Need network storage. Do i get a NAS or just add another HDD to desktop?

This is a notebook relate question. My Laptop is running out of space, I dont want to get rid of the SSD in it for a higher capacity HDD, so I'd rather unload some data to another HDD in the house.

My current setup:

Desktop:
HP XW8600 workstation 2x quad xenon with 2x Samsung 64GB SSD in Raid 0 for OS (120GB total) and 150GB 15k RPM SAS drive for STEAM games and backup. Connected via RJ ethernet.

Laptop:
Alienware M11x R1 1.7 Core2duo with older 256GB Samsung SSD. Connected via wifi (I don't remember if G or N card)

Router:
ASUS RT-N16 Gigabit with 2x USB (2.0?) ports

Now my options so far:

1 - Add an internal 1-2TB HDD to the desktop for ~$150 and share it, from my understanding this would be fastest for desktop and but slow for laptop because of wifi limitations?

2 - Buy a Buffalo Linkstation Duo for ~$250, this would be sorta fast for desktop, but still not fast enough to store games on it because of max 30MB/s transfer rate? Plus side is its RAID 1 and somewhat portable if need be. Still slow for laptop because of wifi limitation?

3 - Buy an external HDD for ~$150and connect it to ASUS router. I have no idea how fast/slow this would be for either machines but guessing slow for both Plus side would be that its super portable, not that I'd need it to be.

4 - Buy a dedicated NAS miniserver for ~$400, this may get me close to 80-100MB/s for desktop, still show on laptop because of wifi limitation.

Right now I'm leaning to the first 2 options. The desktop is always on, I guess my main question is what is the advantage of a NAS vs just sharing an internal HDD on my desktop?

 

If your desktop is always on that would work. If you need access when your out you may want to go the more expensive dedicated NAS server. I have 3 Snap NAS's with over a total of 10T storage in raid5. If you go this way you can set it up for FTP access if your way from the house. I only have one that I can see when I'm away from home via FTP. I can access my whole network via a VPN endpoint router. Once connected I can even print to my network printer if needed.

 

Depends on what you storing.
Adding on desktop is cheapest but electric bill will get up if the computer is not used to be on 24/7.
Usb enclosure +router is second cheap and slowest I believe (usb 2.0 is awful) should be fine for data storage.
NAS is quick, easy and plenty fast but more expensive.

If time is not a problem, can try to setup a dedicate server computer(windows home server per say) with low cost/power parts, which can be expanded for cheaper. (compare to NAS)
.

 

Thanks for advice guys, I'm a networking noob and the part that I'm not understanding is whats the disadvantage of just buying an internal drive, say a 1TB Samsung F3 or Caviar Green, and sharing that on my Win7-64bit desktop. Is it because while the laptop is pulling data the desktop would get slowed? Since my laptop is capped at 10MB/s regardless if I go NAS/internal HDD/external HDD because I'd be pulling the files via Wi-Fi I will never reach the 80MB/s a NAS can achieve. Also, on the desktop end, would it be correct that I'd get greater speeds with an internal drive SATA connection then thru NAS .

My main purpose use for the storage would be to archive RAW photos files from DSLR camera as well as .h264 video files which are several GB large, so transfer speed (for the desktop at least) is very crucial, which is why I'm leaning towards internal HDD via SATA2. Remember I have pretty high end work station with at least 5 more SATA port free so I can still add a bunch of internal drives for RAID 5