UGREEN Shows Off High-End, AI Capable NAS Devices at CES 2025

[TheLostSwede]

At CES this year, UGREEN was showing off two new NAS models, the NASync iDX6011 and the iDX6011 Pro, with the i in the model name seemingly denoting that both models are using Intel Core Ultra processors. The basic design builds on last years NASync models and the UGOS Pro operating system, but with several added features that may or may not appeal to the target audience. The common feature set between the two models is six 3.5-inch drive bays and a pair of M.2 slots that can be used for either storage or as a cache for the mechanical drives. Both models are expected to ship with 32 GB of RAM as standard and can be expanded to 64 GB and both of them also supports a PCIe 4.0 x8 expansion card slot, although at this point it's not clear what that slot can be used for. As with the already launched NASync models, the two new SKUs will come with the OS installed on a 128 GB SSD.

Where things get interesting is on the connectivity side of things, as both models sports dual 10 Gbps Ethernet ports, what is said to be an 8K capable HDMI port, a pair of USB 3.2 (10 Gbps) ports, two USB 2.0 ports and an SD 4.0 card slot. However, the NASync iDX6011 comes with a pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports around the front, although it's not clear if it can be used as a DAS using these ports, or if they simply act as virtual network ports. The iDX6011 Pro on the other hand, sports two USB Type-C ports around the front—as well as a small status LCD display—in favour of an OCuLink port around the back. The OCuLink port is capable of up to 64 Gbps of bandwidth, compared to 40 Gbps for the Thunderbolt 4 ports. It's currently not know what the OCuLink port can be used for, but it's more or less an external PCIe interface. It's also unknown what type of AI or LLM features the two new NASync devices will support, but it's clear they'll rely on the capabilities of the Intel processors they're built around. No pricing was announced at CES and the NASync iDX6011 is expected to launch sometime in the second quarter this year, with the NASync iDX6011 Pro launching in the third quarter. We should also note that the NASync iDX6011 Pro wasn't on display at CES, hence the renders below.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Cheeseball]

One of my students got a DXP4800 in their dorm room and it's not bad actually. You can change the OS without restrictions. Not bad for UGREEN's first NAS products.

 

[TheLostSwede]

One of my students got a DXP4800 in their dorm room and it's not bad actually. You can change the OS without restrictions. Not bad for UGREEN's first NAS products.

I was quite impressed by the DXP4800 Pro I reviewed as well.
Technically speaking though, it's their second gen, as the first gen was PRC only.

 

[Alan Smithee]

the NASync iDX6011 comes with a pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports around the front, although it's not clear if it can be used as a DAS using these ports, or if they simply act as virtual network ports.

All Thunderbolt NAS connections use IP over Thunderbolt networking

 

[TheLostSwede]

All Thunderbolt NAS connections use IP over Thunderbolt networking

There's really no reason why you shouldn't be able to connect to it as a DAS. How else are you going to use Oculink, as it's pure PCIe.

 

[Octavean]

Interesting to see the modified design language in the render. A screen is also an interesting touch IMO. Although said screen is of an odd orientation and size IMO it would have been better to shift the drives over to the left somewhat to make room for a bigger screen if they really thought a screen was necessary.

Having said that, I'm still chuffed with my UGreen DX8800 Plus. It's still using UGOS Pro as I've tried to make a proper go of it. It basically fits my NAS needs, although, there still isn't iSCSI LUNG support and IIRC no USB / Thunderbolt passthrough to VM's or docker. I might try installing Portainer because the native docker implementation feels very arcane.

Edit:

The Minisforum 5 bay NAS prototype at CES is IMO far more interesting and better designed. It too has Oculink and USB4, however, the motherboard is on a tray with rails that makes it much easier to service.

 

[TechLurker]

I wonder if the PCIe x8 can be used for true single/dual slot GPUs; I recall that being a feature on a similar NAS (if not the earlier version from UGREEN) to basically turn it into a small media-server with its own video output.

Other uses I've seen was to add an extra networking card (such as an SFP port) or extra M2 storage.

 

[TheLostSwede]

I wonder if the PCIe x8 can be used for true single/dual slot GPUs; I recall that being a feature on a similar NAS (if not the earlier version from UGREEN) to basically turn it into a small media-server with its own video output.

Other uses I've seen was to add an extra networking card (such as an SFP port) or extra M2 storage.

Considering these are said to have an 8K capable HDMI port, what purpose does a graphics card serve, especially as you're unlikely to be able to install any drivers unless you change the OS?
Their current models already do 4K over HDMI and although it's a bit of a peculiar way on how the HDMI port is used, it works really well for media playback.

 

[unwind-protect]

Speaking of it, which OS is it based on? Linux? FreeBSD?

 

[TechLurker]

Considering these are said to have an 8K capable HDMI port, what purpose does a graphics card serve, especially as you're unlikely to be able to install any drivers unless you change the OS?
Their current models already do 4K over HDMI and although it's a bit of a peculiar way on how the HDMI port is used, it works really well for media playback.

Probably GPU-based encoding; I see that as something done on some of the NAS products I was browsing (checking back, it wasn't the other UGREEN models, but a different company). Never said it was optimal, considering it does have a built-in HDMI option, but if it could use a GPU for a niche function, then it's just extra flexibility for whatever atypical use-case one might want.

Personally, I'd be more interested in adding two more M2 drives while making use of the default M2 slots as cache.

 

[Octavean]

Speaking of it, which OS is it based on? Linux? FreeBSD?

The way I hear it, UGreen UGOS is based on Debian 12, if that was what you were asking,.....

Edit:

As for the PCIe slot, the current models take some effort to disassemble and there isn't much physical room for a typical modern video card. If one wanted to make use of a video card it would likely be easier to connect it via Thunderbolt 4. This says nothing about the driver situation but it is an easier way to go,....