Introduction

I would like to thank Asustor for supplying the review sample.


The Drivestor 4 uses the same quad-core CPU as the Drivestor 4 Pro I evaluated a while ago. To lower the price, Asustor installed half the RAM, 1 GB of DDR4, and there are no drive caddies, so you cannot remove or install any drives on the fly without the top and side cover removed. Like the Pro model, the plain Drivestor 4 supports PLEX, but it will have a tough time transcoding high bit-rate or high-resolution media. With only 1 GB of RAM and without an iGPU, this makes total sense.

Like the AS3304T, the NAS supports Asustor's storage expansion unit, which is sold separately, of course. This gives you the option for up to 12 drive bays and a ton of storage space. Not being that strong, the CPU will be the limiting factor, though, especially if you want all this storage space to simultaneously be available to lots of users demanding increased data transfers. Also, the USB 3.0 connection is not among the fastest ways to connect expansion units, but it is the most economical. In any case, it is great to have the option for more storage with such an affordable NAS, which is a significant advantage over competitors.

The Asustor Data Master operating system is easy to use. It has enough features, but still needs more work to reach the levels of DSM (Synology) and QTS (QNAP). I find DSM to be the best for intermediate users, while QTS is better for more advanced users. Asustor Data Master, on the other hand, mainly addresses entry-level users with hardly any NAS-specific experience.

Despite its affordable price, the Drivestor 4 comes with a 2.5 GbE port, which will significantly increase transfer speeds if you have a compatible switch. Unfortunately, 2.5 GbE switches are not very affordable yet, but it is good to have the option for higher speeds if using a 1 GbE switch you'd like to upgrade down the line. Lastly, exFAT support is great for a NAS as the exFAT filesystem is used by both Windows and macOS.

Specifications

This is a budget-centric NAS. It mainly addresses users wanting a NAS with decent performance for increased storage space. The three-year warranty is a nice addition as most brands offer two years.