TerraMaster F4-220 Review: A solid NAS let down by sub-par software

TerraMaster F4-220

The Network Attached Storage marketplace is heating up as more than consumers hop aboard and start storing information locally on the home network. TerraMaster has an affordable, yet powerful option available called the F4-220, which sports four bulldoze trophy, an Intel processor, and a metal chassis. All sounds skillful so far, only does the software part meet expectation after unboxing, and is setting up a painless feel?

Stiff value

TerraMaster F4-220

Starts at effectually $290

Lesser line: The F4-220 is an excellent option for newcomers to the NAS game, sporting solid build quality, apps ready for download

Pros:

Solid aluminum construct.
Has everything you need to get started.
Adequately tranquillity operation.
Access to apps and services.

Cons:

Fans tin shoot upward to high speeds randomly.
Bone needs farther smoothen, equally does the installation process.
Not toolless.

What you volition like about the F4-220

TerraMaster has done an excellent job with the design and build quality of the F4-220, which sports a hefty amount of aluminum. This makes it sturdy feeling and durable enough to accept a knock or 2 through general use. It's likewise shiny silver, which makes a change from the usual black slabs we've come up to know.

The visitor has attempted to do everything it tin to make sure beginners can become started without hassle when they unpackage their F4-220. Information technology's non perfect, but you can run across the amount of attempt that has been poured into the initial OS installation. And once you lot're all set to go, information technology'due south easy to forget information technology even exists and savor the NAS experience.

Tertiary-political party apps and services, including Plex, are available for TerraMaster NAS products. And as a one up on Synology, you don't need to install and update the package manually, it's all handled by the built-in app manager. A nice touch for those who do non wish to get their hands dirty at all.

There are aplenty amounts of performance here too with 2GB of RAM and an Intel Celeron dual-core processor clocked at two.4GHz. You tin can exercise a lot with this NAS. The 4 drive bays tin permit upwards to 12TB of storage capacity with diverse RAID configurations. Both 3.5 and two.5-inch drives are supported. Information technology's an all-around quality NAS.

What you may dislike most the F4-220

The main gripe I have with the TerraMaster F4-220 isn't the NAS itself, but the initial setup process, which - if you utilise the quick start guide - will take yous to an incorrectly translated department of the official website. Information technology's far easier to follow my guide to getting the F4-220 (also every bit other TerraMaster NAS models) upwardly and running.

Then there's the example of the Os, which isn't as polished every bit Synology'southward solution, but it does go the job done and allows you access to manage the NAS. There are fifty-fifty tertiary-party apps and hooks that make upwards for this, be sure to do a little learning when you showtime boot it up.

The drive bays aren't entirely toolless, which is strange in 2022 when pretty much every desktop PC is to a caste, especially with regards to bulldoze mounting. Thankfully, TerraMaster includes screws and a Philips screwdriver.

Should y'all buy the TerraMaster F4-220?

TerraMaster F4-220

If you want the perfect overall NAS in this segment, y'all are best going with the two or four bay Synology models. That said, if yous've used TerraMaster earlier, or aren't also fond of Synology and wish to enjoy the ability of Intel inside your home server, the F4-220 is a great lilliputian box.

With some further refining and software tweaks, it could become so much more than. That'due south the determination here. Fantastic hardware, allow down past the accompanying software.

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