Fast 4-bay NAS with 2.5GbE, NVMe and strong Plex potential

The QNAP TS-464-8G is worth buying if you want a compact 4-bay NAS with strong multitasking, dual 2.5GbE networking, and room to grow. At £636.00, it sits above the Synology DS224+ at £503.72 and well above the DS223J at £179.97, but it also offers a more ambitious hardware package: an Intel quad-core CPU, 8GB RAM, two M.2 PCIe slots, built-in GPU-assisted video conversion, and two USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports.

First impressions

This is aimed at users who want more than basic file storage. The 4-bay design gives you more flexibility than the 2-bay Synology alternatives listed here, especially if you care about RAID options, future capacity, or separating fast SSD storage from bulk HDD storage. The current price is also the all-time lowest recorded at £636.00, which makes the timing unusually favourable for a QNAP purchase.

What makes the TS-464-8G different?

The headline feature is performance headroom. QNAP says the TS-264 / TS-464 / TS-664 line can reach up to 589 MB/s transfer speeds by using port trunking across the two built-in 2.5GbE ports, which is close to single-port 10GbE-class throughput in the right setup. That matters if you are moving large media libraries, editing files over the network, or backing up multiple machines. The Intel quad-core processor is also designed for multitasking, so it is better suited to running services alongside storage duties than entry-level NAS boxes.

The built-in GPU is another practical advantage for Plex-style use cases and mobile streaming, because it supports video conversion for smoother playback to phones and tablets. Add in two M.2 PCIe slots for SSD caching or fast storage tiers, plus the option to expand further with a QM2 PCIe card, and the TS-464-8G has a clear upgrade path.

How does it perform for home lab and media use?

For a home NAS, the TS-464-8G is strongest when you want storage, apps, and media services all running together. The 8GB RAM helps, and the Intel quad-core chip should cope better with Docker containers, indexing, backups, and streaming than low-end ARM-based models. The dual 2.5GbE ports are especially useful if your network has a 2.5GbE switch or you plan to aggregate links for higher throughput.

For Plex, the built-in GPU and video conversion support are the key selling points. That does not make it a dedicated transcoding server, but it does make it more capable than simpler NAS units that rely purely on CPU power. If your media library is large and you stream to several devices, the TS-464-8G is much better aligned to that workload than the DS223J and more flexible than a basic 2-bay desktop NAS.

Build quality and expandability

QNAP’s 4-bay desktop format is the main structural advantage here. More bays mean better storage scaling and more RAID options, which is important if you are planning to start with a smaller array and expand later. The two M.2 slots are useful for SSD caching or tiered storage, and the ability to add a QM2 PCIe expansion card means the platform can grow with your needs.

The two USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports are also a good fit for fast external backups. That is a small detail, but it matters if you regularly copy data to USB drives or want a simple offline backup workflow.

Is it good value for money?

At £636.00, it is not cheap, and the listed RRP of £539.00 means the current price is higher than the nominal list price. Still, the price data provided says £636.00 is the all-time lowest, with an average of £636.00, so this is a good time to buy if you have already decided on this model. The 4.5/5 rating from 237 reviews also suggests that most buyers feel the hardware delivers on its promise.

Compared with the Synology DS224+ at £503.72, the TS-464-8G costs more but gives you a 4-bay chassis, dual 2.5GbE, two M.2 slots, and stronger expansion potential. Against the DS223J at £179.97, the QNAP is in a completely different class for performance and flexibility. The DS224+ at £688.12 is more expensive than the QNAP, so the TS-464-8G also looks competitive on price within the higher-end 2-bay segment.

What should buyers watch out for?

The main warning is cost. £636.00 is a serious outlay for a NAS enclosure, especially once you add drives, SSDs, and possibly a 2.5GbE switch. Also, the feature set is only valuable if you will actually use it; if you just need simple backup storage, the TS-464-8G is overkill.

Final take

The QNAP TS-464-8G is a strong buy for users who want a fast, expandable 4-bay NAS with good media and multitasking credentials. It is less suitable for buyers who only need basic network storage, because the price and feature set are aimed at more demanding home lab, Plex, and small-office workloads.