If you want to supercharge your Hybrid network-attached storage, a NAS NVMe SSD is the way.
This review will compare 4 different internal storage components and their features, benefits, performance, durability, compatibility, feedback, specs, and price.
To help you decide which is best for your storage needs, we’ll only examine NVMe SSDs built for the tough jobs NAS systems perform.
Note: Sorry about all the tables and lists, but they make displaying the differences these drives offer easier.
What Makes an NVMe SSD Good for a NAS?
Let’s start by setting a baseline for our expectations.
- Speed: Speed determines how quickly the drive can read and write data. Faster speeds mean smoother performance for tasks like streaming or backup.
- Endurance: Measured in TBW (Terabytes Written), endurance tells you how much data the drive can handle before it wears out.
- Cache: Caching improves data handling during bursts of activity, maintaining smooth performance. Types include SLC and DRAM.
- Compatibility: Drives need to be compatible with specific NAS systems, such as Synology or QNAP, for optimal integration.
- Interface: The PCIe interface impacts speed. PCIe 4.0 offers higher transfer rates, providing up to twice the bandwidth of PCIe 3.0, making it ideal for high-performance needs.
We’ll use these features to review and compare each NAS NVMe SSD.
Comparison Table
Model | Capacity Options | Endurance (TBW) | Interface | Cache Type | Best For |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
WD Red SN700 | 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | Up to 1,000 TBW | PCIe 3.0 x4 | SLC caching | Always-on NAS systems, small business usage |
Synology SNV3410 | 400GB, 800GB | Up to 500 TBW | PCIe 3.0 x4 | DRAM cache | Synology NAS, enterprise environments |
Gigastone Enterprise | 1TB, 2TB | Up to 1,800 TBW | PCIe 3.0 x4 | SLC caching | Heavy workloads like video editing, database |
TEAMGROUP MP44 | 512GB, 1TB, 2TB | Up to 800 TBW | PCIe 4.0 x4 | DRAM cache | Budget-friendly NAS, strong performance |
Unpacking the NAS NVMe Specs
Understanding the key specifications can help you determine which NAS NVMe SSD suits your needs. Here is a comparison of the most important features:
NVMe SSD Comparison Table
Model | Read/Write | Cache Type | Interface | Compatibility | Price* |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
WD Red SN700 | Up to 3,430 MB/s | SLC Cache | PCIe 3.0 x4 | Universal NAS | Mid-range |
Synology SNV3410 | Up to 3,100 MB/s | DRAM Cache | PCIe 3.0 x4 | Synology NAS | Expensive |
Gigastone Enterprise | Up to 3,400 MB/s | SLC Cache | PCIe 3.0 x4 | Universal NAS | Mid-range |
TEAMGROUP MP44 | Up to 5,000 MB/s | HMB | PCIe 4.0 x4 | Universal NAS | Budget |
*Current pricing information is below.
What Sets Each NVMe SSD Apart?
- WD Red SN700: Built for reliability and consistency, it’s ideal for users needing a dependable NAS drive for small business applications.
- Synology SNV3410: Perfect for those with Synology NAS who prioritize compatibility and seamless setup. It’s designed specifically to enhance Synology NAS performance.
- Gigastone Enterprise: High endurance for demanding workloads like video editing and database management, suitable for home businesses.
- TEAMGROUP MP44: A great budget option, offering high speeds and value for lighter NAS use.
Price Options and Value
- WD Red SN700: Mid-priced, suitable for users seeking a blend of reliability and affordability.
- Synology SNV3410: More expensive but offers tailored compatibility for Synology NAS systems.
- Gigastone Enterprise: Similar pricing to WD Red SN700, positioned for users requiring high endurance.
- TEAMGROUP MP44: The most budget-friendly choice, ideal for cost-conscious users needing decent performance.
Ideal User for Each Drive
- WD Red SN700: Best for small to medium businesses or power users needing reliable, always-on NAS performance.
- Synology SNV3410: Perfect for Synology NAS owners who want the easiest setup and best compatibility.
- Gigastone Enterprise: Ideal for heavy workload users, such as video editors, photographers, and home business operators.
- TEAMGROUP MP44: A great pick for home users wanting a cost-effective boost for their NAS.
Customer Feedback Summary
- WD Red SN700: Mixed reviews. Some users praise its performance, while others report issues such as premature failure and reliability concerns, with drives going offline under load or failing after a couple of years.
- Synology SNV3410: Generally positive, especially for Synology integration, though some find the price high.
- Gigastone Enterprise: Limited user reviews, making long-term reliability hard to gauge.
- TEAMGROUP MP44: Mostly positive, with users appreciating the speed for the price, though performance may drop when nearly full.
Pros and Cons
Model | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|
WD Red SN700 | Good performance, reliable brand, decent price | Reports of failures, not the fastest |
Synology SNV3410 | Designed for Synology, easy setup, good support | Expensive, overkill for home use |
Gigastone Enterprise | High endurance, great for demanding workloads | Limited user reviews |
TEAMGROUP MP44 | Affordable, fast, good for light NAS use | Lower durability drops in performance when full |
How to Use NVMe SSDs in Your NAS
When thinking about using NVMe SSDs in a NAS system, you’ll find two main setups: cache and volume storage. It’s key to know the difference between these to make your NAS run better and more efficiently.
Cache Mode:
- Purpose: To speed up the read/write of data you use a lot.
- How it Works: The NAS puts data like metadata and small files on the NVMe SSD. When you need it, it loads fast from the SSD, not the slower HDD.
- Best for: Good for systems that often deal with small files, like media servers and virtual machines.
Volume Storage Mode:
- Purpose: To make fast storage pools for certain apps or data types.
- How it Works: The whole NVMe SSD is one big storage area, making all data access super fast.
- Best for: Great for apps needing lots of IOPS and low latency, like databases and video editing.
Key Considerations:
- Workload: Think about what you need to do with your NAS to choose the right setup.
- Budget: Look at the cost of NVMe SSDs and how much performance you want.
- NAS Compatibility: Make sure your NAS can use NVMe SSDs and your chosen setup.
NVMe cache and volume storage can greatly improve NAS performance; however, they are both not supported in every NAS solution.
The best choice depends on your specific NAS model and configuration.
Which NAS NVMe SSD is Right for You?
Here’s a quick summary of our NVMe reviews with Amazon product links and descriptions.
Choose the perfect one to elevate your NAS performance.
Model | Features | Benefits | Use Cases |
---|---|---|---|
TEAMGROUP MP44 | Budget-friendly, PCIe 4.0, graphene heat label | High performance, value for money | Home users, budget-conscious consumers |
WD Red SN700 | NAS optimized, 24/7 reliability, high endurance | Suitable for demanding workloads, reliable | Virtualization, collaborative editing, small business |
Synology SNV3410 | Consistent I/O, seamless Synology integration | Enhances responsiveness, metadata caching | Synology NAS users, frequent data access |
Gigastone Enterprise | High endurance, SLC cache, 3D NAND technology | 24/7 reliability, data protection | Heavy workloads, virtualization, video editing |
The TEAMGROUP MP44 stands out as a budget-friendly, high-performance option for consumers seeking a balance between price and speed. This PCIe 4.0 drive boasts sequential read/write speeds exceeding 7,000 MB/s and incorporates a graphene heat-dissipating label to enhance thermal management. User reviews consistently applaud its value, ease of installation, and commendable performance.
- Heat dissipating graphene label, the best...
- PCIe Gen 4 ultra-speed performance exceeding...
- Recyclable packaging contributing to environmental...
- International products have separate terms, are...
Western Digital’s WD Red SN700, tailored for NAS applications, prioritizes endurance and reliability to handle the demanding workloads of virtualization and collaborative editing in 24/7 environments. While some users praise its performance in Synology and QNAP NAS systems, others raise concerns about its reliability, citing instances of failures within two years.
- Robust system responsiveness and exceptional I/O...
- Tackle NAS workloads with exceptional reliability...
- Tame tough projects like virtualization and...
- Perfect for multitasking applications with...
- Scale your NAS device with huge capacities up to...
Synology’s SNV3410 focuses on delivering consistent I/O performance and longevity, specifically designed for seamless integration with Synology NAS systems. This drive prioritizes enhancing system responsiveness and handling frequent data access requests. User reviews commend its compatibility, performance, and role in improving metadata caching for smoother directory operations. However, its premium pricing is a notable consideration.
- Enterprise M.2 2280 NVMe SSD - tailored for...
- Boost the I/O performance of your Synology NAS -...
- Endurance - Designed to handle tough caching...
- 5-year warranty
- Check Synology knowledge center or YouTube channel...
Gigastone’s Enterprise SSD is positioned as a high-endurance NVMe SSD specifically designed for demanding NAS environments, promoting itself as the “No.1 NAS SSD Cache choice”. The manufacturer emphasizes its 24/7 reliability, data protection capabilities, and compatibility with popular NAS brands like Synology, QNAP, and Asustor. This drive utilizes 3D NAND technology with an SLC cache for enhanced performance and longevity, targeting heavy workloads such as virtualization, video editing, and database storage.
- [World Leading High Speed] : PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 NVMe...
- [Highest Standard Technology] : 3D NAND with SLC...
- [Wide Compatibility] : 500GB 1TB 2TB 4TB various...
- [Reliability] : Supports low density parity check...
- [Manufacturer Support Guaranteed] : GIGASTONE...
The Seagate IronWolf 510 240GB NAS SSD stands out as an exceptional choice for anyone looking to enhance their multibay RAID system. With its M.2 PCIe interface, this internal solid-state drive offers impressive read and write speeds that significantly boost the performance of network-attached storage solutions.
- ULTIMATE ENDURANCE: The ideal solution for...
- TOUGH: Enjoy long-term reliability with 1. 8M...
- EFFICIENT: Increased file-sharing performance and...
- SPACIOUS: Capacity of 240GB offers next-level NAS...
- Warranty: Enjoy long-term peace of mind with the...
Note: The Seagate IronWolf 510 NVMe SSD was not available to be included in this review.
SSD Drive Alternatives
Here is a list of 2.5-inch drives to consider if you want to replace your HDDs with faster NAS SSD drives.
- Seagate FireCuda 530: This NVMe SSD is made for NAS systems. It has great speed and is very reliable.
- Western Digital SN850X: It’s a fast NVMe SSD. It has quick read/write speeds and low latency.
- Samsung 990 PRO: It’s a high-performance NVMe SSD. It offers excellent performance and is very durable.
Wrap Up
Choosing the right NVMe SSD for your NAS significantly impacts your system’s performance and reliability.
Carefully consider your needs, read reviews, and ask for help if needed.
A well-chosen drive will keep your NAS running smoothly for years!
FAQ
What is NVMe?
NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) allows SSDs to communicate directly with the computer’s processor, resulting in much faster speeds compared to older SATA SSDs.
What is a NAS, and why use NVMe for it?
A NAS (Network Attached Storage) is a device that allows for centralized data storage that is accessible over a network. NVMe SSDs offer faster read/write speeds, making them ideal for high-performance NAS setups.
Can I use a regular SSD in my NAS?
You can, but it’s not ideal. NAS drives are designed for constant use and can handle heavier workloads.
Do I need a heatsink for my NVMe SSD?
Some NAS systems have built-in heatsinks. If yours doesn’t, you might want to consider adding one, especially if you live in a hot climate or use your NAS for demanding tasks.
What is TBW, and why is it important?
TBW (Terabytes Written) measures the total amount of data that can be written to an SSD before it is likely to fail. For NAS drives, a high TBW is important because they are often in use 24/7, handling large amounts of data.
What is SLC caching, and why is it beneficial?
SLC (Single-Level Cell) caching is a type of cache used in SSDs to speed up write performance. It temporarily stores data in faster memory to improve the drive’s overall efficiency.
How does PCIe 4.0 improve NAS performance?
PCIe 4.0 offers up to twice the bandwidth of PCIe 3.0, which means faster data transfer rates, making it suitable for high-performance and demanding NAS environments.
How important is endurance (TBW) for a NAS SSD?
Endurance is crucial for NAS SSDs as they undergo constant read/write operations. High TBW ratings ensure that the drive can handle continuous workloads without failing prematurely.
Is compatibility an issue for NAS SSDs?
Yes, ensuring that an SSD is compatible with your NAS system is important. Some drives are specifically optimized for certain NAS brands, such as Synology or QNAP.
What is the difference between DRAM and HMB caching?
DRAM caching uses dedicated memory to store mapping tables, leading to faster data access, while HMB (Host Memory Buffer) utilizes your system’s RAM, which can help reduce costs but may not be as fast.