Best cheap drive for storage?

[Heliotropen]

Hi,

What would be the best external data drive - for archive / storage / backup - to be used with older macs (2013-2015) ?

*My imac already boots from thunderbolt, think there is an additional thunderport in it (not certain).

Does SSD lose data if it's not connected for a longer time? if so is a HDD better for this exact task?

Cheap is an important keyword here.

I already have a 2000 gb Intenso, but it seems very unstable, makes the computers it's connected to freeze over time and such.

Thnx

 

[Fishrrman]

2.5" SATA platter-based hard drive.
+
USB3 2.5" external enclosure.

 

[Heliotropen]

2.5" SATA platter-based hard drive.
+
USB3 2.5" external enclosure.

Thank you mate, always good advices from you ... I wonder what would be good cheap brands to look for though?

 

[Fishrrman]

"I wonder what would be good cheap brands to look for though?"

I don't know if they're "the cheapest", but I'd be looking at Toshiba and HTSC (Hitachi).

 

[Heliotropen]

"I wonder what would be good cheap brands to look for though?"

I don't know if they're "the cheapest", but I'd be looking at Toshiba and HTSC (Hitachi).

Thank you mate, what about the enclosure?

 

[Fishrrman]

For a 2.5" enclosure, I've been using these:

SABRENT 2.5 Inch SATA to USB 3.0 Tool Free External Hard Drive Enclosure [Optimized for SSD, Support UASP SATA III] Black (EC-UASP)

SABRENT 2.5 Inch SATA to USB 3.0 Tool Free External Hard Drive Enclosure [Optimized for SSD, Support UASP SATA III] Black (EC-UASP)

www.amazon.com

However, if you're going to be using several drives that get swapped around, you might also consider a USB3/SATA "dock". Many available and they're cheap. I would suggest a "one-bay" dock -- the 2-bay docks can be cranky (from reports that I've read).
With a dock, you don't put your drives into "enclosures" -- you just "leave them bare" and slip them into and out of the dock as necessary.