The CPU and RAM upgrades result in a significant performance improvement, and only in terms of noise output does the TS-451+ fall short of its predecessor, the difference very small. The TS-451+ obviously targets enthusiast home users who will use it as a multimedia player and a NAS server, which is clearly shown by the fact that QNAP includes an IR remote control in the bundle. The TS-451+ with 8 GB of RAM I evaluated performed amazingly with open file transfers; however, performance took a significant hit with encrypted files. The Intel J1900 CPU QNAP chose for this NAS doesn't support Intel's AES New Instruction set, making it the bottleneck with file encryption enabled. That said, most home users don't need encryption and won't care about the lack of AES NI support.

The TS-451+ consumed very little power, which is mostly due to its incredibly efficient CPU. The CPU's low TDP also means it does not require active cooling, so the only fan is the one in the rear, mainly responsible for removing any heat the HDDs generate. There is the good selection of components for a home-centric NAS server and the most excellent QTS OS, which, in its most recent iteration, 4.2, has reached new levels of usability, performance, and reliability. The QTS OS is currently among the best when it comes to NAS servers offering an intuitive interface that will help every user, experienced or not, in exploiting the NAS server's capabilities properly.

This product's only pitfall looks to be its high price tag of $650 for the 8 GB version. Now, if you settle for the 2 GB version, you will pay $130 less, a difference I personally find huge. The price difference between the two versions should be much smaller, especially since RAM prices are constantly dropping. If you have the money to invest into this NAS, you won't be disappointed, that's for sure. The TS-451+ performs very well, and QNAP's support is excellent. This one should be at the top of your list if you need a fast NAS with top-notch multimedia capabilities.