Friday, August 14, 2020
Like competing NAS enclosure vendors, ASUSTOR has numerous models available to cover different use cases and price ranges. I rounded up the best NAS from ASUSTOR to help you make the right decision.
Best Overall: ASUSTOR AS6302T
| Category | ASUSTOR AS6302T |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Celeron J3355 |
| RAM | 2 GB DDR3L (max 2 GB) |
| Drive bays | 2x (SSD/HDD) |
| Capacity | 32 TB |
| Cooling | 1x 70 mm fan |
| Ports | 2x 1Gb LAN 4x USB 3.0 (1 front) 1x HDMI 2.0 1x S/PDIF |
| Power draw | Up to 13.8 W |
| Dimensions | 163.5 x 108 x 230 mm ( x x inches) |
| Weight | 2 kg (4.41 lbs) |
Choosing the best overall NAS from any enclosure vendor is difficult because not everyone's needs and requirements match up. I've opted for the AS6302T simply because it offers excellent value with an Intel processor, a few drive bays, and all the ports you'll need if you're just starting with your first NAS.
There's even an HDMI port on the rear of this NAS, as well as S/PDIF, and four USB 3.0 ports. There are just two drive bays, but these can be filled up for up to 32TB of capacity. This is usually more than enough for replacing your paid cloud storage subscription and saving you a little in the long-term.
Powered by ASUSTOR's great user-friendly OS, you'll be able to install plenty of third-party and official ASUSTOR apps within moments. There are issues with the AS6302T that prevent it from being perfect, which include the non-upgradable RAM, slower DDR3L modules, and the fact there are only two drive bays.
Pros:
- Capable Intel CPU
- HDMI out port
- Up to 32TB capacity
- Lower power draw
- Access to amazing apps
Cons:
- RAM not upgradeable
- Slower DDR3L RAM
- Only has two drive bays
Best Overall
ASUSTOR AS6302T
Everything you need
Somewhat affordable, powered by an Intel CPU, and housing an HDMI port, the AS6302T is a unique NAS with plenty to offer.
Runner-up: ASUSTOR LOCKERSTOR 2 (AS6602T)
| Category | ASUSTOR LOCKERSTOR 2 (AS6602T) |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Celeron J4125 |
| RAM | 4 GB DDR4 (max 4 GB) |
| Drive bays | 2x (SSD/HDD) 2x M.2 PCIe |
| Capacity | 32 TB |
| Cooling | 1x 70 mm fan |
| Ports | 2x 2.5Gb LAN 3x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (1 front) 1x HDMI 2.0a |
| Power draw | Up to 15.9 W |
| Dimensions | 163.5 x 108 x 230 mm ( x x inches) |
| Weight | 2 kg (4.4 lbs) |
The ASUSTOR LOCKERSTOR 2 (AS6602T) is much like our top pick but has some notable differences that make it worth the extra money. For starters, this NAS enclosure comes rocking an Intel Celeron J4125 processor, which is pretty speedy and can handle a bunch of tasks that can be carried out using ASUSTOR's OS.
There's also more RAM with 4GB now pre-installed, though it's still non-upgradable. On the flip side, this NAS manages to rock dual 2.5Gb LAN ports, as well as M.2 PCIe slots for adding SSDs to use as cache drives. The two bays do allow for up to 32TB of data to be stored away, but you will be restricted should you eventually reach this limit.
For the price, the AS6602T offers plenty of features to make for quite the centralized hub for storing and streaming content.
Pros:
- Intel Celeron J4125
- Up to 32TB capacity
- Dual 2.5Gb LAN ports
- M.2 PCIe slots for caching
Cons:
- Non-upgradable RAM
- Just two drive bays
Runner-up
ASUSTOR LOCKERSTOR 2 (AS6602T)
A little bit more power
Similar to the AS6302T in numerous ways, the AS6602T comes equipped with M.2 slots, Intel CPU, and 2.5Gb LAN ports.
Best Budget: ASUSTOR AS1002T V2
| Category | ASUSTOR AS1002T V2 |
|---|---|
| CPU | Marvell ARMADA-385 |
| RAM | 512 MB DDR3 (max 512 MB) |
| Drive bays | 2x (SSD/HDD) |
| Capacity | 32 TB |
| Cooling | 1x 70 mm fan |
| Ports | 1x 1Gb LAN 2x USB 3.1 Gen 2 (1 front) |
| Power draw | Up to 14.1 W |
| Dimensions | 165 x 102 x 218 mm ( x x inches) |
| Weight | 0.99 kg (2.18 lbs) |
If you only want to back up a few devices and need a NAS enclosure to play around with, you could choose something like the ASUSTOR AS1002T V2. This affordable NAS enclosure doesn't have any hard-hitting specifications that will blow you away, but it will refrain from destroying what budget you may have left for a home server.
Even though this is the most affordable ASUSTOR NAS in our collection, it still has two drive bays that can hold up to 32TB of data. And because there's no power-hungry processor, by only having an ARM CPU, you'll be able to enjoy a NAS that won't rack up your energy bill.
We have to be realistic, though. The non-upgradable 512MB DDR3 RAM will prove troublesome with the ARM processor if you want to do anything more than storing files, not to mention there's only a single 1Gb LAN port. The AS1002T V2 does look smart and is very well designed for a budget-friendly enclosure.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Up to 32TB capacity
- Lower power draw
- Great for beginners
Cons:
- ARM processor
- Just 512MB of RAM
- Just one 1Gb LAN port
Best Budget
ASUSTOR AS1002T v2
Cheap and cheerful
The AS1002T is priced aggressively because ASUSTOR was able to cut many corners. This NAS is perfect for beginners, however.
Best Value: ASUSTOR AS4002T
| Category | ASUSTOR AS4002T |
|---|---|
| CPU | Marvell ARMADA-7020 |
| RAM | 2 GB DDR4 (max 2 GB) |
| Drive bays | 2x (SSD/HDD) |
| Capacity | 32 TB |
| Cooling | 1x 70 mm fan |
| Ports | 2x 1Gb LAN 1x 10Gb LAN 2x USB 3.1 Gen 1 (1 front) |
| Power draw | Up to 19.5 W |
| Dimensions | 170 x 114 x 230 mm ( x x inches) |
| Weight | 1.6 kg (3.53 lbs) |
ASUSTOR's AS4002T is an interesting NAS as it packs a punch for the price. Sure, it's powered by an ARM processor and only comes equipped with two drive bays for up to 32TB of data, but don't let those specifications fool you into thinking this isn't a capable server.
Not only do you get two 1Gb ports, but ASUSTOR managed to include a 10Gb LAN port too, just in case you want to use the NAS as a quick offloader for temporarily storing video content. It's a pretty good value NAS with plenty to offer with the ASUSTOR OS, including access to a whole catalog of apps.
If you're just starting with a NAS or simply need somewhere to dump files fast, the ASUSTOR AS4002T is somewhat of a sleeper enclosure with a hidden party trick that is up to 10Gb network speeds.
Pros:
- Great price
- 10Gb LAN
- Up to 32TB capacity
- Lower power draw
Cons:
- ARM processor
- Only 2GB RAM
Best Value
ASUSTOR AS4002T
A good strike of balance
The AS4002T isn't the most powerful, nor is it a slouch. Priced aggressively, this small enclosure houses a speedy 10Gb LAN port.
Best for Plex: ASUSTOR NIMBUSTOR 4 (AS5304T)
| Category | ASUSTOR NIMBUSTOR 4 (AS5304T) |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Celeron J4105 |
| RAM | 4 GB DDR4 (max 8 GB) |
| Drive bays | 4x (SSD/HDD) |
| Capacity | 64 TB |
| Cooling | 1x 120 mm fan |
| Ports | 2x 2.5Gb LAN 3x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (1 front) 1x HDMI 2.0a |
| Power draw | Up to 27 W |
| Dimensions | 170 x 174 x 230 mm ( x x inches) |
| Weight | 2.2 kg (4.85 lbs) |
Next up is our recommendation for Plex and 4K movie fans in the form of the ASUSTOR NIMBUSTOR 4 (AS5304T). Inspired by other PC gaming products, this NAS enclosure doesn't look like your typical network server, which is a bonus if you don't want a simple black slab of metal and plastic.
The AS5304T isn't all about looks, however. I've chosen this as the best NAS for Plex, but it's also great for streamers and gamers looking to save their recorded footage on the fly. It's powered by a beefy Intel Celeron J4105 processor, which can easily handle 4K transcoding and other demanding tasks, and you can bump the 4GB of pre-installed DDR4 RAM to 8GB.
There are four drive bays, allowing for up to 64TB of data to be saved on the NAS. The dual 2.5Gb LAN connections will ensure you have ample bandwidth to stream all your data, though it would have been that extra step for ASUSTOR to include a 10Gb port. There are a few other drawbacks, including no PCIe M.2 slots, and the drive bay locking mechanism is a little flimsy.
Still, for enjoying media and streaming games, the AS5304T is an excellent choice.
Pros:
- Gaming-inspired design
- Beefy Intel CPU
- Upgradable RAM
- Loads of apps
- 2.5Gb LAN
Cons:
- Pricey
- No 10Gb LAN
- Bay locks feel flimsy
- No M.2 slots
Best for Plex
ASUSTOR NIMBUSTOR 4 (AS5304T)
Enjoy 4K movies
Equipped with a powerful Intel Celeron processor, the AS5304T has enough performance for movie lovers and streamers alike.
Best Capacity: ASUSTOR LOCKERSTOR 10 Pro (AS7110T)
| Category | ASUSTOR LOCKERSTOR 10 Pro (AS7110T) |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Xeon E-2224 |
| RAM | 8 GB DDR (max 64 GB) |
| Drive bays | 10x (SSD/HDD) 2x M.2 PCIe |
| Capacity | 160 TB |
| Cooling | 2x 120 mm fan |
| Ports | 1x 10Gb LAN 3x 2.5Gb LAN 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (1 front) |
| Power draw | Up to 78.7 W |
| Dimensions | 215.5 x 293 x 230 mm ( x x inches) |
| Weight | 7.1 kg (15.62 lbs) |
The ASUSTOR LOCKERSTOR 10 Pro (AS7110T) is a ridiculously good piece of kit. This monstrous NAS enclosure has ten drive bays that support both 2.5-inch and 3-inch drives, as well as a further two M.2 PCIe slots for caching.
In total, you could store up to 160TB worth of data on the AS7110T, making it a must-have for anyone seeking to store plenty of files. It's also fairly efficient, clocking in at around 79W with all drive bays populated and in operation. It's not too big either, though you may be surprised just how heavy these NAS enclosures can get with ten drives installed.
To help power through everything, ASUSTOR opted for the Intel Xeon E-224. This isn't one of those fancy, expensive CPUs you'd find in more powerful servers, but is instead a stripped-down version. Still, it'll be more than capable of handling most tasks you through at it. Just don't go installing Plex and firing up multiple 4K movies with transcoding.
Connectivity-wise, you're looking at 10Gb and three 2.5Gb ports for networking. There are two USB 3.2 Gen 2 and a single USB 3.2 Gen 1 port for connecting some external storage or accessories. If you need a NAS to store tons of data, this is a great place to start.
Pros:
- 10 drive bays
- NVMe SSD cache support
- Solid design with front LCD
- 2.5Gb and 10Gb LAN
- Good software support
Cons:
- Pricey
- Only one 10Gb port
Best Capacity
ASUSTOR LOCKERSTOR 10 Pro (AS7110T)
For storing all your files
If 64TB just isn't enough, you could always move up to the pricey AS7110T with its massive ten drive bay configuration.
Picking the best ASUSTOR NAS for you
Choosing the right NAS from ASUSTOR isn't difficult, so long as you know what you want to use the enclosure for. If you want the best NAS in terms of price and capabilities, you could do much worse than the ASUSTOR AS6302T, thanks to its Intel Celeron processor, up to 32TB capacity, and dual 1Gb LAN ports. The RAM is non-upgradable and a little on the slow side, but for file storage and more, it's ready to go.
But if you were to do something more demanding on your NAS, like install Plex Media Server and throw on a few 4K movies, you'll want something more powerful. That's where the ASUSTOR NIMBUSTOR 4 (AS5304T) comes into play, quite literally. This enclosure has a striking design, a fast enough Intel CPU to handle 4K transcoding, has upgradable RAM, and dual 2.5Gb LAN ports.
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Rich Edmonds is a staff reviewer at Windows Central, which means he tests out more software and hardware than he cares to remember. Joining Mobile Nations in 2010, you can usually find him inside a PC case tinkering around when not at a screen fighting with Grammarly to use British words. Hit him up on Twitter: @RichEdmonds.
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