Before You Buy Hard Drives

RPM is an acroyomn for revolutions per minute. Basically this is how fast the computer can read from the hard drive. 5400 RPM is common, however, you should try to get one that is 7200 RPM. A slower RPM will slow down your gaming, because it takes longer to access the data.

How big does a hard drive really need to be? I recommend at least 100 GB for an avid gamer. Prices have come down a lot, so get the biggest ou can afford! You'll need lots of room for saved games, custom files, and the game itself. You'll need to check your motherboard's manual or with your computer manufacturer to see how big your computer can support.

Like most important purchases, you should shop around and see what you can find for discounts and rebates. If your hard drive comes with a mail in rebate, send it in! You might be able to buy a new game or some RAM with the extra money.

Warranties are important. You need to be able to return the hard drive if you discover there is a problem with it, or if 6 months from now it crashes. The majority of stores will allow you to return defective products right away, so that shouldn't be a problem.

If you have had a computer for awhile, you've probably have come to trust specific manufacturer's to produce quality hard drives. If you aren't comfortable buying a hard drive made by a manufacturer you don't have experience with, then don't buy it. Buy brands that you are comfortable with so you can be confident in your purchase.