The difference between an internal hard drive (HDD) and a USB hard drive (external hard drive) lies mainly in the design, the connection type and the portability:
- Internal hard drive
Connects directly to a computer's motherboard via a SATA or PCIe port. It is permanently installed in the PC or laptop's case.
- USB hard drive
Connects to the computer via an external USB port. The USB port provides a universal way to connect the hard drive to various devices.
2.) Portability:
- Internal Hard Drive
Remains built inside the computer, making it less portable.
- USB Hard Drive
Is portable and easily connects to different computers or devices. It is good for transporting and sharing data between different systems.
3.) Area of application:
- Internal hard drive
Usually used as the primary storage device for the operating system, programs and files. It stays permanently in the computer and often has higher performance because it is connected directly to the motherboard.
- USB hard drive
Often used as an additional, portable storage device for backups or to expand internal storage space. It is ideal for storing and transporting large amounts of data.
4.) Performance:
- Internal hard drive
Can offer faster read and write speeds because it is connected directly to the system (especially with modern SSDs via PCIe).
- USB hard drive
Performance depends on the USB version (USB 2.0, 3.0, 3.1). USB 3.0 and above offer faster speeds, but typically a direct internal connection via SATA or PCIe is faster than USB.
5.) Power supply:
- Internal hard drive
Powered directly by the computer's power supply.
- USB hard drive
Smaller USB hard drives are often powered by the USB port. Larger external hard drives may require an additional power supply.
6.) Installation and accessibility:
- Internal Hard Drive
Requires removal of the computer case for installation and is less easily accessible after installation.
- USB Hard Drive
Is ready to use and does not require installation inside the computer. It can be connected and removed easily with plug and play.
Overall, internal hard drives are an integral part of a computer and offer higher performance, while USB hard drives are flexible, portable and ideal for external data storage.
FAQ 92: Updated on: 10 September 2024 09:14Windows
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