Test Methodology
Network Storage Configurations |
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Thecus N4310 |
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| CPU | 1.30GHz Marvell Armada CP (dual-core) |
2.0GHz Intel Celeron J1900 (quad-core, 2MB cache) |
1.2GHz Mindspeed Comcerto C2200 (dual-core) |
1.0GHz APM 86491 SoC (single-core, 256KB L2 cache) |
1.86GHz Intel Atom D2550 (dual-core, 1MB cache) |
| Memory | 512MB DDR3 |
8GB DDR3L |
512MB DDR3 |
1GB DDR3 |
2GB DDR3 |
| Disk drives | 4x 1TB Seagate Barracuda ST1000DM003 (included) |
4x 4TB WD Red WD40EFRX (optional) |
4x 4TB WD Red WD40EFRX (optional) |
4x 4TB WD Red WD40EFRX (optional) |
5x 1TB Samsung HD103SJ (optional) |
| RAID mode | RAID 5 |
RAID 5 |
RAID 5 |
RAID 5 |
RAID 5 |
| Network connection | Gigabit Ethernet |
Gigabit Ethernet |
Gigabit Ethernet |
Gigabit Ethernet |
Gigabit Ethernet |
| Firmware | 3.3.4.29856 |
4.1.1 |
5.0-4482 |
OS6.build_809.a |
2.03.08 |
Benchmarks |
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| File Copy Test (8.83GB) Intel NAS Performance Toolkit v1.7.1 Power Consumption |
Notes
All of our comparison NAS servers are tested using a single Gigabit Ethernet link with Jumbo frames disabled, and are connected to our Intel client machine and network via a Netgear GS108 switch.
Taking a look at a basic usage scenario, our file copy test involves moving a mixed assortment of files totalling 8.83GB in size from our client to the NAS. The result is recorded in MB/s.
Our second benchmark - the NAS Performance Toolkit, developed by Intel - is a file-system exerciser specifically designed to provide performance comparisons between NAS devices. Intel's utility focuses on user-level performance using real-world workload traces gathered from typical digital home applications such as HD video playback and record. Intel NASPT reproduces the file-system traffic observed in various traces onto a chosen storage device and records performance in MB/s.
Last but not least, we measure NAS power draw during three states; under load, idle and standby mode if applicable.
Readers should note that our usual hard drives - 1TB Samsung HD103SJs - have bitten the dust. 4TB WD Red hard drives (model WD40EFRX) have been introduced as a replacement, and these drives will be used in all future NAS reviews. The Qnap TS-453 Pro, Synology DS414j and Thecus N4310 are the first units to be tested with the WD Red configuration.
