Source

Synology FS200T NAS is STILL A THING! But Is It Too Late?

The Synology FlashStation FS200T is a compact 6 bay 2.5 inch NAS that has followed an unusually drawn out and fragmented path to visibility. The device first appeared through semi official leaks in Q1 2025, before being shown more openly at Computex during May and June, giving attendees a first real look at the hardware. After that appearance, public information largely dried up, leading many to assume the system had been delayed indefinitely or quietly cancelled. Interest resurfaced later in 2025 as more complete documentation began to circulate, culminating in a leaked datasheet dated October 16, 2025 that outlined specifications, software capabilities, and Synology’s intended positioning for the device. Despite the lack of an official launch announcement, demand has remained present at a low but steady level, particularly among users who value small, quiet systems and are already invested in the DSM ecosystem. Online discussion has continued across forums and social platforms, with recurring questions around release timing and justification for the product’s existence in a rapidly changing NAS market. The FS200T appears designed to serve a specific niche rather than a broad audience, focusing on an all flash configuration, low acoustic output, and minimal physical footprint. Rather than competing on raw performance or expandability, its purpose is to deliver a responsive, self contained storage platform that runs the full Synology software stack in environments where noise, size, and power consumption matter more than upgrade paths or maximum throughput.

Synology FS200T NAS – Hardware Specifications

At the heart of the Synology FS200T is the Intel Celeron J4125, a 4 core, 64 bit processor with a 2.0 GHz base clock and a 2.7 GHz turbo ceiling. This is a chip originally released in the 2019 to 2020 timeframe and has been widely deployed across several generations of entry and mid range NAS systems. While it remains serviceable for basic DSM workloads, file services, and light container use, it is increasingly dated by current standards. Intel has since retired this naming convention entirely, shifting its low power roadmap toward newer N series Alder Lake and Twin Lake processors that offer improved efficiency, IPC gains, and more modern media and virtualization capabilities. In that context, the J4125 feels more like a holdover from an earlier design cycle than a deliberate forward looking choice, particularly for a flash focused system introduced in 2026.

The CPU does include a hardware encryption engine, which aligns well with DSM features such as encrypted shared folders, secure snapshots, and HTTPS services. However, expectations around virtualization, AI assisted services, and sustained multi task workloads should remain conservative. Compared with newer low power CPUs, the J4125 lacks the architectural refinements and efficiency improvements that would better justify pairing it with an all flash storage configuration. This choice reinforces the impression that the FS200T is designed around stability and familiarity rather than performance progression.

Memory configuration consists of 4 GB of DDR4 non ECC SODIMM installed by default. The system provides 2 memory slots with an official maximum capacity of 8 GB using 4 GB modules. While sufficient for basic DSM services, backup tasks, and light multi user access, this ceiling quickly becomes restrictive when enabling heavier applications such as Virtual Machine Manager, Synology Drive for multiple users, or container based services. Synology also notes that optimal compatibility and warranty support depend on using official Synology memory, further narrowing flexibility for users who might otherwise attempt more aggressive tuning.

Storage is where the FS200T makes its clearest statement, and also draws its most obvious criticism. The system supports 6 x 2.5 inch SATA SSDs with hot swap capability, and no other internal storage options are listed. There are no M.2 NVMe slots, no cache bays, and no PCIe expansion. In a market where even compact NAS systems increasingly rely on NVMe for primary or cache storage, the exclusive reliance on SATA SSDs feels increasingly out of step. SATA bandwidth limitations mean that even in optimal RAID configurations, the storage subsystem will be constrained long before the SSDs themselves are saturated, particularly when paired with the available network interfaces. This design choice prioritizes compatibility and thermals over performance scalability, but it also places a hard ceiling on what the platform can deliver.

Networking is limited to 2 Ethernet ports, consisting of 1 x 2.5GbE and 1 x 1GbE with failover support. While the inclusion of 2.5GbE is a welcome baseline upgrade over legacy 1GbE only systems, the absence of additional multi gig ports or 10GbE options further compounds the performance bottleneck created by the SATA only storage design. External connectivity is handled via 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, suitable for backups or peripheral devices, but there is no mention of USB based expansion units or higher bandwidth options.

Physically, the FS200T maintains a compact and understated design. The chassis measures 121 mm x 151 mm x 175 mm and weighs 1.4 kg, making it easy to place in home or small office environments. Cooling is managed by a single 80 mm fan, and the lack of mechanical drives supports Synology’s positioning of the system as quiet during operation. Power input is rated from 100V to 240V AC at 50/60 Hz, with operating conditions specified between 0°C and 40°C and 8 percent to 80 percent relative humidity. These characteristics reinforce the system’s focus on low noise, low power operation rather than sustained high performance workloads.

Who is the Synology FS200T NAS For?

The Synology FS200T is clearly aimed at a narrow segment of users who value compact size, quiet operation, and access to the DSM software ecosystem over raw performance or hardware flexibility. This includes home users, enthusiasts, and small office environments where space and noise are limiting factors and where workloads are largely centered around file storage, backups, photo management, and light collaboration services. Users already familiar with DSM who want an always on, low maintenance system for everyday data tasks may find the FS200T fits neatly into that role, particularly if power efficiency and physical footprint are higher priorities than throughput.

At the same time, the FS200T is less well suited to users expecting strong virtualization performance, heavy multi user access, or storage scalability over time. The combination of an older processor, a modest memory ceiling, SATA only storage, and limited network bandwidth means it is not designed to grow alongside more demanding workloads. Power users, media professionals, and those comparing against newer M.2 based NAS platforms may find the system restrictive. In practice, the FS200T makes the most sense for users who want a quiet, self contained DSM appliance and are comfortable accepting its fixed performance envelope from day one.

Has the Synology FS200T NAS Arrived Too Little, Too Late?

The FS200T enters a NAS market that has evolved significantly since its first appearance in early 2025. In that time, compact and enthusiast focused systems have increasingly shifted toward M.2 NVMe as primary storage, often paired with faster multi gig or 10GbE networking as a baseline rather than an upgrade. Against those expectations, a 6 bay, SATA only flash system built around an older Celeron platform feels cautious and, in some respects, behind the curve. Even where SSD responsiveness is present, the combination of SATA bandwidth limits, modest CPU capability, and a single 2.5GbE port constrains how much of that performance can realistically be delivered to connected clients.

These limitations are more pronounced when the FS200T is compared directly with consumer and prosumer alternatives released over the last 12 to 24 months. Many competing systems, including small form factor DIY and appliance style NAS solutions, now offer newer Alder Lake or Twin Lake based processors, higher memory ceilings, and NVMe storage that can scale well beyond SATA constraints. While those platforms may lack DSM and its tightly integrated services, they often deliver noticeably higher throughput, better virtualization headroom, and more flexibility for future expansion at similar or lower price points. In that context, the FS200T’s hardware profile risks appearing static rather than intentionally restrained.

Whether the FS200T is ultimately “too late” depends on how much weight is placed on software versus hardware. For users who specifically want DSM in a very small, quiet enclosure and are comfortable with a fixed performance envelope, the system still fills a clear niche. However, its weaknesses become harder to overlook in a consumer market that increasingly expects NVMe storage, modern CPUs, and faster networking as standard. If pricing and SSD compatibility further narrow its appeal, the FS200T may struggle to justify its position against consumer focused alternatives that offer stronger hardware fundamentals, even if they require compromises on software maturity and ecosystem integration.

Join Inner Circle

Want to follow specific category? Also Read...Synology FS200T NAS Revealed100 Reasons Why Users Choose S100 Reasons DIY NAS (TrueNAS, 100 Reasons Turnkey (Synology/Week 47 Tech Roundup – SynolSynology Black Friday Deals (2Synology Black Friday Deals (2Black Friday 2025 Deals - DataBlack Friday 2025 Deals - DataAre Synology NAS OK to Buy Now Subscribe You can also follow specific search terms:

This description contains links to Amazon. These links will take you to some of the products mentioned in today's content. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Visit the NASCompares Deal Finder to find the best place to buy this device in your region, based on Service, Support and Reputation - Just Search for your NAS Drive in the Box Below

Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

TRY CHAT

If you like this service, please consider supporting us. We use affiliate links on the blog allowing NAScompares information and advice service to be free of charge to you.Anything you purchase on the day you click on our links will generate a small commission which isused to run the website. Here is a link for Amazon and B&H.You can also get me a Ko-fi or old school Paypal. Thanks!To find out more about how to support this advice service check HEREIf you need to fix or configure a NAS, check Fiver Have you thought about helping others with your knowledge? Find Instructions Here  

Or support us by using our affiliate links on Amazon UK and Amazon US

    

 

WE LOVE COFFEE

USB4 to 2x 10GbE Adapter – Genius, or Too Little Too Late? (QNA-UC10G2T Review)

The QNAP QNA-UC10G2T is a USB 4 to dual 10GbE adapter built for systems that lack native high-speed network expansion and need dependable multi-gig connectivity through a single Type C port. It provides 2 x 10GBASE-T copper ports, supports multi-speed operation from 10Gbps down to 100Mbps, and includes full driver support for Windows 11, macOS 12.7 to 15.4, and Ubuntu 22.04. Internally it uses dedicated AQC113 controllers for each port, allowing the OS to treat the adapter as two distinct NICs and enabling features such as SMB Multi Channel for aggregated bandwidth. The enclosure is a passive full-metal heatsink that spreads thermal load through a multi stage cooling structure, which your testing confirmed remained below typical thermal expectations even during 24-hour sustained transfers. As a premium module priced significantly higher than generic USB 4 adapters, it is designed for users who require stable long-duration performance, predictable throughput, and compatibility with modern USB 4 or Thunderbolt 3 and 4 hosts rather than the improvised multi controller designs seen in low cost alternatives.

QNAP QNA-UC10G2T Review – Quick Conclusion

The QNAP QNA-UC10G2T is a premium dual-port 10GbE adapter built around USB 4, designed for users who need stable, sustained multi gigabit performance rather than the inconsistent behaviour often seen in low cost USB network adapters. Its dual AQC113 controllers provide two discrete interfaces that operate independently at full speed, which allows for reliable SMB Multi Channel operation and predictable multi stream transfers. The all metal chassis functions as a multi stage passive heatsink, keeping temperatures stable during long workloads and preventing throttling even after hours of continuous access. Performance closely matches QNAP’s published figures, with both ports maintaining high throughput when paired with capable NVMe based systems. Driver installation is required on all supported platforms, and the adapter is not currently usable when plugged directly into most NAS operating systems, which limits flexibility. The price is considerably higher than generic USB 4 network adapters, but for professionals who rely on consistent 10GbE throughput on laptops, workstations, or compact systems without PCIe expansion, the QNA-UC10G2T offers a stable, well engineered solution that prioritises long term reliability over entry level cost.

QNAP QNA-UC10G2T Review – Design & Cooling

The QNA-UC10G2T uses a solid metal chassis that functions as a structural shell and a primary thermal dissipation surface, giving it a distinctive weight and density compared with typical USB network dongles. The outer enclosure is machined with large surface area ridges that extend across the top panel, while the base remains flat to maintain direct thermal contact with the internal controllers. This physical design is not decorative but exists to distribute heat from the AQC113 chips into the enclosure walls and then outward into the surrounding airflow. Its appearance is closer to a purpose built passive heatsink than a consumer accessory, which mirrors the product’s emphasis on maintaining stability during sustained high throughput workloads.

Internally the design is organized around a single board layout that places both controllers on the lower PCB surface, pressed directly against the internal heat spreader via thermal pads and paste. This arrangement ensures that the highest heat generating components transfer their thermal output into the metal layers with minimal resistance. Above this, the chassis integrates a second stage aluminium heat spreader that covers the width of the unit, supported by an additional top panel that completes the third passive cooling stage. This layered thermal design reflects a more methodical architecture than the mixed component assemblies found in low cost USB 4 to network adapters, which commonly rely on bridging older interfaces and produce unpredictable heat patterns under load.

The fanless approach is a key design choice, giving the adapter completely silent operation during heavy transfers. In your testing, the enclosure maintained stable temperatures even after several minutes of saturation, typically remaining in the 47 to 51 degree range depending on activity and ambient levels. This thermal profile suggests that the shell’s passive system prevents hot spots and avoids the typical thermal throttling behaviour found in cheaper adapters, especially those built around multiple controllers stacked on different interconnected PCB modules. The predictable cooling also assists long term reliability for users who expect constant 10GbE connectivity during file editing, remote rendering, or multi channel transfers.

The physical I/O layout consists of a single USB 4 Type C port on one end and 2 x 10GBASE T ports on the opposite face, keeping cable paths separated to prevent mechanical strain or excess heat mingling between connectors. The RJ45 ports support Cat 6a cabling as recommended by QNAP and can operate across 10Gbps, 5Gbps, 2.5Gbps, 1Gbps, and 100Mbps speeds depending on the switch or device connected. While minimalistic, this separation aligns with the use case of the adapter as a mobile or desktop expansion tool where the position of cables may influence airflow and heat shedding around the chassis.

The cooling strategy also reflects QNAP’s intention for the adapter to be used in long-running, high-intensity environments rather than short bursts. During your extended 24 hour tests, the chassis maintained consistent thermal readings, with the USB side remaining cooler than the network interface side. The overall thermal balance avoided thermal spikes, which is essential for dual port operation where simultaneous read and write tasks across two 10GbE channels can push less optimized adapters into throttling. By spreading heat evenly across the frame, the device sustains performance in ways that improvised USB 4 adapters often fail to achieve during multi hour workloads.

QNAP QNA-UC10G2T Review – Internal Hardware and Connectivity

Inside the QNA-UC10G2T, the hardware is centred around two AQC113 controllers, each dedicated to one 10GbE port. This avoids the shared bandwidth and internal bottlenecks that occur in budget adapters that route multiple ports through a single controller or bridge older chipsets together. Each controller appears to have a direct path to the USB 4 interface, allowing the host operating system to detect two independent network interfaces. This structure is essential for features such as SMB Multi Channel, NIC bonding, and network segmentation, since it ensures that both ports operate with consistent throughput rather than competing for limited controller resources. The hardware layout intentionally avoids stacked modules or mixed technology bridges, creating a predictable and uniform architecture.

Connectivity through the USB 4 Type C interface is built to support both USB 4 and Thunderbolt 3 and 4 on most systems. QNAP includes a 1m USB 4 certified cable in the package to ensure full bandwidth without relying on third party cables that may deliver reduced link speeds. Host compatibility extends to Windows 11, macOS 12.7 to 15.4, and Ubuntu 22.04, although all require installation of the Marvell AQtion driver to enable proper operation. This software dependency reflects the adapter’s use of high performance controllers that are not handled by generic drivers. The device is not compatible with ARM based Windows systems, which limits use with some compact laptops and tablets but aligns with the adapter’s focus on fully featured desktop and workstation class hardware.

The dual 10GBASE T ports support 10Gbps, 5Gbps, 2.5Gbps, 1Gbps, and 100Mbps operation and auto negotiate based on the connected switch or device. This makes the adapter usable in mixed infrastructure where not all devices run at 10GbE rates. The reliance on RJ45 also gives it broad physical compatibility, making it suitable for direct PC to NAS connections, multi port NAS access, or integration with 10GbE switches. Your testing confirmed that the independent controllers allowed each port to reach close to saturation independently and operate simultaneously with sustained transfer rates across both links.

The internal hardware layout also supports clear network identification through the OS. When connected, the adapter exposes two discrete interfaces, each carrying its own MAC address, speed negotiation, and jumbo frame support. This allows users to create dedicated VLANs, segment traffic, or assign separate subnets without the limitations seen in single controller USB adapters that present only one interface for both ports. The device is therefore capable of acting as a genuine dual port NIC rather than a multi port breakout filtered through a single internal path. In testing, each interface responded consistently when used with tools such as iperf and CrystalDisk, confirming symmetric behaviour between both controllers.

While the adapter is designed primarily for client devices, your testing highlighted that direct USB 4 to 10GbE connectivity on NAS platforms remains limited. Most NAS operating systems lack mature USB 4 drivers or Thunderbolt over IP integration, which prevented the adapter from functioning when connected directly to TrueNAS or Unraid. This reflects current software gaps rather than a hardware limitation, and future NAS platforms with USB 4 or Thunderbolt support may unlock additional use cases. For now, the hardware is best suited to upgrading laptops, mini PCs, and workstations where USB 4 is available and supported through platform level drivers.

QNAP QNA-UC10G2T Review – Performance

In practical testing, the QNA-UC10G2T delivered sustained throughput that closely aligned with QNAP’s published figures, with both ports maintaining stable operation during long running transfers. When used with IP based benchmarking tools, each 10GbE connection reached near saturation independently, confirming that the internal controllers can deliver full bandwidth without cross interference. During concurrent testing where two separate sessions targeted different devices, both ports maintained consistent performance levels, which demonstrated the benefit of having two discrete AQC113 controllers rather than a single shared architecture that would introduce contention under load.

The adapter also showed strong results during SMB based file transfers, which typically stress both network performance and host storage. Using high speed NVMe backed devices such as the Minisforum MSS1 Max and the Asustor Flashstor Gen 2, throughput regularly approached the upper limits of a single 10GbE link and in some cases exceeded 13 to 14 Gbps combined when SMB Multi Channel was enabled. This reflected not only raw link speed but the ability of the device to maintain a stable, predictable data path without drops or thermal throttling. The performance was also consistent during repeated transfers, confirming sustained operation rather than peak only figures.

Thermal stability had a direct impact on performance, and the adapter’s multi stage passive cooling structure prevented heat buildup during heavy access. After several minutes of continuous transfer, external surface readings typically ranged from 47 to 51 degrees depending on the measurement point, with the USB interface side remaining cooler than the network side. Even after 24 hours of operation, temperatures remained within a narrow range, and throughput did not degrade. This behaviour contrasts with budget adapters built from stacked controller layers, which often throttle or lose throughput when thermals rise beyond the enclosure’s capacity to dissipate heat.

The adapter performed best when paired with systems that support jumbo frames, high performance modes, and direct NVMe based storage, since these environments can fully exploit dual 10GbE bandwidth. On platforms that lack USB 4 optimisation or rely on generic drivers, performance may vary, and your testing confirmed that most NAS operating systems were unable to recognise the adapter due to limited Thunderbolt or USB 4 networking support. For desktop and mobile clients, however, the performance remained consistent and aligned closely with QNAP’s internal lab measurements, provided that the user installed the appropriate drivers and used the supplied USB 4 certified cable.

QNAP QNA-UC10G2T Review – Verdict & Conclusion

The QNA-UC10G2T positions itself as a specialised tool for users who require reliable dual 10GbE connectivity through a single USB 4 port and are prepared to invest in a more robust architecture than the improvised solutions found in low cost adapters. Its metal chassis, multi stage passive cooling design, and independent AQC113 controllers result in predictable behaviour during long duration workloads, with sustained throughput that remains close to full 10GbE saturation on both ports. The requirement for platform specific drivers and the lack of NAS side support limits its flexibility in certain environments, yet for desktop systems, laptops, and compact workstations, the adapter provides one of the most stable USB based 10GbE implementations currently available.

Although priced well above many alternatives, the hardware and performance characteristics position it for users who prioritise reliability over entry level cost. Photographers, editors, engineers, and remote teams who depend on consistent multi gig file transfers may find the premium justified, especially when mobility or small form factor systems prevent installation of PCIe cards. For users simply seeking an inexpensive path to 10GbE, the high cost will be difficult to justify, but for those needing dependable, long term dual port connectivity in a portable form, the QNA-UC10G2T delivers a focused and technically capable solution.

Join Inner Circle

Want to follow specific category? Also Read...100 Reasons Why Users Choose S100 Reasons DIY NAS (TrueNAS, 100 Reasons Turnkey (Synology/Week 48 Tech Roundup – myQNAWeek 47 Tech Roundup – SynolBlack Friday 2025 Deals - DataBlack Friday 2025 Deals - DataQNAP 2x 10GbE to USB4 Adapter Week 44 Tech Roundup – TOS 7Pwn2Own Ireland 2025: Synology Subscribe You can also follow specific search terms:

This description contains links to Amazon. These links will take you to some of the products mentioned in today's content. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Visit the NASCompares Deal Finder to find the best place to buy this device in your region, based on Service, Support and Reputation - Just Search for your NAS Drive in the Box Below

Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

TRY CHAT

If you like this service, please consider supporting us. We use affiliate links on the blog allowing NAScompares information and advice service to be free of charge to you.Anything you purchase on the day you click on our links will generate a small commission which isused to run the website. Here is a link for Amazon and B&H.You can also get me a Ko-fi or old school Paypal. Thanks!To find out more about how to support this advice service check HEREIf you need to fix or configure a NAS, check Fiver Have you thought about helping others with your knowledge? Find Instructions Here  

Or support us by using our affiliate links on Amazon UK and Amazon US

    

 

WE LOVE COFFEE

Source

Source

Microsoft a publié un correctif pour patcher une faille de sécurité zero-day dans Microsoft Office. Cette vulnérabilité (CVE-2026-21509) est déjà exploitée.

Le post Microsoft a patché en urgence une faille de sécurité zero-day dans Office : CVE-2026-21509 a été publié sur IT-Connect.

Beelink ME Pro NAS Review

The Beelink ME Pro is a 2-bay NAS-style mini PC that aims to deliver a full home or small office storage setup in a much smaller chassis than most traditional 2-bay systems. It is sold in 2 main versions, based on the Intel N95 or Intel N150, and both ship with pre-attached LPDDR5 memory and a bundled NVMe SSD as the system drive. Storage expansion is a mix of 2 SATA bays for 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch drives, plus 3 internal M.2 NVMe slots (1 running at PCIe 3.0 x2 and 2 running at PCIe 3.0 x1), and networking includes 5GbE plus 2.5GbE alongside WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4. This review is based on several weeks of use and a set of structured tests covering temperatures over extended uptime, noise in idle and active states, power draw across different drive and workload combinations, and storage and network performance over both HDD and NVMe, with additional notes on the system’s internal layout and the practical limitations that come from its compact design.

Beelink ME Pro NAS Review – Quick Conclusion

The Beelink ME Pro is a very compact 2-bay NAS-style mini PC that combines 2 SATA bays with 3 M.2 NVMe slots and multi-gig connectivity, aiming to deliver a small footprint system without dropping features that are often reserved for larger enclosures. It is sold in N95 and N150 versions, both with pre-attached LPDDR5 memory (12GB or 16GB) and a bundled system SSD, and its internal layout uses 1 PCIe 3.0 x2 NVMe slot plus 2 PCIe 3.0 x1 slots, with 5GbE plus 2.5GbE Ethernet, WiFi 6, USB-C 10Gbps (with video output), HDMI 4K60, and a barrel-powered 120W PSU. In testing over extended uptime, external chassis temperatures stayed broadly in the mid-30C range with the rear around 38C, HDDs sat around 34C to 36C with modest 4TB drives installed, and NVMe temperatures rose sharply if the base thermal panel was removed, indicating the thermal pads and chassis contact are part of the cooling design and leaving no practical clearance for NVMe heatsinks. Noise in the tested setup remained in the mid-30 dBA range both at idle and under mixed access, power draw ranged from around 15W to 16W with no drives installed, 18W to 19W with only NVMe, about 22W to 23W with HDDs and NVMe idle, and peaked around 41W to 42W under a combined heavy workload. Performance was consistent with the hardware layout: HDD RAID1 throughput landed around 250MB/s to 267MB/s and will not saturate 5GbE, while NVMe could saturate the 5GbE link and internal testing showed about 1.5GB/s to 1.6GB/s reads and 1.1GB/s to 1.2GB/s writes on the PCIe 3.0 x2 slot, with the PCIe 3.0 x1 slots closer to roughly 830MB/s reads and 640MB/s to 670MB/s writes; media server use handled 4 simultaneous high bitrate 4K playback streams with CPU usage in the teens using Jellyfin. The main drawbacks are tied to the compact design choices: the RAM is not upgradeable, the chassis and storage fitting are very tight during installation, fan control outside BIOS was not straightforward in early testing, the NVMe slots are mixed speed by design, and the CPU options are closely spaced, meaning the upgrade decision is often about the bundled memory and SSD tier as much as the processor. Official messaging also says hot swapping is not supported, yet it worked during testing in a RAID1 scenario, suggesting a support-position limitation rather than a strict hardware block.

DESIGN - 9/10

HARDWARE - 8/10

PERFORMANCE - 8/10

PRICE - 8/10

VALUE - 8/10

8.2

PROS

Very compact footprint for a 2-bay NAS class system (166 x 121 x 112mm, metal chassis)
2x SATA bays (2.5-inch or 3.5-inch) plus 3x M.2 NVMe slots in the same enclosure
Multi-gig wired networking: 5GbE + 2.5GbE, plus WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4
Strong idle efficiency in testing with drives installed and idle (about 22W to 23W)
Noise stayed in the mid-30 dBA range in the tested HDD and NVMe configuration
NVMe performance is sufficient to saturate the 5GbE link, with the PCIe 3.0 x2 slot clearly faster than the x1 slots
Chassis thermal design appears effective under typical always-on use, with external temps broadly in the mid-30C range
Practical service access features: magnetic rear cover, base access for M.2, stored tool in the base, reset and CLR CMOS available

CONS

RAM is fixed (no SO-DIMM), so memory cannot be upgraded after purchase
Very tight internal tolerances make drive and bracket insertion less forgiving during installation and changes
Mixed NVMe slot speeds (1x PCIe 3.0 x2 and 2x PCIe 3.0 x1) and no 10GbE option

Beelink ME Pro NAS Review – Design & Storage

The ME Pro is built around an all-metal unibody chassis that prioritizes footprint over easy internal spacing. In physical terms it sits noticeably smaller than many mainstream 2-bay enclosures, and in my comparisons it looked roughly 20% to 25% smaller next to typical 2-bay units from brands like Synology and TerraMaster. The front panel styling leans into a speaker-like look, and it has been compared to a Marshall speaker design, which is likely intentional given the mesh and badge layout. Functionally, that front area is not a speaker, and the design choice is mostly about appearance and airflow rather than adding any front-facing audio hardware.

From a storage perspective, the ME Pro is a hybrid layout rather than a traditional “2-bay only” NAS. It supports 2 SATA bays for 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch drives, and Beelink positions it as supporting up to 30TB per SATA bay, giving a stated 60TB HDD ceiling. Alongside that, it has 3 internal M.2 NVMe slots with a stated 4TB per slot limit, which Beelink frames as up to 12TB of SSD capacity. Taken together, that is the basis for the commonly quoted 72TB maximum figure, although most buyers will treat that as an upper boundary rather than a typical real-world configuration due to drive cost and heat considerations.

The SATA bays are accessed from the rear by removing a magnetic cooling mesh cover, then sliding out the drive bracket assembly. The trays are screw-mounted rather than tool-less, and the manual specifies different screw types depending on whether you are installing 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch drives. In practice, it is possible to physically place a drive in a tray without fully fastening it, but the design clearly expects proper screw mounting for stability and vibration control. The device also includes silicone plugs intended to reduce vibration and protect the drives, and the overall bay system is designed to sit very flush once reassembled.

One unusual design detail is that each HDD tray includes a thermal pad intended to draw heat away from the drive’s underside. That is not common on many 2-bay systems, and it suggests Beelink is trying to compensate for the compact enclosure by using direct contact points for heat transfer. The tradeoff is that this design pushes the product toward precision fitting, and it aligns with the wider theme of the ME Pro being tightly engineered rather than roomy.

If you typically choose NAS hardware where drive swaps are quick and frequent, this approach will feel more like a compact appliance that expects occasional changes, not a platform designed around constant drive rotation.

The compact chassis also affects how storage installation feels in the hands. Because clearances are tight, inserting the drive bracket and getting everything seated can feel less smooth than on larger 2-bay boxes, even though it looks clean once it is in place. This tightness is likely part of how Beelink is managing airflow paths and vibration control in such a small enclosure, but it still means you have less margin for error during installation. Overall, the storage design is best described as space-efficient and deliberate, but it asks for patience during assembly and it rewards users who install drives once and leave the configuration largely unchanged.

Beelink ME Pro NAS Review – Internal Hardware

The ME Pro is sold in 2 CPU variants, based on Intel’s N95 or N150, both 4-core and 4-thread chips with integrated graphics. In practical NAS terms, these CPUs sit in the low power mini PC category rather than the heavier desktop class, so the platform is designed around efficiency and compact integration rather than raw compute headroom. In your testing and general use, that design target showed up as stable day-to-day responsiveness for typical NAS tasks, plus enough iGPU capability for common media server workloads when paired with the right software stack.

Memory is integrated rather than socketed. The configurations pair the N95 with 12GB LPDDR5 4800MHz and the N150 with 16GB LPDDR5 4800MHz, and there is no user-accessible SO-DIMM slot to expand it later. In the context of a small NAS, this matters less for basic file serving and backups, but it becomes more relevant if the device is expected to run multiple containers, heavier indexing, or virtual machines. Because the memory is fixed at purchase, the CPU choice is also effectively tied to your long-term memory ceiling.

Internally, the platform is constrained by limited PCIe resources, which affects how the storage and networking are wired. In the review you noted the CPU platform has 9 lanes available, and the device uses a split approach across its internal components rather than giving every subsystem the same bandwidth. The NVMe area reflects this most clearly, with 1 slot operating at PCIe 3.0 x2 while the other slots operate at PCIe 3.0 x1, which makes slot choice part of performance planning for any workload that leans heavily on NVMe. This lane budgeting also helps explain why the system lands at 5GbE plus 2.5GbE rather than a single 10GbE port, since 10GbE would typically add pressure to an already tight allocation.

Controller choices are mixed rather than uniform, and you called that out as unusual. The 5GbE port uses a Realtek RTL8126 controller and the 2.5GbE port uses an Intel i226-V controller, which is not a common pairing in the same chassis. On the storage side, the SATA side is handled by an ASMedia ASM2116 controller, and in your notes you referenced it operating on a PCIe 3.0 x1 link, which is still sufficient for 2 SATA bays in most real-world use. These choices are relevant for OS compatibility and driver maturity, particularly if the unit is being used with NAS focused platforms rather than the included Windows 11 installation.

Cooling is one of the main internal design decisions that enables the smaller enclosure. Instead of a traditional rear fan placed at the drive backplane, the system uses a CPU fan working with a vapor chamber arrangement, and airflow is routed so that it also passes over other internal heat sources rather than treating the CPU as a separate cooling zone. In your thermal testing, you observed that the front panel area ran warmer than the rest of the chassis due to the WiFi hardware placement, and you also saw a noticeable rise in NVMe temperatures when the base thermal panel was removed, which supports the idea that the chassis panels and pads are intended to be part of the heat management system. Power is delivered via a barrel connector using a 120W external PSU, which provides headroom for spin-up and load, but it also means this is not a USB-C powered design.

Beelink ME Pro NAS Review – Ports and Connections

Up front, the ME Pro keeps things simple: a power button and a single front-mounted USB port for quick access. This suits the NAS-first intent, where most interaction is remote, but it also sets expectations for local use. If you plan to attach multiple peripherals directly to the unit, you are quickly pushed toward using a hub or relying on network-based management rather than treating it like a conventional mini PC with generous front I/O.

Most connectivity is placed at the rear and along the base section of the chassis, which also helps keep cables routed in one direction when the unit is placed on a desk or shelf. Wired networking is split across 2 Ethernet ports, a 5GbE port and a 2.5GbE port, and the unit also includes WiFi 6 plus Bluetooth 5.4. That mix allows both a standard single-cable setup and more flexible layouts such as separating traffic across the 2 wired links, or keeping WiFi available for temporary placement, troubleshooting, or scenarios where pulling Ethernet is not straightforward.

For general external connectivity, the ME Pro includes a USB-C port rated at 10Gbps for data and it supports video output, but it is not used for power input. Power is delivered through a barrel connector and the unit ships with a 120W external PSU, which provides comfortable headroom and removes any questions around USB-C PD negotiation. Alongside USB-C, it includes 1 USB 3.2 port rated at 10Gbps and 2 USB 2.0 ports at 480Mbps, which covers basic keyboard, mouse, UPS signalling, or low bandwidth accessories, but it is still a small selection compared with many mini PCs.

For local display and basic audio, there is 1 HDMI output rated up to 4K 60Hz and a 3.5mm audio jack. The manual also calls out a reset hole and a CLR CMOS function, which is useful context for users who intend to experiment with different operating systems, boot media, or BIOS settings, since recovery options are clearly exposed rather than being hidden inside the chassis. Overall, the port selection feels intentionally weighted toward networking and core connectivity, with enough display and USB support for setup and troubleshooting, but not a layout aimed at heavy local peripheral use.

Beelink ME Pro NAS Review – Noise, Heat, Power and Speed Tests

Testing was done over several weeks of general use and targeted measurements, with a focus on temperatures, noise, power draw, and storage and network throughput. The typical configuration used for the core measurements included 2 SATA HDDs and 3 installed NVMe drives, with the system left running for extended periods and accessed regularly throughout the day. In addition to network file transfers, I also checked internal storage performance directly over SSH to separate storage limits from network limits.

On thermals, external chassis temperatures after a 24-hour period of operation with regular hourly access sat around 34C to 35C across most sides. The base area was a little warmer at roughly 34C to 38C, and the rear section around the motherboard and vapor chamber area was around 38C. The installed HDDs sat around 34C to 36C in that same period, using 4TB IronWolf drives, so not high power enterprise class media. The front panel area peaked higher than the rest of the enclosure, which aligned with the internal placement of the WiFi hardware near the front of the chassis.

The NVMe area showed the clearest example of how much the chassis panels and pads matter. With the base thermal panel in place, the panel itself sat around 36C over the same extended uptime. When that panel was removed, temperatures on the NVMe drives rose noticeably, with the PCIe 3.0 x2 slot drive reaching around 45C to 46C and the PCIe 3.0 x1 slot drives sitting around 38C to 41C. The difference suggested that the base panel and thermal pad contact are doing meaningful work as part of the heat path, and it also reinforces that there is no practical clearance for NVMe heatsinks in this chassis.

Noise levels were measured in a modest drive configuration, and they stayed in the mid-30 dBA range in the test environment. With the HDDs idle and the system otherwise sitting in standby, noise came in around 36 dBA to 37 dBA. With both HDDs being accessed simultaneously and NVMe activity occurring, it sat around 35 dBA to 38 dBA. The system uses a compact fan approach tied to the CPU cooling path, and one limitation I ran into is that I did not find a straightforward way to control the fan outside the BIOS during early testing, including attempts via SSH, which reduces fine tuning options for users who want tighter acoustics control.

Power consumption was tested in several stages to isolate the impact of installed storage. With no HDDs or NVMe installed and the system powered on, it drew around 15W to 16W. With 3 NVMe installed and no HDDs, it rose to around 18W to 19W. With 2 HDDs and 3 NVMe installed but all media idle, it sat around 22W to 23W.

Under a heavy combined workload with HDD and NVMe activity plus the CPU at full utilization, power draw reached around 41W to 42W, which reflects a worst case state rather than typical idle or light service operation.

For throughput, 2 HDDs in a RAID1 style setup were able to deliver around 250 MB/s to 267 MB/s, which is consistent with what you would expect from 2-bay HDD performance and means the HDD side will not saturate a 5GbE link.

NVMe storage over the 5GbE connection was able to reach full saturation of the network link in testing, so the network became the limiting factor rather than the SSD. Internal NVMe testing over SSH showed the expected split between slots, with the PCIe 3.0 x2 slot delivering roughly 1.5 GB/s to 1.6 GB/s reads and 1.1 GB/s to 1.2 GB/s writes, while the PCIe 3.0 x1 slots delivered around 830 MB/s to 835 MB/s reads and roughly 640 MB/s to 670 MB/s writes with more variability.

On media server use, 4 simultaneous high bitrate 4K playback streams ran with CPU usage in the teens, using Jellyfin. One extra operational note from testing is that while official messaging indicates hot swapping is not supported, I was able to remove and replace a drive in a RAID1 environment without powering down and continue the rebuild process, which suggests the limitation may be a support stance rather than an absolute hardware block.

Beelink ME Pro NAS Review – Conclusion & Verdict

The ME Pro’s main practical strengths are the space-efficient chassis, the combination of 2 SATA bays with 3 internal NVMe slots, and a connectivity set that includes 5GbE plus 2.5GbE and WiFi 6. In measured testing it delivered controlled external temperatures under typical always-on use, mid-30 dBA noise levels in the tested configuration, and power draw that stayed in the low-20W range at idle with drives installed, rising into the low-40W range under a full combined workload. Storage performance matched the internal design limits: HDD throughput was solid but not enough to saturate 5GbE, while NVMe performance split clearly between the PCIe 3.0 x2 slot and the PCIe 3.0 x1 slots, with the faster NVMe slot capable of saturating the 5GbE link in network transfers.

The main limitations are tied to the same compact, integrated approach that makes it unusual. Memory is fixed at purchase with no SO-DIMM upgrade path, NVMe cooling relies on chassis contact and leaves no clearance for heatsinks, and the lane allocation results in mixed NVMe slot speeds rather than uniform bandwidth across all 3 slots. The launch CPU options also remain close enough that the decision is often as much about bundled memory and SSD tier as it is about a clear performance tier shift. For buyers who want a small, always-on NAS with mixed SATA and NVMe storage, multi-gig networking, and reasonable thermals, noise, and power characteristics, the ME Pro aligns with that goal, but it is less suitable for users who expect frequent hardware changes, want expandability in RAM, or prefer a more conventional 10GbE-first network design.

Join Inner Circle

Want to follow specific category? Also Read...TP Link TL-WR3602BE Travel RouGli.Net Comet 5G Review - The Gl.iNet Comet 5G Review - The UniFi UNAS Pro 4 vs Pro vs ProUniFi UNAS Pro 4 vs Pro vs ProAcemagic N3A-3750H announced: UniFi UNAS Pro 4 NAS ReviewUNAS Pro 4 ReviewGl.iNet Beryl 7 Travel Router Gl.iNet Beryl 7 Travel Router Subscribe You can also follow specific search terms:

This description contains links to Amazon. These links will take you to some of the products mentioned in today's content. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Visit the NASCompares Deal Finder to find the best place to buy this device in your region, based on Service, Support and Reputation - Just Search for your NAS Drive in the Box Below

Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

TRY CHAT

If you like this service, please consider supporting us. We use affiliate links on the blog allowing NAScompares information and advice service to be free of charge to you.Anything you purchase on the day you click on our links will generate a small commission which isused to run the website. Here is a link for Amazon and B&H.You can also get me a Ko-fi or old school Paypal. Thanks!To find out more about how to support this advice service check HEREIf you need to fix or configure a NAS, check Fiver Have you thought about helping others with your knowledge? Find Instructions Here  

Or support us by using our affiliate links on Amazon UK and Amazon US

    

 

WE LOVE COFFEE

Ever Wanted a Modern Mac Mini, but Windows? And for AI? The MS-S1 Max Review

The Minisforum MS-S1 Max is one of those mini workstations that looks straightforward on paper, but starts to feel unusual once you look at how it is put together and who it seems to be aimed at. It is built around AMD’s Ryzen AI Max+ 395, pairing a 16C/32T CPU with Radeon 8060S integrated graphics and an NPU that contributes to a quoted platform total of up to 126 TOPS. The big differentiator is the memory design: 128GB of LPDDR5x-8000 UMA, shared between the CPU and GPU, which changes the usual limits you hit on iGPU systems where VRAM is the first bottleneck. Minisforum also leans into “serious deployment” features here, including dual 10GbE, WiFi 7, USB4 v2, a slide-out chassis for maintenance, and even references to clustering and 2U rack mounting. The result is a machine that can make sense for creators, power users, and AI-focused workloads, but it also comes with a price level that forces the obvious question: what are you actually getting for that money beyond raw specs.

Minisforum MS-S1 Max Review – Quick Conclusion

The Minisforum MS-S1 Max is best understood as a compact Strix Halo workstation rather than a conventional mini PC, because its value is tied to the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 APU, the Radeon 8060S iGPU, and especially the 128GB LPDDR5x-8000 UMA memory pool that helps avoid the usual iGPU VRAM ceiling in creation, GPU-accelerated work, and local AI experimentation. It pairs that core platform with unusually strong external connectivity for its size, including dual 10GbE RJ45, WiFi 7, and a mix of USB4 and USB4 v2 ports that make high-bandwidth docks and storage setups practical, while the internal 320W PSU and heavy cooling stack are clearly built for sustained loads rather than short bursts. In testing, the system’s behavior has a few quirks that matter in daily use, particularly the way the chassis can feel hot to the touch in idle until the fan profile becomes more reactive under load, and the fact that noise ramps into the low 50 dBA range once the cooling really gets going, even if idle acoustics are more modest. Expandability is also a mixed bag: the slide-out design is convenient, but the storage layout includes a PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slot alongside a second M.2 limited to PCIe 4.0 x1, and the PCIe x16 slot is PCIe 4.0 x4 electrically, so it rewards buyers who already know what they plan to add. The price is the real gatekeeper here, because it only makes sense if you will actually use the UMA memory capacity, the iGPU performance, and the high-speed networking and USB bandwidth, but for that narrower audience, it offers a rare combination of compact form factor, strong APU compute, and connectivity that is difficult to match without moving to a much larger desktop or adding a discrete GPU.

BUILD QUALITY - 10/10

HARDWARE - 10/10

PERFORMANCE - 9/10

PRICE - 6/10

VALUE - 7/10

8.4

PROS

Ryzen AI Max+ 395 (16C/32T) delivers workstation-class CPU performance in a compact chassis
Radeon 8060S (40 CUs) iGPU is capable enough for 1080p gaming and GPU-accelerated workloads without a dGPU
128GB LPDDR5x-8000 UMA reduces typical iGPU VRAM limitations for creation and local AI tasks
Strong idle efficiency with power draw observed around 13 to 16W in light desktop use
Dual 10GbE RJ45 enables high-throughput workflows without needing add-in NICs
WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 provide fast wireless connectivity for setups where wired is not practical
4 total USB4-class ports (2x USB4 40Gbps + 2x USB4 v2 80Gbps) support high-speed docks and storage
Slide-out chassis design improves serviceability compared with many compact desktops
Multiple power and fan modes (Performance/Balanced/Quiet/Rack) allow tuning for noise vs sustained load

CONS

High price puts it outside typical mini PC value expectations
Storage expansion is uneven (1x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 + 1x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x1), limiting the second slot for high-performance SSD use
Exterior can feel very hot at idle, with fan response seeming less aggressive until load begins
PCIe x16 slot is PCIe 4.0 x4 electrically, and physical space constraints limit card choices

Where to Buy a Product
			VISIT RETAILER ➤
			VISIT RETAILER ➤

Minisforum MS-S1 Max Review – Design & Storage

The MS-S1 Max feels like Minisforum took the general “mini workstation” idea and then built a thicker, more industrial version of it to cope with the Strix Halo platform. The chassis is metal and noticeably more substantial than the smaller MS-series boxes, with ventilation cut across multiple sides rather than relying on a single intake and exhaust path. It can be used vertically or horizontally thanks to feet on more than one face, which makes sense given how much of the marketing leans toward desk use one day and rack or shelf use the next.

Minisforum also keeps the slide-out structure here, and it is clearly intended to make maintenance less annoying than a traditional small desktop. In practice, it is still a compact, dense build, but you are not dismantling the entire enclosure just to access the main service areas. The system also has a couple of physical touches that make it feel more “deployment aware” than most mini PCs, like the mounting points underneath and the general emphasis on stacking, shelving, or grouping more than 1 unit together.

Storage is one of the areas where the MS-S1 Max shows both its strengths and its compromises. You get 2 internal M.2 2280 slots, but they are not equal: 1 is PCIe 4.0 x4 and the other is PCIe 4.0 x1. That means you can have a fast primary NVMe for OS and active work, but the second slot is better treated as capacity storage, warm data, or a secondary pool where peak throughput matters less. Minisforum ships the reviewed configuration with a 2TB Gen 4 SSD, so you can start testing immediately, but once you begin planning expansion, that lane split becomes a real consideration.

Physically, the M.2 placement is functional but not especially convenient. The slots sit low in the chassis near the base and tucked behind a lot of the cooling hardware, which makes upgrades feel more fiddly than they need to be. There is airflow down there, but it is not the kind of open, easy-access layout you get in a larger desktop. It also does not really encourage tall, pre-fitted heatsinks on SSDs, since clearance is limited and the space around the cooling assembly is tight. If you plan to run heavy sustained writes, you will probably end up choosing low-profile drives or slim heatsinks simply because it is the easiest fit.

On the expansion side, the MS-S1 Max includes a full-length PCIe x16 physical slot, but it is PCIe 4.0 x4 electrically, and that matters if you are buying cards based on the x16 shape alone. The form factor also pushes you toward half-height, half-length cards in most practical installs, and even then it can get cramped depending on cabling and where the PSU wiring runs.

In other words, the slot is useful for NICs, storage adapters, capture cards, and some compact accelerators, but it is not a “drop in any x16 card” situation, and the system rewards planning ahead before you buy hardware for it.

Minisforum MS-S1 Max Review – Internal Hardware

At the heart of the MS-S1 Max is AMD’s Ryzen AI Max+ 395, and the main thing to understand is that it is an APU platform built to behave more like a compact workstation than a typical integrated-graphics mini PC. You are getting a 16C/32T Zen 5 CPU with boost up to 5.1GHz, paired with an on-die Radeon 8060S GPU with 40 CUs and up to 2900MHz. In real use, that combination shifts the expectations around what “no discrete GPU” actually means, because the compute and graphics capability are designed to scale together rather than feeling like a strong CPU with an afterthought iGPU.

The most defining hardware choice is memory, because you do not get SODIMM slots here at all. The system uses up to 128GB LPDDR5x-8000 on a 256-bit bus, and it is shared between CPU and GPU via UMA. That has practical implications in workloads that normally hit VRAM limits first, like GPU-accelerated creative work or local AI inference, where the ability to allocate a much larger pool to the GPU can matter more than raw shader count. It also means your “upgrade path” is basically decided at purchase, so the value proposition depends heavily on whether 128GB UMA is something you will genuinely use, rather than just admire on a spec sheet.

On the AI side, the platform is marketed around a combined figure of up to 126 TOPS, with the NPU itself rated up to 50 TOPS. In day-to-day terms, that does not automatically translate into every app running faster, because it depends on whether your software actually targets the NPU, the GPU, or the CPU. What is clear from the positioning, and from how similar Strix Halo systems are being used, is that this design is meant to handle local model work without immediately forcing you into a discrete GPU purchase. That also explains why Minisforum leans into “run large models locally” messaging more than it usually does on its mainstream mini PCs.

Cooling and power delivery are tightly linked to the internal hardware decisions. Minisforum rates the system at 130W in Performance mode, 95W in Balanced, and 60W in Quiet, and the cooling stack is built around a copper base, 6 heat pipes, phase change material, and dual turbine fans, with a max fan speed of 3600 RPM. The PSU is internal and rated up to 320W, which helps explain why the chassis is thicker than many of Minisforum’s earlier workstations. In practice, that internal PSU choice also supports the idea that this box is expected to hold higher sustained loads than a typical mini PC without relying on a large external power brick.

There are also a few platform-level details that shape how “workstation-like” it feels. The system supports Windows 11 Pro and Windows 11 24H2 Pro/Home, and the BIOS is positioned as feature-rich, with fan monitoring and tuning options plus platform toggles that matter to power users. This is relevant because the MS-S1 Max is not just built for one narrow purpose, it is built for people who will switch between modes, tweak profiles, and repurpose it across different roles over time. If you treat it like a sealed appliance, you will still get high performance, but you are leaving a lot of what the platform is trying to offer on the table.

Minisforum MS-S1 Max Review – Ports & Connections

The MS-S1 Max is one of the more connectivity-heavy systems Minisforum has put out, and it is clearly designed around the assumption that it will sit in a workstation or lab environment rather than acting as a living-room mini PC. On the front, you get 2 USB4 ports at 40Gbps, a USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A at 10Gbps, and a 3.5mm TRRS combo jack, plus 2 built-in DMIC mics that are pitched for voice and AI-assisted capture use. In practice, that front layout feels aimed at day-to-day convenience: fast external storage, a dock or capture device, and simple headset or mic options without needing to reach around the back.

On the rear, Minisforum doubles down on bandwidth. There are 2 USB4 v2 ports at 80Gbps, which is the kind of future-proofing that only really makes sense if you plan to use high-speed docks, external storage, or potentially GPU enclosures over time. The review experience lines up with that idea: the ports work as normal USB4 for most peripherals, but the value is really in the headroom, because 80Gbps devices and adapters are still not common in most studios. Alongside those, you get 2 USB 3.2 Gen2 ports at 10Gbps and 2 USB 2.0 ports, which is a more practical mix than it sounds, because it means you are not “wasting” high-speed ports on low-speed peripherals like keyboards, UPS management cables, or dongles.

Networking is a major selling point here, but it is also a slightly divisive one depending on your setup. The MS-S1 Max provides 2 10GbE RJ45 ports, both using Realtek RTL8127 controllers, and it also includes WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. In use, the wired ports are straightforward and do what you would expect in a compact workstation, including saturating 10GbE when paired with storage that can keep up.

WiFi 7 is also immediately usable, and the practical takeaway is that you can get multi-gig wireless performance without much effort if you already have a WiFi 7 router, but it is still not a replacement for wired 10GbE if you are treating this as part of a storage or production workflow.

Video output is handled through 1 HDMI 2.1 FRL port plus DisplayPort Alt Mode over USB4 and USB4 v2, which makes multi-display setups easy without any additional hardware. Minisforum rates these outputs up to 8K@60Hz and 4K@120Hz, and in the real world that means you can run high-refresh 4K displays or multiple monitors with less compromise than most iGPU-based mini PCs. The only real caveat is that the system leans heavily on USB4 for flexible display and peripheral expansion, so the people who get the most out of the port selection are the ones already planning to use docks, external storage, or high-bandwidth accessories, rather than just plugging in a keyboard and a single monitor.

Minisforum MS-S1 Max Review – Performance & Tests

In day-to-day use, the MS-S1 Max feels less like a typical mini PC and more like a compact workstation that happens to have an iGPU. General desktop operation is consistently responsive, and the platform’s bandwidth-heavy design shows up most clearly when you start stacking tasks that normally push integrated graphics systems into obvious slowdown. One thing that stood out early is how “hot to the touch” the exterior can feel when the system is sitting idle, with thermal imaging showing roughly 55 to 60°C around sections of the chassis and vents in that state. At the same time, internal sensor readings were not presenting anything alarming, which suggests the metal body is doing what it is meant to do as part of heat dissipation, but the idle fan curve behavior did not feel especially reactive until a workload actually kicked in.

Once the system is put under load, the cooling behavior becomes easier to understand and, in practice, more reassuring. During active workloads, the external readings dropped notably in many areas, with measurements around 31 to 34°C being observed on parts of the casing once sustained tasks were running, and internal hot spots that had looked extreme during idle did not remain in that range once the fan profile ramped. Noise levels followed the same pattern: at idle the system sat around 39 to 41 dBA, but under heavier load it ramped to roughly 51 to 53 dBA. It is not silent, but it is also not unexpectedly loud for a high-power APU system with multiple fans and a chassis that is clearly built to move air.

Power draw is one of the more interesting parts of the MS-S1 Max story because it is unusually low when the system is doing very little, then rises quickly once the GPU side is engaged. Idle consumption landed around 13 to 16 W, which is striking given the CPU, GPU, memory bandwidth, and overall positioning of the device. More moderate CPU-oriented workloads pushed consumption into roughly the 45 to 58 W range, with brief spikes into the 70 to 80 W area depending on thread behavior in the test. Once the Radeon 8060S was hit hard in GPU-heavy testing, total system power moved into triple digits, with figures around 141 to 158 W being recorded, which lines up with the idea that this chassis is designed to translate a lot of electrical budget into sustained APU performance rather than short bursts.

Benchmarking results were strong, but the platform’s newness made comparison data less useful than usual in several tools. PCMark produced a score of 8,353, and a run through 3DMark showed a wide spread depending on the test: Solar Bay scored 5,200, Speedway landed at 1,900 with frame rates around 18 to 19 FPS, and Steel Nomad Light cleared 11,000 with an average of 82.3 FPS. Night Raid, which is a better fit for integrated graphics platforms, came in at 70,000 overall, with a graphics score of 130,522 and a CPU score of 19,312. The practical takeaway from these results is that the MS-S1 Max can behave like a “real” gaming-capable APU system in the right workloads, but it also sits in a strange middle ground where some benchmark suites still struggle to place it cleanly against older mini PCs or discrete-GPU desktops.

Minisforum MS-S1 Max Review – Verdict & Conclusion

The MS-S1 Max is easier to understand once you stop thinking of it as a “mini PC with good specs” and instead treat it as a purpose-built Strix Halo workstation in a compact chassis. The big wins are the APU design and the 128GB UMA memory pool, because that combination changes what is practical on integrated graphics, especially for workloads that normally fall over due to VRAM limits. In use, it shows up as a system that can handle serious creative and compute tasks without immediately forcing you into a discrete GPU upgrade path, while still giving you enough connectivity to fit into faster workflows through dual 10GbE, WiFi 7, and USB4 v2. It is not flawless though: the system can feel surprisingly hot to the touch in idle despite internal sensors looking fine, and the fan behavior seems more tuned for “react under load” than “stay cool at rest,” which is a real-world usability detail you notice when it is sitting on a desk near you.

Where things get more complicated is the value discussion. At pricing around the mid/high $2,000 range depending on configuration, this is not competing with mainstream mini PCs at all, and it is not trying to. The audience is much narrower: people who want a high-bandwidth APU platform, who will actually use the memory capacity and fast external connectivity, and who are comfortable paying for that kind of compact engineering. If your workload is mostly general office, light creation, or basic homelab tasks, it is difficult to justify over more conventional systems, including Minisforum’s own smaller workstations. But if you are specifically chasing a compact workstation that can credibly do gaming, content work, and local AI experimentation without a discrete GPU, the MS-S1 Max is one of the few systems that makes that argument feel realistic, even if it comes with the usual early-platform quirks and a price tag that will still put off most buyers.

Join Inner Circle

Want to follow specific category? Also Read...TP Link TL-WR3602BE Travel RouGli.Net Comet 5G Review - The Gl.iNet Comet 5G Review - The UniFi UNAS Pro 4 NAS ReviewUNAS Pro 4 ReviewGl.iNet Beryl 7 Travel Router Gl.iNet Beryl 7 Travel Router Asustor Lockerstor 4 Gen 2+ NAUGREEN DXP4800 PRO NAS ReviewUGREEN DXP4800 PRO NAS Review Subscribe You can also follow specific search terms:

This description contains links to Amazon. These links will take you to some of the products mentioned in today's content. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Visit the NASCompares Deal Finder to find the best place to buy this device in your region, based on Service, Support and Reputation - Just Search for your NAS Drive in the Box Below

Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

TRY CHAT

If you like this service, please consider supporting us. We use affiliate links on the blog allowing NAScompares information and advice service to be free of charge to you.Anything you purchase on the day you click on our links will generate a small commission which isused to run the website. Here is a link for Amazon and B&H.You can also get me a Ko-fi or old school Paypal. Thanks!To find out more about how to support this advice service check HEREIf you need to fix or configure a NAS, check Fiver Have you thought about helping others with your knowledge? Find Instructions Here  

Or support us by using our affiliate links on Amazon UK and Amazon US

    

 

WE LOVE COFFEE

UGREEN AI NAS Review – Is the iDX6011 Pro NAS a Kind of Greatness or Gimmick?

UGREEN has moved from being a peripheral brand in storage accessories to a recognisable name in turnkey NAS hardware in a relatively short time, helped in part by the NASync range that arrived via crowdfunding in 2024 and then transitioned into regular retail availability. The NASync iDX6011 series is the company’s next step, and it is a bigger swing than the earlier systems because it is trying to appeal to 2 different audiences at once. On one side, it is a high spec 6 bay NAS with features typically aimed at heavier workloads, including dual 10GbE, dual Thunderbolt 4, PCIe Gen4 expansion, and NVMe slots for caching or SSD volumes. On the other side, it is being marketed as a “local AI NAS” built around an on device assistant and offline processing, intended for people who like the idea of using natural language to search, summarise, and organise large private libraries without sending data to a public cloud. The practical question is whether buyers actually need an AI layer on a NAS, since many users simply want reliable storage, backups, and fast access, and will judge it on fundamentals like performance, noise, power, and software stability first. Based on hands on testing of the iDX6011 Pro hardware and the early UGOS Pro plus AI implementation, the platform looks close to finished on the hardware side, while the AI layer feels more like a developing feature set that is not yet consistently polished, which raises the possibility that UGREEN is attempting to deliver a full “appliance plus assistant” experience before every part of that assistant workflow is fully mature.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER! This is KICKSTARTER…

This product is being sold through a crowdfunding campaign rather than as a conventional retail NAS, and that changes the risk profile regardless of brand size or prior success. Pricing is tied to a refundable reservation deposit system and early bird tiers, and delivery timing is based on stated production and dispatch windows rather than the predictable stock availability that comes with established retail channels. Even though UGREEN has previously completed a large NAS crowdfunding campaign and later moved those products into normal retail, that track record does not remove the usual Kickstarter variables, such as software features changing between prototype and shipping units, performance tuning continuing during the campaign window, and schedules shifting due to manufacturing or regional fulfilment constraints. In this case, the hardware shown appears close to final, but the software, particularly the AI layer, is explicitly described as still in active optimisation, so any evaluation should treat feature completeness as provisional until the campaign is live, the final software build is confirmed, and post launch updates show what is actually delivered at scale.

UGREEN iDX6011 Pro Review – Quick Conclusion

The UGREEN NASync iDX6011 Pro is a high spec 6 bay NAS that, in hardware terms, behaves more like a compact workstation class storage appliance than a typical consumer NAS, with dual 10GbE, dual Thunderbolt 4, PCIe Gen4 x8 expansion, OCuLink, 8K HDMI, 2 x M.2 NVMe slots, and a dedicated 128GB system SSD, backed by an Intel Core Ultra 7 255H and 64GB fixed LPDDR5X memory. In testing, the fundamentals were generally strong, including RAID 5 throughput around 950 MB/s read and 670 MB/s write with SSD caching, internal NVMe performance around 5.5 to 6.0 GB/s, acceptable sustained thermals for a metal chassis under long access periods, and noise and power figures that tracked with a 6 drive high performance platform rather than a low power home NAS. The main performance concern was that SMB multichannel scaling was uneven, with reads around 2200 to 2300 MB/s but writes closer to 1300 to 1500 MB/s in a dual 10GbE client setup, suggesting software or tuning limits that may or may not improve by launch. UGOS Pro is broadly feature complete for mainstream NAS use, with Docker, VMs, snapshots, iSCSI, and comprehensive backup and sync options, but it still lacks some ecosystem level elements that established competitors deliver, including ZFS and a more comprehensive security posture scanner, and the app catalogue gap around Plex remains notable. The local AI layer, marketed as a key differentiator, is currently the least mature part of the product, with useful building blocks like document summarisation, audio transcription, and photo recognition, but inconsistent workflows that rely on manual uploads rather than directory level crawling, limited smart commands, and permission controls that can be too rigid for practical assistant use, while also not offering generative photo or video creation. Overall, the iDX6011 Pro looks close to finished on hardware and competitive on capability at its early campaign pricing, but the AI experience still feels in development, and the Kickstarter purchase route adds risk for buyers who expect fully polished features on day 1.

SOFTWARE - 7/10

HARDWARE - 9/10

PERFORMANCE - 8/10

PRICE - 8/10

VALUE - 9/10

8.2

PROS

High bandwidth connectivity as standard, including 10GbE x2 and Thunderbolt 4 x2
Strong expansion options for a turnkey NAS, with PCIe Gen4 x8 and OCuLink on the Pro model
6 bay capacity design with a quoted 196TB maximum raw storage ceiling
Dedicated 128GB system SSD keeps the OS separate from the main storage pool
NVMe support via 2 x M.2 Gen4 slots with tested performance around 5.5 to 6.0 GB/s
RAID support includes 0, 1, 5, 6, 10 plus JBOD and Basic for flexible storage layouts
Tested RAID 5 plus SSD cache throughput was close to the practical limits of 10GbE class networking in many scenarios
Cooling design and sustained thermal readings remained within normal bounds during extended access testing
UGOS Pro covers mainstream NAS needs, including Docker, VMs, snapshots, iSCSI, and broad backup and sync options

CONS

Crowdfunding purchase path adds delivery and feature risk compared with conventional retail availability
AI layer feels unfinished, with limited pre crawling, uneven knowledge base behaviour, and incomplete integration across file types
Fixed LPDDR5X memory limits future upgrade options, so configuration choice is permanent
UGOS ecosystem gaps remain, notably no ZFS support and no native Plex app at the time of testing

UGREEN iDX6011 Pro Review – Design and Storage

The iDX6011 Pro is physically a more industrial looking unit than UGREEN’s earlier NAS designs, with a full metal outer chassis that feels closer to workstation gear than living room appliance styling. It is not a sealed box either, as the side panels are removable and intended to give access to internal expansion areas, though the process uses a hex key rather than a simple tool free latch. That approach is functional and keeps the exterior clean, but it also makes routine access slightly slower if you expect to swap SSDs or a PCIe card regularly. Ventilation is distributed around the sides rather than concentrated in a single grille, and the chassis is raised off the surface to allow airflow beneath, which matters in a system designed to host 6 hard drives plus NVMe storage and a higher performance CPU class than entry NAS models.

Storage capacity is built around 6 front loading SATA bays, with UGREEN quoting 196TB maximum raw capacity for the platform. Drive insertion uses the same general tray approach seen on the company’s recent NAS units, including lockable bay fronts and a plastic click and load mechanism intended to speed up installation without tools. It is a conventional arrangement for a 6 bay desktop NAS, but the metal enclosure can make drive acoustics more noticeable depending on the HDD model and rotational behaviour, which becomes relevant when users populate the unit with larger capacity drives that often have more platters and more audible seek patterns. The front bay layout is straightforward, prioritising density and serviceability, with the expectation that this is a system meant to hold a large primary library rather than act as a small secondary backup target.

Alongside the 6 bays, UGREEN separates the operating system onto a dedicated 128GB internal SSD, which avoids consuming any of the user’s drive pool for the system partition and aligns with how most modern NAS vendors isolate OS storage. In practical terms, that makes initial setup cleaner and reduces the chance that a storage rebuild or volume reconfiguration impacts the boot environment, though it also means the overall platform depends on an internal system SSD that is not part of the RAID group. Two internal M.2 NVMe slots are available for SSD cache or SSD volumes, and in testing they behaved like high performance local storage rather than token add ons, which fits the broader design goal of making this NAS suitable for heavier workflows and not just cold storage. The storage story here is therefore split into 3 layers, hard drive bays for capacity, M.2 for performance acceleration, and a separate system SSD for OS stability.

The Pro model also adds a front mounted 3.71 inch LCD, which provides real time status visibility such as usage and system state at a glance. As implemented in early hardware, it appears more like a monitoring and basic control surface than a full management interface, and it is not treated as a secure console with authentication, so it is best understood as a convenience feature rather than an administrative tool. In a shared environment, that trade off matters because a display that is easy to use is also easy to interact with physically, so the value depends on where the unit is placed and who has access to it. For some users it will be useful simply to confirm system health without opening the web UI, but it does not replace normal management, and it is not aimed at the same kind of on device control that some touchscreen equipped NAS systems attempt.

Maintenance and long term usability are supported by design choices such as accessible cooling and a removable rear panel area, which makes it easier to clean and service the main fans compared with fully enclosed designs. The unit includes an internal power supply, reducing external power brick clutter, and cooling is built around a combination of rear system fans and a dedicated CPU cooling assembly using copper heat piping and a dual fan arrangement. User control in software focuses on the rear fans, while the CPU fan behaviour is not exposed in the same way, which is typical for compact systems where CPU thermals are managed automatically. Overall, the enclosure and storage layout suggest UGREEN is treating this as a high duty appliance expected to run continuously, host large volumes, and remain serviceable, even if some access choices like hex key panels are more conservative than tool free designs.

UGREEN iDX6011 Pro Review – Internal Hardware

At the centre of the iDX6011 lineup is a split CPU strategy, with the Pro model using Intel Core Ultra 7 255H and the non Pro models using Intel Core Ultra 5 125H, both in a 28W class envelope but with different core layouts and advertised AI compute capability. In practical terms, the Pro is the higher headroom option for simultaneous workloads, including heavier multitasking, more concurrent services, and more demanding local indexing or analysis tasks, while the Ultra 5 models are positioned as a lower cost entry that still retains the broader platform features. The Core Ultra family also brings an integrated graphics and NPU component, which matters here because UGREEN’s “local AI” positioning depends more on on device acceleration and sustained compute than on a simple low power NAS CPU. The important point from testing is that the system behaves like a higher performance appliance than the entry level NAS class, with clear implications for throughput, thermals, and power draw once you start adding drive count, caching, and background services.

Memory is LPDDR5X across all configurations, offered at 64GB on the Pro and one of the Ultra 5 models, and 32GB on the lower tier Ultra 5 model. This memory is fixed rather than modular, so there is no user upgrade path later, and buyers need to decide upfront how much headroom they want for containers, virtual machines, caching, and AI services. Fixed memory can bring benefits in bandwidth and power efficiency, but it also removes one of the typical ways NAS owners extend lifespan as demands grow. In the context of UGOS Pro, 32GB is likely to be workable for mainstream file services and lighter container use, but 64GB is the safer fit if the system is intended to run multiple applications at once, keep more services resident, or handle heavier indexing tasks, particularly when the AI layer is enabled and models are loaded into memory during use.

Storage connectivity inside the chassis is arranged so that the M.2 NVMe slots operate as high speed local devices rather than secondary add ons, and the system’s design encourages using them for caching or fast volumes alongside the 6 drive array. Beyond storage, the platform includes a PCIe Gen4 x8 expansion slot, which gives the unit a more flexible upgrade path than many turnkey NAS systems that are limited to fixed networking and fixed I O. The Pro model also includes an OCuLink port, which in practical testing allowed attachment of external PCIe devices such as a GPU dock, and the system recognised the hardware when connected, even though this is not the typical way consumer NAS boxes expand capability. This internal and external PCIe story is one of the defining hardware traits of the Pro model, because it creates options for future add ons that extend beyond storage, even if most buyers will never use it.

From an internal power and cooling perspective, the unit uses an internal PSU and a cooling layout that separates general chassis airflow from CPU cooling, with software fan control focused on the rear fans rather than the CPU fan assembly. That matters because the system’s CPU class, NVMe support, and expansion options can create load scenarios that are closer to small server behaviour than basic home NAS idle patterns, particularly during sustained indexing, RAID rebuilds, or heavy file operations across fast links like 10GbE and Thunderbolt.

The hardware review unit is described as a pre release prototype, and while the physical build appears close to final, some behaviour, especially around performance tuning and software integration, should be treated as subject to change before shipping. The overall internal hardware direction is clear though: this is not designed around the low power NAS CPU segment, and the component choices indicate UGREEN is targeting users who want workstation class connectivity and compute inside a NAS form factorAM, rather than a minimal file server.

UGREEN iDX6011 Pro Review – Ports and Connections

The iDX6011 Pro is configured around higher bandwidth connectivity than most mainstream 6 bay NAS units, and the port layout reflects an intention to sit closer to a workstation or small office backbone rather than being limited to standard home networking. Dual 10GbE is present across all configurations, providing both higher single link throughput and the option for link aggregation or segmented network roles depending on the user’s environment. In practice, dual 10GbE also opens the door to multichannel SMB performance in supported client setups, and the platform is clearly built with large file workflows in mind, where sequential transfer speed and low friction access matter as much as raw storage capacity. Unlike NAS designs that reserve high speed networking for optional add in cards, the iDX6011 platform treats 10GbE as baseline rather than upgrade.

Thunderbolt 4 appears as 2 ports, and in your testing this mattered because it enabled direct high speed attachment use cases and compatibility with external adapters and docks. The most obvious implication is fast ingest and offload for users working from laptops or mobile workstations where Thunderbolt is a primary high speed interface, but it also intersects with the Pro model’s expansion story because external PCIe style docks become viable. The unit also includes USB connectivity split between faster USB 3 class ports and USB 2 ports for lower bandwidth peripherals, plus an SD 4.0 card slot that is front placed for frequent media ingest. That placement is relevant because it avoids reaching behind the unit for daily tasks, which is more aligned with content creation workflows than with the typical NAS assumption of mostly remote file transfer.

Video output is handled through an 8K capable HDMI port, which supports the idea of using the NAS as a directly attached media endpoint as well as a server, though this is a secondary function compared with network access. The presence of HDMI also ties into the software layer you described, where the system can be used for local playback and controlled through the broader UGOS environment, but it is still a NAS first device rather than a dedicated media box. For users who want the NAS to sit near a display and act as a playback source, the port is present, but the value depends heavily on application availability and the user’s preferred media stack.

Expansion is where the Pro model separates itself, because it combines an internal PCIe Gen4 x8 slot with an external OCuLink port, while the non Pro models omit OCuLink. In testing, the OCuLink path successfully recognised an attached GPU dock, which indicates that UGREEN is not treating this as a purely decorative specification, even if most of the AI positioning is currently built around CPU and NPU resources rather than discrete GPU acceleration. The PCIe slot provides additional flexibility for add in networking or other cards within the physical constraints of the chassis, and together these interfaces make the iDX6011 Pro less locked to its factory I O than typical turnkey NAS appliances. That said, the practical value of these ports depends on driver support, how UGOS exposes attached hardware, and whether users plan to run third party operating systems where PCIe device support can be more familiar.

UGREEN iDX6011 Pro Review – Speed, Temp, Noise and Power Tests

In file transfer testing, the iDX6011 Pro showed performance that aligns with its connectivity and internal storage design, but also revealed at least one area where optimisation may still be needed. With 6 HDDs configured in RAID 5 and SSD caching enabled for read and write, throughput reached roughly 950 MB/s read and 670 MB/s write, which is consistent with a well tuned array benefitting from cache acceleration and a fast network path. The larger point is that the platform can make practical use of 10GbE class throughput without feeling artificially capped by an entry level CPU, and the results suggest the system is capable of handling sustained large file movement without immediately falling behind. The caveat is that this was tested on a pre release unit, and the way UGOS configures caching and network services can materially affect the final numbers.

The internal NVMe performance was strong, and importantly it was consistent whether measured through the UGOS interface or via SSH testing. In the built in NVMe benchmark, both drives returned around 6 GB/s reads and writes after repeated testing, and additional 1GB SSH tests also clustered around 5.5 to 6.0 GB/s. Those figures suggest the M.2 implementation is not a token feature and can support either aggressive caching configurations or fast SSD volumes for workloads that benefit from low latency access. This matters in the context of the iDX6011 Pro’s target audience because the NVMe layer is a primary tool for keeping responsiveness high when multiple services are active, when many small files are being indexed, or when a user wants a high performance workspace alongside bulk HDD capacity.

Where results were less ideal was in a dual 10GbE client scenario using SMB multichannel, where reads scaled well but writes did not. Using a USB4 laptop connected through a dual 10GbE to USB4 adapter, 2x 10GbE connections were visible and green-for-go on both ends! So, the system SHOUD saturate more than a single 10GbE link and make real use of multichannel behaviour to use both (with the right  media!) – which is exactly what we saw in sequential Read speed tests. Writes, however, sat around 1300 to 1500 MB/s, often behaving closer to a single 10GbE stream, with occasional dips that suggested the second link was not being fully utilised for upstream traffic in that setup. Jumbo frames were enabled with MTU set to 9000, and alternative approaches were tested, so the remaining explanation could be software overhead, SMB tuning, client limitations, or an area of UGOS optimisation that is not yet final in the pre release software build.

Thermally, the unit behaved within expected bounds for a metal chassis hosting multiple high capacity HDDs and sustained access patterns. After roughly 36 hours of continuous activity, surface readings showed around 35C at the top, roughly 38C around the drive bay area and side ventilation panels, and around 41 to 44C in lower vent channel areas where airflow is concentrated. The rear fan region was around 44 to 45C, the PSU region hovered around 38C, and the LCD area reached around 45C, with most of the base sitting around 35 to 38C. Importantly, internal software did not raise thermal warnings in normal testing, and the only notable heat related stress occurred during repetitive synthetic SSD write loops that are not representative of typical mixed use.

Noise and power draw reflect the fact that this is a higher performance NAS platform with 6 drive density and a stronger CPU class than low power appliances. With fans set to the lowest mode and drives idling after RAID setup and synchronisation, noise landed around 39 to 40 dBA, rising to around 40 to 43 dBA on automatic fan mode. With fans set to maximum, idle noise increased to around 48 dBA, and with active drive access plus high fan mode, measurements were around 50 to 51 dBA using 64TB NAS class HDDs, with the reminder that a metal chassis can transmit drive vibration and seek noise more readily than plastic enclosures. Power draw in a heavily populated configuration with 6 x 64TB drives, 2 x 1TB NVMe, and both 10GbE links active was around 67 to 68W at idle, rising to around 93 to 100W plus under active access, with the expectation that sustained CPU intensive AI tasks and any external GPU usage could push consumption substantially higher than typical home NAS patterns.

Test specification summary

• RAID and cache test: 6 HDDs in RAID 5, SSD read/write cache enabled

• RAID 5 throughput: ~950 MB/s read, ~670 MB/s write

• NVMe internal performance: ~5.5 to 6.0 GB/s read and write (UGOS benchmark and SSH tests)

• Dual 10GbE SMB multichannel via USB4 adapter: ~2200 to 2300 MB/s read, ~1300 to 1500 MB/s write

• Noise: ~39 to 40 dBA (low, idle), ~40 to 43 dBA (auto, idle), ~48 dBA (max, idle), ~50 to 51 dBA (high, active)

• Power: ~67 to 68W (idle with populated drives), ~93 to 100W plus (active access)

• Thermals after ~36 hours sustained access: top ~35C, bays ~38C, vents ~38C, lower channels ~41 to 44C, rear ~44 to 45C, LCD ~45C

UGREEN iDX6011 Pro Review – UGOS Software and Services

UGOS Pro on the iDX6011 Pro presents a broadly familiar turnkey NAS experience, with the same general design language and application structure used across UGREEN’s recent NAS products, and most of the mainstream services expected in a current platform. Initial setup and day to day navigation are oriented around a unified web interface and companion apps, with storage management, user permissions, and application deployment consolidated into a single environment rather than split across multiple tools. In practical use, this matters because the value of a higher end NAS is not just the hardware, but the ability to configure it quickly and maintain it without constant manual intervention, particularly once you start adding multiple shares, remote access rules, and background services that need to run reliably without ongoing tuning.

Core storage features cover the standard RAID modes offered by the platform, along with typical NAS file systems used here, and the ability to configure M.2 SSDs either as cache or as separate storage volumes depending on the desired balance between speed and simplicity. Snapshot support and file versioning are included, which is a baseline requirement for protecting against accidental deletion and some ransomware scenarios, and the system also provides a dedicated encrypted vault style storage area for data that needs an additional password protected layer beyond normal share permissions. For users building a general purpose private cloud, the platform includes the expected file sharing and access tools and supports the usual network protocols, reducing the need for third party add ons for basic file serving and multi device access.

On the services side, UGOS Pro supports Docker and virtual machine deployment, which expands the platform beyond file storage into general application hosting and light server roles. The presence of both container support and VM support is relevant in a system with fixed memory configurations, because it encourages buyers to evaluate the 32GB versus 64GB models based on their intent to run multiple services concurrently. In addition, iSCSI support is integrated and in testing could be set up in a straightforward manner, allowing the NAS to present block storage to client machines for workflows where mapped drives are not ideal. Backup and synchronisation features include multi target options, including NAS to NAS, NAS to cloud, and other scheduled operations with filtering and policy controls, which is the foundation most users will rely on rather than the newer AI layer.

Where UGOS Pro still shows gaps is less about missing basic NAS features and more about the absence of certain mature ecosystem level tools that established competitors provide. There is no ZFS option in the platform’s storage stack, which will matter to users who specifically want ZFS features and workflows, and the application ecosystem still lacks certain expected first party packages, with Plex media server being the most obvious omission in your evaluation despite alternatives like Jellyfin being possible. Security tooling is also mixed, with useful features such as 2FA, firewall controls, and automatic blocking, but without a comprehensive security posture scanner that audits weak passwords, exposed services, open ports, and other common misconfigurations in a way that guides less technical owners. The end result is a software platform that can cover the core NAS job for many users, but may still push power users toward third party operating systems or additional manual administration depending on priorities.

UGREEN iDX6011 Pro Review – What the AI Can and Cannot Do?

The AI layer on the iDX6011 Pro is built around Uliya, which functions as the interface for local model use and a set of assistant driven tools that sit alongside the normal UGOS experience. AI features are disabled by default on first use, and the local models are not pre installed, which means users must actively opt in and download what they want, rather than having the system continuously analyse data out of the box. Once enabled, the AI console exposes model choices and basic operational details such as estimated resource requirements, and it also includes permission style controls that determine which AI services are active, for example speech to text or large language model usage. There is also an option to connect cloud based AI providers via API key, and a separate option to allow online search as a supplement to responses, but the platform’s primary selling point is that most of its AI functions can run locally without transmitting content to a third party service.

What it can do in its current form is focused on analysis, summarisation, and retrieval rather than creation. Uliya supports conversational queries that can operate offline using local resources, with optional online search when enabled, and it can accept uploaded files for analysis, including images that it can describe at a basic content level. Document handling is one of the more practically useful parts, because the system can summarise documents and PDFs and then allow follow up questions based on that output, and this capability is integrated into the file manager via right click actions for supported file types. The voice memo tool extends this into audio, allowing recordings or imported audio files to be transcribed, summarised, and represented as a basic topic map, with export and translation options available using local processing for supported languages. Separately, UGREEN’s existing photo management features include recognition and categorisation that can identify people and other elements in photo libraries, and this part of the platform appears more mature than the newer assistant workflows.

What it cannot do is equally important, because some of the expected behaviours associated with “AI NAS” marketing are either absent or only partially implemented. There is no generative photo or video creation feature set, so the AI functionality is limited to text generation, transcription, and content analysis rather than producing new media. The system also does not currently provide broad pre scraping of user libraries in the way some users might expect, where a chosen directory is crawled in the background so that later conversational queries can pull from an already indexed knowledge store. Instead, several workflows rely on manual file uploads into a knowledge base, and the knowledge base itself feels under explained and inconsistent, sometimes returning incomplete or incorrect results when it cannot find enough relevant material within the data it is allowed to access. There is also limited visibility into how responses are formed, and no clear built in way to observe what portion of an answer is derived from local data versus general model knowledge when online search is disabled.

A recurring limitation in testing was the balance between privacy controls and usefulness. Permission settings exist, but they are comparatively rigid, and there is not yet the level of directory by directory or user by user access scoping that would allow an owner to confidently grant the assistant deeper access to some datasets while keeping other areas restricted. In practice, that can lead to cases where the assistant refuses or fails to answer a question because it lacks access, even when the user would prefer to grant broader permissions for a specific folder or project. Smart commands are present and can trigger a small set of device actions, but the command library is limited, and some attempts showed contextual confusion where a request was handled as a conversational prompt rather than an actionable instruction.

Across these areas, the underlying direction is clear, but the current implementation behaves more like an early stage feature set that needs expansion, better background indexing options, and broader integration across file types such as images, video, and spreadsheets before it matches the implied promise of a fully “assistant ready” NAS.

UGREEN iDX6011 Pro Review – Review and Conclusion

As a hardware platform, the iDX6011 Pro presents a clear step up in UGREEN’s NAS range, with a configuration that prioritises high bandwidth I O, expansion options, and enough CPU class performance to avoid feeling constrained in common multi service scenarios. The combination of 6 bays, NVMe support, dual 10GbE, dual Thunderbolt 4, PCIe expansion, and OCuLink creates a NAS that can serve both as large capacity storage and as a faster workspace tier when configured with caching or SSD volumes, and measured results generally reflect that intent. Thermals and acoustics were within expected limits for a dense metal chassis populated with high capacity drives, and while power draw is higher than low power NAS designs, it tracks with the component class and connectivity. In short, the hardware side looks close to finished and competitive on specification and practical performance, with the main open question being how much final tuning will improve edge cases such as multichannel write behaviour.

The AI services are the less settled part of the product, not because the core idea is unclear, but because the current workflows still require too much manual direction and the assistant is not yet integrated deeply enough across data types and system control. The most useful elements today are transcription, document summarisation, and the existing photo recognition features, while the larger “AI NAS” promise is limited by the absence of directory level pre crawling, a knowledge base that can feel incomplete, smart commands that are not yet extensive, and permission controls that do not provide fine grained scoping. For buyers primarily interested in a high spec NAS at early campaign pricing, and who view AI as optional or developing, the platform may be straightforward to justify if crowdfunding risk is acceptable. For buyers whose purchase decision depends on a polished local assistant experience that is ready to analyse and retrieve information from large libraries with minimal setup, the current AI layer suggests waiting to see how the feature set and optimisation mature by the time the campaign software build is final.

Join Inner Circle

Want to follow specific category? Also Read...UGREEN DXP4800 PRO NAS ReviewUGREEN DXP4800 PRO NAS ReviewUGREEN iDX6011 Pro AI NAS ReviUGREEN Reveal New SurveillanceUGREEN Reveal New Surveillance100 Reasons Why Users Choose SUGREEN NAS Black Friday 2025 DUGREEN NAS Black Friday 2025 DBlack Friday 2025 Deals - DataBlack Friday 2025 Deals - Data Subscribe You can also follow specific search terms:

This description contains links to Amazon. These links will take you to some of the products mentioned in today's content. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Visit the NASCompares Deal Finder to find the best place to buy this device in your region, based on Service, Support and Reputation - Just Search for your NAS Drive in the Box Below

Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

TRY CHAT

If you like this service, please consider supporting us. We use affiliate links on the blog allowing NAScompares information and advice service to be free of charge to you.Anything you purchase on the day you click on our links will generate a small commission which isused to run the website. Here is a link for Amazon and B&H.You can also get me a Ko-fi or old school Paypal. Thanks!To find out more about how to support this advice service check HEREIf you need to fix or configure a NAS, check Fiver Have you thought about helping others with your knowledge? Find Instructions Here  

Or support us by using our affiliate links on Amazon UK and Amazon US

    

 

WE LOVE COFFEE

5 Mistakes New NAS Buyers ALWAYS MAKE

If you are buying a NAS for the first time, it is very easy to focus on brand names, bay counts and discounts while overlooking practical issues that will shape your experience for the next 5 to 7 years. New buyers often underestimate noise in real rooms, forget to plan for future capacity growth, misjudge the usefulness of SSD cache, ignore long term power consumption, or assume that a couple of very large drives are always the best value. On top of that, many people treat a NAS like a simple external drive rather than a 24/7 network device that will sit near family members or co workers and quietly draw power every day. This article looks at 5 common mistakes that first time NAS owners make and explains how each one happens, what it looks like in normal home or small office use, and the straightforward checks you can perform before you spend any money so you do not end up with a noisy, inefficient or inflexible system.

Mistake #1: Underestimating NAS Noise in REAL-WORLD Use (IGNORE the official Specs Sheets)

A common mistake with a first NAS is to assume it will sound like a quiet router or a small external drive. In practice a NAS contains several moving parts that generate and transmit noise into the room, especially at night or in a small flat. Drive seek clicks, spindle hum, fan airflow and vibration passing into the furniture all add together. If the system ends up in a bedroom, living room or small home office, the constant whirr can lead to complaints from other people in the house and leave the owner wondering whether the device is faulty when it is simply behaving as designed. It is also easy to forget that scheduled tasks such as antivirus scans, backups and indexing will often push the CPU, fans and disks harder than normal file access, so a system that seems acceptable during light daytime use can become noticeably louder when these jobs run.

Noise levels are heavily influenced by physical design choices that new buyers rarely consider. Metal chassis units tend to amplify vibration compared with plastic enclosures, which means every drive click and fan change is more noticeable. Larger capacity HDDs, particularly above 8TB, usually contain more platters and a more active actuator assembly, which produces sharper clicks and a deeper background rumble than smaller disks. Fan design also matters. Rear mounted fans tend to push sound directly into the room, while models with downward facing or internal fans may spread the noise more evenly into the surface under the NAS. Even the desk or cabinet matters, since hard surfaces can resonate and make a quiet system sound louder. Simple changes such as placing the NAS on a foam pad, an anti vibration mat or thick rubber feet will reduce the amount of vibration transferred into the furniture and can make a noticeable difference to perceived noise without changing the hardware.

The practical way to avoid this problem is to plan acoustics at the same time as you choose capacity and CPU. If the NAS must live in an occupied room, it makes sense to look at lower noise HDD lines, to avoid the very largest capacities where possible, and to consider using SATA SSDs for the working volume if budget allows. Checking vendor spec sheets for noise ratings in dB is useful, but you should also think about where the NAS will physically sit and how air can flow around it, since putting a box in a sealed cupboard simply forces the fans to run harder. Most modern NAS systems allow fan speed profiles and drive hibernation, which can reduce noise during idle periods, and many also support power schedules so the unit can power down completely during hours when it is not needed. You can also move heavy jobs such as RAID scrubs, indexing and backup windows into predictable time slots, for example overnight if the NAS is in a separate room, so that short periods of higher noise are less disruptive while the system remains quiet for normal daytime access.

Mistake #2: Ignoring Future Capacity and Expansion (PLAN AHEAD!)

A second common mistake is to buy a NAS that only matches your current data footprint with no realistic allowance for growth. Many first time buyers look at their existing files, see that they use 2TB or 4TB, then choose a 2 bay unit and a pair of modest drives that cover today with a small buffer. Once the NAS is in use, however, new cameras, phones and laptops start backing up to it, family members begin storing photos and videos, and it often becomes the default place for downloads and shared work files. Within a year or 2, the system that once looked spacious can be near its usable limit, especially once you take RAID overhead and snapshots into account.

The physical bay count and the way you populate those bays on day 1 has a direct impact on how easy it will be to grow later. A 2 bay NAS that starts fully populated leaves you with only a couple of options when you run out of room. You either replace both drives with larger ones, which is expensive and involves a full rebuild, or you bolt on an external expansion chassis if the vendor offers one. A 4 bay unit that initially uses only 2 drives gives you a much smoother path. You can add extra disks one at a time, or take advantage of flexible RAID schemes from some brands that allow mixing different drive sizes over time, which is far more forgiving when budgets are tight or upgrade windows are short.

Avoiding this mistake means planning capacity as a multi year decision rather than a single purchase. It is usually better to buy a slightly larger chassis with more bays than you think you need, then start with a sensible number of mid sized drives that offer a good cost per TB. This gives you headroom to add disks later without reorganising everything and lets the array performance improve as you add more spindles. It also leaves space for other changes such as introducing SSD volumes or cache in the future without having to retire the entire unit. In short, it is safer to overspec the enclosure a little and understuff it at the start than to buy the smallest possible model and discover that you have run out of practical expansion options far sooner than expected.

Mistake #3: Assuming SSD Cache and RAM Upgrades are a Magic Performance Fix (SAVE YOUR MONEY!)

New NAS owners often treat SSD cache and RAM upgrades as a universal answer to “my NAS feels slow”, without checking whether the underlying workload or hardware actually benefits. It is common to see a 2 or 4 bay system with a modest CPU and a couple of M.2 slots promoted heavily as “cache ready”, which encourages buyers to add SSDs and memory on day 1. In reality, if the processor is already running close to 100 percent under load, extra RAM will mostly sit idle and cache will only accelerate specific types of access. For simple sequential workloads such as bulk media streaming or large backup jobs, disk performance and network limits usually matter more than having faster cache in front of the array, so the investment does not translate into a noticeable improvement.

SSD cache in particular is often misunderstood. Write cache temporarily lands incoming data on SSDs and then flushes it to HDDs later, which can smooth out bursty writes but does not change the final speed of the array. Read cache keeps copies of frequently accessed “hot” data on SSDs, but in most NAS use this tends to be small random IO, metadata and thumbnails rather than entire large media files. Some platforms allow you to tune cache block size and policy, which can help in database or VM heavy environments, but for simple file sharing the benefit is limited. If a NAS mainly serves big video files to a handful of clients, using SSD cache rarely justifies the cost. In many cases, placing the NAS operating system, app data and indexes on an SSD volume, or using SSDs as a small primary pool for truly performance sensitive shares, delivers more predictable advantages than a generic cache layer.

The same caution applies to memory upgrades. More RAM allows the NAS to keep more filesystem cache and run more services concurrently, but it does not compensate for an underpowered CPU or a saturated network link. A basic check of CPU and memory utilisation under your typical workload is essential before buying additional modules. If CPU usage is consistently low while memory is pegged, extra RAM may help. If the processor is the bottleneck, adding memory or cache will not change the response time of apps and shares. For most first time buyers, it is more sensible to size CPU, network and base storage correctly first, then consider SSD based OS volumes, manual or automated tiering, and targeted RAM upgrades later if monitoring shows clear evidence that these changes will address a real bottleneck rather than an assumed one.

Note – If you are a QNAP NAS owner, you CAN use an alternative to ‘SSD Cache’, but using QTier – this MOVES (not copy) to data from slower HDDs and onto faster SSDs, as data is frequently accessed.

Mistake #4: Treating Power Consumption as an Afterthought (You Have CONTROL)

Many new NAS buyers focus on purchase price and capacity, then only think about power consumption after the first full month of electricity bills. A NAS is designed to be available around the clock, which means that even modest differences in idle draw add up over a year. Larger HDDs with more platters, multiple bays running full time, and older or less efficient CPUs all contribute to a steady baseline load, even when no one is actively using the system. In small flats or home offices this continuous draw can be a surprise, particularly for users coming from purely cloud based workflows where the power cost is hidden in the subscription fee.

Hardware choices have a direct impact on how much power a NAS will use at idle and under load. High capacity HDDs tend to have higher idle consumption because the mechanics must be ready to spin and seek immediately. A system with fewer, larger disks may draw more power at rest than a similar capacity built from several smaller drives, although this is not a strict rule and depends on the specific models. CPU generation and class matter as well. Modern low power x86 chips such as Intel N series parts can idle in the single digit watt range but still turbo high enough for typical home workloads, while older desktop class processors often draw more even when idle. Buyers who only look at drive capacity and bay count without checking HDD datasheets and CPU TDP figures can easily end up with a system that runs hotter and more power hungry than necessary for basic file serving and backups.

Software features and configuration also play a major role, yet many first time owners never touch these options after initial setup. Enabling HDD hibernation for lightly used volumes can drop disk consumption from around 8 to 12 W per drive to well under 1 W when idle, multiplied across several bays. Most NAS platforms support scheduled power on and power off, which allows you to shut the system down completely during hours when it is not needed and wake it automatically for work periods or backup windows. Moving heavy jobs such as backups, RAID scrubs and indexing into specific time slots also helps, since the system can stay in a lower power state for more of the day. Simple measures like these, applied on top of sensible hardware selection, make the difference between a NAS that quietly adds a manageable cost to your electricity bill and one that runs at full power far more often than your usage requires.

Mistake #5: Assuming Fewer Large Drives are Better (Often the REVERSE is Better)

A frequent assumption among new NAS buyers is that the best approach is to purchase the largest individual HDDs they can afford, fit a pair into a small enclosure and rely on that pair for both capacity and protection. On paper this looks simple and neat. Two 30TB drives in a 2 bay unit appear to offer an easy route to 30TB of usable space with RAID protection. However, this approach often produces a poor price per TB compared with building the same or greater capacity from several mid sized disks, and it concentrates a lot of risk and cost into each individual drive. When one of these large disks fails or needs replacing, the financial hit is substantial and rebuilds can be lengthy.

In most cases, the price per terabyte on both sides will remain largely consistent at each capacity. HOWEVER, when you start putting these drives into a NAS/DAS enclosure and acting in the RAID configuration, it soon becomes apparent that the ben efits in Drive #s in a RAID 1 vs a RAID 5 immediately show a saving in almost every single capacity the smaller you go! Below are two examples of achieving 12TB in a NAS enclosure using RAID 1 vs using RAID 5 (so, still maintaining 1 disk drive failure protection and having 12TB of storage to use):

12TB Storage in a RAID 1 MIRROR	12TB Storage in a RAID 5

Looking at retail pricing makes the problem clear. Large capacity HDDs carry a significant premium that is not always reflected in proportional capacity gains. At the same time that a 30TB drive might cost 500 to 600 in local currency, 10TB or 12TB drives can often be found for less than 200 each. Four 12TB drives in RAID 5 or similar single disk fault tolerant layouts can deliver 36TB of usable space for less money than a pair of 30TB disks that only provide 30TB usable, while also offering more spindles for better aggregate performance. The trade off is higher drive count, which brings extra power use, more noise and additional points of failure, but in purely cost per TB terms the multi-drive configuration is often more efficient.

The practical lesson is that drive selection for a first NAS should consider more than headline capacity. New buyers should compare price per TB across several HDD sizes, factor in the desired RAID level and protection scheme, and understand how many drives their chassis can support now and in future. In many cases it is more effective to choose a slightly larger enclosure and populate it with several mid sized disks that offer a good value point, rather than filling a small unit with the largest drives available. This gives better flexibility for future expansion, more options if a disk fails, and a storage layout that balances cost, capacity and performance instead of relying entirely on a small number of very large and expensive disks.

Larger NAS/DAS systems are always more expensive, as they need to have more physical space, resource use in production and power/PSU sizes to run the larger enclosure. Add to this, thanks to memory shortages right now, that smaller scale NAS systems are starting to arrive with more memory by default (as 2-4GB is becoming less cost-effective to produce with chip shortages) and often with little/no increase in the base price. For example, below is the TS-264 and TS-464 NAS. Same CPU, design and ports – however the 2-Bay system has 8GB memory by default AND IS STILL $134 cheaper! So, this can often mean that you can save money on smaller quantities of larger capacity HDDs becuase the enclosure they are going in is cheaper over all.

Conclusion – PLAN AHEAD!

New NAS buyers rarely set out to make poor choices. The problems described above usually arise because a NAS is treated like a simple storage box rather than a device that will run all day, sit in shared spaces and gradually absorb more roles over several years. Noise, expansion, SSD cache, power consumption and drive sizing are all easy to overlook when you are comparing spec sheets or promotional bundles, yet each one has a direct and practical impact on how comfortable and economical the system will be to live with. The safest approach is to treat the first NAS purchase as a medium term infrastructure decision rather than a one off gadget. That means thinking realistically about where the box will sit, how many people will rely on it, how much data is likely to arrive over time and how much power draw and running cost is acceptable. A slightly quieter chassis, a few more bays, a balanced drive choice and sensible use of features like hibernation and scheduling will matter more in day to day use than chasing the biggest individual drives or adding SSD cache on day 1. By addressing these 5 areas before you buy, you reduce the risk of needing early upgrades or workarounds and increase the chance that the NAS you choose will remain suitable for several years without constant attention.

5 affordable Turnkey 10GbE NAS Solutions (Between $499 and $699)

For years, 10GbE networking has been seen as a premium feature reserved for high-end or enterprise-grade NAS devices, often pushing total system costs well beyond the reach of home users and small businesses. However, as controller prices have dropped and demand for faster data transfers has grown, a new wave of affordable NAS solutions has started to appear with built-in 10GbE. These systems no longer require expensive proprietary upgrade cards or third-party NICs, and many sit comfortably below the $699 / £599 price point. They cover a range of use cases, from compact SSD-based NAS devices to rackmount storage appliances and versatile desktop units. Below is a selection of some of the most notable options currently available, each offering a balance of performance, connectivity, and affordability for users who want to move beyond 1GbE or 2.5GbE without breaking the bank.

UniFi UNAS Pro (7-Bay, Rackmount)

I keep coming back to two words for the UniFi UNAS Pro—fundamentals and consistency. UniFi has clearly focused on making this system a strong addition to their ecosystem, prioritizing the essential storage needs of a NAS. They’ve succeeded in this, but comparisons with long-established competitors are inevitable. While solid, reliable, and stable, the UniFi UNAS Pro will take time to be competitive on the software front. If you’re deeply invested in the UniFi ecosystem, you’ll appreciate its ease of use and integration. However, outside of a UniFi network, it may feel feature-light compared to alternatives. The pricing is competitive for a launch product at $499, and while it’s not the best NAS on the market, it’s the most user-friendly and UniFi-ready. It will likely satisfy many users’ needs. I can certainly see this being integrated into existing UniFi networks as a 2nd stage backup alongside their already existing 3rd party NAS solution, with the potential to graduating to their primary storage as Ubiquiti continue to evolve this platform above and beyond the fundamentals their have nailed down in the UNAS Pro system.

• Approx. Price: $499 / £400

• Specs: ARM Cortex-A57 quad-core CPU, 8 GB RAM, seven 2.5″/3.5″ SATA bays, 1×10GbE SFP+ and 1×1GbE.

• Why It Stands Out: Exceptional price-to-performance for pure storage needs. Lacks advanced multimedia or container apps but ideal for high-speed backups in a rackmount setup.

BUILD QUALITY - 10/10

HARDWARE - 7/10

PERFORMANCE - 7/10

PRICE - 9/10

VALUE - 8/10

8.2

PROS

Nails down the fundamentals of NAS Storage very well
Easy to use GUI and well suited in the UniFi Ecosystem/UX
Complete Offline Use is supported
Use of a UI account is NOT compulsory
Excellently deployed Snapshot Features
10GbE out-the-box
Open HDD Compatibility, but also 1st party options too
Backup and Restoration Options Nailed down perfectly
Very power efficient and CPU/, Memory utilization rarely high
Compact, Quite and well designed chassis
The LCD controls are completely \'different level\' compared to other brands in the market
Promised competitive pricing
FAST deployment (3-5mins tops)
Reactive Storage expandability and easy-to-understand storage failover options
Mobile app deployment is intuitive/fast
Feels stable, secure and reliable at all times
Performance is respectable (considering SATA Bay count and CPU) but also sustained performance is very good
Single screen dashboard is clear and intuitive
Ditto for the native file explorer

CONS

7 Bays is a bit unusual, plus feels like the existing UNVR with different firmware
Additional App installation (eg. \'Protect\') not currently supported. So no container support for 3rd party apps
Network Controls are limited
Works at it\'s best in an existing UniFi managed network, feels a little limited in \'standalone\'
Multiple storage pools not supported (nor is RAID 0)
Lack of Scheduled On/Off
Lack of redundant PSU
Only 1 10Gb port and 1x 1GbE, no USBs for expanded storage or an expansion

Asustor Flashstor 12 Gen 1 (Compact NVMe NAS)

The Asustor Flashstor Gen 2 12-Bay NAS is a robust and versatile solution for users with demanding storage needs. Its combination of high-performance hardware, extensive connectivity options, and compact design makes it a standout choice for content creators, small businesses, and enthusiasts. With dual 10GbE ports, USB 4.0 connectivity, and support for up to 12 M.2 NVMe drives, it offers exceptional speed and scalability. While the device has a few quirks, such as its mixed PCIe slot speeds and lack of M.2 heat sinks, these are manageable with proper planning and aftermarket solutions. The Flashstor Gen 2 excels in raw performance, handling intensive workflows with ease and maintaining low noise levels even under load. Its power efficiency and robust thermal management further enhance its appeal for 24/7 operation. For users prioritizing hardware capabilities and performance, the Flashstor Gen 2 delivers on its promises. While its complexity may deter less experienced users, those with the technical expertise to configure and optimize the system will find it a valuable addition to their workflow.

• Approx. Price: $750 / £600

• Specs: Intel Celeron N5105, 12×M.2 NVMe slots, single 10GbE port, compact form factor.

• Notable Traits: High-density SSD storage in a small desktop chassis. Excellent value for SSD-heavy builds.

SOFTWARE - 6/10

HARDWARE - 9/10

PERFORMANCE - 10/10

PRICE - 7/10

VALUE - 8/10

8.0

PROS

Exceptional Performance: Dual 10-Gigabit Ethernet ports and USB 4.0 connectivity deliver fast and reliable data transfer speeds, ideal for 4K editing and collaborative environments.
Extensive Storage Options: Supports up to 12 M.2 NVMe SSDs, allowing for large-scale, high-speed storage arrays.
ECC Memory Support: Includes 16GB of DDR5-4800 ECC memory (expandable to 64GB), ensuring data integrity for critical applications.
Compact Design: Small footprint makes it perfect for workspaces with limited room.
Quiet Operation: Dual-fan system keeps noise levels low, even under heavy loads.
Flexible Connectivity: Features two USB 4.0 Type-C ports and three USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports for direct storage access and peripheral integration.
Power Efficiency: Low power consumption (32.2W idle, 56W under load) makes it economical to run, even for 24/7 operation.
Thermal Management Enhancements: Dual fans and copper heat pipes efficiently dissipate heat, ensuring stable performance.
Support for Third-Party Operating Systems: Compatible with platforms like TrueNAS and Unraid for advanced customization.

CONS

Mixed PCIe Slot Speeds: Inconsistent PCIe bandwidth across M.2 slots complicates unified RAID configurations.
Lack of M.2 Heat Sinks: NVMe slots do not include heat sinks, requiring aftermarket cooling solutions for intensive workloads.
No Integrated Graphics: The AMD Ryzen V3C14 processor lacks integrated graphics, limiting hardware transcoding and multimedia capabilities.
Steep Price: The 12-bay model’s cost ($1,300–$1,400) and the six-bay version’s lack of ECC memory make them expensive compared to alternatives.

UGREEN NASync DXP4800 Plus

BOTTOM LINE – The UGREEN NASYnc DXP4800 Plus does not feel ‘finished’ yet and still needs more time in the over, but UGREEN have been very clear with me that this product is not intended for release and fulfilment till summer 2024 and improvements, optimization and product completion is still in progress. Judging the UGREEN NAS systems, when what we have is a pre-release and pre-crowdfunding sample, was always going to be tough. The DXP4800 PLUS is a very well put-together NAS solution, arriving with a fantastic launching price point (arguably even at its RRP for the hardware on offer). UGREEN has clearly made efforts here to carve out their own style, adding their own aesthetic to the traditional 4-bay server box design that plagues NAS boxes at this scale. Equally, although they are not the first brand to consider Kickstarter/Crowdfunding for launching a new product in the NAS/personal-cloud sector, this is easily one of the most confident entries I have seen yet. The fact that this system arrives on the market primarily as a crowdfunded solution (though almost certainly, if successful, will roll out at traditional retail) is definitely going to give users some pause for thought. Equally, the UGREEN NAS software, still in beta at the time of writing, although very responsive and nailing down the basics, still feels like it needs more work to compete with the bigger boys at Synology and QNAP. Hardware architecture, scalability, and performance are all pretty impressive, though the performance of the Gen 4×4 M.2 NVMe slots didn’t seem to hit the numbers I was expecting. Perhaps a question of PCIe bottlenecking internally, or a need for further tweaking and optimization as the system continues development. Bottom line, with expected software updates to roll out closer to launch and fulfillment, such as an expanded App center and mobile client, the UGREEN DXP4800 Plus is definitely a device worth keeping an eye on in the growing Turnkey and semi-DIY NAS market. As an alternative to public cloud services, this is a no-brainer and worth the entry price point. As an alternative to established Turnkey NAS Solutions, we will hold off judgment till it is publicly released.

• Approx. Price: $595 / £475

• Specs: Intel Pentium Gold 8505 (6-thread), 8 GB DDR5, 4×SATA + 2×M.2 slots, 1×10GbE and 1×2.5GbE, plus HDMI, USB-C, USB-A, and SD reader.

• Why It’s Attractive: Well-rounded design with rich connectivity and media support, undercuts most rivals on price and features.

SOFTWARE - 6/10

HARDWARE - 9/10

PERFORMANCE - 6/10

PRICE - 9/10

VALUE - 8/10

7.6

PROS

Exceptional Hardware for the Price
4 HDDs + 2x Gen 4x4 M.2 in 1 box under $400
Good Balanced CPU choice in the Pentium Gold 8505
10GbE and 2.5GbE as standard
An SD Card Slot (wielrd rare!)
10/10 Build Quality
Great Scalability
Fantastic Mobile Application (even vs Synology and QNAP etc)
Desktop/Browser GUI shows promise
Established Brand entering the NAS Market
Not too noisy (comparatively)
Very Appealing retail package+accessories

CONS

10GbE Performance was underwhelming
Crowdfunding choice is confusing
Software (still in Beta) is still far from ready 22/3/24
non-UGREEN PSU is unexpected

TerraMaster F4-424 Max / F6-424 Max

The TerraMaster F4-424 Max is a robust 4-bay NAS system that offers a powerful mix of features and flexibility for a wide range of tasks. Powered by the Intel i5-1235U CPU with 10 cores and 12 threads, the F4-424 Max excels at resource-intensive applications such as Plex media streaming, 4K hardware transcoding, and virtual machine hosting. Its dual M.2 NVMe slots running at PCIe Gen 4 speeds significantly improve storage performance, especially when used for caching, while the two 10GbE ports offer high-speed networking environments, allowing for 20Gbps throughput via link aggregation.

In terms of software, TOS 6 brings notable improvements, although it still lags behind the more polished ecosystems of Synology DSM and QNAP QTS. That said, TerraMaster’s continuous software evolution with each new version of TOS ensures that users have access to more robust tools and security features. For its price point of $899.99, the F4-424 Max is a compelling option for those seeking high-performance NAS solutions with scalability in mind. While the Pro model offers competitive performance, the Max takes it a step further with advanced networking, making it ideal for environments where speed is a priority.

• Approx. Price: $675 / £550 (F4-424 Max, during sale) – $899 / £700 (F6-424 Max, regular)

• Specs: Intel Core i5-1235U (10-core), 8 GB RAM, dual 10GbE ports, dual M.2, with 4 or 6 SATA bays depending on model.

• Why It Helps: The F4-424 Max frequently drops below the $800 mark in promotions, offering unusually strong CPU performance and dual 10GbE at a mid-range price point.

SOFTWARE - 6/10

HARDWARE - 9/10

PERFORMANCE - 9/10

PRICE - 9/10

VALUE - 8/10

8.2

PROS

Powerful Hardware: Intel i5-1235U with 10 cores and 12 threads for resource-heavy tasks.
Dual 10GbE Ports: High-speed networking capabilities with link aggregation for up to 20Gbps, ideal for large file transfers.
PCIe Gen 4 NVMe Support: Two M.2 NVMe slots offering exceptional performance for caching or additional high-speed storage.
Efficient Cooling: The large 120mm fan ensures quiet and effective cooling, making it suitable for home and office environments.
Improved TOS 6 Software: Enhancements in GUI, backup tools, and overall security bring TOS closer to its competitors.

CONS

Higher Price Tag: At $899.99, it’s more expensive than TerraMaster’s other models, which may deter budget-conscious buyers.
No PCIe Expansion: Lack of a PCIe slot limits potential for future upgrades, such as adding 10GbE cards or more M.2 drives.
Presentation: The software has improved a lot, but still feels inconsistent in places compared with alternatives from brands such as Synology and QNAP.

Join Inner Circle

Want to follow specific category? Subscribe You can also follow specific search terms:

This description contains links to Amazon. These links will take you to some of the products mentioned in today's content. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Visit the NASCompares Deal Finder to find the best place to buy this device in your region, based on Service, Support and Reputation - Just Search for your NAS Drive in the Box Below

Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

TRY CHAT

If you like this service, please consider supporting us. We use affiliate links on the blog allowing NAScompares information and advice service to be free of charge to you.Anything you purchase on the day you click on our links will generate a small commission which isused to run the website. Here is a link for Amazon and B&H.You can also get me a Ko-fi or old school Paypal. Thanks!To find out more about how to support this advice service check HEREIf you need to fix or configure a NAS, check Fiver Have you thought about helping others with your knowledge? Find Instructions Here  

Or support us by using our affiliate links on Amazon UK and Amazon US

    

 

WE LOVE COFFEE

Microsoft a confirmé l’abandon de sa méthode historique d’activation par téléphone pour les licences Windows et Office. Un portail web remplace cette méthode.

Le post Microsoft a arrêté le service permettant d’activer Windows et Office par téléphone ! a été publié sur IT-Connect.

Source

Un peu plus de trois mois après la fuite de données de la Fédération Française de Tir, la préfecture de police de Paris a annoncé l’interpellation d’un suspect majeur.​ Né en 2007, il est soupçonné d’avoir pris part à la fuite puis à la revente de ces informations particulièrement sensibles.​

The Beelink ME Pro NAS – Should You Buy

After the surprising hit that was the Beelink ME Mini NAS in 2025, a lot of users were looking forward to seeing what the brand would do next in the NAS space. In January 2026, the brand responded with the launch of the Beelink ME Pro: an Intel N95/N150 powered system with DDR5 memory, 5GbE plus 2.5GbE connectivity, 2 SATA HDD bays, 3 M.2 NVMe bays, and one of the smallest physical footprints in this device class that I have seen. I have a full detailed review in progress on the ME Pro, but even after several days of use, several pros and cons have already emerged that may influence whether this is the right purchase for a homelab. While the review comes together, this article will outline the good, the bad, and the weird aspects of the Beelink ME Pro NAS.

Bonus Point: Really Nice Logistics Design

This is a minor point, but it is worth noting how the ME Pro arrives. The chassis box is unusually small for a 2-bay NAS, and at first glance it can look like the packaging contains little more than the unit itself. In practice, the accessory items are stored inside the drive bracket area in small internal boxes, which helps avoid loose parts moving around in transit and reduces wasted packaging volume.

The device also arrives with the M.2 thermal pads already positioned in place, so the initial storage installation process is more direct. It is not a major buying factor, but it is a practical packaging decision that avoids the excessive empty space and material waste that is common in this product category.

Reasons you Should Buy the Beelink ME Pro NAS

The ME Pro is positioned as a compact, high-connectivity 2-bay NAS that also provides NVMe expansion and local display capability, with hardware aimed at users who want more than basic file serving in a small footprint. It combines dual-port networking, integrated wireless connectivity, and multiple internal storage options in a chassis designed for straightforward access and cleaning, while also introducing a motherboard drawer concept that Beelink claims will support future platform upgrades. If those priorities match your setup goals, the ME Pro has several practical advantages that can justify its price and design choices.

#1 Man alive – this 2 Bay NAS is TINY!

The ME Pro’s most immediate differentiator is its physical footprint. The chassis measures 166 x 121 x 112mm and uses an all metal unibody design, which is notably smaller than most 2-bay NAS boxes that also include NVMe storage and dual network ports. In person it reads closer to a compact mini PC enclosure than a traditional NAS, and that difference matters if you are placing it on a crowded desk, a media shelf, or anywhere you are trying to keep cabling and hardware out of the way.

That compactness is not just cosmetic, it directly shapes how the hardware is arranged and how it feels to work with. Storage bays, the NVMe area, networking, and the cooling hardware are densely packed, so clearances are tight and the device is designed around precision fit rather than roomy access. The upside is that it is easy to place in small spaces without needing the usual NAS sized footprint. The tradeoff is that installations and maintenance are likely to feel more constrained than they would on a larger, more conventional 2-bay enclosure.

#2 Arrives with 5GbE and WiFi6, when everyone else is still on 2.5GbE

On networking, the ME Pro ships with 2 wired Ethernet ports and integrated wireless. The wired setup is a 5GbE Realtek RTL8126 port alongside a 2.5GbE Intel i226-V port, and the unit also includes WiFi 6 plus Bluetooth 5.4. For a compact 2-bay NAS, that is a broader mix of connectivity than the many systems that still top out at dual 2.5GbE, and it gives you more options for how the device fits into an existing home or small office network.

In practical terms, this provides flexibility rather than guaranteeing a specific performance outcome. A 5GbE port can be useful for faster transfers if you already have compatible switching or direct attach options, while the 2.5GbE port can serve as a secondary link for a different subnet, failover, or a separate device path depending on the OS and network configuration you choose. WiFi 6 is not a replacement for wired networking in a NAS role, but it can be relevant for temporary placement, initial setup, or use cases where running a cable is not straightforward, and the manual indicates the antenna is integrated into the front panel design rather than using an external antenna.

#3 Maintenance and Internal Access is a work of art!

The ME Pro is built around user access rather than treating the internals as a sealed appliance. The manual’s process is simple: remove the magnetic cooling mesh cover, unscrew and pull out the hard drive bracket, and use the bottom access panel to reach the M.2 slots. A screwdriver is stored in the base under a silicone pad, so the tool required for basic access is physically included with the device. The ports and recovery related features also acknowledge user servicing, with items like a reset hole and a CLR CMOS function shown in the manual.

In day to day handling, the layout is designed to slide out and reassemble in a specific order, and it generally supports the idea of quick cleaning and drive installation without full disassembly. At the same time, access relies on small screws and tight tolerances, so it is not a tool-less experience. In your first impressions, the mechanism for sliding the internal assembly out felt solid and precisely aligned, but you also noted that the included tool is very small and can be fiddly to use. The result is a design that prioritizes compact service access, but still expects careful handling during installation and maintenance.

#4 Great Base Memory Quantity at a time when RAM costs are BONKERS

From the start, the ME Pro is configured with either 12GB LPDDR5 4800MHz on the N95 models or 16GB LPDDR5 4800MHz on the N150 models, rather than shipping with a minimal memory pool that immediately pushes users toward an upgrade. In practical NAS use, that baseline capacity is relevant because it can influence how comfortably the system handles common add-ons such as containers, light virtualization, background indexing, and multiple concurrent services, depending on the operating system and workload. It also reduces the likelihood that memory becomes the first immediate bottleneck for typical home and small office setups.

The tradeoff is that this approach is linked to the way the memory is implemented. In your inspection of the unit, you noted there is no SO-DIMM slot and the RAM appears soldered to the board, which means users are effectively choosing their memory tier at purchase rather than treating it as a later upgrade (more on that in a bit). This makes the initial configuration choice more important, especially for buyers who already know they will run heavier applications or multiple VMs over time.

#5 Genuinely unique modularisation and upgradability in a pre-built solution, which I have ever seen

The ME Pro’s most unusual design claim is the swappable modular motherboard. Beelink markets the system as supporting interchangeable boards across Intel, AMD, and ARM options, using a drawer style layout intended to let the main compute board slide out rather than being permanently fixed inside the chassis. The product page frames this as a way to avoid replacing the entire enclosure when you want a different CPU platform, and instead treat the chassis, drive housing, and general structure as the long-term part of the purchase.

In practical terms, this concept will only matter if Beelink actually sells the alternative boards at sensible pricing and maintains availability over time, but the physical architecture appears to be built around the idea. Your first look showed a clear internal separation between the board assembly and the rest of the enclosure, and you also observed hints of planned scale-up hardware, such as layout markings that suggest different future storage or platform variants. For buyers who like the idea of extending a system’s usable life without a full rebuild, the ME Pro is one of the few pre-built NAS style devices currently trying to formalize that upgrade path rather than leaving it to a full case swap.

Reasons You Might Want to Skip the Beelink ME Pro NAS

The ME Pro’s compact design and connectivity focused feature set come with tradeoffs that will matter to some buyers more than others. Several of the core choices are linked together, meaning you get the small chassis, the storage density, and the modular drawer approach, but you also accept limits around upgrades, physical handling, and how the platform is configured from the factory. This is not a device where every part is meant to be user replaceable or easily swapped in the way a DIY small form factor build would be.

It is also worth treating the launch configuration and roadmap as part of the buying decision. The product is being introduced with very similar Intel CPU options and fixed memory tiers, while the company is already pointing toward future AMD and ARM variants and possible expanded layouts. For some buyers, that is a reason to wait until the wider range exists and the upgrade parts are actually available. For others, the current design constraints are enough to prefer a more conventional 2-bay NAS that is larger, simpler to work on, and has clearer long-term upgrade paths.

The RAM is FIXED (i.e cannot be upgraded or changed)!!!

The ME Pro uses LPDDR5 memory (12GB on the N95 models, 16GB on the N150 models), and based on the internal layout you inspected, there is no SO-DIMM slot for user upgrades. In other words, the memory appears to be soldered to the motherboard rather than installed as a replaceable module. That makes the initial purchase configuration more important than on many small NAS builds where memory can be upgraded later as needs change.

The practical impact shows up when your usage grows beyond basic file storage. If you plan to run multiple containers, heavier indexing tasks, or virtual machines, memory headroom can become a limiting factor long before CPU or network does, depending on the OS and services you deploy. With this platform, there is no simple path to increase RAM after purchase, so anyone unsure about future requirements may prefer a system with upgradeable memory, or may want to treat the 16GB model as the safer long-term option by default.

The design is so, so very tight!

The ME Pro’s small enclosure is achieved through very tight internal tolerances. That is visible in how the drive bracket, motherboard drawer area, and storage zones are packed together, and it influences the overall experience during installation and servicing. The system relies on screw mounting for drives rather than a click-in tray approach, and while the manual provides clear steps, the process assumes careful alignment rather than quick, tool-less handling. This level of precision fit is likely part of how Beelink is trying to control airflow and improve thermal transfer in a compact space, and it also aligns with their noise and vibration messaging around tightened mounting and silicone dampening.

In the first impressions, that tightness showed up most clearly when inserting and removing components. Slotting the hard drive bracket and drives could feel rough at times, with very little clearance to work with, and the internal assembly can require a firmer push to seat correctly. Even if the compact fit is helping with heat dissipation and vibration control, it remains a very tight build, and it is less forgiving if you are frequently swapping drives, testing different storage combinations, or repeatedly opening the chassis. The end result is a device that looks clean and flush when assembled, but can feel constrained during hands-on work compared with a larger enclosure with more physical margin.

Launching the N95 version and N150 version was an odd choice (i.e very similar processors)

At launch, the ME Pro is offered in N95 and N150 variants, and on paper these CPUs sit very close to each other. Both are 4-core, 4-thread Intel N-series parts with 6MB cache, and the headline frequency difference is modest: up to 3.4GHz on the N95 and up to 3.6GHz on the N150. For many NAS workloads that are constrained by storage or network throughput rather than CPU, this kind of gap may not translate into a clearly different experience, especially once real world thermal and power limits are applied.

This tight spacing makes the product stack less clear than it could be, because the pricing difference between the entry and higher tier configurations is not simply paying for a meaningfully different platform. In practice, buyers are also paying for the memory and SSD tier attached to each CPU option, and in your case the non-upgradeable memory makes that choice more permanent. If the goal is to segment the lineup, the N95 and N150 pairing may feel like a small step that leaves some users waiting for a more distinct higher performance option rather than choosing between two closely related CPUs. Given the noise that Beelink has made about this expanding range, that only further encourages some users who think these CPUs a little timid, to remain on the fence a bit longer….

There are other CPU/Architecture versions coming

As mentioned, Beelink is already signalling that the ME Pro chassis is intended to outlive the initial Intel configurations. The official product messaging highlights a swappable modular motherboard concept and explicitly references future boards beyond the current Intel N-series options, including AMD and ARM. In your first look, you also noted visible hints inside the unit that suggest the internal layout has been planned with other variants in mind, rather than being a one-off design limited to the launch hardware.

For buyers, this creates a timing question. If those alternative boards and models arrive soon, they may offer clearer performance separation, different feature priorities, or a better match for specific workloads. At the same time, the current purchase decision depends on what is available today, not what is promised, and the value of the modular approach only becomes real once the upgrade boards can actually be bought at reasonable pricing. Until the roadmap becomes a shipping product line, some users may prefer to wait, while others will simply evaluate the current N95 and N150 models on their own merits.

Mixed M.2 Speeds at PCIe 3.0 x2 and PCIe 3.0 x1? Was 10GbE and uniform lanes discussed instead?

The ME Pro’s 3 M.2 NVMe slots are not equal. Slot 1 is PCIe 3.0 x2, while slots 2 and 3 are PCIe 3.0 x1, and the manual specifically recommends using slot 1 for the system drive because it is the fastest slot. In practical terms, this creates a tiered NVMe layout where one drive has higher potential bandwidth than the other 2, which can influence how you plan cache, containers, VM storage, or scratch workloads. It also means peak NVMe performance depends heavily on which slot you choose, not just the SSD you buy.

That design choice raises an obvious tradeoff question: whether the platform would have been better served by a different allocation, such as keeping all 3 M.2 slots at PCIe 3.0 x1 in exchange for other connectivity, or prioritizing a different network tier such as 10GbE (though arguably, it might well have to sit at 3×1 and potentially be bottlenecked to 800-900MB/s, unless that lowered the m.2 to x2 bays). The ME Pro already includes 5GbE plus 2.5GbE, so the networking is not low end, but the mixed NVMe lane widths still make the storage side feel uneven by design. For a NAS focused build, the practical impact will depend on real testing: whether the internal topology causes contention under mixed loads, and whether the faster slot meaningfully benefits common tasks once network and SATA throughput are considered.

Conclusion & Verdict – Should You Buy the Beelink ME Pro NAS?

The Beelink ME Pro is a compact 2-bay NAS platform that combines SATA storage with 3 M.2 NVMe slots, dual wired networking, and integrated wireless in an enclosure that prioritizes density and internal access. It also introduces a modular motherboard drawer concept that, if supported with real upgrade boards over time, could change how long the chassis remains useful compared with typical pre-built NAS systems. As a hardware package, it is aimed at users who want high connectivity and mixed storage options without moving to a larger box.

At the same time, several of its main limitations are set at purchase and cannot be easily changed later. The memory appears fixed, the internal fit is very tight during drive and bracket handling, and the launch CPU options are closely spaced rather than clearly separated performance tiers. The NVMe layout is also mixed speed by design, which affects how you should plan drive placement and workloads. Whether these tradeoffs are acceptable depends largely on how much you value the enclosure size, the network ports, and the promised modular roadmap versus the more conventional upgrade flexibility of larger or more established NAS designs.

Join Inner Circle

Want to follow specific category? Also Read...Beelink ME Pro NAS Review - BIBeelink ME Pro NAS ReviewBeelink ME Pro NAS - Should YoBeelink ME Pro NAS RevealedBeelink ME Pro NAS RevealedBeelink NAS - Describe Your PeBeelink ME Mini Pro, ME S, ME Beelink Me Pro, S, X and MAX, Beelink Me Mini vs GMKTec G9 vBeelink Me Mini vs GMKTec G9 v Subscribe You can also follow specific search terms:

This description contains links to Amazon. These links will take you to some of the products mentioned in today's content. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Visit the NASCompares Deal Finder to find the best place to buy this device in your region, based on Service, Support and Reputation - Just Search for your NAS Drive in the Box Below

Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

TRY CHAT

If you like this service, please consider supporting us. We use affiliate links on the blog allowing NAScompares information and advice service to be free of charge to you.Anything you purchase on the day you click on our links will generate a small commission which isused to run the website. Here is a link for Amazon and B&H.You can also get me a Ko-fi or old school Paypal. Thanks!To find out more about how to support this advice service check HEREIf you need to fix or configure a NAS, check Fiver Have you thought about helping others with your knowledge? Find Instructions Here  

Or support us by using our affiliate links on Amazon UK and Amazon US

    

 

WE LOVE COFFEE

En 2026, le support s'arrêtera pour plusieurs produits et composants de chez Microsoft, dont Windows 11 24H2, Office 2021 et PowerShell 7.4 (LTS).

Le post Microsoft : quels sont les produits en fin de support en 2026 ? a été publié sur IT-Connect.

New UnifyDrive UP6 INSANE NAS + UC450 Pro and UC250 NAS Revealed

UnifyDrive has expanded its NAS portfolio with three new systems designed to cover mobile, desktop, and entry-level deployment scenarios while maintaining a consistent software experience across all models. The flagship UP6 continues the company’s focus on portable NVMe-based hardware by adding a touchscreen interface, six PCIe Gen4 M.2 slots, Intel Ultra 125H processing, dual Thunderbolt connectivity, and integrated 10GbE networking, making it a more capable successor to the original UT2 mobile NAS. The UC450 and UC450 Pro shift toward fixed desktop installations with four SATA bays, additional M.2 and U.2 expansion, and a choice between an N355-based platform or a significantly more capable Intel Ultra 225H configuration with professional-tier AI acceleration. The UC250 sits at the base of the range, offering a compact two-bay Twin Lake N150 design intended for cost-effective local storage or paired remote backup when used alongside the mobile or desktop units. Together, these systems illustrate UnifyDrive’s broader transition from a niche mobile NAS provider into a more complete ecosystem with multiple hardware tiers and shared software integration.

UnifyDrive UP6 NAS – 6x M.2, Intel 125H, 10GbE, Battery and More

The UP6 represents the most advanced portable NAS in the UnifyDrive lineup and is built around a mobile form factor that is intended for field use rather than stationary deployment. It uses the Intel Ultra 125H processor, which provides significantly higher compute capability than the earlier UT2 mobile unit and enables the use of six PCIe Gen4 M dot 2 NVMe slots. Three of these operate at Gen4 x4 speed and the remaining three at Gen4 x2, giving the UP6 a storage profile that exceeds that of most fixed desktop NAS units. The system also includes an integrated battery that supports short operational sessions without external power, although the power draw of the CPU and storage means the runtime is intended for intermittent activity rather than sustained workloads.

A key distinction of the UP6 is the inclusion of a six inch touchscreen that replaces the need for a separate client device for configuration and basic data access. Users can view files, manage wireless settings, create access points, and operate the unit in a fully headless manner directly from the display. The system also supports viewing documents such as PDFs and browsing local folders without requiring a companion app. This places the UP6 closer to a self contained workstation that can function in environments where a laptop or separate console may not be available.

Connectivity on the UP6 is more advanced than is typically seen on portable servers. The unit includes 10 gigabit Ethernet, Wi Fi 6, dual Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 ports, and the ability to use high speed external devices for backup or direct data transfer. This makes the system suitable for on site content ingestion from cameras, drones, or other equipment that rely on fast solid state storage workflows. Although the battery is not designed for long sessions, the combination of high bandwidth storage, high speed network access, and direct touch control allows the UP6 to support temporary production tasks that previously required full desktop hardware.

UnifyDrive UC450 Pro and UC450 NAS – Desktop NAS Solutions with Optional UPS

The UC450 series introduces UnifyDrive’s shift toward fixed desktop storage, with two models that share the same four bay chassis but differ substantially in internal hardware and intended workload. The UC450 uses the Intel N355 processor, which is an eight core Twin Lake architecture aimed at low power operation and predictable performance for general file serving. It includes four standard SATA bays and two M.2 PCIe three times one slots, allowing a mixed storage setup that prioritises cost efficiency. The system also provides 16GB of memory through a single SODIMM module, which matches the upper limit of the processor and positions the UC450 as a straightforward desktop NAS for small teams or home environments.

The UC450 Pro is a more advanced version of the same platform and moves into a higher performance category by adopting the Intel Ultra 225H processor. This brings significantly stronger compute capability, dedicated AI acceleration, and support for dual channel DDR5 memory up to 128GB. Storage options are also substantially expanded, with two U.2 PCIe 4×1 bays for high capacity enterprise SSDs, four M.2 PCIe four slots that include three times four and one times two lanes, and two standard SATA bays for conventional drives. This gives the Pro model a much broader range of storage configurations, including high throughput NVMe arrays and mixed media deployments suited to heavy workloads.

Both systems share the same software environment and include the UDOS operating system, which supports multi device access and Docker based services for lightweight virtualization. They each provide 10GbE alongside one gigabit connectivity, and the Pro model adds dual Thunderbolt 4 or USB 4 ports that allow faster external drives, direct high speed links to compatible workstations, and more flexible data ingest workflows. UnifyDrive has also added an optional UPS module that attaches directly to the rear of the chassis and provides short term power protection without requiring a separate external unit. This accessory uses a dedicated connector and allows the system to complete writes safely during interruptions, which is a feature not commonly found in desktop NAS hardware and is intended to supplement the capabilities of both UC450 models.

UnifyDrive UC250 NAS – Budget-Friendly Option

The UC250 is the smallest and most cost-focused NAS in the new UnifyDrive range and is designed for users who want a straightforward two bay desktop system without the higher performance requirements found in the larger models. It is built on the Intel N150 processor, a low power Twin Lake architecture intended for basic file serving and simple background tasks. The unit includes 8 GB of memory with support for expansion up to 16 GB, and the operating system is stored on a separate 32 GB eMMC module, ensuring that all SATA and M.2 storage is available exclusively for user data.

Alongside its two SATA drive bays, the UC250 provides two M.2 2280 slots and supports configurations up to 76 TB of total capacity. Networking is handled by a single 2.5 GbE port, which matches the modest performance envelope of the N150 processor and keeps power and thermal requirements low. Although it does not attempt to match the capabilities of the UP6 or UC450 Pro, the UC250 benefits from running the same UDOS software platform, giving it the same interface, remote access tools, and backup features as the higher tier systems. The UC250 is positioned as an accessible entry point for users who want a secondary backup target for either the UP6 or UC450 series. Its compact size, lower price point, and simple hardware make it suitable for off site or home office deployment, where it can serve as a reliable remote backup location without requiring additional platforms or complex configuration. This allows users to build a multi tier UnifyDrive ecosystem that includes mobile, desktop, and backup nodes with minimal setup effort.

The new UnifyDrive lineup marks a clear expansion of the company’s hardware strategy, moving from a single mobile NAS concept toward a broader ecosystem with portable, desktop, and entry level systems that share a unified software platform. The UP6 targets users who need high speed NVMe storage and direct touchscreen access in mobile environments, while the UC450 and UC450 Pro introduce more traditional four bay designs with a choice between modest or high performance processing and a wider range of storage configurations. The UC250 sits at the opposite end of the spectrum as a compact two bay system intended for simple local storage or remote backup roles. Together, these models provide a tiered structure that allows users to match hardware to workload without leaving the UnifyDrive environment.

If you are interested in the UnifyDrive UT2 Mobile NAS, it is available below and is on special offer and you can head over to their shop (and support us at NASCompares via the affiliated link below) at $399:

IMPORTANT – Get a further 5% off using the promo code: NASCOMPARES

Join Inner Circle

Want to follow specific category? Also Read...Asustor Lockerstor 4 Gen 2+ NATerramaster F4-425 NAS - ShoulUGREEN DXP4800 PRO NAS ReviewUGREEN DXP4800 PRO NAS ReviewSynology FS200T NAS RevealedSynology FS200T NAS RevealedUnifyDrive UP6 NAS Review - a Beelink ME Pro NAS Review - BIUnifyDrive UP6 NAS ReviewBeelink ME Pro NAS Review Subscribe You can also follow specific search terms:

This description contains links to Amazon. These links will take you to some of the products mentioned in today's content. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Visit the NASCompares Deal Finder to find the best place to buy this device in your region, based on Service, Support and Reputation - Just Search for your NAS Drive in the Box Below

Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

TRY CHAT

If you like this service, please consider supporting us. We use affiliate links on the blog allowing NAScompares information and advice service to be free of charge to you.Anything you purchase on the day you click on our links will generate a small commission which isused to run the website. Here is a link for Amazon and B&H.You can also get me a Ko-fi or old school Paypal. Thanks!To find out more about how to support this advice service check HEREIf you need to fix or configure a NAS, check Fiver Have you thought about helping others with your knowledge? Find Instructions Here  

Or support us by using our affiliate links on Amazon UK and Amazon US

    

 

WE LOVE COFFEE

Disney a accepté de payer une amende de 10 millions de dollars pour régler des accusations selon lesquelles le groupe aurait illégalement collecté des données personnelles d’enfants via des vidéos diffusées sur YouTube, en violation de la loi américaine sur la protection de la vie privée des enfants en ligne (COPPA).