Week 44 Tech Roundup – QNAP Flash NASbook, Unraid 7.2, PCIe Gen5 SSDs, DDR5-7200, WD/Seagate Q1 Reports

This week’s edition of the Weekly Tech Digest brings together the most important developments across storage, networking, and AI-integrated edge computing. We cover QNAP’s latest flash NASbook, Unraid’s 7.2.0 stable release, and a new AI NAS powered by 36 TOPS of compute. Highlights also include breakthroughs in DDR5-7200 RDIMM, TP-Link’s Wi-Fi 8 field tests, SK hynix’s NAND roadmap from OCP 2025, and new PCIe Gen 5 SSDs from Corsair, PNY, and TeamGroup. Plus, both Western Digital and Seagate reveal their Q1 2026 financials, and Ubiquiti celebrates “SFP Liberation Day” with major fiber support updates. Whether you’re a sysadmin, homelab enthusiast, or storage integrator, this digest summarizes the week’s biggest innovations that shape the future of NAS and edge infrastructure.

Western Digital Q1 FY2026 Results Reveal Recovery in Flash Business

Western Digital has released its fiscal Q1 2026 results, reporting revenue of $3.2 billion, a 3 percent sequential increase and a 20 percent rise year-over-year. The performance was driven by improved demand in Flash, particularly in client and consumer segments. The company posted a net loss of $250 million, though this marks a narrower gap compared to previous quarters. WD emphasized continued investment in its ultra-high-capacity HDDs and energy-assisted recording technologies, projecting stronger margins in upcoming quarters. The separation of its Flash and HDD businesses into standalone units is on track, with full spin-off completion expected by the second half of 2026. This restructuring aims to sharpen focus and unlock long-term value in both divisions.

Source: Western Digital

Sapphire Launches Edge AI Mini-PC Series with Ryzen AI 300 Processors

Sapphire Technology has unveiled its EDGE AI Mini PC lineup, powered by the new AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series chips. These compact systems are targeted at AI workloads on the edge, featuring integrated Ryzen AI NPUs, Radeon 800M/890M graphics, and support for up to four simultaneous 4K displays. Key configurations include the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 with 80 TOPS of AI performance and PCIe Gen 4 NVMe for high-speed local storage. The series also includes USB4, Wi-Fi 6E, and optional 2.5GbE LAN, making them suitable for smart retail, surveillance, and embedded AI inference. Sapphire aims to meet the growing demand for low-power, high-performance AI edge devices with a balance of compute and GPU throughput.

Source: Sapphire Technology

Western Digital Investigating SMR Drive Failures from Early Production

Western Digital has confirmed it is investigating issues affecting certain older Shingled Magnetic Recording (SMR) hard drives, following reports of increased failure rates due to potential design flaws. Affected users have cited data corruption and unexpected device failures, particularly in NAS environments where SMR drives are not recommended. The company acknowledged the problems in early production models and is working with impacted customers. This issue resurfaces long-standing criticism of WD’s earlier lack of transparency around SMR use in consumer drives. While newer drives have better disclosure and improved firmware, this investigation could lead to recalls or replacements depending on findings. Users with affected drives are advised to back up data and monitor SMART attributes closely.

Source: Western Digital

Innodisk Unveils Industry’s First DDR5-7200 RDIMM with 64GB Capacity

Innodisk has announced the world’s first DDR5-7200 RDIMM module, offering up to 64GB per stick, targeted at high-performance computing, AI inference, and enterprise servers. The module features on-die ECC, advanced power management ICs (PMIC), and lower voltage for energy efficiency. With bandwidth surpassing 57.6 GB/s, these RDIMMs enable faster multi-threaded performance, particularly in EPYC 9004, Intel Xeon 6, and AI edge server deployments. Designed for harsh environments, it supports wide temperature tolerance and is JEDEC-compliant. Innodisk’s DDR5 initiative aligns with the broader shift to PCIe Gen 5/6 platforms, where memory bottlenecks are a critical concern.

Source: Innodisk

ASUS ROG GT-BE19000AI Router Brings Wi-Fi 7 and AI Boost for Gamers

ASUS Republic of Gamers has introduced the Rapture GT-BE19000AI, a flagship Wi-Fi 7 gaming router designed for ultra-low latency and high-bandwidth environments. Featuring tri-band 19 Gbps throughput, Dual 10GbE LAN/WAN, and Quad-Core 2.6GHz CPU, this router supports Multi-Link Operation (MLO) and AI-driven QoS optimization. ASUS touts the inclusion of AI Boost, which learns user habits to dynamically prioritize traffic for gaming, streaming, or conferencing. It also offers customizable RGB lighting, WPA3 security, and full compatibility with ASUS AiMesh for multi-room setups. With both hardware and software tailored for performance, the GT-BE19000AI is set to be a flagship in the Wi-Fi 7 market.

Source: ASUS ROG

HighPoint Rocket 1624A PCIe Gen 5 Switch Enables Multi-Device Expansion

HighPoint has released the Rocket 1624A, a PCIe Gen 5 switch adapter that enables users to expand their system with multiple NVMe devices using a single x16 slot. Designed for high-performance workstations and servers, the adapter supports 4 x M.2 NVMe SSDs and leverages Broadcom’s PCIe switch silicon to ensure full bandwidth distribution. It features a dedicated cooling system, optional bifurcation support, and compatibility with Windows, Linux, and VMware platforms. This adapter is particularly suited for content creators, researchers, and AI developers requiring high-speed local storage expansion without sacrificing PCIe lanes needed for GPUs or network cards.

Source: HighPoint

GMKtec Launches NucBox M7 with Ryzen 7 Pro 6850U and USB4

GMKtec has unveiled the NucBox M7, a compact mini-PC powered by AMD Ryzen 7 Pro 6850U, featuring 8 cores and integrated Radeon 680M graphics. The system offers support for USB4, dual 2.5GbE LAN, and PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSDs, with up to 64GB of DDR5 memory. It includes three 4K display outputs (HDMI, USB-C, and DisplayPort), Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3, making it a versatile platform for productivity, virtual desktops, or NAS-adjacent workloads. GMKtec positions the M7 as a robust, power-efficient alternative to Intel NUCs, aimed at both business and home office environments.

Source: GMKtec

Software-Defined Storage Trends Highlighted in Storage Magazine UK

Storage Magazine UK has published a detailed industry report examining the latest trends in software-defined storage (SDS), with emphasis on ZFS adoption, NVMe-over-Fabrics, and hybrid flash tiering. Vendors like TrueNAS, QNAP, and Synology are spotlighted for offering increasingly scalable SDS solutions tailored for SMBs and MSPs. The report also highlights rising demand for API-level integration, immutable snapshots, and ransomware protection, especially in regulated sectors such as healthcare and finance. As AI and analytics workloads drive higher storage throughput, SDS platforms are evolving to deliver low-latency performance with cost-effective hardware footprints.

Source: Storage Magazine UK

Unraid 7.2.0 Final Release Adds ZFS Boot, Better VM Performance

Unraid 7.2.0 is now officially released, bringing several key upgrades for advanced users and homelabbers. The most notable feature is native ZFS boot support, allowing full deployment of Unraid on ZFS pools without workarounds. Also included are enhanced virtualization performance, updated kernel modules, and new Docker and VM management tools. Network stack improvements boost SMB file sharing speeds, and support has been extended for newer hardware, including Intel Arc GPUs and Ryzen 8000 series APUs. The UI receives QoL tweaks, including better logs and dashboard widget flexibility. Unraid continues to evolve into a hybrid solution bridging traditional NAS and virtual infrastructure with improved reliability and performance.

Source: Unraid

TP-Link Successfully Tests Wi-Fi 8 with Speeds Over 40 Gbps

TP-Link has conducted successful early field tests of Wi-Fi 8, achieving throughput exceeding 40 Gbps under optimal conditions. The upcoming IEEE 802.11bn standard (Wi-Fi 8) utilizes 320MHz channels, multi-AP coordination, and 16×16 MU-MIMO to deliver unprecedented wireless performance. These tests were conducted in partnership with Qualcomm and other chipmakers, and show significant potential for enterprise backhaul, AR/VR applications, and low-latency streaming. Although the standard is not expected to be finalized until 2026, these results indicate Wi-Fi 8 could rival or surpass wired 10GbE in some real-world use cases, reshaping network design for high-bandwidth deployments.

Source: TP-Link

TerraMaster TOS 7 Insider Preview Launches with D1 SSD Giveaway

TerraMaster has opened early access to TOS 7, its next-generation NAS operating system, via an Insider Preview program. TOS 7 introduces a redesigned UI, improved Btrfs support, new snapshot and backup tools, and better Docker and VM management. Users participating in the preview have a chance to win a TerraMaster D1 SSD Plus, a new SATA SSD designed for NAS environments. The OS also improves resource monitoring and adds security enhancements like 2FA, firewall rules, and user access auditing. This move aims to keep TerraMaster competitive in a market dominated by Synology DSM and QNAP QTS, particularly among SMB users seeking streamlined self-hosted platforms.

Source: TerraMaster

QNAP Unveils TVS-AIH1688ATX: AI NAS with 36 TOPS and Ryzen 7 8845HS

QNAP has introduced the TVS-AIH1688ATX, a high-performance AI NAS featuring the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS processor and 36 TOPS of AI acceleration via a built-in NPU. The system is targeted at users deploying local AI inference, surveillance analytics, or hybrid VM/containerized workloads. With dual 10GbE, PCIe Gen 4 slots, support for U.2/U.3 NVMe, and GPU compatibility, this 8-bay NAS bridges enterprise and AI workstation use cases. It runs QTS 5.2, supports QuAI, Virtualization Station, and QuObjects, and is part of QNAP’s push into AI-powered edge computing infrastructure for small business and industrial use.

Source: QNAP

QNAP Launches All-Flash NASbook TBS-h574TX with Enterprise E1.S SSDs

QNAP has announced the TBS-h574TX, an all-flash NASbook featuring five E1.S U.2 NVMe SSD bays, pre-installed with enterprise-grade SSDs. The compact system is powered by an Intel Core i5-1340PE, includes Thunderbolt 4, dual 10GbE, and QTS hero (ZFS-based) OS. Designed for mobile teams, video editors, and field deployments, the NASbook offers silent, fanless cooling, real-time deduplication, snapshots, and inline compression. The TBS-h574TX positions itself as a portable alternative to traditional rack or tower NAS solutions, optimized for media workflows and collaborative projects.

Source: QNAP

SK hynix Presents NAND Roadmap at OCP Summit: PCIe 5 & Beyond

At OCP 2025, SK hynix unveiled its strategic direction for NAND storage, emphasizing PCIe Gen 5 SSDs, 176-layer and 238-layer 3D NAND, and future 321-layer QLC solutions aimed at hyperscale data centers. The company showcased advancements in enterprise-class EDSFF SSD form factors, improved power efficiency, and hardware-based security features. Focus areas included ZNS (Zoned Namespace) SSDs, integration with AI compute clusters, and support for NVMe 2.0+ protocols. These innovations are set to underpin next-gen storage stacks optimized for AI, cloud, and edge data processing environments.

Source: SK hynix

Ubiquiti Celebrates “SFP Liberation Day” with Switch & Module Updates

Ubiquiti has launched “SFP Liberation Day”, a campaign promoting broader compatibility and transparency around SFP/SFP+ transceivers and network switch modules. The update introduces new firmware for UniFi Switch Aggregation Pro and Enterprise Switches, enabling improved multi-vendor SFP support and enhanced link diagnostics. The blog post also highlights recent feedback from the UniFi community regarding SFP restrictions and pricing, with Ubiquiti responding by publishing clearer compatibility tables and embracing more open standards in future hardware. This move is seen as a positive shift toward flexibility for prosumers and SMBs building modular fiber networks.

Source: Ubiquiti

Seagate Reports Fiscal Q1 2026 Results Amid Strategic Transition

Seagate Technology has released its fiscal Q1 2026 financial results, showing revenue of $1.56 billion, up 3 percent sequentially, with a net loss of $193 million. The company continues its transition toward HAMR (Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording) drives and high-capacity enterprise storage, amid challenges in traditional HDD demand. CEO Dave Mosley emphasized progress on 30TB+ platforms, improved supply chain efficiency, and ongoing AI-driven demand for hyperscale storage. Despite near-term profitability pressures, Seagate remains focused on aligning its product roadmap with long-term infrastructure growth across AI, edge computing, and cloud storage providers.

Source: Seagate

PNY Launches CS3250 Gen5 SSD with Phison E26 and 12,000 MB/s Read

PNY has introduced the CS3250, a high-performance PCIe Gen 5 x4 NVMe SSD targeting gamers, content creators, and workstation users. Built around the Phison E26 controller, the drive delivers up to 12,000 MB/s read and 11,000 MB/s write speeds, with capacities ranging from 1TB to 4TB. The CS3250 includes a large aluminum heatsink, support for Microsoft DirectStorage, and end-to-end data protection features. Designed to compete with leading Gen5 SSDs from Samsung, Corsair, and Crucial, the CS3250 aims to balance thermal efficiency with peak throughput for demanding workflows.

Source: PNY

Corsair Expands MP700 Line with Pro XT Gen5 SSD and 4TB MP700 Micro

Corsair has unveiled the MP700 PRO XT, a PCIe Gen5 NVMe SSD delivering up to 12,400 MB/s read and 11,800 MB/s write speeds, aimed at enthusiasts and professional users. Featuring a Phison E26 controller, the drive is paired with 3D TLC NAND and available with either a passive heatsink, waterblock, or fan-equipped active cooler. Additionally, Corsair launched a 4TB version of its MP700 Micro, a compact 2242 M.2 form factor SSD suitable for handhelds like the Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and mini-PCs. This dual announcement reinforces Corsair’s position in both high-performance desktop storage and portable Gen4/Gen5 device ecosystems.

Source: Corsair

TrueNAS GoldEye 25.10 Official Release Introduces NAS Connect, SMB Upgrades

iXsystems has officially released TrueNAS GoldEye 25.10, the latest milestone in its enterprise NAS platform. Key additions include TrueNAS Connect, a centralized portal for managing multiple systems, improved SMB file-sharing performance, Microsoft 365 integration, and enhanced support for encrypted datasets. The release brings important reliability and performance updates to TrueNAS SCALE users, especially in hybrid environments involving container workloads and ZFS storage. GoldEye 25.10 also tightens cloud sync features, upgrades ACL support, and continues iX’s open storage mission with a fully open-source stack backed by enterprise support.

Source: TrueNAS

PNY CS3250 Confirmed to Use Phison E28 Controller for Flagship PCIe 5 SSD

A follow-up from ComputerBase confirms that the PNY CS3250 SSD will indeed feature the Phison E28 controller, placing it in the highest tier of PCIe Gen 5 NVMe SSDs. Earlier speculation suggested it may be a rebadged E26 unit, but internal testing and vendor disclosures now validate that this drive will compete directly with top-tier offerings from Corsair, Seagate, and Samsung. The E28 platform allows read speeds above 14,000 MB/s, positioning it for extreme gaming, workstation, and enterprise-class workloads. Expect heatsink-equipped models targeting both consumer and professional markets.

Source: ComputerBase

QNAP Patches Exploits Revealed at Pwn2Own While Synology Lags Behind

QNAP has released immediate firmware patches for security vulnerabilities disclosed during Pwn2Own 2025, where researchers demonstrated remote exploits on multiple NAS platforms. Firmware QTS 5.2.7.3297 and QuTS hero h5.2.7.3297, both dated 2025-10-27, are now live globally and include mitigations for zero-day attacks showcased at the event. QNAP’s swift response contrasts with Synology, which has yet to publish a fix for similar vulnerabilities affecting its BeeStation and DSM systems. These updates highlight QNAP’s recent focus on security hardening, aligning with its product security commitment and transparency initiatives.

Source: QNAP

Where to Buy a Product
			VISIT RETAILER ➤
			VISIT RETAILER ➤
			VISIT RETAILER ➤
			VISIT RETAILER ➤

☕ WE LOVE COFFEE ☕

Or support us by using our affiliate links on Amazon UK and Amazon US