TERRAMASTER 4-Bay 8-Core NAS Enclosure Alternatives: 6 Similar Picks Compared

How the alternatives compare

TERRAMASTER 4-Bay 8-Core Intel NAS

This TERRAMASTER F4-425 Pro is functionally identical to the original in performance, offering the same 8-core Intel N305 processor and 8GB RAM. The primary difference is the chassis color, which is silver instead of gray. It also shares the same diskless design, meaning you must purchase drives separately. You should choose this version if you prefer the silver aesthetic for your home lab setup. The specifications for storage, networking, and processing power remain unchanged. It serves the same technical users who need strong multitasking capabilities and NVMe caching without any compromise in hardware capability compared to the gray model.

QNAP 8-Bay Short-Depth Rackmount NAS

The QNAP TS-855EU-RP-8G-US doubles your storage capacity with an 8-bay configuration compared to the 4-bay original. It uses a rackmount form factor, making it significantly larger and heavier at 9 pounds versus 6.39 pounds. While it retains 8GB of RAM and 8-core processing, it adds PCIe expansion slots for greater network flexibility. You should pick this if you need server-grade expansion in a data center or serious home lab environment. It sacrifices the compact desktop footprint of the TERRAMASTER for massive drive bays and enterprise features. The original is better for smaller spaces, while this QNAP model is built for heavy-duty, scalable storage needs.

TerraMaster 4-Bay NAS with 32GB RAM

The TERRAMASTER F4-424 Pro offers a massive 32GB of RAM, which is four times the 8GB found in the original model. It retains the 4-bay capacity and 8-core processor but prioritizes memory for virtualization and database workloads. This unit is slightly smaller and lighter at 4.2 pounds. You should choose this if your primary workload involves running multiple virtual machines or memory-intensive applications. It gives up the specific NVMe caching emphasis of the original in favor of raw memory capacity. This model is ideal for small business users who need maximum application speed and do not require the expanded memory options of larger rackmount systems.

TERRAMASTER 4-Bay 1U Rackmount NAS with 8GB DDR5

The TERRAMASTER U4-500 is a 1U rackmount unit designed for SMBs needing high-speed networking and DDR5 memory. It features 8GB of RAM and a 6-core processor, which is slightly less powerful than the original's 8-core CPU. However, it offers rack-mount flexibility and potentially faster memory speeds. You should pick this if you need to install the NAS in a standard server rack. It sacrifices the desktop form factor and the original's 8-core processing power for professional rack integration. This model is best for users who prioritize network speed and physical installation flexibility over raw CPU core count.

TERRAMASTER 4-Bay All-SSD NAS

The TERRAMASTER F4 SSD is a compact, all-SSD NAS powered by an Intel N95 quad-core processor. It has 8GB of RAM but only four cores, which is less than the original's 8-core performance. The unit is significantly smaller and lighter at 1.32 pounds. You should choose this if you prioritize silent operation and high-speed NVMe storage over raw processing power. It gives up the ability to use traditional hard drives for a purely solid-state setup. This model is ideal for users seeking a small footprint and quiet performance for localized storage, rather than the heavy multitasking capabilities of the original 8-core model.

Yxk 4-Bay Intel N100 NAS

The Yxk 4-Bay NAS features an Intel N100 processor and an HDMI port for direct 4K TV playback. It has 8GB of RAM and dual 2.5GbE connectivity, which is slower than the original's 5GbE ports. The unit is slightly larger and heavier at 7.84 pounds. You should pick this if you need direct video output to a television without a separate media player. It sacrifices the original's faster network speeds and higher core count for dedicated HDMI functionality. This model is best for homelab builders who want an aluminum platform for Docker or TrueNAS with direct media streaming capabilities.

Quick picks

Our 7 picks

1 Best overall

TERRAMASTER 4-Bay 8-Core NAS Enclosure

Best for: Users needing 8-core power and NVMe caching

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 8-core CPU and 8GB RAM for multitasking. It includes three M.2 NVMe slots and dual 5GbE ports for fast data access. The device runs TOS 7 with AI features and supports Docker and virtualization. It is diskless, so you must add your own drives. This unit suits users who need strong processing power and flexible storage options for home labs or small business tasks.

Pros

• Intel N305 8-core processor handles multiple tasks
• Three M.2 NVMe slots with Hyper Cache acceleration
• Dual 5GbE ports support link-aggregated speeds
• Supports Docker, Portainer, and VirtualBox
• TRAID technology allows mixed-capacity drive configurations

Cons

• Diskless design requires purchasing drives separately
• Only includes two 5GbE network ports
• 8GB RAM may limit heavy virtualization workloads

Good fit if

• You need high core counts for virtualization
• You want to use NVMe SSDs for caching
• You prefer TRAID for flexible drive mixing

Skip if

• You require pre-installed storage drives
• You need more than two 10GbE ports
• You only need basic file storage without AI

Verdict: TERRAMASTER F4-425 Pro 4-Bay NAS delivers strong 8-core performance and flexible NVMe caching for technical users. It fits developers and home lab enthusiasts who value processing power and custom storage layouts over plug-and-play simplicity.

2 Also great

TERRAMASTER 4-Bay 8-Core Intel NAS

Best for: Home labs and virtualization tasks

Drive Bays

4-Bay

Network Connectivity

5GbE x 2

Processor

Intel N305

RAM Capacity

8GB

M.2 NVMe Slots

3 slots

Included Storage

Diskless

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

The TERRAMASTER F4-425 Pro is a diskless 4-bay NAS powered by an Intel N305 8-core processor and 8GB of RAM. It features dual 5GbE ports for high-speed connectivity and three M.2 NVMe slots for cache acceleration. This unit runs TOS 7, which supports AI tasks and Docker virtualization. It suits users who need robust multitasking capabilities for media servers or development environments without pre-installed drives.

Pros

• Intel N305 8-core CPU for strong multitasking performance
• Dual 5GbE network ports with link aggregation support
• Three M.2 NVMe slots for Hyper Cache acceleration
• Supports Docker Compose and VirtualBox for containers and VMs
• TRAID technology allows mixed-capacity drives and online expansion

Cons

• Sold as diskless, requiring separate drive purchases
• No mention of USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports for direct peripheral connection
• 8GB RAM may limit heavy virtualization workloads compared to higher-end models

Good fit if

• You need high network throughput via dual 5GbE ports
• You want to run Docker containers or Linux VMs
• You prefer TRAID flexibility for mixed drive sizes

Skip if

• You require pre-installed storage drives
• You need 10GbE network connectivity
• You want a rackmount form factor

Verdict: The TERRAMASTER F4-425 Pro 4-Bay NAS fits developers and home lab users who need an 8-core processor and NVMe cache for virtualization. It is not suitable for those needing immediate plug-and-play storage without buying drives separately.

3 Best rackmount

QNAP 8-Bay Short-Depth Rackmount NAS

Best for: 8-bay rackmount storage needs

Drive Bays

8 Bay

Network Connectivity

Dual 2.5GbE

Processor

Intel Atom C5125

RAM Capacity

8GB SODIMM DDR4

M.2 NVMe Slots

Dual M.2 PCIe Gen 3 x4 NVMe SSD slots

Included Storage

Diskless

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

This is an 8-bay rackmount NAS with an Intel Atom C5125 8-core processor and 8GB of DDR4 RAM. It features dual 2.5GbE ports and two M.2 NVMe slots for cache or storage. The unit is designed for server rooms with its short-depth rackmount form factor. It suits users who need high capacity and expansion options for their data infrastructure.

Pros

• 8-core Intel Atom C5125 processor
• Dual 2.5GbE network ports
• Two M.2 NVMe SSD slots
• Dual PCIe expansion slots

Cons

• Large 21-inch width requires significant rack space
• 8GB RAM is base capacity, not maximum
• Sold as a diskless enclosure

Good fit if

• You need an 8-bay storage solution
• You require dual 2.5GbE connectivity
• You want PCIe expansion options

Skip if

• You need a compact desktop unit
• You require 10GbE network ports
• You want pre-installed drives

Verdict: QNAP 8-Bay Rackmount NAS provides robust expansion capabilities through its PCIe slots and M.2 support. It fits users who prioritize capacity and network flexibility in a server environment.

4 Also great

TerraMaster 4-Bay NAS with 32GB RAM

Best for: High-memory virtualization and database workloads

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 diskless 4-bay NAS enclosure powered by an Intel Core i3-N305 8-core processor. It stands out with 32GB of DDR5 RAM, which is higher than the 8GB found in most competitors. You get dual 2.5GbE ports and two M.2 NVMe slots for caching. This setup suits users who need high application performance and large memory capacity for virtualization or database tasks.

Pros

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

Cons

• RAM is non-upgradable
• RAM is non-ECC
• Sold without storage drives

Good fit if

• You need 32GB of RAM for heavy workloads
• You want DDR5 memory speed
• You plan to use M.2 SSD caching

Skip if

• You require ECC memory for data integrity
• You need pre-installed hard drives
• You want a larger 6-bay chassis

Verdict: TERRAMASTER F4-424 Pro 4-Bay NAS offers maximum RAM capacity for small business users who prioritize application speed and virtualization support over expandability.

5 Best premium

TERRAMASTER 4-Bay 1U Rackmount NAS with 8GB DDR5

Best for: SMBs needing 10GbE and NVMe caching

Drive Bays

4Bay

Network Connectivity

Dual 10GbE

Processor

Intel Core i3 1215U

RAM Capacity

8GB DDR5

Included Storage

Diskless

RAID Support

RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, TRAID, TRAID+

View on Amazon: TERRAMASTER 4-Bay 1U Rackmount NAS with 8GB DDR5 Affiliate link

The TERRAMASTER U4-500 is a 1U rack-mount NAS with a 6-core Intel Core i3-1215U processor and 8GB DDR5 RAM. It features dual 10GbE ports and dual NVMe slots for Hyper Cache acceleration. This diskless unit supports up to 96TB of storage. It suits businesses needing high-speed data access and virtualization capabilities.

Pros

• Intel Core i3-1215U 6-core processor with 8 threads
• 8GB DDR5 RAM for efficient multitasking
• Dual 10GbE ports with 20Gbps aggregate bandwidth
• Dual M.2 NVMe slots with Hyper Cache technology
• Supports RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, TRAID, and TRAID+

Cons

• Diskless design requires separate drive purchase
• 1U rack-mount form factor limits desktop placement
• No mention of HDMI output or display connectivity

Good fit if

• You need dual 10GbE connectivity for fast transfers
• You want NVMe caching for improved performance
• You require a 1U rack-mountable server

Skip if

• You prefer a pre-configured unit with drives included
• You need a desktop tower instead of rack-mount
• You require HDMI output for direct display

Verdict: TERRAMASTER U4-500 4-Bay 1U NAS offers robust performance for SMBs needing high-speed networking and NVMe acceleration. It fits users who prioritize rack-mount flexibility and DDR5 memory over included storage.

6 Best intel n95

TERRAMASTER 4-Bay All-SSD NAS

Best for: Users seeking silent, high-speed NVMe storage

Drive Bays

4-Bay

Network Connectivity

1 x 5GbE

Processor

Intel N95

RAM Capacity

8GB DDR5-4800

Included Storage

Diskless

Processor Cores

Quad-Core

View on Amazon: TERRAMASTER 4-Bay All-SSD NAS Affiliate link

This is a compact, all-SSD NAS enclosure designed for speed and quiet operation. It uses an Intel N95 quad-core processor with 8GB DDR5 RAM and a 5Gbps Ethernet port. The unit holds four M.2 NVMe SSDs for a total capacity of 32TB. Its small footprint and silent fans make it suitable for desks or tight spaces. You get professional backup features without the noise of traditional hard drives.

Pros

• Supports four M.2 NVMe SSDs up to 32TB total capacity
• Includes a 5Gbps Ethernet port for fast network transfers
• Uses 8GB DDR5-4800MHz RAM for efficient multitasking
• Operates at under 19dB in standby mode
• Compact dimensions of 5.5 x 5.4 x 2.4 inches

Cons

• Limited to four SSD bays instead of traditional 3.5-inch drives
• Single 5Gbps network port lacks multi-Gigabit redundancy
• Intel N95 is a 4-core chip, fewer cores than 8-core competitors

Good fit if

• You need a silent, compact NAS for a home office
• You want to use only NVMe SSDs for speed
• You require 5Gbps network connectivity for faster backups

Skip if

• You need to store large 3.5-inch mechanical hard drives
• You require dual network ports for link aggregation
• You prefer an 8-core processor for heavy virtualization

Verdict: TERRAMASTER F4 SSD 4-Bay All-SSD NAS is a quiet, high-speed storage solution for users who prioritize NVMe performance and a small footprint over traditional drive capacity.

7 Best budget

Yxk 4-Bay Intel N100 NAS

Best for: direct 4K TV playback and media streaming

Drive Bays

4-Bay

Network Connectivity

2x 2.5GbE

Processor

Intel N100

RAM Capacity

8GB DDR4

M.2 NVMe Slots

2 slots

Included Storage

Diskless

View on Amazon: Yxk 4-Bay Intel N100 NAS Affiliate link

This diskless 4-bay NAS features an Intel N100 processor, 8GB of DDR4 memory, and a dedicated 4K HDMI output. You get two 2.5GbE ports, two M.2 NVMe slots, and support for RAID 0, 1, and 5 across up to 144TB of storage. It suits home media enthusiasts who want direct TV connection and flexible Docker container hosting.

Pros

• 4K HDMI port for direct connection to monitors and TVs
• Dual 2.5GbE network ports with link aggregation support
• Two M.2 NVMe slots alongside four SATA drive bays
• Aluminum alloy chassis with dedicated dual-fan cooling

Cons

• Uses DDR4 memory instead of DDR5
• RAID configurations limited to RAID 0, 1, and 5
• Arrives diskless with no preinstalled storage drives

Good fit if

• You want to connect your storage directly to a TV via 4K HDMI.
• You need dual 2.5GbE networking for local file transfers.
• You plan to run Docker containers or install alternative NAS operating systems.

Skip if

• You require RAID 6 or RAID 10 storage configurations.
• You prefer an enclosure with DDR5 memory.

Verdict: Yxk 4-Bay Intel N100 HDMI NAS delivers dedicated 4K video output and dual 2.5GbE connectivity for users building a localized home media server. It gives homelab builders an aluminum platform capable of running Docker or alternative operating systems like TrueNAS.

Specifications side by side

Frequently asked questions

See also

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