Fast 4-bay NAS power, but the price and rating demand caution

The TERRAMASTER F4-424 Max is worth considering if you want a high-spec 4-bay NAS with dual 10GbE and a Core i5 CPU, but its 3.6/5 rating from 287 reviews means it is not an automatic buy. At £655.99, it is currently at its all-time lowest price, which makes the timing attractive for anyone who has been waiting for a discount on a performance-focused enclosure.

What stands out first?

The headline specs are the main draw: a Core i5-1235U, 10 cores and 12 threads, 8GB of DDR5 RAM, and dual 10GbE ports. For a NAS enclosure, that combination points to a machine aimed at heavier workloads such as multi-user file serving, backup jobs, and media streaming rather than basic home storage. TerraMaster also claims 220% better performance than its predecessor and 160% faster application load times, which is a strong marketing claim, but it does at least signal that this model is built to prioritise responsiveness.

How does the hardware stack up?

A 4-bay chassis gives you enough flexibility for mirrored storage, RAID 5-style capacity efficiency, or a simple expansion path without jumping to a larger chassis. The dual 10GbE setup is especially relevant if you have a fast switch, a 10GbE-capable workstation, or a Plex/editing workflow that can actually use the bandwidth. TerraMaster’s stated 20Gbps throughput figure is the kind of spec that will matter in a business environment or a serious home lab, though real-world performance will depend on the drives you install, your RAID layout, and your network.

The 8GB DDR5 RAM is a useful baseline, but it is not a huge amount for a machine marketed around business backup and peak performance. If you plan to run containers, indexing, multiple services, or heavier multitasking, that starting point may feel modest compared with the CPU class. The listing also mentions 4K video decoding and uPnP/DLNA support, so this should suit users who want NAS storage and media serving in one box.

Is it good for Plex, backups, and file serving?

For Plex-style media streaming, the 4K decoding support and DLNA compatibility are the most relevant features on the sheet. For backups, TerraMaster includes its Business Backup Suite, which suggests the F4-424 Max is aimed at both small business and advanced home users who want a central backup target. For file serving, the dual 10GbE ports make far more sense than the single-gigabit networking found on cheaper NAS units.

How does it compare with Synology alternatives?

Price is where the comparison becomes interesting. The Synology DS223J costs £179.97, while the DS224+ sits at £506.05 and the Synology 2-Bay DS224+ (Black) is £538.79. That means the TERRAMASTER costs more than both 2-bay Synology models, but it also offers a 4-bay design, a Core i5 processor, DDR5 memory, and dual 10GbE ports. If you want a compact, simpler NAS, Synology’s 2-bay options are much cheaper and better reviewed at 4.4/5, 4.5/5, and 4.6/5. If you want more bays and much faster networking, the F4-424 Max is in a different performance class.

Build quality and value for money

The listing positions this as a business-grade NAS enclosure, and the hardware spec supports that ambition. The value case is strongest at the current £655.99 price because it is 29% below the £919.99 RRP and matches the lowest recorded price. The weakness is that the review score is only 3.6/5, which suggests buyers have encountered enough friction to temper the appeal of the hardware on paper.

Should you buy it?

Buy it if you specifically want a 4-bay NAS with dual 10GbE and a fast Intel CPU, and you are comfortable assembling your own storage setup. Skip it if you want the safest mainstream buy, the best app ecosystem, or the strongest user satisfaction score, because Synology’s cheaper 2-bay alternatives are better rated and easier to justify for lighter workloads.

Bottom line on performance

This is a performance-first NAS enclosure with serious networking and a capable Intel platform, but it is priced and positioned for users who know why they need those specs. The hardware is compelling, the current price is excellent, and the 4-bay layout gives it real flexibility. The 3.6/5 rating is the warning sign: the feature list is strong, but the ownership experience appears mixed enough that careful buyers should compare it against better-rated alternatives before committing.