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How to Buy a High-Capacity NAS

How to · Tech

How to Buy a High-Capacity NAS

A good NAS enclosure should last you years, so follow this plan to time your purchase and manage the cost without stress.

VoAtlas editorial Updated · 3 min read
Typical cost $600 before anything else
Across the 0% window $40.00/mo 15 months, no interest

How we got that: $600 spread evenly across the 15-month introductory window on the Discover it® Cash Back. Checked · at the bank Carry a balance past the window and the standard APR applies to what is left.

A high-capacity network attached storage enclosure is an investment in data safety that should last you five to seven years. Don't rush into buying a unit just to fill it with cheap drives; buy the enclosure once and build your storage capacity as you find deals on individual hard drives.

Tech manufacturers usually refresh their storage lines in the fall, meaning last year's models often see price drops right before the new ones hit the shelves. If you can wait for that cycle, you will get the same performance for significantly less money.

That 15-month window is a deadline, not free money. If you still have a balance on the card when the intro period ends, you will start paying interest on whatever remains at the standard rate.

The steps

  1. 01

    Track the hardware

    Use a price tracker to watch the enclosure you want for at least three months. Look for patterns around holidays or the release of new models. Wait for a dip before you commit to the purchase.

  2. 02

    Buy the drives separately

    Bundled drives are rarely the best deal. Buy your enclosure and your hard drives as separate items during different sales. This lets you choose the exact capacity and reliability tier you actually need.

  3. 03

    Use your intro offer

    If you use the Discover it® Cash Back, you get 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. This gives you 15 months to pay off the $600 cost without paying interest. Just be sure to set up an autopay for $40.00 a month to clear the balance on time.

  4. 04

    Check your warranty

    Register your enclosure as soon as it arrives. Keep your receipt in a digital folder so you have it ready if a power supply or port fails within the warranty period.

  5. 05

    Set up your backup routine

    A NAS is not a backup until you configure it to mirror your data. Spend your first weekend setting up a raid configuration that protects your files against a single drive failure.

  6. 06

    Check the card terms before you commit

    Every figure we publish for the Discover it® Cash Back carries the date a person verified it against Discover and a link to where they checked. Intro windows and APRs change without notice, so confirm the current terms before applying.

    See Discover it® Cash Back terms →

Common questions

Do I need to buy expensive professional drives?

Not necessarily. Look for drives specifically rated for NAS use, which are built to handle running 24/7. You don't need the most expensive enterprise-grade drives for a home setup.

Is a NAS hard to set up?

Modern enclosures are mostly plug-and-play. You will spend more time setting up your folders and user permissions than you will physically installing the drives.

What happens if the enclosure breaks?

If the box itself fails, you can usually pull your hard drives out and put them into a new unit of the same brand. That is the main benefit of buying a dedicated storage enclosure.

Can I use this to back up my phone?

Yes. Most modern NAS brands have apps that automatically sync your phone's photos to your local storage whenever you are connected to your home wifi.