Terramaster F8 SSD and F8 SSD PLUS NAS News

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:

Ports/Connections F8 SSD F8 SSD PLUS
RJ-45 10GbE Network Jack 1 1
USB3.2 Host Port 3 (10Gbps) 3 (10Gbps)
HDMI 1 1
M.2 2280 NVMe Slot 8 8
RJ-45 1GbE Network Jack
RJ-45 2.5GbE Network Jack
SFP+ 10GbE Network Jack
USB2.0 Host Port
COM
VGA
PCIe Slots

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:

Hardware F8 SSD F8 SSD PLUS
Processor Model Intel N95 Intel® i3 N305
Processor Architecture X.86 64-bit X.86 64-bit
Processor Frequency Max burst up to 3.4 GHz Max burst up to 3.8 GHz
System Memory 8 GB DDR5 non-ECC SODIMM 16 GB DDR5 non-ECC SODIMM
Pre-installed Memory 8 GB DDR5 (1x 8 GB) 16 GB DDR5 (1x 16 GB)
Total Memory Slots 1 (DDR5 SODIMM) 1 (DDR5 SODIMM)
Maximum Supported Memory 32 GB DDR5 32 GB DDR5
Maximum Internal Raw Storage Capacity 64 TB (8 TB x 8) 64 TB (8 TB x 8)
Drive Hot Swap Yes Yes
Hardware Encryption Engine Yes Yes
Hardware Transcoding Engine H.264, H.265, MPEG-4, VC-1 H.264, H.265, MPEG-4, VC-1
Transcoding Max Resolution 4K (4096 x 2160) 4K (4096 x 2160)
Transcoding Max FPS 60 60

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.

IMPORTANT – Terramaster F8 SSD PLUS Review NOW LIVE – You Can Read it HERE

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.

PROs of the F8 SSD PLUS NAS CONs of the F8 SSD PLUS NAS
  • 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.
  • 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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      27 thoughts on “Terramaster F8 SSD and F8 SSD PLUS NAS News

      1. The first thing I do with amy NAS is test data recovery. With TOS 5 I created an array of 8 TB, 4 TB, 1TB, and 500 GB. Deliberately extreme differences in sizes to test. My test swapping out the 4TB worked great. Recovery took 10 hours, but the system remained alive and fast the full time. However, attempting to swap the 500 GB resulted in a non-recoverable volume. I upgraded to TOS 6, but that could not recover the volume either. I need to test though to see if TOS 6 will actually create the non-recoverable volume.

        Pitty. Because I think I prefer TOS to unpaid. But if it cannot reliably serve it’s primary purpose of protecting my files, what is the point?
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      2. Honestly, I’m a total noob to this nas stuff but comparing the f4-424 to everything else available in it’s price range has me quite interested in terramaster. The underdog aspect definitely helps too. You guys rock for nas info btw, I’ve been devouring your website for the past couple of days. Much thanks from Maryland, USA.
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      3. Can you compare Terramaster directly with Asustor. Newer NAS OSs but great hardware for price. See how each has developed the software over the years and if its worth buying into either ecosystem.
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      4. I’d be very cautious about using the 6 Beta. Seems like it corrupted my USB Boot Chip and they are sending me a new one. Comment was made at first that I should pay for it ????. Seems they will send it for free now. Perhaps I should have paid extra in the beginning for a Synology as my Terramaster has been a pain since I bought it ????
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      5. Upgraded to 6. All looked good until I realised all my folders had disappeared. Tried creating a shared folder but it wouldn’t have it. Tried good old turn it off and on again by signing out and then it kindly permanently locked me out. The NAS shows up on TNAS Uninitialised but it won’t fire up to the sign in page/boot/initialisation ????. Tried all I know so having to let Terramaster remotely control my PC/ NAS tomorrow as I don’t know anything about getting into its brain via terminal mode etc.
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      6. would love to hear your thoughts on a comparison between TRAID with mixed sized drives and SHR/SHR2 with mixed drives, does terramaster do data scrubbing too?, also heard some of the big terramasters (12 bay) have metal caddies, is this dangerous for the bare PCB on drives?
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      7. Is raid 5 work for any drives number, like it will use 1 drive for even 20 drive in the raid?

        Or is it a ratio, like every 4 drives, 1 drive is parity/ redundancy or whatever they call it?
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      8. Well, TRAID+ was my motivation for getting a TerraMaster system, and they’ve finally removed all references to TRAID+ in their documentation… the hardware is fine, but I definitely feel that I experienced a ‘bait-and-switch’.
        If TRAID+ was included in TOS 6 Final, that would help, but I suspect that TRAID+ won’t appear until TOS 10 at the earliest…
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      9. Thank you for making my life easier ????

        Please may we have a list of NASs that you can load your own OS onto?

        Maybe it would make an interesting video?

        I have a Terramaster F2-423 running Proxmox and it is solid.
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      10. I am still waiting for the day when a NAS brand doesn’t spend unnecessary development time on useless features that much worse than open-source counterparts… (Yes, I am looking at Synology, and that horrible abomination they created as a “docker” manager…)
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      11. Yeah, for beta, it looks good IMO. Also of note Ugreen has some interesting NAS hardware on the horizon. Like with other NAS offerings that are not Synology the Ugreen software and OS is a bit S#!t but it’s still worth a look.
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      12. They have hdd icons for ssds. That shows lack of attention to detail. Since might say it’s not important, but for me it’s a red flag. Lack of attention to detail in one area may signal similar lack in other, less visible places.
        Also, we need a list of shame for ui designers that make small dialog windows which require scrolling when there’s a lot of free screen real estate
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      13. Lets have a look what they got

        Currently have their 6bay running unraid ( like how unraid work as it got less drive spinning when access )

        And a teramaster 6bay usb DAS connected to it

        Consider get one more unit if their TOS got interesting function added in new version
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