Used U.2 drives are the cheapest fast storage right now, and an adapter gets them running

Used U.2 drives are currently the most affordable high-performance storage option available. In 2026, the demand for AI has driven up the price of SSDs, making them quite expensive. However, used enterprise U.2 SSDs are still reasonably priced and offer excellent value for fast storage. These drives are priced based on supply rather than new storage contracts, which makes them affordable.

They have been used in enterprise settings and are often still in good condition, with more write cycles remaining than new consumer drives. Despite being used, they can still outperform new consumer flags in terms of write endurance. The biggest advantage of using these drives is the power-loss protection, which helps in scenarios where a sudden power loss could cause data corruption.

This feature is particularly useful for users who frequently transfer large files or use databases. Although enterprise U.2 SSDs might not feel significantly faster than good consumer drives for gaming and everyday use, they provide a larger capacity at a lower price. They can be connected to a regular PC using an M.2-to-U.2 cable or a PCIe add-in card, which enables them to function as ordinary NVMe devices without the need for separate drivers.

However, it is essential to consider the heat and signal integrity issues associated with these drives, as they can generate considerable heat and have signal integrity problems when using higher PCIe generations. Proper airflow and ensuring the drive runs at PCIe 3.0 can mitigate these issues.