The catch
ASUSTOR Nimbustor 2 Gen2
Internally, just two SATA drives fit.
Side by side
ASUSTOR AS5402T vs QNAP TS-464 Compared: Each has six drive positions, split differently between SATA and NVMe
Quick verdict
For two SATA drives plus as many as four onboard NVMe drives, go with the AS5402T. For up to four SATA drives plus two NVMe drives, or a supported PCIe expansion card, go with the TS-464. Six internal drive positions in total come on both, but they accept different drive types and cannot be exchanged.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
A count of six drive positions can mask an incompatible plan
AS5402T splits its six positions into two SATA and four NVMe, and TS-464 splits them into four SATA and two NVMe.
Where this comes from
2 plus 4 equals 6 on both sides, yet the connector counts cannot be swapped for each other.
The catch
QNAP TS-464-8G-US
Just two onboard M.2 sockets come with it.
ASUSTOR Nimbustor 2 Gen2
- Why pick it
- Fill four NVMe positions on the board
- Stay with a two-HDD archive and more SSD sockets
- The catch
- Internally, just two SATA drives fit.
QNAP TS-464-8G-US
- Why pick it
- Fit four SATA drives
- Put in a supported PCIe adapter
- The catch
- Just two onboard M.2 sockets come with it.
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What this page compares
The SATA and NVMe storage split, a PCIe network upgrade and installed RAM, compared across AS5402T and TS-464.
For two SATA drives plus as many as four onboard NVMe drives, go with the AS5402T. For up to four SATA drives plus two NVMe drives, or a supported PCIe expansion card, go with the TS-464. Six internal drive positions in total come on both, but they accept different drive types and cannot be exchanged.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Repurpose four internal SATA HDDs
Four SATA bays are found only on TS-464.
- ASUSTOR Nimbustor 2 Gen2
- Not suitable
- QNAP TS-464-8G-US
- Better fit
Run two HDDs together with four onboard NVMe SSDs
Four M.2 sockets are found only on AS5402T.
- ASUSTOR Nimbustor 2 Gen2
- Better fit
- QNAP TS-464-8G-US
- Not suitable
Fit a supported PCIe 10GbE card
The expansion slot comes from QNAP.
- ASUSTOR Nimbustor 2 Gen2
- Not suitable
- QNAP TS-464-8G-US
- Better fit
Begin with a minimum of 8 GB and no RAM to buy
The selected QNAP package comes with 8 GB.
- ASUSTOR Nimbustor 2 Gen2
- Caution
- QNAP TS-464-8G-US
- Better fit
In practice
Differences you will notice
A count of six drive positions can mask an incompatible plan
AS5402T splits its six positions into two SATA and four NVMe, and TS-464 splits them into four SATA and two NVMe.
How we worked this out
2 plus 4 equals 6 on both sides, yet the connector counts cannot be swapped for each other.
A faster network depends on the expansion slot
A compatible PCIe card path to 10GbE is documented for TS-464. AS5402T has no comparable general-purpose slot.
How we worked this out
Dual 2.5GbE ports are where both start, which makes the optional adapter a separate purchase.
Half the starting memory comes with the smaller chassis
The selected TS-464-8G-US ships with 8 GB, while AS5402T ships with 4 GB.
How we worked this out
8 GB divided by 4 GB comes to two. This is capacity arithmetic and not an application-speed result.
Option A
ASUSTOR, AS5402T
ASUSTOR Nimbustor 2 Gen2
A 2-bay chassis whose fastest documented network path is 2.5 Gbps.
- Best for
- Fill four NVMe positions on the board
Facts we checked
- Positions for SATA drives: 2
- NVMe positions in M.2: 4
- Onboard Ethernet: Two 2.5GbE ports
- PCIe slot for general use: None listed
Option B
QNAP, TS-464-8G-US
QNAP TS-464-8G-US
A 4-bay chassis whose fastest documented network path is 2.5 Gbps.
- Best for
- Fit four SATA drives
Facts we checked
- Positions for SATA drives: 4
- NVMe positions in M.2: 2
- Onboard Ethernet: Two 2.5GbE ports
- PCIe slot for general use: One Gen3 x2 slot
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | ASUSTOR Nimbustor 2 Gen2 | QNAP TS-464-8G-US | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| SATA drive positions | 2 | 4 | Your spare SATA hard drives cannot go into extra M.2 positions. |
| M.2 NVMe positions | 4 | 2 | Onboard NVMe sockets do not result from extra SATA bays. |
| Built-in Ethernet | Two 2.5GbE ports | Two 2.5GbE ports | The port-speed class they started with is the same. |
| General-purpose PCIe slot | None listed | One Gen3 x2 slot | The documented optional 10GbE card route comes from QNAP. |
| Selected installed memory | 4 GB | 8 GB | The ASUSTOR basket changes with an 8 GB starting requirement. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With ASUSTOR Nimbustor 2 Gen2
- Starting at 8 GB means adding a compatible memory purchase.
With QNAP TS-464-8G-US
- The single PCIe slot is taken by the optional network card.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
Four onboard NVMe SSDs are in my drive plan
Go with ASUSTOR Nimbustor 2 Gen2. Four sockets come with AS5402T.
I want either four SATA HDDs or a PCIe card
Go with QNAP TS-464-8G-US. Those hardware paths come with TS-464.
I want four SATA HDDs along with four onboard NVMe SSDs
Neither model fits. No selected layout has both counts.
Decision guide
How to decide
A count of six drive positions can mask an incompatible plan
Start by listing the physical drives you intend to reuse. Four SATA HDDs point straight to the TS-464, whereas two HDDs with four onboard NVMe SSDs point to the AS5402T. A six-position headline can hide the wrong connector mix. This counts physical hardware only and does not promise that every desired RAID layout or migration is supported.
A faster network depends on the expansion slot
If a supported 10GbE card is already in your upgrade plan, choose the TS-464. Put the card, the client adapter and any switch you need in the budget. The AS5402T can offer more onboard SSD sockets, but that does not raise the speed of each built-in Ethernet port. Do not count its two ports as an automatic five-gigabit single-client link.
Half the starting memory comes with the smaller chassis
Where the planned workload already calls for 8 GB, price a supported ASUSTOR memory upgrade along with the drives. The TS-464 meets that installed-capacity requirement in the selected package. For modest file sharing, the capacity difference may not decide the outcome. Check the actual app requirements rather than assuming twice the RAM means twice the useful performance.
What this page can’t tell you
- Performance, reliability and acoustic comparisons were not measured. An empty bay or slot does not guarantee a path to migrate in place.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the NAS devices we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASUSTOR Nimbustor 2 Gen2 |
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| QNAP TS-464-8G-US |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
ASUSTOR Nimbustor 2 Gen2
Fill four NVMe positions on the board
See price & reviews on AmazonQNAP TS-464-8G-US
Fit four SATA drives
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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