Looking Beyond the TERRAMASTER 4-Bay 8-Core NAS 16GB? 6 Alternatives Worth a Look

How these models compare to the F4-425 Pro

TerraMaster 4-Bay NAS with 32GB RAM

The TerraMaster F4-424 Pro doubles your RAM to 32GB while keeping the 8-core processor. This makes it better for heavy virtualization and caching tasks where memory is the bottleneck. It weighs less at 4.2 pounds, making it easier to place on a desk. You lose the specific DDR5 specification and the three M.2 NVMe slots found in the F4-425 Pro. If your workload depends more on application speed and caching than on NVMe acceleration, this model offers a stronger memory foundation. It is a solid choice for users who prioritize raw processing power and memory capacity over high-speed flash storage integration.

TERRAMASTER 8-Bay All-NVMe SSD NAS

The TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus shifts the focus entirely to NVMe storage with eight bays. It is significantly smaller and lighter, weighing just 1.32 pounds, which suits tight workspaces. It also includes 16GB of RAM and an 8-core processor. However, it lacks traditional 3.5-inch drive bays, so you cannot use standard HDDs. This model is ideal if you already own NVMe drives and need high-speed, compact storage. You give up the flexibility of mixing drive types and the TRAID support for mixed capacities. It is the best option for users who want maximum speed in a minimal footprint without the bulk of traditional hard drives.

Asustor Lockerstor 16 Pro 16-Bay Rackmount NAS

The Asustor Lockerstor 16 Pro is a rackmount unit with 16 bays, offering much higher density than the 4-bay TerraMaster. It uses an AMD Ryzen 8-core processor and includes 16GB of RAM. It features both 10GbE and 1GbE ports, providing superior networking compared to the TerraMaster's dual 5GbE. This model is built for enterprise environments and high-capacity needs. It is much larger and heavier, weighing 33.7 pounds. You sacrifice the compact desktop form factor and the AI-native OS features of the TerraMaster. It is the right choice for users who need maximum drive capacity and robust networking in a rackmount chassis.

Asustor Lockerstor 4-Bay 10GbE NAS

The Asustor AS6804T offers four multi-gigabit ports, including 10GbE, which exceeds the TerraMaster's dual 5GbE connectivity. It includes four M.2 NVMe slots for caching, matching the TerraMaster's flexibility. It uses an AMD Ryzen quad-core processor and 16GB of RAM. The main difference is the networking speed and the inclusion of ECC memory for data integrity. It is larger and heavier than the TerraMaster. You give up the 8-core processor count and the AI-focused operating system. This model is best for network administrators who need high-bandwidth connections and error-correcting memory for critical data storage in a desktop form factor.

TERRAMASTER 4-Bay 8-Core NAS Enclosure

The TerraMaster F4-425 Pro with the N305 processor has only 8GB of RAM, which is half of the 16GB in the N350 model. It shares the same 8-core architecture and 4-bay design. The N305 version is lighter at 6.39 pounds and has a gray finish. It lacks the 16GB RAM capacity, which may limit virtualization performance. You keep the same AI features and TRAID support for mixed drives. This model is suitable for users who need strong processing power but do not require the full 16GB of memory. It is a good option for those who prioritize AI capabilities and flexible storage over maximum RAM capacity.

Synology 4-Bay Rackmount Expansion Unit

The Synology RX418 is an expansion unit, not a standalone NAS. It adds four bays to an existing Synology system, increasing capacity without replacing your current hardware. It is diskless and designed to scale storage on compatible Synology models. It lacks its own processor and RAM, relying on the host NAS for performance. You cannot use it as an independent storage solution. It is ideal for users who need to expand their existing Synology NAS storage efficiently. This model is not a direct alternative to the TerraMaster F4-425 Pro but a complementary device for those already invested in the Synology ecosystem.

Quick picks

Our 7 picks

1 Best overall

TERRAMASTER 4-Bay 8-Core NAS with 16GB RAM

Best for: virtualization and heavy caching workloads

Drive Bays

4-Bay

Network Connectivity

5GbE x2

Processor

Intel N350 8-Core

RAM Capacity

16GB DDR5

M.2 NVMe Slots

3 slots

Included Storage

Diskless

View on Amazon: TERRAMASTER 4-Bay 8-Core NAS with 16GB RAM Affiliate link

This 4-bay NAS uses an Intel N350 8-core processor and 16GB DDR5 RAM. It features dual 5GbE ports for 10Gb aggregated bandwidth and three M.2 NVMe slots. The system runs TOS 7 AI OS with Docker and virtualization support. It suits users needing high RAM and fast local caching for demanding tasks like video editing or virtualization.

Pros

• 16GB DDR5 RAM capacity
• Intel N350 8-core CPU
• Three M.2 NVMe slots for Hyper Cache
• Dual 5GbE network ports

Cons

• Sold diskless with no included storage
• Network ports are 5GbE, not 10GbE
• No 10GbE uplink port included

Good fit if

• You need 16GB of RAM for virtualization
• You want to use M.2 NVMe caching
• You require an 8-core processor for heavy loads

Skip if

• You need pre-installed hard drives
• You require native 10GbE networking ports
• You prefer a 4-core processor design

Verdict: TERRAMASTER F4-425 Pro 4-Bay NAS offers high RAM and core counts for virtualization. It fits users needing NVMe caching and 16GB memory, though it lacks native 10GbE ports.

2 Also great

TerraMaster 4-Bay NAS with 32GB RAM

Best for: Users needing high RAM and fast app performance

Drive Bays

4-Bay

Network Connectivity

2 x 2.5GbE

Processor

Intel Core i3-N305

RAM Capacity

32GB DDR5 4800MHz

M.2 NVMe Slots

2 slots

Included Storage

Diskless

View on Amazon: TerraMaster 4-Bay NAS with 32GB RAM Affiliate link

The TERRAMASTER F4-424 Pro is a 4-bay NAS featuring an Intel Core i3-N305 8-core processor and 32GB of DDR5 RAM. It includes dual 2.5GbE ports and two M.2 NVMe slots for caching. This diskless unit suits users needing high application speed and robust backup options. It is designed for small to medium-sized businesses requiring peak performance.

Pros

• 32GB DDR5 4800MHz RAM capacity
• Intel Core i3-N305 8-core CPU
• Dual 2.5GbE network ports
• Two M.2 NVMe slots for caching

Cons

• RAM is non-ECC and non-upgradable
• Sold diskless with no included storage
• Limited to 4 drive bays

Good fit if

• You need high RAM capacity for virtualization
• You require fast application load times
• You want dual 2.5GbE connectivity

Skip if

• You need ECC memory for data integrity
• You want a pre-loaded storage solution
• You require more than four drive bays

Verdict: TERRAMASTER F4-424 Pro 4-Bay NAS offers strong processing power and memory for users who prioritize application speed and caching capabilities over expandable RAM or pre-installed drives.

3 Best 8-bay

TERRAMASTER 8-Bay All-NVMe SSD NAS

Best for: Compact high-speed NVMe storage

Drive Bays

8-Bay

Network Connectivity

10GbE

Processor

Intel Core i3-N305

RAM Capacity

16GB DDR5

Included Storage

Diskless

Processor Cores

8-Core

View on Amazon: TERRAMASTER 8-Bay All-NVMe SSD NAS Affiliate link

The TERRAMASTER F8 SSD Plus is an 8-bay, diskless NAS built for speed and compactness. It uses an Intel Core i3-N305 8-core processor and 16GB of DDR5 RAM to handle demanding tasks like virtualization and database management. The device supports eight M.2 NVMe SSDs for high-performance storage. Its small footprint and quiet operation make it suitable for home or small office environments where space and noise matter.

Pros

• Eight bays for M.2 NVMe SSDs
• Intel Core i3-N305 8-core processor
• 16GB DDR5 4800MHz RAM
• Compact 2.4 x 5.5 x 6.9 inch size
• Quiet operation below 19dB standby

Cons

• Diskless design requires separate SSD purchase
• Limited to M.2 SSDs, no 3.5-inch support
• Single 10Gbps Ethernet port

Good fit if

• You need high-speed storage for virtualization
• You prefer a quiet, compact desktop unit
• You already own M.2 NVMe SSDs

Skip if

• You require pre-installed hard drives
• You need multiple 10GbE ports
• You want to use 3.5-inch HDDs

Verdict: TERRAMASTER F8 SSD Plus 8-Bay NAS is a compact, high-performance storage solution for users who value speed and silence. It fits buyers who already have NVMe drives and need a small footprint for their workspace.

4 Best premium

Asustor Lockerstor 16 Pro 16-Bay Rackmount NAS

Best for: high-density rackmount storage needs

Drive Bays

16-Bay

Network Connectivity

Dual 10GbE, Dual 1GbE

Processor

AMD Ryzen 7 Pro 7745

RAM Capacity

16GB ECC DDR5

Included Storage

Diskless

Form Factor

Rackmount

View on Amazon: Asustor Lockerstor 16 Pro 16-Bay Rackmount NAS Affiliate link

The Asustor Lockerstor 16 Pro Gen2 is a 16-bay rackmount NAS built for heavy workloads. It uses an AMD Ryzen 7 Pro 7745 8-core CPU and 16GB ECC DDR5 RAM. You get dual 10GbE and dual Gigabit ports for fast data movement. The unit includes dual redundant power supplies. This diskless system suits businesses needing high capacity and reliable connectivity.

Pros

• AMD Ryzen 7 Pro 7745 8-core processor
• 16GB ECC DDR5 memory expandable to 192GB
• Dual 10GbE and dual Gigabit Ethernet ports
• Dual redundant 80 PLUS Platinum power supplies

Cons

• 16-bay form factor requires rack space
• Heavy 33.7-pound build limits placement options
• Sold diskless with no included storage

Good fit if

• You need high-density storage in a rack
• You require dual 10GbE network connections
• You want redundant power for reliability

Skip if

• You prefer a compact desktop form factor
• You want a NAS with drives pre-installed
• You have limited rack space available

Verdict: Asustor Lockerstor 16 Pro 16-Bay Rackmount NAS delivers enterprise-grade specs for users who need maximum drive capacity and robust networking in a rackmount chassis.

5 Best quad-core

Asustor Lockerstor 4-Bay 10GbE NAS

Best for: High-bandwidth multi-gigabit networking and NVMe caching

Drive Bays

4 Bay

Network Connectivity

Dual 5GbE, Dual 10GbE

Processor

AMD Ryzen Quad-Core 2.3 GHz

RAM Capacity

16GB ECC DDR5

M.2 NVMe Slots

4 M.2 NVMe Slots

Included Storage

Diskless

View on Amazon: Asustor Lockerstor 4-Bay 10GbE NAS Affiliate link

This 4-bay NAS features an AMD Ryzen quad-core 2.3 GHz processor, 16GB of ECC DDR5 memory, and four M.2 NVMe slots. Dual 10GbE and dual 5GbE ports handle high-bandwidth network transfers without adding expansion cards. You get room for four solid-state drives alongside four standard drive bays, making it suitable for setups needing fast multi-gigabit throughput and error-correcting memory.

Pros

• Dual 10GbE and dual 5GbE network interfaces
• 16GB ECC DDR5 system memory
• Four dedicated M.2 NVMe solid-state drive slots
• AMD Ryzen quad-core 2.3 GHz processor

Cons

• Quad-core CPU provides fewer cores than 8-core category alternatives
• Shipped diskless with zero hard drives or SSDs pre-installed

Good fit if

• You need native 10GbE and 5GbE Ethernet connectivity out of the box.
• You want 16GB of ECC DDR5 memory to prevent silent data corruption.
• You plan to run up to four M.2 NVMe solid-state drives alongside mechanical disks.

Skip if

• You require an 8-core CPU for heavily threaded server workloads.
• You want pre-installed storage drives included in the box.

Verdict: Asustor Lockerstor 4-Bay 10GbE NAS gives high-speed network administrators four multi-gigabit ports, four NVMe slots, and ECC memory in a desktop chassis.

6 Best 8gb ram

TERRAMASTER 4-Bay 8-Core NAS Enclosure

Best for: Users needing AI features and mixed drives

Drive Bays

4-Bay

Processor

Intel N350

RAM Capacity

16GB DDR5

Included Storage

Diskless

Hardware Interface

M.2 NVMe

Network Connectivity

5GbE

View on Amazon: TERRAMASTER 4-Bay 8-Core NAS Enclosure Affiliate link

This 4-bay NAS uses an Intel N305 or N300 8-core CPU and 8GB of RAM. It includes three M.2 NVMe slots for Hyper Cache acceleration and dual 5GbE ports. The device runs TOS 7, an AI-native operating system. It supports RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, and TRAID. You get native Docker and VirtualBox support. It is diskless, so you must supply your own drives.

Pros

• Intel N305/N300 8-core processor
• 8GB RAM capacity
• Three M.2 NVMe slots
• Dual 5GbE network ports
• Supports TRAID mixed-drive arrays

Cons

• Includes only 8GB RAM
• Sold without internal drives
• Uses 5GbE instead of 10GbE

Good fit if

• You need fast local AI processing
• You want to mix drive sizes
• You run Docker containers

Skip if

• You require 10GbE networking
• You need pre-installed storage
• You prefer Synology software

Verdict: TERRAMASTER F4-425 Pro 4-Bay NAS offers strong 8-core performance and flexible caching for users who build their own storage arrays. It fits developers and homelab enthusiasts who value local AI capabilities and mixed-drive flexibility over higher network speeds.

7 Best budget

Synology 4-Bay Rackmount Expansion Unit

Best for: expanding Synology NAS storage capacity

Drive Bays

4-Bay

Included Storage

Diskless

Dimensions

17 × 11.4 × 1.73 inches

Weight

9.44 pounds

View on Amazon: Synology 4-Bay Rackmount Expansion Unit Affiliate link

The Synology RX418 is a 4-bay diskless expansion unit designed to add storage to existing Synology NAS systems. It measures 1.73 inches in height and weighs 9.44 pounds, making it compact for under-desk or rack mounting. The unit supports online volume expansion and features a deep sleep mode for energy savings. You can manage it directly through Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM).

Pros

• 4-bay diskless design for easy storage upgrades
• Supports online volume expansion without downtime
• Compact 1.73-inch height fits 2-post racks
• Energy-saving deep sleep mode reduces power use
• Managed via Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM)

Cons

• Sold diskless, requiring separate hard drive purchases
• Requires an existing Synology NAS to function
• Limited to 4 drive bays for expansion

Good fit if

• You need to expand storage on a Synology NAS
• You want a compact unit for tight spaces
• You prefer managing storage via DSM

Skip if

• You need a standalone NAS with built-in drives
• You use a non-Synology NAS system
• You require more than 4 additional drive bays

Verdict: Synology RX418 4-Bay Diskless Expansion is ideal for users needing to scale storage on their existing Synology NAS. It offers a compact, energy-efficient way to add capacity without replacing your current system.

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Frequently asked questions

See also

• stonestorm q670 8 bay NAS mini itx motherboard alternatives
• aoostar wtr pro 4 2 bay NAS mini PC alternatives