These sources collectively provide an overview of recent developments in the storage and networking technology sectors. Key announcements include high-performance PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSDs from companies like Sandisk (WD_BLACK SN8100) and Kingston (FURY Renegade G5), promising significantly faster speeds for consumer and professional workloads. There are also updates on enterprise storage solutions, such as KIOXIA’s new NVMe SSDs with advanced flash technology and QNAP’s high-density all-flash NAS systems and high-availability features. Additionally, the articles touch upon innovations in data management and networking, including a crowdfunding project for an AI-powered NAS (Zettlab AI NAS), QNAP’s new 10GbE network cards, and an update to the Unraid operating system with new storage and networking capabilities. Security concerns are also highlighted with the launch of a European vulnerability database and discussions around potential CPU vulnerabilities and long-term storage solutions like Western Digital’s investment in ceramic technology.
Kingston FURY Releases High Performance PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD
Kingston has launched its new FURY Renegade G5 PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD, delivering exceptional speeds for enthusiasts and professionals. It leverages the Silicon Motion SM2508 controller and 3D TLC NAND to push sequential read speeds up to 14,800 MB/s and write speeds up to 14,000 MB/s.
This SSD is engineered with a 12-layer PCB, low-power DDR4 cache, and an advanced thermal design to handle the demands of high-performance tasks like gaming, video editing, and data-heavy workflows. It supports DirectStorage for Windows gaming and comes in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities. The launch underscores Kingston’s intent to compete in the premium Gen5 SSD market.
Kioxia Introduces First Enterprise NVMe SSD with 8th Gen BiCS FLASH
Kioxia announced its CM9 Series PCIe 5.0 SSDs, the first enterprise drives built using the company’s 8th-gen BiCS FLASH NAND, which features CBA (CMOS Bonded to Array) technology. This architectural leap increases interface speed, improves energy efficiency, and doubles density per flash chip.
Aimed at high-performance computing, AI, and large-scale cloud workloads, these drives mark a significant milestone in enterprise storage development. The CM9 Series will deliver improved IOPS-per-watt, lower latency, and support for future hyperscale deployments.
QNAP Releases New Dual-Port 10GbE SFP+ Network Cards
QNAP introduced the QXG-10G2SF-NXE expansion card, a dual-port 10GbE SFP+ NIC supporting RDMA and SR-IOV. Built with the Broadcom 57412 controller, this PCIe Gen3 card allows QNAP NAS or compatible PCs and servers to be upgraded with fast, low-latency networking.
This release aligns with QNAP’s ongoing push toward virtualization and hybrid cloud environments, offering users better throughput for data-intensive tasks like VM hosting, large backups, and AI workloads. It’s compatible with QNAP’s TS-x64 and TS-x64U series and brings flexible deployment options to SMBs and prosumers.
Zettlab AI NAS Crowdfunding Gains Traction
Zettlab’s Kickstarter campaign for its AI-enhanced NAS series surpassed £700,000, with over 1,000 backers and weeks still remaining. The company shared updates via email detailing improved hardware specs and USB4 support across the lineup, including the D4, D6, and D8 Ultra units.
The NAS devices integrate offline AI inference, facial recognition, and intelligent indexing features. These systems are designed for users who want AI-powered workflows without relying on cloud services, a rising trend in localized private compute solutions.
Addlink Teases 14 GB/s PCIe Gen5 SSDs Before Computex
Addlink revealed its G57 and G57H PCIe Gen5 NVMe SSDs ahead of Computex 2025. These M.2 2280 drives claim speeds of up to 14,000 MB/s, competing with major Gen5 entries from Kingston and WD. They feature 3D NAND flash, LPDDR4 cache, and an unnamed 6nm controller.
While the 4TB variant is expected to deliver full performance, smaller capacities may offer slightly reduced throughput. The G57H includes a heatsink for thermal management, catering to high-performance desktop users. This shows growing competition in the Gen5 NVMe segment.
ICY DOCK Intros New ToughArmor EX PCIe 4.0 Mobile Rack Enclosure
ICY DOCK unveiled the ToughArmor EX MB601V4KW-B, a rugged, removable drive enclosure designed for high-performance industrial and edge computing environments. It supports a single 2.5″ U.2/U.3 NVMe SSD (up to 15mm) and fits into a standard external 3.5″ bay.
The enclosure is fully constructed from metal and features an IPX6-rated water-resistant front panel, offering protection against dust and splashes. Designed for reliability and portability, it supports PCIe 4.0 transfer speeds of up to 64 Gbps and is ideal for AI training, military field deployments, and high-speed data logging. Security is enhanced with a dual-segment keylock and EMI grounding.
European Union Launches Official Vulnerability Database (EUVD)
The European Commission announced the launch of the European Vulnerability Database (EUVD), a centralized system aimed at strengthening cybersecurity across the EU and aligning with the upcoming NIS2 directive requirements.
The EUVD is intended to streamline the disclosure and tracking of vulnerabilities across member states and reduce reliance on non-European services like the U.S. NVD. It marks a significant step toward digital sovereignty and harmonized cyber threat intelligence sharing within the EU.
SanDisk Unveils ‘Stargate’ Controller for High-Capacity Enterprise SSDs
SanDisk, now operating as an independent NAND and SSD manufacturer under WD’s umbrella, announced a new controller project called “Stargate.” Designed specifically for large-scale SSDs with QLC (Quad-Level Cell) NAND, Stargate aims to deliver massive capacity with optimized performance and endurance.
During its earnings call, CEO David Goeckeler discussed how Stargate would help SanDisk support new generations of data center storage demands. QLC allows for denser flash with lower cost per TB, and this controller is expected to address the challenges in performance, reliability, and latency that such architectures face.
Unraid OS 7.1.2 Released with Critical Data Integrity Fixes
Unraid released version 7.1.2 of its NAS operating system, resolving a potentially serious issue introduced in 7.1.0 and 7.1.1. The bug affected the “mover empty disk” feature and could result in data being placed incorrectly or even lost when split-level share rules were violated.
The new update corrects how the mover function respects split levels, ensuring safe file relocation. It also brings minor performance tweaks and GUI improvements. This release reinforces Unraid’s position as a flexible platform for home lab, media, and container-based storage users.
Synology BeeStation Plus Multimedia NAS Officially Revealed
Synology has formally revealed the BeeStation Plus, an upgraded version of its streamlined personal cloud system. The device features an integrated 8TB drive, improved CPU performance, and an updated interface resembling DSM, Synology’s full NAS operating system.
The BeeStation Plus targets users who want centralized photo, video, and file management at home without the complexity of a traditional NAS. It includes AI-powered photo recognition, cross-device syncing, and a web interface for simplified administration. The platform is aimed at families and small teams looking for privacy and ease of use without recurring cloud storage fees.
QNAP High Availability Manager Beta Released
QNAP has launched a beta version of its new High Availability Manager, allowing users to configure NAS clusters with automatic failover capabilities. This ensures real-time data replication between a primary and standby NAS to maintain uninterrupted service even during hardware failures.
The new feature supports industries with mission-critical workloads and helps SMBs implement affordable disaster recovery strategies. It strengthens QNAP’s enterprise offering by simplifying the deployment of High Availability (HA) systems that traditionally required complex networking and administrative overhead.
QNAP Unveils TDS-h2489FU R2 Dual-CPU NVMe All-Flash NAS
QNAP announced the TDS-h2489FU R2, a 24-bay all-NVMe NAS built for enterprise workloads such as AI, HPC, and virtualization. Powered by dual Intel Xeon Silver 4300 CPUs and up to 1TB of DDR4 memory, this system is capable of handling multi-user, high-throughput tasks across data centers.
This NAS also supports four PCIe Gen4 slots for additional NICs or GPUs, making it highly adaptable for 10/25/100GbE networking or GPU-accelerated AI tasks. It runs QuTS hero OS with the ZFS file system, offering deduplication, compression, and data integrity verification — crucial for high-value data operations in AI, 3D rendering, and large-scale VMs.
Gigabyte Debuts M.2 EZ-Flex Thermal Pressure System
Gigabyte introduced a new feature called “M.2 EZ-Flex” in its latest motherboard lineup. This technology applies targeted pressure to M.2 SSDs via a thermal pad bracket, increasing contact with heatsinks and improving cooling efficiency.
Debuting on their new Stealth series boards, this feature targets Gen4 and Gen5 SSDs, which are prone to thermal throttling. By improving thermal conductivity, EZ-Flex helps maintain performance consistency during sustained workloads such as gaming, rendering, or file transfers.
Researchers Demonstrate Ransomware Embedded in CPU Microcode
Security researchers warned about a potential vulnerability in AMD CPUs that allows ransomware to be injected directly into the CPU microcode. If weaponized, this attack would be nearly undetectable and persist across reboots, reinstalls, and standard security scans.
While the current example is proof-of-concept only, it demonstrates that firmware-level threats are no longer hypothetical. It has sparked calls for greater transparency in microcode development and wider adoption of open-source firmware in both consumer and enterprise hardware.
New Intel CPU Exploit Enables Cross-Tenant Cloud Data Theft
A newly disclosed vulnerability affects Intel CPUs released over the past six years. The exploit can potentially allow attackers to access data across virtual machine (VM) boundaries in shared cloud environments, posing a major threat to multi-tenant systems.
Particularly concerning for public cloud services, the flaw exploits speculative execution paths and cache leakage, echoing concerns from the Spectre/Meltdown era. Cloud providers and enterprise IT teams are expected to deploy mitigation patches immediately, though performance penalties are anticipated in some cases.
Western Digital Invests in Ceramic-Based Long-Term Archival Storage
Western Digital has announced plans to develop ultra-long-lasting storage media by investing in German startup Cerabyte. The goal is to create ceramic-based data storage with a projected lifespan of up to 5,000 years, offering vastly superior archival durability compared to magnetic tape or optical formats.
This research is part of WD’s broader strategy to tackle the problem of long-term data preservation for governmental, academic, and scientific use cases. Although still in R&D, ceramic storage could eventually serve institutions requiring data retention for centuries, including national archives, aerospace agencies, and biological research centers.
WD_BLACK SN8100 Review: Sandisk’s Elite Gen5 SSD for Creators and Gamers
The SN8100, branded under SanDisk but still bearing the WD_BLACK name, is a Gen5 NVMe SSD aimed at gamers, content creators, and professionals. StorageReview’s detailed benchmark showed the SN8100 delivering top-tier performance in 8K video editing, large game loads, and multitasking environments.
The SSD is available in up to 4TB configurations with an 8TB version expected soon. Despite branding confusion due to WD’s recent flash business restructuring, the drive demonstrates outstanding performance and build quality. It’s one of the fastest Gen5 SSDs currently available for consumer platforms.
Backblaze Q1 2025 Drive Stats: HDD Reliability Still Strong
Backblaze has published its Q1 2025 Drive Stats report, analyzing over 317,000 hard drives across more than 27 million drive days. The data, drawn from operational drives meeting strict statistical thresholds, showed only incremental changes in reliability with no major brand failures.
Seagate and Toshiba drives maintained steady performance, while older models continue to be gradually replaced with higher-capacity 16TB and 18TB units. These reports are widely used by enterprise buyers and tech enthusiasts to gauge real-world drive durability under constant load.
Synology PAS7700 NVMe Flash NAS System Officially Unveiled
Synology has officially revealed the PAS7700, its long-awaited all-NVMe flash rackmount NAS. Designed for high-speed workflows, the system supports 10GbE+ networking, PCIe expansion, and SSD-focused architecture — a clear shift toward competing in the performance-driven enterprise and creative sectors.
While details are still emerging, speculation continues around SSD compatibility, as Synology may restrict support to its in-house NVMe modules. The PAS7700 marks a milestone for the brand’s server-class ambitions, moving beyond hybrid NAS systems to full NVMe storage infrastructure.
Plex Media Server Community Update – Feature Requests and Stability Feedback
Within the Plex community forums, recent discussions have focused on user feedback regarding the performance and development direction of Plex Media Server (PMS). Longtime users have raised concerns about the increasing complexity of the software, the growing reliance on internet connectivity, and the perceived slowdown in innovation for offline or local-first deployments.
One of the most upvoted topics highlights a need for better support of locally hosted metadata, improved transcoding reliability for ARM-based NAS platforms, and clearer versioning of server builds. While Plex remains one of the most feature-rich media server platforms, this thread emphasizes the demand for a more stable, customizable experience—particularly among advanced NAS and Docker users.
Future updates may address these community concerns as Plex balances cloud integration with its original mission of local media control.
| Where to Buy a Product | |||
 |
    
|
  
|
VISIT RETAILER ➤ |
 |
|
|
VISIT RETAILER ➤ |
 |
|
|
VISIT RETAILER ➤ |
 |
|
|
VISIT RETAILER ➤ |
We use affiliate links on the blog allowing NAScompares information and advice service to be free of charge to you. Anything you purchase on the day you click on our links will generate a small commission which is used to run the website. Here is a link for Amazon and B&H. You can also get me a ☕ Ko-fi or old school Paypal. Thanks! To find out more about how to support this advice service check HERE If you need to fix or configure a NAS, check Fiver Have you thought about helping others with your knowledge? Find Instructions Here
(EARLY) The Problem (and the solution) with Oculink eGPUs (GMKtec AD-GP1 Review)
(Early Access) MINISFORUM MS-A2 vs MS-01 - Which Is BEST?
UGREEN vs QNAP - LET'S HAVE AN ARGUMENT.....
Synology BeeStation Plus 8TB - A Real Easy PLEX NAS?
(Early Access) 45Drives Has Entered the Chat... (HL8 Review)
(Early Access) Synology DS1825+ NAS Released
Access content via Patreon or KO-FI
DISCUSS with others your opinion about this subject.
ASK questions to NAS community
SHARE more details what you have found on this subject
CONTRIBUTE with your own article or review. Click HERE
IMPROVE this niche ecosystem, let us know what to change/fix on this site
EARN KO-FI Share your knowledge with others and get paid for it! Click HERE