DRAM & SSD Prices Surge 130% in 2026: TerraMaster Storage Saves Your Upgrade Budget

With memory prices climbing sharply in 2026—Gartner forecasting up to 130% increases for DRAM and SSDs combined, AI data centers claiming over 70% of premium capacity, and consumer PC/smartphone shipments expected to drop noticeably—this year is pushing many people to rethink how they handle storage.

 Instead of paying inflated prices to upgrade laptops, phones, or rely more on pricey cloud plans, a growing number of users are turning to dedicated home storage setups. You can use a NAS to “offload” most of your storage needs, putting your money into affordable HDDs instead of being forced to buy expensive SSDs to cram into your PC or phone. Buying a NAS won't eliminate the need for any memory/SSD entirely (the NAS itself needs a bit for smooth operation), but it lets you shift the bulk of your storage demands to cheaper, more controllable options—meaning you buy far less or delay those ridiculously priced upgrades to PC/laptop RAM and SSDs.These keep your files local, private, and expandable without ongoing fees.

If you're mainly storing large files, making backups, or streaming media, the F2-425 entry-level NAS—is a very worthwhile starting point

It uses an Intel quad-core processor with 4GB RAM (expandable), supports fast 2.5GbE networking, and handles everyday tasks like photo backups, 4K media streaming (Plex, Jellyfin, etc.), and multi-device access smoothly. You can start with two drives for up to 60TB raw capacity—plenty for family archives, videos, or documents. Setup is reasonably simple for a first NAS, and it gives you full control over your data at home. 

D2-320 (2-bay DAS) and D4-320 (4-bay DAS): If you prefer direct-attached storage over a network, these USB enclosures are quick additions to a desktop or laptop. Both run at 10Gbps USB 3.2 speeds (often over 1GB/s in practice with good drives), support RAID for basic protection, and scale easily—up to ~60TB on the D2 or 120TB on the D4. Great for fast local backups, extra working space for creators, or when you don't always need an on-demand network sharing.

D1 SSD series (like the D1 SSD Plus/Pro enclosures): For portable, high-speed needs, these M.2 NVMe cases deliver impressive transfer rates (40Gbps+ on compatible ports). They're compact, ideal for video editing on the go or as ultra-fast external drives without the bulk of traditional HDD setups. 

The appeal here is the low entry barrier: no complex enterprise features you won't use, reliable basics done well, and per-TB costs that stay reasonable even as component prices rise. Many users appreciate owning their storage outright rather than renting space in the cloud. 

Check out our ongoing Spring Sale with up to 30% off select TerraMaster models via the TerraMaster Official Site, Amazon US/UK, and major authorized retailers. Secure your cost-effective storage solution now before storage prices rise further — AI-driven demand isn’t slowing, and your budget doesn’t have to stretch thin for quality storage.