TerraMaster F6-424 review

The F6-424 is a six-tray desktop NAS built around Intel’s N95, 8GB of DDR5 memory and two built-in 2.5GbE ports. Its appeal is the straightforward combination of six native SATA positions and a documented RAID 1 option; the trade-off is that its network ceiling is far below a true 10GbE single-port design. This is a source-based assessment of TerraMaster’s listed configuration, not a hands-on test or a claim about what a particular seller currently ships.

Count the six SATA trays—not every socket

TerraMaster lists six positions for 3.5-inch SATA hard drives, 2.5-inch SATA hard drives or 2.5-inch SATA SSDs. Separately, it specifies two M.2 2280 NVMe sockets on PCIe 3.0 x1 and describes them for SSD caching. They are not two more hot-swap trays, so this is a six-bay NAS for the finder and not an eight-bay system. The maker’s current NVMe compatibility page is useful for checking an exact module, but it does not certify every SSD or an assumed all-slots-at-once combination.

The listed processor is an Intel N95 four-core/four-thread part, with 8GB DDR5 non-ECC memory in one SODIMM slot and a stated 32GB maximum. Upgrading to that ceiling means replacing the installed module; the page does not establish a specific third-party module or guarantee that a retailer’s bundle uses the same memory. For a modest shared-storage machine, this is a clear starting specification, but buyers planning many memory-hungry services should confirm the exact unit and workload before choosing it.

A mirror is possible, but the owner must create it

The exact specification lists RAID 1 as well as RAID 0, 5, 6, 10, JBOD, Single, TRAID and TRAID+. One concrete two-drive plan is to install two compatible SATA drives and create a RAID 1 array, leaving four of the six positions open. That is a documented capability and a possible owner setup—not evidence of an included pair of drives or an initialized volume. TerraMaster’s TOS storage guide describes creating storage pools and volumes as operator actions.

Choose both drive model numbers against the manufacturer’s current compatibility table, and treat changes to firmware and drive support as a reason to recheck. Mirroring can keep a service available after a drive failure, but it does not protect against deletion, malware, theft or damage to the NAS. Keep a separate backup and plan for initialization before moving data. The base package list names the enclosure, power accessories, one network cable, a guide, warranty note and screws; it does not list data drives. A seller’s bundle can differ, so verify the exact listing’s package rather than assuming the manufacturer’s base box matches it.

Dual 2.5GbE is not a 5GbE port

The F6-424 has two separate 2.5GbE RJ45 jacks and no built-in 10GbE jack or SFP+ port in the listed specification. TerraMaster’s page describes link aggregation up to 5Gbps across both links, which is not a 5Gbps individual interface and does not promise that one computer or one file transfer will reach that sum. A faster path depends on the client, switch, cabling, storage arrangement and workload as well as the NAS.

If your requirement is simply one 2.5Gbps-capable port, its two interfaces can meet that documented link-rate screen. If you require a single 10GbE port, the F6-424 does not qualify—even though its name resembles the separate F6-424 Max. Compare the exact reviewed configurations rather than borrowing a sibling’s port rating.

Keep the headline capacity in perspective

The product page states 132TB raw as six 22TB drives and cautions that RAID changes capacity. TerraMaster’s current HDD table now includes 32TB ST32000NT000 and 30TB ST30000NT011 rows marked Recommended for F6-424, as well as smaller examples. That conflicts with treating the 132TB figure as a settled current ceiling. The table does not establish that six of one drive model form a supported simultaneous array or what usable space would result, so this assessment leaves the maximum raw and usable capacity unset. Usable space also depends on the selected drive models, RAID or other array layout and filesystem overhead. Check every exact drive and firmware against the current list; do not interpret a raw arithmetic total as an empty volume size.

The specification also names Btrfs and EXT4 for internal drives, two 10Gbps USB host ports (one Type-A and one Type-C), HDMI 2.0b, hot-swap support, two 92mm fans and a single 150W power supply. Its 154 × 240 × 222mm dimensions are the manufacturer’s chassis figures, not an allowance for cable bends, airflow or the clearance needed to remove trays. Make room for those practical access needs rather than treating the enclosure dimensions as a complete shelf plan.

How much weight to give the noise and speed claims

TerraMaster lists 22dB(A) with M.2 SSDs in standby, a 17.3dB(A) test-environment baseline and a one-metre distance. That is a narrow manufacturer condition, not a general reading for six spinning disks during activity or a guarantee for a room. Likewise, the product page’s throughput copy describes a particular RAID 0 drive setup; it is not a test of this assessment and should not be used as a prediction for a different network and disk set.

Who should shortlist it?

Consider the F6-424 when six native SATA positions matter more than a 10GbE connection, you can supply and verify your own compatible drives, and a 2.5GbE link suits the rest of your wired network. The six trays leave room for a staged build: a two-drive mirror can start the array while four bays stay available, but filling them later means planning a supported expansion path and backup routine, not assuming any RAID conversion is risk-free.

Pass if you need a built-in single 10GbE link, redundant power supplies, or proof that a specific high-capacity drive set is supported without checking the current list. Two M.2 sockets may help a cache-oriented plan, but they do not make this an all-flash six-bay design. Before purchase, confirm the exact model name (not F6-424 Max), base versus seller-added package, chosen drive models, memory version, physical access space, warranty channel and the network equipment that will connect to it. No current offer, price, stock or seller-specific bundle is claimed here.