Put Older SSDs To Good Use With A Rugged And Affordable USB Enclosure

InnovationConsumer TechPut Older SSDs To Good Use With A Rugged And Affordable USB EnclosureByMark Sparrow,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Technology journalist specializing in audio, computing and Apple Macs.Follow AuthorApr 28, 2026, 05:00am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.The new D1 SSD enclosure is designed to be rugged enough to leave the office and go on safari or to a building site. It's waterproof, crushproof and dustproof.TERRAMASTERHave you seen the price of storage lately? Whether you are looking for an SSD upgrade or a memory card for your camera, the price of NAND chips, which these products use, has gone through the roof and it’s all because of the dash for AI. Demand for fast memory chips has rocketed because of the massive expansion of AI data centers. The AI bubble is voracious in its appetite for NAND chips and companies are currently willing to pay a high price for memory. This rampant demand has caused a massive spike in the price of nearly all silicon-based memory.This increase in SSD prices means we need to get more life out of our storage devices. If you have an NVMe SSD left over from an old computer or gaming console, you could keep it alive by putting it into an SSD enclosure like the latest model announced today by professional storage brand TerraMaster. The new TerraMaster D1 SSD can withstand submersion in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes thanks to its IP67 rating.TERRAMASTERRugged And WaterproofThe new rugged and portable D1 SSD enclosure is designed for users who need to keep their data safe under all kinds of conditions. Unlike many enclosures, the D1 SSD’s case is made completely of a metal chassis and has an IP67 water and dust resistance rating. It can also withstand up to 1.2 tons of crushing weight, so if you could run over it with a 4x4, it will be ok. MORE FOR YOUThis new U...