Whereas TerraMaster at all times had a wide variety of budget-focused fashions, the model undertook an formidable overhaul final 12 months in a bid to focus on the high-end section. I examined the all-flash F8 SSD Plus when it debuted, and got here away pondering the model did a terrific job not simply on the {hardware} aspect, but additionally the software program.
With the F4-424 Max, TerraMaster is trying to proceed that momentum. The 4-bay NAS has one of the best {hardware} bundle in its class, together with two 10GbE ports, a 10-core Intel Core i5 1235U platform, 8GB of upgradeable RAM, and 4 conventional drive bays along with two M.2 slots.
Mix that with the adjustments to TOS 6 software program, and the F4-424 Max has the potential to be top-of-the-line 4-bay NAS fashions you should buy in the present day, significantly in the event you’re trying to construct a high-end Plex server. I used the NAS for over two months, and here is why I believe it’s a better option than the DiskStation DS923+.
TerraMaster F4-424 Max: Pricing and availability
TerraMaster unveiled the F4-424 Max in This fall 2024, and the NAS is now accessible globally. It retails for $899 on Amazon, and in the event you do not want twin 10GbE connectivity, there’s a typical F4-424 with twin 2.5GbE ports that prices $499. This variant is powered by the Intel N95 and shares an analogous design. There’s additionally an F4-424 Professional that has a Core i3-N305 and 16GB of reminiscence together with twin 2.5GbE connectivity, and that mannequin is $649.
| Class | TerraMaster F4-424 Max |
|---|---|
| Inside drive bays | 4 (22TB every bay), 3.5-inch HDD, 2.5-inch HDD/SSD, M.2 storage |
| Community interface | 2 x 10 Gigabit Ethernet |
| USB ports | 2 x USB-A 3.1 Gen2, 1 x USB-C 3.1 Gen2 |
| eSATA ports | ❌ |
| PCIe | ❌ |
| CPU | 10-core 4.4GHz Intel Core i5 1235U |
| Plex transcoding | Sure, as much as 8K |
| RAM | 8GB DDR5 non-ECC pre-installed, two SO-DIMM slots, as much as 64GB whole |
| M.2 slots | 2 x Gen 4 2280 slots, storage |
| File system | Commonplace EXT4, Btrfs |
| Cooling | 1 x 120mm fan, 21dBA |
| Dimensions | 154 x 179 x 222 mm |
TerraMaster F4-424 Max: Design
TerraMaster’s earlier choices stood out due to their distinctive aluminum enclosures, and whereas the design was intriguing, they did not have one of the best thermal effectivity. The model is addressing that with the F4-424 Max by switching to a extra modest aesthetic, with a black chassis that does not appeal to as a lot consideration.
What’s notable is that the perimeters are ventilated — much like what you get with the DS923+ — permitting higher airflow into the NAS. The server is smaller than different 4-bay NAS fashions I examined not too long ago, and as is at all times the case with TerraMaster, you get a 120W exterior energy brick.
I additionally like that there is now a 120mm fan on the again, and it does a unbelievable job guaranteeing the drives do not overheat. As an added bonus, it does not get loud both. TerraMaster has a brand new design for the drive bays as effectively, with a push-to-latch mechanism that is simple to make use of. The model lastly switched to a tool-free drive set up, and this makes slotting in 3.5-inch HDDs considerably simpler.
Outdoors of that, there is not a lot else on the entrance. You get the standard standing LEDs, and whereas most NAS fashions have a USB port that permits you to plug in a drive, that is not the case right here — all of the ports are situated on the again. Apparently, even the ability button is on the again, with TerraMaster opting to go along with a clear search for entrance that does not look too busy.
The adjustments to the design ship significant advantages. The F4-424 Max has a lot better air flow, and the chassis does not stand out fairly as a lot, mixing into the background.
TerraMaster F4-424 Max: Ports and connectivity
Clearly, the truth that you are getting two 10 Gigabit ports in the back of the NAS is the most important differentiator, and it offers it a definite edge — significantly when you think about that the DS923+ has twin Ethernet connectivity. You do not get the flexibility so as to add an extra port, however that should not be a difficulty to anybody contemplating this NAS; with a 20Gbps addressable bandwidth, you do not have to fret concerning the community connection being the bottleneck.
There are two USB-A ports alongside a USB-C port, and all three get 10Gbps bandwidth. I’d have favored to see the USB-C connector on the entrance as that makes connecting exterior drives simpler, however aside from that, I haven’t got any issues with the port choice.
The NAS comes with 8GB of DDR5 non-ECC reminiscence pre-installed, which takes up one of many two SO-DIMM slots accessible. You possibly can change out the reminiscence modules and enhance it to 64GB (32GB in every slot) must you want to take action. There are two M.2 Gen 4 slots accessible as effectively, they usually’re simply accessible by sliding the left aspect panel.
Every drive bay accommodates 22TB NAS HDDs, so the entire addressable storage is 88TB with out together with the M.2 bays. In case you are pondering of going this route, I like to recommend 22TB IronWolf Professional drives; I take advantage of these in my major NAS, they usually’re terrific.
TerraMaster F4-424 Max: Actual-world testing
Powered by Intel’s 10-core Alder Lake Core i5 1235U with built-in Iris Xe, there’s no scarcity of energy right here. If something, the NAS is among the many better of any 4-bay server I examined, and there have been loads of standout merchandise during the last two years.
There aren’t any points in every day use, and whether or not it is working a VM or managing an in depth Plex library, the NAS simply breezes by way of demanding duties. It has {hardware} transcoding and effortlessly manages to transcode 4K movies, and I did not see any points on this regard.
In an analogous vein, I did not discover any issues with file transfers, with the NAS capable of saturate the bandwidth of the IronWolf drives with relative ease. You may ideally want to make use of M.2 drives just like the WD SN850X to take full benefit of the 10GbE connectivity.
The TOS 6 software program is a lot better than earlier iterations, and also you get native shoppers for many utilities, together with media streaming, backing up information, and digital machines. You get Docker containerization as effectively, so you’ll be able to simply set up nearly any service you want if it is not accessible as customary.
The one situation on this space is that the software program tends to be buggy at instances, and the cellular shoppers aren’t wherever as polished as different manufacturers. Whereas there’s a Images shopper, it does not have any of the superior options you get with DiskStation fashions.
It is clear that TerraMaster nonetheless has some work to do with the software program, however I’ll admit that TOS 6 is a step ahead — it delivers a cleaner interface and has a lot better usability. There’s additionally the truth that in the event you do not just like the software program, you’ll be able to simply set up TrueNAS Scale on the NAS.
TerraMaster F4-424 Max: The options
Two years after its launch, the DiskStation DS923+ remains to be a terrific selection because of the software program feature-set. It positively lags behind by way of the {hardware} — each different NAS I examined has higher connectivity — however the rock-solid software program utilities mixed with the strong cellular shoppers make the DS923+ an attractive selection, and it does a terrific job as a Plex server.
TerraMaster F4-424 Max: Do you have to purchase it?
You can purchase this if:
- You want a robust 4-bay server
- You need 10GbE connectivity as customary
- You want {hardware} that may final a decade
You should not purchase this if:
- You need one of the best software program on this class
- You want a terrific worth
Outdoors of some software program drawbacks, there is not a lot to fault with the F4-424 Max. The {hardware} is clearly the primary promoting level, and the inclusion of twin 10GbE ports together with the highly effective Intel chipset and upgradeable reminiscence makes it a unbelievable selection in order for you the greatest Plex NAS.
Whereas the TOS 6 software program is a lot better than earlier iterations, it is nonetheless lacking that last little bit of polish, and in the event you do not just like the pre-installed software program, you’ll be able to roll your individual — and that is engaging in its personal proper. I’ll set up TrueNAS and write a characteristic speaking about the way it holds up towards TOS 6, however the truth that you are able to do so is in itself a giant deal.
The F4-424 Max does not fairly have the identical value-focused pricing as its predecessors, however the upgrades to the {hardware} and software program extensibility make it general selection nonetheless.
The F4-424 Max has one of the best general {hardware} on this section, and updates to the software program make it a terrific selection in the event you want a robust 10GbE Plex server.
