Specifications

A dual-core Atom CPU provides sufficient processing power to meet the needs of the TS-869L. It is backed up by 1 GB of RAM that can be expanded to 3 GB. These characteristics may sound dead low for a normal PC that runs one of Microsoft's operating systems, but this NAS server is spot-on for a custom tailored Linux set-up.

Up to eight HDDs can be installed into this server and HDD prices are, thankfully, starting to return to normal levels (at last). Utilizing 4 TB HDDs would make the max capacity an enormous 32 TB. QNAP didn't equip the caddies (removable HDD trays) with locks in order to save some money, something that shouldn't bother many users. Regarding RAID levels, all popular types are, as you can see from the table above, supported.

To provide the highest possible network transfer-speed, QNAP equipped the TS-869L with two gigabit Ethernet ports, which support LACP (Link Aggregation Control Protocol) and can, as such, work in parallel. Nevertheless, your Ethernet switch must also be compatible with port trunking in order to utilize both of them at the same time, or you won't notice any speed improvements.

The NAS is also equipped with a huge amount of USB ports, two of which support the newest and significantly faster USB 3.0 protocol. Unfortunately, both these ports are located on the rear side of the NAS, while the single front USB is only 2.0. Two eSATA ports are also available for removable HDDs compatible with this protocol.

Since this box can accommodate so many HDDs, its dimensions are, naturally, everything else but compact. The same applies to its weight, which is quite high. Thankfully, it's a NAS. You probably won't bother moving it around after installation.

The PSU that powers the NAS is strong enough and has 100 W more capacity than the PSU of the TS-669 Pro we have reviewed in the past. This means that it will easily, and under all circumstances, cover the needs of the TS-869L. Also, since eight HDDs generate a lot of heat, two 120mm fans carry the task of moving hot air out of the server's internals.

Finally, the price is about the same as the TS-669 Pro, which only takes six HHDS instead of eight, but has that LCD screen and a couple insignificant features the TS-869 doesn't need. Unfortunately, the warranty period remain the same: a short period of two years. Such an expensive product should, in our opinion, be covered by a longer warranty.