It’s kind of scary how fast our PC drives fill up; games, media, movies, and more chew through them like crazy. Investing in on-site storage, whether you opt for an internal or external drive, is the best way to make sure your files are always there when you need them. Whether you need a fast but lightweight SSD or a slow-moving but capacious HDD, we’ve found offers on top brands like Crucial, WD, and SanDisk. Here are November’s most impressive HDD and SSD deals.
The Hottest SSD and HDD Deals for November
The Best Internal SSD Deals
Keeping your drive inside your computer is the traditional way to go, and internal SSDs are faster and less expensive than external drives. Cross-check to ensure these storage devices are compatible with your desktop or laptop. With capacities up to 2TB, you won’t need much more than this to keep your data close.
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Samsung 990 Evo Plus 2TB Internal SSD
Specs: 2TB | 7,250 MB/s read/write | PCIe 4.0
Samsung is one of the most reliable manufacturers of SSD storage out there. PCMag gave an Editors’ Choice award to the 990 Evo Plus in its review, saying that the slim PCIe drive “is moderately priced and energy-efficient, has very welcome security features, and includes the Samsung Magician suite of SSD optimization tools.” Its design lets it run in both PCIe 4.0 and PCIe 5.0 slots, and a five-year warranty helps keep your data safe.
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Crucial BX500 240GB Internal SSD
Specs: 1TB | 550 MB/s read, 540 MB/s write | SATA
Here’s a solid budget pick for an internal SSD with a decent amount of storage. This drive’s been on the market for half a decade but still delivers decent results, especially for the price. PCMag reviewed it when it came out and was impressed by its solid performance and reliability, even if other Crucial models had better speed. The BX500 uses Micron 3D NAND storage technology and comes with a three-year limited warranty.
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WD_BLACK 2TB SN850X Internal SSD
Specs: 2TB | 7,300 MB/s read/write | PCie 4.0
For something speedier, this $30 price drop on an internal drive that got an Editors’ Choice award from PCMag in its review is worth a look. The WD_BLACK SN850X is an SSD designed for gamers, with expanded capacity and performance for frequent access. It set new benchmarking records for the category, and aced both the PCMark and 3DMark storage tests. Install the WD_BLACK Dashboard software for drive health alerts and more.
The Best External SSD Deals
If you need a little more portability without sacrificing space, an external SSD is the way to go. These have come a long way since the measly flash memory sticks and can now hold massive amounts of data and transfer it back and forth through USB-C to laptops, desktops, and other devices. They’re also housed in rugged casings to survive frequent transport.
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Crucial X10 Pro 4TB External SSD
Specs: 4TB | 2,100/2,000 read/write | USB-C
Shifting over to USB-C connectivity for external SSDs means that transfer speeds can be much faster, and the Crucial X10 Pro shows that off in style, with double the read/write rates of USB-A drives. PCMag gave it a glowing review, saying that the X10 Pro was a “go-anywhere data carrier, with ruggedness cred, 256-bit AES hardware-based encryption, and all the speed most users will need.” The Crucial X10 Pro even earned an Editors’ Choice award.
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SanDisk Extreme Portable 1TB External SSD
Specs: 1TB | 1,050/1,000MB/s read/write | USB 3.2
This is a tremendous price on a rugged and easy-to-use drive that can withstand some serious situations. USB-C connectivity gives you the best read-write speeds for an external drive, at over 1,000 megabytes per second. The casing is durable and has a handy loop for a lanyard or carabiner. 256-bit AES encryption helps you keep the contents safe if you misplace it. This is one of the nicest prices you’ll see on a portable of this capacity, so take it home while you can.
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Western Digital Elements SE 2TB External SSD
Specs: 2TB | 400MB/s read/write | USB 3.0
It’s not the speediest SSD you’ll find, but the Elements SE is a pocket-sized repository that will carry your files just fine. At just 2.5 inches across, it’s easy to carry with you, and drop resistance up to 6.5 feet means it’ll take a beating if things get crazy. Note that it’s a USB-A connector (that hooks up to a USB Micro-B port on the drive), so if you have a MacBook with only USB-C connectivity, you’ll need an adapter.
The Best HDD Deals
For the maximum amount of storage, you’ve got to go old-school with a hard disk drive. Although these are more vulnerable to mechanical wear than solid-state drives, hard disks are a time-tested technology that is both reliable and affordable. This category covers internal and external drives, some designed for desktops and others for laptops.
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Seagate Expansion 12TB External HDD
Specs: 12TB | 120MB/s read/write | USB 3.0
Have a ton of files to manage? This beefcake is ready to flex for you. The Seagate Expansion external hard drive boasts a muscular 12TB of available storage space, and it’s way cheaper per terabyte than any competing SSD, which can’t get anywhere near the capacity. While the USB 3.0 connection isn’t the latest and greatest, it’s still perfectly fast, and Seagate’s Rescue Data Recovery services can save your files from accidental erasure.
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Toshiba X300 16TB Internal HDD
Specs: 16TB | 220MB/s read/write | SATA
If you’re building a game machine and you need space for your entire Steam library, the only real solution is an internal drive with tons of room. Toshiba’s X300 is a tremendous value for a budget drive, with solid read/write speeds. Running at 7200 RPM with Toshiba’s cache technology making transfers efficient, it’ll last a long time, and an internal shock sensor and ramp-loading technology prevent data corruption. Snag a 21% discount right now.
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Western Digital Elements 14TB External HDD
Specs: 14TB | 113MB/s read/write | USB, Thunderbolt
Another desktop-based storage solution, this tower-shaped Western Digital drive is an imposing behemoth, but behind the shiny black exterior beats the heart of a champion. This potent plug-and-play drive for Windows computers is effortless to set up, offers fast data transfer speeds, and provides plenty of stability and security. The unit supports both USB 3.0 and USB 3.2 for maximum compatibility, and Amazon has it on sale for 16% off right now.
SSD and HDD Buying Guide
Looking to upgrade your storage? Here are some things to keep in mind:
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Internal SSDs and HDDs come in several form factors, with the most popular now being the M.2 “gumstick” variety, although 2.5-inch drives still have plenty of use cases. Typically, solid-state drives have more variance because they don’t require a mechanical spool. Ensure that the model you’re purchasing will fit your machine—consult the manual or the manufacturer’s website for specifications.
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Storage drives also use several different interfaces, and compatibility is important there as well. The two primary options are SATA and PCIe, each with advantages and disadvantages. In addition, the data transfer protocol is also different between units. Make sure they match.
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Performance-wise, two factors matter: size and speed. Both increase cost, so balancing your budget with how much space you want is key. Thankfully, drive prices are lower than ever when you consider how capacious they are, so you can get massive multi-terabyte drives for pretty cheap.
Frequently Asked SSD and HDD Questions
How Do I Know What SSD I Should Get?
The sheer variety of solid-state drives on the market can be overwhelming. Purchasing with purpose is the way to get the best value moving forward. If you’re moving files between locations, you obviously need an external SSD. A smaller solid-state drive will be more cost-effective if you build a desktop that keeps system files on an SSD and program files on an HDD. If you need to store massive amounts of data on a budget, an HDD will be the best option.
Which SSD Is Better, SATA or NVMe?
The major difference in solid-state drives is their interface method. Serial ATA technology is older and works like traditional mechanical drives, while Non-Volatile Memory Express was designed to work exclusively with SSDs. NVMe uses the PCIe bus, which is being regularly updated and expanded to exploit additional lanes of data transfer, increasing speed and capacity with each generation. NVMe will generally provide better results, but SATA may be compatible with more systems.
How Big of an SSD Do I Really Need?
As the great computer scientist Tupac Shakur famously said, “Only God can judge you.” We’re proponents of investing a little more than you think you need for a more spacious drive. Given the skyrocketing sizes of file installs, with some AAA games coming in at over 100GB, you’ll find whatever drive you buy filling up fast. It’s smart to future-proof your setup now instead of buying a patchwork of external storage later.