QNAP TS-264 2-Bay Desktop NAS - High-Performance RAID1 Storage

In this review the QNAP TS-264 is presented as a compact, capable two-bay NAS aimed at home power users and small teams who need reliable media serving and fast local transfers. The single biggest reason to buy is its combination of a quad-core Intel Celeron processor and dual 2.5GbE ports, which deliver noticeably improved transfer speeds and smooth Plex performance when paired with the preconfigured RAID 1 WD Red Plus drives. Setup is straightforward and the included 8GB of DDR4 RAM gives the unit enough memory for typical multimedia and backup tasks.

Key Features

• Preconfigured RAID 1: Two 4TB WD Red Plus drives come installed and mirrored for data redundancy right out of the box, simplifying initial setup and protecting stored files.
• Quad-core Intel CPU: The Intel Celeron N5105/N5095 processor provides enough compute headroom to run Plex, backups and file services without noticeable slowdowns.
• Dual 2.5GbE networking: Two 2.5GbE ports accelerate file sharing and large transfers across modern home and office networks compared with standard 1GbE connections.
• NVMe cache support: Dual M.2 PCIe Gen3x2 NVMe slots enable cache acceleration or SSD pools to boost responsiveness for frequently accessed data.
• High-speed USB connectivity: Multiple USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports at up to 10Gb/s make it easy to attach fast external drives or expansion enclosures for media transfer.
• Secure remote access: MyQNAPCloud and AES-NI encryption allow secure offsite access and protect confidential data without big performance loss.

Who It's For

The TS-264 is best for home media enthusiasts who want a reliable Plex server, photographers or small teams that need centralized storage and fast local transfers, and users who value easy setup with preinstalled WD Red Plus drives configured in RAID 1. The included 8GB of RAM and the quad-core Intel chip make it well suited for transcoding moderate streams and running containerized apps.

It is less appropriate for large enterprises or users who need many drive bays and extreme expandability; those customers should consider rackmount or higher-bay systems designed for heavy virtualization and multi-user enterprise workloads.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Preinstalled RAID 1 WD Red Plus drives offer easy protection for important files out of the box.
• Dual 2.5GbE networking and a quad-core Intel processor deliver improved local transfer speeds and solid Plex performance.
• NVMe cache slots and USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports provide flexible options to improve responsiveness and add fast external storage.
• Intuitive user interface and simple backup options for Windows and Mac make maintenance straightforward.

Cons

• Some users report inconsistent noise levels, so those in very quiet environments may notice occasional fan or drive noise.
• With only two bays, storage expandability is limited compared with larger chassis if long-term growth is expected.

Specifications

Model	TS-264
Processor	Intel Celeron N5105/N5095 quad-core
Memory	8GB DDR4 (supports up to 16GB)
Drives Included	2 x 4TB WD Red Plus, preconfigured RAID 1
Network Ports	Dual 2.5GbE (2.5G/1G/100M)
Expansion	Dual M.2 PCIe Gen3x2 NVMe slots, multiple USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports
Security	Integrated Intel AES-NI encryption, MyQNAPCloud remote access

Our Verdict

The QNAP TS-264 is a smart choice for home power users and small teams who want a compact, fast, and easy-to-manage NAS with redundancy already configured. Its CPU, 8GB of RAM, dual 2.5GbE, and NVMe cache options make it good value for media serving, backups and improved local network speeds, though those needing many drive bays or absolute silence should consider other options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the NAS come ready to use?
Yes, it ships with two 4TB WD Red Plus drives preinstalled and configured in RAID 1 so it is ready for immediate use after basic setup.

Can it run Plex and transcode media?
Yes, the quad-core Intel Celeron and 8GB of RAM support Plex well for typical home streaming and moderate transcoding tasks.

Can I speed up performance with SSDs?
Yes, the dual M.2 NVMe slots can be used for cache acceleration or SSD pools to improve responsiveness for frequently accessed files.