New QNAP Silent HS-264 NAS Revealed

New QNAP HS-264 NAS Coming – Latest Entry to the Popular Silent NAS Series

I think it would be fair to say that QNAP has quite a lot of NAS hardware under their belt. From rackmount monster servers to petite desktop value systems, they have released a wide variety of solutions over the years. However, one series that has stood out, in particular, is their ‘Silent NAS’ series. This is their typically 2 Bay, fanless NAS system with a entirely unique chassis among other solutions in their portfolio and one that those who are particularly sensitive to noise (personally or professionally) has always opted for. So, it is with that in mind that I am pleased to confirm that a new entry into this series appears to be in the works, in the form of the HS-264 NAS Drive. Although already stumbled across back in July when details in a firmware release highlighted other units supported, this is the first time we have learned the official hardware specifications. Although no images are currently available, the QNAP HS-264 NAS solution appears far more comparable to the HS-251+ than the more recently released HS-453DX in hardware, but with several elements that might actually make it more appealing and affordable in the long run. So, let’s talk about the hardware specifications and what we can expect from this NAS.

What are the Specifications of the QNAP HS-264 Silent NAS?

The hardware specifications of the QNAP HS-264 are exactly what you would expect from a Prosumer/SMB solution from the brand, with a number of current staple ports and connections from the brand. Unlike the HS-453DX released back in 2018/19 which featured 10GbE, the HS-264 arrives with two 2.5GbE ports (much like the majority of QNAP NAS solutions released in the last 18months), which should hopefully make it a great deal more affordable (something the HS-453DX has always somewhat suffered from). Likewise, whereas the HS-453DX featured 2x 3.5″ SATA bays and 2x M.2 SATA SSD bays, the HS-264 arrives with two 3.5″ SATA bays only (much like the HS-251+). Next, we have the CPU of the HS-264, which is the Intel N5105 Celeron (as well as 8GB of DDR4 memory).

This CPU is a step up from the Intel Celeron J4115 found in the current generation HS-453DX, featuring a higher base frequency, burst and high frequency/capability embedded graphics. It also features a larger range of PCIe Lanes/chipset, which is reflected on the connections and hardware on offer (though the 8GB Max memory on a sign module is a bit of a shame with this CPU supporting noticeably more). Alongside those network ports, we also find two HDMI 2.0 4K 60FPS ports (two ports can only be used in unison for screen mirroring or extended screens – you cannot output different services via HD Station on them) and 10Gb/s USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, which will be great for localized, removable backups. Here are the rest of those specifications we know so far:

HS-264 2x HDD Fanless/Silent NAS (Imagine Based on Predecessor)
CPU	Intel Celeron N5105 4 core 2.0GHz, burst up to 2.9GHz
Embedded Graphics	Intel® UHD Graphics
Memory	8 GB DDR4, not expandable
Max Memory/Slots	8GB
HDD Bays	2x SATA 3.5”
M.2 SSD Bays	n/a
1GbE Ports	n/a
2.5GbE Ports	2x 2.5GbE
10GbE Ports	n/a
HDMI Ports	2x HDMI 2.0
USB 2.0	n/a
USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gb/s)	2x USB-A
USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gb/s)	2x USB-A
Thunderbolt	unknown
Size	41.3 x 302 x 220
Fans	Fanless
PSU Power	60W

So, as you can see, the HS-264 is much more comparable to the HS-251+ in storage architecture, but a noticeable step up in the internal hardware in practically every other way. Physical design is still yet to be confirmed, but this is a NAS series with a very unique look. Arriving in a fanless design, but with a significant number of internal heatsinks inside, as well as the entire top panel of the chassis acting as a single, metal heat-dissipating panel. The current HS-453DX silent NAS also won a d&i design award back in 2018, so this series is no stranger to unique and eye-catching appeal.

What Are the Software Specifications of the HS-264 Silent NAS Drive?

Software support on the HS-264 is going to be pretty high in the QNAP QTS 5.0 services, with this system featuring a 2021 generation Intel Celeron and default 8GB of memory. Although the fact that the memory cannot be expanded/upgraded means that extensive VM utilization might be a pinch limited. Surveillance in QVR Pro/Elite, Multimedia handling and multi-site backups are all going to run great and although ZFS support is almost certainly not going to be available on this NAS, it is going to be a great base for the standard EXT4 version, QTS. Specifics on this are going to be tough and when a more formal release is made on this, we’ll let you know, but for now, you can check out my full review of the QNAP QTS 5.0 NAS Software and Services below:

When Will the QNAP HS-264 Silent NAS Be Released?

Release details on the QNAP HS-264 Silent NAS are practically zero. In all likelihood, we will be looking at a 2022 Q1/2 release for this NAS, as we are slowly learning little by little about the QNAP x64 and x62 series for 2022 and although this is an interesting NAS, it is a very niche solution that will likely not be the first entry in that series to hit the market. Many might see the HS-264 as a less aggressively powered release when compared against the HS-453DX (with 4x media bays and 10GbE), so if you are looking at buying a silent, compact NAS system right now, the current HS-453DX is still one of the best NAS for its purpose out there and I still highly recommend it.

 

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