The F4-424 Pro is the value-per-spec pick — 8-core CPU and 32 GB DDR5 RAM at $500 is unmatched. The catch is TOS, which most enthusiasts swap out for TrueNAS Scale or Unraid. If you were going to do that anyway, this is the platform; if you want a polished out-of-box experience, the Synology DS923+ or QNAP TS-464 are better matches.
Strengths
- +Core i3-N305 8-core/8-thread CPU is the highest core count in this round-up
- +32 GB DDR5 RAM stock — far more than the DS923+ or TS-464 ship with
- +Dual 2.5 GbE ports stock
- +Compatible with TrueNAS Scale and Unraid for users who want to ditch TOS
- +Pricing significantly undercuts the Asustor Lockerstor 4 Gen3 and Synology DS923+
Watch-outs
- −TOS (TerraMaster Operating System) is the least polished NAS OS in this lineup
- −Build quality is plastic where Asustor and Synology use metal
- −TerraMaster's reputation for support and patches is mixed
- −Most users end up running TrueNAS or Unraid instead of TOS — buy this if you'd planned to do that
How it compares
Highest core count and most stock RAM of any pick here. Less polished software than the Synology DS923+, QNAP TS-464, and Asustor Lockerstor 4 Gen3 — most users end up running TrueNAS or Unraid. The UGREEN DXP4800 Plus runs similar new-OS-young-platform energy but ships with proper UGREEN OS rather than an excuse to wipe and reinstall.
Who this is for
At a glance: self-host enthusiasts who plan to run TrueNAS Scale or Unraid and want the most raw spec per dollar.
Why you’d buy the TerraMaster F4-424 Pro
- Core i3-N305 8-core/8-thread CPU is the highest core count in this round-up.
- 32 GB DDR5 RAM stock — far more than the DS923+ or TS-464 ship with.
- Dual 2.5 GbE ports stock.
Why you’d skip it
- TOS (TerraMaster Operating System) is the least polished NAS OS in this lineup.
- Build quality is plastic where Asustor and Synology use metal.
- TerraMaster's reputation for support and patches is mixed.
Rating sources
Our 4.2 score is the average of these published ratings. More about methodology.
