TerraMaster F4 SSD review

The TerraMaster F4 SSD is a four-position all-flash NAS, but “four bay” here means four M.2 2280 NVMe sockets—not four conventional SATA trays. That distinction is the main buying decision. The U.S.-facing page specifies one built-in 5GbE port, an Intel N95 processor and 8 GB of DDR5 memory. It is not a substitute for a four-tray HDD NAS when you already own SATA drives.

Four M.2 positions, not four SATA trays

TerraMaster lists four M.2 2280 NVMe positions and no SATA storage interface. Its specification accepts PCIe 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 NVMe modules, but rates the four host slots as two PCIe 3.0 x2 positions and two PCIe 3.0 x1 positions. A newer SSD may fit the stated type while still operating within the host’s listed PCIe 3.0 lane rating. The page does not identify slot order or give a workload test for a particular four-drive set, so it would be misleading to describe all four positions as equivalent high-speed lanes.

The advertised 32 TB is a raw arithmetic example—four 8-TB SSDs—not usable array capacity. The live TerraMaster compatibility table includes an 8-TB WD Black SN8100 row marked Recommended for F4 SSD, but that row is not proof that four identical modules work together in one supported array. RAID layout, formatting, system use and the exact drive revisions affect usable space. The table can change, so verify each specific module and firmware before ordering. If your plan depends on drives you already own, check the exact model number rather than assuming that an M.2 connector alone guarantees compatibility.

What its network and processor specifications do—and do not—promise

The single RJ45 port is rated at 5GbE, which is useful only if the computer, switch and cable can negotiate a compatible faster-than-gigabit path. It is not a promised 5-Gbps file copy. The page lists one physical Ethernet port; its generic link-aggregation feature does not create another connector.

The Intel N95 is listed as four-core with burst up to 3.4 GHz. TerraMaster specifies one installed 8-GB DDR5 non-ECC SODIMM in one slot, with 32 GB as the supported maximum; reaching that ceiling means replacement, not adding a second module. These are specifications, not evidence of a particular VM, container or media-server result. The product page mentions 4K decoding and Plex/Jellyfin support, but this assessment tests neither streams nor transcoding.

Three USB 3.2 host ports are listed at 10 Gbps: two Type-A and one Type-C. The specification also lists one HDMI socket, but its version field literally says “HDMI 2.b.” That text is ambiguous, so I record the connector only rather than guessing a standard. Likewise, the product page’s feature table names some TOS 7.0 capabilities but does not prove which operating-system version a particular shipment arrives with.

A mirror is a setup choice, not an included configuration

The exact model page lists RAID 1 among supported storage modes. One plausible plan is to select two compatible NVMe modules, create a RAID 1 volume yourself and leave two of the four positions open. The generic TOS storage-pool guide describes pool creation as an administrator workflow; neither it nor the product package list says that a usable mirror is already initialized. The manufacturer’s package reference names the host, power accessories, one RJ-45 cable, quick-installation guide, warranty note and screws, but not data SSDs. Treat the offered shipment separately and verify the chosen seller’s package.

A mirror can keep a volume available after one drive fails, but it does not protect against deletion, malware, theft or loss of the chassis. Pool creation can erase data on installed drives, so start with clean, compatible modules and preserve another copy before initialization. If your requirement is simply four storage positions without redundancy, a single-disk or other supported layout is another possible setup; the buyer must select the actual drives and layout rather than assume the NAS arrives configured.

Small exterior, conditioned noise and power figures

The manufacturer lists dimensions of 138 × 60 × 140 mm (H × W × D), 0.6 kg net and two 50-mm fans. Its 19 dB(A) entry is conditioned on SSD standby, a 17.3-dB(A) background and a 1-m distance—not an independent room measurement or loaded-noise guarantee. The 32-W read/write and 8-W hibernation figures likewise apply to a stated fully loaded 2-TB Seagate M.2 SSD condition, not every drive set.

The F4 SSD is therefore easiest to justify when a buyer wants four internal NVMe positions, values the compact footprint and can actually use the 5GbE port on the rest of the network. The F8 SSD Plus is a distinct eight-position all-NVMe model with a listed individual 10GbE port; the F6-424 takes a different route with six SATA trays and two M.2 cache sockets. Those structural comparisons do not settle performance or price. If standard SATA drives, a known four-tray package or a particular transfer result is essential, choose and verify a model whose exact evidence supports that requirement instead of reading those features into this small all-flash chassis.

Evidence and offer checks

The English-facing documentation index lists a photo, not a readable F4 SSD manual. The exact handle has one Default Title configuration but blank manufacturer SKU and barcode fields. Amazon’s U.S. detail page identifies the selected F4 SSD and calls the listing diskless in its title; that does not guarantee every seller shipment. Before ordering, distinguish it from F8 SSD and F8 SSD Plus, check each SSD model and the package contents, and verify the 5GbE path. This assessment uses no price, stock, review score or hands-on test.

TerraMaster F4 SSD specifications · Current TerraMaster NVMe compatibility list · TOS 7 storage-pool guide