The main competitors of the Drivestor 4 are the Drivestor 4 Pro and Synology DS420j. All three use the same CPU, but at 2 GB, the AS3304T has twice as much RAM as the other two. It also has drive trays, so swapping the drives is easily done. The best operating system belongs to Synology, though, so the DS420j has the advantage there; however, in terms of performance, it stays behind both Asustor servers.

The Asustor Data Master (ADM) operating system has been improved drastically over the years, but is still found lacking compared to DSM (Synology) and QTS (QNAP). The high RAM utilization needs to be addressed to free up system resources and provide even better performance. For those in need of an HDMI port, the AS1104T doesn't have one since its CPU lacks an embedded GPU. This is a huge con for a home-centric NAS as it could also be used for multimedia purposes. Sure, streaming is what most people prefer, but streaming 4K, high-bit rate content wirelessly isn't that easy.

Plex support is a tremendous advantage, but it is restricted to 1080p without any hardware transcoding since the weak CPU is not up to the task. Like the AS3304T, Media Mode will help since it reserves memory for multimedia tasks, but ADM is more memory-hungry than DSM. If you try to transcode a 1080p file, the NAS will reach its limits. As such, you are best off sticking to the original file format, not only with Plex but also LooksGood, an Asustor application for playing and managing videos.

The price difference between the AS1104T and AS3304T is $60, with the latter having 1 GB more RAM, removable disk trays, and an additional USB 3.0 port. Relative performance is also 1.29% higher because of more RAM, which will also help multimedia applications. Thankfully, compared to the Synology DS420j, the AS1104T provides a speed boost if connected to a compatible switch because of the 2.5 GbE port, especially in multi-client operations. I would like to see a stronger CPU used, although it would increase energy consumption. But a few more watts for better performance is a fair compromise. Higher transfer speeds with external storage using the EXT4 file system would be nice as well.

The Asustor Drivestor 4 (AS1104T) is a great home-centric NAS for users who need something reliable, user-friendly, and affordable with a modicum of performance. The option for storage expansion is a very welcome feature, but don't expect high transfer speeds since the USB 3.0 ports are not that fast, and it will burden the weak CPU tremendously. I hope to soon see a NAS in this price category feature a stronger CPU, 2 GB of RAM, and an iGPU for HDMI output and increased transcoding capabilities. If the price is kept below $300 for such a unit, it will notably impact this market. Until that happens, the AS1104T is a good choice.