External vs Internal Hard Drives for Video Editing: Which One is Better?
Whether you're a professional video editor or you're just starting, choosing the right hard drive for video editing can be tricky. With so many options available, it's easy to get overwhelmed. In this blog post, we're going to compare external vs internal hard drives for video editing to help you make an informed decision.
Internal Hard Drives
First, let's talk about internal hard drives. These hard drives are installed inside your computer and are the primary storage device for your operating system and software. If you have a desktop PC or an upgradeable laptop, you can easily install a larger hard drive or replace your existing one with a faster one. Internal hard drives come in two types: hard disk drives (HDD) and solid-state drives (SSD).
Hard Disk Drives (HDD)
HDDs are the traditional type of hard drive that have been used for decades. They are affordable and can offer large storage capacities. However, they're relatively slow when compared to SSDs. A 7200 RPM HDD can provide average read/write speeds of around 150MB/s. This may be enough for basic video editing, but not ideal for high-bitrate 4K video editing.
Solid-State Drives (SSD)
SSDs are a newer type of internal hard drive that are faster and more reliable than HDDs. They use flash memory to store data, which means they have no moving parts, making them less likely to fail. A high-end NVMe SSD can offer read/write speeds of over 3000MB/s, making them ideal for high-bitrate video editing.
External Hard Drives
External hard drives are popular among video editors who need portability or require additional storage for large video files. These are separate hard drives that connect to your computer via USB or Thunderbolt. They come in two types: HDD and SSD.
Hard Disk Drives (HDD)
External HDDs are similar in performance to internal HDDs. They're affordable and offer large storage capacities. However, they're relatively slow when compared to SSDs. A USB 3.0 external HDD can provide average read/write speeds of around 100MB/s. This is enough for basic video editing but may slow down the workflow when editing large video files.
Solid-State Drives (SSD)
External SSDs are faster and more reliable than external HDDs. They are also more expensive but provide faster read/write speeds, making them ideal for high-bitrate video editing. A Thunderbolt 3 SSD can offer read/write speeds of over 2000MB/s, which is more than enough for editing large video files.
Conclusion
When it comes to video editing, internal SSDs are ideal for performance, reliability, and speed. However, external SSDs can be a great option for those who require portability or additional storage. If you're on a tight budget, an internal HDD or external HDD may be suitable for basic video editing, but it might slow down the workflow when editing large video files.
In conclusion, before making a purchase decision, it's important to consider your specific needs and budget. We hope this comparison of external vs internal hard drives for video editing helped you in making an informed decision.