Why do Seagate mechanical hard drives have higher failure rates than those of HGST, Toshiba, and Western Digital? – Quora. We don’t have enough definitive data on Samsung or Toshiba to make a conclusion about them. Which hard drive brands last the longest? Short answer: HGST (rebranded name for Hitachi) drives generally last longer than Seagate and Western Digital. to preserve the data inside, you need to re-write the data to the HDD every few years. This can take a few years (more if the HDD is kept in premium conditions). The weak magnetic forces will eventually disipate. Does HDD degrade over time?ĭata does degrade over time, a HDD is magnetic, like a tape (if you remember what that is). As such, SSDs can withstand accidental drops and extreme temperatures better than HDDs. SSDs are more reliable when it comes to harsh environments than HDDs because they don’t have actuator arms or any moving parts. An SSD is not a good option for long-term storage, though. … All this means that SSDs are a great choice for day-to-day storage over HDDs, so long as performance is bigger priority than capacity, given the relatively higher price of a solid state drive. The number of cycles will only be a few thousand on most drives. Is SSD a good option for long-term storage? The Western Digital Elements is one of the most reliable external hard disks out there and offers a slim form factor. If you’re using an external hard drive to back up your data, you might want to consider replacing it every few years to ensure your data is safe. The average lifespan for an external hard drive, assuming no physical damage occurs, is around 3-5 years, depending on the make, model and conditions it is stored in. How long does an external hard drive last? What happens if my external hard drive breaks?.Is a 256GB SSD better than a 1TB hard drive?.Is it OK to leave external hard drive plugged in all the time?.Is SSD a good option for long-term storage?.How long does an external hard drive last?.