At first we would like to thank QNAP for offering a sample of their TS-653B 6-bay QTS-Linux Combo Quad-Core NAS with PCIe for testing and reviewing.

 

 

 

About QNAP:

 

“QNAP Systems, Inc., as its brand promise "Quality Network Appliance Provider", aims to deliver comprehensive offerings of cutting edge network attached storage (NAS) and network video recorder (NVR) solutions featured with ease-of-use, robust operation, large storage capacity, and trustworthy reliability. QNAP integrates technologies and designs to bring forth quality products that effectively improve business efficiency on file sharing, virtualization applications, storage management and surveillance in the business environments, as well as enrich entertainment life for home users with the offering of a fun multimedia center experience. Headquartered in Taipei, QNAP delivers its solutions to the global market with nonstop innovation and passion.”

 

Intel® Celeron® J3455 quad-core 1.5GHz CPU with AES-NI Encryption

 

Powered by the latest 14 nm Intel® Celeron® J3455 quad-core 1.5GHz processor (burst up to 2.3 GHz), up to 8GB DDR3L RAM, dual Gigabit LAN ports, and SATA 6Gb/s, the TS-653B runs tasks smoothly and quickly with up to 225 MB/s read/ write speeds. The TS-653B features Intel® AES-NI hardware-accelerated encryption to drive transfer speeds of up to 225 MB/s with AES 256-bit encryption for both full NAS volumes and shared folders, boosting system performance and security while ensuring the safety of sensitive data stored in the TS-653B.

 

Extend NAS functionality with the PCIe Slot

 

With PCIe expansion, the TS-653B provides flexibility in extending NAS functionality and potential applications. Install a QNAP QM2 card to provide M.2 SSD caching/10GbE connectivity, or use the TS-653B as a wireless access point by installing a compatible wireless network card, or boost the USB connectivity of the TS-653B by installing a USB 3.1 10Gbps card.

 

QM2 expansion card rede?nes NAS function

 

QNAP's QM2 is a PCIe expansion card that features dual M.2 SSD slots and 10GbE connectivity* (individual cards may vary in functionality). This allows users to easily set up SSD caching or to enable Qtier auto-tiering technology to optimize NAS performance. 10GbE-compatible models can also future proof the TS-653B for use with 10GbE networks. Equipped with a dedicated cooling module, the QM2 can maintain its high performance even when tasked with the highest workloads.

 

OLED panel with capacitive touch buttons

 

The TS-653B features an all-new design with a sliding cover. The tool-less 3.5” hard drive installation makes it easier for users to set up and maintain the TS-653B. The OLED front panel displays system information (including temperatures, fan speed, and the capacity of hard drives, volumes and LUN) allowing you to quickly view the overall system status. Dust-proof capacitive touch buttons allow you to easily wake up the screen, change network IP settings and host password or even restart and shut down the system.

 

Directly access files with USB-C QuickAccess

 

The TS-653B features an innovative USB-C QuickAccess port that allows you to complete the first-time installation and setup of your TS-653B without requiring network connectivity. The files and data stored on the TS-653B can also be directly accessed by using Qfinder Pro* and a USB Type-C cable**. You can also assign access rights to users for different folders to prevent unauthorized access to important files.

 

Data backup, recovery, and synchronization

 

QNAP Hybrid Backup Sync provides a well-rounded solution for data backup, file synchronization and disaster recovery. With Hybrid Backup Sync, you can easily and securely backup data from your NAS to several local, remote and cloud storage spaces. In the event of system crashes or critical hardware failure, you can quickly restore data from these storage spaces, minimizing downtime and reducing overall loss. Hybrid Backup Sync also takes advantage of cloud storage for one-way sync of your data to cloud storage through RTRR, Rsync, FTP, SMB protocol, or two-way sync your NAS with remote NAS/cloud services.

 

Share and sync files across devices

 

The TS-653B supports SMB, NFS and AFP, allowing you to quickly share files to Windows®, Mac®, and Linux®/UNIX® devices. With QNAP's Qsync utility, the TS-653B becomes a safe data center for file synchronization with huge storage potential. Any file uploaded to TS-653B can be synchronized to all the linked devices such as computers, laptops and mobile devices. You can also sync shared folders to increase the flexibility of collaboration and file sharing. The SDXC card slot makes it easier to directly access and back up files stored on them, and the new exFAT driver (optional purchase, sold separately) provides compatibility with newer, faster SD cards.

 

QTS-Linux dual systems, geared for the IoT era

 

The TS-653B’s QTS-Linux dual systems are based on QNAP’s advanced virtualization technologies. The revolutionary architecture of the TS-653B enables users not only to download rich apps from QTS App Center but also to develop or utilize IoT packages for Linux® and display them using HDMI output. With the TS-653B, you can develop and install various IoT packages on demand and centrally store the data on the TS-653B, benefiting from a secure private storage and development solution.

 

Datastore for virtualized environments

 

The TS-653B is an iSCSI/ IP-SAN storage that supports VMware® and Citrix®, and is compatible with Microsoft® Hyper-V® and Windows Server 2012® R2, fulfilling the need for flexible deployment and management in virtualization environments. The TS-653B supports VMware VAAI and Microsoft ODX to increase performance by offloading server loading for ESXi server and Hyper-V respectively, and supports QNAP vSphere Client plug-in and QNAP SMI-S provider with enhanced operational efficiency and management in virtualization applications.

 

Storage for hosting virtual machines and containerized applications

 

Virtualization Station allows you to host virtual machines (VM) on the TS-653B and access them via a web browser or VNC. Virtualization Station supports multiple operating systems, fast VM creation, VM backup & restoration, VM import/export, snapshot, and Device Management for centrally managing VMs. Virtualization Station allows the TS-653B, VMs and containers to share the same LAN port. No longer constrained by physical network performance, high-speed virtual switches greatly increases data transfer between VMs, containers and NAS through the internal interface. The TS-653B also features Container Station, which integrates LXC and Docker® lightweight virtualization technologies. You can operate multiple isolated Linux® systems on the TS-653B as well as download apps from the built-in Docker Hub Registry®. Containers Station also supports the QIoT Containers platform that helps quickly structure your IoT environment and deployment on your private IoT cloud.

 

Secure access with VPN & Proxy Server

 

The new QVPN combines VPN server and VPN client functionality. Through QVPN, the TS-653B can be used as a VPN server with L2TP/ IPsec, OpenVPN, and PPTP support, allowing you to securely access data shared within the private local network. The TS-653B can also be used as a VPN Client to connect to other VPN servers or virtual private network through PPTP and OpenVPN for secure data transmission. VPN Client also allows your NAS to connect to multiple servers at the same time. You can connect your devices to your NAS and the VPN server at home to access data on the LAN and via VPN Client on your NAS, you can connect to international VPN servers for accessing regionally-restricted services such as Netflix and Hulu in HD Station. The TS-653B provides you with various VPN options and helps secure your data transmission.

 

QTS 4.3 – The most intelligent and intuitive NAS operating system

 

With modularized multiple applications and functions, QTS enhances management efficiency, personal productivity, multimedia, and much more. New intelligent agent services have also been added to simplify system operations and management. The user-friendly QTS features an intelligent desktop that allows you to find desired functions quickly, monitor important system information on a real-time basis, open multiple application windows to run multiple tasks concurrently with greater working efficiency, and provides a built-in App Center with install-on-demand apps to extend NAS functionality. QTS breaks the barriers of devices, platforms, and geography to bring optimized cloud experiences and incorporates advanced features.

 

Qfiling automates your file organization

 

Qfiling helps automate file organization for sorting files spread through multiple folders, helping to reduce the time needed for finding important files. Users can categorize files and determine filing conditions; and schedule filing tasks to be carried out periodically. The “Recipe” feature allows users to save frequently-used filing conditions as an “exclusive recipe”, then the next Qfiling task can be run with just one click using the recipe.

 

4K HDMI output for an excellent audiovisual experience

 

Featuring advanced 9th-generation Intel® HD Graphics, the TS-653B supports dual-channel 4K H.264/H.265 hardware decoding and real-time transcoding, allowing you to convert videos to universal file formats that can be smoothly played on multiple devices*. QNAP Linux Station is integrated with Ubuntu® OS, allowing you to download and install versatile multimedia apps from Ubuntu Software Center, such as Plex Media Server, KMPlayer, LibreOffice and VLC. QNAP's HD Station also allows you to directly enjoy multimedia using HD Player or third-party players such as Plex Home Theater. By connecting the TS-653B to a HDTV or A/V receiver you can enjoy watching videos with up to 4K resolution. The free QNAP Remote Control also provides you with convenient control of your multimedia experience.

 

IFTTT Agent automates your workflow

 

IFTTT (If This Then That) is currently one of the most popular web automation services, and with QNAP IFTTT Agent you can create a near-unlimited number of NAS-related applets on the IFTTT website for greater automation and to boost your productivity. For example, if you set a trigger as “Any new photo (using Android Photos service)” and the action as "Download the URL to QNAP NAS (using QNAP service)," then all the photos taken using your Android device will be automatically downloaded to TS-653B. With IFTTT Agent, you can make your TS-653B smarter than ever.

 

Centralized email and contact management for improved communication workflows

 

It can be hard to manage emails and contact information that are scattered across multiple computers, devices, and accounts - not to mention if important emails or contact information are lost or become inaccessible due to account closure or device malfunction/loss. QNAP QmailAgent and Qcontactz helps you centrally store and manage emails and contact information, making them accessible to all of your devices at any time - and with the powerful Qsirch search engine, you can easily find specific contacts and emails whenever needed.

 

Comprehensive surveillance solution providing 24/7 security

 

Surveillance Station is a professional network surveillance Video Management System (VMS) that offers a user-friendly management interface, over 3,000 compatible IP camera models, and expandable IP camera channel licenses. It supports real-time monitoring, video & audio recording and playback with a wide range of customizable settings. You can also install the Vmobile app on your iOS® or Android™ devices to manage the monitored channels anytime and anywhere, or install the Vcam mobile app to turn your device into a network camera to instantly record to your TS-653B. The TS-653B offers 4 free IP camera channels and you can expand up to 40 channels by purchasing additional licenses.

 

Whole new QVR Pro surveillance solution

 

The TS-653B supports QVR Pro (Beta) that integrates QNAP’s professional QVR system into the QTS operating system. You can arrange a dedicated, independent storage space for surveillance data on the NAS and leverage the advantages of scalability and storage manageability from QTS. QVR Pro features a flexible monitoring interface that allows adjusting the proportion and monitor view of IP cameras, supports an upgraded timeline feature that provides instant video search and quick view identification in live monitoring mode, and allows for monitoring views and playing back images without switching between windows. Additional functions like batch adding and editing cameras and searching for cameras across different LANs further save the cost and time in deploying and maintaining a complete surveillance system. With the newly-developed QUSBCam2 App, you can use a USB camera as an ONVIF network camera. Simply connect it to your TS-653B, and you can view real-time images without installing any software. Through QVR Pro, you can even store recordings for playback, allowing you to build a surveillance system with minimum budget.

 

Easily expand storage capacity

 

Besides attaching a QNAP expansion enclosure, the TS-653B’s storage capacity can also be increased by using VJBOD. With VJBOD, the storage capacity of other QNAP NAS* can be used as virtual disks that can be mounted as local disks on the TS-653B for shares, applications, or even creating another LUN. You can use the QTS Storage Manager to easily handle NAS capacity expansion and storage expansion enclosure management. With the support of QJBOD Express (JBOD enclosures roaming)**, you can migrate data to another QNAP NAS through a JBOD enclosure without network connectivity.

 

 

QNAP never stops innovating by releasing tons of new NAS models for all markets; the particular model we will get to analyze in this review does come with a completely redesigned chassis, no less than 8GB of pre-installed RAM for running multiple application modules at once, a frontal OLED panel for checking the current system status and two capacitive touch buttons for browsing through the menus, new drive trays, an USB Type-C QuickAccess port and more…

The product is shipped inside a plain cardboard enclosure, with some additional stickers showing the serial numbers, but also the MAC addresses for each LAN port:

 

 

 

 

On the extra box sticker, we will learn of the main product features, along with the technical specifications:

 

 

 

On one of the other box sides, we will be reminded by the manufacturer to check the compatibility list of the HDD/SSD models for this particular NAS:

 

 

 

Some of the product functions are also listed nearby:

 

 

 

After lifting the top box cover, we will get to see the main product, along with its accessories:

 

 

 

The accessories are held in a separate plain cardboard bag, the exception being the power lead:

 

 

 

 

First, we’ve got the Quick Installation Guide, which carefully explains the first installation steps, in order to get the server fully-functional in no-time!

 

 

 

 

Next, we could remind of the IR remote, the power brick, mounting screws along with batteries for the remote and also two LAN cables:

 

 

 

The power adapter was manufactured by EDACPOWER ELEC. and is rated on the output 12V at 10A:

 

 

 

A closer look at the supplied remote does show multimedia-specific controls and is very handy to be used while we do have the NAS connected to our 4K/Full HD display:

 

 

 

The remote takes two 1.5V AAA batteries to operate:

 

 

 

The supplied screws are offered separately for 2.5’’ (black screws) and 3.5’’ drives:

 

 

 

Besides plenty of foam material we have found in the box, the NAS is further wrapped inside a transparent plastic bag:

 

 

 

The TS-653B comes in a fully-redesigned chassis, aiming to get in front of the competition on most aspects; compared to the previous QNAP versions, the outer layer of the model we are reviewing is made entirely of plastic, so it weights much less:

 

 

 

On the top cover of the server, we will find the cloud key for the myQNAPcloud functionality:

 

 

 

A smaller sticker is also available on the diagonal that shows some of the hardware product highlights:

 

 

 

In the frontal area of the TS-653B NAS, we do have a black cover for the drive bays, but also plenty of interfaces on the right:

 

 

 

The cover does also feature a QNAP logo in the top left corner:

 

 

 

The top right area does present itself with the capacitive buttons of the OLED display, which is placed right underneath:

 

 

 

Moving on, we do have a top Power button, activity LEDs for Status, LAN, USB and SD:

 

 

 

The NAS is equipped with a SD card reader and an USB 3.0 port in front in order to facilitate easy backup thanks to the “Copy” button; a QuickAccess port is also present here, but this time it comes in a USB-C format. This feature allows connection to the server even without making use of the LAN interface, which is pretty handy!

 

 

 

On the left side of the unit, we’ve got a locking mechanism for the top cover, but also a ventilation grill:

 

 

 

 

 

The right side only presents itself with an additional ventilation area:

 

 

 

The enclosure is cooled by dual 9cm fans, but plenty of other interfaces can be spotted here too!

 

 

 

The TS-653B NAS comes with one expansion slot, which can be occupied by a dual M.2 SATA SSD expansion card, a dual M.2 PCIe SSD expansion card, a dual M.2 SATA SSD & single-port 10GbE expansion card, a dual M.2 PCIe SSD & single-port 10GbE expansion card, but also a different assortment of Gigabit and 10 Gigabit SFP+/10GBASE-T LAN cards. Nearby we do also have the Reset button hole, two microphone jacks for Karaoke purposes, a headphone/active speaker jack, but also two HDMI ports:

 

 

 

Moving on, we’ve got no less than four USB 3.0 ports available, along with two Gigabit LAN ports; the bottom left corner does house the DC-IN port:

 

 

 

The NAS is also equipped with a Kensington Lock hole, along with a standalone speaker for voice alerts:

 

 

 

On the bottom area of the unit, we can find a frontal ventilation grill, a sticker with the product power rating but also a separate one with the LAN MAC addresses and NAS serial number:

 

 

 

In each corner, we can spot a small rubber foot, along with a case locking indicator, telling us that the plastic housing can be opened further for upgrades/maintenance:

 

 

 

After removing the frontal bay cover, we will unveil the drive trays:

 

 

 

The OLED display can be still operated with the cover open:

 

 

 

After removing all the drive trays, we can easily spot the internal daughter-board, which does house the SATA Data/Power ports:

 

 

 

This particular chassis model does feature the RAM slots on the right side of the drive metallic cage, so we only have to remove the drives from the bays in order to operate it; this is really handy because we do not need any additional tools in order to perform the task as on other NASes:

 

 

 

Our sample was populated with two ADATA 4GBx2 DDR3L 1866MHz SODIMM RAM modules:

 

 

 

Even the plastic trays do have a revised design, but maintain the same functions as before, with 2.5’’ and 3.5’’ drive mounting possibilities; while the 2.5’’ drives need screws, the 3.5’’ ones can make use of the lateral screwless system:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blue rubber grommets are also used on the sides, for vibration dampening purposes:

 

 

 

 

With the chassis plastic cover removed, we do have access to the server internals:

 

 

 

An opening is provided through the metallic chassis for accessing the dual fan assembly:

 

 

 

On the motherboard, we can also spot the slots for installing various expansion cards:

 

 

 

On the bottom, we can also spot an opening for the standalone speaker:

 

 

 

After the drives have been installed, the NAS has been connected to the local network and the unit has been powered on, we can easily detect it for the initialization procedure thanks to the QNAP Qfinder Pro free application, which is available on the manufacturer’s website:

 

 

 

 

The rest of the setup procedure will continue in a browser window:

 

 

 

The first step of the wizard is to enter up the NAS name inside the network, but also define a password for the administrator account:

 

 

 

Date and time setup is next:

 

 

 

We can choose for a DHCP network setup configuration, or go with manual settings:

 

 

 

Depending on the different platforms we will use the server on, we can choose the following:

 

 

 

The disk configuration procedure can be performed during the initialization or even later:

 

 

 

 

If we do also use the NAS for managing multimedia content, we should enable these functions as the wizard does mention:

 

 

 

A summary screen will be shown after all configuration steps:

 

 

 

The wizard also informs the user that the data on the inserted drives will be erased:

 

 

 

A progress bar is shown during the actual setup procedure:

 

 

 

If all went well, we will be invited to check out the main GUI:

 

 

 

 

Right after we have logged in, a new firmware update was available, so we have performed it right before the testing procedure:

 

 

 

We have also performed a check regarding the default shared folders so we have used the “Public” folder:

 

 

 

The QTS main desktop does come with nice styling and is feature-packed:

 

 

 

The button placed in the top left corner does reveal the full list of installed applications, so they can be accessed right away:

 

 

 

On the top bar, we can access more options:

 

 

 

 

 

Here is also the area for checking out the system notifications:

 

 

 

The widget area does give the administrator a quick look on the system status; our secondary test drive started to develop bad sectors and a quick check of the server identified and fixed the issue. A warning sign does still appear until the drive is completely switched for a healthy one:

 

 

 

The Control Panel area is the place to go when customizing the system options; on the top area, we also have displayed the current system information:

 

 

 

The General Settings menu allows us to modify the login settings, server time, choose codepage, adjust the password strength or customize the login screen:

 

 

 

Storage Manager opens up in a separate window and from here, we will be able to create storage pools and volumes on our preference; we can also enable cache acceleration with a SSD, work with ISCSI Storage and LUN Backup and more:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Security menu allows the user to set a security mode, by allowing or denying certain IP addresses or network domains, adjust the Network Access Protection or system Certificates:

 

 

 

The Hardware menu is available for us in order to adjust some miscellaneous system settings, change the Buzzer (and voice prompts) behavior or adjust the Smart Fan profiles:

 

 

 

 

 

Power menu comes with the EuP option, WoL, Power Recovery and Power Schedule sub-sections:

 

 

 

System notifications can be enabled from the next menu via E-mail, SMS or Push services:

 

 

 

The Firmware update can be performed automatically (QTS will automatically search for it), but when an automatic update is not available and on the website there is already a new QTS file available, we will have to go the manual route:

 

 

 

Backup & Restore menu allows the user to save current server settings for later restoration, but also from the same menu we can reset the system to factory defaults:

 

 

 

External devices can be also configured from the next menu:

 

 

 

System Status does have its separate window available, which opens up to show the current System Information, Network Status, running System Services and Hardware Information:

 

 

 

System Logs menu does sport a similar behavior, with its own sub-sections: System Event Logs, System Connection Logs, Online Users and Syslog Client Management:

 

 

 

The Resource Monitor area does give a detailed view regarding the consumption of the system resources:

 

 

 

The Privilege Settings main menu is next, with its Users sub-section, which allows the administrators to define new users that will operate the server resources:

 

 

 

User Groups with different privileges can be created too:

 

 

 

Various shared folders are available by default, but the user can always create new ones, with different permissions for each user:

 

 

 

Disk quotas can be enabled from the next menu:

 

 

 

Domain security menu allows logging to an AD service as a domain member, LDAP authentication, but the server can also function as a domain controller:

 

 

 

 

The Network settings open up in a separate section, and here we can work with the current LAN configuration including Port Trunking, but also adjust WiFi options (in the case we do have a compatible Wi-Fi dongle connected to the unit). USB QuickAccess options are also customizable here:

 

 

 

 

Network Access options are next (which do also include Proxy and DDNS Services):

 

 

 

File Services can be enabled for different platforms:

 

 

 

We do also have to our disposal options to enable and configure FTP, Telnet/SSH, SNMP services:

 

 

 

Network Recycle Bin is quite useful when files are deleted on the network by mistake:

 

 

 

HybridDesk Station is the portal accessible on HDMI to which we can install multiple modules like browsers, games, multimedia applications, and so on, which can be used without the need of a PC:

 

 

 

iTunes and DLNA servers can be configured from the next menus:

 

 

 

 

Multimedia Management menu will “instruct” the default multimedia applications where to look for indexing media files; we also have here many tabs regarding transcoding tasks:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Onto the applications, we do have the File Station 5 which permits file and folder manipulation:

 

 

 

 

myQnapCloud module can be used for accessing our server from remote locations:

 

 

 

AppCenter is the place to go when installing new modules; these are developed by QNAP but also 3rd party providers:

 

 

 

 

Help Center does provide us with the QTS usage manual, but from there we can also browse the Online Resource or use the Helpdesk function:

 

 

 

The Media Streaming Add-on does offer more settings for the DLNA Media Server functionality:

 

 

 

Qsync Central is another application developed by QNAP, that allows data synchronization between multiple devices:

 

 

 

The Helpdesk center can be also accessed from a standalone application:

 

 

 

Download Station application has been also redesigned and comes with a BT Search function:

 

 

 

Photo Station allows us to share content, do slideshows, check photos in detail, create albums and so on:

 

 

 

 

 

Music Station does have a catchy look, and its simplified interface does allow to playback Random 100 tracks, the Recently added ones, Top Rated and so on; for more in-depth controls, we can go to the “Manage” tab. This application does also allow playback of online radio stations thanks to TuneIn services:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Virtualization Station 3 application does allow the user to run virtual machines, download already prepared images but also configure the virtual system configuration (depending on the NAS resources):

 

 

 

 

The video output of the machine can be controlled from a different browser window:

 

 

 

Different VM settings are also available on the left menu:

 

 

 

Joomla! Framework can be installed right away, in order to get our blog website online as soon as possible:

 

 

 

 

The Plex application is fully-functional right from the QTS interface:

 

 

 

 

 

One of the different Video Playback / management applications from QNAP is Video Station 5; the video content does display successfully after it has been indexed, but it seems that it is missing some of the codecs, because several clips refused to play:

 

 

 

 

QNAP Container Station exclusively integrates LXC and Docker® lightweight virtualization technologies, allowing you to operate multiple isolated Linux® systems on a QNAP NAS as well as download apps from the built-in Docker® Hub Registry.

 

 

 

 

The OceanKTV application can be installed and operated just fine, thanks to the dual microphone inputs:

 

 

 

Qcontactz is the perfect way to centrally manage a growing number of contacts from different services:

 

 

 

The QNAP Browser Station helps users avoid complex VPN settings when remotely accessing data on the same LAN as the QNAP NAS, providing a convenient and safe way to browse the web and access protected data:

 

 

 

PrestaShop is another application we can install, configure and run really quickly:

 

 

 

 

QmailAgent is an app for QNAP NAS that allows you to centralize all of your email accounts and to send/receive emails directly on your NAS:

 

 

 

 

Qsirch application does index the entire contents of the NAS and allows easy searching:

 

 

 

For an easier categorization and filing of different files inside your organization, you can make use of Qfiling:

 

 

 

 

Test Setup

 

CPU : Intel I5 4690K Retail

CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14

Motherboard : BIOSTAR GAMING Z97X

RAM : GeIL EVO CORSA 16GB 2400MHz C11

(2GB Exceleram DDR1333 for NASPT compatibility)

Video : HIS 280X

Power Supply : Cooler Master 850W

SSD : OCZ Vertex 4 256GB

Case: Cooler Master ATCS840

 

To test the NAS performances, the TS-653B NAS was populated with one OCZ Vertex 4 SSD along with one KingFast SLC E-Drive in RAID 0, formatted with a single volume and the NAS was connected directly to the computer, to avoid any limitations by implying additional hardware like a router. The first simple test was performed by loading the test file onto a RAM drive and then it was copied to the NAS, on its shared folder. The speed was recorded with Total Commander:

 

 

The second test was to copy the same file back to the computer; for eliminating any HDD speed limitations, the file was copied back to the RAM drive:

 

 

For performing a more advanced test, the Intel NAS Performance Toolkit was used, for performing 5 different test runs. Here are the results:

 

 

As extras, we have also included ATTO Disk Benchmark and Anvil:

 

ATTO Disk Benchmark

 

 

Anvil

We have performed the same benchmarks but this time with an encrypted volume:

 

Total Commander Copy Performance

 

 

Total Commander Read Performance

 

 

Intel NAS Performance Toolkit

 

ATTO Disk Benchmark

 

Anvil Utilities

 

The TS-653B is another interesting NAS from the well-known QNAP brand, with great flexibility in terms of add-on cards, does feature upgradable RAM, an Intel Celeron J3455 quad-core SoC for low power consumption and dual-channel 4K H.265/H.265 hardware decoding via hardware support or offline transcoding. Virtualization is supported via the Container and Virtualization station, while for the HDMI output we can choose to run either the QTS HybridDesk Station or a fully-fledged Ubuntu distribution.

 

TS-653B is picking the “goodies” from the previous model NASes such as the USB QuickAccess (now with USB-C bus) or the frontal display, which does feature an easy to read OLED panel. The display does feature additional information such as system fan speed, temperatures, HDD capacity, volumes or LUN; the capacitive buttons are easy accessible and can perform different commands, including system restart of shutdown. For doing easy backups of different media, we do have a SD card reader right in front of the unit, along with a separate USB 3.0 port. For connecting extra storage, printers or a Wi-Fi dongle, we can always make use of the four USB 3.0 ports in the back. The unit does also support USB RAID expansion enclosures for five or eight drives, we can use M.2 SSD/10GbE PCIe combo expansion cards, while the dual microphone input jacks can be used for Karaoke.

 

While this unit can max-out a single Gigabit link, in enterprise environments with two Gigabit links in Aggregation, this SKU can reach about 225MB/s, while with two 10GbE interfaces, we can reach reads as high as 644MB/s and writes of 714MB/s; these values were obtained in QNAP test labs.

 

The NAS does also pack secure access with VPN & Proxy Server, while the activity inside the company can be more efficient thanks to the QmailAgent, Qcontacts and Qfiling applications, developed in-house by QNAP.

 

The TS-653B-8G, as the sample we have tested can be found online for about 887 Euros, while the TS-653B-4G SKU can be purchased for about 793 Euros.

 

 

QNAP TS-653B 6-bay QTS-Linux Combo Quad-core NAS with PCIe is Recommended for:

 

 

 

We would like to thank again to QNAP for making this review possible!