Qnap TS-432X review: efficient yet powerful where it counts

Qnap TS-432X with plant

The Qnap TS-432X does not have a traditional processor on board, and Qnap is also stingy with RAM. This is how the manufacturer cuts costs, so you do get access to four bays and 10 GbE and an interesting price point.

The Qnap TS-432X (655 euros excl. VAT) is a relatively lightweight NAS. The 4-bay appliance features an Alpine AL524 quadcore processor from Annapurna Labs. That chip is built around the ARM Cortex-A57 and as such is not the fastest horse in the stable. Qnap further equips its NAS with 4 GB of DDR4 RAM in one slot. You can expand up to 16 GB with a new SODIMM, but Qnap’s intention is clear: this NAS is not a traditional performance monster.

Fast connectivity

Qnap is not saving blind on the internals of this NAS. The manufacturer has a vision. The Qnap TS-432X should be a cost-effective solution for high-speed storage. To that end, Qnap provides high-end specs where it really counts.

So not only do you get two 2.5 GbE RJ-45 ports in the back, but the NAS is also equipped with a single 10 GbE SFP+ connector. With this, Qnap guarantees that the network will not be the bottleneck for people and applications wanting to access the NAS.

Right out of the box, the Qnap TS-432X feels very new. That’s partly because of the abundance of plastic wrap protecting the unit. Even on the inside of the NAS is foil. Once we remove all the foil, the NAS shines. That’s nice, but is it worth all the waste?

Qnap provides four bays for 3.5-inch SATA HDDs, although 2.5-inch drives also fit inside the unit. Of course, you can also install SSDs in place of HDDs. 3.5-inch HDDs fit into convenient holders for the NAS with a click system. Qnap provides screws to additionally secure them, but they are not actually needed.

Installation without complexes

Installing the NAS is not complex, although Qnap doesn’t make that immediately clear. Looking at the quick start guide, you’re first prompted to download and install the Qfinder Pro app. This allows you to find the NAS but the way it works feels rather archaic. Only afterwards does Qnap mention that you can also just go to install.qnap.com to get started: much easier.

Qnap then prompts you to create an account on MyQnapCloud, which you can then link to the NAS. That account is required to connect to the NAS externally via Qnap’s services.

QTS 5.2

The Qnap TS-432X runs the QTS 5.2 operating system, which you initialize without too much effort. During installation, you can immediately download the latest version of QTS. After a reboot during installation, we come to a window where you have to choose the connection method to the NAS. There we see options to connect internally or externally, and choose the port. You can’t really choose wrong, but this step in the installation process could be a little more beginner-friendly.

QTS runs smoothly on the Qnap TS-432X. The operating system is quite user-friendly, without hiding complex configuration options. Qnap does make an effort to provide a help menu for all functionality to help beginners get started.

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Getting started with Qnap QTS 5.2: powerful yet accessible

The interface is simple and built around a desktop that houses installed apps. New applications can be found through the App Center, where the Qnap TS-432X enjoys the support of a wide ecosystem. In a previous article, we went into more detail about exactly what QTS is, what it looks like, and what it can do.

Fast enough

For this NAS, we notice that QTS runs smoothly for basic operations, although sometimes apps take a while to install. Especially when you want to do a lot at once, you run into the interior limits a bit. Rebooting also takes a while. When you reboot the NAS, it keeps you informed with a loud beep.

The NAS offers support for advanced functionality, such as virtualization and containers. 4 GB of RAM is too tight in practice to make meaningful use of it, but those looking to run a light container with specific functionality will be fine. If you are looking for a NAS to deploy as a light server, with functionality beyond storage, there are more suitable models.

Especially backup

Storage and backup are the main purpose of this device. With that in mind, the front USB-A port is very interesting. It is equipped with a button, which you can set via Qnap’s backup software. So you can quickly plug in an external drive and backup to or from that drive with the push of a button, automatically ejecting it after the process, if desired. No need to dive into the interface for it.

On the back of the Qnap TS-432X, in addition to the network ports, there is one USB 3 Type-A port for connecting an external drive. USB Type-C is missing. That implies that on the one hand, this NAS is very compatible with external HDDs of some age, but on the other hand, for new external devices, you need the right cable or an adapter for USB-C.

Qnap provides another PCIe expansion slot, which allows you to expand the NAS’s capabilities. Expansion units are available for SATA and SAS, USB 3.2, M2 SSDs and up to 100 GbE network connections, among others.

As a NAS for storage, backup and synchronization, this device absolutely does its thing. Despite its modest hardware, the Qnap TS-432X is even powerful enough to serve as a multimedia hub. You can experiment with containers, but the RAM is not really enough for that.

What about the competition?

We would pit the Qnap TS-432X against competitor DiskStation DS423+ from Synology. The DS423+ is then slightly cheaper at 574 euros excluding VAT. You get an Intel-based Celeron chip but only 2 GB of RAM, which is really the absolute lower limit even for Synology DiskStation use. However, both devices are not powerhouses.

Especially in terms of connectivity, Synology lets it down. The NAS has only two RJ-45 1 GbE connections. Whereas Qnap has already embraced 2.5 GbE as a standard and even equips the Qnap TS-432X with a 10 GbE port out of the box, Synology gives you the bare minimum.

As for software, no preference plays. DiskStation we find a bit more visually appealing and streamlined, Qnap offers a bit more powerful capabilities. Certainly the backup suite HBM 3 offers a lot of features when it comes to synchronization. Support for the broader ecosystem is similar for both manufacturers.

Safe choice

In our opinion, the Qnap TS-432X wins the comparison because of its faster network ports and front backup button. These are very relevant for the purpose of this device. Qnap therefore delivers an excellent NAS here, tailored to its target audience. The NAS is not a powerhouse but 4 GB of RAM still offers a bit of breathing room. If you are looking for a device with space for four drives, where fast connectivity is more important than an ultra-fast CPU, then the Qnap TS-432X ($655 excl. VAT) is a good choice.

.pro’s

  • 2.5 GbE and 10 GbE
  • Powerful operating system
  • Backup software and button

.contra’s

  • Modest hardware (CPU & RAM)
  • Installation process could be more streamlined