A single hard drive is perfectly alright for a typical user. But it often does not provide enough storage for an advanced user. A person, who uses his PC for video editing and graphic designing, is more likely to need more storage.
Installing two drives in a PC increases the overall performance. Besides, two drives provide you with more security than one does. But you have to bear in mind that both drives should be in use simultaneously for better performance.
2 VS 1 Hard Drive – Can You Have 2 Hard Drives on a PC
Almost every desktop PC allows you to use an internal hard drive. Yet, don’t worry if you don’t have an extra internal hard disk slot, as you can use an external hard disk for your laptop. Both internal and external drives are easy to set up and use. With a second hard drive, you get extra storage along with the chance to use a different OS at the same time.
Here’s a more detailed look at the advantages of 2 hard drives over 1 alongside obvious drawbacks, so you get to put an end to the dilemma.
Increasing Storage Space
Installing an extra hard drive to your computer is a fast and hassle-free way of increasing storage. Plus, there is no need to remove your current hard drive. Furthermore, moving files or your laptop’s operating system is optional rather than a must.
When you regularly deal with large files such as those involved in video editing or graphic designing, you need more storage. In that case, installing two hard drives instead of a single can be a more convenient option.
Reducing Cost
You can use an extensive hard drive on your pc. But purchasing the largest hard disk drives can sometimes be a pain in the neck. At the same time, things can get pretty expensive too. Rather than installing one gigantic drive, using multiple is the easiest way to cut the cost. Furthermore, with less money, you get the same amount of storage.
Safeguarding Against Potential Data Loss
Installing multiple hard drives in a single PC provides you with extra data security. For example, in case of hardware failure, you can easily and quickly back up data from one drive to another. Besides, you can create multiple copies of crucial files concurrently.
Advanced users may use a redundant array of independent disks for protecting data. When your drive becomes corrupted, mirrored drives provide you with redundancy. Other than that, some disk drives spread the data at the byte level across multiple hard drives and assemble the data in an immensely resistant format. So, these drives are more secure.
Is It Better to Have 2 Hard Drives or 1
Generally, two drives synced simultaneously are necessary for faster operations. For instance, you can keep the operating system and essential software installed on one drive while reserving the other for casual files. Otherwise, you can use one for putting your system files and the other for user files.
However, try to put the files orderly on the second drive. Because if you keep them as a random chunk, you may not notice any significant performance gain. Though they won’t do any harm, you cannot get the full potential out of two drives.
Single Drive VS Dual Drive for Gaming
Generally, one hard drive should handle regular day-to-day tasks without hiccups. But when you require more than 2TB of storage, adding another drive has its perks. That is because hard drives over 2TB of storage deal with chunks of data and therefore may slow down the OS. So, if you are a gamer, use an SSD instead as it has faster read-write speeds.
Does Having Multiple Hard Drives Slow Down Computer?
Generally, you can determine the number of drives to use according to the motherboard’s specification. As each hard drive runs out of its own SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) port, it does not affect the performance of your computer. Yet, make sure that both of them are in use simultaneously.
Conclusion
It is not easy to suggest how many hard drives you should use. It depends on your usage patterns. If you consider yourself a regular user, I recommend using a single hard drive. In contrast, if you are a creator with lots of editing and designing in hand, adding another hard drive is the most convenient yet safe way to upgrade your storage.
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