Qnap TS-464 quad-core 2.5GbE NAS with M.2 NVMe cache

The QNAP TS-464 and TS-664 NAS Coming Soon

QNAP has now finally started sharing details of their prosumer/SMB 4/6-Bay for 2022 with the soon to be arriving TS-464 and TS-664 NAS Drives. Even at a casual glance, these are almost certainly the new version of their flagship series (though details on a 2-Bay TS-264 are still unpublished), these new NAS systems may look on the face of it as the same NAS with a paint job (changing grey out for rose/gold copper) but even a casual look at the specifications, ranging from the CPU, Memory, Storage, Ports and expandability immediately show these new TS-464 and TS-664 systems have taken all of the hardware choices of their earlier revisions (the TS-453D and TS-653D) and doubled down on a number of them. Let’s discuss everything we know about the TS-x64 series 4 and 6 bay, as well as how they compare with the TS-X53D series and whether you should sit on the fence till they are released, or opt for something available right now. Let’s go!

The QNAP TS-464 and TS-664 NAS – Hardware Specifications

The hardware specifications in any NAS refresh tend to be relatively small between individual ranges/series. The reason for this is that most NAS brands try to maintain the price point on solutions in their portfolio (i.e budget > value  > standard > prosumer > business > enterprise etc) and these systems cannot really cost much more than the previous generation unit without running the pricing dynamic and how users can spend their budget on storage, power, speed, build type respectively. In the case of the TS-464 and TS-664 NAS, QNAP has made a number of impressive upgrades on much of the original architecture currently available on the TS-453D/TS-653D in the bandwidth of its components and the extent to which they can be used. Below is how the hardware specifications breakdown:

So, the first thing worth highlighting is the new Intel CPU refresh. The TS-464 and TS-664 NAS arrive with the N5105 or N5095 Processor (because the pandemic and semiconductor shortages made a mess of how Intel refreshes their ranges and this range is now made up with several sub revisions) which is a noticeable jump in power, proficiency and even its rating on CPU benchmark. Arriving with a quad-core architecture at 2.0-2.7Ghz clock speed per core and an onboard embedded graphics engine, this CPU also supports upto 16GB of memory across two slots (with the QNAP TS-464/TS-664 featuring 2666Mhz memory from ADATA). This CPU brings a lot of PCI lanes and architectural advantages to this system and it is largely thanks to that and sensible divisions that these two NAS also feature 2x 2.5G network connectivity and PCIe upgradability that is larger in bandwidth (double, with 2,000MB vs 1,000MB) than it’s predecessor.

Another big area of improvement in the new TS-464 and TS-664 NAS Drives from QNAP is that these systems arrive with 2 M.2 NVMe SSD bays internally. These allow you to install two significantly faster SSDs inside that can be used for caching for the larger RAID storage array, can be used as tiered storage (creating a single storage area that comprises the mixed media types and stores appropriate data onto the media that best suits it) and even supports their use as a RAID enabled separate storage pool. Those used in conjunction with the 2.5GbE connectivity or with a PCIe card with 1-2 10GbE ports (again, fully supported by the TS-464 or TS-664 thanks to that PCIe Gen 3 x2 bandwidth) are going to mean that these NAS systems have some of the best potential internal AND external throughput of any MID-RANGE 4-6-Bay ever released. However, it is important to note that these slots (likely down to the architecture of that CPU and how many hardware services it can be extended towards) are PCIe Gen 3 x1 in architecture (i.e 1,000MB/s in architecture). So, it is worth remembering that their use for raw storage pools will not match their use in a desktop PC PCIe Gen 3 x4 M.2 SSD Slot.

The other interesting and unique addition to the TS-464 and TS-664 is the inclusion of USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (10Gb or 1,000MB/s performance to a supported storage device). Not only is this something we have not seen much of the Prosumer/SMB tier outside of Ryzen systems till now, but the fact that the front port is a one-touch copy button and is a USB 3.2 Gen 2 port is going to be remarkably interesting to users who like to maintain a local USB backup on their much, much bigger storage volumes via Hybrid Backup Sync and more.

The system also features an HDMI 2.0 Port (4K 60FPS) which although is pretty widely available in the last couple of years of QNAP releases, is still a welcome addition and also means that those USB 2.0 ports that I would normally be highly critical of (which I am happy to overlook thanks to those USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports) are actually useful for a KVM setup with the HDMI out. Overall, the extended capabilities of this CPU and this chipset of the TS-464 and TS-664 have been hugely extended in how this system arrives in the hardware department! Let’s talk about how the TS-464 compares with the still currently available TS-453D NAS from 2020.

The QNAP TS-464 vs TS-453D

The Arrival of the TS-464 and TS-664 NAS drives, even if they are potentially still a little way from full release, is going to make a number of buyers who purchased the TS-453D or TS-653D recently (or were just about to pull the trigger and buy them) pause and think about whether they should buy the current NAS or wait for the new thing. Now, both the TS-X64 and TS-X53D series will run the same standard of QNAP QTS (both in terms of the services, applications and single user experience), however as the architecture in terms of available processing resources and storage bandwidth options differ between these systems, this means that there are going to be notable differences in how well things will run with a larger volume of simultaneous users/processes, as well as the performance in a number of areas that each machine is capable of hitting. Here is a brief summary of the key differences.

Main Differences Between the TS-x53D and TS-x64 Series

• The CPU in the TS-X64 Series can hit a higher clock speed, which means it can process more things in peak usage, but will be a pinch more power-hungry than the TS-X53 NAS range
• The TS-X64 Series arrives with 4GB of memory (as does the TS-X53D range) but this can be expanded to 16GB, twice as much as the older NAS range. Also, the TS-X64 range arrives with higher frequency 2666Mhz ADATA memory, whilst the TS-X53D series features 2400Mhz
• Both systems feature PCIe upgradability, but the TS-X64 range has twice the available bandwidth with its PCIe Gen 3 x2 slot.
• The TS-X64 Features those 2 M.2 NVMe SSD slots that, although set at PCIe Gen 3×1, are a storage option completely absent in the TS-X53D series
• Finally, the TS-X64 range also features better USB support, arriving with USB 3.2 Gen 2  at 1,000MB/s performance potential, whereas the TS-X53D systems only have USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gb/s or 500MB/s approx)

Those are the MAIN differences, but there are a few much smaller differences. Below is a breakdown of their respective specifications and how each compares.

So, although both systems are still quite good systems for your first prosumer or smaller business NAS, the newer TS-464 and TS-664 (plus I assume the TS-264) seemingly provide a better degree of hardware vs the older TS-253D, TS-453D and TS-653D.

The QNAP TS-464 and TS-664 NAS – Software Specifications

The QNAP TS-464 and TS-664 will be arriving with QTS, the brand’s software and services platform that is included with every QNAP NAS system. Given the hardware that the TS-464 arrives with, it will almost certainly not feature the ZFS platform QuTS. QTS is currently in version 5 and I have made a full review of their latest software release in the video below, but below is a breakdown of the key applications that it includes (which can be accessed/used via the network/internet via your web browser, as well as via client apps for desktops and mobile).

QNAP Software and System Management Highlights

• File Station – File Browsing and Management Tool
• QSirch -Intelligent and Fast System-wide search tool
• QFiling – Smart and customizable long term storage and archive tool
• SSD Caching Monitor and Advisor – Allowing you to scale your SSD cache as needed, or get recommendations on how much you need
• QTier – The QNAP intelligent, multi-layer tiering system that works to optimize your SSD vs HDD use, moving files to the appropriate storage media (not currently supported on QuTS Hero, just QTS)
• Microsoft Active Directory– Support and cross-platform control of Active Directory processes
• Access-Anywhere with myQNAPcloud – Safe and secure remote access over the internet to your storage systems, apps or just file storage
• Qsync for multiple hardware environment backups and Sync – Client applications that can be installed on multiple 3rdparty devices and create a completely customizable and scaled back up network between your devices
• Hybrid Backup Sync 3 – Allows you to Backup and Sync with Amazon Glacier, Amazon S3, Azure Storage, Google Cloud Storage, HKT Object Storage, OpenStack Swift, WebDAV, Alibaba Cloud, Amazon Drive, Amazon S3, BackBlaze B2, Box, Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, HiDrive, hubiC, OneDrive, OneDrive For Business, ShareFile and Yandex Disk. As well as backup to another NAS over real-time remote replication (RTRR) and USB connected media. All scheduled and all accessible via a single app user interface.
• vJBOD and Hybrid Mount – Gives you the ability to mount cloud storage as a visible drive within the NAS (and the apps access it as if it was local) or mount a % of space from your NAS onto another as a virtual chunk of space to use
• Multimedia Console – one portal access point to manage media access, searching, indexing and transcoding on your NAS device.
• Photo, Video and Music Station – Multiple file type tailored applications to access data in the best possible way that is suited to their output – along with smart searching, playlists and sharing
• Virtualization Station – Used to create virtual computers that can be accessed anywhere over the network/internet with the correct credentials. Supporting Windows, Linux, Android and more. You can import an existing VM image to the NAS, or you can even download Linux and Windows VMs directly to the NAS for trials for free
• Container Station – much like the VM app, Container station lets you mount and access smaller virtual tools and GUIs, then access them over the network or internet.
• Linux Station – Handy application to deploy multiple Linux based Ubuntu VMs from the NAS, all easily and within a few clicks
• QVR Pro and QVR Elite – Surveillance applications that allow you to connect multiple IP cameras and IP speaks to your network and manage them with the applications. Arriving with 2 camera licenses for QVR Elite and 8 licenses for QVR Pro (the better one IMO), QNAP is constantly updating this enterprise-level surveillance application – adding newer security hardware and software tools for 2020 (see QVR Face and QVR Door)
• QuMagie – Facial and Thing recognition application to help you retrieve, tag and catalogue photos by its use of AI to actually ‘view’ all your years of photos and let you search by the contents of them, not the file names.
• Download Station – A download management tool that can handle HTTP, BT, FTP and NZB files in bulk to be downloaded to your NAS drive and keep safe. As well as keeping an eye on your RSS feeds and keeping your podcast downloads automatically updated with every episode
• Malware Removers and Security Councillor – Along with Anti Virus software trials on the app centre, QNAP also provide numerous anti-intrusion tools and even a whole app interface to monitor in/outgoing transmissions with your NAS. It can make recommendations to beef up your security and keep you safe

Here is my full review of QTS 5.0 for QNAP NAS:

FULL Written QNAP QTS 5 Review	FULL Video Review of QNAP QTS 5

The QNAP TS-464 & TS-664 NAS – Price & Release Date

QNAP has been a little quieter on the eventual release price and planned western launch date for the TS-464 NAS, however, we can make some educated guesses! The model IDs for the TS-464 and TS-664 have already appeared online in smaller places these last few months (in drop-down menus on product pages, on compatibility sheets and even briefly on their own YouTube channel), but now that the hardware specifications on these units are available, there is a good chance that these will see an April/May release (depending on your location locally of course). With regard to pricing, I hope that these systems will land at a similar price point to the currently available TS-453D and TS-653D at £500-650 (not factoring the tax in your region which can change things of course). However, QNAP has a habit of releasing systems a pinch higher than they perhaps should be when their competitors have not launched a similar release. I hope that the TS-464 and TS-664 arrive with a price point that matches that of the current TS-53D series, but we are still awaiting confirmation on it. If you want to check our recommended retailers for QNAP NAS, you can use the buttons below to check if the TS-464 and TS-664 are available in your region now. Thanks for reading!

 

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