Best Hard Drive For Plex. Plex is one of the best platforms out there for users to access all of their multimedia content from one place.
No longer do you have to worry about which computer or mobile device has which files, because Plex brings together all of your media files from any number of sources and puts them in one convenient location.
Whether you have a library of movies or music, you can designate a specific computer to act as your server and store your video files on it. Then, with an app on your phone, you can stream whatever videos or songs you want to watch no matter where you are.
You don’t have to limit yourself just to installing Plex on a NAS device either. You can also use it with private cloud storage features that allow for users on your network or even outside your local area network (LAN) to access Plex databases.
Many people use private cloud systems from services such as Dropbox solely for the sake of using Plex Media Server.
The good thing is the fact there are a lot of other viable options you can use depending on how many simultaneous requests you need to run and how much local storage space you’ve got available. Speaking of which, let’s look at some of the best hard drives for plex.
7 Best Hard Drive For Plex
| Image | Title | Buy |
|---|---|---|
 | WD 2TB Elements Portable External Hard | Check Price |
 | Seagate BarraCuda 4TB Internal Hard | Check Price |
 | Toshiba Canvio Advance 4TB Portable | Check Price |
 | Western Digital 6TB WD Red NAS Internal | Check Price |
 | Fantom Drives 6TB External Hard Drive HDD | Check Price |
 | LaCie Rugged USB-C 5TB External Hard | Check Price |
 | G-Technology 10TB G-DRIVE | Check Price |
1. Western Digital 2TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive
This Elements 2TB USB 3.0 External Hard Drive offers you the opportunity to take your important files with you while on the go using a hard disk that boasts a storage capacity of up to 2 TB.
Meaning that you will have extra memory available and which can be used for storing videos, photos music, docs, etc., or backing them up.
You connect the drive to your computer via a USB 3.0 port at speeds of up to 5 Gb/s (backward compatible with USB 2 – 480 Mb/s) as it is formatted in NTFS and hence Windows 10, 8.1 and 7 users will recognize it immediately.
For Mac users – this external HDD is also available in HFS+ who can format the HDD themselves to work with Mac applications like Time Machine.
The Elements proudly supports USB 3.0. As the first USB generation, this technology has been around for nearly ten years.
Though it is quickly becoming eclipsed by the faster, newer 2nd and 3rd generations of USB, it still remains common on computers and devices today as a secondary option until such time as every individual device is completely updated with its next or newest available upgrade.
The Elements utilizes this technology to transfer data from a hard drive to another drive at speeds that out-pace most average USB 2.0 connections – up to 40% faster than 2nd Generation technology.
2. Seagate BarraCuda 4TB Internal Hard Drive
The Seagate Exos line of hard drives were designed to be a full-on replacement for regular mechanical desktop drives.
They boast some of the best endurance numbers in the market, making it a great investment. The drive employed helium sealed design, which helped decrease drag power and increase thermal conductivity at the same time.
It also offers several capacity options, making it easier for customers to buy according to their needs. With this device package.
Users have ensured anywhere between a 500 TB/year workload rate along with an MTBF rating of 2.5 million hours.
Unlike other hard drives that spin at 7,200 rpm, the Seagate BarraCuda 4TB spins at 5,900 rpms. In turn, this provides users with up to 256 MB/s Max Sustained data rate coupled with a 512MB cache for readily accessing frequently used files.
This makes it the best mechanical HDD for your Plex Media Server as well as your most demanding gaming rig.
3. Toshiba Canvio Advance 4TB Portable
Toshiba makes life a little easier for busy people. Available in striking colors, these portable drives can fit into any schedule and on top of that protect and secure your files, which is the last thing you want to forget about.
But with up to 4TB(1) capacity you shouldn’t have to get stressed out about running out of space when it comes time to download all those pictures, songs, movies, and more.
With password protection and automatic backup features, you won’t need to worry about losing or forgetting your files software is available via free download, for PC only.
The Canvio Advance 4TB Portable Hard Drive enables you to easily back up your files from any USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 device.
Such as a desktop or laptop computer, external hard drive, flash drive, and more. Designed for home and office use and available in vibrant colors with a fun textured finish.
The thin air-spun pattern of the hard drive can keep your style ultra-cool while also helping it stay safe against accidental drops.
The Canvio Advance also features a backup and security protection software CD to ensure maximum protection against data theft with little maintenance needed on your part.
4. Western Digital 6TB WD Red NAS Internal Hard Drive
Western Digital NAS has a 6TB of capacity to store your data in an easy and logical way.
You can now search and backup all your music, movies, and photos automatically on your computer or mobile device so you always have access to them when needed.
There are no limits to our transfer rates with the USB 3.0 port that is built directly into the enclosure, so whether you are transferring files or streaming multimedia across your network, it’s easier than ever before.
Western Digital has an incredible lineup of hard drives available right now. The western digital Red is a type of hard drive that can be used with various devices and this is incredibly versatile.
Which means it’s perfect for multiple different purposes. It’s ideal for use in a personal or home NAS system with up to 8 bays.
Because it provides all the durability and power you need to store your precious data over long periods of time. This brand also comes up with a variety of drives starting from as little as 6TB currently online.
5. Fantom Drives 6TB External Hard Drive
Hard disks are one of the great inventions ever because they not only help you store data but also can make your life easier.
The Fantom Drives 6TB External Hard Drive is a great buy as it has an aluminum housing that acts as a heatsink to keep the hard drive cool at all times.
In addition, its aluminum design will keep it durable and reliable (the best drives out there are fashioned after aircraft designs) and other than that the external hard drive comes with a USB 3.0 port (which boosts data transfer speeds up to 10X).
The reason it is able to deliver information super fast is because of the way that it has been designed.
In fact, this hard drive takes things a step further in terms of storage capacity as you get 6TB of space where you can store your favorite movie collection for when you want to watch them on the Plex server and other sections that might require more space for their content in the future.
The hard drive will be powered by a 12V/2A DC converter and features a USB 3.0 connection on the backside.
There will be various cables included inside the box along with the warranty card so that you know the item has three years’ worth of coverage from problems or malfunctions.
6. LaCie Rugged USB-C 5TB External Hard Drive
LaCie, as a brand that specializes in rugged hard drives, is one of the most sought-after options by tech enthusiasts and professionals alike.
This LaCie 4big Quadra drive is rated 4 stars out of 5 and has a 2 terabyte storage capacity.
Although some waterproofing has been reported with other brands, the LaCie Rugged RAID still remains an industry leader to beat more so at such an affordable price point.
As for connecting this tough drive to your computer – to name just a few of its connectivity options – there’s USB 3.0, USB 2.0 as well as FireWire 800/400 compatibility which can make transfers fast whether it be at home via USB or on a Mac using FireWire connections instead.
The key thing to remember is what you’re buying resistant hardware really depends on which operating system you plan on using the hardware with as different connections are available depending on the make/model selected.
In addition, the network built into this PC allows it to be attached to any system. Whether the computer is made by Apple or is running the Windows operating system, this device will adapt accordingly.
Although a Thunderbolt 3 type-C connection can reach speeds as fast as 130MBPs, even faster than standard speeds when transferring these files through a more traditional USB type-B connection.
Users should expect to receive as much as 15 minutes per GB of transfer speed overall. When closely examining this product’s hardware.
Including its robustness and durability for handling an array of tasks in today’s networked world, it shouldn’t come as such a surprise that this item comes with a 1-year warranty from the manufacturer.
7. G-Technology 10TB G-DRIVE with Thunderbolt
When consumers create their own Plex accounts, there are a handful of HDDs that many people turn to for their own personal installations.
Out of all the options available, G-Technology 10TB G-DRIVE is certainly one of the most popular and trusted options currently being used by a lot of people and it certainly makes sense considering one can store up to 10 TB’s worth of data on this machine.
While it isn’t cheap in any way or form, this HDD offers users exceptional value because it offers tremendous performance even during high usage scenarios, while also being rugged and durable enough to sustain moderate drops without taking damage.
This hard drive might be the fastest SATA hard drive available on the market today for those looking for speed and style rolled into one.
With a 7200 RPM where you can read and write huge chunks of data at speeds up to 250MB/s, you can edit high-resolution photos with incredible ease.
While knowing that all your content is secure thanks to a sleek aluminum design that lets you rely on the solid protection of a 5-year warranty in case anything goes wrong.
Best Hard Drive For Plex
Conclusion
The specific type of hard drive used for your media server depends on your individual needs and preference. However, for a dedicated, high-performance system it’s recommended to use an SSD (or several), along with a NAS HDD.
The combination of the two perfectly balances fast performance with higher storage capacity and lower costs due to their large capacity.
Although if this is too expensive or you simply want something simple, there’s nothing stopping you from using a simpler solution such as just a generic HDD that comes in different capacities.
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