Terramaster F4-424 Max NAS Review

Last updated on 14 Oct 2024 📧 Subscribe
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1 TerraMaster F4-424 Max NAS Review – LET’S GET SERIOUS?
1.1 TerraMaster F4-424 Max NAS Review – Quick Conclusion
1.2 TerraMaster F4-424 Max NAS Review – Comparing F4-424, F4-424 Pro, and F4-424 Max
1.3 TerraMaster F4-424 Max NAS Review – Hardware TL;DR
1.4 TerraMaster F4-424 Max NAS Review – Chassis Design
1.5 TerraMaster F4-424 Max NAS Review – Ports and Connections
1.6 TerraMaster F4-424 Max NAS Review – Internal Hardware and PCIe Lanes
1.7 TerraMaster F4-424 Max NAS Review – TOS Software
1.8 TerraMaster F4-424 Max NAS Review – Conclusion and Verdict

TerraMaster F4-424 Max NAS Review – LET’S GET SERIOUS?

As TerraMaster continues to push the boundaries of affordable yet high-performance NAS devices, the F4-424 Max stands out as a flagship model designed to cater to the needs of power users, small businesses, and home lab enthusiasts. Released in September 2024 at a price point of $899.99, the F4-424 Max builds upon TerraMaster’s reputation for offering hardware that rivals premium competitors like Synology and QNAP but at a more accessible price. At the heart of this NAS is an Intel Core i5-1235U, a 10-core, 12-thread CPU that promises to handle everything from virtualization to media transcoding with ease. Coupled with dual M.2 NVMe slots, two 10GbE network ports, and support for up to 64GB of DDR5 memory, the F4-424 Max is aimed at users who require not just storage but also serious compute power.

Before diving into the detailed review of the F4-424 Max, it’s essential to understand how this model compares to its siblings, the F4-424 and the F4-424 Pro. Each of these NAS units targets different segments of the market, from home users and enthusiasts to businesses requiring more power. Let’s take a closer look at the key differences between the F4-424, F4-424 Pro, and F4-424 Max.

TerraMaster F4-424 Max NAS Review – Quick Conclusion

The TerraMaster F4-424 Max is a robust 4-bay NAS system that offers a powerful mix of features and flexibility for a wide range of tasks. Powered by the Intel i5-1235U CPU with 10 cores and 12 threads, the F4-424 Max excels at resource-intensive applications such as Plex media streaming, 4K hardware transcoding, and virtual machine hosting. Its dual M.2 NVMe slots running at PCIe Gen 4 speeds significantly improve storage performance, especially when used for caching, while the two 10GbE ports offer high-speed networking environments, allowing for 20Gbps throughput via link aggregation.

In terms of software, TOS 6 brings notable improvements, although it still lags behind the more polished ecosystems of Synology DSM and QNAP QTS. That said, TerraMaster’s continuous software evolution with each new version of TOS ensures that users have access to more robust tools and security features. For its price point of $899.99, the F4-424 Max is a compelling option for those seeking high-performance NAS solutions with scalability in mind. While the Pro model offers competitive performance, the Max takes it a step further with advanced networking, making it ideal for environments where speed is a priority.

SOFTWARE - 6/10
HARDWARE - 9/10
PERFORMANCE - 9/10
PRICE - 9/10
VALUE - 8/10


8.2
PROS
👍🏻Powerful Hardware: Intel i5-1235U with 10 cores and 12 threads for resource-heavy tasks.
👍🏻Dual 10GbE Ports: High-speed networking capabilities with link aggregation for up to 20Gbps, ideal for large file transfers.
👍🏻PCIe Gen 4 NVMe Support: Two M.2 NVMe slots offering exceptional performance for caching or additional high-speed storage.
👍🏻Efficient Cooling: The large 120mm fan ensures quiet and effective cooling, making it suitable for home and office environments.
👍🏻Improved TOS 6 Software: Enhancements in GUI, backup tools, and overall security bring TOS closer to its competitors.
CONS
👎🏻Higher Price Tag: At $899.99, it’s more expensive than TerraMaster’s other models, which may deter budget-conscious buyers.
👎🏻No PCIe Expansion: Lack of a PCIe slot limits potential for future upgrades, such as adding 10GbE cards or more M.2 drives.
👎🏻Presentation: The software has improved a lot, but still feels inconsistent in places compared with alternatives from brands such as Synology and QNAP.



Where to Buy?

Terramaster F4-424 Max ($799 Aliexpress) – HERE

Terramaster F4-424 Max ($899 Amazon) – HERE

 

TerraMaster F4-424 Max NAS Review – Comparing F4-424, F4-424 Pro, and F4-424 Max

When deciding between the F4-424, F4-424 Pro, and F4-424 Max, the choice largely comes down to your performance needs and budget. Each model is designed with different use cases in mind, but they share several core features, such as 4-bay support for 3.5” SATA HDDs and 2.5” SSDs, TerraMaster’s TOS operating system, and support for various RAID configurations. However, the differences in processor, memory capacity, networking, and price are what really set them apart.

Model F4-424 F4-424 Pro F4-424 Max
Price $499.99 $699.99 $899.99
CPU Intel® N95 (4 cores, 4 threads, 3.4 GHz) Intel i3-N305 (8 cores, 3.8 GHz) Intel Core i5-1235U (10 cores, 12 threads, 4.4 GHz)
Memory 8GB DDR5 (up to 32GB) 32GB DDR5 8GB DDR5 (up to 64GB)
Networking 2x 2.5GbE ports 2x 2.5GbE ports 2x 10GbE ports
M.2 NVMe Slots 2x PCIe Gen 3 slots 2x PCIe Gen 3 slots 2x PCIe Gen 4 slots
Drive Bays 4 (hot-swappable) 4 (hot-swappable) 4 (hot-swappable)
USB Ports 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2
HDMI Port 1x HDMI 2.1 1x HDMI 2.1 1x HDMI 2.0
Maximum Storage 88TB (22TB x 4 drives) 88TB 88TB

The F4-424 is the most affordable of the three, featuring a modest Intel N95 CPU and 8GB of DDR5 RAM. It’s suitable for basic NAS tasks like file storage, backups, and light media streaming. The F4-424 Pro is a step up, with a more powerful Intel i3-N305 processor and 32GB of DDR5 memory, making it better suited for heavier tasks like Plex streaming and AI-driven applications. However, if you require more performance for virtualization, media editing, or 10GbE networking, the F4-424 Max is the clear choice, offering superior compute power and networking capabilities. The dual PCIe Gen 4 M.2 NVMe slots also give the Max model a significant speed advantage over its predecessors.

TerraMaster F4-424 Max NAS Review – Hardware TL;DR

The F4-424 Max is equipped with some of the most powerful hardware seen in a 4-bay NAS from TerraMaster. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the key hardware components:

Component Specification
Processor Intel i5-1235U (10 cores, 12 threads, 1.3GHz base, 4.4GHz boost)
Memory 8GB DDR5 (expandable up to 64GB)
Drive Bays 4x 3.5”/2.5” SATA (hot-swappable, up to 88TB total)
M.2 NVMe Slots 2x PCIe Gen 4 x4 (for caching or additional storage)
Networking 2x 10GbE RJ45 (supports link aggregation)
USB Ports 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C
HDMI 1x HDMI 2.0 (4K at 60Hz)
Cooling 1x 120mm fan (smart cooling system with multiple speeds)
Power Consumption 35W (idle), 70W (under full load)
Chassis Dimensions 222 x 179 x 154 mm
Weight 3.6 kg

The Intel i5-1235U is the real powerhouse of the F4-424 Max, combining two performance cores with eight efficiency cores for excellent multi-threaded performance. Whether you’re running virtual machines, AI workloads, or 4K Plex streams, this processor handles it all with ease. The 8GB of DDR5 memory is a solid starting point, but the system can support up to 64GB for users with more demanding needs.

Another key hardware feature is the dual 10GbE network ports, which offer more than just fast networking—they enable link aggregation to provide up to 20Gbps of network throughput. This makes the F4-424 Max perfect for video editing teams, large backups, or any environment requiring high-speed network transfers.

TerraMaster F4-424 Max NAS Review – Chassis Design

The F4-424 Max arrives in a sleek, modern chassis that is not only visually appealing but also highly functional. The design has evolved significantly from TerraMaster’s older NAS models, taking cues from premium brands like Synology and QNAP. The brushed matte black plastic gives it a professional look while the ventilation design has been carefully optimized to improve airflow.

One of the standout features of the chassis is the large 120mm fan at the rear of the unit. This fan works in tandem with the ventilated side panels, which are adorned with the TerraMaster logo, to ensure that the system remains cool even under heavy loads. The fan operates quietly, thanks to its smart cooling system, which adjusts fan speeds based on the internal temperature of the NAS.

The drive bays are hot-swappable and feature tool-less installation, making it incredibly easy to add or replace drives. The drive trays are constructed from durable plastic, and while they may feel a bit less premium compared to metal trays, they securely hold both 3.5” and 2.5” SATA drives. The trays slide effortlessly into the SATA connectors, and an intuitive push-to-lock mechanism prevents accidental ejection during operation.

On the front of the NAS, the LED indicators for system status, drive health, and network activity are discreet but easy to read. However, one minor complaint is the absence of a front-facing USB port, which could have made external drive backups or peripheral connections more convenient.

TerraMaster F4-424 Max NAS Review – Ports and Connections

The F4-424 Max comes packed with a variety of ports that make it a versatile system for both high-speed networking and peripheral connections. The most significant feature is the dual 10GbE ports, which allow for link aggregation, effectively doubling your network bandwidth to 20Gbps when connected to a compatible switch. This level of networking is particularly useful for users handling large data transfers, 4K video editing, or multiple virtual machines.

In addition to the 10GbE ports, the NAS includes three USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, two of which are Type-A and one Type-C. These ports provide data transfer speeds of up to 10Gbps, making them perfect for connecting external storage devices or peripherals like printers or USB drives. One of the notable improvements in this model is the inclusion of the USB Type-C port, which adds an extra layer of versatility for modern devices.

The HDMI 2.0 port supports 4K video output at 60Hz, which is ideal for users who wish to use the NAS for multimedia purposes or need a direct console for diagnostics and maintenance. However, it’s important to note that TerraMaster still hasn’t implemented a local GUI platform like QNAP’s HD Station or Asustor Portal, so the HDMI port is mostly useful for users running third-party operating systems like UnRAID or TrueNAS.

Overall, the port layout of the F4-424 Max is well-suited for high-performance environments but lacks some of the extra features—such as PCIe expansion or additional USB ports—that would make it even more versatile for advanced users.

TerraMaster F4-424 Max NAS Review – Internal Hardware and PCIe Lanes

Opening up the F4-424 Max reveals a well-organized internal layout with some serious hardware under the hood. One of the most impressive aspects of the design is the integration of PCIe Gen 4 lanes, which significantly boosts the performance potential of the system. The Intel i5-1235U processor comes equipped with 20 PCIe lanes, and TerraMaster has used these lanes effectively to ensure that the NAS delivers exceptional I/O performance.

The two M.2 NVMe slots are directly connected via PCIe Gen 4 x4, which means that each slot can support full Gen 4 speeds of up to 8GB/s per drive. This is a massive improvement over the previous Gen 3 models, which were limited to 4GB/s. These NVMe slots can be used for caching, allowing users to speed up read/write operations when using slower mechanical drives in the main bays, or they can be used as standalone storage pools for data-intensive tasks.

However, TerraMaster could have taken the hardware to the next level by offering a PCIe expansion slot. Many competitors in this price range, such as QNAP and Asustor, include a PCIe slot for adding additional network cards, SSDs, or Thunderbolt expansion cards. While the F4-424 Max is already a strong performer, the lack of expansion options could be a limiting factor for users who require more versatility from their NAS.

In terms of power efficiency, the F4-424 Max is highly optimized for its hardware class. Under full load, it draws around 70W, which is impressive considering the performance it delivers. The passive cooling on the Intel i5 CPU, combined with the large rear fan, ensures that the system remains cool without excessive noise or power consumption.

TerraMaster F4-424 Max NAS Review – TOS Software

Review of the TOS 6 software (in Beta) HERE

With the release of TOS 6, TerraMaster has made great strides in enhancing the functionality and usability of its NAS systems. TOS 6 offers improved snapshot capabilities, better backup management, and enhanced support for cloud synchronization services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and Amazon S3. This means users can seamlessly synchronize their local NAS data with cloud storage, providing a layer of protection against data loss.

Another notable feature of TOS 6 is TRAID, TerraMaster’s flexible RAID configuration system, which allows users to combine disks of different sizes while still benefiting from redundancy. This is comparable to Synology’s Hybrid RAID (SHR), making it easier to expand storage in the future without being tied to identical drives. Additionally, TOS 6 supports AES 256-bit encryption, ensuring that sensitive data is protected both in transit and at rest.

However, while TOS 6 has seen significant improvements, it still lacks some of the advanced features found in Synology DSM or QNAP QTS. For example, TerraMaster’s photo management app (Terra Photos) is still in its beta phase and lacks the advanced AI-driven organization features of Synology Moments or QNAP QuMagie. Additionally, while Plex Media Server runs smoothly on the F4-424 Max, TerraMaster’s native multimedia tools are not as polished, making it less appealing for users who rely heavily on NAS-based multimedia management.

TerraMaster F4-424 Max NAS Review – Conclusion and Verdict

The TerraMaster F4-424 Max is a standout NAS system in TerraMaster’s lineup, offering impressive hardware specifications and solid performance at a price point of $899.99. For users who need high-speed data transfers, intensive compute power, and flexibility in storage configurations, the F4-424 Max is an excellent option. The combination of the Intel i5-1235U CPU, dual 10GbE ports, and PCIe Gen 4 NVMe support ensures that the NAS can handle even the most demanding tasks, whether it’s virtualization, media transcoding, or large-scale backups.

That said, when compared to the F4-424 Pro, which is priced at $699.99, the Max model offers significantly more networking power and potential for speed. However, the Pro model still provides fantastic performance for most home and small office users, making it a more budget-friendly alternative for those who don’t require 10GbE or advanced NVMe functionality.

In terms of software, Synology DSM and QNAP QTS are still more evolved, offering richer multimedia experiences and better integration for business applications. However, TOS 6 continues to improve with every iteration, closing the gap between TerraMaster and these larger players. With new features like TRAID, cloud sync, and improved snapshot management, TOS is becoming more user-friendly and robust. For users prioritizing performance, flexibility, and future-proofing, the F4-424 Max is a strong contender and offers excellent value for money. While there are areas where TerraMaster could improve, such as the lack of PCIe expansion and front-facing USB ports, the F4-424 Max delivers on its promise of high performance and scalable storage solutions.

  • Powerful Hardware: Intel i5-1235U with 10 cores and 12 threads for resource-heavy tasks.
  • Dual 10GbE Ports: High-speed networking capabilities with link aggregation for up to 20Gbps, ideal for large file transfers.
  • PCIe Gen 4 NVMe Support: Two M.2 NVMe slots offering exceptional performance for caching or additional high-speed storage.
  • Efficient Cooling: The large 120mm fan ensures quiet and effective cooling, making it suitable for home and office environments.
  • Improved TOS 6 Software: Enhancements in GUI, backup tools, and overall security bring TOS closer to its competitors.
  • Higher Price Tag: At $899.99, it’s more expensive than TerraMaster’s other models, which may deter budget-conscious buyers.
  • No PCIe Expansion: Lack of a PCIe slot limits potential for future upgrades, such as adding 10GbE cards or more M.2 drives.
  • Presentation: The software has improved a lot, but still feels inconsistent in places compared with alternatives from brands such as Synology and QNAP.

Click the link below to take you to your local Amazon store and where to buy the terramaster F4-424 Max NAS.

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Terramaster F4-424 Max Review
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100 thoughts on “Terramaster F4-424 Max NAS Review”

  4. The only people that should be buying NAS are those who work in a team environment and maybe those working with Macs. Freelancers should just use HDD as internal drives in a PC. This is from someone who had a Synology back then and backup and specially restoring times were impossible.
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  8. TOS 5.1 app center was extremely outdated with the apps selection I was surprised. i can maybe look the other way for a few versions behind but for example the docker engine was v20 and the current is now 27. also it look like many of the apps hadn’t received updates in a few years most were around 2022. I picked up the base 424 model last prime day sale and within a couple days toss unraid on as i had a spare license and would suggest to anyone thinking of purchasing terramaster to do the same in installing a third party os.
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  12. I’m afraid of Terramaster, I have 3 of them in the F4-220 series and have had one have a hardware failure and another not except a reset. It wasn’t the drives, anyone know if or how to recover the data?
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  13. Aside. Thought for another video: the branded turnkey nas seem to make a point of supporting adding & growing storage over the life of the appliance. Some recent reading of mine suggests that the diy os (truenas, et al) don’t make this easy or only do it in limited ways. It would be great to have one of your summary videos on this topic. “can you grow your nas”.
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  19. I really wanted this, but the price difference from the F4-424 Pro was too big, and i’m happy about my choice. The CPU in the Pro is more than enough, and i don’t have 10Gbe anyway, and adding the price of 3 10Gbe switches ….

    on the minus side, the MAX ships with TOS 6 , and the Pro doesn’t, i thought it did as Terramaster says “New 2024 product lineup powered by TOS6 ” and the pro came out in January 2024 , but TM says TOS6 should be out in 1-2 weeks
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  22. I feel a good review would be where truenas, OMV, unraid, debian with casaOS… one of these… are put on terramaster appliance… how it goes, if there are issues, if one can count on that ability to make use of the HW without stock software…
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  23. It could be worth noting that TOS does not support full disk encryption, only folder encryption. Folders however cannot be decrypted, so if you change your mind, files need to be copied out somewhere else.
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  24. Hi. Did you find CPU/PCIe 4×4 nVME overheating in a small enclosure design for less-powerful CPU/nVMEs? Do nVMEs with heatsink fit under the hood? PCIe 4×4 nVME in my opinion requires a heatsink. Would you go with the Samsung 990Pro or Samsung 990Evo with this enclosure? Where I live the price difference between the two nVMEs is currently negligible. Thanks.
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  27. tos 6 fw still has issues and updates not released for all devices. Devices f6 max series is also out of stock till somewhere in november 2024 and i assume they holding off stock cause of the firmware issues. Went with Ugreen as i was able to get a hold of one 6800 pro while not released yet here where i am. UGos working no problems atm
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  28. One thing i would also consider i heat. I highly doubt that CPU will be able to perform at it’s full potential. I run a F424 Pro and the N305 on standard settings shoots up to 94°C with only moderate usage. Reason is the passiv cooler and little air flow. After tweaking the Bios settings and lowering turbo from 35W down to 18W it runs at acceptable temps with basically quiet fan settings.

    From that perspective i am not sure if it is worth even going for Max. I would say only if you are ready to play around with additional cooling, drilling holes and what not.
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  31. i’m looking for a Nas to run plex/file storage/containers/vms wondering if the f4-424 pro will be enough or better to just grab the max?
    any other possible reccomendations
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  32. For plex the max seems overpowered for me. I’d love a 6-bay pro but it doesn’t look like they’re making one anytime soon, and they need to bring an 8-bay consumer model to compete with the upcoming ds1825+
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  33. Damn nice hardware and so tempting! But I just don’t want to give up my Synology software ???? I’ll stick with the weak CPU and slow NICs on my NAS and use a mini PC for VMs.
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  37. Thank you for this overview of TOS6. Since you released this video you may probably be aware TOS6 just released along with their fall 2024 lineup of new products. Notably, one I am very interested in is their just announced 8-bay all SSD NAS device. Suuper compact! I wonder if this product will support or work with OpenVPN.

    I am curious to know, sd a general comparison of NAS devices and thinking in terms of NAS OSes, ease of understanding, operation, etc., would you regard ASUSTOR’s Flashstor 6-bay / 12-bay devices based on ADM or Terramaster with TOS 6 as the better NAS OS choice? I am thinking from the perspective of a relative newbie to NAS devices, having some knowledge of NAS functionality but limited exposure and experience with them. Thanks.
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  41. 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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  42. 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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  44. 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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  45. 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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  46. 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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  49. 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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  50. 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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  56. 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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  58. 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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  60. 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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  62. 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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  64. 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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  65. 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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  67. Hello !
    Lately I’ve been carefully following your channel and blog about NAS systems.
    At this time, the question arose of choosing between Synology DS423+ or Terramaster F4-423 NAS.
    Before your reviews, I checked a lot of information about Terramaster and just like you, I came to the conclusion that Terramaster is much better in hardware than Synology.
    Until the moment when the need arose to use something more compact and less energy-consuming than a PC with True Nas installed, I did not explore the market for compact NAS systems.
    With Terramaster, new horizons and opportunities have opened up.
    Great video review!
    Still, I discovered one point in the video: it is not necessary to insert the installation/bootable USB flash drive from TrueNAS inside the Terramaster.
    We only need it at the stage of system installation. Upon completion of the installation, it is advisable to remove the USB flash drive and put it aside so as not to occupy the USB ports and not create confusion in the boot devices.
    TrueNAS can install the system on a separate disk or soft raid (if you select 2 identical disks during installation – for example, 2 SSDs)
    Therefore, keeping the TrueNAS installation flash drive in the device simply does not make sense.
    I will also say that if you install the system on a disk, it can no longer be used as part of a RAID array – RAID1 mirror, for example – this is at least what I know from personal experience.
    To avoid such problems and inappropriate use of the disk (of course, you can separate the partition with the system and use the free space, but RAID will still not be available for creation), you need to install TrueNas on a separate physical disk – an SSD, for example, or better yet, 2 disks in software RAID mirror.
    That way, if the system drive fails, our data in the storage pool will not be affected.
    This still makes sense for replacing disks – the system remains the same as it was, but we only change the disks and create an array from them. All settings will be saved.
    Perhaps I missed something or I don’t know from either side the whole TrueNas mechanism, but the general concept is this: the disk is separate for the system and the disks for the data pool are separate.

    Thanks for the review! Good luck!
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  70. I’m running this on a F2-423 and I completed the hardware process. When I did the bootup however, I got a message ‘grub_fshelp_find_file_lookup’ not found…any idea what I did wrong?
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  73. I am looking at getting the F4-423 and x4 16TB in one go and want to run TRUNAS rather than the original OS from the start. What size of nvme would you recommend for the terramaster running for TRUNAS? I am thinking of WD Red SN700 1TB drives or Intel Optane nvme H10 for durability, one for OS and one for cache or would you recommend a different NVME config or brands? Later i think i would like to setup a second identical system as a second tier of backup, but the debit card can only take so much wear at one time after all.
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  80. CRITICAL NOTE: This isn’t really viable for all Terramaster units!!!! 2/3 into the video a critical point is made. This should only be done on models that allow for a NVMe drive or if you plan to give up a drive bay for a drive to host the TRUENAS OS.

    I saw these walk-throughs and went out and bought a F5-422. The F5-422 does not have a NVMe slot. And giving up a drive slot means forgoing the NAS configuration I planned on.

    I tried installing TRUENAS on a flash drive (even though it isn’t recommended). The install fails.
    I tried installing TRUENAS on the internal flash drive port (I put the ISO file on a different flash drive plugged into an external USB port). Booting off a flash drive mounted externally worked. In fact the external USB ports are super fast (at least 400MB/s) compared to the internal one (40MB/s). So the installer and OS load goes really quickly (but actual OS launching would be slow if this worked since the internal port is slow). Again though, after the OS install happens it tries to read from the assigned OS drive and fails. The install self terminates when it sees this error.
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  81. I have a F5-422 and am getting the following when I try to install: “mounting from ufs:/dev/md0.uzip failed with error 2”. It loops like this for about 3 minutes and then dies. The only other oddity is that I have to spam Esc on boot-up and select the USB drive as it insists on going to TOS otherwise. Any suggestions?
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  82. Feel like the install process should have been to replace the internal USB key with a blank, boot TrueNAS a 2nd USB drive off one of the external USB ports and install it to the internal blank, was there a reason you didn’t do it the way you did? Are the external USB ports non-bootable or something? Like nvme/SSD would be quicker, but can’t imagine HDD would be a lot faster than USB.
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  83. Can anybody confirm the Ram capacity on the F4-423? Docs say 32GB, chip seems to handle 16GB? Anybody tested this? Would like to save a few pennies if 16gb is the limit.
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  85. If I don’t already have a TerraMaster NAS and the intent is to use TrueNAS would there be better alternatives retailing NAS chassis with integrated motherboard/cpu to buy or is it that buying a TerraMaster NAS just for its chassis/mb/cpu is a bargain?
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  87. To your knowledge, does this work with the Terramaster new T series NAS as well or only the F series NAS? Or do you even suggest not using the T series? Thank you in advance!
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  88. Hello and welcome to my comment. And that is right. I have a quick question. 🙂

    I was just wondering why you got a USB drive specifically to fit inside when it didn’t need to stay there. I assumed that the software would be installed on the internal stick and it would remain inside but clearly not.

    To save pulling it apart twice (once to swap the drive, and again to remove it), wouldn’t it be easier to remove it the first time and then use an external USB port with any old stick we find kicking about the place? I assume there’s a specific reason why the internal USB port is the best (or only) choice here but I may have missed it. I was just thinking about missing a step and halving the potential for damage by only ripping the thing to bits one time.

    Also, a second question if I may: I was under the impression that TrueNAS required (or advised) the use of ECC memory. I’m not sure that Terramaster supports it, and the memory you selected didn’t appear to be ECC. I haven’t looked into either yet, by the way. Any thoughts on that?

    That’s all from me. I didn’t realise that was even possible, and I may consider getting a Terramaster NAS for use as a low-powered home Linux server on the back of your presentation. Thanks a lot for the video.
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  95. Isn’t Terramaster one of the companies that has been hit with ransomware attacks relatively recently? Does installing TruNAS, instead of using the factory-installed OS, help to mitigate these attacks?
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  96. Quick question: it’s a bit off topic to the video but it’s regarding replacing a wifi card in a laptop (I was watching a video from 2 months ago on this topic):

    Question: what would I do if the wifi card I’m replacing is the exact same model as the one I had? What would I do in terms of installing drivers?

    I have an Acer Nitro 5 AN517-51 with an Intel Ax200 wifi 6 card in my system. Recently I was doing a fan replacement and repaste of the heat sink, and I accidentally pulled the aux cable and the aux connector attached to my wifi card came off while trying to reattach the wire.

    I wasn’t sure if I should upgrade to AX210 (cause I’m scared of it not working, then I have no working laptop at all), so I was wondering whether I could just do a straight swap of AX200 for AX200 and would that require any driver installation beforehand, if the card is the same model as the old…?

    Or would upgrading to AX210 be better all round as a solution. I just want the least painful and quickest experience, which is why I thought AX200 for AX200 may be as I may not need to fiddle with driver updates
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  99. Ahh of course, when you don’t really know:

    You do not need a display output!
    Simply install on a PC and then move to this device, boot and simply find the IP address.

    Do not install on a regular USB drive as it will fail sooner or later. Spend a little more for an USB SSD, NVMe or a high endurance USB drive.

    Just make sure your device has an Intel CPU and NOT an ARM CPU!
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