However, these brackets are often less secure than traditional screws. Some cases come with tool-less brackets that make mounting hard drives really easy. Many cases-especially enthusiast cases-use tool-less trays that hold the drives with simple pins and clips.

Securing the drive to a cage usually requires four screws on the sides or bottom of the drive. Physically mounting the hard drive in a PC is probably the most difficult part of the installation process. Some enthusiast-class also cases give users the ability to remove drive cages or to mount them in different positions to optimize air flow and simplify cable management. In enthusiast-class cases, it’s becoming more common to see the drive’s connectors facing the right side, making it easier to route and hide cables behind the motherboard tray. In mainstream cases, drive connectors will typically point to the rear. Magnet-tipped screw drivers can help keep you from dropping screws in difficult-to-reach places. Screws are the best way to secure your hard drive into your case’s drive cage. The most common location is at the lower front, near the intake fans and away from other components. Drive cages/bays will most often be mounted perpendicular to the bottom of the chassis, while drives mounted in the cages usually sit parallel to the bottom of the case. Placement and orientation of the cages or bays will vary from case to case. Internal 3.5-inch hard disk drives are typically mounted in a drive cage or in an available drive bay. Now let’s get this hard drive installed in your computer.

WD Black: 1TB for $70, 2TB for $100, 8TB for $250, more sizes available.

Toshiba X300: 4TB for $95, more sizes available.

Seagate BarraCuda: 2TB for $55, 4TB for $90, 8TB for $140, more sizes available.

All three spin at 7,200 revolutions per minute (RPM), the fastest speed available in consumer hard drives. Before we dive into the nitty-gritty details, if you’re looking for a hard drive to install in your computer, these are some highly regarded options.

Installed on your computer