The catch
TerraMaster F2-425 Plus N150 8GB
An independent backup plan is still needed for a lone third SSD.
Side by side
TerraMaster F2-425 Plus vs QNAP TS-264-8G-US Compared: Two hard drives is the limit for both, and TerraMaster includes 5GbE
Quick verdict
Pick the F2-425 Plus when its dual 5GbE and three onboard M.2 slots already meet a known office plan, no extra card needed. Pick the TS-264 when its supported PCIe expansion options suit a future network or storage upgrade. Both have two SATA bays, so adding SSDs does not make either a four-hard-drive archive.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
A single 5GbE workstation does not call for two NAS cables
Through one of its included ports, F2-425 Plus can connect a compatible 5GbE workstation path. Each included port on TS-264 negotiates up to 2.5GbE, so the same single-link brief needs a supported faster adapter.
Where this comes from
What is required is a single 5GbE Ethernet connection. Adding the advertised rates of two separate 2.5GbE ports does not make one 5GbE port.
The catch
QNAP TS-264-8G-US
5GbE or faster on a single link takes additional compatible hardware.
TerraMaster F2-425 Plus N150 8GB
- Why pick it
- Work with a single included 5GbE connection
- Have an M.2 slot left over once an SSD mirror is in
- The catch
- An independent backup plan is still needed for a lone third SSD.
QNAP TS-264-8G-US
- Why pick it
- Fit a supported PCIe network card or combination expansion card
- Base the build on QNAP's QTS application environment
- The catch
- 5GbE or faster on a single link takes additional compatible hardware.
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What this page compares
Does an expansion card belong in the budget? See how the N150 F2-425 Plus and TS-264 handle a 5GbE desk and mirrored SSD storage.
Pick the F2-425 Plus when its dual 5GbE and three onboard M.2 slots already meet a known office plan, no extra card needed. Pick the TS-264 when its supported PCIe expansion options suit a future network or storage upgrade. Both have two SATA bays, so adding SSDs does not make either a four-hard-drive archive.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Hook up one 5GbE workstation with no NAS card to buy
TerraMaster comes with 5GbE, while QNAP needs a supported faster adapter for that single-link rate.
- TerraMaster F2-425 Plus N150 8GB
- Better fit
- QNAP TS-264-8G-US
- Caution
Leave one M.2 slot spare once a two-SSD mirror is in
Three onboard slots are on TerraMaster, and two on QNAP.
- TerraMaster F2-425 Plus N150 8GB
- Better fit
- QNAP TS-264-8G-US
- Caution
Go with a documented QNAP combination expansion card
The supported PCIe expansion route is on TS-264.
- TerraMaster F2-425 Plus N150 8GB
- Not suitable
- QNAP TS-264-8G-US
- Better fit
Set up a four-hard-drive RAID 5 inside the chassis
Two SATA bays is all either chassis has.
- TerraMaster F2-425 Plus N150 8GB
- Not suitable
- QNAP TS-264-8G-US
- Not suitable
In practice
Differences you will notice
A single 5GbE workstation does not call for two NAS cables
Through one of its included ports, F2-425 Plus can connect a compatible 5GbE workstation path. Each included port on TS-264 negotiates up to 2.5GbE, so the same single-link brief needs a supported faster adapter.
How we worked this out
What is required is a single 5GbE Ethernet connection. Adding the advertised rates of two separate 2.5GbE ports does not make one 5GbE port.
A third SSD slot pays off only when the data plan is clear
After a two-SSD mirror, F2-425 Plus has one free M.2 slot and TS-264 has none onboard. The spare can hold a separate supported workload, though a single SSD has no mirror redundancy.
How we worked this out
One spare slot is left by three minus two, and zero by two minus two. Storage protection depends on the pool layout and not on the total slot count.
A card in the expansion slot can alter more than network speed
Compatible combination cards that add networking and M.2 storage are documented by QNAP, so the two onboard slots on TS-264 are not the whole possible accessory plan. QNAP is the choice when a named supported card supplies capabilities you will use.
How we worked this out
Expansion on QNAP is optional and depends on compatibility. In the exact N150 model, TerraMaster includes the compared 5GbE ports and three M.2 slots.
Option A
TerraMaster, F2-425 Plus N150 8GB
F2-425 Plus N150 8GB
Two SATA bays, three M.2 slots and two 5GbE ports come in a compact hybrid NAS. It works for a small SSD workspace alongside a bulk-storage mirror.
- Best for
- Work with a single included 5GbE connection
Facts we checked
- Ethernet supplied: Two 5GbE ports
- M.2 slots onboard: Three
- SATA bays inside: Two
- Internal expansion options: The documented specification lists no PCIe card slot
Option B
QNAP, TS-264-8G-US
QNAP TS-264-8G-US
This two-bay NAS has two built-in NVMe slots, dual 2.5GbE and a PCIe slot that takes supported SSD or network expansion. The current 8G configuration selected here comes with 8 GB RAM.
- Best for
- Fit a supported PCIe network card or combination expansion card
Facts we checked
- Ethernet supplied: Two 2.5GbE ports
- M.2 slots onboard: Two
- SATA bays inside: Two
- Internal expansion options: A PCIe slot takes compatible cards
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | TerraMaster F2-425 Plus N150 8GB | QNAP TS-264-8G-US | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Included Ethernet | Two 5GbE ports | Two 2.5GbE ports | On TerraMaster, a single 5GbE client path needs no network card. |
| Onboard M.2 slots | Three | Two | Installing a two-SSD mirror still leaves one extra slot. |
| Internal SATA bays | Two | Two | Each bulk archive stays a two-drive layout. |
| Optional internal expansion | No PCIe card slot in the documented specification | PCIe slot supports compatible cards | At extra cost, QNAP can take on supported capabilities. |
| Exact supplied variant | Intel N150 with 8GB memory | TS-264-8G-US | Avoid swapping in an N95 TerraMaster listing or a different QNAP memory variant. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With TerraMaster F2-425 Plus N150 8GB
- No PCIe expansion slot comes with the base chassis.
With QNAP TS-264-8G-US
- Both onboard M.2 slots are used by a two-SSD mirror.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
In the base chassis, I want 5GbE and three M.2 slots
Go with TerraMaster F2-425 Plus N150 8GB. Both come with the N150 F2-425 Plus.
A particular supported PCIe expansion card is needed
Go with QNAP TS-264-8G-US. The documented expansion slot is on TS-264.
Decision guide
How to decide
A single 5GbE workstation does not call for two NAS cables
One of the included ports on the F2-425 Plus can serve a compatible 5GbE workstation path. The included ports on the TS-264 each negotiate up to 2.5GbE, so the same single-link brief needs a supported faster adapter. When skipping that card is part of the budget, choose TerraMaster. When QNAP's PCIe flexibility has a planned use beyond this one link, choose QNAP, and confirm the exact supported card first.
A third SSD slot pays off only when the data plan is clear
After a two-SSD mirror, the F2-425 Plus has one free M.2 slot and the TS-264 has none onboard. The spare can hold a separate supported workload, but a single SSD has no mirror redundancy. Choose TerraMaster if the spare has a concrete use and an independent backup. If all the work belongs in one mirrored pool, both already fit two SSDs and the third slot should not decide the purchase.
A card in the expansion slot can alter more than network speed
QNAP documents compatible combination cards that add networking and M.2 storage, so the two onboard slots on the TS-264 are not the whole possible accessory plan. Choose it when a named supported card brings capabilities you will use. The F2-425 Plus puts more networking and SSD sockets in the base chassis. Compare the complete configuration, with card, drives and cooling requirements included, and do not treat an optional QNAP upgrade as included hardware.
What this page can’t tell you
- Processor generation alone does not imply a benchmark or app-compatibility win. Network figures are link ratings. They do not guarantee file-transfer rates.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| TerraMaster F2-425 Plus N150 8GB |
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| QNAP TS-264-8G-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.
TerraMaster F2-425 Plus N150 8GB
Work with a single included 5GbE connection
See price & reviews on AmazonQNAP TS-264-8G-US
Fit a supported PCIe network card or combination expansion card
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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