Storage & Drives

Storage is the category where the cheapest decision costs the most later. The specification that matters is not the sequential speed in a benchmark but the endurance rating, the controller, and whether you have a second copy somewhere else.

What actually matters

The specifications that change the answer

Drive endurance in terabytes written, which sets the realistic lifespan
Whether your device accepts M.2 2280, 2242 or only 2.5-inch drives
A backup that is not in the same building as the original
DRAM cache, if you write large files regularly

What to skip

Sequential read speeds above what your interface can carry
RAID as a substitute for a backup — it is availability, not protection
Cloud plans priced per terabyte when a local drive is cheaper long-term

Published

Everything we have written on storage & drives

Hands typing on an older laptop at a desk with a mug beside it

How-to Storage & Drives

How to Speed Up an Old Laptop Before You Replace It

Six checks, cheapest first. Most slow laptops are fixed by one of the first three, and none of them cost more than a drive.

9 min read

An M.2 solid state drive resting on a work surface beside a screwdriver

Review Storage & Drives

Samsung 990 Pro 2TB Review: Is the Fastest PCIe 4.0 Drive Worth It?

The 990 Pro is a PCIe 4.0 drive that sits at the top of its generation. Whether that matters depends on what your motherboard and your workload can actually use.

8 min read

An M.2 SSD and a screwdriver laid out on a workbench during a laptop upgrade

Buying guide Storage & Drives

Upgrading a Laptop or Desktop SSD: How to Buy the Right One

The drive that transforms an old machine is rarely the fastest one on the shelf. How to check your slot, your interface, and whether the speed you are paying for is reachable.

9 min read

Referenced products