The catch
ASUSTOR Nimbustor 4 Gen2
Running many apps may call for more than the base memory.
Side by side
ASUSTOR AS5404T vs ASUSTOR FS6706T Compared: Hard drives have no place in a Flashstor archive
Quick verdict
Large hard-drive capacity is where the AS5404T fits. Flashstor 6 fits when you want six all-NVMe slots and no spinning drives.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
The catch
ASUSTOR Flashstor 6
Total capacity depends heavily on which drives you pick, since an all-NVMe pool takes six M.2 drives.
ASUSTOR Nimbustor 4 Gen2
- Why pick it
- Host Plex at home
- Handle 4K transcoding
- The catch
- Running many apps may call for more than the base memory.
ASUSTOR Flashstor 6
- Why pick it
- Go all-SSD with the NAS
- Stay compact and quiet
- The catch
- Total capacity depends heavily on which drives you pick, since an all-NVMe pool takes six M.2 drives.
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What this page compares
How ASUSTOR AS5404T and ASUSTOR FS6706T differ in drive layout, network, processor and best use.
This one comes down to drive layout and network and processor first, then to the limits of your own setup.
Day to day
How each one fits your routine
A migration plan is needed along with bays to reuse a SATA archive
A library that sits on 3.5-inch SATA disks fits the AS5404T physically, since the form factor is compatible. Flashstor 6 takes M.2 NVMe storage only, so buying it means buying different internal drives and finding a place to hold the original copy while you migrate. The AS5404T is the choice when reusing compatible SATA hardware matters. Flashstor makes sense once you have budgeted the SSD set and have a verified copy, before you repurpose the old drives.
Where this comes from
There are four SATA bays on AS5404T and six M.2 NVMe slots on Flashstor 6. Fitting physically does not mean an old NAS filesystem can be imported without formatting, or that the existing array moves over directly.
With a third archive attached, the USB speed on offer changes
Say an archive desk keeps a backup disk, a travel SSD and another external archive attached at once. AS5404T has three USB Gen2 sockets for them. Flashstor 6 has two Gen2 sockets and two USB 2.0 ports, so all three devices stay connected, but one runs on the slower interface. AS5404T is the pick when all three need Gen2 connections. Flashstor suits you if its SSD-only internal layout matters more and a slower third attachment is acceptable.
Where this comes from
The count here is three Gen2 connections for AS5404T versus two Gen2 plus two USB 2.0 connections for FS6706T. It says nothing about actual disk speed and does not promise full-rate transfers at the same time. If the third device needs the fast connection, rotate it.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Host Plex at home
ASUSTOR Nimbustor 4 Gen2 lists “2.5 Gbps network. Plex use supported” for network and processor, while ASUSTOR Flashstor 6 lists “2.5 Gbps network. Best treated as file storage”. This affects what you can connect and how data can move. A higher rating on the label does not guarantee the same real-world result in every setup.
- ASUSTOR Nimbustor 4 Gen2
- Better fit
- ASUSTOR Flashstor 6
- Depends
Handle 4K transcoding
Converting compatible 4K files for remote viewers is where a hardware video engine matters on a NAS.
- ASUSTOR Nimbustor 4 Gen2
- Better fit
- ASUSTOR Flashstor 6
- Depends
Go all-SSD with the NAS
In an all-SSD NAS, NVMe drives have to work as primary storage and not only as cache.
- ASUSTOR Nimbustor 4 Gen2
- Depends
- ASUSTOR Flashstor 6
- Better fit
Stay compact and quiet
Fewer moving parts and a compact chassis help a NAS that sits on a desk or in a living room.
- ASUSTOR Nimbustor 4 Gen2
- Depends
- ASUSTOR Flashstor 6
- Better fit
Four drives to start
ASUSTOR Nimbustor 4 Gen2 lists “4 storage bays” for drive layout, while ASUSTOR Flashstor 6 lists “6 storage bays”. This describes the hardware or mechanism doing the work. The label alone does not prove faster or better results.
- ASUSTOR Nimbustor 4 Gen2
- Better fit
- ASUSTOR Flashstor 6
- Depends
Keep going after two drives fail
To withstand two drives failing, you normally need four bays or more and a double-parity layout.
- ASUSTOR Nimbustor 4 Gen2
- Better fit
- ASUSTOR Flashstor 6
- Depends
Option A
ASUSTOR, AS5404T
ASUSTOR Nimbustor 4 Gen2
A 4-bay chassis whose fastest documented network path is 2.5 Gbps.
- Best for
- Host Plex at home
Facts we checked
- Drive layout: 4 storage bays
- Network and processor: 2.5 Gbps network. Plex use supported
- Best use: run Plex at home and transcode 4K video
- Four SATA drive bays are on the AS5404T.
Option B
ASUSTOR, FS6706T
ASUSTOR Flashstor 6
Its fastest documented network path is 2.5 Gbps, and the chassis offers 6 primary M.2 NVMe storage slots.
- Best for
- Go all-SSD with the NAS
Facts we checked
- Drive layout: 6 storage bays
- Network and processor: 2.5 Gbps network. Best treated as file storage
- Best use: build an all-SSD NAS and keep it small and quiet
- Six M.2 NVMe slots make up the FS6706T internal storage.
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | ASUSTOR Nimbustor 4 Gen2 | ASUSTOR Flashstor 6 | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drive layout | 4 storage bays | 6 storage bays | It names the hardware or mechanism that does the work. A label by itself does not prove faster or better results. |
| Network and processor | 2.5 Gbps network. Plex use supported | 2.5 Gbps network. Best treated as file storage | It bears on what you can connect and how data can move. A higher rating printed on the label is no guarantee of the same real-world result in every setup. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With ASUSTOR Nimbustor 4 Gen2
- A native 10GbE port is not included.
With ASUSTOR Flashstor 6
- The six SSD slots may be held back by dual 2.5GbE.
Decision guide
How to decide
Where they really differ
Four SATA bays and four M.2 slots make up the AS5404T.
How the numbers shift things
Primary storage on Flashstor 6 is six M.2 NVMe slots.
The compromise
Dual 2.5GbE and HDMI are on both.
What this page can’t tell you
- Compatible drives change over time.
- Actual transfer speed hinges on the entire network and the drive array.
- How Plex performs hinges on the exact media format and client.
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 4 Gen2 |
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| ASUSTOR Flashstor 6 |
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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 4 Gen2
Host Plex at home
See price & reviews on AmazonASUSTOR Flashstor 6
Go all-SSD with the NAS
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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