Hi all! Today we’ll talk about the pricing policy for hard drives for computers and laptops. Let’s compare prices for new and old (used) HDDs. I’ll give you some tips that may come in handy when purchasing.

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You need to understand that a hard drive is a consumable that has its own service life. Only this period can be short, or it can be very long. This depends on many factors of the operation of your operating system in conjunction with other components of a desktop computer or laptop. But that’s a completely different story, and that’s not what this article is about today; we’re interested in prices.

Photo by the channel author Photo by the channel author

The pricing policy for HDDs for a desktop computer (3.5) and a laptop (2.5) is different; the latter are always more expensive. I will tell you about three options for purchasing discs.

• Buying new in a store with a guarantee.
• Buying an old (used) disk at a computer store
• Buying used from the hands of the population.

Let’s start with the most expensive purchase option. If we talk about new HDDs for personal computers (3.5), then volumes from 500 GB to 18 TR will be on sale. Disks differ not only in brand and data storage capacity, but also in cache memory, rotation speed (revolutions per minute), purpose, interface bandwidth, noise level and other differences. The most common discs are 0.5-1 TR in volume; they account for the lion’s share of store sales. The most popular manufacturers: Seagate, WD and Toshiba. The price of new ones for 500 GB will be 2500-3000 rubles, for 1 TR the average price is from 3000 to 4000 rubles.

Photo of the channel author, HDD (3.5) for a 500 GB desktop computer Photo of the channel author, HDD (3.5) for a 500 GB desktop computer Photo of the channel author, HDD (3.5) for a 1 TR desktop computer Photo of the channel author, HDD (3.5) for a desktop computer for 1 TR

For HDDs for laptops (2.5), data storage volumes from 500 GB to 5 TR are on sale. The differences are the same as for models for personal computers, plus different thicknesses (7. 9.5 and 15 mm). At prices from 2700 to 3500 rubles for 500 GB and from 3200 to 4500 rubles for 1 TR. This is based on the most popular volumes.

Photo of the channel author, hard drives for a laptop (2.5) Photo of the channel author, hard drives for a laptop (2.5)

The second option is not very expensive, but not cheap either. If you buy in consignment or computer stores that specialize in buying/selling used. computer components, then prices will certainly be lower. But they will also offer you a warranty from 14 days to three months; these periods are not regulated by anything, since the product is used. These warranty obligations are assumed and established by the store itself. In some situations, it is possible to link the law on the protection of consumer rights and other legal acts, but a legal assessment of each situation separately is necessary. Disc volumes in such stores can be found in different sizes and are already less than 500 GB. Hard drives must be in good condition without bad sectors or errors. You can find good and expensive HDD models, not just the most budget options. Below in the tables you can see approximate prices in such stores.

Approximate prices in stores for buying/selling used. computer equipment on HDD 3.5 for personal computers Approximate prices in stores for buying/selling used computer equipment on HDD 3.5 for personal computers Approximate prices in stores for buying/selling used computer equipment on HDD 2.5 for laptops Approximate prices in stores for buying/selling used computer equipment on HDD 2.5 for laptops Photo by the channel author, hard drives for a desktop computer of 250 and 320 GB Photo of the channel author, hard drives for a desktop computer of 250 and 320 GB

The third option, the most budget-friendly, is purchasing from the population based on advertisements for used sites. merchandise and various “flea markets” on social networks. There prices are not regulated by anything, only by the greed of sellers. You can easily buy for 500 rubles a HDD for a 500 GB laptop in excellent condition, and for the same amount a hard drive that is “on its last legs” with a bunch of errors and weak sectors. No one will give you a guarantee; in rare cases, some sellers give some kind of deadline. This is a “pig in a poke” purchase, try in such situations to ask for test results with the HDD status or ask for time to check. Now there is a bunch of different software for quick tests.

You can buy a hard drive in this condition or worse. You can buy a hard drive in this condition or worse. You can buy a hard drive in this condition or worse.

There is an article on the channel with recommendations, in which I tell you what programs to use to test the hard drive:

Two programs that will help extend the “life” of your computer and not lose important data