The time can range from between 100,000 hours to 1 million hours or more.
Here’s a closer look at what exactly it means and why it’s so important.
What Is MTBF?
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This will give you the mean time between failures.
Why Does MTBF Matter?
Because of this, you’ll want to buy products that offer large MTBF values.
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It’s also a headache that’s (almost) entirely avoidable if you purchase the right hard drive.
Use MTBF to Make Smart Purchases
Unfortunately, MTBF ratings aren’t foolproof.
But that’s not necessarily representative of how you’ll use the drive in your home.
Related:Does Brand Really Matter When Buying a Hard Drive?
Despite its shortcomings, MTBF is one of the best ways to gauge the reliability of your hard drive.
Another safe bet is tobuy products from trusted brandssuch asWestern DigitalandSeagate.
These manufacturers have a reputation for building reliable products that should last for years before running into problems.
We’d recommend going with the most reliable product you’re able to afford.
Not sure where to start?
Be sure to consult our guide highlighting thebest external hard drives.
What About AFR?
The story of hard drive reliability doesn’t end with MTBF.
Unlike MTBF, you’ll want this to be as small as possible.
Related:Bit Rot: How Hard Drives and SSDs Die Over Time
