PCR’s guide to RAM, NAS and hard drives

With a host of new games and operating systems to choose from at the moment, users will be looking to upgrade their storage components. We look at the latest memory and storage options available.

RAM

TRANSCEND AXE RAM – price varies
DISTRIBUTOR: Gem DIstribution
THEY SAY: Unleash the power of the aXe! Transcend’s aXeRam extreme performance memory is designed to operate at a blazing-fast clock frequency with an exceptionally low voltage, providing hardcore gamers and enthusiasts with unparalleled overclocking ability.
SPECS: High-speed dual/triple- channel performance, enhanced for Windows 7 32-bit and 64-bit, robust PCB improves signal integrity, JEDEC standard design.

PATRIOT 8GB VIPER 3 DDR3 DUAL CHANNEL RAM KIT – £39.95
DISTRIBUTOR: VIP Computers
THEY SAY: The Viper 3 series utilises a custom designed high performance heat shield for superior heat dissipation to ensure rock solid performance even when using the most taxing applications.
SPECS: Two 4GB, DDR3 SDRAM, DIMM 240-pin form factor, 1600 MHz, dual channel, CL9 latency timings.

HYPERAM 8GB 1222MHZ DDR3 RAM – £29.99
DISTRIBUTOR: Spire Technology
THEY SAY: Hyperam memory offers brilliant speed and 100 per cent reliability at a fraction of the cost. Available for a wide range of desktop PCs and laptops, Hyperam is produced to high standards and enables a cost effective route for a performance boost to your PC systems.
SPECS: 8GB RAM, 1333MHz speed, DIMM 240-pin form factor, CL9 latency timings.

TRANSCEND 8GB DDR3 1600MHZ RAM – £26.99
DISTRIBUTOR: Westcoast
THEY SAY: Transcend memory modules are manufactured with the highest grade DRAM chips available, offering an unrivalled level of compatibility and stability that far outclasses the competition.
SPECS: 8GB RAM, 1600MHz speed, DIMM 240-pin form factor.

KINGSTON HYPERX BEAST 16GB 1600MHZ DDR3 RAM – £116
DISTRIBUTOR: Simms
THEY SAY: HyperX Beast memory features a dynamic new heat spreader to maximise thermal dissipation for increased reliability. Its cool, aggressive look enhances any system.
SPECS: 16GB RAM, 1600MHz speed, DIMM 240-pin form factor, CL9 latency timings.

NAS AND HARD DRIVES

TRANSCEND 2.5" SATA III 6GB/S SSD720 – price varies
DISTRIBUTOR: Gem Distribution
THEY SAY: Designed with multitasking power users in mind, these productivity-enhancing SATA III SSDs are the ideal upgrade solution for advanced multimedia computing and intense gaming.
SPECS: SandForce controller with MLC flash chips, DuraWrite technology, TRIM, NCQ, S.M.A.R.T. and firmware updates functions, Internal AES encryption, silent, low- power operation, Resistant to shock and vibration.

TRANSCEND ESD200 PORTABLE SSD – price varies
DISTRIBUTOR: Gem Distribution
THEY SAY: With its lightweight, compact design and solid state durability, the ESD200 portable SSD makes it easy to store, protect, carry and share all your digital files wherever you go.
SPECS: SuperSpeed USB 3.0/2.0, 5GB per second connection, one touch auto-backup button, Transcend Elite data management software.

TRANSCEND STOREJET 2.5" H3 – price varies
DISTRIBUTOR: Gem Distribution, Westcoast
THEY SAY: The StoreJet Rugged Series external hard drives offer an impressive level of anti-shock protection without sacrificing their slender good looks. With capacity up to one terabyte and a convenient auto-backup button, your storage possibilities are endless
SPECS: Advanced three-stage shock protection system, easy-grip slip- resistant outer shell, power-saving sleep mode, Transcend Elite and RecoveRx software.

SANDISK CRUZER FACET – £4.94
DISTRIBUTOR: SanDisk
THEY SAY: Combining fashion and function, the Cruzer Facet USB Flash Drive lets you stylishly take your most important data wherever you go. This drive features a unique, faceted design and vibrant finish, making it an ideal accessory for style-driven data users.
SPECS: Faceted, textured design with stainless steel casing, up to 32GB storage capacity, encrypted password protection with SanDisk Secure Access software, compact profile.

SANDISK CRUZER POP – £4.99
DISTRIBUTOR: SanDisk
THEY SAY: With its ultra-thin profile and fun graphics, the SanDisk Cruzer Pop USB flash drive offers an easy, fashionable way to carry your personal data. This USB flash drive opens with a ‘pop’ to reveal the hidden USB connector.
SPECS: Slim profile, stylish design with hidden USB connector, up to 32GB storage capacity, SanDisk Secure Access software, 2GB of cloud storage offered by YuuWaa.

SANDISK MEMORY VAULT – £49.99
DISTRIBUTOR: SanDisk
THEY SAY: The SanDisk Memory Vault is engineered to protect your digital photos and videos for up to 100 years. This archival storage device features SanDisk’s exclusive Chronolock technology and a compact, durable design, ensuring your most cherished memories are safely protected.
SPECS: Chronolock technology retains data for up to a century, up to 16GB storage capacity, USB connectivity, durable and compact design, multi-platform compatibility.

TRANSCEND STOREJET CLOUD – price varies
DISTRIBUTOR: Gem Distribution
THEY SAY: Providing much-needed freedom from cables and extra capacity to mobile devices, the StoreJet Cloud portable drive is the ideal companion for any situation. Connect via wireless and share files with friends and family.
SPECS: Stream different content on five devices at the same time, supports iOS, Android, Windows and Mac OSX, share picture/audio/video/document files wirelessly, Li-Battery supports six hours playback and eight hours standby.

QNAP TS-419P II – £399
DISTRIBUTOR: Micro-P
THEY SAY: Featuring versatile applications for data storing, sharing, and backup, paired with top-notch hardware specifications among the same class products, the TS-419P II provides an extraordinary solution for home and SOHO environments.
SPECS: Cross-platform data sharing center, complete backup solutions, revolutionary, home video, music and photo center, personal/private cloud storage, QMobile, app for on-the-go contents access, superior performance with 2.0 GHz CPU, energy-efficient and eco-friendly.

QNAP TS-219P II – £299
DISTRIBUTOR: Micro-P
THEY SAY: In addition to providing efficient data sharing and backup, the capability of streaming videos, music, and photos to a variety of home devices, such as UPnP TV sets, hi-fi audio sets and video games consoles, makes the TS-219P II a fun digital home centre.
SPECS: Cross-platform data sharing centre, complete backup solutions, revolutionary, home video, music and photo center, personal/private cloud storage, QMobile, app for on-the-go contents access, 2.0 GHz CPU, energy-efficient and eco-friendly.

SYNOLOGY DS213 – £235
DISTRIBUTOR: VIP Computers
THEY SAY: The Synology DiskStation DS213 is a feature-rich 2-bay NAS server for workgroups and offices, specifically designed for users who need to share and protect data cost-effectively, while increasing productivity with comprehensive office applications.
SPECS: USB 3.0 and 2.0 connectivity, 2.0GHz CPU, 512MB DDR3, hot swappable HDDs, 8TB max storage capacity.

SYNOLOGY DS413 – £390
DISTRIBUTOR: VIP Computers
THEY SAY: Synology RackStation RS3413xs+ provides the reliable, superior-performance network attached storage solution for enterprises seeking uninterrupted service with comprehensive business applications.
SPECS: USB 3.0 and 2.0 connectivity, 3.3GHz quad-core CPU, 8GB DDR3 RAM, hot swappable HDDs, 40TB max storage capacity.

WD MY BOOK LIVE DUO – £279.99
DISTRIBUTOR: Computer 2000, Ingram Micro, Micro-P, Entatech, Computers Unlimited, VIP Computers
THEY SAY: My Book Live Duo personal cloud storage is a high- performance dual-drive system providing secure wireless access to your media and files from any computer, tablet or smartphone when connected to a wireless router.
SPECS: Remote access, internet or app file access, WiFi.

TOSHIBA 3TB STOR.E CLOUD NAS DESKTOP EXTERNAL HDD BLACK – £154.99
DISTRIBUTOR: Micro-P
THEY SAY: The Canvio Personal
Cloud is the newest, easiest and safest way from Toshiba to get, share, stream and keep your files and multimedia.
SPECS: Ready remote access, in- home streaming, centralised storage and backup, simple set-up.

INTENSO 250GB EXTERNAL HDD – £31.99
DISTRIBUTOR: CMS Distribution
THEY SAY: This slim, sleek ultra portable hard drive allows you to take your storage with you whatever your plans are.
SPECS: Compatible with Windows, Linux and Mac, utilises high-speed USB 2.0 interface, 5400rpm spin speed, 8MB Cache.

SEAGATE 500GB EXPANSION USB EXTERNAL HDD – £54.99
DISTRIBUTOR: CMS Distribution
THEY SAY: This portable hard drive offers an easy-to-use solution for when you need to add storage to your computer instantly and take files on the go.
SPECS: Drag and drop file saving, right out of the box simplicity, USB powered, fast data transfer with USB 2.0 connectivity.

FREECOM 1TB TOUCH DRIVE USB 3.0 – £94.99
DISTRIBUTOR: CMS Distribution
THEY SAY: The Tough Drive is the ideal external storage solution for people on the move. Fitted with an internal anti-shock frame and a unique soft silicone cover, it can withstand bumps and drops so your drive remains fully functional.
SPECS: Internal anti-shock mechanism, USB 3.0 for fast data transfer, integrated USB cable, powered via USB port.

IMITATION DEFENDER H100 EXTERNAL 320GB HDD – £200.40
DISTRIBUTOR: Simms
THEY SAY: The Imation Defenderfamily of external USB hard drives combines the convenience of mobile storage with the proven protection of hardware encryption and multifactor authentication.
SPECS: FIPS 140-2 level 3 validation, AES-256 hardware encryption, zero software footprint, tamper-evident and high-strength aluminium enclosure.

KINGSTON 60GB SSDNOW V300 – £54
DISTRIBUTOR: Simms
THEY SAY: Get more life out of your computer and maximise your existing investment by replacing your old hard drive with a Kingston SSDNow V300 solid-state drive.
SPECS: 2.5-inch form factor, SATA Rev. 3.0 6Gb/s, 450MB/s read speed, 450MB/s write speed.

SHUTTLE KD20 – £135.60
DISTRIBUTOR: Entatech
THEY SAY: The OMNINAS KD20 is a user-friendly two-bay network attached-storage, designed to become your hub of multimedia content.
SPECS: Supports up to and from two 4TB hard drives for a total capacity of 8TB. Enables drives to work in JBOD, RAID 0 or RAID 1 configuration.

WD RED DRIVES – price varies
DISTRIBUTOR: Entatech
THEY SAY: WD Red hard drives are designed and tested for compatibility in the unique 24×7 operating environment and demanding system requirements of home and small office NAS.
SPECS: NAS compatibility, enhanced reliability, energy efficient, 3D Active Balance Plus, premium support.

NETGEAR READYNAS DUO V2 – £227
DISTRIBUTOR: Entatech
THEY SAY: The ReadyNAS Duo is pefect for homes with more than one computer. Unlike a USB drive, the ReadyNAS connects to the network and is simultaneously accessible via all connected Windows or Macintosh.
SPECS: Officially licensed BitTorrent, Web-based interface, NETGEAR Digital Entertainer interface.

NETGEAR READYNAS NV+ – price tbc
DISTRIBUTOR: Entatech
THEY SAY: Designed specifically for home offices, small businesses and workgroups, the ReadyNAS+ includes gigabit Ethernet, hardware RAID, system monitoring capabilities and built-in backup.
SPECS: Two hot swap disk trays, hardware accelerated raid (0,1,5 and X-RAID), gigabit ethernet interface with native support for Windows, Macintosh and Linux/Unix clients as well as FTP and HTTP support, built-in system and monitoring with SNMP and email alerts, web browser interface, backup manager.

WD SENTINEL DX4000 4TB – £749.99
DISTRIBUTOR: Ingram Micro
THEY SAY: Built on proven technologies from industry leaders, WD Sentinel small office storage server offers your business a complete data protection solution for your peace of mind.
SPECS: 1.8GHz dual core processor, 2GB RAM, Expandable storage space, gigabit ethernet port, USB 3.0.

CONTACTS
CMS Distribution: 01423 704 700
Computers 2000: 0871 880 3000
Computers Unlimited: 020 8358 5858
Entatech: 0333 101 1000
Gem Distribution: 01279 822822
Ingram Micro: 0871 973 3000
Micro-P: 01282 776 776
SanDisk: +33141441728
Simms: 01622 852 800
Spire Technology: 01202 828444
VIP: 0871 622 7500
Westcoast: 0118 912 6000