Terramaster F8 SSD PLUS Flash NAS Review

The Terramaster F8 SSD Plus is a compact NAS device designed to address the increasing demand for high-speed, flash-based storage solutions in the prosumer and small business markets. With the recent rise in popularity of flash NAS devices, several brands have entered the market, offering their own versions of high-performance, compact storage solutions. The Terramaster F8 SSD Plus aims to differentiate itself with a combination of efficient design, comprehensive software capabilities, and competitive pricing.

In recent months, other notable entries in this space include the Asustor Flashstor series, the UGREEN DXP480T, and QNAP’s TBS-574TX and TBS-464, all of which offer varying features and benefits targeted at users seeking reliable and fast NAS solutions. The Asustor Flashstor series is known for its sleek design and user-friendly interface, appealing to those who prioritize ease of use alongside performance. The UGREEN DXP480T, with its focus on robust connectivity options and versatile application, caters to users looking for flexible integration with various devices and networks. Meanwhile, QNAP’s TBS-574TX and TBS-464 bring advanced hardware options and powerful processing capabilities, making them suitable for environments where speed and multitasking are critical. In this review, we will explore the features, performance, and potential limitations of the Terramaster F8 SSD Plus. By comparing it to other recent solutions in the market, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of how well the F8 SSD Plus meets the needs of prosumers, content creators, small to medium-sized businesses, and other users looking for an efficient and capable NAS solution.

Terramaster F8 SSD PLUS NAS Review – Quick Conclusion

You really have to give Terramaster credit for the F8 SSD Plus, as it stands out impressively among the many brands entering the dedicated flash SSD storage market recently. Despite its compact size, it offers more storage than most competitors, though long-term users may be concerned about heat management. Terramaster has addressed this with effective heatsink placement, angled airflow, and necessary SSD performance adjustments to control temperature. While not perfect and lacking some high-end business features like ECC memory and network failover, it suits prosumers, enthusiasts, and small to medium businesses. Content creators, photographers, videographers, and those managing fast-moving databases will benefit from this system, despite the absence of some enterprise-level hardware. The TOS 6 software has improved significantly, offering a wide array of features such as flexible RAID, BTRFS support, multi-tiered backup, and more. Though the “Windows 11” aesthetic might not appeal to everyone, and there is a notable absence of ZFS, the ability to install third-party OS options like UnRAID and TrueNAS adds versatility. The Terramaster F8 SSD Plus is a capable, affordable, and impressive NAS solution, holding its own in a competitive market for 2024/2025, even if it doesn’t match the software flair of Synology or the aggressive hardware approach of QNAP.

SOFTWARE - 8/10

HARDWARE - 8/10

PERFORMANCE - 7/10

PRICE - 9/10

VALUE - 10/10

8.4

PROS

Compact Size with High Storage Capacity: Despite its small footprint, the F8 SSD Plus can accommodate up to 8 M.2 SSDs, providing significant storage in a compact form factor.
Effective Heat Management: The system features strategic heatsink placement, angled airflow, and SSD performance adjustments to manage heat efficiently.
Affordable Price Point: Offers a cost-effective solution for a flash NAS system, making it accessible to a wide range of users.
Versatile Use: Suitable for prosumers, enthusiasts, small to medium businesses, content creators, photographers, videographers, and those managing fast-moving databases.
Improved TOS 6 Software: The latest TOS 6 software version includes a broad range of features such as RAID support, BTRFS, multi-tiered backup, and more.
Support for Third-Party Operating Systems: Users can install third-party NAS software like UnRAID and TrueNAS, offering flexibility and customization options.
Low Power Consumption: Utilizes an efficient Intel N305 i3 processor, which keeps power usage low while still delivering adequate performance.
Quiet Operation: Despite being a pure SSD system, the fan noise is minimal, making it suitable for quieter environments.
Good Connectivity Options: Includes a 10 GbE port and multiple USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, allowing for a range of external connections and expansions.
Environmentally Conscious Design: The packaging is mostly recyclable, and the use of external PSUs can help reduce heat and potential e-waste.

CONS

Lacks High-End Business Features: Missing enterprise-level features such as ECC memory and network failover, which are important for more demanding business environments.
Single 10 GbE Port: Only one network port limits redundancy and failover options, potentially creating a bottleneck for data transfer.
Aesthetic and UI Concerns: The new “Windows 11” aesthetic of TOS 6 may not appeal to all users, and the lack of the familiar TOS 5 desktop style might be a drawback for some.
No Native ZFS Support: Although there are alternative file systems available, the absence of native ZFS support, which benefits SSD use with features like data integrity and snapshot capabilities, may be seen as a limitation.

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Terramaster F8 SSD PLUS NAS Review – Design

The retail packaging that the F8 arrives in is a touch snappier than the previous bland cardboard packaging that Terramaster has opted for in the past. Clearly, the brand has decided they want their systems to appear a little bit more on the shelves of your local retailer, not just eShops like Amazon. There are a lot of big bold statements and promises, and the packaging is predominantly cardboard, the majority of which is recyclable.

I’m also pretty impressed by the accessories kit that this system arrives with. The expected stuff is here: instruction manual, screws, documentation about the brand’s warranty, and even a screwdriver. That, alongside a mains cable, is also included straight out of the box.

Interestingly though, despite this being one of many M.2 NVMe SSD-based niches, I would argue that the Terramaster F8 goes a little step further in terms of provisioning for heat dissipation. Despite each of the M.2 slots only hitting Gen 3×1 speed, the brand has included some pretty high-quality M.2 heat dissipation heatsinks, alongside thermal pads and bands to attach the heatsinks to each individual drive. I am not a huge fan of the rubber band heatsinks, as they tend to be less durable under intense heat.

However, I am prepared to give the F8 a pass here, as not only are each of these bays only Gen 3×1 speed, and therefore heat generation is going to be limited, but the general quality of the heatsink and the pads for such a compact, affordable NAS kind of make up for it.

Returning briefly to that external power supply, the system utilizes a fairly common barrel 72W external PSU. I completely understand why a system that needs to be exceedingly concerned about heat generation would opt for an external PSU, which is indeed pretty common on desktop devices. However, it is 2024, and there are simply not enough NAS devices arriving these days with USB Type-C power delivery. I know this system requires more than your average phone charger USB, but there are plenty of affordable USB-C external PSUs in the market that, alongside being perfectly suited to compact systems like this, also allow for use down the line for other purposes and therefore reduced e-waste. I understand the counterargument that a NAS device is a 24/7 system, so therefore in its lifetime, reuse of a PSU at any time is practically zero. Nevertheless, I think we’ve long gone past the point when everyone should be opting for USB-C power delivery on their systems, and now that bigger USB PSUs are in the market, this only adds to this. It’s a small gripe, but I wanted to raise it for such a small portable system.

The design of the F8 SSD PLUS is pretty impressive! Arriving at pretty much the same size as any 1-Bay HDD NAS, this thing is bloody tiny! Arriving at half the size of the Asustor Flashstor 6 with its 6x M.2 and comparable to the TBS-464 with its 4x M.2, the F8 SSD Plus manages to squeeze in 8x M.2 into this case. As good as all that sounds, however, we really do have to talk about active cooling on this system. Later on, we will talk about passive heat dissipation, but this is going to be a system that needs to be pretty reactive to when the temperatures start to rise, and offload that heat as quickly as possible!

The top of the system features a fully ventilated panel that is the direct output to the system’s internal cooling. The system takes advantage of a completely vertical cooling system, with fans located at the base of the system that are pushing air over each of the individual components and storage heatsinks throughout the system, all of which are angled vertically to ensure air passes through them.

The twin fans are located and lined up at the base of the system and are fully controllable from within the Terramaster TOS 6 NAS software. Needless to say, I would still recommend leaving these set on automatic adjustments; a system will be far more reliable if you trust it to adjust the fans as needed. During general operation, the fan noise was not too bad and was surprisingly quiet for a pure SSD system. It was by no means silent, but I have definitely dealt with louder systems than this, and given the scale and level of storage inside, during heftier 10 GbE testing, I was pretty impressed by the noise level throughout.

Unlike a number of other SSD systems in the market that choose to use metal external enclosures to act as further heat dissipation, Terramaster have stuck with a plastic external shell enclosure. I am kind of surprised by this, especially given the scale of the system, as well as the proximity of the individual heatsinks to the inner walls of the casing (just a few mm of space). Let’s discuss the ports and connections of the F8 SSD Plus.

Terramaster F8 SSD PLUS NAS Review – Ports and Connections

The system is pretty low on available ports, but the ports that are here are pretty meaningful. As the system runs on a modest Alder Lake processor, there are only nine lanes of PCIe to play with here, and therefore Terramaster had to be pretty selective and tactical about what devices and connections they provide here.

In terms of expandability, the system exclusively uses USB 3.2 Gen 2 10 Gb/s ports. There are two USB Type A connections:

As well as an additional USB Type-C connection. Terramaster supports numerous USB to 2.5G and 10G network adapters, external storage drives, UPS and Office hardware, and have an ever-growing range of expansion devices that range from traditional hard drives to even hybrid storage systems like the D5 and D8 Hybrid storage devices. Just connect to a JBOD device to one of these ports, and you could expand the initial F8 SSD Plus NAS storage exponentially!

In terms of default network connections, however, there is both good and bad news. The good news is that this system rocks out the gate with 10 GbE. A system that exclusively utilizes SSDs was always going to come under fire if it did not arrive with 10G networking, so we’ve dodged a bullet there! Realistically, of course, each one of the Gen 3×1 SSDs inside this system could almost completely saturate this connection, and once we start factoring in RAID configurations, then this 10G port may serve as a bottleneck. Nevertheless, at the system’s scale and price point, I’m really pleased with seeing a 10 GbE port.

That said, the fact the system only features a single network port really does bring this down a bit. It isn’t even that the system only features a single 10G external port instead of multiple, but the real problem is that the system doesn’t feature any kind of failover for higher/lower priority use, or as a failover in case the initial network fails. The F8 SSD Plus only featuring a single 10G port means that all operations between client devices and the F8 have to be conducted by this single output, which is going to result in that 1,000 MB per second bandwidth being carved up at times, as well as not allowing for any kind of failover or physical priority of service. I appreciate that the N305 would need serious tweaking in order to facilitate an additional 10G output, but this merely demonstrates some of the limitations that these more affordable SoC CPUs are prone to, and one of the caveats to keeping this system affordable. Technically, this is not the end of the world, but still a matter for concern. Additionally, thanks to the system arriving with a decent base of USB connections, you can still take advantage of $20-40 2.5G and 5G adapters to add further network ports via those USB ports.

The system also features an HDMI output that can reach 4K at 60 frames per second, but currently, Terramaster does not provide any HDMI parallel GUI or output. That means this HDMI output is only really for use if you use a third-party operating system such as TrueNAS or UnRAID, which Terramaster do officially support by the way!

As previously mentioned, the ports and connections on such a modest internal CPU base were always going to be difficult, and on the whole, I think Terramaster has done pretty reasonably well with what they’ve got here while maintaining the system’s price and value. Nevertheless, as good as having 10G is, that single port is a little bit of a pain. It is easy to overcome this with the use of USB 2.5G/10G network adapters, but still, it’s annoying. Let’s discuss the internal hardware a little bit more, shall we?

Terramaster F8 SSD PLUS NAS Review – Internal Hardware

The system’s external casing is held in place with a single thumb screw that is easy to remove from the base of the system, and in doing so will allow you to slide off the top of the enclosure easily. As the system takes advantage of M.2 SSDs, and not E1.S drives, hot swapping is not featured on this system, and changing drives on the fly would cause the system to crash.

Therefore, you are not going to have much cause to remove this external casing above and beyond adding further drives, replacing drives via a RAID repair, and maybe upgrading the memory at some point if you choose. Internally, we find pretty much everything built on a single PCB, with components strategically placed either side and in alignment with the base fans.

Of course, the first thing we need to discuss is the SSD bays. There are four M.2 2280 length slots on either side of this PCB. The F8 does not require full population in order to be used; indeed, you can run the F8 on as little as a single 2280 M.2 SSD if you choose, and then use the RAID expansion capability of TOS to gradually add drives over time as and when your budget and storage requirements decide. I was originally expecting the PCB to feature 8 M.2 SSD slots on one side of the PCB and the CPU/memory/network controller to all live on the other side. However, I think the way they have laid these components out makes a great deal more sense and spreads out the heat generation quite evenly.

Each slot is a Gen 3 slot that is downgraded to Gen 3×1 speed. That means that each has a potential 1,000 MB per second bandwidth. The TOS software allows for multiple storage pools and volumes as needed, so SSDs are not all locked into a single pool, and instead, you can create multiple smaller storage pools that are made up of several Gen 3×1 SSD drives. This will allow you to leverage the individual performance of each drive quite well, and given the N305 being a more efficient CPU and therefore not really able to harness the true RAID potential of multiple Gen 3×4 drives together, will also help offset any performance losses that all eight SSDs in a single pool might have resulted in. Also, let’s not forget that this system also includes all of the M.2 SSD heatsinks you are going to require, and they are very easy to install and screw down. Be cautious to use SSDs that already feature their own heatsinks, as the space allocated inside the F8 is pretty limited, and even when I installed the FireCuda 530 with its rather modest pre-attached heatsink, I was not able to replace the external casing correctly.

The system runs on an Intel Alder Lake N305 i3 processor. This is an 8-core, 8-thread CPU that features a decent base of integrated graphics. Also, the TDP of this processor is surprisingly low, especially for an Intel i3, and means that despite this system’s high-performance potential, the power consumption should be impressively low. Terramaster has already utilized the N305 in the F4-424 Pro NAS, and it worked very well.

It is worth remembering though, as mentioned earlier, that the N305 is designed to be very efficient, and alongside a very low base clock speed (that can be boosted significantly when needed), it only features nine lanes of PCIe to distribute across the system. This is the main reason why the SSDs in the F8 are all set to Gen 3×1 speed, as there are just simply not enough lanes to allocate to the rest of the system, and short of some impressive PCIe switch controller use internally, after those SSD slots and the 10 GbE connection, there is virtually nothing left to the rest of the system.

One of the earliest clues to this is that the system only features a single SODIMM supporting up to 32 GB of DDR5 memory. Terramaster has already rolled out this system to the maximum on the PLUS series model. On the one hand, it’s really good that they have included the maximum 32 GB on this model, and this is pretty much what the CPU can maximum use anyway, although other users have of course tried to install larger. But there are definitely going to be users who will complain that the system does not arrive with ECC memory, something of a staple in more storage veteran circles, and given the speed at which data is going to be moving around here, there is definitely an argument for ECC memory being needed. However, that is simply not supported on this processor, and therefore the introduction of ECC memory support on the F8 SSD PLUS would require a complete overhaul of the CPU choice, and almost certainly a large bump in the price point and power consumption. So although ECC memory would have been nice, I understand why Terramaster did what they did here.

The system’s operating system is loaded from a USB drive bootloader located inside the system, directly onto the storage media. So unlike TrueNAS, which requires a dedicated drive for its operating system, Terramaster installs TOS on the storage of the system on those M.2 SSD bays. This does not remove any of the drives from storage use and is simply an internal partition. Of course, there are pros and cons to this approach. One, you aren’t losing an SSD drive to a very light operating system that simply takes up a handful of gigabytes. The con of course is that it makes it tremendously difficult to migrate drives in and out of systems over time when the operating system lives on the original drives, and you cannot simply take out a single drive that houses the TOS configured operating system with all of your settings onto a new server easily without taking all of the existing storage media at the same time!

Given Terramaster’s reputation as the more affordable and smaller brand in the network-attached storage market, at least in comparison to Synology and QNAP, I’m hugely impressed by the design work that has happened here. It would have been so, so easy to just buy an off-the-shelf ready-made ITX motherboard and try to play around with it in order to achieve the goals of the F8. But instead, they clearly designed this from the ground up, and it is genuinely a very unique hardware design both inside and out. That said, it is by no means perfect, and they have really backed themselves into a corner here by choosing that CPU. I completely understand the logic, trying to maintain an affordable price point for an all-flash NAS system, but it really lacks some of the oomph that’s needed to allow those SSDs to spread their wings. But let’s not forget, the F8 is a turnkey solution, which means that alongside the hardware you also get a full NAS operating system included. Let’s talk a little bit about the TOS 6 NAS software.

Terramaster F8 SSD PLUS NAS Review – TOS 6 Software

The Terramaster F8 SSDs arrived with the latest TOS 6 NAS software. This software has been in beta for the majority of 2024, following up on TOS 5.1, and introduces a myriad of new features. The Terramaster TOS NAS software includes pretty much everything that you’re ever going to need now in a modern NAS solution, short of ZFS. You name it, it’s here, such as:

• Support of multiple RAID configurations
• SSD Caching and SSD storage pools
• Support of Write Once Read Many (WORM)
• BTRFS or EXT4 volumes
• Two-factor authentication and a dedicated MFA app
• Client sync tools
• A multi-tiered and multi-platform backup app
• AI-powered photo recognition tool
• DLNA/UPnP multimedia streaming server app
• Container deployment app
• Virtual machine tool
• Surveillance camera application
• Native browser file explorer
• Dedicated mobile app for iOS and Android to control the system

Expanded Key Features and Improvements in TOS 6

• Linux Kernel 6.1 LTS Upgrade: Transitioning to the latest Linux kernel version, TOS 6 benefits from improved scheduling algorithms, enhanced memory management, superior file system support, optimized network performance, advanced security features, and better power management. This upgrade facilitates a more robust and efficient system, capable of handling the demands of both home and enterprise environments with ease.

• Revolutionized Docker Manager 2.0.16: This release introduces Docker Compose project management, adding a new dimension to container orchestration on TNAS devices. The addition of a container terminal and system notifications for Docker image operations streamlines container management. These enhancements, combined with UI and functionality optimizations, cater to developers and IT professionals seeking a versatile platform for containerized applications.

• File Manager Overhaul: With user feedback and industry best practices in mind, the File Manager has been retooled to offer an intuitive, efficient file navigation and management experience. Features such as enhanced directory navigation, column display mode for deep folder hierarchy exploration, tabbed browsing, adjustable thumbnail sizes, and a suite of new file operation tools significantly elevate user productivity.

• Online Disk Wiping: This new utility offers a straightforward solution for securely erasing all data from disks directly within the TOS interface, facilitating easy preparation of drives for repurposing or disposal without the need for external tools.
• Cloud Drive Mounting: Seamlessly integrate cloud storage services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and more directly into TNAS. This feature enhances the flexibility of data access and management, allowing for efficient data synchronization and sharing between local and cloud storage.

• Security and Privacy Control (SPC): Introducing a robust security framework designed to prevent unauthorized execution of programs on TNAS devices. SPC enhances the overall security posture by ensuring only vetted and authorized applications can run, significantly reducing the risk of malware and ransomware infections.

• SMB Multichannel Support: By enabling multiple network connections for SMB file sharing, TOS 6 ensures higher data transfer speeds, improved reliability, and enhanced redundancy. This feature is particularly beneficial in multi-user environments where network performance directly impacts productivity.
• Direct Data Drive Mounting: Offering unparalleled convenience, this feature allows users to access data on external drives without the need for disk reformatting or repartitioning, preserving existing data while extending the storage capabilities of TNAS devices.
• Storage Pool Migration: Streamlines the process of migrating storage pools between TNAS devices, aiding users in hardware upgrades or replacements without the hassle of data migration or system reconfiguration.
• Advanced ACL Permissions: Delivers granular access control with 13 additional customizable permissions on top of the standard read, write, and deny options. This advanced permission management system enables precise control over data access, ensuring data security and compliance.

TOS 6 System Enhancements

TOS 6 introduces a slew of system-wide enhancements aimed at delivering a more stable, secure, and user-friendly NAS operating environment:

• Performance and Stability: With the new Linux kernel and system optimizations, TOS 6 offers improved system stability and performance, ensuring that TNAS devices can handle intensive tasks and larger volumes of data more efficiently.
• Hardware and Innovation Support: Prepared for the future, TOS 6 includes support for the latest hardware innovations, such as Intel’s “Meteor Lake” chips, and introduces new data structures and error decoding capabilities for enhanced data processing and system reliability.
• Enhanced Security Measures: Building upon TerraMaster’s commitment to security, new features like customizable HTTPS certificates, optimized firewall rule settings, and the innovative SPC module significantly enhance the protection of user data against external threats.
• User Interface and Usability Improvements: From a streamlined desktop design and simplified navigation to a new “Start” menu and customizable user avatars, TOS 6 focuses on creating a more engaging and personalized user experience.
• Comprehensive Application and Service Enhancements: The update enriches the application ecosystem with new functionalities, improved file services, and advanced storage features, catering to a wide range of user needs from media indexing and scheduled task notifications to cross-platform data interoperability and USB storage device health management.

Through these extensive features and improvements, TOS 6 not only advances the capabilities of TNAS devices but also sets a new standard for NAS operating systems, offering a sophisticated platform for storage, management, and security that meets the evolving needs of both individual and enterprise users. If you want to learn more about TOS, you can watch the TOS 5 review from NASCompares below OR you can read the FULL TOS 5 Review HERE:

Despite practically every modern NAS software appliance now being available or supported on TOS 6, it has to be stated that it still lags behind Synology in terms of software responsiveness, cohesion, and presentation in the UX across different apps at any given time, and just always feels a little bit more hurried than Synology DSM. Synology pushes the majority of their finances into the development of their software platform, massively to their credit, but this does result in the general held opinion that the Synology hardware tends to be a little bit safer and a little less exciting. Terramaster has clearly tried to find something more of a middle ground between the two, and instead provide fully featured software that, although you will need to be patient at times, still gets the job done and is still very responsive and vibrant.

Finally, it’s worth keeping in mind that Terramaster does not object to or withhold hardware warranty from users who want to go ahead and install third-party NAS software on their systems. That means that if you still don’t find Terramaster’s TOS 6 software to your liking, you can go ahead and install the likes of TrueNAS SCALE or UnRAID and take advantage of those! The system has that internal USB with the TOS bootloader, so you can always reinstate TOS at any time. Hell, if you just remove the SSD and install a third-party operating system, and down the line, you want to return to the Terramaster software, you can just reinstall the SSDs you removed earlier, and the system will go back to its original Terramaster TOS deployment with ease. I’m not suggesting that Terramaster should get any kind of credit for the likes of TrueNAS or UnRAID, but I do think it’s worth highlighting that some brands do have a tendency to withhold hardware warranty support if you choose to install a third-party OS on your hardware. So I’m pleased to see that Terramaster are sticking with supporting third-party operating system use.

Terramaster F8 SSD PLUS NAS Review – Conclusion and Verdict

You really have to give Terramaster credit here for this system. With so many brands trying to enter the world of dedicated flash SSD storage in the last year or so, the F8 SSD Plus is hands down one of the most impressively designed options out there. Somehow arriving with more storage than most options out there, whilst also being the smallest. Long-time storage veterans are definitely going to ponder temperatures and operational heat when the system has been up and running for long periods of time, but Terramaster has clearly factored this in too with a vast amount of tactical heatsink placement, angled airflow, and painfully necessary SSD performance reductions in order to stop the cart before the horse bolts in terms of heat! The Terramaster F8 SSD Plus is by no means a perfect SSD NAS! Not by a long shot in fact! As long as you keep it realistic in terms of what you expect an eight-bay SSD system of this scale and price point to be able to do, I do not think you will be disappointed! Just make sure to remember that this is not an enterprise piece of kit, and is geared far more towards the prosumer, the enthusiast, and perhaps the small/medium business user.

Content creators, photographers, videographers, and those that want to manage a fast-moving database in a small group of users are definitely going to feel the benefits of the F8 SSD Plus. But the absence of higher-tier business features in terms of hardware, such as ECC memory and no network failover out of the box, are going to be a pain for those bigger users that have bigger demands. The TOS 6 software is, on the whole, better than it’s ever been in terms of feature set, functionality, and responsiveness. I am still not really in love with the “Windows 11” aesthetic, and definitely miss the TOS 5 desktop style that has become something of a staple of the NAS software industry, but I’m sure I’ll get used to it. At this point, there really are very few things available in the NAS market in terms of software that are not available here. A flexible RAID system in T-Raid, support of BTRFS, a multi-tiered backup software, multiple client tools, support of Write Once Read Many, volume encryption, two-factor authentication, isolation mode, the list goes on and on. It would be easy to critique the system in saying that it lacks ZFS (with numerous inline features that really benefit SSD use), but then you also remember that Terramaster allows users to use third-party operating systems like UnRAID and TrueNAS, which means that these are not completely off the table anyway!

Overall, I’ve got to say that the Terramaster F8 SSD Plus is a fantastically capable, affordable, and impressive desktop flash NAS system, and in a growing competitive marketplace for these kinds of devices, Terramaster has done a phenomenal job in their introduction of a new SSD-targeted solution in their portfolio. It may lack some of the software pizzazz of a Synology or aggressive hardware of a QNAP, but it manages to do its own thing very well, and as long as you keep your expectations realistic, this is a phenomenal NAS for 2024/2025.

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The Terramaster F8 SSD and F8 SSD PLUS Hardware Revealed

The Terramaster F8 SSD and F8 SSD PLUS NAS devices represent notable advancements in NAS storage solutions, designed for both small business and domestic applications. These models integrate high performance, versatile storage options, and advanced software features within a compact and portable design. Priced at $599.99 for the F8 SSD and $799.00 for the F8 SSD PLUS, they offer a range of capabilities suited to various user needs. This detailed analysis covers their design, ports/connections, internal hardware, software, performance, and concludes with an overall assessment.

Terramaster F8 SSD Design

The F8 SSD and F8 SSD PLUS are known for their sleek, compact designs. Each device is roughly the size of a paperback novel, making them easy to place in various environments, such as office desks, home shelves, or even portable setups for travel. Their lightweight nature, comparable to two cell phones, enhances their portability. Despite their small size, these NAS devices incorporate efficient cooling mechanisms, including upper and lower convection, heat sinks on each SSD, and silent fans, which help maintain low temperatures and reduced noise levels, with standby noise virtually imperceptible at less than 19dB.

Terramaster F8 SSD Ports/Connections

Both models are equipped with a variety of ports and connections to facilitate integration into diverse IT environments. Below is a table summarizing the ports and connections available on both models:

These ports and connections enable the NAS devices to support high-speed network connectivity, extensive external storage options, and multimedia applications, providing versatility for various professional and personal uses.

Terramaster F8 SSD Internal Hardware

Internally, the Terramaster F8 SSD and F8 SSD PLUS have hardware configurations intended to deliver reliable performance. Below is a table outlining the key hardware specifications for both models:

The F8 SSD utilizes an Intel N95 4-core, 4-thread CPU with a maximum burst frequency of 3.4GHz, supported by 8GB of DDR5 memory. The F8 SSD PLUS features an Intel Core i3 N305 8-core, 8-thread processor with a turbo frequency of up to 3.8GHz and comes with 16GB of DDR5 memory. Both models support hardware encryption and 4K video transcoding.

Terramaster TOS Software

The Terramaster F8 SSD and F8 SSD PLUS operate on the TOS 6 operating system, which enhances their functionality and user experience. TOS 6 introduces over 40 new features and optimizes more than 370 details. It supports a wide range of client OS, including Windows, Mac, and Linux, as well as mobile OS like iOS and Android. Key software capabilities include:

• Comprehensive RAID Support: Supports TRAID, TRAID Plus, Single, JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, and RAID 10, offering flexible storage configuration options.
• Snapshot Services: Provides easy recovery of data in case of accidental deletion or modification.
• Centralized Backup Solutions: Facilitates backup management for Windows workstations, file servers, and virtual machines.
• Cloud Synchronization: Synchronizes with major cloud services like Google Drive, OneDrive, Amazon S3, Dropbox, Baidu, and Alibaba Cloud.
• Advanced File Management: Includes file protocol support (SMB/AFP/NFS/FTP/SFTP/WebDAV), user quota management, and extensive access right management.

These software features ensure that the NAS devices can meet diverse data management needs, from data protection to file synchronization across multiple platforms.

Terramaster F8 Performance

The performance of the Terramaster F8 SSD and F8 SSD PLUS is generally solid, attributed to their hardware and software. The F8 SSD achieves linear read-write speeds of up to 1020MB/s and 4K random read-write speeds of up to 300MB/s, making it suitable for applications such as virtualization, database management, and multimedia streaming. The F8 SSD PLUS, with its more advanced Intel Core i3 processor and 16GB of memory, performs better for intensive tasks and high-load workflows. However, the 4K random write speeds, while respectable, may be a bit underwhelming for an NVMe SSD over a 10GbE network. The 300MB/s+ write speed indicates a potential internal bottleneck, possibly due to the PCIe or PCIe controller. This limitation suggests that while the devices perform well, they may not fully utilize the potential of NVMe SSDs in all scenarios, especially in write-heavy applications.

The Terramaster F8 SSD and F8 SSD PLUS NAS devices provide robust storage solutions with a combination of high performance, versatile connectivity, and advanced software features. Their compact design, efficient cooling, and noise reduction technologies make them suitable for both small businesses and home users. The extensive ports and connections, solid internal hardware, and robust software capabilities ensure these NAS devices can handle a wide range of professional and personal data management needs. Despite some limitations in write performance, they offer reliable and high-speed storage options. These NAS devices are a reasonable choice for users seeking efficient and capable storage solutions, though those requiring maximum write performance might need to consider potential bottlenecks.

Need More Help Choosing the right NAS?

Choosing the right data storage solution for your needs can be very intimidating and it’s never too late to ask for help. With options ranging from NAS to DAS, Thunderbolt to SAS and connecting everything up so you can access all your lovely data at the touch of a button can be a lot simpler than you think. If you want some tips, guidance or help with everything from compatibility to suitability of a solution for you, why not drop me a message below and I will get back to you as soon as possible with what you should go for, its suitability and the best place to get it. This service is designed without profit in mind and in order to help you with your data storage needs, so I will try to answer your questions as soon as possible.

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New F8 8-Bay M.2 NVMe SSD SSD from Terramaster Coming later in 2024

I’ve recently gathered some intriguing information about the upcoming Terramaster F8 SSD and F8 SSD PLUS Desktop NAS devices. These devices are slated to launch in September 2024, though this date is still tentative. Pricing details have not been officially confirmed, but temporary Amazon pages suggest that the F8 SSD will be priced at $999, while the F8 SSD PLUS will be $1299. Both devices are set to feature eight M.2 NVMe SSD bays, and they will come in a new, much smaller casing compared to other devices in Terramaster’s portfolio. This new form factor could make them a more appealing choice for those with limited space but requiring high-performance storage solutions.

NOTE – Regarding the Terramaster NAS and SSD Giveaway

(Take from the Terramaster Competition page). HERE

1. Share your thoughts on the ideal NAS or dream storage. You can describe your ideas through written descriptions, design sketches, video introductions, or comments. Explain the features, design, user experience, security, and intelligence level that you believe an ideal NAS should have. Additionally, guess what type of NAS is shown in the image below and share your reasoning.

2. Post your thoughts and guesses on TerraMaster’s official social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube), or share them on your own social media along with the event images. Invite your friends to like, comment, and share. Your feedback, ideas, and creativity, along with the exposure and engagement generated for this campaign, will serve as important considerations for prize selection.

The Prizes:

• Special prize for one winner: TerraMaster F4-424 (worth $499)
• Participation prize for 10 winners: 250GB WD RED NVMe SSD at ($69)

One of the standout features of these new NAS devices is the potential inclusion of 10GbE networking capabilities. However, it’s not clear if both models will feature this. The inclusion of 10GbE would significantly enhance data transfer speeds, making these NAS devices suitable for more demanding applications such as video editing and large-scale data backups. The F8 SSD and F8 SSD PLUS are mentioned to have 16GB of DDR5 memory, but it is not confirmed what each device will actually ship with or whether they will have one or two SODIMM slots. This memory detail leaves room for speculation on how these devices might cater to different market needs, potentially offering upgrade options for users who require more memory for intensive tasks.

The CPU choice for these devices is particularly interesting. It is suspected that the F8 models will utilize the Intel N305 8 Core i3 Alder Lake processor. This CPU, part of Intel’s N-series, is a mobile segment processor with 8 cores and 8 threads, boasting a max turbo frequency of 3.80 GHz. Given its capabilities, this processor could make the F8 SSD and F8 SSD PLUS quite powerful for their intended use cases, especially for those needing high-speed storage and efficient processing power. The N305’s support for DDR5 memory and integrated Intel UHD graphics further enhances its suitability for a NAS device, ensuring it can handle both storage and light processing tasks effectively.

Speculating on the differences between the F8 SSD and the F8 SSD PLUS, it’s possible that the non-PLUS version might have a less powerful CPU or different networking capabilities. For instance, while the F8 SSD PLUS might feature the N305 CPU and 10GbE networking, the regular F8 SSD could potentially have a lower-end CPU, such as the N100 or N95, and perhaps only 2.5GbE networking options. These differences would help cater to different user needs and price points, making the lineup more versatile. This tiered approach allows Terramaster to offer solutions that appeal both to budget-conscious consumers and those looking for top-tier performance.

The memory configuration is another area where we might see differences between the two models. The F8 SSD PLUS, with its higher price point, could offer more advanced memory options, such as higher base memory or additional SODIMM slots for easier upgrades. This would make the PLUS model more attractive to users who plan to use their NAS for more memory-intensive applications, such as running virtual machines or high-definition video streaming. On the other hand, the regular F8 SSD might stick to a single SODIMM slot or offer less base memory to keep costs down. In 2024, the affordability of 10GbE NAS devices has significantly improved, making it much easier for consumers to access high-speed networking solutions. A prime example is the MW-N100-NAS motherboard, an ITX form factor motherboard that includes both a CPU and networking capabilities for just around $120. This motherboard features the N100 CPU, which offers a solid balance of performance and efficiency, and it also supports 10GbE networking right out of the box. The affordability and integration of these features into a single, compact motherboard highlight the broader trend of decreasing costs and increasing accessibility of high-speed networking technology. Furthermore, it is anticipated that a version of this motherboard will eventually incorporate the N305 CPU, enhancing its performance capabilities while maintaining its cost-effectiveness. This progression not only reflects advancements in technology but also underscores the growing demand for affordable, high-speed NAS solutions in both consumer and small business markets. The availability of such cost-effective hardware solutions makes it feasible for more users to upgrade their network infrastructure, ensuring faster data transfer speeds and improved overall efficiency in data management tasks.

Find out more about the Topton MW-N100-NAS Mobo HERE

Comparing these new models to the existing Terramaster F4-424 and F4-424 Pro provides some context. The F4-424 features a 4-core N95 CPU, while the F4-424 Pro uses the same N305 i3 CPU suspected for the F8 models and comes with more memory. This suggests that the new F8 devices could follow a similar pattern, with the PLUS model offering enhanced performance and features over the standard model. The memory and CPU differences between the F4-424 and F4-424 Pro might hint at similar distinctions in the F8 lineup. The F4-424 and F4-424 Pro have set a precedent for how Terramaster differentiates between base and premium models, likely reflecting a strategy they will continue with the F8 series.

In terms of storage, both F8 SSD models are expected to have eight NVMe SSD bays, optimized for high-speed performance. This is a significant upgrade from the F4-424 series, which might appeal to users who need even more robust and faster storage solutions. The NVMe SSDs will provide much faster read and write speeds compared to traditional SATA SSDs, making these new NAS devices particularly suitable for environments where speed is critical. Additionally, the new, smaller casing for the F8 series could make these devices more suitable for home or small office environments where space is at a premium. The compact design does not seem to compromise on performance, promising a high-power solution in a small form factor. Al that said, we also have to realistically expect the M.2 NVMe SSD bays to be PCIe Gen 3×1 speed each. Not only because of system temperatures in such a confined space, but also because there are only 9 lanes to play with on the N305.

The increasing affordability of 10GbE technology also plays into the potential appeal of the F8 series. With the recently released MW-N100-NAS motherboard on AliExpress, which includes a 10GbE port and support for the N305 CPU, it’s becoming more feasible to include high-speed networking in consumer NAS devices. This trend suggests that Terramaster’s new devices will be well-positioned in the market, offering advanced features at a competitive price. As 10GbE becomes more common, users will expect to see it in mid-range and high-end NAS devices, making it a crucial feature for Terramaster to include in their new models.

Lastly, there’s an interesting giveaway related to these new Terramaster devices. Terramaster will be giving away an F4-424 NAS and 10x M.2 NVMe SSDs in a soon to be announced giveaway related to a user survey regarding what users ‘WANT’ in their NAS systems. The giveaway invites participants to share their ideas on what their ideal NAS would feature in terms of hardware and software. Details on this giveaway are still to be confirmed, but it presents a great opportunity for users to engage with the brand and potentially win some high-performance hardware. Overall, while there are still many details to be confirmed, the Terramaster F8 SSD and F8 SSD PLUS seem poised to offer significant improvements in performance and features, potentially setting a new standard in the NAS market. As we await further official information, the speculation based on available details suggests that these devices will be a significant step forward in terms of speed, capacity, and overall functionality. This table summarizes the potential differences between the F8 SSD and F8 SSD PLUS, providing a clearer picture of how these models might differentiate themselves in terms of hardware and capabilities.

Estimated Hardware Specifications Table (MASSIVELY ‘TBC’)

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IOCREST M.2 to 10GbE Adapter – Review and NAS Testing

Now that 10Gb Ethernet network hardware is becoming increasingly affordable for even domestic home users, the demand is now there for many to want to scale up even the most modest server towards gigabyte network speeds! Let’s be honest, now that gigabit internet speeds are out there, having your own local server running on gigabit network speed just simply won’t cut it, and therefore scaling up to 10 times this speed for your private server access is understandably appealing. However, it’s only recently that scaling up a system without a PCIe upgrade slot has been possible. Before then, if your server system did not have an available PCIe slot, you were out of luck. This eventually gave way to expensive Thunderbolt adapters and USB adapters that granted 2.5G and 5G speeds. However, it is only now in 2024 that we can affordably buy an alternative – a 10GbE adapter that connects to your system via M.2. Use this to take advantage of traditional large capacity, affordable starter storage, as well as one or more M.2 NVMe connections for faster hot data. It has long been demanded that these small-scale M.2 PCIe connectors could be utilized for high-performance network adapters. Which brings us to the subject of today’s review, the IOCrest M.2 to 10Gb Ethernet adapter. Arriving at a comparatively similar price point to traditional PCIe adapters, this rather nifty upgrade allows you to forgo one M.2 slot and add a 10Gb network connection. So, is this rather small-scale network upgrade worth your money and your data? Let’s find out.

Buying the Adapter: A Quick Note !!!

The adapter is currently available from several different retailers, but is more widely available at the time of writing on AliExpress. Pricing on this adapter will fluctuate rapidly, and I have seen it retailed for as little as $61 all the way up to $110. For this review, I purchased a unit at £65 without tax. It arrived in under 7 days, and although the packaging is phenomenally bare-bones, I can vouch for the fact it arrived intact. Below are a few suggested links to retailers selling the m.2 to 10GbE adapter that you may find useful. Using these links will result in a small commission fee to NAScompares, which helps us keep doing what we do.

IOCREST M.2 to 10GbE Adapter Review – Design

Unlike the majority of other 10GbE adapters that arrive as a single-piece component, the M.2 to 10GbE adapter actually arrives as three key components, one of which is particularly important due to the variety of deployments this adapter will most likely be featured in.

The first part is the M.2 adapter. Mounted on a single 2280 PCB, this is the part that will be sliding into that available slot of your server motherboard. Oddly, this board foregoes a traditional one-groove M.2 NVMe connector and instead favors an mSATA-style two-groove interface. Onboard this PCB is an Aquantia AQC113 network adapter that feeds into a PCIe bridge to allow your M.2 connector to be utilized as a network interface. This controller also arrives with a heatsink attached to the top that ensures it maintains a good operational temperature when in sustained use, something that 10GbE controllers will often require due to the increased temperatures they can hit after even light use. However, this heatsink definitely proves something of a barrier in more compact deployments, which we will get into later on.

Next, we have the cable that connects the two core parts of this adapter together. Arriving as a flat ZIF-style cable, this is a pretty delicate cable to be connecting these two interfaces, and the ribbon cable arrives in this kit unconnected. The buyer will have to factor in that they will have to undertake the delicate process of threading the ribbon cable between the two core components of this adapter, ensuring they do not damage or bend the cable in the area. Although I hugely dislike this ribbon cable approach, I have to at least acknowledge that this adapter is designed for numerous different hardware configurations and there is no single cable length that is going to please everyone. They provide a 30cm cable with the default kit, which I found adequate for my needs, but I can definitely see problems if I was to install this adapter in a larger mATX case and this cable would have to be threaded over other motherboard components in order to reach the PCIe slot.

The third component in this adapter setup is the network interface card itself, designed to slot into an available PCIe cavity of your PC or server case like any other PCIe card. This is a fairly bare-bones adapter, but it does the job.

I totally understand why they needed to interface this adapter with a PCIe slot, as it is likely the only usable cavity on the majority of server case systems and this adapter by its definition is designed for users that either do not want to or do not have PCIe slots on their internal server motherboard. Nevertheless, it is definitely going to be a bit odd that this adapter is built around a PCIe slot when there are also going to be a bunch of users that need this adapter precisely because their system does not have these slots at all.

Again, you can’t please everyone, but it is definitely something to bear in mind. Easily remove the backplane on this adapter and create a custom mount for the singular internal 10Gb physical NIC if you choose.

IOCREST M.2 to 10GbE Adapter – Performance

I tested this 10Gb Ethernet adapter with a 13th Gen Intel i9 Windows 10 Pro system, running on a Gen 4*4 internal SSD for its operating system. I conducted tests with ATTO Disk Benchmark, AJA Speed Test, and a Windows transfer. Overall, the results were actually pretty mediocre for the most part. The ATTO Disk Benchmark results were the only ones that were able to fully saturate the 10Gb Ethernet connection with a 10GbE equipped NAS system that was populated with four Gen 3 NVMe SSDs in RAID 5 configuration (an Asustor Flashstor 12 Pro).

The majority of the other tests sat around 600 to 800MB per second. Whether this was due to oversaturation of the internal controller or that M.2 connector that this adapter uses not being true NVMe, it all added up to an adapter that definitely had difficulty achieving full saturation. Here are all of the results:

IOCREST M.2 to 10GbE Adapter – NAS Testing

A lot of users are definitely going to be considering the IOCrest M.2 to 10GbE adapter to upgrade their existing NAS server towards 10GbE, especially ones that either don’t have a PCIe slot or ones that have an M.2 slot available. I tested numerous systems and, although the majority of them were failures, two of them were successes!

Asustor NAS Test

The first system I wanted to try was the Flashstor 12 Pro, as this system already featured an existing 10GbE network port and was tailor-made towards M.2 connected storage. I secretly hoped that this would mean that the system might well already have the Aquantia network driver in place and that this might prove successful. Unfortunately, it definitely wasn’t!

Even though the system already featured four SSDs in a RAID 5 environment, when I installed the M.2 10Gb adapter in an available slot and booted up the Asustor system, it would not recognize any of the other M.2 slots. This happened regardless of whether I interfaced with the device on the default 10Gb connection or via the M.2 10Gb adapter. Interestingly, though, the Flashstor was able to identify the network adapter and I could interface with the initialization screen via the 10Gb M.2 adapter. Unfortunately, this was all pretty much useless if you are unable to use any of the other storage bays.

Synology NAS Test

Next, I tried two different Synology NAS systems, as Synology has quite a diverse portfolio in terms of hardware scale. First, I used a modern generation 4-bay DiskStation model. Unfortunately, I hit an issue immediately upon finding that the two M.2 adapters located in the base of the system were too small for me to install the M.2 adapter due to its large heatsink and side-mounted ribbon cable. So I had to abandon that test really quickly.

I then moved over to the DS1621+, which has an M.2 slot located within the larger storage cage, making it much roomier for this adapter installation. I installed the M.2 adapter alongside a single hard drive that featured DSM already installed, and once again we saw the same problem as before. The DSM system would immediately boot into the initialization screen and would not recognize the hard drive on board when interfacing via the M.2 connector.

However, when interfacing with the system on its default 1Gb ports, I was able to interface with the device with the adapter attached. However, it was still pushing me towards the reinitialization screen and not identifying the already installed DSM software installation on the internal disk.

Overall, this is mostly bad news. I think users on GitHub could probably patch the original NIC drivers for this adapter into DSM, but I still have questions about long-term stability and whether your data would be at risk from the system inadvertently reinitializing itself, or at the very least prompting migration of data in a system that you’re already utilizing, as it suddenly does not recognize the existing storage array.

QNAP NAS Test

This was another mixed bag of results, that on the face of it was pretty negative but there was the tiniest bit of hope here. Given the popularity of QNAP NAS systems featuring a 10GbE adapter, I hoped we saw a better diversity of drivers available on the QTS and QUTS systems. Unfortunately, my tests on installing the M.2 to 10GbE adapter on both the TS-264 and TS-464 were both met with immediate failure, with both systems, upon installation and after boot emitting a loud piercing beep and complete system inactivity.

However, when I repeated this test on the QNAP TVS-872X, the system did reach complete boot. However, the adapter, although visible in the hardware information, was completely unusable in the network manager. Nevertheless, this was probably the most positive test about the adapter so far.

UGREEN NAS Test

The M.2 slots of the Ugreen DXP4800 Plus, a system that runs on a Linux OS like the others but also features a 10GbE slot by default and has the least evolved software of the bunch so far. Unfortunately, once again, with the M.2 installed in one of the available slots, I was unable to boot the system whatsoever.

I could not get the system to go even into initialization, with the Ugreen NAS on multiple attempts, and with a network cable attached to both the default port and the installed adapter, all the system would do is generate an amber alert light on the front panel of the system. Zero system boot, zero recognition of the operating system drive inside, and a complete failure!

UnRAID NAS Test

Next, I moved over to DIY NAS software, UnRAID, and I’m pleased to say that not only did UnRAID running on a Minisforum MD-01 immediately see the adapter, but it also booted immediately and no additional drivers were required to utilize this 10,000Mbps network adapter.

UnRAID has always been pretty open-minded when it comes to installing components, given the platform’s DIY architecture and the sheer length and breadth of different hardware configurations people use. Also, for those creating particularly compact and low-resource systems, I can definitely see a lot of appeal for users that want to take advantage of this M.2 10GbE adapter in conjunction with UnRAID’s light resource use in their server. Success!

TrueNAS SCALE Test

Much like the UnRAID test, TrueNAS Scale saw this adapter with absolutely no problems. Not only did the system boot perfectly normally, but the network adapter was immediately visible on the first screen of the TrueNAS Scale GUI.

Additionally, this adapter was fully customizable and configurable via the TrueNAS Scale network services options, allowing me to change everything from the jumbo frames, right the way down to bonding and aggregation.

Again, much like UnRAID, this was largely the expectation and although most turnkey NAS users are going to be disappointed that their utilization of this adapter is going to be largely fruitless, I think the DIY server community is definitely going to embrace convenient little network upgrades like this quickly. Yes, it’s quite a niche deployment, especially compared with a PCIe card, but I definitely think there’s a market for this.

IOCREST M.2 to 10GbE Adapter Review – Conclusion

You cannot really fault this adapter. It does exactly what it says it will do, and as long as you’re running a system that can support the installation of an Aquantia driver, you should have no difficulties utilizing this. I’m not entirely in love with the ribbon cable between the M.2 and the 10Gb NIC, but I have to at least acknowledge that due to the variety of deployments this network adapter may be utilized in, a degree of flexibility is needed. Also, I’m not really going to critique the price tag being comparable to that of a standard PCIe card equivalent, as this is not trying to create an affordable alternative to that – this is trying to create a much more flexible alternative to that. The presentation of the retail kit is a little bare-bones, but pretty much everything we’re going to need to get this set up is included. I do think better versions of this are possible, especially in terms of the cable connection, but that aside, this is still a pretty good piece of 10Gb kit and for your custom DIY setup, you’ll be hard-pressed to get something better for more compact servers!

PROS of the IOCREST m.2-to-10G NIC

Allows server/PC systems that lack traditional PCIe slots to access 10GbE Upgrades

Similar Pricing to 10GbE PCIe Adapters

Kit includes all parts needed and driver is widely available

Compatible with UnRAID and TrueNAS

Supports Jumbo frame configuration and Auto-negotiation to 5G/2.5G/1G

CONS of the IOCREST m.2-to-10GbE NIC

No Support Currently in turnkey NAS systems such as Synology, QNAP, etc

Only currently on AliExpress (few listings elsewhere are 3x the price, for the same hardware)

The Ribbon connecting the 10G NIC and m.2 is not-ideal

Performance is mixed

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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

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

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