Which Hard Drives (HDD) Are the Most Reliable?

This article is based on current data from the Backblaze 2024 report - a company that analyzes failure rates of over 250,000 drives in their data centers.

Key Findings from the 2024 Report

• Overall Annual Failure Rate (AFR) was 1.42%
• HGST drives showed the lowest failure rates at 0.87%
• 20TB drives show the highest failure rate (2.38%)
• The HGST HMS5C4040BLE640 model proved most reliable with AFR of only 0.25%
• Average drive lifespan is approximately 5 years

How to Extend Your Hard Drive's Lifespan

• Maintain temperature between 20-25 degrees C
• Use a UPS for protection against sudden shutdowns
• Regularly check drive status using SMART tools
• Avoid filling the drive above 85% capacity

When to Replace the Drive?

• Noticeable computer slowdown
• Unusual sounds - clicking, grinding, buzzing
• SMART errors in diagnostic tests
• More than 5 years of use

Summary

• HGST drives are the most reliable (AFR 0.87%), followed by Toshiba (1.23%)
• Avoid 20TB drives - they have the highest failure rate
• Regardless of drive quality, always make backups