Synology DS224+ vs QNAP TS-262 NAS – Which is Better?

Isn’t it great when any facet of the tech industry gives birth to competition! In the early days of any new form of technology, the relative scarcity and newness of anything result in very few options for buyers to get the best value or competitive experience for their money. However, it doesn’t take long before competition emerges, innovation flourishes, and ultimately any different form of new tech becomes a more fleshed-out choice for the buyer. The same has certainly happened in the world of network-attached storage (NAS), and although there are several different brands available in NAS, the two biggest names are quite comfortable: Synology and QNAP. For buyers looking at a compact, fully-featured NAS solution, two of the very best options in 2024 are the Synology DS224+ and the QNAP TS-262. Both of these solutions are targeted at home users who want to be able to do a little bit of everything and although they do have a decent amount of small business potential, they have slightly different attitudes towards what you can get for your money. Although it could be very easy to describe this comparison as hardware versus software, the reality is a little bit more nuanced. But before we go ahead and compare these two current-generation NAS solutions, we need to also highlight what both of these systems have in common. Regardless of whether you choose the DS224+ or TS-262 NAS drive, you are guaranteed the following:

• Both units feature an Intel Celeron processor for a good price vs hardware balance
• Both can Stream and Transcode on the fly (so, live) 1080p HD or 4K media, with superior performance natively and mid-range performance in Plex, as well as both arriving with integrated graphics, so more aggressive graphical manipulation (encode/decode/conversion) is done much more efficiently
• Both the Synology DS224+ and TS-262 NAS support AI-supported photo and ‘thing’ recognition supported to a very high degree from the free branded software included
• For Business users who currently enjoy the use of Google Workspace or Microsoft/Office 365, both of these NAS provide excellent means to backup your mass cloud accounts (as well as natively sync, dupe and configure rules on the fly)
• Both the TS-262 NAS and DS224+ NAS support snapshots, for more incremental and version-protecting failsafe in efforts to protect you from Malware and Ransomware attacks, by allowing multi-versioning storage history to browse through and restore
• Both units are DLNA certified so can be accessed, browsed and played from by popular DLNA devices, such as Amazon Firestick, Alexa, Google Home, Chromecast, DS224+ TV, Bose, Sonos, iPads, etc, as well as connectivity between these platforms with IFTTT
• Both are multi-bay, RAID enabled devices NAS devices that support JBOD, RAID 0 and RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6 and RAID 10 (as well as Synology Hybrid RAID too for their Plus series range), though support of storage media on each device does differ significantly in places

• Both devices run on their own proprietary operating system that can be accessed remotely or locally. These include regular updates to the firmware, security patches, applications and more. Ranging from multimedia, home and multi-tiered backup applications, to more business-end tools such as Surveillance software, Virtual Machine deployment and business-class backup and synchronization tools.
• Both the TS-262 and DS224+ use and can be accessed equally by a multitude of mobile applications such as DS File, DS Video, Moments, DS Photo, DSCam and DS Music that are created by and constantly improved by Synology. As well as QFile, QMusic, QuMagie and QManager from QNAP for iOS and Android.
• Both NAS are completely compatible with Windows, Android and Mac systems, as well as acting as a bring between software platforms to share and distribute files for migration and file sync (Synology Drive and QNAP QSync)
• Both units can be used as mail and/or business servers, providing excellent 3rd party CRM and first-party CMS systems. There is the Synology collaboration Suite of applications Chat, Drive, Mail, Calendar, Office and Active Backup Suite. Whereas on QNAP there is the QMail, Hybrid Backup Sync 3, Virtualization station and BoXafe tools
• Both systems support the NVR use with QVR Pro and Surveillance Station applications, support numerous cameras and arrive with at least 2 camera licenses with your purchase (8 Camera Licenses with the QNAP, 2 with the Synology)

Both systems are fully featured examples of what each brand can offer on their own individual server platform. However, you want to know what is different about them and which one best deserves your data!

Synology DS224+ vs QNAP TS-262 NAS – Price and Value

Normally, in these comparisons, I would very quickly highlight that when comparing Synology and QNAP, the latter would be the more affordable choice. It has kind of been that way for a while, but things changed towards the end of 2022 when Synology revamped and reorganized their portfolio. In brief, Synology changed a number of the positions of their solutions while simultaneously removing a few different tiers in a portfolio to change which solutions were covering home, small business, medium business, and large-scale deployments. This meant that some systems had their hardware and their price point realigned up or down to better suit the overall portfolio and choice for buyers, and the result is that the DS224+ surprisingly manages to be the lower price of these two very similar systems in some (not all) locations. The DS224+ arrives at around $350 (give or take currency exchange, tax, and shipping), whereas the TS-262 arrives much closer to the $400 mark and in some regions actually crosses this a little higher too. Part of this raised price on the QNAP TS-262 is because of a change in memory implementation (arriving as a fixed 4GB memory and later changing to 2 SODIMM slots and more flexibility). More affordable examples of the TS-262 are available online (couple below), but typically the price is going to be a pinch higher.

Neither of these prices includes storage media and, depending on the capacity of the drives you are considering in either of these two main NAS systems, that is going to take its toll on your budget. So if the price tag of the system you are buying carries a lot of weight in your decision, the Synology DS224+ is probably going to be a better cost choice for you. However, we do have to factor in that not only is the price difference between these two devices comparatively small in the grand scheme of things, but we also have to think about what we get for our money and ultimately ‘value’! In this context, a NAS can be judged on its value in two very distinct ways: the hardware that you are getting for your money and the inclusive software the system arrives with, and it is in this way that these two NAS systems are remarkably different in terms of their priorities.

Synology DS224+ vs QNAP TS-262 NAS – Hardware and Connections

Very few of my comparisons have displayed two NAS systems that, although at a casual glance are very similar, are so wildly different in the finer details and scalability than these two NAS devices. The Synology DS224+ system is easily the less hardware-rich of the two, heavily relying upon a hardware architecture that feels somewhat dated in comparison to the QNAP TS-262. In Synology’s defense, they have had a lot of time experimenting and testing their software with this particular CPU (the Intel J4125 quad-core Intel Celeron) and clearly know how to make the most out of it within their software in terms of efficiency and capability. Nevertheless, for PC builders, those who understand how hardware innovates over time, and those who are looking for the best value for money in their kit, this Synology CPU choice is pretty underwhelming. Thanks to that portfolio change I mentioned earlier by Synology, the hardware you find in this home user multimedia NAS is actually near enough identical to the 2020 generation prosumer and fully-featured TIA. That would be pretty good if it wasn’t for the fact that the CPU was released in 2019 and that despite this system’s similarity to the 2020 prosumer tier, some scalability options and upgrade options are not available here. The QNAP, by comparison, manages to scale up over the Synology in so many different ways, with a couple of slightly peculiar backsteps along the way. First, let’s look at the arrangement of that hardware side by side:

Synology DS224+ vs QNAP S-262 NAS Hardware Comparison
Synology NAS
Amazon Price:	$305 (09/08/23 – Check Amazon)	$332 (09/08/23 – Check Amazon)
Processor model	Intel Celeron N5105	Intel Celeron J4125 (2019 Gen)
processor architecture	64-bit	64-bit
processor clock	2-core 2.0 (base frequency) / 2.9 (burst frequency) GHz	4-core 2.0 (base frequency) / 2.7 (burst frequency) GHz
Integrated Graphics	Yes (450-800Mhz)	Yes (250-750Mhz)
Hardware encryption engine (AES-NI)	Yes	Yes
system memory	4GB DDR4 non-ECC	2 GB DDR4 non-ECC
Pre-installed memory modules	Yes, Fixed	Yes, Initial 2GB Fixed
Total number of memory slots	0	1
Maximum memory capacity	4GB	6 GB (2 GB + 4 GB)
The maximum number of disk slots for an expansion unit	2x USB 3.2 (Supports 2/4/8 Bay Expansions)	N/A
M.2 drive bay	Yes, x1 (Gen 3×1)	N/A
Compatible Disk Type	3.5″ SATA HDD 2.5″ SATA SSD 2280 M.2 NVMe	3.5″ SATA HDD 2.5″ SATA SSD
Disk hot-plug support*	Yes	Yes

The big hurdle for a lot of users is clearly going to be that CPU choice. Side by side, the quad-core CPU inside the Synology is going to mean more cores for the system to take advantage of over the dual-core inside the QNAP. Potentially, both CPUs feature integrated graphics, which also means that for processes such as transcoding, handling of graphical data, and simple offline conversions, they are going to use fewer system resources to get the job done. But when we take a closer look, we can see that there is a lot more to it. For a start, the N4505 jewel court CPU inside the QNAP is a much newer generation processor and features a slightly higher clock speed too. Despite half the available core numbers, that is going to result in the CPU being noticeably more efficient thanks to modern innovation by Intel in newer refreshes of their processors. The integrated graphics on the N405 CPU are of a higher birth speed, and although the QNAP CPU will lose out on the sheer breadth of processing capabilities being dual-core rather than quad-core, in a home user environment, and unless you are going to push the system hard, you aren’t really going to feel it.

Then there is the memory inside the two NAS systems and a very distinct difference in how either brand deploys their systems. The Synology system arrives with less default memory at 2GB versus 4GB on the QNAP. However, the Synology features an upgradable Sodimm memory slot that allows you to add a further 4GB of memory. The QNAP, on the other hand, features 4GB by default, but that 4GB is soldered internally for reasons of efficiency and cost (in light of continued memory shortages over the last 2 years and rising NAND flash costs), which results in the TS-262 NAS not allowing memory upgrades further. Therefore, you are getting more RAM on the QNAP on day one, but better long-term scalability by around 50% on the Synology. The fact that both systems feature soldered memory by default is super annoying, particularly when you know both of the CPUs can support more memory officially according to Intel, of 8 GB and 16 GB respectively.

From this point, however, in terms of hardware, QNAP absolutely steals the show moving forward! In terms of ports, connectivity, and upgrade options, Synology has clearly taken a very rigid stance on the DS224+ system, and this results in an incredibly low glass ceiling in comparison to the TS-262 NAS and the sheer wealth of ways to upgrade its hardware throughout the system’s lifetime. The most obvious example is in network connectivity and one that more modern network equipment is going to benefit most! The Synology DS224+ arrives with two Ethernet ports, both gigabit in architecture. Synology has come under fairly regular criticism for sticking quite rigidly with 1Gb network ports on the bulk of their systems, only providing improved gigabit connections or 10G on their XS or enterprise-grade systems by default. Although these two Ethernet ports support bonding options such as link aggregation, port trunking, and the more modern and easy-to-set-up SMB multi-channel via Windows, there are going to be a lot of users that are disappointed with gigabit network port when even domestic-class hard drives these days can comfortably provide 160 to 200 megabytes per second performance, and increasingly affordable SATA SSDs double or triple that number. Therefore, an external connection that immediately throttles performance down to 109 megabytes per second per port is going to be disappointing. This is further exacerbated by the fact that there is no means to upgrade the network connectivity on the Synology NAS beyond 1G, with no PCIe upgrade slot or any compatibility or support officially for 2.5G or 5G adapters which are becoming increasingly affordable.

The QNAP TS-262, on the other hand, is a completely different story! Arriving with a single Ethernet port, you may think things have started poorly, but this Ethernet port is 2.5 GB Ethernet (2.5 times that of the Synology) and whether you are running a one gig architecture and/or thinking of upgrading your network equipment, this is going to allow you to have higher performance via the single port than both of the ports on the Synology combined. However, this is further improved when you discover that the QNAP now also supports network adapters as I alluded to earlier, meaning that you can add a $20 2.5G USB upgrade and even a $50 5G upgrade to the system to further upgrade network connectivity and fully capitalize on the increased performance afforded to you via your media inside the system in RAID 0 or RAID 1. In fact, these USB ports get even better when you find out that, unlike the 5GB. USB 3 Gen 1 ports in the Synology, the QNAP features 10G USB 3 Gen 2 ports. These USB ports support vastly more peripheral and accessory devices on the TS-262 than they do on the DS224+, ranging from network upgrades, wireless upgrades, office peripherals, and assignment towards virtual machines for either more utilization. But more importantly, these USB ports support storage expansions from QNAP that allow you to add a further two, four, eight, and sixteen bay expansions (in conjunction with the PCIe slot), which means that you are not limited in the system’s lifetime to just those two bays of storage. Synology, on the other hand, has no expansion support for the DS224+. They do have a couple of expansion devices for desktop use in their portfolio, but they are connected via eSATA and have not added this connection to their DS224+ NAS.

Continuing down the rabbit hole of expansion and scalability, there is the fact that the QNAP NAS has a PCIe upgrade slot. It cannot be understated just how important and useful a lot of users are going to find this upgrade slot; even entry-level home users are going to feel the benefits here. Unsurprisingly, there is no PCIe upgrade slot on the Synology DS224+, but why is it such a big deal that these NAS devices would feature one? Well, much like the previous point I made about default network connectivity on the DS224+ and TS-262, having a PCIe upgrade slot means that you can add even greater network connectivity such as 10 GbE via a one or two-port card! There is also support for SSD storage upgrade cards that allow you to add two more M.2 NVMe SSDs and turn this 2-bay NAS into a 4-bay NAS! Or you can go ahead and get combo cards that have both built into a single card that occupies one slot and gives you a massive storage upgrade and a massive external bandwidth upgrade! There is even support for Wi-Fi 6 upgrade cards, USB port upgrade cards, and a long-ranging list of third-party PCIe cards that can be installed inside this system to improve performance inside and outside! Because of the CPU choice here and efforts to keep things affordable on systems on the scale of the DS224+ and TS-262, the PCIe architecture of this upgrade slot is gen 3 x 2, which does limit the internal bandwidth to 2000 megabytes per second, but nevertheless, having the option of this upgrade on the TS-262 alongside those network USB upgrade choices, when the DS224+ provides neither, is definitely something worthy of note.

However, the upgrades on the QNAP TS-262 do not stop there with this system. Also arriving by default with two times M.2 NVMe SSD base as well. That’s right; you don’t even need to wait to upgrade with a PCIe card, and you can go ahead and utilize M.2 SSDs for caching or as raw storage pools straight away on day one, thanks to the system featuring these by default. Remember earlier when I mentioned that the Synology DS224+ is using hardware architecture in this home-tier solution that three years ago was in the prosumer tier, about certain hardware limiting choices have been made? One of those was the two M.2 NVMe SSD base that previous generations of this device had featured and are notably absent on the Synology DS224+. It’s a real shame that Synology opted to not feature these in this architecture, despite clearly having enough resources here to support it. This is quite a clear choice by the brand to place the system in a very specific area of their portfolio so it does not overlap the next tier, the Synology DS723+.

Finally, there is the fact that the QNAP TS-262, like a number of other different NAS solutions in their portfolio that feature integrated graphics, also arrives with visual output, in this case, an HDMI 2.0 4K 60 frames per second port. This visual output, combined with two dedicated USB 2.0 ports that can be used for low priority peripherals alongside this if you choose, allows you to run a completely parallel (not mirrored!) Software GUI that is dedicated to the HDMI out, called HD station. Well, it should be highlighted that QNAP does not update this service and its applications anywhere near as frequently as it does the other apps in the brand’s portfolio. There is still a good range of services that can be used here that allow you to run a standalone surveillance system with KVM, a direct multimedia center that has direct control via an infrared remote control/Wi-Fi remote via mobile/USB keyboard and mouse, the ability to run a standalone PC via this HDMI, while the system also continues to run the QNAP NAS OS and apps over the network as usual, and a whole bunch of other things. Synology has always been pretty clear about their integration of HDMI out on their systems, largely ignoring it for any system other than a handful of their surveillance systems. This is by no means a killer feature for most users, and I know that the percentage of QNAP NAS owners that actually utilize the HDMI is surprisingly small. But nevertheless, this is just another example of the sheer scope of hardware that has been packed into the QNAP TS-262.

Overall, it should come as absolutely no surprise that in terms of hardware, the QNAP TS-262 absolutely smashes it! Even if the base-level hardware of the Synology had been a more modern generation CPU choice (and we have to at least give them the benefit of the doubt that the system does provide more scalability in terms of memory and is a quad-core CPU too!), the overall standard and modern architecture of the QNAP TS-262 is just impossible to ignore, and you are getting frankly insane value for money in terms of hardware on the TS-262, then you do on the slightly older feeling DS224+ by comparison. However, we can’t just focus on the hardware, as having the best hardware in the world won’t mean anything if you can’t utilize it properly. So let’s start talking about the software that is included with both of these NAS systems to see if this is where Synology can shine.

Synology DS224+ vs QNAP TS-262 NAS – Software and Services

Spoiler alert, Synology is going to win this! If you have been spending even a moderate amount of time looking at either of these brands, you’ll know that where QNAP seemingly hit the accelerator in the hardware department, Synology absolutely dominates in terms of the software! QNAP arrives with QTS 5.1, the latest iteration of their software, and although it does lack some of the smoothness and intuitive nature of the Synology platform (DSM 7.2), it is still a very well-put-together and heavily-featured platform. Here is how they compare:

	QNAP QTS 5.1	Synology DSM 7.2
Browser Support	Supports all Browsers	Supports all Browsers
	Browser File Management	Browser File Management
	Photo/Music/Video Tools	Photo/Music/Video Tools
	Multimedia Console	Synology Drive
	AI Photo Recognition	AI Photo Recognition
	Edge m.2 Coral TPU Support
Storage Services
	SED Drive Support	SED Drive Support
	QTier	Synology Hybrid RAID
	Hybrid Mount	Hybrid Share
	ISCSI Target/LUN	ISCSI Target/LUN
	vJBOD	Volume Encryption
	Snapshots	Snapshots
	SSD Cache (Read/Write/Both)	SSD Cache (Read/Write/Both)
	Cloud Sync / QSync	Cloud Sync
	Drive Failure Predcition & Migration	Fast RAID Rebuild
	RAID Resync control	RAID Resync control
	Secure Erase	Acrtive Backup Suite
	Lots of Expansions (TR/TL)	Hyper Backup
	HBS 3	Synology CMS
	Qfiling and Qsirch	Write Once Read Many
Business Applications
	QVR Pro – 8 Camera Licenses (+USB Camera Support)	Surveillance Station – 2 Camera Licenses
	Virtualization Station	Virtual Machine Manager
	Ubuntu Linux Station 18/20	Docker Support
	Container Station	Active Backup 365 & Workspace
	Hypervisor Protector	Synology Office, Chat, Calendar
	QMailAgent	Synology Mail / MailPlus
	HD Station	Synology C2 and Services
	BoXafe
	Security Councillor	Security Councillor
	Malware Remover	Synology VPN Plus
	McAfee Anti-Virus Scanning	Log and Notification Center
	QVPN	Auto Blocking on SSH, Telnet etc
	Log and Notification Center	256 bit Encryption
	Auto Blocking on SSH, Telnet etc	2 Step Authentication
	256 bit Encryption	Firewall App
	2 Step Authentication	Access Protection and Allow/Deny list
	Firewall App	Synology Secure SignIn
	Access Protection and Allow/Deny list	Synology C2 Password

The TS-262 also supports QNAP’s QTier service, a unique alternative to utilizing faster SSDs as storage pools or for caching. With Q Tier, you can combine your available slower hard drive storage media and faster SSD media into a single storage pool. Upon doing so, over time the system will learn what are the most frequently accessed files, ranging from small metadata and OS files all the way up to larger block data, which is then moved (not copied, as found with caching in smaller files) to the faster storage area. Then over time, as you and your other users use the TS-262, those more frequently accessed files will be retrieved from the faster SSD and create a much more responsive and faster user experience. Combine that with the improvements in the base level, network bandwidth on day one, or via upgrade, and the benefits of QTier in a mixed media storage device are very useful indeed.

We also have to acknowledge that one of these two brands suffered something of a PR disaster back in 2021/2022 when QNAP was one of the brands that was targeted by the Deadbolt ransomware group (alongside Asustor and Terramaster), resulting in more than 3,000 successfully hit devices who suffered targeted data encryption in small or whole system storage extents. The impact of this, combined with QNAP’s handling of the attack and their response to semi-force updates on systems remotely, resulted in a lot of lost face by many in this brand, and they will be carrying the stigma of this event for quite a few years yet. In comparison, Synology, though targeted by the group, were not successfully attacked, and at the time of writing, it appears that no Synology NAS user was ever hit by Deadbolt ransomware. In fact, aside from the Synolocker attack on Synology NAS systems over a decade ago, there has not been any widespread reported successful attack on their platform that comes even slightly close to the Deadbolt attack on QNAP.

To put this into a little bit of perspective, all network-attached storage devices received regular security updates for years, long beyond the hardware warranty of any singular NAS hardware. This is because software development can only ever really be one step ahead of the hackers. A brand releases software, hackers begin to try to find vulnerabilities, and when successful, the software brand releases a firmware update, and the cycle begins again. The majority of software these days is actually built on just a handful of different software architectures such as Linux, which in turn go through the same cycle of update>attack>update as any other software. However, when THEY roll out an update, the software that is built on them needs to customize that firmware update on their platforms, which takes time! Both of these brands, alongside every other reputable software brand that has even a hint of internet/remote access, has their security advisory pages that you can find online, which will detail the number of vulnerabilities that have been highlighted and the progress of their resolution. So, no brand will ever be considered 100% bulletproof from security vulnerabilities, as any piece of software might have a vulnerability that has just simply not been found yet, but there is simply no denying that between these two brands when it comes to security and how they have managed this subject, Synology seemingly has the edge.

If you are still on the fence about whether you should buy the Synology DS224+ or QNAP TS-262, and you intend to spend a decent amount of time with their respective software, then I would strongly recommend that you head to one of the two demo pages below. Both of these allow you to test out and experience the respective NAS software from each of these brands and will give you a good understanding of how each one works, how intuitive or user-friendly they are, and whether either software will provide you the level of reliability, stability, or customization that you are going to need before you purchase either the DS224+ or TS-262 NAS.

Synology Diskstation Manager 7.2 Online Demo – HERE

QNAP QTS 5.1 Online Demo – HERE

Ultimately, much like previously when QNAP was holding court and comfortably winning the hardware comparison of these two NAS devices, in the case of software, Synology absolutely smashes it. It’s not a complete flawless victory, as the QNAP QTS platform does provide a wide range of first-party services, much more customizable and adaptable services, and a wide range of third-party support compared with Synology DSM. But in terms of UX design, smoothness of GUI, long-term security management, and first-party ecosystem services, the Synology DSM platform on the DS224+ comfortably places it ahead. This is as you would expect from a brand that, when purchasing one of their solutions, places the emphasis on the software more than anything else. You can really feel the investment there! If you are in need of further comparison, you can check out my reviews on both DSM and QTS below in the software reviews over on YouTube:

QNAP QTS 5.1 Before You Buy (YouTube)	Synology DSM 7.2 Before You Buy (YouTube)

Synology DS224+ vs QNAP TS-262 NAS – Verdict and Conclusion

It would be so, so easy to simply label this a case of hardware versus software, and indeed there is a ring of truth to that when you look at just how much is packed in with both the DS224+ and TS-262 in terms of priorities from either brand. However, the reality is a little bit more nuanced, as it really will come down to both what the user needs and their level of experience. Though the software on the DS224+ towers over the hardware when you purchase the device, it also needs to be stated that good software can make the most of weaker hardware, and having a system that requires a lower skill level in order to make the most out of it, for some, is going to be worth its waiting gold! You need to think of the Synology NAS systems as something of a complete ecosystem rather than just a data storage solution, providing more applications to replace those third-party alternatives that may exist in your network and create a truly synchronized storage networking communication environment! However, all of that arrives with limitations, with a lower glass ceiling and often with a feeling that the system is being held back intentionally in efforts to maintain that balance in the case of the DS224+. The TS-262, by comparison, gives you more hardware, more bandwidth, greater opportunities to upgrade and scale out your storage, and does so with a software platform that takes off the training wheels. This can lead to inconsistencies, this can lead to a higher learning curve, and ultimately leads to an experience where you may have to spend more time getting the system to wrap around your existing workflow rather than the other way around. This is where the TS-262 excels, as it tries to give you the control to do things your way, but may also hit the odd hurdle when it’s trying to do and be too many things to too many people. If you are looking for a streamlined experience that will hold your hand the whole way, go for the Synology DS224+! If you are looking to take the reins of your hardware, get a system to work the way YOU want it to, and have more opportunities to scale up your network storage in many directions, go for the QNAP TS-262. Both systems excel in what they’re trying to do at this price point, and as long as you know what you want from this system in advance, they will fulfill those needs appropriately!

NAS
Amazon Price:	QNAP TS-262 NAS $305 (21/04/24 – Check Amazon)	Synology DS224+ NAS $335 (21/04/24 – Check Amazon)

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Choosing the Best Hard Drives for your NAS

If you’re considering a NAS server for your home or business, selecting the appropriate hard drive is crucial. Just as each utensil in a cutlery set serves a unique purpose, NAS drives are designed for specific scenarios. Using unsuitable drive media in your NAS can significantly affect its performance and efficiency. In the past years, hard drive manufacturers have developed server-tailored hard drives (including SSDs) that cater to the unique demands of NAS systems. These drives are designed for sporadic access patterns, continuous operation (24×7), quick read/write cycles, and enhanced durability required in NAS environments.

As of late 2023, the market has seen an evolution in storage capacity, with commercial hard drives reaching up to 22TB and data centers testing drives between 24-30TB. This increase in capacity reflects the growing data storage demands in both personal and professional settings. However, the abundance of options, with more than fifteen top-tier NAS and Data Center class drives available, can make the selection process overwhelming. In this guide, I aim to simplify this process. Below, you’ll find a breakdown of eight different NAS/Server architectures along with the most suitable hard drive options for each, updated to reflect the latest advancements in technology and market trends as of 2023/2024.

Note – Use our Best Price Per TB Calculator tool HERE in order to get the best value storage for your needs. It includes filters for NAS size, redundancy, budget and capacity needs too!

Recommended NAS Hard Drives Best All Round = Seagate Ironwolf HDDs  $50-229  – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H Best for Synology 2023/2024 Series = Synology HAT3300 HDDs $109-189  Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H Best for QNAP Business = Seagate Ironwolf Pro HDDs $79-399  Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H Best for Enterprise Rackmount = WD UltraStar HDDs $70-550 Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H Best for Synology Enterprise NAS = Synology HAT5300 HDDs $199-599  Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H Best for Budget NAS Builds = Toshiba H300 HDDs $250-450   Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H

Key Considerations in Buying Hard Drives for Your NAS

Before selecting the right NAS hard drive, it’s essential to grasp some key terms in the data storage industry. This knowledge ensures that the drive you choose meets your requirements to the highest standard. Here are some crucial terms you need to know, updated for 2023/2024, to decode the marketing jargon and understand the strengths and weaknesses of each drive:

RAID – Standing for Redundant Array of Independent Disks, RAID is a method of using multiple NAS HDDs simultaneously to enhance capacity, speed, and, most importantly, data safety. Unlike backups, RAID 0 combines total storage for high performance but lacks a safety net if a drive fails. RAID 1 cuts your total storage in half but provides a one-drive safety net. RAID 5 and RAID 6 offer one or two disk safety nets, respectively, and support much larger storage arrays. Other RAID levels exist, but these are the most widely used.

SATA – Despite it’s age, SATA still remains the most popular connection of HDDs in 2023/2024 (despite the rise of M.2 NVMe SSD use in NAS). SATA allows up to 6 Gigabits per second throughput. However, mechanical HDDs rarely exceeded 280MB/s. By 2023/2024, while SATA remains prevalent, advancements in connections like SAS, NVMe, and U.2, particularly in SSDs, have become more significant in enterprise settings.

Saturation – This term refers to the amount of data flowing through an interface/bandwidth. For instance, a SATA HDD might allow up to 600MB/s, but most NAS HDDs achieve around 180-280MB/s due to their mechanical design. Therefore, the saturation for a single drive is lower, at 180/280MB/s.

Platters – These are the disks inside the HDD that store data. Higher capacity drives feature more platters. Although compression techniques can increase space, there’s a limit to their effectiveness.

Rotation Speed – This indicates how fast the platters spin, enabling the arm/actuator to locate and write data magnetically.

Cache – This memory area on the NAS hard drive compiles and distributes data being processed by the disk. Larger capacity NAS hard drives typically have a larger cache, as do drives using Shingled Magnetic Recording (SMR), which requires more handling space due to its unique writing style.

Terabytes Written (TBW), AKA ‘Workload Rating’– A metric often given annually, TBW indicates the amount of data a NAS Hard Drive can handle in a year while maintaining performance. This figure considers the potential for repeatedly filling and emptying the drive, common in data centers or tiered backups. Standard NAS hard drives usually have a TBW of around 180TBW, Pro series around 300TBW, and Enterprise-class HDDs 550TBW or more. This is often referred to as the workload rating.

Magnetic Recording – This refers to how data is stored on the platters. As of 2023/2024, there are several prevalent types: SMR (Shingled Magnetic Recording), PMR/CMR (Perpendicular/Conventional Magnetic Recording), EAMR (Energy Assisted Magnetic Recording), and HAMR (Heat Assisted Magnetic Recording). Each type has its pros and cons, but PMR/CMR remains the most popular for NAS hard drives.

Warranty Length – This is the period during which the manufacturer will repair or replace a NAS hard drive if it fails due to manufacturing issues. Warranties typically range from 3 to 5 years.

These terms are essential for choosing the best NAS hard drive for your system in the context of 2023/2024. Next, we’ll examine different NAS hardware environments and recommend the best NAS hard drive for each.

Best Hard Drives for an Affordable RAID 6 Desktop 6/8-Bay NAS – Seagate Ironwolf (non-Pro)

1-12TB, 5900-7200RPM, 64-256MB Cache, 180TBW, 3yr Warranty, Rescue Data Recovery Services Included $50-229 

For those who are looking at a NAS server for business, or are home users who have made the enterprising move into the Prosumer bracket, then a 6-Bay or 8-Bay desktop NAS solution will become incredibly attractive. At this storage tier, we find a number of very cool and incredibly useful features become more widely available. For a start, we find the utility of RAID 6 (the 2 disk safety net configuration) much more palatable, as it makes less of a dent on our total available storage. Additionally, at this storage size, we start to see much more powerful processors, such as the Intel Core (i3, i5, etc) series arrive, AMD Ryzen and even Xeons. This combined with huge expandability of both memory internally and storage externally and generally with 10Gbe included as standard or available as an upgrade. So, at this scale of NAS storage, the hard drive choice becomes more important, as you do not want to create an internal bottleneck. For this tier of storage, I recommend the Seagate Ironwolf range of NAS drives. They arrive with a large number of 7200RM drives (with 5400RPM in the smaller capacities), a 180 terabytes per year guaranteed workload and the Seagate Rescue service. For those that are not aware, the Seagate Rescue+ package is a data recovery service that is included with your Ironwolf and Ironwolf Pro drives that, alongside your 3 year warranty, includes an additional 3 years of data recovery services.

What that means is that if your drive fails through no fault of your own within reason (so, no, not smashing it with a hammer), you can send the drive off to the Seagate recovery labs and they will try to get that data back. From accidental deletion, all the way through to mechanical and forensic level recovery, this is an impressive inclusion! You should still factor other safety nets in your architecture (backups, UPS, RAID, etc) but given the cost of data recovery services (costing anything from hundreds to thousands of pounds), this is a very, VERY useful inclusion when you need it. Additionally, Seagate Ironwolf hard drives sill manage to be the most affordable NAS drives on the market compared with their competitors, even when including the Rescue recovery included. They are also the only 3rd party NAS hard drive brand that has a tool to monitor drive health available on practically ALL the NAS software GUIs in the market, in Seagate Ironwolf Health Management.

+ Excellent Price Point

+ Rescue Data Recovery Services

+ Seagate Ironwolf Health Management

+ ONLY CMR/PMR Drives in their NAS Range

– Max Drive Capacity is 12TB (Pro Series go up to 22TB)

– Noisier General Operation than WD Red Drives

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? Seagate IronWolf, 8TB ST8000VN002 £185 Amazon USA £185 [LINK] Seagate IronWolf 8TB NAS Internal Hard Drive HDD Amazon USA $139.99 [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

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Best Hard Drives for a Small NAS Drive – WD Red & WD Red Plus

1-14TB, 5400/7200RPM (higher Caps = 7200RPM), 64-256MB Cache, 180TBW, 3yr Warranty, WD Red 1-6TB (SMR), WD Red Plus 1-14TB (CMR) $69-379

If you are looking to populate a compact, modestly powered, desktop NAS system (so a 1-Bay or 2-Bay NAS drive), then you have quite a large range of Hard Drives on offer. It is worth highlighting though that larger and more enterprise drives (i.e faster and longer warranty) will be noticeably noisier. Additionally, you will need to factor in that your maximum storage is going to be capped at either a single drive OR (in a 2-Bay NAS with RAID 1)  your storage halved to maintain redundancy. Finally, you will need to factor in that most 2-Bay NAS devices will either have a smaller external network connection (1/2.5Gbe) or are not really capable of saturating a full connection externally. So, baring these factors in mind, I would recommend the WD Red series of NAS hard drives for small NAS systems. They do not typically have more aggressive hardware internally, so the ambient noise when these drives are running will be remarkably low.

The performance, due to the lower rotations per minute (RPM) and cache might not seem spectacularly high, but in a 1-Bay or 2-Bay NAS, you likely could not push much performance externally anyway, so why spend much more on something that in most cases you will not be able to take advantage of. Be warned though, as you reach the much higher capacities above 8TB, the general background noise of the drives will increase incrementally.

+ Affordable Price Tag

+ Low Noise and Power Consumption in 24×7 Use

+ Good base level of Capacities Available

– Some Drive feature Shingled Magnetic Recording (SMR)

– Performance is fairly average in the smaller capacities

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? 12TB WD Red Plus Western Digital USA Buy 2 12TB drives for $379.98. [LINK] 18TB WD Red Pro Western Digital USA Buy 2 18TB drives for $549.98. [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

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Affordable Hard Drives for a RAID 5 Desktop 4-Bay NAS – Toshiba N300

4-18TB, 7200RPM, 128-512MB Cache, 180 TBW, 3yr Warranty, 1-1.2M MTBF Rating $250-450  

A 4-Bay NAS drive is generally when home and small/medium business users start to take their storage seriously. There are such a wide variety of hardware options that arrive at this storage tier, ranging from powerful Intel/AMD processors and DDR4 memory, to 10Gbe and PCIe upgrades. This arrives with the utility if RAID 5, that allows users to have a much larger potential capacity and performance, but still have a single drive of redundancy to fall back on in the event of drive failure. At this degree of NAS storage, you have a much greater potential to not only largely saturate a 10Gbe connection, but alternatively, you can also look into installing 2.5Gbe and 5Gbe upgrades and fill multiple plus gigabit connections directly or via a switch.  In order to maximize this connection, but to also not max out your budget, I recommend the Toshiba N300 range of Hard Drives. Although they are a brand that is generally held commercially in the 3rd place when it comes to NAS media drives, their N300 range arrives at a similar/lower price point than Seagate Ironwolf and WD Red, but also arrives with 7200RPM on all capacities, with the lowest capacity arriving with 128MB caching and scaling up to 256MB quickly in the series. The increase in RPM will increase the background clicks, hums and whirs of the drive, but at 4-Bays, this is something that the NAS enclosure itself will begin to generate too. A high performing and often overlooked drive that, at the top capacity, can hit performance of up to 274MB/s.

+ Well Priced for a 7200RPM and 128/256/512 Cache Drive

+ Available in up to 18TB, even in non-Pro N300 Series

+ Error Recovery Control

– Will Generate More Noise at 7200RPM

– Not As Widely Available

– Not as well regarded as Seagate or WD

The 3.5-inch N300 NAS Hard Drive offers unprecedented reliability for NAS and other high-performance storage systems. It is optimized to meet the reliability, endurance, performance and scalability requirements of 24-hour x 7-day high-capacity storage for personal, home office and small business use. The N300 is available in capacities of up to 18 TB.

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? These Offers are Checked Daily

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Best Hard Drives for a Small Rackmount NAS – WD Red Pro

2-22TB, 7200RPM, 128-512MB Cache, 300TBW, 5yr Warranty $85-429 

Now we move onto the Rackmount NAS compatible hard drives, we have to start looking squarely at two main factors – Performance and Durability. If you are a business or established Prosumer user, then chances are that your NAS system is going to be used for a much larger % per day than most average users. Whether it is for surveillance, virtual machines, business file-sharing or just a combination of all of them every day, you want drives that are going to give you a good level of performance internally AND externally. Likewise, as the hard drives in even a modest rackmount NAS will be on for extended periods, you need to know that the drive can maintain the promising performance indefinitely AND without braking. This is where we start to look at specifications such as TBW (Terabytes Written), Mean time between failure, workload cycles and the warranty in more detail. For those looking at 10Gbe equipped or at least ’10Gbe Ready’ modest rackmount systems, I would recommend the WD Red Pro series of compatible NAS hard drives. Generally, one of the first Pro series NAS hard drives to arrive on the market, the WD Red Pro series is designed for NAS systems up to 24Bays and is available up to 18TB currently.

What did we say about the WD Red Pro 22TB highest tier model? We reviewed it back on September ’22 and whichever way you look at it, the WD Red Pro 22TB Hard drive is a stone-cold WINNER of a drive – both in terms of what it brings to the end user AND what this new 10-platter/OptiNAND drive design means for the future of the WD drive line up. WD does not over promise with this drive (with performance exceeding the brands reported benchmarks in almost every one of my tests, even using mid-range equipment) and they even nailed the price point in line with previous drives in the portfolio (though there is simply no avoiding that you are going to need deep pockets to fully populate any system with these 22TB drives). That said, much like any other WD Red Pro drive, the more industrial architecture still leads to a slightly higher running temp, noisier operation and slight increased power use. This is to be expected, but with no non-Pro alternative available at this capacity, the feasibility of fully populating a smaller scale system with the WD Red Pro 22TB is going to be both expensive AND noisy. I definitely recommend this drive to larger-scale NAS and SAN environments that need sustained RAID performance, high capacity and storage reliability – just maybe buy some earplugs if you plan on working in the same room as them.

Certainly one of the most expensive NAS HDDs out there, but provides a very good level of storage, performance, durability and overall is a very dependable drive for SMB users (Small/Medium Business) that want a drive they can rely on.

+ Top Tier NAS Drive Performance

+ 300TB/Y Workload

+ Build for up to 24-Bay Servers

– Certainly Noiser than non-Pro equivalents

– More Expensive than the Seagate Pro Option

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? 18TB WD Red Pro Western Digital USA Buy 2 18TB drives for $549.98. [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

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Best Hard Drives for an SMB Rackmount NAS 12-Bay – Seagate Ironwolf Pro

4-22TB, 7200RPM, 256MB Cache, 300 TBW (Newer NT version rates at 550TBW), 5yr Warranty, Rescue Data Recovery Services Included $79-399 

When it comes to the move into Rackmount storage for businesses (novices stop here) then not only do you have to only consider Pro/Enterprise-class drives only, but you can also start to look at drives that include certain business level advantages in terms of coverage and service. Much like the non-PRO series of hard drives mentioned earlier, the Seagate Ironwolf Pro series of HDDs include the Rescue+ data recovery services but also includes an impressive 5 years of the manufacturers warranty. However, it is in terms of performance, capacity and durability that the difference between these two ranges become apparent. For a start, the Ironwolf Pro HDD range arrives in capacities of up to 18TB (20TB promised for later in 2021 thanks to Energy Assisted Magnetic Recording), with ALL drives in the PRO range arriving with 7200RPM and 256/512MB of cache. The result is that these drives will hit up to an impressive 260MB/s, which even in smaller RAID 5 groups will easily saturate a 10Gb connection with just 4-5 drives.I performed te sts on 64MB, 256MB, 1GB and 4GB test files, as well as mixed 70/30% R/W. The results were consistent and largely lived up to Seagate’s claims here.

What did we think of the Seagate Ironwolf Pro larger capacities? We reviewed the new NT series (higher durability at 550TBW over 300TBW in the previous revisions) 20TB version and Straight out the gate, the Seagate Ironwolf Pro 20TB HDD comfortably delivers on it’s promises of performance. This alongside full tested and confirmed compatibility with Synology and QNAP NAS devices means that you have a drive here that can turn any 4-Bay NAS into a 60TB RAID5 Storage colossus – let alone once you start thinking about rackmounts and hyperscale. The pricing at the time of writing is a little muddled (the result of having two SKUs/Model IDs floating around in the market and eTailers having to play catch up) but that should hopefully iron out over time. I particularly appreciate that the workload discussion surrounding ‘Pro’ Class drives at 300TB/yr vs rapid HDD capacity growth is being addressed here with a 550TB/yr version to rival that of ‘Ent’ class drives – whatever the reason/motivation. The value of the Ironwolf Health Management tool is going to be something of debate and the inclusion of 3yrs data recovery services is a nice extra that (with any luck) few will need to use – but having them included in a 20TB HDD that still manages to maintain a similar level of Price per TB vs the bulk of NAS HDDs in the Pro tier increases the value notably. As HDDs continue to increase in scale and Seagate (among other brands) continues to outline their plans to hit 50TB by the end of the decade, the Seagate Ironwolf Pro ST2000NT001 is another good example of an HDD that finds a sweet spot between price, durability and value. Just be aware that this is a drive designed for large-scale use and that means high operational noise and higher than typical power use than non-Pro and smaller cap drives!

In recent years we have seen Seagate reshuffle their range of available capacities to align the capacities from 1-12TB to arrive in the standard Ironwolf range and Capacities of up to 18TB and 22TB to arrive on the PRO series (likely due to those larger capacity options requiring the more enterprise hardware as standard and making a non-PRO version impossible without purposely nerf’ing the lesser drives intentionally. There is crossover in 4-12TB models in between, however, the distinction in RPM, cache, build design and TBW rating is wide enough to justify this. The noise level of the Ironwolf HDD series in PRO is noticeable higher, but given these are designed for larger arrays, this noise increase will be less noticeable over the ambient noise of the whole system generally.

+ Excellent Price Point vs Ironwolf NON-Pro in the Portfolio

+ Rescue Data Recovery Services

+ New NT Version Available with 550 TB Annual Workload

+ Seagate Ironwolf Health Management

+ ONLY CMR/PMR Drives in their NAS Range

– Smallest Drive Capacity is 4TB

– Noticeable Boot Up Noise

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? Seagate IronWolf, 8TB ST8000VN002 £185 Amazon USA £185 [LINK] Seagate IronWolf 8TB NAS Internal Hard Drive HDD Amazon USA $139.99 [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

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Best Hard Drives for an Enterprise Rackmount NAS Server – Seagate EXOS

1-24TB, 72000RPM, 256-512MB Cache, SAS & SATA Options, 550 TBW, 5yr Warranty, $99-519   

Now we finally move into the class of hard drive that is more classically defined at ‘Data Center’ and/or Hyperscale environments. Often choosing between a PRO class and Enterprise-class drive can be ticky at a glance. However, Pro class drives generally arrive with a much longer terabytes written rating per year (ie the amount of data that can be written to the drive throughout its lifespan per annum), arrive in numerous interfaces (so both SAS and SATA generally) and typically arrive with numerous format and encryption standard versions available. These are available because some industries and organizations insist on drive media that features in-built protection and secure erase on the drive itself. Of all the enterprise and data centre-class media in the market, I generally recommend the Seagate EXOS series for any hyper scale system environment. They are very, VERY closely followed by the Western Digital UltraStar class of drives, but the Seagate EXOS series is a little clearer to understand, has larger capacity options available earlier, will hopefully release Mach2 version drives in 2021 (dual actuator/arm SATA drives at 400MB/s+) and generally arrive a pinch lower in price too in like-for-like comparisons against the Ultrastar.

Sound Test Video Live Soon (Below)

Recent changes by Synology in their newest 2021 series of rackmounts systems to ONLY support their own range of HDD media has led to their own drives featuring on their own respective hardware, so make sure to check that your intended NAS rackmount system supports Seagate EXOS drives before you head to checkout!

+ Huge Range of Architecture Options (FIPS, Military Encryp, 4KN, SED, SAS and more)

+ Constantly Evolving (Mach 2 versions, x14, x16 & x18 etc)

+ Comparatively Lower in Price vs Ultrastar

+ New 24TB Model (X24) Version Available in 2024

– Range Can Be Confusing

– Availability Can Be Difficult + Some Models Are ‘Bulk Purchase’ Only

– Noisy!

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? These Offers are Checked Daily

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Best Hard Drives for a Business Synology NAS – Synology HAT5300

8-18TB, 7200RPM, 256/512MB Cache, 550TBW, 5yr Warranty, Synology System ONLY, Firmware Control on Synology DSM $199-599 

Arriving on the scene in Jan 2021, the Synology branded range of Hard drives for enterprise server use took ALOT of people by surprise! Synology has always had a long-standing reputation with the production of network-attached storage, so in efforts to produce a complete first-party storage system that includes the software, the network hardware AND the media inside is very what their brand has been all about. In their defence too, these are not just cash-grab drives and are in-fact enterprise-class drives that are being priced at PRO series drives (so an Ultrastar/EXOS drive that is at the price tag of a WD Red or Ironwolf Pro). The drives themselves arrive (at launch anyway) with just three capacities available (8TB, 12TB and 16TB) and the architecture of them is quite eye-catching. A 550TBW per year rating, a 2.5Million MTTF, 256/512MB cache and performance ranging across the capacities from 230MB/s to a reported 270MB/s+. The drives are originally Toshiba M06/07/08 Enterprise drives that have a tweaked Synology NAS firmware onboard, so they are geared specifically towards utilization inside the Synology ecosystem. You can even check and upgrade the individual drive firmware directly from with the Synology DSM graphical user interface too, which is quite a unique and convenient feature for those larger arrays with differing drive versions being installed throughout your server’s lifespan.

You cannot really question the quality of the hardware architecture featured on the Synology HAT5300 range of hard drives. We clearly find here a range of drives that have been designed by Toshiba (an HDD vendor with decades of experience and Synology are not being coy about highlighting the partnership on this media), combined with one of the biggest providers of modern NAS in Synology, with media that is tweaked for use within their NAS systems and despite arriving at a Pro series price tag, arrive with hardware far more comparable to that of Seagate EXOS and Western digital Ultrastar hard drives. With a terrifically impressive annual workload, an approach to drive firmware and upgrades relatively unseen from any other drive for NAS’ and remarkable transparency from Synology in the marketing of these drives on day one certainly needs to be acknowledged. Moreover, Synology is not the first brand to champion the use of locked hard drive media in their service systems and they certainly won’t be the last. Overall, I am happy with the new Synology hard drives and despite possible reservations about where the logic of locked drives and exclusivity on this product and range will be extended to in the future (standard class versions?), I still happily recommend the Synology HAT5300 media series alongside other champions of NAS hard drive in 2021.

The move towards hard drive locking by Synology is something that has impressed some and disappointed others – but if you were going to be installing drive media inside a NAS system for business anyway, then ultimately these are still a very solid and well-performing product for you.

+ Enterprise Drives at a PRO class Price

+ 550TBW on ALL Capacities

+ Drive Firmware can be Updated from within the Synology DSM GUI

– Using them in not Synology NAS Hardware is not Supported

– More Expensive than other Enterprise Class HDDs from Seagate & WD

– Noisy Operation

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? Synology DS1821+ 64TB 8 Bay Desktop NAS Solution, Installed with 8 x 8TB HAT5300 Amazon UK 4.16 OFF (WAS 4073) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

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Best Hard Drives for a Business QNAP NAS – WD Ultrastar

1-18TB, 7200RPM, 256-512MB Cache, 550TBW, 5yr Warranty, FIPS and SED Options, SATA, SAS and U.2 NVMe SSD Options $70-550  

Finally, we move onto possibly the most well known of the enterprise-class of Hard Drives on the market. When it comes to data center and hyper-scale storage environments, Western Digital’s UltraStar range has the same reputation and long-running recognition as IBM has in the computer industry. They have been the go-to drive media of choice in the huge storage environment’s for years, thanks in large part to the fact they have been designed, developed and improved at the same time as the systems they were going into. In recent years, competitors have taken chunks of the market from them (as they are a larger and slightly slower behemoth to suddenly change tactic) and feature larger product runs that have to last extensive lengths of time to facilitate data center replacement media as needed. Nevertheless, in recent years the Ultrastar brand under WD has diversified hugely and alongside the popular WD Gold label has branched into a vast array of interface types, form factors, media variants and scales. Typically the first drive series to crack into a new capacity tier (the first to crack 20TB too).

Sound Test Video Live Soon (Below)

The Ultrastar series of hard drives will often be compared against the WD Red Pro range of NAS hard drives when considering populating a server. It is worth remembering that the Ultrastar series is designed for both a higher performance AND a much more enduring performance – i.e it can maintain that level, as well as switch between processes, for much longer. Indeed in testing, the Ultrastar even features a much higher Read and Write performance than pretty much any other drive that peaks as high as 280MB/s in our ATTO DiskBenchmark testing below with just a single HDD. Even the IOs (IOPS_ went as high as 19,000, which although low when compared with modern high-end SSDs, for a single HDD is really impressive).

The drives themselves are fantastically dull in appearance of course, as one might expect from the enterprise tier and also feature quite an aggressive spin up noise. However, in much larger scale environments, you will almost certainly not hear the drive media over the ambient system fan noise. Overall still an oldie but a goodie!

+ Consistently High Performance

+ Well-established HDD Drive and Brand

+ Numerous Interfaces, in-Drive Encryption Systems and Choices

– DEFINITELY one of the most confusing product ranges

– Noticeably Noisy at boot

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? These Offers are Checked Daily

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Best Hard Drives for a Home or Small Business 2023/2024 Gen Synology NAS – Synology HAT3300 Plus Series

4/6/8/12TB, 5900-7200RPM, 64-256MB Cache, 180TBW, 3yr Warranty, Synology NAS Designed, Firmware Update in DSM $109-189 

There is most certainly a clear design choice here to mirror that of the existing regular-class server drives on the market right now. The Synology HAT 3300+ series has been reported several times, not just here on the blog, to be built using Seagate Iron Wolf drive media with specific Synology firmware on board. Arriving with 180-terabyte annual workloads, 5400rpm, 256-megabyte cache, arriving in a CMR architecture and air-sealed – the specifications we see here are all quite standard. The 12TB benefits from an increased RPM and helium sealing, as per most 12 TB drives in the market, but apart from that the Synology Plus hard drive series are going to run quieter than most pro or enterprise-class drives, as well as have a slightly lower power consumption, but are also going to have a slight performance decrease than that of the HAT5300 and HAT3300. But that is only going to be of significance in larger RAID configurations realistically.

The differences between the Synology HAT3300, HAT5300/HAS5300 are pretty much exactly as you would find if you compared WD Red and Seagate IronWolf versus that of Seagate Exos and WD Ultrastar. Indeed, I am a little surprised that Synology has not introduced a middle ground in the form of a pro series drive, but perhaps this is something that will roll out later down the line. Nevertheless, this results in quite a void of performance, durability, and scale between these two ranges when compared to long-term established server hard drive ranges from these other companies filling the gaps of capacity and pro middle ground choices. It should be immediately highlighted that regardless of which Synology hard drive you opt for, you still benefit from firmware updates being actionable from within the Synology DSM software, easier and more streamlined warranty support, and firmware optimization that is specifically tailored towards Synology hardware deployment. We have discussed this at length previously when discussing the Synology enterprise hard drives and SSDs, and although you pay a premium for Synology’s own branded drives when compared to third-party alternatives that people have been using for decades, there are nonetheless merits in using drives specifically geared towards your NAS system rather than requiring a slightly broader design that suits more diverse servers. Here is how the Synology enterprise SATA, enterprise SAS, and mid-range plus hard drives differ in their specifications:

Classification	Enterprise SATA	Enterprise SAS	Domestic SATA
Series Name	Enterprise/XS	Enterprise/XS	PLUS
Model	HAT5300	HAS5300	HAT3300
Interface	SATA 6Gb	SAS 12Gb	SATA 6Gb
Recording	CMR/PMR	CMR/PMR	CMR/PMR
Capacity (5/23)	4/8/12/16/18TB	8/12/16/18TB	4/6/8/12TB
RPM	7200RPM	7200RPM	5400RPM (7200 on 12TB)
Cache	256/512MB	256/512MB	256MB
Sector Size	512e	512e	512e
Max Transfer Speed (Capacity Dependant)	254/260/253/274/281MB/s	241/253/274MB/s	202/240MB/s
Drive Sealing	AIR/AIR/Helium/Helium/Helium	AIR/Helium/Helium/Helium	AIR/AIR/AIR/Helium
Power Use (Idle)	4.07/5.61/4.25/4.00/4.16W	6.62/4.36/4.46W	3.96/3.4/3.4/5.07W
Power Use (Active)	7.76/9.29/7.83/7.63/8.35W	9.87/7.80/8.12W	4.85/5.3/5.3/8.33W
Load/Unload Cycles	600K	600K	600K
Workload Rating	550TB (Annual)	550TB (Annual)	180TB (Annual)
MTBF (Hrs)	2.0/2.5Million	2.5Million	1Million
Warranty	5 Years	5 Years	3 Years

+ Much more affordable than the HAT5300 Series

+ Better range off smaller capacities than HAT5300

+ Drive Firmware can be Updated from within the Synology DSM GUI

– Not Supported on Bigger Synology NAS Systems (eg XS or SA Series)

– Lacks Data Recovery Service of Seagate Ironwolf HDDs

– 12TB Maximum Capacity (at time of writing)

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? Synology DS224+ 8TB 2 Bay NAS Solution installed with 2 x 4TB HAT3300 Drives Amazon UK 10.11 OFF (WAS 650) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

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IMPORTANT! Compatibility of Hard Drives with Synology NAS Systems

An increasingly important factor when selecting NAS hard drives is their compatibility with specific NAS systems. Over the last 18-24 months, there has been a noticeable trend, especially with Synology, towards reducing the range of compatible, supported, or verified HDDs. Synology has shown a preference for their own HAT3300 and HAT5300 drives, somewhat limiting the choice for users of their systems. This shift marks a departure from the traditionally open approach where most NAS brands, including Synology, supported a wide range of third-party drives.

This change in policy is significant for users needing specific storage solutions or those accustomed to a broader choice of drives. It contrasts with other NAS brands, which continue to support a variety of third-party drives, including the latest high-capacity models. When choosing a NAS hard drive in 2023/2024, it’s crucial to consider not just the drive’s specifications but also its compatibility with your NAS system. This ensures that you can take full advantage of the NAS’s features and avoid potential compatibility issues.

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Are DRAM free SSDs Worth Your Money and Your Data?

Solid-State Drives (SSDs) have revolutionized data storage with their speed and reliability. Among these, DRAMless SSDs have carved a niche, offering unique advantages and disadvantages. With the emergence of models like the Samsung 990 EVO, the Phison E31T controller-based SSDs, and the WD Black SN770, the landscape of DRAMless SSDs is expanding. This assessment delves into the pros and cons of DRAMless SSDs, offering an unbiased perspective on their place in the storage market.

What Are the Advantages of DRAMless SSDs?

Choosing to opt for an SSD inside your client desktop or portable system that does not feature it’s own on-board DRAM/Memory actually opens the door to a lot of benefits that extend way beyond just buying an SSD that has a lower price per TB/GB. Here are a whole bunch of benefits to using DRAMless SSDs, like the Samsung 990 EVO, WD Black SN770 and more in 2024 onwards:

Cost-Effectiveness

The absence of DRAM chips in SSDs like the Samsung 990 EVO and WD Black SN770 makes them more affordable, offering solid-state speed at a lower price point. This is due to reduced manufacturing costs, making these drives a budget-friendly option for consumers.

Energy Efficiency

DRAMless SSDs, including those with the Phison E31T controller, are known for lower power consumption compared to DRAM SSDs. This feature is particularly beneficial in battery-powered devices, extending their battery life.

Compact and Lightweight Design

The elimination of DRAM chips allows for a more compact form factor. This design aspect is crucial in devices where space is limited, such as ultra-thin laptops or compact embedded systems.

Simplicity and Increased Reliability

Fewer components mean a simpler design, which could lead to increased reliability. DRAMless SSDs, by virtue of their simplicity, might have fewer points of failure compared to their DRAM counterparts.

Security Advantages

The volatile nature of DRAM means it can retain data temporarily. In DRAMless SSDs, like the Samsung 990 EVO, the lack of this component might reduce the risk of data recovery after power loss, enhancing data security.

Suitability for Certain Workloads

For applications that are read-intensive and don’t require high write performance, a DRAMless SSD can be a suitable choice. These drives can handle basic tasks and typical consumer workloads effectively. However, it’s important to note that DRAMless SSDs may have limitations in terms of performance, particularly in write speeds and handling large or intensive workloads, compared to SSDs with dedicated DRAM. As such, their benefits are most realized in specific use cases where the cost and power efficiency are prioritized over peak performance.

What Are the Disadvantages of DRAMless SSDs?

Commonly recognized negatives/disadvantages of SSDs that lack onboard DRAM/Memory are:

Compromised Performance

A major drawback, seen in models like the WD Black SN770, is slower write speeds and increased latency due to the absence of a DRAM cache. This impacts performance, especially in write-intensive tasks.

Limited Multitasking Efficiency

Without a high-speed buffer, DRAMless SSDs struggle with multitasking. This limitation affects their ability to handle multiple simultaneous read/write operations effectively.

Dependency on System Memory

Some DRAMless SSDs, including those using the Phison E31T controller, rely on the system’s RAM (Host Memory Buffer) for data management, which could impact overall system performance, especially in RAM-constrained environments.

Reduced Endurance and Longevity

Continuous write operations directly to NAND can accelerate wear, potentially reducing the SSD’s lifespan. This is a concern in DRAMless SSDs where direct NAND writes are more frequent.

Inadequacy for High-End Tasks

High-performance tasks like gaming or video editing may not be ideally suited for DRAMless SSDs due to their limited speed and multitasking capabilities.

DRAMless SSDs – The Verdict?

In conclusion, DRAMless SSDs like the Samsung 990 EVO, Phison E31T-based drives, and the WD Black SN770 offer a cost-effective and energy-efficient solution for basic storage needs. They are particularly well-suited for devices where space and power consumption are key considerations. However, their reduced performance and endurance make them less ideal for high-performance computing or heavy workloads. These SSDs represent a compromise, balancing affordability and efficiency against top-tier performance, making them a viable option for certain consumer segments but not a one-size-fits-all solution.

Here are Three of the leading DRAMless m.2 NVMes in the SSD market right now:

Samsung 990 EVO Gen 5 SSD – $89 / $159	WD Black SN770 Gen 4 SSD – $64 / $129
Samsung 990 EVO SSD Review and Benchmark Video	WD Black SN770 SSD Review and Benchmark Video

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QNAP TBS-h574TX NASBook – The Best Thunderbolt NAS Yet?

QNAP has quite an enviable stronghold on the entire Thunderbolt NAS market, and although a few brands have attempted to challenge their dominance in this area over the years, ever since QNAP first revealed their first Thunderbolt device back in 2017, they have gone from strength to strength and innovated wildly in this area with each iteration. The latest entry into this, the SSD-focused TBS-h574TX NAS system, is potentially the fastest and most powerful entry yet, focusing on the use of E1.S hot-swappable M.2 SSD storage and built using an Intel 13th generation core architecture. Is this TB4 and 10GbE equipped NAS the potential to wipe everyone else off the board? There are a lot of users still unsure whether this $2,000 NAS justifies its investment. So, until the full review is available, please enjoy this shorter-form review focusing on just the highlights (and the lowlights) of the QNAP TBS-h574TX NAS.

QNAP TBS-h574TX System Specifications:

• CPU: Intel® Core i5-1340PE 12C(4P+8E)/16T, up to 4.50GHz
• CPU Architecture: 64-bit x86
• Graphic Processors: Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics eligible
• System Memory: 16 GB on board (non-expandable)
• Drive Bay: 5 x E1.S up to 15mm (5x PCIe Gen3 x2), Pre-install adapter to support M.2 2280 for each slot
• 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet Port: 1 (2.5G/1G/100M)
• 10 Gigabit Ethernet Port: 1 x 10GBASE-T (10G/5G/2.5G/1G/100M)
• Thunderbolt Port: 2 (Thunderbolt 4)
• USB 2.0 port: 1
• USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) Port: 2
• HDMI Output: 1, HDMI 1.4b
• Dimensions (HxWxD): 60 × 215 × 199 mm (Dimensions do not include foot pad; foot pad may be up to 30mm/1.18 inches high depending on model)
• Weight (Net): 2.24 kg
• Power Supply Unit: 120W Adapter (19VDC output, 100-240VAC input)
• Power Consumption: Operating Mode, Typical 46 W
• Fans: System fan: 2 x 40mm, CPU fan: 1 x 75mm

QNAP TBS-h574TX NAS Review Quick Conclusion

The QNAP TBS-h574TX NAS emerges as an exceptional and uniquely compact yet robustly powerful system, offering outstanding performance and bandwidth capabilities. Its sleek and innovative design sets a new standard in the NAS market, particularly notable for its integration of advanced features like Thunderbolt 4 and a high-capacity 10G connection. These features are further enhanced by the utilization of cutting-edge E1.S/NVMe SSD storage, all seamlessly managed by a highly capable CPU architecture. This makes the TBS-h574TX not just a NAS, but a powerhouse of data management and connectivity. Especially appealing to photo and video editors, the NAS excels in aesthetics, portability, and functionality, making it a viable alternative to traditional portable direct-attached storage systems like LaCie or G-Tech. Its ability to support multi-user access and provide immediate local network connectivity straight out of the box adds to its versatility. Additionally, the system boasts a modest power supply and impressively efficient power consumption relative to the bandwidth it offers, highlighting QNAP’s commitment to balancing performance with energy efficiency.

However, users must note some trade-offs, such as the limitation in PCIe bandwidth for each of the SSD bays, and the fixed memory capacity. While these are necessary adjustments for its compact form, they are points for consideration. Despite these minor limitations, the 13th Gen Intel Core processor used in its configurations demonstrates QNAP’s dedication to incorporating top-tier technology, although there are more advanced CPUs in other models. This system is a testament to QNAP’s ability to innovate, offering a package that promises the high performance of larger NAS units but in a remarkably portable format. It raises the question: Is this the ideal NAS for everyone? Perhaps not. But for those seeking a high-performance, Thunderbolt-enabled NAS that combines portability with powerful capabilities, the QNAP TBS-h574TX is a formidable choice.

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Reasons You SHOULD Choose the QNAP TBS-h574TX NASBook

If you are looking for a super-fast NAS, built on a powerful architecture, that’s supremely portable and supports the latest ports and connectivity, the TBS-h574TX NAS will likely serve you very well. But why specifically should you choose the TBS-h574TX NAS instead of many other devices on the market right now?

E1.S and NVMe Drive Support

The TBS-h574TX is one of the very first desktop NAS devices to feature E1.S media bays. In the last few years, we have seen a growing trend towards the use of SSDs as the primary storage media for private servers and NAS devices, with some particular standout examples from both QNAP and Asustor focusing on M.2 NVMe SSDs. However, one major downside of M.2 NVMe use is that they do not support hot swapping. This means that in the event of a drive failure leading to a degraded RAID state or the need to introduce a newer and larger capacity drive to an existing storage pool, you are required to power down the system completely. Removing an M.2 NVMe from a system that is powered on will lead it to crash and can be detrimental to the health of both the system and the storage drive. E1.S SSD bays, however, fully support hot swapping in an identical fashion to that of traditional SATA storage drives.

Additionally, the QNAP TBS-h574TX arrives with E1.S storage bays, as well as NVMe adapters that allow you to use regular off-the-shelf M.2 NVMe in these storage spaces and still have access to hot swapping. E1.S drives allow for additional storage space and taller PCB SSD space to be afforded to the storage drives, and although the gains are generally only minimal in traditional 2280 length SSDs, overall the fact that this flash NAS system supports these more flexible SSD options is always going to be desirable.

Thunderbolt 4, 10GbE, and an Intel 13th Gen CPU – YES PLEASE!

I cannot stress enough how good the connectivity is on the TBS-h574TX. Although it is not the first QNAP NAS to arrive with Thunderbolt 4 connectivity, it is definitely one of the smallest devices on the market to feature it. The TBS-h574TX features one Thunderbolt 4 USB-C port on the front for convenience, and an additional port on the rear. Not only can these be used to connect Thunderbolt storage to your NAS system, but more importantly, they allow a user to connect directly, point to point, from a Mac or Windows computer to the QNAP TBS-h574TX system. This opens the door to tremendous performance and, once you factor in the use of M.2 NVMe SSD storage, you are looking at some serious performance. QNAP reports the performance utilizing 5 Samsung 980 Pro SSDs in a RAID environment to hit 1700 megabytes per second for one connected device over Thunderbolt, and in excess of 3,000 megabytes per second for two connected Thunderbolt devices. That’s right, the support of Thunderbolt also allows multiple users to connect to the same storage space simultaneously, as well as the system supporting cross-platform file sharing, which allows the same storage area to be used simultaneously by both Mac and Windows users, regardless of the different operating systems in play.

Then, there is the inclusion of a 10GbE network port. This means that you can attach a third connected high-speed user over either a 10GbE network connection, or utilizing a Thunderbolt to 10G adapter available for around $150 to $200. Of course, you could use this port to connect the TBS-h574TX to a larger 10G equipped network and allow multiple users to enjoy full gigabit network saturation each, but I think a lot of portable users are going to enjoy the fact that a single area of high-speed intelligent storage can be connected to via three high-speed connections, all of which can edit on the fly. There is even an additional 2.5GbE port to connect the device to an existing network while all of this is going on, promoting network and internet shares.

All of this is made possible thanks to a very powerful Intel 13th Gen i5 or i3 CPU option, which is both highly efficient and powerful, thanks to its shrunk-down SOC mobile architecture. All of this adds up to an incredibly powerful system that is ready to reinvent the workflow of small to medium video editing workflows!

Very Compact and Portable

If you are looking for a storage device that needs to be portable, the TBS-h574TX is one of the best examples out there by this brand. Picture the scene: you and a small team of video or photo content creators are on the move, and after a long day of capturing content, you need to back up, edit, and/or distribute what you have created. Thanks to the small-scale stature of the QNAP TBS-h574TX, and its modest and small-scale 120-watt PSU, this system can be carried around very conveniently in a laptop bag and can be set up in minutes to allow multiple users to connect to either edit on the fly or back up from numerous different connected USB and Thunderbolt devices simultaneously.

That isn’t to say you can’t do that with most other NAS systems, but most other NAS systems arrive with clunky and fragile hard drives, have much larger power consumption requirements, or, more importantly, are considerably heavier. This system combats all three of these factors by being light, small, and exceedingly fast.

1TB of Free Cloud Space Included

This is something that I really wish QNAP would do with a lot more of their releases. QNAP has offered for the last year or so access to their own cloud service that allows you to back up the data on your NAS to their first-party encrypted cloud and makes remote access a great deal more convenient to back up data, as well as providing a first-party secondary backup option. Any user can gain access to 16GB of free space, but after that, you have to pay subscription costs in order to gain more cloud storage space on the MyQ9 cloud service. However, the QNAP TBS-h574TX, almost certainly because of its larger focus on video/photo editors, arrives with one terabyte of cloud storage space available on a 12-month license.

This is going to be hugely appealing to those that not only want to access, edit, and back up their data as quickly as possible, but also want a streamlined second-level backup to be integrated into their system, and one terabyte is a hugely generous sum of storage to be offered with this device. Of course, after the one-year license has concluded, you will need to either remove your data from the cloud or pay a subscription fee to maintain it there, but nevertheless, it is great that they have offered this alongside the device, and I really wish they did this more with some of their production-ready systems.

Includes QNAP QuTS ZFS / QTS EXT4 NAS Software, Services and Tools (A Whole Operating System)

The QNAP TVS-h874 NAS comes with a comprehensive software and services package, offering either QNAP QTS or QuTS (version 5.0.1) at initialization. This operating system, resembling Windows 11 and Android OS in design, supports hundreds of applications, services, and functions. It includes numerous mobile and desktop client applications for tailored data interaction. The software also features SSD-specific tools like anti-wearing for SSDs, better ZFS-HDD/SSD profiling, and options for storage, caching, or tiered storage. While QTS/QuTS is highly customizable, offering flexibility and user-friendliness, it does have a learning curve that may challenge novice users. Despite past security concerns, including ransomware attacks due to vulnerabilities in Linux and QNAP’s applications, improvements have been made in QTS/QuTS 5, making the system more secure and user-friendly.

QNAP’s TVS-h874 NAS excels in file management, security, storage management, multimedia handling, business tools, and surveillance. It offers sophisticated file management tools, improved security features with multi-layered protection, and diverse storage, backup, and synchronization options. The NAS supports a wide range of multimedia applications, including AI photo recognition and popular media servers like Plex. For business needs, it provides virtual machines, containers, and surveillance solutions like QVR Pro with extensive camera support. The TVS-h874’s software diversity, despite previous security issues, showcases a rich array of hardware configurations, services, and tools, solidifying its place as a versatile NAS solution. Further testing of its performance, particularly as a Plex Media Server and VM host, is upcoming on the NASCompares YouTube channel.

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Reasons You SHOULD NOT Choose the QNAP TBS-h574TX NASBook

As good as all of the advantages mentioned above sound, realistically, the QNAP TBS-h574TX is a rather specialized piece of equipment, and it’s fair to say that not everyone is going to see all of its hardware and architecture as positives. So let’s go through five reasons why you might want to give the QNAP TBS-h574TX a miss and look elsewhere.

Gen 3×2 M.2 Bandwidth is Disappointing

Despite the remarkably future-proof Intel 13th generation i3 and i5 processor featured inside the TBS-h574TX, the scaling down of this processor by Intel into a mobile processor form, and the requirements by QNAP to keep this system miniature yet still facilitate high bandwidth external connections, have all resulted in particular bottlenecks and compromises being made. Probably one of the most prominent compromises is in the bandwidth afforded to each of the individual E1.S NVMe media bays. Although this processor supports both PCIe Gen 4 and PCIe Gen 3, in order to get the lanes divided neatly across the system, each drive slot is limited to PCIe Gen 3 x2.

Utilizing SSD drives that make bold promises in excess of 3,000 megabytes per second, realistically each of these bays will not really be able to exceed 1500 or 1800 MB per second. In the correct RAID configuration, this should not prove to be much of a problem as you are still going to enjoy the multiplication factor of combining multiple read and write actions across each of the disks in the single RAID storage pool. Nevertheless, there are going to be users who would have hoped to see this system enjoy the PCIe Gen 4 architecture of bigger Thunderbolt devices like the H874T released in late 2023, which features a far more aggressive processor and a larger range of bays in its larger design.

16GB Max Memory (and only 12GB on the i3 Version)

I found it really peculiar that this system rolls out the gate with either 12 gigabytes or 16 gigabytes of fixed memory. The QNAP TBS-h574TX is not the first system to come out with prefixed soldered memory modules internally, and it won’t be the last! There are benefits to having memory fixed in this fashion, such as power efficiency, cost efficiency, and allowing the architecture of the processor and the number of channels it can handle to be better utilized. Nevertheless, this system is running a processor that can handle up to 64 gigabytes of memory, and because of the lack of an upgradable DIMM or SODIMM slot, you are limited to this base level amount throughout the system’s lifespan. 16 gigabytes is still a pretty reasonable amount of memory and more than enough to handle the majority of system processes, but the 12 GB of fixed memory on the i3 version just feels a bit weird and is an unusual memory quantity that feels like it was applied by design and not necessity.

$1800-2000+ Price Tag, is the QNAP TVS-h674T a Better Choice?

The price tag of the QNAP TBS-h574TX is certainly going to put some users off. Arriving at around $1800-$2000, although in the realm of Thunderbolt NAS, this is a reasonable figure, outside of that, and for a 5x10G NAS, it does seem rather high. You do need to factor in that we are talking about a specialized flash system with Thunderbolt 4 connectivity and one of the most modern NAS processors in the market, but that price is certainly going to be tough for some. However, what is probably a little bit more interesting about this price point is what else you can get for this money from QNAP themselves if you look a little broader across their range of solutions. For example, for around $100 more you can pick up the QNAP TVS-h674T – This is the six hard drive and two Gen 4 NVMe tower system.

It arrives with a very similar processor, memory that can be expanded up to 64GB if needed, the SSD slots are Gen 4 x4, it has two Gen 4 PCIe upgrade slots with one of them at x16 speed, and the system even still arrives with Thunderbolt 4 connectivity. You would lose out on the more compact nature of the TBS-h574TX system, have to spend a little more to get a 10GbE connection, and only have two SSD slots instead of five, but overall the 674T system is a better-tiered system for many and might serve as a better choice overall for some users.

Not a Silent NASBook (Unlike the TBS-464 or HS-464)

This is a very minor point, but it has to be said – The QNAP TBS-h574TX is not a silent NAS system. QNAP has rolled out several silent or near-silent systems in the last few years, some of which carried the NASBook branding as seen here on the TBS-h574TX system, unfortunately, because of the largely metal construction of the TBS-h574TX and the fact that it features two rear cooling fans and a small internal CPU fan, the system does make noise when in operation. I should stress, this is still much, much quieter than the average system but there are still going to be users that are going to look at this system and hope that it is silent when in operation. Systems such as the HS-264 and TBS-464 are both genuinely silent or as near silent as possible systems from this brand, although it’s worth remembering that these are significantly less powerful and bandwidth-rich. Ultimately, QNAP has done a great job here balancing power, scale, and portability to fit all of this into such a small single casing. Just don’t be under the illusion that they managed to make the thing completely inaudible!

Deadbolt! We Need to Talk

In 2021/2022, QNAP was one of several brands that were successfully targeted by the ransomware group Deadbolt. This resulted in thousands of systems from QNAP, Asustor, and TerraMaster being remotely encrypted, requiring payment of a ransom fee, costly data recovery services, or free but highly time-consuming data retrieval methods. You can read/watch more about it in the article HERE, but after this event, there was no avoiding that several brands were slightly tarnished with a reputation for being insecure remotely. The affected brands have all implemented numerous changes to their update and security protocols. Although the inherent vulnerabilities have never been truly identified for each individual brand, most believe it was a Linux-based vulnerability that remained unpatched, or at least a vulnerability that, if users did not update their system regularly, had been left open for exploitation. It still required a very specific range of circumstances for this exploit to be utilized by hackers, ranging from leaving network ports and router configurations open unsafely, to leaving certain SSH and administrative protocols enabled by default.

Nevertheless, after this event, QNAP, along with the other affected brands, updated how updates are delivered to the system, tightened default settings, and security protocols to ensure users would need to work harder to put their systems in unsafe states, ultimately resulting in a wake-up call for the NAS industry. This was several years ago, and although the QNAP NAS brand has improved considerably since then, it is still worth pointing out that they were impacted by this. I believe there is an important lesson to be learned here, and until at least 5 years have passed, I will mention this in every QNAP NAS review I do (as well as every Asustor and TerraMaster review too). Once again, you would need to manually place your system into a particularly unsafe state for any vulnerability to be exploited in this fashion. Additionally, a look at any of the security advisories from internet or network-connected platforms (Synology, Microsoft, Google, Apple, literally anyone!) shows that vulnerabilities on these platforms are regularly found by brands and white-hat hackers. The bottom line is, it’s important that buyers know about Deadbolt, but also keep in mind that in most instances, you would need to manually put your system into an unsafe state for particularly virulent ransomware and malware attacks to be effective.

Conclusion – Should You Buy the QNAP TBS-h574TX NASBook?

The QNAP TBS-h574TX is a genuinely unique and impressive piece of equipment, potentially one of the best NAS systems I have ever seen! For such a compact and portable system, it manages to include a phenomenal amount of both internal and external performance and bandwidth – something that the majority of systems at this price point generally need to compromise on one aspect or the other. Additionally, QNAP continues to dominate the market of Thunderbolt NAS storage, and you can clearly see their innovation and improvement with each iteration of this technology – with the TBS-h574TX being one of the sleekest and most impressive entries into this product family. The Thunderbolt 4 on this system does exactly what QNAP says it will, providing huge performance numbers to connected users via this protocol, as well as an additional thousand megabytes per second through the 10G connection. Thanks to the utilization of E1.S/NVMe SSD storage, fully saturating all these connections simultaneously is indeed possible, all enabled by an incredibly impressive choice of CPU architecture that has the muscle to keep things moving in the backend.

Equally, as this system is largely focused on photo and video editors, it is beautifully presented and highly portable. It could easily replace portable LaCie or G-Tech direct-attached storage systems used by many on-site content creators, thanks to its support of multi-user access and local network connectivity right out of the box. Add to that a modest power supply and impressively low power consumption for the bandwidth offered, and this is one of the most beautifully put-together systems by this brand. Of course, when you start miniaturizing and reducing scale, compromises inevitably need to be made for reasons of power efficiency, temperature, and space. The downgrading of the PCIe bandwidth on each of the SSD bays is a necessary but still regrettable inevitability. Likewise, although I’m impressed by the 13th Gen Intel Core processor featured in both configurations available, there are better Intel CPUs already used in other QNAP Thunderbolt systems, and whether this was the reason or logic behind the fixed 12/16 GB memory still remains to be seen. There are definitely video editors who will be completely in love with this system, and you can see why: it promises everything that the larger boxes from QNAP have been offering for years, but in a scale that you can pop in your laptop bag on the go. Is this the perfect NAS? No. Is it the Perfect Thunderbolt NAS? Maybe!

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PROs of the QNAP TBS-h574TX NAS

CONs of the QNAP TBS-h574TX NAS

Exceptionally future-proof 13th Gen i3/i5 Processor (Mid-2023 series) with high end Int.Gfx 2x Thunderbolt 4 connectivity, one is front mounted for convenience Also features a 10GbE and 2.5GbE Connection for direct editing and/or high-speed local networking High internal and external performance and bandwidth for such a compact system Compact and portable, ideal for on-site creators to share and collaborate on-the-fly Enhanced security protocols post-Deadbolt ransomware attack. Wide range of multimedia and business tools. Equipped with QVR Pro for extensive surveillance and numerous Backup/Sync tools as standard. QuTS Has numerous ZFS based advantages + QSAL Antiwear leveling Supports AI photo recognition, AI Surveillance Tools, 4K/8K Plex Support and VM Tools. Arrives with 1TB of Cloud Space with MyQNAPCloudOne for 12 months.

High price range of $1800-$2000. Check out the TVS-h674T for similar pricing and alternative Tiering/Bandwidth allocation Limited PCIe bandwidth on SSD bays. Not a silent operation due to cooling fans.

Samsung 990 EVO Gen 5 SSD Review

It would be fair to say that of all the brands that exist in the SSD consumer and commercial market, few have the recognition and long-running reputation that Samsung has. A mainstay in consumer day-to-day devices, they have also been long-running pioneers in the world of solid-state storage for years now (first truly cutting their teeth in consumer M.2 NVMe SSD storage with the hugely popular Samsung 960). In the previously established PCIe Gen 4 generation of M.2 NVMe SSDs, Samsung (along with WD) in late 2020 were the very first brands to introduce 7GB/s (7000MB/s) performing drives to the market, massively overshadowing competitors such as Seagate and ultimately giving them a huge advantage, one that has been enjoyed for almost 3-4 years. Fast forward to now and the Gen 5 tier of M.2 NVMe SSDs has established itself, and despite hugely confident releases from Phison-equipped drives with Seagate, Sabrent, TeamGroup, and more that have been promising 10, 12, and 14GB/s, Samsung has been oddly silent on the consumer Gen 5 tier… Until now! The release of the Samsung 990 EVO marks the brand’s first release into an almost guaranteed large range of Gen 5 solutions in 2024/2025, but with a rather niche approach to its hardware design choices, a shift of focus on its ideal deployment, and performance numbers that seem comparatively lower to many drives on the market – is the Samsung EVO 990 SSD a rather bizarre first Gen 5 entry by the brand? Let’s review the Samsung 990 EVO SSD, discuss what makes it different from the usual crowd, benchmark it, and ultimately decide if it deserves your money and your data!

Samsung 990 EVO Gen 5 SSD Review – Quick Conclusion

The Samsung 990 EVO is a unique drive, ideal for systems with limited PCIe allocation and concerns about heat and power usage. While Samsung’s strategy aims to meet future trends, there are questions about PCIe Gen 5 bandwidth utilization and performance sustainability in modern PC architecture. The 990 EVO, being Samsung’s first DRAMless consumer Gen 5 SSD, offers a decent balance of performance and efficiency in compact systems, but its position in the market might be overshadowed by competitors’ higher-spec Gen 5×4 drives. It’s an acceptable choice for those seeking an OS drive or a base SSD for micro/compact systems, offering good durability and power efficiency. However, gamers and power users might find it lacking compared to more robust options available. The Samsung 990 EVO stands out in its niche but faces stiff competition in the broader SSD market.

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Samsung 990 EVO Gen 5 SSD Review – Retail Packaging

The Samsung 990 EVO arrives in fairly standard packaging from the brand and is arguably fairly understated and regular stuff. The drive arrives without any kind of heatsink (more on that later), but comes with the M.2 NVMe SSD in a plastic shell, alongside brief information on installation, the Samsung Magician software, and details on the 5-year inclusive warranty. The retail box itself is adorned with all the usual tech spec information and, although it’s all a bit ‘meh’, at the very least still carries that Samsung charm.

The drive arrives with a base panel heatshield that arrives pre-applied on the base panel of the SSD (on the bare PCB side), and it is located under the storage NAND. It’s a little odd that this isn’t located on the top, but I am sure Samsung has done enough R&D to know this makes more sense.

The top of the drive has a simple adhesive label with all the relevant drive information, but this is not any kind of metallic heatshield.

Peeling this back reveals an unusual arrangement of components on the PCB (on both the 1TB and 2TB version), at least compared with the bulk of both Gen4 and Gen5 SSDs in the market. Let’s discuss the hardware that the Samsung 990 EVO runs on.

Samsung 990 EVO Gen 5 SSD Review – Hardware Design

As mentioned above, the Samsung 990 EVO is a different kind of drive in the market. But this is especially unusual when you see that Samsung is attempting to straddle both the Gen4 and Gen5 market with this drive. Advertised as a Gen 5 M.2 NVMe, its architecture and the bandwidth afforded to it are very unconventional (at least by 2023/2024 Gen5 standards, but this could change in the near future – something Samsung is likely banking on with this drive).

The 1TB and 2TB versions of the Samsung 990 EVO are largely the same (barring the capacity, of course) and are built using all ‘in-house’ proprietary components – much like most other Samsung SSDs. Much like one of their biggest SSD rivals, Western Digital, Samsung likes to keep the development and onboard parts limited to 1st party design (or at the very least using subsidiaries). This can often mean that Samsung runs its own race when it comes to rolling out consumer and commercial storage drives – as they cannot overly rely on the likes of Phison for an SSD controller, MICRON for storage NAND, or SK Hynix for DRAM. The Samsung 990 EVO continues this trend, arriving with the following specs:

Category	Specification
Model	Samsung SSD 990 EVO
Usage Application	Client PCs
Interface	PCIe® 4.0 x4 / 5.0 x2 NVMe 2.0
Capacity	1TB, 2TB
Controller	Samsung in-house Controller
NAND Flash Memory	Samsung V-NAND TLC
Cache Memory	HMB (Host Memory Buffer)
Dimension	Max 80.15 x Max 22.15 x Max 2.38 (mm)
Form Factor	M.2 (2280)
Sequential Read	Up to 5,000MB/s
Sequential Write	Up to 4,200MB/s
Random Read	QD1: 20KIOPS, QD32: 680KIOPS (1TB), 700KIOPS (2TB)
Random Write	QD1: 90KIOPS, QD32: 800KIOPS
Power Consumption	Active: Read 4.9W (1TB), 6.1W (2TB); Write 4.5W (1TB), 5.5W (2TB)
Idle Power	PS3 (APST on) 60mW, PS4 (L1.2) 5mW
Operating Temp.	0°C to 70°C (Proper airflow recommended)
Non-Operating Temp.	-40°C to 85°C
Humidity	5% to 95% non-condensing
Shock Resistance	Non-Operating: 1,500G (Gravity), duration: 0.5ms, 3 axis
Vibration Resistance	Non-Operating: 20~2,000Hz, 20G
MTBF	1.5 million hours
Warranty	5 years limited, TBW: 600TB (1TB), 1,200TB (2TB)
Supporting Features	TRIM, Garbage Collection, S.M.A.R.T
Data Security	AES 256-bit Full Disk Encryption, TCG/Opal V2.0, Encrypted Drive (IEEE1667)

The controller and its management of the bandwidth with other components is actually quite a unique one in the current Gen 5 market, as it is able to negotiate between Gen 5×2 bandwidth and Gen 4×4 bandwidth. Although auto-negotiation is something that has always existed in SSDs (thanks to PCIe architecture scaled down into PCIe Gen 5>4>3>2, etc.). However, this is something a little different and something that has been developed in order to respond to rising needs in more streamlined systems, PCIe cards, and developing SoC CPUs that have fewer lanes afforded to them (as well as lower power consumption thresholds and temperature limits).

Normally, if you were to put a Gen 5 SSD into a Gen 4 system, the SSD would downgrade to PCIe Gen 4×4, which is exactly what this drive does. But what about the reverse? With newer compact systems arriving with 5×2 bandwidth allocated to storage (as these mini newer Intel Core SoC PC systems, portable ultrathin laptops, and even RAID storage cards with multiple NVMe have begun to do), a PCIe Gen 4×4 SSD that is installed inside would be downgraded to PCIe Gen 4×2. Whereas a Gen 5×4 SSD would be able to use the full Gen 5×2 bandwidth. Ultimately, Samsung is clearly hoping to provide a single affordable drive in their EVO (i.e., affordable/value) series that is able to facilitate both the Gen 4 and Gen 5 compact systems, or those with more careful or curated PCIe lane allocation.

However, realistically, more current PC builders, gamers, and storage enthusiasts are going to question the widespread allocation of Gen 5×2 at the manufacturer level. There is certainly an argument to be made that 2023/2024 released mini PCs (i.e., Intel NUCs and their budget clones), NAS server systems, M.2 storage upgrade cards, and even pre-attached SoC motherboards (see Topton, Erying, and similar) are going to lead to more appearances of x1 and x2 speed M.2 slots.

However, there are very few Gen 5 examples in the market right now compared with Gen 4 and in those systems, the 5×2/4×4 Samsung 990 EVO will be of little benefit in bandwidth over other SSDs in the market. However, the PCIe bandwidth allocation and speed is not the only area in which Samsung has clearly decided is an area ripe for efficient redesign in storage.

The Samsung 990 EVO is also a DRAMless SSD. This means it is a drive that does not arrive with any onboard memory, instead relying on a client memory use system known as HMB – Host Memory Buffer. HMB means that the SSD will need to reserve a small area of RAM on the client machine it is installed inside. So, is this a good thing or a bad thing? DRAMless SSDs, which operate without a dedicated DRAM cache, offer several benefits. DRAMless SSDs, operating without a dedicated DRAM cache, present a unique set of benefits. Their primary advantage lies in cost-effectiveness, as the absence of DRAM chips leads to lower manufacturing costs, making these drives more affordable for consumers seeking SSD speeds on a budget. They are also more energy-efficient than their DRAM-equipped counterparts, consuming less power, which is especially beneficial in battery-powered devices like laptops and mobile phones, thereby extending battery life. The design of DRAMless SSDs is another plus; the elimination of DRAM chips allows for a more compact and streamlined form, ideal for space-constrained devices like ultra-thin laptops. These SSDs tend to be simpler and potentially more reliable due to fewer components, reducing the complexity of the drive’s architecture and possibly leading to fewer points of failure. Additionally, the lack of a DRAM cache can enhance data security, as there’s less risk of data being recovered from temporary storage after power loss. DRAMless SSDs are particularly suitable for read-intensive applications and basic tasks, where high write performance is not a priority.

However, DRAMless SSDs also have notable drawbacks, especially when compared to DRAM-equipped SSDs. The most significant downside is reduced performance, particularly in write speeds and handling large or intensive workloads, due to the reliance on slower NAND flash memory without a DRAM buffer. This limitation affects multitasking capabilities, as they lack a high-speed buffer for quick data access and organization. Some DRAMless SSDs compensate for the absence of onboard DRAM by using a portion of the system’s RAM (Host Memory Buffer), which can affect overall system performance, especially in systems with limited RAM. These SSDs may also have lower endurance due to continuous direct-to-NAND write operations, leading to faster wear of memory cells. Users might experience slower random access speeds and noticeable performance degradation over time as the SSD fills up and managing the mapping table becomes more complex. Consequently, DRAMless SSDs are not ideal for heavy workloads like video editing or gaming, where high-performance storage is crucial, making them a less suitable choice for users with demanding data needs.

While DRAMless SSDs offer benefits in terms of cost and power consumption, they are generally less suited for high-performance or heavy workload applications, making them more appropriate for budget-conscious consumers with moderate storage needs. Needless to say, Samsung has been quite clear about the performance and ideal deployment of the 990 EVO, with power efficiency and temperature management being crucial considerations. Therefore, HMB and a DRAMless design make a modicum of sense here – it just also means that Samsung’s first consumer Gen 5 SSD looks rather underwhelming in terms of traditional performance in comparison to existing Gen 4 and Gen 5 SSDs in the market right now.

The storage NAND on the drive is another comparatively low bar compared with existing fully featured Gen 5 and Gen 4 SSDs in the market (including Samsung’s own 980 Pro and 990 Pro). The Samsung 990 EVO is a drive that has been targeted to replace/refresh the 970 EVO and in THAT regard, it is a substantial upgrade! With high bandwidth allocation, higher degrees of saturation of it in traditional throughput, higher 4K random IOPS, and just generally better thermal/power management when in operation, the 990 EVO is a confident upgrade over the 970 EVO indeed. However, there is still the question of buying the 990 EVO as a storage drive for your Gen 4 system (or even Gen 5 premium rig) when even Samsung’s 2020 released 980 Pro drive dominates the 2024 released 990 EVO in pretty much all areas and is even a similar/lower price in a lot of retailers.

Samsung 990 EVO SSD	Samsung 990 Pro SSD

The storage NAND is of a lower layer count but is still Samsung’s in-house 3D TLC V-NAND. This, the lack of onboard DRAM, and (in certain deployments) the x2 speed all add up to a drive that doesn’t stand especially tall against its competitors at a glance. Nevertheless, there is also the argument that the Samsung 990 EVO is going to be the best SSD that you never realize that you already own in years to come! Its design is ripe for deployment as the OS drive at the OEM/factory level in the same way as the widespread use of the 970 EVO was for Windows machines and laptops the world over! Indeed, in a different context, the specifications for the Samsung 990 EVO would make it a GREAT upgrade for a Steam Deck or one of its many clones in the last 12-18 months. If the Samsung 990 EVO was a 2230 or 2240 sized SSD, this review would be very different – as the market is crying out for high performing, yet power-efficient small form factor M.2 SSDs – however, the Samsung 990 EVO’s 2280 length eliminates this use sadly.

Additionally, the fact the SSD arrives at 1TB and 2TB, but not a 4TB, is going to disappoint users who are looking at this drive in terms of efficiency but also know that our daily data creation rates are bigger than ever! However, we cannot really use this as a stick to beat the 990 EVO with, as this could be part of a staged rollout and a 4TB version coming down the line (Samsung already provides numerous 4TB NVMe SSD examples in other ranges). All the mixed points so far aside, I have to hand it to Samsung for releasing this DRAMless SSD that supports Gen 4 and Gen 5 deployment – yet still maintains a standard 600/1200 TBW (so over 0.3 DWPD). Jargon aside, that means that this power and heat-efficient SSD can withstand up to over 300/600GB of daily write/rewrite on the 1/2TB respectively. Outside of SSD cache utilization in servers and as a daily backup drive without differentials, this SSD is going to last a LONG TIME and hopefully way, way beyond the 5yrs manufacturer’s hardware warranty (standard across the industry). There are still points to be made that the lower performance bears closer examination on these number’s virtues, but nonetheless, this still all adds up to good durability for a drive that is going to be used in compact deployments where heat generation is a real concern!

The hardware, in the right context, is all great. But inevitably, we are going to need to look at how this all adds up to performance. Let’s put the SSD through some benchmarks with popular test software, as well as discuss the Samsung Magician client software and how it allows you to use your 990 EVO beyond just traditional target storage.

Using CrystalDisk, we got a good measure of the drive and verified that this PCIe Gen 5×2 / 4×4 SSD was indeed using the 5×2 lane. Additionally, the temp averaged out around 55C between each test being conducted and the highest temp registered for 68 degrees.

Samsung 990 EVO Gen 5 SSD Review – Performance and Software

It is REALLY important that we look at the performance of the Samsung 990 EVO SSD in the right frame of mind! We have reviewed A LOT of Gen 4 and Gen 5 SSDs here on NASCompares in the last few years, and we have to at least acknowledge that in terms of traditional throughput and responsive IOPS, the Samsung 990 EVO is going to come across lower in most cases. However, in the context of a DRAMLESS SSD and one that is designed towards more flexible deployment, we have more flexible thresholds in mind. Equally, Samsung has been very clear on the reported performance of the 990 EVO in their marketing, stating maximum performance numbers of 5000MB/s Seq Read and 4200MB/s Seq Write, as well as Read and Write 4K Random IOPS numbers of 800,000 and 700,000 respectively. These are good, healthy numbers and if sustained, would make this drive very attractive to those streamlined deployments. So, to the testing.

For the sake of fairness, let’s compare the results of the Samsung 990 EVO in some of its tests against the other DRAMless Gen 4 SSD we mentioned earlier in the review, the late 2022 released WD Black SN770, as then we have a much fairer means to frame the performance results:

Samsung 990 EVO SSD	WD Black SN770 SSD

Although the numbers are comparable and there are gains/drops on either side, the winner is largely going to come down to your perspective of priorities. If traditional throughput of chunking MB/s and GB/s is your focus, the SN770 has the upper hand. But for IOPS, larger-scale databases of volume, and deployments made up of high-frequency data, the Samsung 990 EVO holds its ground the firmest. Let’s conclude this review.

Samsung 990 EVO Gen 5 SSD Review – Verdict

All this adds up to a drive that, in a very specific context of use in a powerful, yet curated/limited PCIe allocated system (with concerns of heat and power use), is ready to be a hero! Samsung is clearly banking on this being an established future trend, and you cannot really blame them. Alongside numerous examples of strategic PCIe allocation in modern consumer hardware throughout 2023 and planned for 2024, there are also still question marks about just what percentage of PCIe Gen 5 bandwidth can actually be saturated long term on modern PC architecture before the inevitable overfilling of cache and performance numbers plummeting. We have seen numerous examples using synthetic testing that has shown the first and second phase of Gen 5 releases reach anywhere from 20-60 seconds of sustained transfer before bottling down! This raises the idea of a drive that does have the ability to hit those highs, because it doesn’t need to, and instead can provide a sustained performance number that on balance works out better (not just in those more compact deployments too).

However, I think the first drive from Samsung into consumer Gen 5 SSDs being DRAMless is a little odd and would have been best served as a derivation/2nd wave of Gen 5 Samsung SSDs that allow choice – much like how WD released the WD Black SN850, then followed it up with the WD Black SN770 DRAMless Gen 4 alternative and the WD Black SN850X premium upgrade. Starting with the DRAMless 990 EVO and rolling out at the same time as their competitors are providing comparatively priced Gen 5×4 alternatives with higher transfers and IOPS ratings might be something of a marketing misstep. Only time will tell, and, as ever, storage trends are first and foremost going to follow client hardware trends (the PS5 exploded the Gen 4 generation in a way that PC Gaming hadn’t yet), and more affordable Power use SoC/Mobile Embedded versions of Intel/AMD chips led to massive uptake in Gen 4 higher cap drives. The Samsung 990 EVO is an SSD with acceptable performance, IOPS numbers, durability, and power use when it’s looked at in its own context/light, but draws weak comparisons with bigger and bolder drives in the market. Gamers and serious power users will want to look elsewhere, but if you are looking for an OS drive or base SSD for your next micro/compact system, you are going to find a reliable and long-term drive choice here.

PROs of the Samsung 990 EVO SSD	CONs of the Samsung 990 EVO SSD
Low Power Use Low Heat Generation Ideal for Small Deployment Useful for Surgival/Careful PCIe Allocation Superior Bandwidth Use in x2 Situations Smasung Magician Still 10/10 Gen 5×4 SSDs Still Suffer Sustained Perf Issues Ideally suited for OS/OEM Level Drives Standard Durability, despite DRAMless design	Better DRAMless Gen5 Controllers out there (Phison E31T) Lower traditional Performance/IOPS than most Gen 4/5 Comparable $ Drives Feels like a Steamdeck drive…but not! No 4TB Option

SK Hynix Beetle X31 10Gb/s USB SSD Review

The SK Hynix Beetle X31 SSD enters the storage market with a set of specifications that aim to cater to the mid-range consumer segment. This review sets out to provide an objective analysis of the drive’s performance, build quality, and overall value proposition. More than just the look of the thing, we will also cover benchmark tests including ATTO Disk Benchmark and Crystal Disk Mark, which simulate various usage scenarios to gauge the drive’s capabilities. With a focus on the drive’s advertised sequential read and write speeds, capacity options, and design features, the review will offer potential users a clear perspective on how the Beetle X31 stands against its contemporaries in the current SSD market.

SK Hynix Beetle X31 USB SSD Review – Quick Conclusion

The SK Hynix Beetle X31 SSD meets its advertised speed performance, with a design that is both compact and aesthetically pleasing. However, its storage capacity tops out at 1TB and it carries a three-year warranty, which may not be competitive with other market offerings that provide more storage and longer protection plans. In essence, while the SK Hynix Beetle X31 SSD is a solid performer with a distinctive design, its appeal may be tempered by its capacity limitations and shorter warranty period when compared to other SSDs in its class.

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SK Hynix Beetle X31 USB SSD Review – Design

The SK Hynix Beetle X31 distinguishes itself in the portable SSD market with its unique design and compact size. The device features a Gold finish, offering a visually appealing alternative to the more common black and silver tones of external SSDs. This choice of color not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also gives the device a distinct identity in a crowded market.

Regarding its dimensions, the Beetle X31 measures 74 X 46 X 14.8 mm, making it quite portable and easy to carry. The weight of 53g, while light, provides a sense of durability and quality. This balance of size and weight is practical for users who need to transport the device regularly, without compromising on build quality.

The hardware interface of the Beetle X31 is a notable feature. It incorporates a USB 3.2 Gen2 interface, supporting up to 10Gbps transfer speed. This technical specification ensures that the drive can handle high-speed data transfers efficiently, catering to needs such as large file handling and quick data access. The interface’s compatibility with a broad range of devices highlights the drive’s adaptability for various professional and personal usage scenarios.

The drive is also designed with durability in mind. It is capable of withstanding a drop from up to 2 meters, and it has been tested for shock and vibration resistance. These features indicate a focus on making the Beetle X31 a reliable option for users who might use the drive in different physical conditions, ensuring data protection under various circumstances.

Overall, the SK Hynix Beetle X31 combines a distinctive design with practical hardware specifications. Its compact size, aesthetic appeal, high-speed interface, and durability features make it a solid choice in the portable SSD category, meeting the requirements of users looking for both performance and portability.

SK Hynix Beetle X31 USB SSD Review – Hardware

The SK Hynix Beetle X31 SSD is an impressive blend of cutting-edge technology and robust design. Launched on June 21st, 2023, and active in production, this solid-state drive offers a substantial storage capacity of 1 TB (1024 GB), with an overprovisioning of 70.3 GB (7.4%), aimed at the consumer market. Its part number, SKHPU3-001T, is a nod to its position in SK Hynix’s lineup of storage solutions, and it currently available at $69 for the 512GB version and $89 for the 1TB version, presenting a competitive option in the SSD market.

Category	Specification
General
Capacity	1 TB, 512 GB
Color	Gold
Model Names	SKHPU3-512G (512GB), SKHPU3-001T (1TB)
Interface	USB 3.2 Gen2 (10Gbps)
Operating Voltage	5V
Operating Current	1.5A
Dimensions	74 x 46 x 14.8 mm
Weight	53g
Launch Price	1TB: $89.99, 512GB: $69.99
Production/Assembly	South Korea / Malaysia
Performance
Sequential Read	Up to 1,050 MB/s
Sequential Write	Up to 1,000 MB/s
Reliability
Drop	2 meters
Temperature (Operating)	0℃ to 40℃
Temperature (Non-operating)	-40℃ to 60℃
Shock (Non-operating)	1500G, 0.5ms, 6-axis
Vibration (Non-operating)	20~2000Hz, 20G
Controller
Manufacturer	SK Hynix
Name	Cepheus 2 ACNT038
Architecture	ARM 32-bit Cortex-R
Core Count	Dual-Core
Foundry	TSMC FinFET
Process	12 nm
Flash Channels	4 @ 1,400 MT/s
Chip Enables	4
DRAM (enabled)	Yes
NAND Flash
Manufacturer	SK Hynix
Name	V6
Type	TLC
Technology	128-layer
Speed	1200 MT/s
Capacity	1 chip @ 8 Tbit
Endurance	Up to 3000 P/E Cycles
DRAM Cache
Type	LPDDR4
Capacity	Not specified
Warranty
Length	3 Years

At the core of the Beetle X31’s performance is the SK Hynix Cepheus 2 ACNT038 controller. This controller is based on a dual-core ARM 32-bit Cortex-R architecture, produced using TSMC’s 12 nm FinFET process. This modern manufacturing process contributes to the controller’s efficiency and reliability. The controller operates with four flash channels at 1,400 MT/s and supports four chip enables. Notably, it features enabled DRAM, indicating the presence of a cache that aids in speeding up data access and transfer processes.

The bridge chip controller of the Beetle X31 is the ASMedia ASM2364, another crucial component contributing to its performance. This controller, also based on an ARM 32-bit architecture, connects via a USB-C connector and facilitates the downstream PCIe 3.0 x4 port and the upstream USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps port. This setup ensures that the SSD is capable of handling high-speed data transfers, making it suitable for applications requiring quick data access and large file transfers.

The NAND flash in the Beetle X31 is manufactured by SK Hynix and is named V6. This TLC (Triple-Level Cell) NAND flash utilizes 128-layer technology and operates at a speed of 1200 MT/s. The capacity per chip is impressive, at 8 Tbit, which translates to 16 dies per chip at 512 Gbit each. The design of this NAND flash incorporates a charge trap topology, with each die having four planes and two decks. The efficiency of this setup is highlighted by its 87.1% vertical efficiency and an endurance of up to 3000 Program/Erase (P/E) cycles. The page size is 16 KB, with a block size of 1536 pages and a plane size of 722 blocks.

While the exact capacity of the LPDDR4 DRAM cache in the Beetle X31 is not specified, its presence is a critical factor in the SSD’s performance, particularly in enhancing data retrieval speeds and overall responsiveness. The SSD boasts impressive performance metrics with sequential read speeds of up to 1,050 MB/s and sequential write speeds of up to 1,000 MB/s. These speeds indicate the drive’s ability to handle intensive read and write operations efficiently, making it suitable for a wide range of applications, from professional content creation to high-end gaming.

The SK Hynix Beetle X31 SSD also includes an SLC (Single-Level Cell) write cache, which enhances its performance under heavy write loads. The durability and reliability of the SSD are further bolstered by its 3-year warranty, providing users with confidence in its long-term performance and stability. The SK Hynix Beetle X31 USB SSD is an advanced storage device that combines state-of-the-art internal hardware with practical design elements. Its sophisticated controller architecture, high-performance NAND flash technology, DRAM caching, and solid endurance and warranty terms make it a standout choice in the SSD market, particularly for users who value both speed and reliability in their data storage solutions.

SK Hynix Beetle X31 USB SSD Review – Performance

In order to evaluate the prowess of the SK Hynix Beetle X31 SSD, we turned to industry-standard benchmarks—ATTO Disk Benchmark and Crystal Disk Mark. These tests are designed to push the drive to its limits, providing a comprehensive picture of its read and write capabilities across a spectrum of file sizes, from the minutiae of 512 bytes to the heft of 64 MB files. With this rigorous testing, we aim to uncover not only the peak performance figures but also the consistency and reliability of the drive across varying workloads.

The benchmarks mirror real-world scenarios, ranging from gaming environments to large file transfers, offering potential users insight into how the drive might perform in their day-to-day tasks.

After extensive testing, the SK Hynix Beetle X31 SSD has demonstrated a solid performance that aligns well with its advertised capabilities. The sequential read and write speeds closely approached the 1,050 MB/s and 1,000 MB/s marks, respectively, underlining the drive’s proficiency in handling large data transfers efficiently. Even under diverse file sizes and testing conditions, the drive showed commendable endurance and maintained a stable thermal profile, a testament to its well-engineered thermal management system. The benchmark results corroborate the drive’s potential for varied applications, confirming its suitability for users with high-performance demands. The SK Hynix Beetle X31 SSD stands out as a reliable option for those seeking a blend of speed, durability, and consistent output in their storage solutions.

SK Hynix Beetle X31 USB SSD Review – Verdict

The SK Hynix Beetle X31 SSD has undergone thorough testing and was remarkably consistent (for a USB drive!). The drive consistently achieved near its advertised peak speeds for sequential reads and writes. This performance is adequate for typical usage scenarios such as file transfers and media consumption. The design of the drive is compact and features a Champagne Gold finish, which could be appealing from an aesthetic standpoint. On the other hand, the drive is currently available with a maximum storage capacity of 1TB. While this may be sufficient for average users, it could be restrictive for those with larger data storage requirements. Additionally, the warranty provided is for three years, which, while standard for some, may be less than what is offered by competing brands. The performance metrics, although solid, do not particularly set the drive apart in a market where higher capacities and longer warranties are becoming more common.

The SK Hynix Beetle X31 SSD delivers acceptable performance that aligns with its specifications. It is a competent SSD with an attractive design, suitable for users who require moderate storage capacity and transfer speeds. However, its limitations in storage capacity and warranty duration are points that potential buyers should consider in comparison to other available options.

PROs of the SK Hynix Beetle X31 USB SSD	CONs of the SK Hynix Beetle X31 USB SSD
– Achieves advertised sequential read and write speeds – Consistent performance across a range of file sizes – Compact and visually distinctive design	– Limited to a maximum of 1TB storage capacity – Warranty period is three years, potentially less than competitors – Relative value may be diminished compared to drives with similar specs but better warranties or prices

 

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Samsung Finally Releasing a Consumer Gen5 SSD – The 990 EVO M.2 NVMe SSD

With so many Gen 5 SSDs being revealed during CES 2024, it probably won’t come as a tremendous surprise that Samsung (a big [player in both the consumer and business SSD market) is on the verge of rolling out its very first consumer-focused PCIe Gen 5M.2 NVMe SSD – The Samsung 990 EVO.

As surprising as it might sound, although home/consumer Gen 5 SSDs have been rolling out for the better part of 2 years, Samsung held off rolling out their own till now. That isn’t to say that they have ignored this area of the market, though all attention from them towards Gen5 storage has been exclusively enterprise-focused (eg the PM1743 Flash), but many were surprised how long it was taking them to enter the growing Gen5 SSD marketplace. Rewind back to the Samsung 980 Pro Gen 4 launch in Nov 2020, wiping practically every other Gen4 drive off the map at that time in terms of performance, and you can see why users have been rather perplexed on Samsung’s reluctance this time around. However, better late than never, right? Thank you numerous leaks online spotted by ComputerBase.de, which ranged from the Samsung Magician tool leaking the 990 EVO product name, and to references on the PCISiG here.

Source – ComputerBase

Then there was an appearance (albeit briefly) of the official product being listed on official UA Samsung pages, although now largely just resulting in a blank search result (see below). Finally, it appeared on Amazon Germany, at €115 and €190 for the 1TB and 2TB models respectively (both now taken offline) which listed delivery as the 25th of Jan and 24th of February – so clearly we are looking at drives that are pretty much imminent for official launch!

So, now we know the Samsung 990 EVO exists – should you care? With so, so many Gen5 SSDs being released or revealed in Q1 2024, have Samsung left this a little too late? Let’s discuss the specifications we know about.

The Samsung 990 EVO SSD Hardware Specifications

I think it would be an understatement to say that Samsung have “gone their own way” when it comes to the Samsung 990 EVO SSD. As mentioned earlier, they have certainly approached it differently to the Gen4 generation of SSDs where they took a early massive lead across the whole market with the (still popular) Samsung 980 PRO.The hardware specifications of the Samsung 990 EVO are…unusual, in a conventional sense. Samsung has clearly decided that the Samsung 990 EVO is a drive targeting the bridging between Gen4 and Gen5 users, as well as low power use and economical SSD buyers. In short, this drive is not designed with performance in mind – which is going to sound rather unusual, given that is the focus of 99% of the rest of Gen5 SSDs launched in the last 18 months. The Samsung 990 EVO is a Dramless (i.e no onboard memory/DRAM) that can be used on a Gen 4 connection to 4×4 bandwidth or a Gen5 connection at 5×2. The result is that this more economical and efficiency-focused drive peaks at 5,200MB/s (5.2GB/s) Sequential Read and 4,200MB/s (4.2GB/s) Sequential Write. This rather pales in comparison to the Gen 4×4 Samsung 990 PRO at 7,450MB/s and 6,900MB/s Seq Read/Write respectively. This lower peak performance also extends to the 4K Random IOPS at 700K/800K Read//Write respectively on the 990 EVO vs the 1.5Million and 1.6Million 4K R/W IOPS of the 990 PRO. Alot of these shortfalls can be attributed to the lack of onboard memory (with the drive relying on using a portion of host client memory, aka HMB) and the PCIe Gen 5×2 architecture – but the drive hitting these numbers in a 4×4 environment is a little disappointing (even when you consider the efficiency focus that this drive has been built under). Here are the specs:

The following specifications are based on the above-leaked information from ComputerBase, cached pages that are now offline and using specifications of similar OEM PM9C1a SSD that shares many similarities with the Samsung 990 EVO SSD:

Model	Samsung SSD 990 EVO
Interface	PCIe 4.0 x4 / 5.0 x2 NVMe 2.0
Capacity	1TB, 2TB (Possible 4TB)
Controller	Samsung in-house Controller
NAND Flash Memory	Samsung V-NAND TLC (176-layer TLC V-NAND V7 ? TBC
Memory	HMB (Host Memory Buffer)
Form Factor	M.2 (2280)
Sequential Read	Up to 5,000MB/s
Sequential Write	Up to 4,200MB/s
4K IOPS Random Read	680KIOPS (1TB), 700KIOPS (2TB) (TBC)
4K IOPS Random Write	800KIOPS (TBC)
MTBF	1.5 million hours
Warranty	5 years limited, TBW: 600TB (1TB), 1,200TB (2TB) (TBC)
Supporting Features	TRIM, Garbage Collection, S.M.A.R.T
Data Security	AES 256-bit Full Disk Encryption, TCG/Opal V2.0, Encrypted Drive (IEEE1667)

The Samsung 990 EVO is PCIe Gen 5×2 – Wait, What?

So, let’s drill into that 5×2 / 4×4 architecture a little and look at the positives. On the face of it, technically ALL Gen5  SSDs can work at 4×4 if placed in a 4×4 M.2 slot – that is the nature of PCIe backwards compatibility. However, if you place a Gen4 drive in a Gen5 m.2 slot, you will be downgraded to Gen4 speeds (no different than a USB 2.0 device in a USB 3.2 connector). The Samsung 990 EVO allows this 4×4 drive to enjoy 5×2 speeds in devices with carefully curated PCIe lane layouts or PCIe cards that have to be very selective about the allocation (i.e RAID cards of combo storage/network cards). Additionally, in devices such as ultra-thin laptops and compact mini PCs, heat is a real concern and 5×4 architecture will noticeably reduce power consumption and lessen the need for comprehensive heat dissipation.

However, we also have to look at this objectively and as a new buyer considering a Gen 5 SSD in 2024, and in that context the Samsugn 990 EVO is a rather odd proposition. First, there is the fact that this drive seemingly under performs compared with the majority of Gen 4 SSDs released in the last 4 years (many of which carry at minimum 5,500MB/s Seq Read performance and most now surpassing 7,000MB/s). Even if you make a direct comparison with a DRAMless Gen4 SSD that relies on Host Memory Buffer released back in 2022, such as the WD Black SN700 (currently at $75 for 1TB and $119 for 2TB), that drive still hits 5,150MB/s and 4,850MB/s Seq R/W and 650/800K IOPS – which is VERY close to what the 2024 releasing Samsung 990 EVO is proposing here. It’s an odd choice to make their first consumer(ish?) focused M.2 SSD for the Gen5 tier a Gen 5×2 drive and DRAMless, as these are the sort of specifications I expect in a more specialized/OEM drive that likely goes directly in a laptop at production or in bulk in a more PCI curated RAID card. Gen 5×2 is by no means a common m.2 bandwidth allocation and although many system allow customization at BIOS/Chipset for efficiency, most Gen5 buyers are looking at this generation with performance as the driving motivator. We are still awaiting confirmation on details such as durability (DWPD/TBW), but one imagines that with such a focus on efficiency and power consumption savings, that durability on this drive will be welcomingly high! Lets drill down a little into the choice to go ‘RAM free’ on the Samsung 990 EVO Gen5 SSD.

The Samsung 990 EVO is DRAMless – Why?

Much like the choice by Samsung to opt for the Gen 5×2 architecture, there are pros and cons to this kind fo drive that are going to result in it being a much more specialized drive than many would like.  DRAMless SSDs, like the Samsung 990 EVO, represent a significant evolution in solid-state drive technology. The primary advantage of DRAMless SSDs is their cost-effectiveness. By eliminating the DRAM cache, these SSDs reduce manufacturing costs, making them more affordable for consumers. This is particularly beneficial for those who require high-capacity storage but are constrained by budget. Additionally, DRAMless SSDs tend to consume less power, as they don’t have to power a separate DRAM module. This lower power consumption makes them an ideal choice for use in laptops and mobile devices, where battery life is a crucial factor. The Samsung 990 EVO leverages Host Memory Buffer (HMB) technology, which uses a portion of the system’s RAM instead of having its own dedicated DRAM. This approach can maintain a balance between performance and cost, offering decent speeds that are suitable for everyday use and mainstream applications.

However, the absence of a dedicated DRAM cache in DRAMless SSDs can also lead to certain drawbacks. The most significant of these is the potential reduction in performance, especially in write-intensive scenarios or when handling large files. DRAM in traditional SSDs acts as a high-speed buffer for the mapping table, which keeps track of where data is stored on the drive. Without this, the SSD has to rely on slower NAND or the system’s RAM (as in HMB technology) for these operations, which can result in slower write speeds and increased latency. For the Samsung 990 EVO, this might not be a significant issue for average users, but for professionals and enthusiasts who require high-performance storage for tasks like video editing, gaming, or heavy data processing, the difference could be noticeable. Additionally, depending on the implementation, relying on the system’s RAM (as in HMB) can affect the overall system performance, especially in RAM-constrained systems.

Samsung 990 EVO Release Date and Price

There is no avoiding that the Samsung 990 EVO SDD is not a drive that is going to please everyone. There is an ongoing discussion right now on whether client hardware (laptops, servers, PCs, etc) can actually fully take advantage of the performance of Gen 5 SSDs in a sustained fashion. Affording PCIe Gen5 lanes to the SSDs is only half the battle, as the drive still needs to be able to provide the throughput and response times from the onboard NAND flash to the host system. Gen5 SSDs have been promising 12-14GB/s speeds now for around 6-8 months, but how long they can sustain that speed before oversaturation and/or heat-related throttling is up for debate. The Samsung 990 EVO is clearly a drive with a different focus and one that, in the right circumstances, makes a lot of sense. However, as a first-release by the brand in the commercial sector for Gen5, it’s an odd choice and I sincerely hope it is one that is speedily followed up (and/or dual-released alongside) a more confident Prosumer version (Samsung 1000 PRO? Samsung 990 Pro Plus?), as this si quite a niche sounding drive. Expect it to formally launch later in Jan 2024 and pricing at $119 and $199 for the 1TB and 2TB models respectively.

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Review of the Phison E26 Max14um Gen 5 SSD – New King Crowned?

The Phison E26 Controller equipped Max14um SSD is currently on display at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024, where it’s a part of Phison’s exhibit showcasing their latest advancements in solid-state drive technology. Prior to its demonstration at CES, a unit of the Max14um SSD was provided in advance for the purpose of an in-depth review and benchmarking analysis. This review will delve into the hardware specifications of the Max14um SSD, examining the components and design choices that underpin its performance. A key focus will be on the SSD’s unique heatsink, an essential feature given the drive’s high-speed capabilities and the thermal challenges associated with such performance levels. Benchmarking results from a suite of tests, including ATTO, AS SSD, CrystalDiskMark, and AJA, will be presented to quantify the drive’s performance across various scenarios. These tests are designed to push the SSD to its limits and provide a comprehensive understanding of its capabilities in both sequential and random data handling tasks. The findings aim to offer a detailed perspective on how the Max14um SSD stands in the current market, particularly in comparison to its contemporaries.

Note – Video Review of the Phison Max14um SSD on YouTube HERE (Live Later today)

Specification	Phison E26 Max14um 2TB	Phison E26 Max14um 4TB
Form Factor	M.2 2280	M.2 2280
Interface/Protocol	PCIe 5.0 x4 / NVMe 2.0	PCIe 5.0 x4 / NVMe 2.0
Controller	Phison PS5026-E26	Phison PS5026-E26
DRAM	LPDDR4	LPDDR4
NV Memory	Micron 2400MT 232L TLC	Micron 2400MT 232L TLC
Sequential Read	Up to 14,600 MB/s	Up to 14,600 MB/s
Sequential Write	Up to 12,700 MB/s	Up to 12,700 MB/s
Random Read	Up to 1,500,000 IOPS	Up to 1,500,000 IOPS
Random Write	Up to 1,600,000 IOPS	Up to 1,600,000 IOPS
Controller Tech	Dual-CPU, Arm Cortex-R5, TSMC 12nm	Dual-CPU, Arm Cortex-R5, TSMC 12nm
Flash Channels	Up to 8 channels, 32 CE	Up to 8 channels, 32 CE
Max Flash Transfer Rate	Up to 2,400MT/s	Up to 2,400MT/s
Security	AES 256, SHA 512, RSA 4096, TCG Opal	AES 256, SHA 512, RSA 4096, TCG Opal
Temperature Range	Operating: 0–70°C, Storage: -40–85°C	Operating: 0–70°C, Storage: -40–85°C

Phison E26 Max14um Gen 5 SSD Review – Quick Conclusion

In summarizing the capabilities of the Max14um SSD, it’s clear that this drive is a formidable presence in the Gen5 market, setting a new standard for speed and performance. The inclusion of 2400MT/s B58R NAND allows the SSD to fully capitalize on its potential, with the sophisticated cooling solution ensuring that this performance is sustainable over time. The compact form factor of the Max14um SSD is notably impressive, given its proximity to the bandwidth ceiling of Gen 5×4. The support and backing by Phison add a layer of reliability and assurance for the end-user. Additionally, the prospect of a 4TB model caters to the growing demand for high-capacity, fast storage solutions. However, the excellence of the Max14um SSD comes at a price, which is expected to reflect its high-end specifications and performance. Durability ratings, while not yet specified, are projected to be on par with industry averages, potentially around 0.3-0.38 DWPD. It’s important to note the cooling system’s reliance on a 4-pin CPU fan connector, which may not suit all users’ configurations, as it cannot draw power from the M.2 slot or a standard SATA/molex connection. Moreover, the drive’s ability to maintain its peak performance consistently will depend heavily on the specific client system in which it is installed.

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? These Offers are Checked Daily

 

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Phison E26 Max14um Gen 5 SSD Review – PCB Chip Layout and Design

The Max14um SSD, equipped with the Phison E26 controller, stands out in the realm of Gen 5 SSDs primarily due to its adoption of Micron’s B58R NAND flash, which operates at 2400MT/s. This specification is a significant step up from the 1600MT/s speeds that are prevalent among other Gen 5 drives currently on the market till now. The higher transfer rate of the NAND directly contributes to the increased performance of the SSD, allowing it to handle larger volumes of data more efficiently and resulting in the elevated sequential read and write speeds observed in this model.

The Phison E26 controller itself is a pivotal component, designed to leverage the full potential of the high-speed NAND. It employs a dual-CPU configuration with Arm Cortex-R5 cores and is fabricated using a 12nm process technology. This setup enables the controller to manage the data flow across up to 8 channels with 32 chip enables (CE), which is instrumental in achieving the SSD’s top-tier performance metrics.

Additionally, the Max14um SSD integrates LPDDR4 DRAM, enhancing the controller’s ability to handle the I/O operations effectively. This integration is vital for maintaining the drive’s swift response times and managing the NAND’s high-speed transfers without bottlenecking the system. As a consequence, this design choice facilitates the drive’s capability to reach and sustain its peak performance.

The operational parameters of the Max14um SSD, such as its operating temperature range and power management features, are aligned with the industry standards for high-performance drives. The SSD’s compliance with stringent security protocols, including AES 256 and TCG Opal, without affecting its throughput, reflects a well-rounded approach to design that considers not just performance but also reliability and data security.

The Max14um SSD’s thermal management is integral to its design, particularly notable given the drive’s performance during intensive benchmarking. Even when subjected to the rigorous demands of ATTO and CrystalDiskMark tests, the SSD maintained exceptionally low operating temperatures. This is a testament to the effectiveness of the included heatsink, which has been meticulously engineered to handle the thermal output of the drive under heavy loads.

The heatsink that accompanies the Max14um SSD is slightly taller than those found on alternative SSDs such as the ADATA 970 Legend or the Seagate FireCuda 540. However, this increase in height is marginal and carefully calculated, ensuring that while it provides superior cooling capabilities, it does not significantly impact the overall form factor or the ease of installation in space-constrained environments.

In comparison to other high-performance SSDs on the market, such as the Nextorage Gen 5 drive and the Gigabyte Gen5 Aorus SSD, the Max14um’s heatsink is significantly less obtrusive. These competing drives opt for much taller heatsinks to accommodate their thermal dissipation needs, which can sometimes lead to compatibility issues with certain hardware configurations or enclosures. The Max14um strikes a balance between efficient cooling and compactness, avoiding the potential pitfalls of larger cooling solutions.

The result is a cooling system that is both effective and unassuming, allowing the Max14um SSD to deliver its robust performance without the need for an overly bulky or cumbersome heatsink. This thoughtful approach to design ensures compatibility with a wide range of hardware setups, maintaining the Max14um’s position as a versatile and user-friendly option in the high-speed SSD market.

Phison E26 Max14um Gen 5 SSD Review – Performance & Benchmarks

Performance benchmarks for the Phison E26 Max14um SSD were conducted on a midrange PC rig, in a Windows environment, with the Phison E26 Max14um used as an additional drive. The OS drive was a simple SATA SSD. Depending on the test results, a 2nd round of testing will be conducted on a higher tier Gen4 SSD OS test machine, but for now this arguably more domestic test rig was used in order to better represent an average PC user. The full machine test setup was:

• Windows 10 Pro (SATA OS Drive, Seagate Firecuda 125)
• ASUS Intel Z690 ROG MAXIMUS HERO Motherboard
• 12th Gen Intel i5-12600K 3.7Ghz (4.9Ghz Burst) 10 Core (6P + 4E)
• 16GB DDR5 4800Mhz Memory (1x16GB)
• No GFX Card (though CPU has Intel UHD Graphics 770 iGPU)
• Intel® UHD Graphics 770
• Phison E26 Max14um 1TB SSD in PCIe 5×4 M.2 Slot

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Phison E26 Max14um SSD CrystalDiskMark Tests

The first tests were favoured towards Sequential (big, blocky and in-line) performance, using CrystalDiskMark on the Phison E26 Max14um, on 1GB, 4GB and 16GB Test Files. First up, the 1GB File:

Next up, the 4GB CrystalDiskMark Phison E26 Max14um Test:

Then, a much more dense 16GB File test

Finally, the largest 64GB CrystalDiskMark Phison E26 Max14um Test:

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Phison E26 Max14um SSD ATTO Disk Benchmark Tests

The next tests on the Phison E26 Max14um SSD were conducted with Atto Diskbenchmark, once again at three file size types (256MB, 1GB and 4GB). Atto Disk Benchmark has a slight difference in GB calculation to CrystalDiskMark, so do not be alarmed by the slight difference in stats. We looked at the Sequential Performance and the reported IOPS. First up is the 256MB Test File

Next up for the Phison E26 Max14um SSD was a larger round of 1GB tests:

Finally, the 4GB Test file. This was also the area when the SSD reached it’s highest temperature (mentioned earlier)

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Phison E26 Max14um SSD AS SSD Tests

Next up was an arguably more SSD-focused test, this time with AS SSD on the Phison E26 Max14um SSD. Again, much like the other test flows, AS SSD has it’s own metrics, so cannot be directly compared against ATTO and CrystalDisk directly. The first test was using the 1GB Test file:

Next Phison E26 Max14um AS SSD test was a 3GB test file:

Finally, there was the larger 5GB test file.

Tests for all three AS SSD benchmarks were pretty comparable.

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Phison E26 Max14um Gen 5 SSD Review – Conclusion and Verdict

In conclusion, the Max14um SSD sets a new benchmark for Gen5 SSDs with its exceptional performance and efficient thermal management. It stands out as the fastest drive currently available in its category, a testament to the synergy between its cutting-edge 2400MT/s B58R NAND and the Phison E26 controller. The heatsink design deserves special mention for its capability to maintain optimal temperatures without bulking up the device, ensuring that the high-speed components can operate without thermal throttling. Despite its impressive speeds and cooling system, the drive’s size remains surprisingly compact, particularly when considering its performance metrics that are close to saturating the Gen 5×4 bandwidth. Furthermore, the upcoming availability of a 4TB option adds to its appeal for users seeking high-capacity, high-performance storage solutions. The backing by Phison, not just in terms of the controller but the entire drive, provides a level of assurance in terms of quality and support.

However, potential buyers should be aware of the expected high cost of the drive, which could be a significant factor in purchase decisions. Additionally, while the exact durability ratings (DWPD/TBW) are yet to be disclosed, they are anticipated to be average for high-end SSDs. The requirement of a 4-pin CPU fan connector for cooling may pose a compatibility issue for certain setups, as the fan is not powered directly by the M.2 interface or through SATA/molex power. It’s also important to note that the sustained performance of 14/12GB is contingent upon the client’s environment and workload.

The Crucial T700 vs Seagate Firecuda 540 Gen5 SSD – Which Should You Buy?

After a wait, Gen 5 m.2 NVMe SSDs are increasingly accessible and affordable, with key players in the SSD market now introducing them. The delayed introduction of Gen 5 in the realm of solid-state drives is partly due to the repercussions of the 2020 pandemic on its production. The shift and assimilation of these drives into motherboards, especially from Gen 4 to Gen 5, has been gradual. With Gen 5, there’s an anticipation of superior performance, backed by upgraded controllers from top-tier manufacturers. Yet, there has been a slight delay in its full adoption at both motherboard and system levels. While it’s possible to acquire a Gen 5 SSD now, the extent of its optimal performance utilization remains a topic of debate. However, for those considering a purchase meant to last the next half-decade, it’s prudent to think ahead and select a future-compatible drive. As Gen 5’s affordability and prowess grow, it’s set to outshine and phase out Gen 4. So, for anyone seeking a top-tier SSD for upcoming years, a Gen 5 SSD is a wise long-term investment. In this piece, we’ll be exploring two prominent Gen 5 SSD contenders: the Seagate Firecuda 540 and the Crucial T700. At a cursory look, their similarities due to the early stage of Gen 5 might be evident, but they offer distinct advantages. Let’s delve into a detailed comparison of these two models.

Seagate Firecuda 540 NVMe SSD	Crucial T700 NVMe SSD
Check Amazon	Check Amazon

Comparing Seagate Firecuda 540 and Crucial T700 Hardware Specifications

As the world of Solid State Drives (SSDs) continually evolves, top-tier manufacturers are in a race to produce drives that offer the best balance of speed, durability, and affordability. The Seagate Firecuda 540 and the Crucial T700 are no exceptions to this trend. Both SSDs belong to the latest PCIe Gen 5×4 category and seem poised to elevate your computing experience. But which one should be your next purchase? Let’s dive deep into their specifications to help you decide. From the perspective of the average consumer, Gen 5 has been in the market for roughly 2 years, but more precisely about 18 months when considering its actual online purchase availability. Meanwhile, in the spheres of data centers and enterprise operations, Gen 5 made its debut almost 3 years ago. This extended timeline has paved the way for continuous research, refinement, and breakthroughs. As is often the case in the SSD industry, Phison was quick off the mark, revealing a Gen 5 controller in the form of the E26. This was succeeded by a couple of models aimed at enterprise needs and efficiency, including the DRAMless E31. Other industry players like Integrate and Silicon Motion weren’t far behind. This evolutionary trajectory saw many SSD manufacturers determining their Gen 5 strategies quite early, not to mention the in-house productions from giants like Samsung and WD. Alongside these developments, advancements in storage efficacy and flash technology emerged, facilitating higher layer counts and offering denser storage capacities without compromising Gen 5’s lofty performance, durability, and endurance benchmarks. Given that the Seagate Firecuda 540 and Crucial T700 are part of the initial batch of Gen 5 SSDs in the market, their performance metrics are understandably similar. Yet, when analyzing I/O measurements and robustness, certain nuances might give one an edge over the other in a direct comparison. Here’s a closer look at how the two SSDs compare in terms of hardware:

General Specifications

Specification	Seagate Firecuda 540	Crucial T700
Manufacturer	Seagate	Crucial
Name/Series	Seagate Firecuda 540	Crucial T700
Capacities	1-2-4TB	1-2-4TB
PCIe Gen	PCIe Gen 5×4	PCIe Gen 5×4
Controller	Phison E26	Phison E26
NVMe Rev.	NVMe 2.0	NVMe 2.0
NAND Type	3D TLC Micron B58R	3D TLC Micron B58R
NAND Layer	232L	232L
Inclusive Heatsink?	No (inc Heatshield)	Optional
Price Per TB	$148/TB (2TB)	$157 per TB (4TB)
DWPD	0.55DWPD	0.329DWPD
MTBF	2 Million Hours	1.6 Million Hours
Warranty	5yrs + 3yrs Data Rec	5yrs

1TB Model Comparison

Specification	Seagate Firecuda 540	Crucial T700
Model ID	ZP1000GM3A004	CT1000T700SSD5
Price	$189	$179.99
Seq Read Speed	9.5GB/s	11.7GB/s
Seq Write Speed	8.5GB/s	9.5GB/s
4K Random Read IOPS	1.3 Million	1.35 Million
4K Random Write IOPS	1.5 Million	1.4 Million
TBW	1000TBW	600TBW

2TB Model Comparison

Specification	Seagate Firecuda 540	Crucial T700
Model ID	ZP2000GM3A004	CT2000T700SSD5
Price	$299	$339.99
Seq Read Speed	10GB/s	12.4GB/s
Seq Write Speed	10GB/s	11.8GB/s
4K Random Read IOPS	1.5 Million	1.5 Million
4K Random Write IOPS	1.5 Million	1.5 Million
TBW	2000TBW	1200TBW

4TB Model Comparison

Specification	Seagate Firecuda 540	Crucial T700
Model #	N/A	CT4000T700SSD5
Price	N/A	$599.99
Seq Read Speed	N/A	12.4GB/s
Seq Write Speed	N/A	11.8GB/s
4K Random Read IOPS	N/A	1.5 Million
4K Random Write IOPS	N/A	1.5 Million
TBW	N/A	2400TBW

If terms like DWPD, IOPS, and TBW sound foreign to you, the video below will be invaluable. It provides a clear breakdown of common SSD terminologies, helping you better understand the subtle contrasts between the Seagate Firecuda 540 and the Crucial T700.

Choosing between the Seagate Firecuda 540 and the Crucial T700 is no easy task. Both SSDs manifest themselves as the embodiment of cutting-edge technology, exhibiting attributes that cater to diverse preferences and purposes. Let’s break it down further to give you a clearer picture:

1. Performance: The Crucial T700 takes the lead here. Boasting faster sequential read and write speeds across the 1TB and 2TB models, users might witness marginally quicker load times, faster data transfers, and an overall enhanced performance. Especially for those involved in data-heavy tasks like video editing or large-scale simulations, those extra speeds could translate to noticeable improvements.

2. Cost-Effectiveness: For the budget-conscious consumer, the Firecuda 540 shines brighter. The attractive price per TB, particularly for the 2TB model, offers great value, allowing users to get a high-performing SSD without breaking the bank. Over time, this price difference can become significant, especially for those looking to upgrade multiple systems.

3. Durability & Reliability: Delving deeper into longevity, the Firecuda 540 edges out its competitor. A higher TBW suggests it can handle more data writes over its lifespan. Furthermore, the longer MTBF and the unique addition of a 3-year data recovery warranty underline Seagate’s confidence in its product’s durability. For users whose primary concern is a lasting investment, this might tilt the scales in Seagate’s favor.

4. Cooling Solutions: Thermal management is vital in ensuring consistent performance and prolonging the SSD’s life. While the Firecuda 540 incorporates a heat shield, the Crucial T700 offers an optional heatsink. For enthusiasts or professionals who might push their SSDs to the limit, having a dedicated cooling solution, as in the T700, could be beneficial.

5. Future Expansion: Both SSDs provide a range of capacities up to 4TB. However, it’s worth noting that, as of the data provided, Seagate hasn’t released the specifications for a 4TB model. This could be a limitation for users seeking maximum storage from the Firecuda series.

In sum, the Seagate Firecuda 540 and Crucial T700 represent the pinnacle of current SSD technology, each with its strengths. The Firecuda seems tailored for those who value durability and cost-effectiveness, while the T700 might appeal more to performance enthusiasts and those keen on optimal cooling solutions. Your final choice should align with what you prioritize most in an SSD, whether that’s speed, longevity, cooling efficiency, or cost.

Seagate Firecuda 540 NVMe SSD	Crucial T700 NVMe SSD
Check Amazon	Check Amazon

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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?

Finally, for free advice about your setup, just leave a message in the comments below here at NASCompares.com and we will get back to you. Need Help? Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry. [contact-form-7] TRY CHAT Terms and Conditions   Alternatively, why not ask me on the ASK NASCompares forum, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in the ASK NASCompares section below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.

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