Guides: buying storage by price per TB

ratioDB guides answer storage questions with real numbers: every article uses current amazon.com prices and the daily ratioDB TB index. You see what fits technically and what it costs per TB right now.

• Why are RAM prices so high? 2026 price trend and outlookWhy RAM prices are so high in 2026, with real amazon.com data: DDR5 and DDR4 per GB, price history, causes and what Samsung, SK hynix and Micron expect.October 21, 2026 · 15 min read
• Best NAS hard drive 2026: which one to buy, compared by price per TBNAS hard drives compared: WD Red Plus, Red Pro, IronWolf, IronWolf Pro and N300 with manufacturer specs and real amazon.com prices per TB.October 21, 2026 · 16 min read
• CMR vs SMR: What's the difference between hard drive recording types?CMR vs SMR explained: how both recording types work, when SMR slows down, how to tell if a drive is SMR and what CMR costs per TB on amazon.com.October 21, 2026 · 16 min read
• SSD vs HDD: Which is better? Compared with real prices per TBSSD vs HDD compared: speed, durability, power, noise and real amazon.com prices per TB. When an SSD is the right pick and when a hard drive still wins.October 22, 2026 · 15 min read
• SSD prices 2026: Why are SSD prices going up and what comes next?SSD prices in 2026 with real amazon.com data: NVMe and SATA per TB, history, why SSDs got more expensive and what Kioxia, Micron and SanDisk expect.October 22, 2026 · 15 min read
• Refurbished hard drives: Are they worth it and what should you check?Refurbished and used hard drives with real amazon.com prices per TB: how much you save, which warranty applies and how to check power-on hours.October 22, 2026 · 14 min read
• NVMe vs SATA SSD: Which is better? Differences and prices per TBNVMe vs SATA SSD: datasheet speeds, game load times, M.2 and slots, heat and real amazon.com prices per TB. How to find the right SSD for your system.October 22, 2026 · 13 min read
• SSD lifespan: How long does an SSD really last?How long does an SSD last? TBW and DWPD explained, TBW ratings of popular models, price per TB written and how to check the wear of your SSD.October 22, 2026 · 13 min read
• Best external hard drive: price per TB comparedExternal hard drives with real amazon.com prices per TB: 2.5 vs 3.5 inch, which size pays off, warranty by model line, PS5, Xbox, Mac and backups.October 22, 2026 · 11 min read
• DDR5 vs DDR4: What is the difference and which is worth it in 2026?DDR5 vs DDR4: differences per JEDEC, which platform needs which, how much faster DDR5 is in tests and what both cost per GB on amazon.com right now.October 22, 2026 · 11 min read
• Best SSD for PS5: which M.2 SSD fits and what it costsWhich SSD fits the PS5? Sony's M.2 SSD requirements, models manufacturers list for PS5, heatsinks, capacity and real amazon.com prices per TB.October 23, 2026 · 8 min read
• microSD Express and microSD cards explained: classes, Switch 2 and prices per GBmicroSD cards explained: what A2, U3 and V30 mean, what microSD Express is, which card the Switch 2 needs and what microSD cards cost per GB on amazon.com.October 23, 2026 · 8 min read
• Best SSD 2026: Which SSD Is Right for You?Which SSD is best for you? NVMe, SATA and external SSDs compared with manufacturer specs for speed, cache and warranty, plus live amazon.com prices per TB.October 24, 2026 · 10 min read
• Hard Drive Prices 2026: Why HDDs Got So Expensive and What Comes NextHard drive prices in 2026 with real amazon.com data: price per TB by size, history, why HDDs got expensive and what Seagate and Western Digital expect.October 24, 2026 · 11 min read
• External hard drive not showing up? How to fix it step by stepExternal hard drive not showing up? Check cable, power, Disk Management, drive letter, file system, Mac Disk Utility and SMART without losing data.October 26, 2026 · 13 min read
• Xbox Series X storage: expansion card, SSD or hard drive?How to expand Xbox Series X storage: expansion card, external SSD or hard drive? What Microsoft says runs from each, and what each option costs per TB.October 26, 2026 · 11 min read
• Best external hard drive for Mac: format, ports and pricesExternal hard drive for Mac and MacBook: APFS or exFAT, how big a Time Machine drive should be, USB-C vs Thunderbolt, HDD vs SSD, and live prices per TB.October 26, 2026 · 12 min read
• How much RAM do I need? Memory by use case in 2026How much RAM do you need? 8, 16, 32 or 64 GB for office work, gaming, video editing and local AI, based on vendor requirements, with live prices per GB.October 26, 2026 · 11 min read
• Best external SSD 2026: lines, ports and price per TBWhich external SSD is best? Samsung, SanDisk, Crucial, WD and Kingston lines by price per TB, USB 3.2 Gen 2 vs Gen 2x2 explained, plus datasheet figures.October 26, 2026 · 11 min read
• USB 3.2 Gen 2 Explained: Speeds, Names and External SSDsUSB 3.2 Gen 2 runs at 10Gbps. Every USB name from USB 3.0 to USB4 and Thunderbolt 5 compared, plus live amazon.com prices for external SSDs per TB.October 27, 2026 · 14 min read
• CFexpress Type B: Speeds, Type A, 4.0 and Prices in 2026CFexpress Type B explained: Type A vs B, what CFexpress 4.0 adds, what VPG400 means and which camera needs which card. Live amazon.com prices per GB.October 27, 2026 · 11 min read
• Best DDR5 RAM 2026: Which Kit Should You Buy?The best DDR5 RAM for gaming and work: capacity, 2 vs 4 sticks, speed, compatibility and brands, with AMD and Intel specs and live prices per GB.October 27, 2026 · 12 min read
• EXPO vs XMP and DDR5 Timings: CL30, 6000 MT/s and LatencyEXPO vs XMP explained, what DDR5 6000 CL30 and timings like 30-38-38-96 mean, true latency in ns, how to enable a profile and what fast kits cost extra.October 27, 2026 · 11 min read
• Steam Deck SSD Upgrade 2026: Which M.2 2230 SSD Fits?Which SSD fits the Steam Deck? M.2 2230 vs 2242 and 2280, PCIe, heat, a step by step install and microSD as the alternative, with live prices per TB.October 27, 2026 · 11 min read
• Laptop RAM Upgrade 2026: SO-DIMM, Soldered or CAMM2?Can you upgrade your laptop RAM? SO-DIMM, soldered memory and CAMM2 explained, how to check what fits, plus live amazon.com prices per GB.October 28, 2026 · 12 min read
• Black Friday 2026 SSD and Hard Drive Deals: How to Spot Real OnesBlack Friday is November 27, 2026. How to spot real SSD and hard drive deals with price per TB, 90-day lows and price history, live from amazon.com.October 28, 2026 · 11 min read
• SSD Heatsink 2026: Does Your M.2 SSD Need One?Does your M.2 SSD need a heatsink? PCIe 4.0, PCIe 5.0, motherboard heatsinks, PS5 and laptops explained, plus the live extra cost on amazon.com.October 28, 2026 · 11 min read
• NAS SSD 2026: SSD Cache or All-Flash NAS?Which SSD for your NAS? SSD cache vs all-flash, TBW and DWPD explained, NAS SSDs from WD, Seagate and Synology, plus live amazon.com prices per TB.October 28, 2026 · 12 min read
• Surveillance Hard Drive 2026: WD Purple, SkyHawk or S300?WD Purple, Seagate SkyHawk or Toshiba S300? Workload, 24/7 use and how surveillance drives differ from NAS drives, with amazon.com prices per TB.October 28, 2026 · 12 min read
• The 3-2-1 backup rule explained, with real costs per TBThe 3-2-1 backup rule explained: 3 copies, 2 media types, 1 off-site. Plus the 3-2-1-1-0 variant, home setups and costs from real amazon.com prices.October 25, 2026 · 11 min read
• Best SD card for your camera: V30, V60 or V90?Which SD card does your camera need? UHS-I, UHS-II, V30, V60 and V90 explained, recording time by card size and real amazon.com prices per GB.October 25, 2026 · 11 min read
• Best USB flash drive 2026: speed, USB-C and price per GBWhich USB flash drive is worth it? USB 3.2 Gen 1 vs Gen 2, USB-A or USB-C, read and write speeds per data sheet and real amazon.com prices per GB.October 25, 2026 · 11 min read
• How to Clone an HDD to an SSD Without Reinstalling WindowsClone your hard drive to an SSD with Samsung Data Migration, Acronis for Kingston or Clonezilla. Size rules, BitLocker, boot fixes and live SSD prices.October 26, 2026 · 17 min read
• How to Format an SD Card on Windows, Mac, Android and CamerasHow to format an SD card on Windows, Mac, Android or in your camera: the right file system, the official SD Card Formatter, quick vs full format, prices.October 26, 2026 · 13 min read
• SSD Not Showing Up? How to Fix M.2 and SATA Detection ProblemsSSD not showing up in BIOS, Windows or the Windows installer? Check cables, M.2 slot type, shared SATA ports, Intel VMD drivers and Disk Management.October 26, 2026 · 14 min read
• How to Format a USB Drive to FAT32 on Windows and MacHow to format a USB flash drive to FAT32, exFAT or NTFS on Windows and Mac, what to do above 32GB, exact commands and current prices per GB.October 27, 2026 · 11 min read
• RAID Levels Explained: RAID 0, 1, 5, 6 and 10 ComparedRAID 0, 1, 5, 6 and 10 explained: minimum drives, usable capacity, how many failures each survives, and what a RAID costs per usable TB today.October 27, 2026 · 11 min read
• exFAT vs NTFS: Which Format for External Drives and USB?exFAT vs NTFS for external hard drives, SSDs and USB drives: file size limits, journaling, permissions, Mac and PS5 support, plus live prices per TB.October 27, 2026 · 11 min read
• How to Check Hard Drive Health on Windows and MacCheck hard drive health with built-in tools: S.M.A.R.T. status, Get-PhysicalDisk, chkdsk and Mac First Aid, what results mean and replacement costs.October 27, 2026 · 11 min read
• Best SSD for Gaming 2026: Capacity, PCIe 4.0 vs 5.0 and PriceBest SSD for gaming in 2026: how much storage you need, PCIe 4.0 vs 5.0, NVMe vs SATA and the cost of 100GB of game space, with live amazon.com prices.October 27, 2026 · 11 min read
• How to Test RAM: Windows, MemTest86, Memtest86+ and MacHow to test RAM step by step with Windows Memory Diagnostic, MemTest86, Memtest86+ and Apple Diagnostics, find the bad stick and price a replacement.October 27, 2026 · 12 min read
• How to Format a Hard Drive on Windows 11 and MacHow to format a hard drive or SSD on Windows 11 and macOS: quick vs full format, NTFS, exFAT or APFS, command line steps and what formatting really erases.October 27, 2026 · 12 min read
• How to Partition a Hard Drive or SSD on Windows 11 and MacHow to partition a hard drive or SSD without losing data: shrink a volume, add a partition, GPT vs MBR, diskpart and Mac steps from Microsoft and Apple.October 28, 2026 · 12 min read