Posts: 1,152
Threads: 1,153
Joined: Feb 2020
Reputation:
2
Hi I have an Omen 30L HP Pc with no thunderbolt 3, I don't have the hardware for 10gbe network yet. I've been frustrated with performance demonstrations with 10gbe speeds - I have terabytes of 4K -8K data and installed 2 2tb NVME's in both my NAS's
I'm considering switching to Mac system and would like to be portable as well as have beefy editing setup.
Can I connect to both my Qnaps individually to the new MacBook Pro M4 MAX via thunderbolt and connect an external display to treat the MacBook like a home station and get fast Thunderbolt editing speeds via plugging in direct?
Posts: 4,781
Threads: 2
Joined: Jun 2022
Reputation:
33
Thank you for reaching out. It sounds like you're looking for an efficient solution to improve your workflow with your QNAP NAS devices and handle your substantial 4K–8K data requirements. Transitioning to a MacBook Pro M4 Max could be a game-changer for your setup, especially with its Thunderbolt capabilities. Let’s address your queries in detail:
1. Direct Thunderbolt Connectivity with QNAP NAS
Your QNAP NAS units, the TVS-872XT and TVS-672XT, both support Thunderbolt 3. The MacBook Pro M4 Max will allow you to connect directly to either NAS via Thunderbolt, enabling extremely fast data transfer rates suitable for 4K–8K video editing. This direct connection bypasses any limitations from your current network setup and offers near-native SSD speeds, significantly enhancing performance.
2. Portability and Home Station Setup
The MacBook Pro M4 Max, with its powerful hardware, is an excellent choice for both portability and a beefy editing station. Using a Thunderbolt dock or a USB-C hub, you can seamlessly connect the MacBook to:
Your external display for an ergonomic workstation.
Additional peripherals like a keyboard, mouse, and external drives.
Your QNAP NAS units when needed.
This setup would allow you to switch between a portable editing system and a home editing station with minimal effort, ensuring that you can maintain productivity wherever you go.
3. Optimizing Performance
To ensure you maximize performance with your MacBook Pro M4 Max, consider the following:
RAID Setup: Your NAS devices already utilize RAID 5, which balances speed and redundancy well for video editing workflows.
NVMe Cache: Utilizing your 2TB NVMe SSDs as read/write cache on your NAS will further improve editing performance, especially for frequently accessed files.
10GbE Network Upgrade: While Thunderbolt is sufficient for direct connections, upgrading to a 10GbE network in the future could enhance multi-device workflows if your needs expand.
4. Future-Proofing Your Workflow
The MacBook Pro M4 Max provides the processing power and Thunderbolt 4 support to handle large video files effectively. It’s also optimized for video editing applications like Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere Pro, ensuring smooth playback and rendering of 4K–8K footage. Combined with your QNAP NAS setup, this system will be highly future-proof for your editing needs.
Posts: 1
Threads: 0
Joined: Apr 2025
Reputation:
0
I've been using the Omen 30L HP PC, but its lack of Thunderbolt 3 has been a major limitation. I don’t have the hardware for a 10GbE network yet, and I’ve been frustrated with the performance bottlenecks when dealing with 10GbE speeds. Since I work with terabytes of 4K–8K data, I’ve installed two 2TB NVMe drives in both my NAS units (QNAPs) to optimize storage and access speeds.
