I'm looking for the cheapest NAS device suitable for a beginner. I'm open to used options, but I want to know how low I can go without running into issues. I aim to use the NAS for mixed media, mainly to replace Google Drive. If you have any questions or concerns about my needs, feel free to ask!
5 Answers
Why not grab a free PC if you can? Just add some hard drives. Just keep in mind, a NAS isn't a backup solution on its own. If you skimp on storage and don’t have a backup plan, you could be setting yourself up for a mess.
I've set up a Raspberry Pi Zero as a NAS before, but honestly, it's pretty slow. It worked okay for streaming cartoons and anime to my grandkids, though. Right now, I'm using a Raspberry Pi 500 for mainly that purpose—it just serves videos to my TVs.
You might also want to just start with a single backup drive, depending on your needs. It can be a simple and straightforward way to manage your media.
If your WiFi router has a USB port, you could attach a USB hard drive and set it up as your NAS. It’s a super simple and cost-effective solution.
You might want to consider using a Raspberry Pi 5 or even an old laptop paired with some external storage from eBay. These options can be quite affordable and can get you started with a NAS setup.
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