Lab Report for Energy Cost Comparison in Two-Bay NAS Systems

NAS Systems:
QNAP TS-233 (entry-level) and QNAP TS-264 (advanced)

Introduction

Network Attached Storage (NAS) systems have become a cornerstone for enterprises, small businesses, and home users seeking reliable, centralized data storage. Typically, NAS devices go beyond simple file storage; thanks to integrated redundancy mechanisms such as RAID (redundant array of independent disks or, historically, redundant array of inexpensive disks), they help mitigate the risk of data loss caused by hardware failures.

NAS solutions vary widely in specification – from basic one- or two-bay models offering essential network and storage functionality to advanced multi-bay rackmount systems designed for enterprise-level operations.
At the entry level, consumer and semi-professional users often opt for two-bay systems configured in RAID 1, which mirrors data across two hard drives to protect against drive failure. Even within this category, NAS units differ significantly in features. Basic models typically offer simple data storage and a single 1GbE (Gigabit Ethernet) connection – adequate for most home-office networks. Enhanced models, however, incorporate more powerful processors to support applications such as media servers or surveillance systems and may include faster network interfaces (e.g., dual 2.5GbE ports). Despite these differences, the fundamental storage performance of two HDDs in RAID 1 remains consistent.
Advanced NAS systems come with higher hardware specifications, increased power consumption – especially when operating 24/7 – and require greater technical knowledge for setup. Given rising energy costs, users should carefully assess whether they truly need higher network throughput and additional features.

To assist in this decision, Toshiba’s HDD Innovation Lab evaluated two popular two-bay NAS models using identical NAS-grade HDDs in different configurations: QNAP TS-233 (entry-level) and QNAP TS-264 (advanced). For this study, desktop-class NAS units were provided by our partner QNAP (Quality Network Appliance Provider).

View the whole lab report here.