TerraMaster F2-221 NAS review: Affordable, capable and good looking

TerraMaster F2-221

You probable don't require network-fastened storage (NAS) that costs $ane,000 or more, but if yous need one that's capable enough to handle various basic NAS tasks, this ii-bay solution from TerraMaster could expect almost perfect on newspaper.

Does the ability to install ii drives, a metal chassis, and a great cost make this NAS worth because?

Affordable NAS

Synology DS119j

TerraMaster F2-221

From $250

Bottom line: TerraMaster'southward F2-221 is a NAS you should consider for your abode.

Pros

Sleek looking
Good app support
Quick squirt bays
Aluminum blueprint
Good array of ports

Cons

Can get expensive with HDDs
OS isn't as skilful as the contest

Y'all'll beloved how much value the TerraMaster F2-221 packs

TerraMaster F2-221

TerraMaster is a NAS vendor that produces models to compete with Synology, QNAP and other NAS makers. Undercutting the competition slightly, you can option up the two-bay F2-221 NAS for around $250, a full $50 less than the equivalent DS218+ from Synology. and the TerraMaster looks smart and more expensive, and so this is a chip of a surprise.

From the front of the NAS, y'all have the 2 removable drive trophy, a power button, and all the usual LED status indicators. The sides are articulate, with zero but the TerraMaster branding, and the rear of the unit houses all the ports and an 80mm unmarried fan exhaust — the fan barely turned on during our testing, which was likely due to low ambient temperature.

Category	Specs
Processor	Intel Celeron J3355 (2.0GHz)
RAM	2 GB DDR3L (10GB max)
Transcoding	H.264 (AVC), H.265 (HEVC), MPEG-two and VC-i
Drive trophy	Ii (hot-swappable)
Ports	Ii Ethernet, two USB three, HDMI, and eSATA
Weight	i.46 kg
Dimensions	227 x 119 ten 133 mm

What makes this NAS so good for the home (or a modest office) is the ability to business firm information on an entire network in a single location. You'll be able to host media, personal files and other information on the F2-221 and be able to admission everything on various devices. Pulling less than 30W helps keep the electricity neb downwardly, likewise.

Setting up the NAS is easy, though the installation and initial gear up upwardly process could be improved to arrive more straightforward for beginners. Once yous're upwardly and running, you quickly forget nearly this shortcoming and can enjoy the NAS to its full capabilities. Plex is available for installation, assuasive you lot to transform the minor NAS unit into a powerful media server.

A total of two LAN ports are available, with an HDMI output and two USB 3.0 ports.

The OS could still exist improved on the TerraMaster F2-221

TerraMaster F2-221

Much like the iv-bay TerraMaster NAS we reviewed previously, the OS is where this NAS falls a little brusk compared to the competition. Synology has the best OS experience, with QNAP closely behind, merely TerraMaster'south solution seems less professional and a niggling more cumbersome to employ. Information technology works, only you'll accept a ameliorate time with another NAS vendor'south software.

The TerraMaster F2-221 is an first-class NAS for the abode.

As well, while it'due south a positive that this NAS uses an Intel Celeron processor, this dual-cadre CPU isn't quite powerful enough for more than demanding tasks, like 4K transcoding. Yous'll also find it difficult to run virtual machines, just for more general use this NAS is fantastic on newspaper, with expandable memory (2GB pre-installed) and support for up to 12TB of storage.

Should you buy the TerraMaster F2-221?

TerraMaster F2-221

If you want the perfect NAS for the masses, y'all'll want to consider the Synology DS218+. TerraMaster is doing some good things with its latest NAS models and it's closing the gap between it and well established NAS leaders. You've got the power of Intel processors and decent Os offering that allows you to install software and aggrandize functionality.

The hardware is excellent, but it's nonetheless let downward by sub-par software. Also, the entire package simply isn't at the consistent level of quality you detect on a Synology or QNAP NAS. TerraMaster is near in that location, but a few drawbacks prevent its drove of servers from being truly exceptional.

Affordable NAS

TerraMaster F2-221

TerraMaster takes on Synology's best-seller

The relatively minor make within the NAS sphere is looking to capture more of the market place from its rivals, and the F2-221 does more things correct than incorrect. It is an excellent, value-driven NAS that allows you to set up up your own dwelling house media server.

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