Asustor Flashstor 12 Pro FS6712X NAS Hardware Review
The sheer range of solutions available to home and prosumers who want to store their data in their own personal NAS server is genuinely staggering! It’s easy to forget that it wasn’t that long ago that most home users really only had about 3-4 different profiles of desktop devices to opt for – with everything else being designed for business and enterprise users. However, in the last few years, we have seen rackmount turnkey solutions that are genuinely home-user accessible, powerful hardware arrive in more compact servers that better suit home/prosumer enthusiast deployment… and then you have the Flashstor! The Asustor Flashstor is the first genuinely home user-accessible M.2 NVMe SSD Flash server, built around the storage of only M.2 NVMe SSDs. Flash storage, for a long time, immediately translated to ‘enterprise’ and even in its most affordable forms, would always arrive at well over $1000-1500 at entry level (unpopulated) and THAT is what makes the Flashstor so fantastically intriguing as a NAS and Asustor have been making some seriously impressive waves with the reveal of this device in 2023. Arriving in two forms, the 6 & 12 Pro, these arrive at between $499 and $860, putting them at a significantly lower price point than 6/12 Bay SATA solutions. Add to this the base level hardware is comparable (and in some cases higher) than those in said SATA desktop systems AND the system is a combined hardware+software solution with the ADM NAS software and services included – we are talking about a seriously appealing package! But what’s the catch? Where are the compromises? Or have Asustor shaken up the industry in all the right ways with the Flashstor? Let’s review the NAS and see if it deserves your hot data!
Asustor Flashstor 12 Pro FS6712X NAS Review – Quick Conclusion
I cannot stress enough how impressed I am that the Flashstor 6 and Flashstor 12 Pro are priced at $499 and $860, respectively, given the level of hardware on offer here. These are by no means enterprise-grade NAS server solutions, nor should they be thought of as such. However, given the cost of typical fully featured 4x HDD solutions from their competitors and the brand themselves, which often start at $550 and above, it is quite remarkable that the six M.2 SSD system with comparable internal hardware comes in at $499. As long as a user keeps their expectations in line with what this cost versus its capabilities, it’s really tough to argue with the price point that these two devices have arrived at on the market. The Asustor FS6712X Flashstor 12 Pro NAS presents a unique offering in the NAS market, leveraging NVMe technology to provide high-capacity, ultra-high-performance storage. The device’s design, with its rhombus-shaped enclosure and twelve M.2 NVMe slots, sets it apart from traditional NAS devices and offers a sleek and modern aesthetic. The tool-less drive installation mechanism makes it easy to set up and expand the storage capacity. However, there are some considerations to keep in mind. The limited number of PCIe lanes provided by the Intel Celeron N5105 processor may restrict the performance of high-speed NVMe drives. The single 10GbE LAN port also presents a potential network bottleneck, limiting the device’s overall network performance. Users seeking maximum performance and network throughput may find alternative solutions better suited to their needs. Despite these limitations, the FS6712X shines as a storage solution for users who prioritize high-capacity storage, quiet operation, and low power consumption. The device’s ability to directly output 4K video, along with its range of Asustor-approved apps, makes it an excellent choice for media distribution and presentation. In terms of pricing, the FS6712X comes with a price tag of $850+. While this may appear high at first glance, it is comparable to 8 bay drive NAS SATA devices and many of those do not even include NVMe slots or 10GbE. Users looking for a more cost-effective option can consider the Flashstor 6, which offers half the number of slots and 2x 2.5GbE enabled ports for $499. As the cost of flash modules continues to drop, and larger capacity drives become available all the way up to 8TB (even without QLC), the FS6712X provides an attractive solution for those seeking high-capacity and high-performance NAS storage. While some underlying performance relativity by the end user needs to be factored in and hardware limitations exist thanks to the use of that Celeron to remain budget-friendly, the FS6712X is a tremendously smart move by Asustor. A well-designed NAS that presents a much more confident solution demonstrating the benefits of NVMe-focused NAS devices to an audience that would have assumed such things are way, WAY outside the realms of affordability!
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Asustor Flashstor 12 Pro FS6712X NAS Review – Packaging
Much like many other Asustor NAS products, the retail packaging for the Flashstor is colourful and graphical. This is a nice extra step, especially when you factor in that the bulk of buyers are going to purchase the device online (and therefore, that first look at the appealing packaging is going to be AFTER they have splashed the cash!). It’s some slick packaging that is certainly eye-catching!
Opening it up, we find that the presentation of the contents hasn’t let it down either, with the system arriving in a fabric-esc sleeve and the accessories neatly packaged.
The full Flashstor 12 Pro FS6712X retail kit contains several items that allow you to deploy the device easily for the very first time. Everything you’re going to need is included here, apart from storage media, as the Flashstor 12 Pro is sold unpopulated. Asustor has always been in the practice of providing solutions without hard drives, so that end users can choose what media and to what extent they wish to populate their NAS on day one. This is, of course, a matter of taste and preference to the end-user, but generally, I always recommend unpopulated solutions, as it will allow you to plan your budget and spending requirements far more fitting to your requirements. The full list of accessories included with the device are:
- FS6712X NAS Unit
- CAT 5e LAN Cables
- External PSU (90W) and Mains Power Cable
- Setup Guide and Warranty Details (3 Years)
- Power Cord Tie
All fairly standard stuff, but packaged very neatly.
I am kinda surprised by the lack of heatsinks (something I raised in my original Before You Buy Video), but Asustor has addressed this question and was keen to highlight that because the lanes on the SSD slots are PCIe Gen 3×1, they should not have sufficient throughput to necessitate heatsinks. Going as far as to produce a temperature testing demonstration:
We will be conducting our own tests soon, looking at sustained use over longer periods to see the impact, but nevertheless, Asustor does make a compelling case. Let’s discuss the design of the Flashstor.
Asustor Flashstor 12 Pro FS6712X NAS Review – Design
The design of the system is quite ‘PS4’ ish, it has to be said. But it IS fantastically compact, considering the scale of storage available here. With 2280 M.2 NVMes now arriving in as high as 8TB capacity, this is a pretty substantial amount of storage in such as small server. The system has a single base-mounted fan, as well as numerous ventilation points all around the sides. As nice as it looks, is does feel a little cheap as they casing is completely plastic. Not unusual for a desktop NAS and certainly for this price tag, understandable.
Either narrow end of the chassis is massively ventilated, with one backing onto the internal CPU+Heatsink and the other next to the storage media bays. There are also some subtle slits of ventilation on either side that are next to the m.2 NVMe SSD storage bays. The base-mounted fan is located directly over the storage media bays and is connected into the chassis in a sliding motion with a USB connector. It feels well constructed and although the fan itself is a fairly standard PC fan, I applaud the way it’s been utilized and installed here.
The top of the Flashstor comprises a two-tone finish, with a matt black panel on the left and brushed steel effect plastic on the panel above the M.2 NVMe SSD bays. The system also has four LEDs that denote system health, network connectivity, RAID Pool activity and system activity. Pretty much what you would expect and results in a very sleek and understated system when in operation.
The base of the flash store shows us the four rubber feet that raise the system up by a few millimetres, but also that base fan. I do wonder about the effectiveness of this fan on the base of the system (though under the M.2 NVMe SSD media) as the other half of the system is comprised of one large heatsink that covers the CPU, which runs directly into the pathway of that fan, but also the M.2s. Again, we will run some test temps later on the YouTube channel.
The design of the Asustor FS6712X Flashstor 12 Pro NAS is both unique and slightly unconventional. The rhombus-shaped enclosure, constructed mainly of plastic, sets it apart from traditional NAS devices. While some may find the design to be a matter of personal taste, others may appreciate the visual interest it brings to the table. One peculiar aspect of the design is the location of the power button. It is positioned on the right side of the unit, which can make it challenging to locate from above. This placement is not the most intuitive and may cause initial confusion for users. On a positive note, when the NAS is powered on, the side of the chassis lights up in a vibrant red, adding a cool visual element to the device.
The removable panels on the enclosure provide convenient access to the twelve M.2 NVMe slots. Installing drives is a breeze, thanks to the plastic clip mechanism that holds the drives securely in place. Unlike some NAS devices that require tiny screws for drive installation, the FS6712X simplifies the process with its tool-less design.
However, it’s worth noting that the slots only accommodate 2280-size modules, which may be a limitation for users looking to use smaller/larger form factor drives. That said, 2280 has largely become the defacto size available the bulk of M.2 SSDs on the market.
Overall in terms of build quality, the FS6712X could benefit from a more premium feel. The plastic enclosure, while functional, feels a little cheap. Thicker plastic or the use of metal (perhaps even to aid heat dissipation) would have enhanced the overall durability and sturdiness of the unit, but then we would be hitting the wall of this device’s price point significantly. Despite these minor design considerations, the FS6712X stands out with its distinctive shape and user-friendly drive installation mechanism. Let’s discuss the ports and connectivity.
Asustor Flashstor 12 Pro FS6712X NAS Review – Ports and Connections
The Asustor FS6712X Flashstor 12 Pro NAS offers a range of ports and connections, both typical and unique to NAS devices. At the rear of the unit, you’ll find the standard power and USB ports that are commonly found on NAS units. However, the FS6712X goes beyond the ordinary by providing additional ports typically associated with desktop computers. These include an HDMI port and an S/PDIF port, catering to users who seek media distribution and high-quality digital audio output.
A notable feature of the FS6712X is its inclusion of a 10Gbase-T port 10G port. This high-speed networking capability allows for faster data transfer rates, which is especially beneficial for users working with large files or engaging in data-intensive tasks. The single 10GbE LAN port supports an existing 1GbE network connection or 2.5G too, so you still have flexibility if you are looking to gradually scale up your network environment at a later date with the Flashstor, providing flexibility based on the available network infrastructure. It is a shame that there is only one network connection (with most NAS devices that have 10GbE on port having a 2nd 1GbE port for failover, a traditional internet connection or lower priority connectivity. This is navigatable with a switch of course but it’s still a shame that we only have the single network connection here.
While the FS6712X offers a useful 10GbE LAN port, it also has 2x 10Gb USB connectivity (local accessories and peripherals) and probably one of the largest compatibility lists supported devices than any other brand – USB storage, Office hardware such as printers and scanners, UPS’, TV tuners, Network Adapters and more. Support of USB devices in recent years has decreased among many brands for fears of these being exploited for security workarounds, but % numbers on these are extraordinarily low and the threat actor would need direct access and a USB deliverable payload.
Again, not impossible, but at that point they are hands-on with the sever anyway and the potential for harm is already high! These USB ports are accompanied by a couple more USB 2.0 Ports, which are primarily included for local KVM accessories or just general low bandwidth controllable, in conjunction with the visual and audio outputs. And on that subject…
The general connectivity of this device, for its price point, is another area that left a positive impression on me when getting set for my review. Of course, there are USB ports for storage and accessories, two different network connection options, and then things get quite unique. Both of these devices arrive with not only HDMI 2.0B for increased visual bandwidth performance in 4K, but they also arrive with an SPDIF audio output. This is remarkably rare on network-attached storage devices and those looking to output high-end audio and dense audio format tracks directly into their expensive sound systems will appreciate the enhanced audio and visual connectivity on the Flashstor.
This is still arguably a niche for audio output, but there are certainly users who will be thrilled about this. The HDMI output is utilized with Asustor’s portal application, a complete parallel graphical user interface to access the NAS. It provides a full HDMI user interface that can be controlled via infrared remote control, network remote control, or just a simple USB keyboard and mouse. There are hundreds of available applications and services that can run via this HDMI output, allowing you to run a vast number of local multimedia and business services directly from the device. These range from first-party tools for surveillance and streaming 4K media, to third-party applications for connecting streaming subscription services and virtual machines. Additionally, this system also features an HDMI dedicated parallel GUI, called Asustor portal. This separate user interface and means to interact with the data on your NAS in a far more graphical level is something currently only QNAP provides. The visual out used in conjunction with the two additional USB 3.2/2.0 ports opens up numerous KVM (or keyboard video mouse) applications, such as a stand-alone surveillance system, a stand-alone desktop computer used in conjunction with the virtual machine software, direct output of your movies and box sets from your collection, a retro arcade machine with support for controllers and numerous other first and third-party software options.
Additionally, the Flashstor 12 Pro has scaled things up over the previous model by adding HDMI 2.0b, which is a 4K 60 frames per second visual output, but also is much more efficient at handling HDR and SDR using available bandwidth. That means that you will be able to enjoy particularly dense 4K top-end media with close to zero playback and browsing latency time, by connecting the NAS directly to your TV, as opposed to streaming such large media over the network.
Overall, the FS6712X provides a decent selection of ports and connections, although the absence of USB 3.2 Gen 2 support is a minor drawback that may affect external storage performance. Let’s discuss the internal hardware.
Asustor Flashstor 12 Pro FS6712X NAS Review – Internal Hardware
The internal hardware of the Asustor FS6712X Flashstor 12 Pro NAS is a mix of impressive capabilities and potential limitations. The device is built around the Intel Celeron N5105 processor, a quad-core Jasper Lake CPU known for its power efficiency. This choice of processor strikes a balance between performance and heat generation, making it suitable for NAS applications. Also we have seen extensive use of this processor in the last 18 months but many brands (including asustor themselves in the Lockerstor and Nimbustor Gen 2 series.
This processor has a reasonable 2.0-2.9Ghz performance level, 4 Core/4-thread architecture and integrated graphics which (although not as impressive as a dedicated GFX card or integrated GFX of the likes of an Intel Core) are going to be remarkably handy for tasks such as Plex Media Server conversions, handling heavier surveillance feeds in HEVC or even more graphically stretched containers/VMs. This CPU does however present limitations in the sheer breadth of its PCI lanes and scope to how much use you can put it into, but more on that in a bit. At this price point though, this CPU makes a lot of sense, especially when you factor in that the 6 Bay Flashstor is similar/lower in price to most comparable HDD NAS 4-Bays from Synology/QNAP and the 12 Bay Pro version is 10GbE and lower in price than most 8xHDD NAS Systems of Intel Celeron build.
In terms of memory, the FS6712X comes with 4GB of DDR4 memory as standard (both the 6 and 12 Bay arrive with 4GB by default), which can be expanded up to 16GB. While 4GB may be sufficient for basic NAS functionality, users with more demanding workloads or resource-intensive applications may benefit from upgrading the RAM. The expandability provides flexibility to accommodate varying needs and workloads, especially when you factor in that the Half price 6-Bay has the same memory quantity, but the 12 Bay has 12 NVMes to run AND that 10GbE port. That means that the Flashstor 12 Pro pretty much immediately needs that memory scaled up to at least 8GB if you want to run even a handful of the main services/applications of the FS6712X.
The most noteworthy aspect of the internal hardware is the storage configuration. The FS6712X supports twelve M.2 NVMe slots, allowing for a significant storage capacity. With the ability to accept 2280 PCIe M.2 NVMe modules, the device can potentially house up to 48TB of storage, with the potential to double that capacity when 8TB modules become widely available,peaking at 96TB. There are also several official expansion devices supported (only SATA drives), with even a new 4-Bay 10Gb USB-supported Asustor expansion device available (the AS5004U).
However, it’s important to note that the device’s internal architecture presents some limitations. The Intel Celeron N5105 processor offers a maximum of eight PCIe lanes, which falls short considering the number of M.2 slots and other connectivity options available. This is mitigated by a PCIe bridge chip, but ultimately results in each NVMe SSD slot capping at PCIe Gen 3×1 – so a theoretical maximum of 1,000MB/s per drive, which still won’t be realized in a larger RAID (particularly in Write performance) duue to that efficient little chip just not having the muscles.
This constraint means that each M.2 slot only receives a portion of the bandwidth, potentially limiting the performance of high-speed NVMe drives, with most users most likely utilizing PCIe Gen 3×4 SSDs. This has to be taking in with a pinch of salt, as you need to remain relative to the cost of this device. If you want a full-guns-blazing-flash-NVMe-limitless-server, you would need to spend a few thousand on a Xeon system with the PCI lanes and memory potential to realize it. At $499 for the 6-Bay and a pinch over $850 for the 12 Bay, the performance here is exceedingly relative to the price tag!
Despite these limitations, the FS6712X provides an excellent platform for high-capacity storage with the potential for future expansion. The choice of components strikes a balance between performance and power efficiency, making it a suitable option for a wide range of users. As long as you keep the hardware and price tag in perspective, you are looking at a very reasonable flash system here and easily one of the best entry points into owning your own flash NAS server.
Asustor Flashstor 12 Pro FS6712X NAS Review – Software
The Asustor FS6712X NAS arrives with the latest version of ADM included. Additionally, this software receives frequent updates to ensure that the software runs the very best it can on the Flashstor, as well as keeping up to date with security patches and application versions. The NAS software is accessible via a web browser and displayed very much like a normal computer operating system (desktop, user accounts, customizable themes, file management, running multiple tasks in windows that can be switched in the native tabs), but there are also a range of desktop client tools for accessing the NAS on your local machine natively, as well as a whole bunch of mobile applications that allow tailored access from your phone/tablet in more task-specific means (eg a photo app for viewing pictures and creating phone backup routines, a video app for enjoying your movies and boxsets, surveillance app to access your cameras, etc). There is also a large range of support of 3rd party applications too in the ADM platform. Asustor is not as big a company as the likes of Synology and QNAP, whole put ALOT more money into their software development, but Asustor try to counter this by (when they do not have an in-house app) making native versions of 3rd party tools in their platform (example, they do not have a 1st party Virtual Machine app, but DO include huge support for VirtualBox). The platform is not quite as fully featured as DSM and QTS, but it is still a very smooth and accessible software platform. The app center has a few more 3rd party applications and slightly crowbarred software (eg the Amazon Media and Streaming service plugins) that is not updated up the original uploaders anywhere near enough (leading to running issues on these tools), but the 1st party apps run very well. The big takeaway on the Asustor software and it’s services is that the standard class of expected features of a modern NAS in 2023/2024 are here and run exactly as you would want, it is just some of the additional ones that other platforms have doubled down on (such as AI-related services in Photography and Surveillance for example) that are a little lacking. That said, the brand has definitely ramped up a number of the key security protocols and settings in the default setup.
LooksGood Media App – Built-in three main video library categories; movies, TV shows, home movies and smart video sorting management
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- The efficient global search function allows for searches by keywords followed by the execution of more detailed searches for the purpose of finding categories of movies, TV shows, home movies and parameters such as actors, director, year, genre, writer and title
- Attractive poster wall and thumbnail display
- Automatic production of video poster thumbnails
- Centralized management and ability to configure the order of favourites and playlist history
- The system administrator is able to configure video library and editing permissions according to user preferences
- Can configure access permissions to share with
- Multimedia conversion feature
- Self-defined smart folder for video conversions
- Supports digital TV recordings via digital
- Easy streaming with Chromecast and DLNA
- Supports playback of videos in Apple TV via AiVideos tvOS version
Plex – Hardware Transcoding (with a Plex Pass) is likely and with 1080p handled very well indeed, as well as some Plex 4K transcoding in H.265 (upto 60-80Mb bitrate) and the majority of H.264 Media upto 100Mb bitrate
Virtual Machines – A graphical embedded CPU like the one here will run Windows 10 and Android VMs very well. With the added support for Ubuntu and Hackintosh with VirtualBox. Then there is the option to scale up that memory to allow smoother VMs
Storage Management – BTRFS Support, as well as EXT4 for the traditionalist, Multiple Snapshot storage and browsing for recovery, a large number of ISCSI and LUN target creation, fast-acting SSD caching use. Remember that those M.2 NVMe SSD Bays can be used as both raw Pools and Caching
Network Management – Support of LAG, Load Balancing and virtual switches, as well as maintaining top transmission over 2.5/5/10Gbe for editing or gaming over the network. As well as Jumbo Frame control, DDNS automation, Wake on LAN support and internet/external NAS access with EZ Connect
Backups – Supporting a wide range of multi-tiered backup options that can be carried out simultaneously thanks to the powerful CPU in the Flashstor and Nimbustor NAS systems, such as network RSync, USB Backups, NAS-2-NAS migration, Cloud Backups with Google Drive, Dropbox and Backblaze and numerous RAID levels internally for redundancy.
Content Management – Numerous Content Management Systems (CMS) and Customer Relationship Managers (CRMs) available in 1st and 3rd party forms, with simultaneous operations supported by this NAS
User Account Control – Supporting over 4,000 accounts, each with its own bespoke privileges and access levels, as well as grouping methods to automate the process easily
Security – AES 256bit hardware encryption on data in/out of the device, as well as over backup methods, with the Intel Celeron CPU in the FS6712X maintaining high R/W speeds throughout, as well as Windows ACL permission and configuration, auto blacklisting and multiple VPN provider support
Antivirus (ClamAV) – Scheduled Scans, Automatic Virus Definition Updates, Quarantine Infected Files
Download Center – Supports BT(Torrent & Magnet Link), HTTP and FTP Downloads, Torrent Search, Bandwidth Control, RSS Subscription and Automatic Downloading (Broadcatching), ASUSTOR Download Assistant for Windows & Mac
DropBox, OneDrive and Google Drive Sync – Each ADM Account is Able to Individually Log into one cloud Account, supporting Sync, Directly Upload Files to cloud from the NAS, or from cloud to NAS
Mail Server – Each ADM Account can Become an Independent Email Account, Provides SMTP, IMAP and POP3 Mail Protocols, Spam Filter and Black List Settings, Antivirus Scanning for Emails, Exclusive Email Backup Mechanism, Auto-Forwarding and Auto-Response Protocols
Photo Gallary – “Album” and “Browse” Viewing Modes, Manage Photo Album Access Rights: Public Access, Restricted to Certain Accounts, Album Password, Multi-level Folder Structure Support, Supports Tagging of Photos, One-click Sharing to Social Media (Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Plurk, email), Intuitive Drag and Drop Management, Slideshow Viewing Mode, Supports a Wide Range of Image Formats: JPG/JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIFF, RAW and Supports Video Playback
Surveillance Center – Up to 64 channels in 720p on single live view display, On-screen camera controls including camera PTZ, manual recordings, take snapshots, configure camera settings and open Maps, Up to 4 channels of synchronous and non-synchronous playback with audio, Intelligent video analytics including motion detection and foreign object detection, Supported Browsers: Windows Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Mac Safari, Mac Firefox ESR, Event notification supports SMS, E-mail, and mobile push notification, AiSecure mobile app for iOS and Android with Push notification, Maximum IP Cam (4 Free Licenses; Additional Licenses to be Purchased)
Takeasy – Download from YouTube, Vimeo, Twitch and More, Selectable Video Type and Quality, Automatic Downloads with YouTube or Twitch Subscriptions, Preview Downloads in Progress and Online Playback
SoundsGood Audio App – Import Personal/Public Music Collection, Personal/Public Music Collection Permission Control, Playlist Editor, ID3 Tag Editor, Local Speaker Support: HDMI, USB, Audio Jack, Supported Audio Formats for Browser: MP3, WAV, Ogg, Supported Audio Formats for Transcoding Through Browser: AIFF, Flac, Supported Audio Formats for Local Speaker: MP3, WAV, Ogg, AIFF, Flac
Backup Tools – Rsync (Remote Sync) Backup, Cloud Backup, FTP Backup, External Backup, One-Touch Backup, EZ Sync, Btrfs Snapshots
The Asustor FS6712X Flashstor 12 Pro NAS runs the Asustor NAS operating system, ADM 4.2. ADM offers a user-friendly web management interface that is intuitive and accessible. While it may not have as many wizards as some competing NAS systems, it strikes a balance between simplicity and functionality, making it suitable for both novice and experienced users.
One of the notable strengths of the software is the wide range of Asustor-approved apps available. Users can take advantage of various applications for tasks such as media distribution and presentation, thanks to the FS6712X’s capability to directly output 4K video through the HDMI port and the Asustor Portal interface. The inclusion of an S/PDIF port further enhances the device’s ability to cater to high-quality digital audio needs. Additionally, ADM supports multiple internal and external file systems, including Btrfs, EXT4, NTFS, FAT32, HFS+, and ExFAT. This flexibility allows users to work with various file systems and ensures compatibility with different storage devices and operating systems.
While the FS6712X offers a solid software experience with the Asustor NAS operating system, it’s worth noting that the software does not differentiate between the NVMe storage and other drive mechanisms. This means that the performance of the NVMe drives may not be fully utilized over the network. However, if the NAS is primarily used for indexing data directly or for local access, it can take advantage of the interactions between the Intel Celeron N5105 processor and the drive array, resulting in improved performance.
Asustor Flashstor 12 Pro FS6712X NAS Review – Benchmarks
Currently, we are working on a dedicated video benchmarking the Asustor Flashstor 6 and Flashstor 12 Pro with range of different RAID configurations and SSDs (as well as temperature testing). However, between RAID builds and sourcing the M.2 SSD media, this is taking longer than expected. These dedicated performance/system running tests should be live in the next week or so, but in the meantime below are a few early results from initial performance testing with a RAID 5 of half the available bays. We were hitting 1674MB/s (333291 4K Random IO/s) seq Read and 885MB/s (176919 4K Random IO/s) Seq Write. However, this was with small cap Gen3 drives that were not on the compatibility list of the system (that doesn’t;t mean they are not usable, just that Asustor had not verified them yet and there are literally hundreds of thousands of different SSDs in the market). We will be running tests with more established SSDs soon.
Asustor Flashstor 12 Pro FS6712X NAS Review – Conclusion
I cannot stress enough how impressed I am that the Flashstor 6 and Flashstor 12 Pro are priced at $499 and $860, respectively, given the level of hardware on offer here. These are by no means enterprise-grade NAS server solutions, nor should they be thought of as such. However, given the cost of typical fully featured 4x HDD solutions from their competitors and the brand themselves, which often start at $550 and above, it is quite remarkable that the six M.2 SSD system with comparable internal hardware comes in at $499. As long as a user keeps their expectations in line with what this cost versus its capabilities, it’s really tough to argue with the price point that these two devices have arrived at on the market. The Asustor FS6712X Flashstor 12 Pro NAS presents a unique offering in the NAS market, leveraging NVMe technology to provide high-capacity, ultra-high-performance storage. The device’s design, with its rhombus-shaped enclosure and twelve M.2 NVMe slots, sets it apart from traditional NAS devices and offers a sleek and modern aesthetic. The tool-less drive installation mechanism makes it easy to set up and expand the storage capacity. However, there are some considerations to keep in mind.
The limited number of PCIe lanes provided by the Intel Celeron N5105 processor may restrict the performance of high-speed NVMe drives. The single 10GbE LAN port also presents a potential network bottleneck, limiting the device’s overall network performance. Users seeking maximum performance and network throughput may find alternative solutions better suited to their needs. Despite these limitations, the FS6712X shines as a storage solution for users who prioritize high-capacity storage, quiet operation, and low power consumption. The device’s ability to directly output 4K video, along with its range of Asustor-approved apps, makes it an excellent choice for media distribution and presentation. In terms of pricing, the FS6712X comes with a price tag of $850+. While this may appear high at first glance, it is comparable to 8 bay drive NAS SATA devices and many of those do not even include NVMe slots or 10GbE. Users looking for a more cost-effective option can consider the Flashstor 6, which offers half the number of slots and 2x 2.5GbE enabled ports for $499. As the cost of flash modules continues to drop, and larger capacity drives become available all the way up to 8TB (even without QLC), the FS6712X provides an attractive solution for those seeking high-capacity and high-performance NAS storage. While some underlying performance relativity by the end user needs to be factored in and hardware limitations exist thanks to the use of that Celeron to remain budget-friendly, the FS6712X is a tremendously smart move by Asustor. A well-designed NAS that presents a much more confident solution demonstrating the benefits of NVMe-focused NAS devices to an audience that would have assumed such things are way, WAY outside the realms of affordability!
| PROs of the Asustor Flashstor 12 Pro FS6712X NAS | CONs of the Asustor Flashstor 12 Pro FS6712X NAS |
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| Model |  |
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|---|---|---|
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| Model | FS6706T | FS6712X |
| PRICE | $499 – CHECK Amazon | $860 – CHECK Amazon |
| CPU | Intel Celeron N5105 Quad-Core 2.0GHz (burst up 2.90 GHz) Processor | Intel Celeron N5105 Quad-Core 2.0GHz (burst up 2.90 GHz) Processor |
| HARDWARE ENCRYPTION ENGINE |  |
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| HARDWARE ACCELERATION ENGINE | H.264 (AVC),H.265(HEVC), MPEG-4 Part 2, MPEG-2, VC-1 | H.264 (AVC),H.265(HEVC), MPEG-4 Part 2, MPEG-2, VC-1 |
| MEMORY | 4GB SO-DIMM DDR4 (4GB x1, Expandable. Max 16GB) | 4GB SO-DIMM DDR4 (4GB x1, Expandable. Max 16GB) |
| M.2 DRIVE SLOTS | 6 x NVMe/SATA | 12 x NVMe/SATA |
| HDD | N/A | N/A |
| MAXIMUM DRIVE BAYS WITH EXPANSION UNIT | 14 | 20 |
| SUPPORTS SINGLE VOLUME LARGER THAN 16TB | |
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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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