TerraMaster continues to have a significant presence within the NAS class, and whereas its servers supply respectable {hardware} and a very good worth, they do not have anyplace near the identical gross sales quantity as bigger manufacturers. The Taiwanese model is now seeking to change that with its 2024 choice; merchandise just like the F4-424 Max and F6-424 Max have a lot better designs, considerably upgraded {hardware}, and 10GbE connectivity as commonplace.
But it is the F8 SSD Plus that stood out probably the most. Unlike the opposite merchandise, the F8 SSD Plus is an all-flash NAS; it would not have 3.5-inch drive bays, as a substitute providing simply M.2 slots. The NVMe phase is at a degree the place you may get high-density SSDs for not loads of money — the 2TB WD SN770 is accessible for $118 — and that makes M.2 SSDs a viable different in NAS servers.
I put this to the take a look at with UGREEN’s DXP480T Plus earlier within the yr, and whereas that exact mannequin did not have a lot in the way in which of software program, the {hardware} was severely spectacular. Switching to an all-flash NAS comes with appreciable benefits; you get considerably quicker transfers, and a lot better long-term reliability as M.2 drives haven’t any shifting components.
Pricing has at all times been the largest barrier on this phase, and TerraMaster is addressing that with the F8 SSD Plus. The all-flash NAS server is accessible for $799, and whereas that prices extra then the model’s conventional NAS choices, it comes with a lot better {hardware}. I used the F8 SSD Plus for every week, and I feel that is the most effective total possibility presently accessible in the event you’re prepared to modify to an all-flash NAS.
TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus: Pricing and availability
TerraMaster launched the F8 SSD Plus on September 19, and the NAS server is now accessible globally. The 8-bay NAS server retails for $799 on Amazon, however TerraMaster is incentivizing the launch with a $100 low cost, bringing the price right down to $699.
There’s additionally a normal mannequin of the F8 SSD that has the identical design, similar eight M.2 slots, and 10GbE connectivity, however it’s powered by the Intel N95, and comes with 8GB of pre-installed reminiscence. This mannequin prices $599 on Amazon, and once more, you get a $100 low cost, bringing it right down to $499.
TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus: Design
The F8 SSD Plus would not appear like just like the F4-423 or another TerraMaster NAS, and that is comprehensible contemplating it would not have any 3.5-inch drive bays. What instantly stands out in regards to the design is the dimensions; the F8 SSD Plus is roughly the dimensions of a standard single-bay NAS server, but it surely accommodates eight M.2 SSD drives, and that is a sizeable achievement in and of itself.
The NAS would not take up a lot room in any respect, and the generic design means it simply blends into the background — it would not have the identical presence as UGREEN’s NAS servers. That’s not a nasty factor essentially as most customers will slot the NAS into a cupboard anyway.
You get the TerraMaster emblem on the perimeters of the NAS, and the highest has a vented design that acts because the exhaust; there are twin followers positioned on the backside that present lively cooling to the innards. The rubber ft on the backside make sure the NAS stays upright, and the construct high quality is respectable sufficient. There’s an influence button on the prime that allows you to energy on the NAS, and moreover that, you aren’t getting any buttons.
What I like probably the most in regards to the design is the tool-less set up of the M.2 drives; the whole enclosure slides up and is held in place by a single thumb screw, and you may simply add M.2 drives as wanted. TerraMaster did an ideal job with the equipment as nicely, and also you get eight heatsinks, thermal pads, and elastic bands to connect to M.2 drives.
Because of the diminutive dimension of the chassis, you’ll be able to’t actually use SSDs with bundled heatsinks — I attempted — so the inclusion of heatsinks with the bundle is a welcome contact. The solely subject I’ve with the design is that the F8 SSD Plus has a plastic chassis; an aluminum design would have been preferable on this scenario, and contemplating TerraMaster goes this route with most of its mid-range NAS servers anyway, I do not fairly perceive why it did not accomplish that with this NAS.
Other than that, there are not any points with the product on this regard. The small chassis mixed with eight drive slots offers the NAS a notable benefit over its rivals, and TerraMaster deserves credit score for the general design.
TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus: Ports and connectivity
TerraMaster is understood for delivering nice {hardware}, and that is true of the F8 SSD Plus as nicely. The NAS has 10 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity as commonplace, and also you get an HDMI port. While I’d have favored twin 10GbE ports — that may have made the NAS way more attractive — I perceive why the model determined to supply only one on the NAS.
There are two USB-A ports and a single USB-C port, and all three are based mostly on the USB 3.2 Gen 2 commonplace and supply 10Gbps bandwidth. I’d have favored Thunderbolt 4 connectivity; the NAS is geared toward content material creators, and the inclusion of Thunderbolt 4 would unlock a collection of recent use circumstances.
Switching to the innards, the F8 SSD Plus comes with 16GB of DDR5 RAM out of the field, and it’s slotted into one of many twin SO-DIMM slots accessible on the motherboard. You can add one other 16GB module if you’ll want to enhance system reminiscence, and it is comparatively simple to take action.
Coming to the M.2 connectors, you get 4 M.2 2280 slots on both facet of the motherboard, with every slot capable of accommodate as much as an 8TB drive, providing you with a complete of 64TB of addressable storage. The followers on the backside are positioned in such a manner that they do an efficient job cooling the drives.
The lively cooling mixed with the offered heatsinks make sure the drives do not overheat, and I did not see any points on this space within the week I used the NAS. There is not a lot in the way in which of audible noise both, and you may simply change the conduct of the followers inside the TOS 6 software program.
TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus: Performance
The F8 SSD Plus is powered by the Intel i3-N305 platform, and it’s way more highly effective than the Celeron N5105 that is current on fashions just like the ASUSTOR AS5402T. The N305 has eight cores and eight threads, goes as much as 3.80GHz, and also you get {hardware} transcoding, which is nice in the event you’re eyeing the NAS as a strong Plex NAS server.
I used 4 2TB WD SN770 Gen 4 drives, and admittedly, they’re overkill on this situation. As the M.2 slots on the NAS use a Gen 3 interface, you are higher off choosing up one thing just like the Crucial P3 as a substitute; I exploit it in my gaming machine, and it’s nice as a storage drive. The better part is that it’s way more reasonably priced than Gen 4 choices; the 4TB P3 is accessible for simply $225, making it the best selection to make use of within the NAS.
TerraMaster overhauled its software program final yr, and TOS 6 has a cleaner interface. There’s now a dock that sits up prime, and you may entry all put in packages, management system settings, and arrange container administration. There’s a local Plex consumer, and whereas TOS 6 would not have anyplace near the identical variety of utilities as DSM 7.1, you’ll be able to spin up containers through Docker.
The software program nonetheless has its share of quirks; when establishing the NAS, you are requested to confirm your e mail as a way to reset the person account ought to you’ll want to. This wants a one-time code that is despatched to the e-mail, however that by no means confirmed up, and I wasn’t capable of set it up after preliminary configuration.
That mentioned, the interface is fluid and there are not any points with slowdowns. The elevated energy makes the NAS a good selection as a VM server, one thing that is not the case with most conventional HDD servers on this phase. The better part is you could set up TrueNAS on the NAS in the event you’re used to its feature-set.
The use of M.2 drives completely mixed with 10GbE connectivity makes this top-of-the-line NAS servers round if you’ll want to transfer loads of knowledge usually. It’s a lot better with productivity-focused duties that contain loads of random reads as nicely.
TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus: The alternate options
I reviewed UGREEN’s DXP480T Plus NAS earlier within the yr, and it is likely one of the finest choices on this class. The NAS has even higher {hardware} because of Intel’s Core i5 1235U, and also you get twin Thunderbolt 4 ports together with 10GbE connectivity, and a metallic chassis that appears elegant. The primary subject is that you simply get simply 4 M.2 slots, 8GB of reminiscence put in out of the field, and the software program simply would not have as many options even now. And coming in at $999, the DXP480T Plus is costlier.
ASUSTOR has the Flashstor 12 Pro (FS6712X), and whereas it has 12 M.2 slots and 10GbE connectivity, it is not practically as highly effective because the F8 SSD Plus, and also you simply get 4GB of RAM out of the field. That mentioned, it’s a respectable selection at $799 if you’d like loads of M.2 slots and do not essentially want the most effective {hardware}.
TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus: Should you purchase it?
You can buy this if:
- You’re prepared to modify to all-flash storage
- You want loads of M.2 slots
- You need highly effective {hardware} and 16GB reminiscence
- You desire a high-end Plex NAS that doubles as a VM server
You should not purchase this if:
- You need the most effective software program
- You want Thunderbolt 4 connectivity
The F8 SSD Plus is the most effective showcase but of an all-flash NAS, and the truth that you get eight M.2 slots in such a small bundle is an enormous deal in and of itself. TerraMaster nailed the {hardware} half, and the N305 mixed with 16GB of RAM and 10GbE connectivity ensures you’ll be able to take full benefit of the elevated bandwidth accessible with M.2 storage.
The NAS is geared toward fanatics and content material creators, and what I like probably the most is that it would not price as a lot as its rivals whereas nonetheless offering top-of-the-line {hardware} packages on this phase. If you are able to make the change to an all-flash NAS and desire a server with loads of M.2 slots and highly effective {hardware}, the F8 SSD Plus will get my advice.
The F8 SSD Plus has all the facility you want, and you’ve got the flexibility to fit eight M.2 slots. If you are prepared to modify to flash storage in your NAS server, that is the go-to advice.Â
