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Hi,
I'm looking at a fast nas solution for backups and large sized 3d assets. Would be shared between 2 workstations for now but with the view to increase as we grow.
This will form part of a grant funded project at the minimum spend of 2.5k. The other part of this project will include a rendering workstation by which I'm also looking into but I believe you focus more on the NAS side. Copper 10Gbps and a switch would be also required.
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Thanks for your message and for outlining your use case so clearly, it really helps. For a 3D rendering business with two workstations now and the intention to scale, plus the requirement for fast backups and large asset storage, a 10GbE-capable NAS is definitely the right move. You’ve also got a healthy grant budget to get something that will serve you well for years.
For your budget of £750–1500, there are a few strong options. The most straightforward and polished solution is Synology’s DS1825+. It has a quad-core Ryzen CPU, supports expansion cards for 10GbE, and runs DSM which is ideal if you want something simple, reliable, and low maintenance. You can start with dual 2.5GbE and add a 10GbE NIC and switch when ready. Synology’s software is the most refined on the market and great if you want “set and forget” while retaining the ability to expand later.
If you’d prefer something with native 10GbE out of the box and more raw performance, the TerraMaster F4‑424 Max is a very competitive option. It comes with dual 10GbE built in, has a powerful Intel i5 processor, and supports up to 64GB RAM. This is excellent value and more powerful for heavy tasks like high‑throughput 3D asset work.
QNAP also has solid options in the TS‑674 or TS‑873A lines. These offer good hardware and built‑in 10GbE on some models, but the OS is more complex and requires more manual oversight. For ease of use and support, I usually recommend Synology or TerraMaster in a business like yours.
Whichever NAS you choose, you’ll also need a 10GbE switch to connect the NAS and both workstations. Something like a QNAP QSW‑2104 or a Netgear XS505M can handle 10GbE affordably with a few ports.
