Is an external SSD worth it over a cheaper external HDD?

If you move large files or edit video, yes — a portable SSD over USB 3.2 Gen 2 is several times faster than a mechanical drive, and far more rugged with no moving parts. For pure backup and bulk storage where speed matters less, an external HDD gives you many more terabytes for the same money.

How do I back up my PC to an external drive in South Africa?

Plug the drive in over USB and use Windows File History or Backup, or macOS Time Machine, to copy your files automatically. For the safest setup, keep one backup on the drive and a second copy in the cloud, so a single lost or failed drive never wipes out your only copy.

Do I need a power adapter for an external hard drive?

Portable 2.5" drives are bus-powered — the USB cable supplies everything, so there's no adapter. Larger 3.5" desktop drives draw more power and need a mains adapter, which is why they stay on a desk rather than travelling in a bag.

Can I use an external hard drive for PS5 or Xbox games?

Yes. An external HDD is great for storing your game library and moving titles on and off the console's internal storage. Some current-gen games must run from the console's internal SSD, but an external drive still saves you re-downloading them. Check your console's current storage rules to be sure.

Which external drive gives the best price per terabyte?

Mechanical external HDDs offer the lowest cost per terabyte — typically several times cheaper per TB than portable SSDs. If you want maximum storage for the least money, a higher-capacity HDD is the value choice; pay the SSD premium only when you need the speed or durability.

How do I use one external drive on both Windows and Mac?

Format it as exFAT. Both Windows and macOS read and write exFAT, so the same drive works across both without extra software. The default Windows (NTFS) format is read-only on a Mac unless you add a driver, so exFAT is the simplest cross-platform choice.

Are external hard drives reliable for long-term backups?

They're reliable, but no single drive is a guarantee — drives can fail with age or a drop. Treat any one drive as one copy, not the only copy, and keep a second backup elsewhere. Store the drive somewhere cool and dry, and check important backups occasionally to confirm they still open.

What's the difference between an external HDD and a flash/USB drive?

A USB flash drive is small and convenient for moving a few files, but limited in capacity and slower for large transfers. An external hard drive offers far more storage — terabytes versus gigabytes — making it the better choice for full backups, game libraries and media collections.

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External Hard Drives

External Hard Drives — Portable Storage & Backup 💾

An external hard drive is extra storage you plug in over USB — no opening your PC. It is the simplest way to back up files, free up space on a full laptop, carry a game or media library between machines, or keep a separate copy of work you can't afford to lose. Portable models are pocket-sized and powered by the cable itself; desktop models hold more and use a mains adapter.

Choose by capacity and speed. Mechanical drives (HDDs) give you the most terabytes per rand and suit backups, archives and media libraries. Portable SSDs cost more per terabyte but transfer far faster and shrug off knocks, which matters if you edit video or move large files often. For everyday backup, a 2.5" portable HDD is the value pick; for speed, a portable SSD wins.

Evetech stocks portable and desktop external drives from the major brands, all with local warranty and nationwide delivery. Compare capacity and interface below, and consider a second drive — or a drive plus cloud — so an important backup is never the only copy.

How to Choose an External Hard Drive

Two questions decide it: how much you need to store, and how fast you need to move it. Backups and media libraries reward capacity, so a mechanical drive makes sense; editing and frequent large transfers reward speed, so a portable SSD earns its premium. The points below cover the rest.

External HDDs give you the most storage per rand and are ideal for backups, archives and large media libraries. Portable SSDs cost more per terabyte but transfer far faster, run silent and survive knocks better with no moving parts. Pick an HDD for bulk capacity, an SSD for speed and portability.

For document and photo backups, 1–2TB is usually plenty. For game libraries or 4K video, look at 4TB and up. As a rule, buy roughly double what you currently use so you have room to grow and aren't replacing the drive within a year.

2.5" portable drives are pocket-sized and powered by the USB cable alone — nothing extra to carry. 3.5" desktop drives offer the highest capacities at the best price per terabyte but need a mains power adapter, so they stay on a desk. Match the form factor to whether the drive travels or lives in one spot.

Check the port: USB 3.2 Gen 1/Gen 2 and USB-C deliver fast transfers, while older USB 2.0 is a bottleneck. A portable SSD over USB 3.2 Gen 2 can hit roughly 800–1,000 MB/s; a mechanical drive sits nearer 100–160 MB/s regardless of port. Use a cable and port that match the drive to get its rated speed.

Most drives ship formatted for Windows. Reformat to exFAT for use across both Windows and macOS, or to the console's required format for a PS5/Xbox. External HDDs work well for console game storage; check each console's current rules on running versus storing games.