Many networked hard drives also come with additional features, such as automatic backups, encryption, and password protection.

How do I connect a networked hard drive to my network?

A2: Depending on the type of networked hard drive you have, the connection process will vary. Generally, you will need to connect the hard drive to your router or switch using an Ethernet cable, and then configure the drive’s settings using the manufacturer’s software or web interface.

What type of networked hard drives are available?

A3: There are many different types of networked hard drives available, including NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices, SAN (Storage Area Network) devices, and direct-attached storage. Each type of device offers different benefits and features, so it’s important to research and compare the options before making a purchase.

Because we are product consulting professionals with much expertise, we believe the data is credible. Aside from that, the best networked hard drives data is kept up to date, and you may feel confident that the information is up to date and correct.

We can help you in addition to best networked hard drives. If you want to support, please don't hesitate to contact us. Thanks for reading!


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About Tim Powers

Tim Powers

Tim Powers is an audio equipment & home theater gadget reviewer and the editor of TheAudioInsights.com. He has been involved in the home theater hobby since the late 1990s when he purchased his first AV receiver. Tim is also a writer, with articles appearing in various online and print publications.