INTRODUCTION

   Although the most popular uses people have for NAS (network attached storage) servers are local and cloud backups, web hosting, file sharing and network video recording more and more use them as centralized media servers both for media file sharing (local and distant) and playback. This isn't a coincidence of course since largely due to the arrival of 4k movies (finally in large numbers) media libraries have skyrocketed in size and NAS servers with their multiple drive bays are ideal to store them in. Because of this most NAS manufacturers have launched several new models in late 2017 and early 2018 which are not only capable of 4k playback but are also 10GbE compatible for demanding users who are looking for extremely fast local network performance. One such model is the brand new TS-453Be 4-Bay NAS by our good friends over at QNAP which we've been testing for almost 20 days now.

   QNAP Systems, Inc., headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, provides a comprehensive range of cutting-edge Network-attached Storage (NAS) and video surveillance solutions based on the principles of usability, high security, and flexible scalability. QNAP offers quality NAS products for home and business users, providing solutions for storage, backup/snapshot, virtualization, teamwork, multimedia, and more. QNAP envisions NAS as being more than "simple storage", and has created many NAS-based innovations to encourage users to host and develop Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and machine learning solutions on their QNAP NAS.

   The TS-453Be is equipped with the Intel Celeron J3455 quad-core CPU clocked at 1.5GHz (2.3GHz burst speed, 64Bit, 2MB L2 Cache, 14nm) featuring the 9th generation Intel HD Graphics 500 (250Mhz base frequency with 750Mhz burst) and up to 4GB DDR3L SODIMM RAM clocked at 1600MHz. Strangely enough despite being one of the latest NAS models to get released by QNAP and even though it can be outfitted with up to 8GB DDR3L RAM the TS-453Be is currently available in two versions with just 2/4GB (usually we see 4/8GB models by QNAP). In terms of connectivity the TS-453Be comes ready with a PCIe 2.0 x2 slot (for use with a compatible 10GbE, USB 3.1, Wireless or M.2 card), 2 Gigabit RJ45 Ethernet ports, 5 USB 3.0 type-A ports, 2 HDMI v1.4b ports (3840x2160@30Hz max), two 3.5mm microphone input ports, 3.5mm speaker output port and a build-in IR sensor which can be used with QNAP's RM-IR004 remote control (optional).