New QNAP TS-251D 2-Bay NAS Drive for 2020

Brand New QNAP TS-251D Intel NAS in 2020

Today we want to talk about a brand new QNAP NAS that arrives with familiar hardware inside and outside, spread across multiple 2019 NAS devices and promises to combine them into a new and attractive NAS drive for 2020. The new QNAP TS-251D is aimed at the same NAS users who considered the specifications of the TS-251B or HS-453DX (except 10Gbe of course), but want it in a more affordable package. Although few details are available right now, there is still enough to see that this is going to be a popular NAS for home users that want access to the best of what QNAP NAS and QTS 4.4.1 have to offer, but insist on newer generation featured options such as true 4K HDMI out and access to even better PCIe upgrades! Let’s take a closer look at this new QNAP NAS drive for 2020 and maybe even help you decide if you should be buying the TS-251B this black Friday (as it is one of several NAS you will likely see on sale), or is this newer gen 2-Bay deserves your data.



What are the Hardware Specifications of the QNAP TS-251D NAS?

Using a chassis that is similar in both shape and design to the QNAP TS-251B, the new QNAP TS-251D NAS arrives in a metallic blue and white plastic chassis, it arrives with familiar ports and connections on the front and back, however, thanks to an upgraded CPU, the memory has made the jump to DDR4 and the HDMI port steps it’s game up from 1.4b to HDMI 2.0a.

  • Intel J4005 Gemini Lake CPU, Dual Core 2.0-2.7Ghz CPU
  • 2GB DDR4 Memory, Expandable to 8GB
  • HDMI 2.0a
  • USB 3.0 (USB 3.1 Gen 1)
  • PCIe Gen 2 X 4 Slot

  • White Plastic Chassis (Same as the TS-251B NAS)
  • 2 Bays of screwless SATA storage, Supporting upto 16TB per drive
  • Front-mounted LEDs
  • Front USB and 1-Touch Copy Button
  • Support for the 5Gbe QNA-UC5G1T Adapter over USB 3.0

One particular thing I noticed in the new TS-251D, was the absence of the Audio in/out and speaker featured on the TS-251B. Though these were fantastically niche connections for a network-attached storage device (used in an allocated VM, connected Audio Speakers, Karaoke and system verbal alerts, I am a little sad to see them go. However, I imagine I am very much in the minority on this one!

What are the Software Specifications of the QNAP TS-251D NAS?

The QNAP TS-251D is more than just hardware and arrives with the QTS 4.1.1 NAS software. This software is included in the price of the TS-251D and is easily one of the best user interfaces and operating systems that is available for those users in both home and business circles. it is important to understand that when you buy the TS-251D server (or indeed any QNAP NAS), it arrives with the QTS software platform, with constant updates and hundreds of applications included. These are all tested and maintained 1st party QNAP apps and 3rd party applications. This is further improved with desktop client programs for PC/Mac and mobile applications for iOS and Android – ALL INCLUDED and downloadable at any time. The TS-251D can perform most modern applications that you would want from a modern NAS, such as:

First Party QNAP Applications for the TS-251D

  • QSync for Backing up multiple Devices to the NAS on a schedule/as needed
  • Hyper Backup Sync 3
  • HybridMount for mounting cloud storage
  • vJBOD for mounting the NAS storage to other servers
  • QUMagie for photo collections and AI-enabled face/thing recognition
  • Multimedia Console for managing media sharing, streaming, transcoding and indexing
  • File Station for File Management, sharing and permission allocation
  • Download Station for managing HTTP/FTP/NZB/BT downloads, as well as RSS feeds for podcasts and updates
  • QFiling and QSirch to better organize files and remove duplicates/waste
  • HD Station for HDMI Output and handling Apps over HDMI
  • Cloud Drive for Migrating and Synchronizing between Google Drive, Dropbox, Amazon S3, etc
  • Photo Station to organize and catalogue photo collections
  • Music Station to organize, playback and stream music media to network/internet devices
  • Video Station to playback media over the network/internet and transcode as needed upto 4K
  • Container Station for management micro/compact virtual environments
  • QVR Pro and Surveillance Station for Surveillance use with IP Cameras
  • Linux Station for  Linux VMs and Applications
  • MANY more QNAP Apps

QNAP TS-251B Review

Third-Party Applications for the TS-251D

  • Plex Media Server
  • Emby
  • iTunes Server
  • Acronis True Image Backup
  • Malware Remover
  • SugarCRM
  • TVMosaic
  • Desktop Client Applications from QNAP
  • QSync for Mac and Windows
  • QVR Pro Client for Mac/WIndows
  • Surveillance Station Client for PC/Mac
  • QFinder Pro for Mac/PC

Mobile Applications for iOS and Android

  • Qfile – File manager
  • QPhoto – Photo Manager
  • QVideo – Video Manager
  • QMusic – Music Manager
  • QVR Pro Mobile – Surveillance App
  • QRemote – Remote Control App over the Network
  • QNotes – Central note-taking app, for collaboration between users

How do the QNAP TS-251D and TS-251B NAS Compare?

As previously mentioned, the new QNAP TS-251D looks set for a 2020 release and right now, it’s most direct comparison is the QNAP TS-251B. I have no doubt that the new release, at launch, will cost a pinch more than the TS-251B (likely upto 10-15%) in line with inflation, newer components and… well… because one is old and one is new! The timing of this new release news is also an important one, given black Friday is a perfect time for older hardware to be available at lower prices. Below are the KEY differences between these two devices in the areas that buyers care about the most (outside of the software performance and that Audio In/Out and speaker) and if one of these is a deal-breaker for you, then maybe hold onto your money jsut that little while longer.

QNAP TS-251B NAS 2018 Release


VS QNAP TS-251D NAS 2020 Release

 

Intel J3355 2-Core CPU

2.0-2.5Ghz

Intel UHD Graphics 500

 

VS

 

Intel J4005 2-Core CPU

2.0-2.7Ghz

Intel UHD Graphics 600

2/8GB DDR3L Memory 2/8GB DDR4 Memory
HDMI 1.4b 40K 30fps HDMI 1.4b 40K 60fps
PCIe Gen 2 x 2 PCIe Gen 2 x 4

How much will the QNAP TS-251D NAS Cost?

Despite it’s remarkable similarity to the QNAP TS-251B, I think this newer TS-251D will arrive at a higher price point – due in no small part to that newer gen CPU and the benefits in connectivity, HDMI and Memory that it will allow. However, this is still going to be a NAS aimed at the Home and small business owner, so a price around the £250-300 price point (without your local TAX) is fairly likely.

When will the QNAP TS-251D NAS be Released?

Details on the QNAP TS-251D NAS are still so thin that as an estimation of a release date is just too thin on the ground. However, I think we will see this available for release at the start of Q1 (Jan-March) along with the start of a newer generation of QNAP NAS, that one can likely predict will feature 2.5Gbe and 5Gbe, as well as more appearances of that popular Intel J4000 series CPU. Stay tuned here to NASCompares to learn about every new release from QNAP in 2020.



 

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