hard drive shopping, need answers and input

Diosoth

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I'm shopping for a new hard drive. My PC is a Gateway DX4822-01 still at mostly factory specs(stock motherboard, PSU, RAM, etc). We'll assume I intend to buy this drive and keep it stored away as a backup should my primary drive fail for some reason, that way I can just put it in and use it without delay.

My budget will probably be around the $75 mark and I'll likely get a 1 TB drive for that, but I am free to be a bit flexible.

1) Is it safe to buy these from Amazon? Will the pack securely? Or should I just buy from Newegg, or go to the nearest Best Buy and avoid any mailing whatsoever?
2) What's the current go-to brand, WD or Seagate?
3) assuming I go with WD, is the black worth the extra cost, or will blue suffice? I intend to avoid green, I have a green drive and I admit it's a bit slower than I care for. Though I've also heard the blacks can be a bit noisy. My basic use is mostly gaming.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Home Premium x64Intel Pentium Dual Core 2.6 GHz6 GBstock factory for this model
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Gateway DX4822-01
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium x64
CPU
Intel Pentium Dual Core 2.6 GHz
Motherboard
stock factory for this model
Memory
6 GB
Graphics Card(s)
stock factory for this model
Sound Card
stock factory for this model
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell P2010Ht
Screen Resolution
1600 x 900
Hard Drives
1 TB Western Digital
PSU
300 watt
Cooling
80mm case fan, CPU fan, 60mm front intake
Keyboard
Logitech
Mouse
HP 3-button optical wheel mouse
Internet Speed
fiber optic
Antivirus
MSE, SuperAntiSpyware, Malwarebytes Free
I prefer buying from NewEgg & TigerDirect. Especially ON SALE with Free Shipping ;)

I like Seagate & Samsung HDs :)

They have always come safely shipped & packaged.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Win7 Enterprise, Win7 x86 (Ult 7600), Win7 x6...AMD fx8350 4ghz, AMD-32 2400mhz, AMD-64 3200m...2gb, 4gb on the Ult 7600, 4gb on Technet RTM,...Draw my own Graphics, several nVidia cards
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Built them myself, Science Experiments !
OS
Win7 Enterprise, Win7 x86 (Ult 7600), Win7 x64 Ult 7600, TechNet RTM on AMD x64 (2.8Ghz)
CPU
AMD fx8350 4ghz, AMD-32 2400mhz, AMD-64 3200mhz, AMDx64 2.8G
Motherboard
SIS 755, ECS-K8M890M-M (Ult 7600), GigaByte & others
Memory
2gb, 4gb on the Ult 7600, 4gb on Technet RTM, 32gb on FX8350
Graphics Card(s)
Draw my own Graphics, several nVidia cards
Sound Card
on motherboard
Monitor(s) Displays
19" flat scr, 28" I-Inc widescr,22" Emprex Widescr, 23" Acer
Screen Resolution
1280 x 1024, 1440 x 900, 1920 x 1080
Hard Drives
6 pata Ide HD's & 2 Sata HD's
added 80gb external on Ult 7600 computer,
numerous extra 1tb, 2TB, 3Tb SATA HD's
A collection of ext HD Docks w/ HDs
PSU
430w, 550w, 600w, 700, 800, etc
Case
All Generic Full Towers
Cooling
Open Air & a few fans, some w/ colored LEDs
Keyboard
Compaq & Dell recycled from GoodWill
Mouse
Made in China Optical Wired Mouse
Internet Speed
Fast Cable InterNet
Antivirus
AVG Free on 24 different Desktops, NO Problems!
Browser
IE 8 is preferred, but use FireFox sometimes
Other Info
Linksys Routers, switches, & Hubs
Too Many USB Flash Drives to count, Biggest is 64GB !
Eight computers in my home network.
Sixteen computers at my business network.
Linked via TeamViewer !
Lots of old used spare computer parts everywhere!
I have used Amazon never had any problems also have always used Seagate .
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

windows 7 home 64bitINTEL-CORE I716GB
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
W530-3630QM1
OS
windows 7 home 64bit
CPU
INTEL-CORE I7
Memory
16GB
Hard Drives
750GB
Browser
Chrome
I prefer buying from NewEgg & TigerDirect. Especially ON SALE with Free Shipping ;)

I like Seagate & Samsung HDs :)

They have always come safely shipped & packaged.

Have to Agree with Doc Seagate Barracuda Wonderful HDD
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 10 Home Premium 64bit sp1Intel I7-6700K @ 4.6 Ghz 1.344 volts everyday OC32GB G-Skill TridentZ 3200mhz 16-18-18-38 DDR4Sli Gigabyte Windforce GTX 980 G1
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
CoreI7-6700K MrFingerIII Special Builds
OS
Windows 10 Home Premium 64bit sp1
CPU
Intel I7-6700K @ 4.6 Ghz 1.344 volts everyday OC
Motherboard
Asrock Fatality K6 Z170 Socket 1151
Memory
32GB G-Skill TridentZ 3200mhz 16-18-18-38 DDR4
Graphics Card(s)
Sli Gigabyte Windforce GTX 980 G1
Sound Card
AC97 Creative Rage Tactic 3D Headphones Bluetooth
Monitor(s) Displays
27" Asus ROG Swift PG278Q G-Sync 48" Vizio Smart HD TV
Screen Resolution
2560x1440p 27"- 48" Currently Gaming at 2560x1440p Res 2K
Hard Drives
250GB Samsung Evo840SSD Seagate baracuda 500 GB WD Mybook 500Gb 1TB Seagate Barracuda
PSU
HX1050w Corsair Silver 80plus certified crosfire/sli
Case
Enthod Pro Full Tower
Cooling
Corsair H110i GT 280 mm High Performance WaterBlock
Keyboard
Logitech wireless keyboard
Mouse
Logitech wireless mouse
Internet Speed
Cox Cable 100+ mb
Antivirus
WebRoot Spysweeper with Antivirus
Browser
IE-10, Chrome, Opera
Other Info
My Other Rig is a AMD FX8320E @4.6Ghz 16GB Ballistic Sport Ram
Mobo Asrock Fatality 990FX 120GB OCZ SSD 1TB Seagate Barracuda Corsair H75 Cooling PSU Corsair CX750
GPU GTX Gigabyte 970G1
I have been using the WD Black drives in systems for a few years. The Black is the only drive that still has a 5 year warranty. Most others are 2-3 years.

Jim :cool:
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 8.1 Pro w/Media Center 64bit, Windows...Phenom II X6 1100TCrucial Balistic 8gb DDR3-1866 CL9MSI R6850 Cyclone IGD5 PE
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Home Built
OS
Windows 8.1 Pro w/Media Center 64bit, Windows 7 HP 64bit
CPU
Phenom II X6 1100T
Motherboard
ASUS M5A99X EVO
Memory
Crucial Balistic 8gb DDR3-1866 CL9
Graphics Card(s)
MSI R6850 Cyclone IGD5 PE
Sound Card
On Board
Monitor(s) Displays
ASUS VE258Q 25" LED with DVI-HDMI-DisplayPort
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080
Hard Drives
Two WD Cavier Black 2TB Sata III, WD My Book Essential 2TB USB 3.0
PSU
Seasonic X650 80 Plus GOLD Modular
Case
Corsair 400R
Cooling
Antec Kuhler H2O 620, Two 120mm and four 140mm
Keyboard
Logitech K120
Mouse
Logitech Marble Mouse USB, Logitech Precision Game Pad
Internet Speed
15MB
Antivirus
Norton IS 2013, Malwarebytes Pro Beta 2
Browser
IE-11, FF-27
Other Info
APC UPS ES 750, Netgear WNR3500L Gigabit & Wireless N Router with SamKnows Test Program, Motorola SB6120 Gigabit Cable Modem. Brother HL-2170W Laser Printer, Epson V300 Scanner

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Home Premium x64Intel Pentium Dual Core 2.6 GHz6 GBstock factory for this model
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Gateway DX4822-01
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium x64
CPU
Intel Pentium Dual Core 2.6 GHz
Motherboard
stock factory for this model
Memory
6 GB
Graphics Card(s)
stock factory for this model
Sound Card
stock factory for this model
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell P2010Ht
Screen Resolution
1600 x 900
Hard Drives
1 TB Western Digital
PSU
300 watt
Cooling
80mm case fan, CPU fan, 60mm front intake
Keyboard
Logitech
Mouse
HP 3-button optical wheel mouse
Internet Speed
fiber optic
Antivirus
MSE, SuperAntiSpyware, Malwarebytes Free
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