Introduction

We would like to thank TerraMaster for supplying the review sample.


A few months ago, I reviewed the TerraMaster TD2 Thunderbolt 3, and with the TD2 Thunderbolt Plus released recently, I thought to give it a go and check on the differences to the standard model, which costs $80 less. Those of you wondering about the differences between a NAS and DAS, the latter is directly connected to a PC, while a NAS is available to an entire network of PCs and other devices because it is connected to a network switch. The DAS connects to a PC through either a USB or Thunderbolt cable, with the latter offering increased transfer speeds. A DAS is less flexibility than a NAS, but easier to use because it is immediately recognized as an external drive by your system and costs less because it doesn't have the capabilities of a NAS. The cherry on top is the simpler setup, making it ideal for novice users who don't want to dive into the world of NAS.

The major differences between the TerraMaster TD2 Thunderbolt 3 and TD2 Thunderbolt 3 Plus are listed below.

• The Plus model comes with a DP 1.4 interface, while the standard model uses DP 1.2
• Ethernet port (Gigabit) in the Plus model
• Two USB 3.0 ports on the Plus model (no USB ports on the standard model)
• 40 W power adapter for the standard model vs. 90 W in the Plus model
• 40 Gbps Thunderbolt cable bundled with the Plus model—instead of the 20 Gbps Thunderbolt cable included with the non-Plus version

The upgrades on the Plus justify the $80 difference. Moreover, both models are equipped with two Thunderbolt 3 ports capable of up to 40 Gbps, or 800 MB/s, according to Terra Master. Although there are two TD3 ports, only one can be used to connect to a PC. This DAS unfortunately doesn't support simultaneously being connected to two PCs. The second TD3 port is for daisy-chaining up to six DAS devices for more storage capacity.

You may use the bundled DisplayPort 1.4 to connect a single 8K monitor or dual 4K displays. This is a nice feature for video editors—the primary target audience for a DAS. Video editors handling large files also care about transfer speeds, and Terra Master states speeds to be above 800 MB/s with RAID 0 and SSD drives installed, which I will check on in my tests. With ADATA's kind sponsorship, I was also able to upgrade my test storage from HDDs to SSDs, so I can now easily push every NAS and DAS to the limit.

The USB interfaces on the TD2 Plus may be used to connect external storage devices. There is also Gigabit LAN, but it doesn't allow the TD2 Plus to act as a NAS, only providing a wired network connection to the system connected to the DAS through the Thunderbolt interface. In other work, the Ethernet port does not convert the DAS into a network drive.

Below is a list of important notes from Terra Master we need to keep in mind.

• When you press and hold the reset button for five seconds, the data on your hard drives will be deleted.
• Do not remove the hard drive(s) while it is in use.
• The DAS does not support connecting it to multiple computers simultaneously.
• Before you turn off the DAS or disconnect it from the computer, be sure to remove and eject it safely.
• When you turn off or hibernate the computer, eject the USB device or remove the USB connection. The DAS will automatically enter hibernation mode.
• When you access the hard disk or connect the USB device again, the DAS will leave hibernation mode.
• The network interface provides a network only for the connected computer. It cannot convert the DAS into a network drive (NAS).
• Thunderbolt port #2 cannot be connected to a computer for data transfer tasks.

Specifications