On the surface, network-attached storage devices capable of backing up data, sharing files, and archiving documents seem simple to use. But as you delve deeper into storage server territory, you encounter all kinds of file systems, complex-sounding network shares, and a boatload of technical jargon.
Even on the hardware side, you have a variety of pre-built chassis to choose from, including those that ditch the usual HDDs for SSDs. After using and reviewing my fair share of these “all-flash” NAS workstations, I have to admit that they promised a lot a few years ago. Unfortunately, SSD prices have been plummeting lately, making them no longer affordable for most processors.
Ultra-fast speeds and high portability are the biggest advantages of all-flash NAS units
They don’t make much noise either
HDD-only NAS setups are useful for long-term data storage, but there’s one thing they’re really bad at: speed. After all, mechanical drives have slow read and write speeds and this may not be an issue for scheduled backups and daily archiving tasks, but they can be a bit of an issue when you need faster access to the contents of network shares. Of course, you can allocate more RAM to read/write caches, but these workarounds are only useful for select tasks, and not every file transfer task will benefit from them.
Typical full-flash NAS units, on the other hand, use fast SSDs to house all your data. NVMe drives are so fast that even their PCIe Gen 3 versions can easily take down a 10 gigabit network. If you plan to edit videos or access important encoding virtual machines over your home LAN, an all-flash NAS would be a better option than its HDD-only counterpart, as it provides a more responsive experience for productivity tasks.
It should be noted that all flash NAS units are very portable, especially those that support small NVMe drives. For reference, my 8-bay TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus takes up a fraction of the size of my large TerraMaster F4-424 Max unit, and the same goes for the LincStation N2 and Aifro K100. In fact, many 4-bay all-flash NAS units are as compact as regular mini PCs, which is not the case for 4-bay storage servers that require large 3.5-inch HDDs.
Likewise, you’ll benefit from noise (or rather, the lack of it) from all SSD drives. Because SSDs don’t have the usual moving parts, they don’t make the typical clicking and spinning noises that HDDs are known for under heavy workloads. Combine that with the fact that they don’t weigh much, and you can see that all-flash NAS servers make sense for frequent travelers who need enough storage on the go.
Unfortunately, the prices of modern SSDs are very high
Hard drives are more economical in days and years
In addition to the price of RAM, SSDs also became very expensive in 2026, making all-flash servers significantly less viable for the average developer. To put that into perspective, a new 2TB hard drive can cost between $100 and $130, and you can spend an extra $20 to get an HDD rated for enterprise tasks.
A typical 2TB NVMe drive, on the other hand, can cost upwards of $250, and those are just the cheaper options. If you want a lot of write cycles, you’re looking at a $300 investment, which is pretty expensive considering a typical HDD costs a little over a third of that amount. If you plan to buy more of these drives, the costs can add up quickly, and you could end up spending a lot more on SSDs than you would on an all-flash NAS setup.
To make matters worse, the price of SSD drives increases as you want more capacity from a single drive. For a 4TB model, you’ll need to spend at least $450 on some of the cheapest NVMe drives, while high-end SSDs can set you back $500-$600. With an 8TB hard drive costing a $200-$225 difference, you can see why it’s better to avoid NAS units with only M.2 slots.
SSD-only NAS devices are not very reliable for long-term storage
In addition to the price factor, all-flash servers are not ideal for storing data for long periods of time, especially in a cold storage environment. You see, the NAND flash memory in SSDs uses electrical charges to store data, and if they’re left without power for too long, those charges can leak and make your precious files irretrievable.
Of course, we’re talking anywhere between months and years, so adding a NAS unit (and by extension its SSDs) should be fine. But you also want to avoid keeping your NAS in a hot/warm environment, as high heat can corrupt your data in weeks instead of months.
I started using hybrid NAS devices for my storage needs
Despite the portability and quiet operation of full-flash NAS units, the price of unfastened SSDs makes them difficult to recommend. Instead, I started offering hybrid NAS units, which not only have dedicated M.2 slots for SSDs, but also regular HDD bays. That way, I can still use an SSD or two for storage pools that require very fast data transfer, while my large, high-capacity HDDs can store important files long-term. If I need to access certain files while I’m away from my cave, I can always rely on Tailscale.
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