Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Features
• Performance
• Pros & Cons
• Final Verdict

Introduction

The QNAP TS-h886-D1602-8G NAS Enclosure is a powerful and versatile network attached storage (NAS) solution designed for home and small office users. It packs an Intel Xeon D-1602 2-core processor, 8GB of RAM, and six drive bays for ample storage capacity. This review will delve into the features, performance, and overall user experience of the TS-h886-D1602-8G, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses.

Features

The QNAP TS-h886-D1602-8G boasts an impressive set of features that cater to various user needs. Here are some of its standout features:

• Powerful Intel Xeon D-1602 Processor: The TS-h886-D1602-8G utilizes an Intel Xeon D-1602 2-core processor, which provides sufficient processing power for demanding tasks such as file sharing, media streaming, and virtualization.
• Ample Storage Capacity: With six drive bays supporting both 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch SATA HDDs and SSDs, the TS-h886-D1602-8G offers ample storage space for various data types, including photos, videos, and backups.
• SSD Cache Acceleration: The TS-h886-D1602-8G supports SSD cache acceleration, which can significantly boost read and write speeds for frequently accessed data.
• M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen3 x4 Slots: The device includes two M.2 22110/2280 NVMe PCIe Gen3 x4 slots for installing high-performance NVMe SSDs, further enhancing storage performance.
• Flexible Expandability: The TS-h886-D1602-8G features two PCIe Gen3 x8 slots, allowing for the addition of various expansion cards such as network adapters, GPUs, and other hardware to expand its capabilities.
• Comprehensive Software Features: QNAP’s QTS operating system offers a rich suite of applications for file management, multimedia playback, cloud synchronization, virtualization, and more.
• Hardware-accelerated Transcoding: While not included by default, the TS-h886-D1602-8G supports hardware-accelerated transcoding for smooth video playback on various devices, which can be enabled by adding a compatible PCIe adapter.

Performance

During my testing, the QNAP TS-h886-D1602-8G exhibited solid performance across various tasks, including:

• File Transfer: File transfer speeds were impressive, especially with the SSD cache enabled. I was able to transfer large files between the NAS and my computer at speeds exceeding 100 MB/s, making data backups and file sharing extremely efficient.
• Multimedia Streaming: The TS-h886-D1602-8G smoothly streamed 4K videos without any lag or buffering, even when multiple users were accessing the NAS simultaneously.
• Virtualization: I successfully ran a few virtual machines on the TS-h886-D1602-8G, including a lightweight Linux server and a Windows desktop environment. The performance was adequate for basic tasks, though more demanding applications might require additional RAM or a more powerful processor.

Pros & Cons

Based on my experience with the QNAP TS-h886-D1602-8G, here are some of its key strengths and weaknesses:

Pros

• Powerful processor and ample RAM provide smooth performance for various tasks.
• Extensive storage capacity with six drive bays and support for both HDDs and SSDs.
• SSD cache acceleration significantly improves read and write speeds for frequently accessed data.
• Flexible expandability with two PCIe slots for adding network adapters, GPUs, and other hardware.
• Comprehensive software features with QNAP’s QTS operating system.
• Supports hardware-accelerated transcoding (with compatible PCIe adapter).

Cons

• The default 8GB of RAM might be insufficient for demanding virtualization workloads, requiring an upgrade.
• Hardware-accelerated transcoding requires an additional PCIe adapter, increasing the cost.
• The TS-h886-D1602-8G is a tower model, which may take up more space compared to rack-mountable NAS enclosures.

Final Verdict

The QNAP TS-h886-D1602-8G NAS Enclosure is a solid choice for home and small office users seeking a powerful and versatile network storage solution. It offers ample storage capacity, impressive performance, and a comprehensive set of features. However, its limited RAM and the requirement of an additional PCIe adapter for hardware-accelerated transcoding might be drawbacks for some users. Overall, I recommend the QNAP TS-h886-D1602-8G as a great option for those who need reliable, high-performance storage with room for future expansion.

Specifications