QNAP TBS-h574TX – NVMe Flash, Thunderbolt 4, Intel Core i3/i5, 10GbE – WHAT THE WHAT?

QNAP TBS-h574TX Flash + Thunderbolt4 NAS – ABSOLUTE GAME CHANGER!

Update Nov ’23 – The QNAP TBS-574TX is now known as the TBS-h574TX, to indicate that this system supports QuTS Hero, the ZFS software platform

Get ready for a thrilling expedition into the world of next-gen network storage. This year at Computex 2023, QNAP has unveiled an exciting new NAS model, raising the bar for the entire industry. With the introduction of their latest 5-Bay NAS, QNAP is redefining how we think about data storage and network efficiency, all while demonstrating their continued commitment to innovation and user choice. Yes, that does all sound a bit wanky – but I have to give QNAP credit here, the TBS-574TX is a very interesting-looking NAS indeed! As part of the Computex 2023 showcase, QNAP hosted a seminar event, delving into the applications and potential of this new NAS model and services in QuTS/QTS. But I am getting ahead of myself a bit. What exactly is the TBS-h574TX? And why is it something of a game-changer?

Hardware Specifications and Ports of the QNAP TBS-574TX NVMe Flash + Thunderbolt4 NAS

Straight off the bad, this NAS is something REAL special! The TBS-h574TX might be one fo the most intriguing pieces of hardware that QNAP have revealed in several years. Arriving off the back of the TBS-574X that was revealed at CES 2023 in January, this seems to be a newly Thunderbolt4 enabled model. Arriving with the bleeding edge EDSFF ES.1 SSD support (ultimately, built on regular NVMe SSD PCIe storage, but allows greater capacity, heat dissipation potential, hot-swapping and expanded surface area utilities to improve NAND distribution. Which equals more potential storage and greater performance as NAND distribution increases. The QNAP TSBS-h574TX features five storage bays of ES.1, but ramps up the internal AND external bandwidth tremendously, with the choice of an Intel 12th Gen i3 or i5 Processor. Alongside the PCIe Gen4 lanes and quantity that these processors offer, this also is what allows the TBS-574TX to support two Thunderbolt 4 Ports for local direct access AND external 10GbE connectivity (plus 2.5GbE thrown in).

At a little over 2KG in weight and just 60x215x199mm in size, this means that this insanely powerful compact NAS also has an exceptionally small physical footprint. It’s also worth highlighting that this system has fans (absolutely no way you would want these kinds of specs on a fanless/silent NAS – it would throttle/bottleneck in no time!), but they appear to be quite modest in size and likely result in a suitably diminished noise level too. With regard to memory, it will come as no surprise in these ‘memory scarse’ and ‘memory price spike’ times, that this compact system has pre-soldered memory, with either 8GB or 16GB as the default (non-upgradable) choice. There is yet to be confirmed at the time of writing if this memory is ECC or not. Here are the specifications we know so far:

Model	QNAP TBS-h574TX
Software	QuTS Hero (ZFS) or QTS (Linux/EXT4)
CPU	Intel 12th Gen i3-1220PE 8-Core/12 Thread (Max 4.2Ghz) or i5-1250pe 12 Core/16 Thread (Max 4.4Ghz) CPU Choice
Memory	8GB/16GB of fixed Memory (Not ECC)
Drive Bays	5-Bay
Drive Interface	ES.1 SSDs at 15mm height, or normal M.2 NVMes at 2280 with an adapter
Thunderbolt 4 Ports	2x, TB4 USB-C
10GbE Ports	x1
2.5GbE Ports	x1
USB Ports	2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (10Gb) Ports (Also, 1-Touch Copy Button) 1x USB 2.0
HDMI	1x HDMI 1.4b
Power	External PSU, 90-120w
Fans	Twin rear fans, approx 40mm
Warranty	TBC (Likely 3yrs)

Provisional speeds were also shown at QNAP partner event which they stated would provide a stable 1,500MB/s Read/Write.  The generation of the M.2/ES.1 slots is yet to be confirmed, but this is still very high for a TB over NAS connection:

What is EDSFF Storage? (Enterprise and Data Center Standard Form Factor) and what is ES.1

The Enterprise and Data Center SSD Form Factor (EDSFF) was developed as a response to the evolving needs and challenges of datacenter storage. It introduces a variety of form factors that outperform the existing SSD form factors, offering improved capacity, performance, scalability, manageability, along with superior thermal and power management. NVMe SSDs, with their flexibility and compatibility, are a preferred choice for datacenter storage. EDSFF form factors use the same NVMe protocol and PCIe interface, reinforcing their suitability for modern datacenters. A critical aspect of datacenter storage is the ability to consolidate and maintain flexibility. The E1.S form factor within the EDSFF family achieves this balance effortlessly. With its compact design, the E1.S (where ‘S’ stands for ‘short’) enables flexible server configurations within a 1U space, promoting optimal performance levels. It comes in four thickness variants, ranging from 5.9mm to 24mm, slightly longer yet broader than the M.2, to accommodate additional NAND flash for increased capacity. The E1.S form factor parallels the E1.L in terms of compatibility with a 1U server. The 15mm and 25mm options, although housing fewer drives per rack due to their asymmetrical enclosures, provide a favorable trade-off with enhanced power and performance per drive.

Set to spearhead the transition from M.2, the E1.S form factor is becoming a new standard in datacenter storage. The advantages it offers include:

• Expanded space and enhanced cooling capabilities for improved server airflow
• Purpose-built for hot-swap/hot-plug functionality across various devices
• Efficient modular scaling of NVMe performance and capacity
• Reduced system infrastructure and drive costs
• Increased density and high IOPs, offering more IOPs per inch compared to the U.2 15mm

When Will the QNAP TSBS-574TX NAS Be Released?

As mentioned, THIS is a very interesting NAS. But this is not the first Thunderbolt4 NAS that QNAP has ever revealed (the TS-464T4 from Early 2022 for example, which is seemingly now cancelled) and we have still yet to see a true TB4 release from them. So, as exciting as this product looks – I will wait till I see it actually get released before I get my hopes up! I have been informed that they are aiming for a Q3 2023 release for this NAS.

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