To help you find the best 4TB internal hard drive, we’ve tried out plenty of models, looking for fast and reliable drives that won’t break the bank. We tended to favor drives that boasted wide compatibility with PCs, in addition to functioning nicely with gaming consoles and other gadgets, that required minimal setup, with long-lasting warranties, in case something goes wrong down the line, and the ability to operate with fast transfer speeds (minimum of 6Gb/s.)
The best product we tried was easily the WD Blue 4TB PC Hard Drive, which offers quick transfer speeds of 6Gb/s, a fuss-free two year warranty and an easy install that offers near plug-and-play simplicity to most personal computers. We also liked that this model is available in a wide range of other sizes, as large as 6TB, and comes with WD’s proprietary cloning software, which can easily copy the entirety of your hard disk. Keep reading to learn more about the WD Blue 4TB PC Hard Drive and the other storage devices on this list.
Top 6 Best Internal Hard Drive 4TB Reviews
#1 WD Blue 4TB PC Hard Drive
Award: Top Pick
WHY WE LIKE IT: High quality drive that easily installs into most major PCs and works nicely with gaming consoles, such as Xbox One, and comes with a fuss-free warranty of two years.
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- Very easy-to-install
- Integrates with gaming consoles
- 2 year warranty
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- 64MB cache
- Not as fast as SSD drives
- Does not come with SATA data cable
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The WD Blue 4TB PC Hard Drive is the best internal hard drive we tested, offering the company’s renowned reliability along with a nice two year warranty, in case you experience a failure at some point down the line. The drive is easy to install, offering near plug-and-play simplicity to most major personal computers, and it integrates nicely with major gaming consoles, such as Xbox One and PlayStation 4, making it the best drive for gaming. We also liked that it arrives with the company’s proprietary cloning software, though that does require a driver install.
Related: You may also check our list of the best internal hard drives.
This is a fast drive, offering transfer speeds of 6Gb/s, but it is disk-based, so will be slower than solid state drives. Additionally, the 64MB cache may impede some consumers, as our number pick features a cache of 256MB. If you need an external unit, read about the best external hard drives to see if any are right for you.
#2 Seagate BarraCuda 4TB Internal Hard Drive
Award: Honorable Mention
WHY WE LIKE IT: Incredibly well made drive that integrates excellently with Apple Mac computers, as an internal drive or operating through a reader as an external drive, with a highly usable 256MB cache and a low noise floor.
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- Best for Mac
- Available in sizes up to 14TB
- 256MB cache
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- Offers data recovery, but costs extra
- SSD drives will be faster
- Does not come with SATA data cable
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The Seagate BarraCuda 4TB Internal Hard Drive boasts an extra-large cache of 256MB, which can help the drive navigate multiple applications at once, helping it to excel with the Mac OS. This is also an extremely quiet drive, with a barely noticeable hum as it operates.. We also liked that it is available in multiple size options in addition to 4TB, all the way up to 14TB and as low as 250GB.
The company does offer a data recovery package, in addition to the warranty, but it costs significantly extra and requires a monthly subscription. Also, this does not come with the required SATA data cable for installation, so that will require another purchase unless you have one laying around from your last drive. It isn’t as compact as the best USB flash drive, but it has some great features. Other great Seagate products include the Seagate FireCuda and Seagate IronWolf Internal Hard Disk Drive, both of which are rated 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon due to their superior performance and storage.
#3 MaxDigitalData 4TB Internal Hard Drive
Award: Most Reliable
WHY WE LIKE IT: Extremely durable and reliable unit that is designed for 24/7 operation, with special optimizations to maximize performance with video content and a two year warranty, with a full refund available.
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- 7200 RPM makes for speedy transfers
- Optimized for video content
- 2 year warranty with full refund option
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- Does not arrive formatted
- 64MB cache
- SSD drives are faster
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The MaxDigitalData 4TB Internal Hard Drive is an extremely durable and reliable product that is designed from the ground up to be operated 24/7, with several built-in optimizations to service video content. As such, it is the top drive used by major companies to store surveillance footage. The drive spins at 7200 RPM, which is slightly higher than our top picks, and comes with a two year warranty, with the option for a full refund at any point during that time frame.
Though the transfer speed of 6Gb/s is certainly on the higher end for a disk-based drive, solid state models should, on average, give you a higher speed advantage. Additionally, this drive does not arrive pre-formatted, so you’ll have to do it manually, though it does not take too long. The best nas hard drive is another great storage option.
#4 Toshiba N300 4TB NAS Internal Hard Drive
Award: Best for Windows
WHY WE LIKE IT: This NAS drive is built from the ground up to service Windows-based setups, such as home offices,, with an extremely high workload of 180TB per year, a 128 MB cache and a drive that spins at a solid 7200 RPM.
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- Yearly workload of 180TB
- 128 MB cache
- 3 year warranty
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- Some innovations are wasted on typical use
- Does not come with necessary software out of the box
- Slightly noisier than top picks
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The Toshiba N300 4TB NAS Internal Hard Drive features several unique specifications to service small and home offices, including a high workload of 180TB per year, integrated sensors to compensate for rotational vibrations, offering stability, and a relatively large cache of 128 MB, in addition to scalability up to eight drive bays. We also liked that the drive spins at a speedy 7200 RPM and that the company throws in a decent warranty of three years, which is higher than our top pick.
Though this drive shines in an office setting, some of its innovations may be wasted on typical use, as these features don’t really increase the efficacy with storing photos, videos and video games. Also, it does not come with the necessary software to install it out of the box, so you’ll have to download and install some drivers. For consoles you will want the best external hard drive for PS4 if you have a Sony console. Another one of the best hard drives is the Toshiba X300 3.5″ Internal Hard Drive, which can read, write, and store on your PC quickly and efficiently with a fast write and read speed. It is available in multiple sizes up to 16 TB.
#5 HGST Ultrastar 7K4000 4TB Internal Desktop Hard Drive
Award: Best Budget
WHY WE LIKE IT: Budget-conscious option while still retaining high end features, such as a drive that spins at 7200 RPM, innovations to ensure 24/7 operation and a bulk data encryption option, with a private security key.
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- Designed for 24/7 operation
- Bulk data encryption option
- 7200 RPM
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- 1 year warranty, though does offer full refund
- Not available in other sizes
- Refurbished model
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The HGST Ultrastar 7K4000 4TB Internal Desktop Hard Drive is the best cheap hard drive on this list, offering many high end features that bely its relatively low price point. It boasts a drive that spins at 7200 RPM and several design innovations to ensure it can operate 24/7, including rotational vibrational safeguard technology. We also liked that it ships with software for bulk data encryption, which provides a private security key for an added layer of safety.
Though this is a high quality drive that is equally suited for home use or enterprise use, it is a refurbished model, despite receiving a bevy of tests to ensure reliability. Additionally, the one year warranty is on the low side, with the offer of a cash refund at any time during that time frame. The best external hard drives for Xbox one are perfect for that console if you want one for gaming.
#6 Western Digital Gold Enterprise Class Internal Disk Drive
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Award: Best Warranty
WHY WE LIKE IT: Boasts the longest warranty on this list, five years, in addition to featuring a drive that spins 7200 RPM, a 128 MB cache and a design that excels with a heavy workload of 550 TB per year.
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- 2.5 million hours MTBF
- Designed for workload of 550 TB per year
- 128 MB cache and 7200 RPM
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- Does not arrive with relevant cables or screws
- Requires manual reformatting
- Slightly louder than some drives on this list
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The Western Digital Gold Enterprise Class Internal Disk Drive comes with a stellar five year warranty, which is actually serviced by Amazon, which is tied for the highest metric on this list. The drive itself is of an extremely high quality, boasting 7200 RPM, a 128 MB cache and a maximum workload of 550 TB per year. To that end, the drive is also certified to get 2.5 million hours MTBF (mean time between failures.)
This is a refurbished drive and, as such, does not come with the necessary equipment for install, including screws and a SATA cable. Also, this is a slightly louder drive than some found on this list, though it was not a deal breaker. Western Digital makes some of the best internal hard drives on the market today, including the Western Digital Red NAS Hard Drive which is a high performing option that comes in various sizes up to 14 TB. Similar to the WD Red, be sure to also check out the WD Black, or even the WD Purple, which comes in 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 10 TB sizes.
How We Decided
To help narrow down to the above list, we fielded several criteria while testing out hard drives. First of all, we focused on fast spinning drives, with a minimum of 5400 RPM and transfer speeds of 6Gb/s. We were also drawn to highly durable and well made drives, featuring quality components that should not attract accidents or failures and products that were extremely easy-to-install, with near plug-and-play simplicity.
We preferred drives that came with some manner of additional functionality, including encryption software, to help keep your data safe, and stability-enhancing mechanics, such as rotational vibrational safeguard technology. We also looked for models that were at home servicing personal computers, video game consoles and additional gadgets.
We also wanted to make sure that these drives will last you a long time, as they can be pricey purchases. To that end, we preferred models with plenty of certifications, including those with large yearly workloads, as much as 550 TB, and plenty of hours of mean time between failures, as many as 2.5 million. Finally, we liked drives that came with long-lasting warranties, as long as five years in some cases.
Internal Hard Drive Buying Guide
The Most Important Features to Consider
- Transfer Speeds and RPM
HDD drives have continued to get speedier and more reliable, despite the ascendance of their more pricey SDD counterparts. As long as you purchase a drive with a minimum of 5,400 RPM, and transfer speeds of 6Gb/s, you will download and transfer content at a good clip and load times with installed applications will remain relatively smooth. If you have an undying need for speed, choose a model that boasts a drive that spins at 7,200 RPM, a metric several of our picks excel with. - Additional Functionalities
Many of the above drives contain additional quality-of-life functionalities, including frustration-free packaging, easy installation practices and innovative designs, such as the case with products that come with encryption software to help keep your data safe from interlopers. Additionally, some models are optimized for video content and others are optimized to be functioning 24/7, which can be a boon to those with small or home offices. - Warranty and Durability
Hard drives can fail, so you are going to want to make sure the product you choose is made from highly durable components, with stability-enhancing features, including rotational vibrational safeguard technology. You are also going to want to pick a product that comes with a lengthy warranty. Two of our picks come with five year warranties, which is great, and many more boast warranties in the two to three year range.
