Looking Beyond the QNAP 8-Bay USB-C Desktop DAS? 6 Alternatives Worth a Look

How each alternative compares

UGREEN DXP8800 Plus 8-Bay Desktop NAS

The UGREEN DXP8800 Plus shifts from external expansion to a full network-attached storage solution. Unlike the QNAP DAS, which connects via USB-C, this unit integrates directly into your network infrastructure. It offers strong processing power and high throughput, making it suitable for managing massive media collections. You gain the ability to serve files to multiple devices simultaneously rather than just one host. However, you trade the simple plug-and-play convenience of the DAS for a more complex setup. This option is best for users who prioritize bandwidth and CPU power over immediate, local storage scaling without network overhead.

Thdeukoty Ultra 9 8-Bay NAS

The Thdeukoty Ultra 9 provides a different approach by including dual 10GbE ports and M.2 NVMe support. While the QNAP TL-D810TC4 relies on a single USB 3.2 Gen 2 connection for up to 10Gbps, this NAS offers greater networking flexibility and potential for higher sustained speeds with compatible hardware. It targets technical users who need raw power and expansion capabilities for AI tasks or high-performance workloads. You get more control over connectivity and caching, but you sacrifice the straightforward desktop DAS form factor. This choice fits those who value advanced connectivity and processing capabilities over brand recognition and simplicity.

QNAP 8-Bay 10GbE Desktop NAS

The QNAP TS-855X stays within the QNAP ecosystem but moves from a DAS to a full NAS with 10GbE networking. It features an 8-core processor and supports NVMe caching, which the USB DAS cannot do natively. You gain access to QTS/QuTS hero software features and flexible networking options. The trade-off is increased complexity and cost compared to the simple external drive enclosure. This model is ideal for users who need robust local storage expansion combined with high-speed network access and caching capabilities. It serves those who want to keep their storage within the QNAP ecosystem while upgrading from basic USB connectivity to enterprise-grade networking.

QNAP TS-673-4G 8-Bay NAS

The QNAP TS-673-4G offers four 1GbE ports and quad-core processing, differing significantly from the single USB-C connection of the TL-D810TC4. It provides multiple network interfaces for aggregation or separate VLANs, which the DAS lacks. With 4GB of RAM, it supports more complex services and virtualization than a pure DAS. You gain networking flexibility and service capabilities but lose the high-speed USB 3.2 Gen 2 transfer rate for direct attachment. This NAS is best for users who prioritize connectivity flexibility and built-in high-speed Ethernet options over simple, direct-attached storage expansion for a single workstation.

Asustor Lockerstor 8-Bay Dual 10GbE NAS

The Asustor AS6508T delivers 10GbE connectivity and 8GB of RAM, offering more robust networking and memory than the QNAP DAS. It supports M.2 NVMe caching and features an Intel Atom C3538 processor. Unlike the USB-C limited connection of the TL-D810TC4, this NAS provides internal drive management and high-speed network access. You get stronger processing power and network flexibility, but you move away from the simple plug-and-play external expansion model. This option fits users who value network flexibility and internal drive control over simple external expansion. It is suitable for those building a central storage server with advanced networking requirements.

Synology 8-Bay Short-Depth Rackmount NAS

The Synology RS1221+ is a rackmount NAS with short depth, designed for different physical installations than the desktop QNAP DAS. It features 4GB of RAM and supports high-availability clustering, which the DAS cannot. While the QNAP unit offers quick USB-C attachment, the Synology provides enterprise-grade features and PCIe networking upgrades. You gain compact depth for rack systems and high availability, but you sacrifice the simplicity of a desktop DAS. This model is ideal for teams needing high availability clustering and fast throughput in a rack environment. It fits users who prioritize server-grade reliability and network integration over direct-attached storage convenience.

Quick picks

Our 7 picks

1 Best overall

QNAP 8-Bay USB-C Desktop DAS Enclosure

Best for: expanding QNAP NAS storage via USB

Drive Bays

8-Bay

RAID Support

JBOD

Form Factor

Desktop

View on Amazon: QNAP 8-Bay USB-C Desktop DAS Enclosure Affiliate link

The QNAP TL-D810TC4 is an 8-bay desktop Direct Attached Storage enclosure designed to expand capacity for existing systems. It connects via a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, offering 10Gbps transfer speeds. This unit supports both 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch SATA drives, allowing you to mix HDDs and SSDs. It works with QNAP NAS units, Windows, macOS, and Linux, providing a straightforward way to add storage without buying a new NAS.

Pros

• USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port for 10Gbps data transfer
• 8-bay design accepts 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch SATA drives
• Compatible with QNAP NAS, Windows, macOS, and Ubuntu Linux
• Supports JBOD configurations via free QNAP JBOD Manager utility

Cons

• Limited to USB connectivity rather than high-speed Ethernet
• Requires separate NAS or host system for full functionality
• No mention of built-in RAID hardware controller

Good fit if

• You need rapid backup capacity for a QNAP NAS
• You want to mix HDDs and SSDs in one unit
• You prefer a simple plug-and-play storage expansion

Skip if

• You require standalone NAS features like remote access
• You need network speeds faster than 10Gbps
• You want a rackmount form factor instead of desktop

Verdict: QNAP TL-D810TC4 8-Bay Desktop DAS offers high-speed USB expansion for users needing extra SATA drive bays. It fits media archivists and QNAP owners who want simple, local storage scaling without network complexity.

2 Also great

UGREEN DXP8800 Plus 8-Bay Desktop NAS

Best for: High-throughput media storage and management

Network Connectivity

Dual 10GbE

Processor

Intel Core i5 12th Gen

Included Storage

Diskless

Form Factor

Desktop

Number of Bays

8-Bay

View on Amazon: UGREEN DXP8800 Plus 8-Bay Desktop NAS Affiliate link

The UGREEN NASync DXP8800 Plus is an 8-bay desktop NAS featuring a 12th Gen Intel Core i5 processor. It offers dual 10GbE ports for aggregated 20G bandwidth and supports up to 272TB of storage across SATA and NVMe bays. The unified app manages files and photos. This unit suits users needing high throughput and robust processing power for large media libraries.

Pros

• 12th Gen Intel Core i5 10-core processor
• Dual 10GbE ports with 20G aggregated bandwidth
• Supports up to 272TB total capacity
• Unified app for storage and file management

Cons

• Requires separate purchase of hard drives
• No mention of USB-C expansion ports
• Limited to desktop form factor only

Good fit if

• You need high-speed network transfers for large files
• You want a powerful CPU for multitasking
• You require extensive storage capacity

Skip if

• You prefer a pre-loaded drive solution
• You need compact rack-mountable hardware
• You rely on USB-C direct connections

Verdict: UGREEN NASync DXP8800 Plus 8-Bay Desktop NAS delivers strong processing and network speeds for users managing massive media collections. It fits those prioritizing bandwidth and CPU power over plug-and-play convenience.

3 Also great

Thdeukoty Ultra 9 8-Bay NAS

Best for: high-performance desktop storage and AI tasks

Drive Bays

8-Bay

Network Connectivity

2 x 10GbE

Processor

Ultra 9 285H

RAM Capacity

32GB LPDDR5X

M.2 NVMe Slots

2 x M.2 NVMe Slots

Included Storage

Diskless

View on Amazon: Thdeukoty Ultra 9 8-Bay NAS Affiliate link

The Thdeukoty 8-Bay Desktop NAS features an Ultra 9 285H CPU and 32GB LPDDR5X RAM. It includes dual 10GbE ports for 2500 MB/s speeds and supports RAID 0 through 10. The unit has eight SATA bays and two M.2 NVMe slots. It offers a PCIe 4.0 x8 slot for expansion. This setup suits users needing high throughput and flexible storage configurations.

Pros

• Dual 10GbE Ethernet ports with LACP support
• Ultra 9 285H 16-core CPU up to 5.4GHz
• 32GB LPDDR5X 8400MHz RAM
• Dual M.2 NVMe slots for caching or pools

Cons

• Larger physical dimensions than standard 8-bay enclosures
• No mention of included hard drives
• New brand with less established ecosystem

Good fit if

• You need dual 10GbE connectivity for fast data transfer
• You require high CPU performance for AI or rendering tasks
• You want flexible expansion via PCIe and M.2 slots

Skip if

• You prefer a well-known brand with a mature software ecosystem
• You need a compact footprint for small desks
• You want a plug-and-play solution without hardware customization

Verdict: Thdeukoty 8-Bay Desktop NAS delivers raw power and connectivity for users who prioritize speed and expansion over brand recognition. It is ideal for technical users who need dual 10GbE and high-end processing capabilities.

4 Also great

QNAP 8-Bay 10GbE Desktop NAS

Best for: Users needing 10G networking and NVMe caching

Drive Bays

8 Bay

Network Connectivity

1 x 10GBASE-T, 2 x 2.5GbE

Processor

Intel Atom C5125

RAM Capacity

8GB U-DIMM DDR4

M.2 NVMe Slots

2 slots

Included Storage

Diskless

View on Amazon: QNAP 8-Bay 10GbE Desktop NAS Affiliate link

This 8-bay desktop NAS uses an Intel Atom C5125 processor with 8 cores and 8GB of DDR4 RAM. It includes one 10Gbase-T port and two 2.5GbE ports for fast network transfers. Dual M.2 NVMe slots offer cache acceleration or additional storage. It supports ECC memory expansion up to 128GB and allows for extra PCIe expansion cards. This unit suits users needing robust local storage with high-speed networking capabilities.

Pros

• Intel Atom C5125 8-core processor running at 2.8GHz
• Includes one 10Gbase-T and two 2.5GbE network ports
• Dual M.2 PCIe Gen 3 x4 NVMe SSD slots
• Supports ECC DDR4 RAM expansion up to 128GB

Cons

• Uses a single 10Gbase-T port instead of dual 10G ports
• Limited to PCIe Gen 3 speeds for NVMe and expansion slots
• Only one 10G network interface limits simultaneous high-speed throughput

Good fit if

• You need an 8-bay desktop NAS with dedicated 10G networking
• You want to use NVMe SSDs for caching or storage pools
• You require ECC memory support for data integrity

Skip if

• You need dual 10Gbase-T ports for maximum redundancy
• You require PCIe Gen 4 speeds for faster SSD performance
• You prefer a rackmount form factor over desktop placement

Verdict: QNAP TS-855X 8-Bay Desktop NAS provides solid 8-core processing and flexible networking for users who prioritize local storage expansion with NVMe caching capabilities.

5 Best premium

QNAP TS-673-4G 8-Bay NAS

Best for: users needing multiple 1GbE ports

Drive Bays

6 Bay

Network Connectivity

4x GbE LAN

RAM Capacity

4GB DDR4

M.2 NVMe Slots

2 slots

Number of Bays

8-Bay

Processor Cores

Quad-Core

View on Amazon: QNAP TS-673-4G 8-Bay NAS Affiliate link

This 8-bay NAS features an AMD R-Series quad-core processor and 4GB of DDR4 RAM. It includes four 1GbE LAN ports and two PCIe slots for optional 10GbE expansion. Dual M.2 slots support SSD caching or storage pools. You get scalable storage for virtualization and backup. The unit supports NVIDIA graphics for 4K transcoding. It suits users needing multiple network ports and expansion flexibility.

Pros

• Four 1GbE LAN ports
• AMD R-Series Quad-core 2.1GHz processor
• Two PCIe Gen3 x4 slots for expansion
• Dual M.2 SATA SSD slots for caching
• Supports NVIDIA GeForce GT1030 for 4K transcoding

Cons

• Only 4GB RAM included
• No built-in 10GbE connectivity
• Larger physical footprint at 11 inches long

Good fit if

• You need four separate network connections
• You plan to add 10GbE via PCIe later
• You want to use SSD caching for speed

Skip if

• You require 10GbE ports without adding cards
• You need more than 4GB of RAM pre-installed
• You want a compact desktop form factor

Verdict: QNAP TS-673-4G 8-Bay NAS offers robust networking with four ports and expansion slots for users who prioritize connectivity flexibility over built-in high-speed Ethernet.

6 Best budget

Asustor Lockerstor 8-Bay Dual 10GbE NAS

Best for: Users needing 10GbE connectivity and internal drive management

Drive Bays

8-Bay

Network Connectivity

2x 10GbE, 2x 2.5GbE

Processor

Intel Atom C3538

RAM Capacity

8GB DDR4

Hardware Interface

M.2 NVMe

Processor Cores

Quad-Core

View on Amazon: Asustor Lockerstor 8-Bay Dual 10GbE NAS Affiliate link

The Asustor AS6508T is an 8-bay NAS featuring an Intel Atom C3538 quad-core processor and 8GB DDR4 RAM. It offers robust connectivity with two 10GbE and two 2.5GbE ports. This unit suits users needing high-speed network access and substantial storage capacity for multiple drives. It provides a solid foundation for home or small office server tasks without requiring external DAS connections.

Pros

• Intel Atom C3538 quad-core processor for steady performance
• 8GB DDR4 RAM ensures smooth multitasking
• Dual 10GbE ports support up to 20Gbps link aggregation
• Two additional 2.5GbE interfaces for flexible networking

Cons

• Larger physical footprint at 11.5 by 9.06 inches
• Heavier build at 13.7 pounds compared to DAS units
• Requires separate hard drives for storage

Good fit if

• You need dedicated 10GbE network speeds for file transfers
• You want a full NAS operating system with app support
• You prefer internal drive management over external enclosures

Skip if

• You only need simple JBOD expansion for a PC
• You want a plug-and-play device without configuration
• You have limited space for a larger chassis

Verdict: Asustor 8-Bay NAS Intel Atom C3538 delivers strong networking and processing power for users building a central storage server. It fits those who value network flexibility and internal drive control over simple external expansion.

7

Synology 8-Bay Short-Depth Rackmount NAS

Best for: High-availability rackmount storage with fast throughput

Drive Bays

8 Bay

Included Storage

Diskless

RAM Capacity

4GB RAM

Dimensions

23 × 16.5 × 8.5 inches

View on Amazon: Synology 8-Bay Short-Depth Rackmount NAS Affiliate link

This 8-bay rackmount NAS offers high throughput with 2,315 MB/s read and 1,147 MB/s write speeds. It includes 4GB of RAM and supports PCIe expansion for faster networking. The unit features a compact 298 mm depth for rack efficiency. You can link two units for high availability. It comes diskless, so you must provide your own drives. This setup suits multi-user environments needing reliable uptime.

Pros

• 2,315 MB/s read speed
• 1,147 MB/s write speed
• Compact 298 mm depth
• PCIe network expansion support
• High Availability cluster capability

Cons

• Comes diskless with no included storage
• Limited to 4GB RAM capacity
• Requires separate drive purchase

Good fit if

• You need high read speeds for multi-user access
• You want to cluster units for service uptime
• You prefer a compact 298 mm depth for rack mounting

Skip if

• You require included hard drives
• You need more than 4GB of RAM
• You prefer a desktop form factor over rackmount

Verdict: Synology RS1221+ 8-Bay RackStation delivers strong sequential speeds and compact depth for rack installations. It fits teams needing high availability clustering and PCIe networking upgrades without pre-installed storage.

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