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Buying a network-attached storage (NAS) enclosure is a great way to save money on cloud subscriptions and bring all your data into your home or office. You can even run services on these servers, such as Plex, which allows for the streaming of music, movies, and more. Not all NAS enclosures are great for running Plex, which is where this collection of recommendations comes into play. Here are the best NAS for running Plex.
How to know if an M.2 SSD is compatible with your motherboard
Buying a compatible M.2 SSD for your brand new PC can confuse even the most experienced PC builders
Unlike archaic mechanical hard drive, SSDs come in various shapes and sizes and even use different connectors. Picking an SSD that’s compatible with the motherboard can be a bit of an issue, especially for those who are new to the world of PC building. An incompatible SSD will either be too fast for the motherboard, too slow, or might not work at all. To curb that problem, we’ll take an in-depth look at M.2 SSD compatibility, so you don’t spend extra on an incompatible drive.
How buying a NAS can save you money vs. cloud storage
You can save money if you stick with it for long-term data storage.
A network-attached storage (NAS) device can be viewed as a pricey addition to the home or office, but it can save you money in the long run. Depending on what you use cloud storage for, switching to a NAS can have a positive impact on your balance sheet and even provide additional functionality, improving overall system value. I'm going to run you through how this is the case, where cloud storage may continue to make sense, and why you should consider buying a NAS regardless.
Network-attached storage (NAS) is a great way to expand your storage space for more than one device. By connecting one of these enclosures to your network, you'll be able to run apps and services on the server, as well as connect various hardware to store data. Whether you desire to run your own home media streaming service, a surveillance station, a web server, or all of the above, a NAS can do that and more. You'll find the best NAS enclosures right here.
Best cheap NAS in 2024
We have a great selection of some of the best Network Attached Storage solutions on the market that won't break the bank
Access to extra storage is always a great idea, especially now that media files are getting larger, as smartphones and other devices can capture content in 4K and 8K resolution. An external hard drive might be the go-to option for most users, as you only need to connect a drive to your PC and access anything you need. Unfortunately, this choice stops being great when sharing your information with other users. This is where network-attached storage (NAS) comes in as your best option, as it is like having private cloud storage in your home or office, which also gives you the flexibility to increase your storage space. Yes, there are some rather expensive options on the market, but you don’t need to break the bank to get your own NAS, as we have found excellent options that will do the job for less.
We've seen a lot of advancements in the computing space over the years, particularly in the storage department, which is one of the key areas affecting overall system performance. It's been great to see the evolution and the arrival of novel interfaces like NVMe, but we've also seen some solid improvement on the firmware side of things.
Best SSDs for gaming in 2024
Up your game with a super-fast SSD. Here are our favorites, whether you're upgrading your PC or need more storage for your console.
The price of solid-state drives (SSDs) has continued to fall in recent years, and it's now easier (and more affordable) than ever to upgrade your gaming PC with faster load times and more responsive gameplay. Thanks to these savings, it's possible to buy an SSD for not only storing and running the main operating system but also apps and games. Here are our favorite picks for the best SSDs for gaming.
Best 4TB SSDs in 2024
Need to increase the storage capacity of your PC? We have got you covered with the best 4TB SSDs that you can buy right now.
As we create and consume content at an unprecedented pace, the need for substantial storage capacity, coupled with rapid data access, has become paramount. This is where the best 4TB SSDs step into the spotlight, offering a harmonious union of generous storage space and remarkable speed.
What is a redundant array of inexpensive disks? Everything you need to know about RAID
Keeping all your data safe on larger storage volumes since the 1970s
To get more from a drive, it's possible to use some form of RAID to group it with others and create larger storage volumes to save data. It's widely used on servers such as NAS and even inside data centers. You may have come across the term RAID on your travels within the computing sphere, but what exactly does this acronym mean, and why is it important to consider using it for larger storage or even your PC?
Massive discount on this Seagate 18TB HDD knocks $140 off for a limited time
You can now save big on this fantastic 18TB HDD that's perfect for person or business applications.
SSDs are great if you're looking for compact storage that's also lightning quick. But if you're looking to get the most bang out of your buck, an HDD is going to be your best option thanks to large capacities and affordable prices. With that said, Seagate's Exos drives deliver amazing performance and reliability, and can be used in consumer and business settings. While this 18TB drive typically comes in at $399.99, it can now be had for a steal, with a massive discount that knocks the price down to just $259.99 for a limited time.
How does an SSD store data?
SSDs offer fast, durable, energy-efficient storage via NAND flash, advanced controllers, and DRAM caches. Here's how they work.
Solid-state drives (SSDs) have significantly evolved data storage, moving away from the mechanical design of Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) towards a more efficient, semiconductor-based approach. SSDs use flash memory, which provides faster data access, increased durability, and greater energy efficiency. This article aims to demystify the complex technology behind SSDs, focusing on their components and how they manage data storage and retrieval.
There are many network-attached storage (NAS) enclosures to choose from. Brands such as TerraMAster, Asustor, QNAP, and Synology offer a wide range of NAS servers for different applications and price points. Still, these enclosures come with a premium, just like a prebuilt desktop PC. Instead of buying an enclosure, it's possible to build a DIY NAS through standard, off-the-shelf PC parts. If you have an old PC sitting in storage, it can be used without purchasing a single component aside from NAS storage drives. This guide will run you through what you'll need to build a NAS.
Biomemory's new DNA memory card can store a kilobyte of data for 150 years, apparently
The memory card can translate binary data into nucleotides and has a long durability. But you wouldn't want to buy one.
The best-quality SSDs and memory cards are enough for storing your computing data, but the types of data storage they function on have low to medium durability. Biomemory, a French startup, has achieved a significant milestone in solving that problem by developing a memory card that uses DNA to store digital data.
NAS or dedicated server: Which is better for your home network?
Network-attached storage is growing in popularity, but many people are overlooking dedicated servers, which offer more flexibility and features.
There are so many options for storing data that it can be difficult to decide which is the right choice. Flash drives, memory cards, and hard drives can store more data than ever, and while all of those devices do a great job, there are better options to back up and store large amounts of data. When you need a lot of storage at home, there are two great options: network-attached storage (NAS) or a server.
How to make a NAS with Raspberry Pi
Here's how you can build an affordable NAS server using a Raspberry Pi
A network-attached storage (NAS) system can be a great addition to your computing setup if you want a centralized storage solution. Modern-day NAS setups support multiple RAID levels, immutable snapshots, and a wide array (pun intended) of failsafes to ensure that your data remains secure. Plus, you can use them to share files across your devices.
How to replace a drive in a NAS
If your NAS is running out of space or has a dead drive, here's how you can install a new one
A network-attached storage (NAS) system is one of the best means to back up data. Sadly, even the best NAS setups are susceptible to unforeseen errors like running out of space mid-operation or sudden drive failures. In such events, your best bet is to manually remove the old HDD and slot in a brand-new one.
Mechanical hard disk drives (HDD) are typically used for mass storage, NAS enclosures included. They offer the widest range of capacities, the best value in terms of $ per GB, and decent performance. Solid-state drives (SSD) are the next step-up, more than doubling bandwidth (and price). An advantage of using SSDs inside a NAS is the lack of any moving parts, longer life span, and zero vibrations and noise emitted from each drive. Here are my favorite SSDs for use inside NAS.
Best hard drives for NAS
If you're looking for new hard drives to increase the storage capacity of your NAS, you've come to the right place
Network-Attached Storage (NAS) systems are a godsend when it comes to storing and sharing large chunks of data with all your devices. Most NAS enclosures have more hard drive bays than even a gaming PC because you may require a lot of storage capacity depending on your workload. Heck, even if you don't need plenty of HDDs for your day-to-day tasks, you can still run some extra hard drives in RAID mode to improve the overall read/write speeds and protect your data from drive failure and corruption.
Store everything with these high-capacity hard drives from Western Digital for as low as $260
Western Digital is running some great deals on its high-capacity drives during Black Friday
Black Friday deals have a lot of exciting stuff to offer, such as some excellent laptop deals. However, some deals tend to be more practical than others. For example, now's a great time to assess your storage needs and upgrade your hard drives for future-proofing. If you're someone who runs a NAS server or your workflow involves transferring large files, you should strongly consider taking a look at Western Digital's hard drive sales for Black Friday, which are retailing for as low as $260.
Apple ships its Mac desktop and laptop computers with a choice of storage capacities, but these can prove costly when configuring your dream PC. When packing your Mac full of data, it may not take long before you begin to run out of available space. This is where network-attached storage (NAS) can help alleviate the problem by taking your data off the Mac and onto a network drive. A bonus of the best NAS enclosures is the ability to run apps and services all while allowing you to access your files from anywhere in the world.