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NAS specs - Enquiries - 08-02-2025
Hi. What’s the recommended specs for a single shared folder with mainly movies. I currently have a truenas box and infuse in an Apple TV to watch but I’m looking to reduce to a smaller nas box. Any suggestions regarding the brand and the specs for each
RE: NAS specs - ed - 08-02-2025
For a setup focused on a single shared folder mainly serving movie files, and using Infuse on Apple TV (which handles the decoding client-side), your hardware demands are actually quite modest. Infuse doesn’t require the NAS to transcode, so you mainly need good network speed and reliable storage throughput.
Recommended NAS Specs:
• CPU: A modern dual-core or low-power quad-core (Intel Celeron, N5105/N100, Ryzen R1600, etc.) is more than enough.
• RAM: 4GB minimum, 8GB ideal (especially for ZFS-based systems or if you plan to multitask later).
• Storage: Whatever capacity fits your library. If using HDDs, 2–4 bays is a common sweet spot. SSDs can be quieter, but are pricier.
• Network: At least 2.5GbE support if you plan to stream high bitrate 4K, or want fast copy speeds. Otherwise, 1GbE is still fine.
Good Brand/Model Options:
• Synology DS224+ / DS225+ – Reliable, quiet, and easy to use. Great for shared folder streaming with SMB. DSM is polished, but newer models enforce Synology-only drives.
• QNAP TS-262 / TS-264 – Slightly more open with hardware choices, HDMI out, and good performance. QTS UI isn’t as slick but offers more tweakability.
• Terramaster F2-423 – Budget-friendly with decent specs (N5095, dual 2.5GbE). TOS 5 is improving but not as refined.
• Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro Gen 2 – Silent, affordable, with 2.5GbE and a newer Realtek chip. Good for basic media serving.
If you’re stepping down from TrueNAS, just be sure the smaller NAS supports the network speeds and storage capacity you need. And if you want something ultra-compact and quiet, an SSD-only setup in a fanless enclosure might be worth considering too.