Computer Hardware Terms, Glossary and Dictionary

An external hard drive is a hard disk placed outside of the computer case. This allows expandability even if a computer's drive bays are full, and also provides an easily removable form of mass storage with very large capacity. A variety of connections are used to connect external hard drives. SCSI and SATA connections are used when the corresponding type of hard drive is inside, with the case containing a simple pass through. USB and Firewire connections require circuitry to convert the hard disk's connection, which is usually IDE, to USB, firewire, or both.

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external hard drive