One of QNAP’s NAS systems is their very first product powered by the Zhaoxin KaiXian KX-U6580 octa-core processor. And today in our QNAP TVS-675 6 Bay NAS review, we’re looking at all the important details related to it.
Zhaoxin isn’t a name that’s familiar to us Intel and AMD users. It’s a brand based in China, and they’ve only been largely available, domestically. So, its presence in QNAP’s TVS-675 NAS is their big overseas debut.
If you’re curious about Zhaoxin or simply need to get your hands on this NAS system, we’ve got you covered.
That’s because our QNAP TVS-675 6 Bay NAS review will discuss everything you need to know about the product. Plus, we’re also sharing our hands-on experience with it.
QNAP TVS-675 6 Bay NAS Packaging
Before we get into its specifications, features, design, and more, let’s check its packaging and contents first. When the TVS-675 arrived, it came in a standard-looking cardboard box that didn’t have much on it.
The only things you’ll see on it are QNAP’s branding, “Network Attached Storage”, and a sticker with details on it.
On the sticker, you’ll find an image of the system, as well as the product’s name on it. A few details on the TVS-675 are present, plus key features of the NAS are showcased too.
Inside the box, you’ll find the TVS-675 kept securely in place. You won’t need to worry about it getting damaged or dented while in transit. That’s because QNAP guarantees that all items inside the box are packed safely and securely.
Other than the NAS system, you’ll find 18 flat head screws for the 3.5″ HDD and an Ethernet cable. Then, there’s also a power cord, two M.2 SSD heatsinks, drive tray keys, and a quick installation guide.
QNAP TVS-675 6 Bay NAS Review – Design and Functionality
After unboxing for our QNAP TVS-675 6 Bay NAS review, we noticed the TVS-675 looks like your typical NAS system. Apart from QNAP’s choice of processor, it comes with six bays for both the 2.5″ and 3.5″ drives.
These include two SATA M.2 2280 slots/NVMe drives, plus two PCIe 3.0 x4 slots. The latter is for expansion cards, networking, and storage. Also, it includes an HDMI 2.0 port to support 4K/60Hz output to a TV or monitor.
The 2.5GbE ports offer Port Trunking support, offering transmission speeds reaching up to 5Gbps. It optimises the performance of bandwidth-hungry apps like fast backup/restoration and huge file transfers.
Aside from its Zhaoxin KaiXian KX-U6580 processor, it features an 8GB DDR4 RAM that can be expanded up to 64GB.
Additionally, business users can select between QNAP’s QuTS Hero or QTS operating systems. The QuTS utilises extra system resources to guarantee the best environment for protecting all business data.
The TVS-675 sports a tower form factor with HDD 1-6, LAN, Status, USB, and M.2 SSD 1-2 LED indicators. Additionally, you’ll find the power, USB copy, and reset buttons on the system’s exterior.
Key Features of the QNAP TVS-675 6 Bay NAS
Our QNAP TVS-675 6 Bay NAS review will now list the different key features of the TVS-675. These are the elements that make it stand out from the crowd.
8-core 2.5GHz Processor + Up to 64GB RAM
The TVS-675 is powered by an x86 architecture Zhaoxin KaiXian KX-U6580. This 2.5GHz processor features 8 cores/threads and 8GB DDR4 memory and is expandable up to 64GB.
With these components, the TVS-675 has a high processing power to boost VM performance and handle complex multitasking workloads. Also, it supports AES-NI encryption which enhances encryption performance while maintaining your NAS data’s security.
Efficient Large File Transfers and Video Editing with 2.5GbE
2.5GbE RJ45 LAN ports are present on the TVS-675. These allow you to use existing CAT5e cables to upgrade network speeds to 2.5 Gigabit. Also, the dual ports support Port Trunking for up to 5Gbps transmission speeds.
With Port Trunking, business efficiency is increased for bandwidth-hungry applications. As a result, you can experience faster transfers of large files, data backup & restoration, as well as multimedia editing.
The dual 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports also support Port Trunking for up to 5Gbps transmission speeds. This enhances the efficiency of bandwidth-hungry applications like multimedia transfer & editing, large file transfers, and high-speed back up/restoration.
Faster and More Efficient USB Transfers with the QNAP TVS-675 6 Bay NAS
Two USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps)and two USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) ports are on the TVS-675. These offer compatibility with faster USB enclosures and external drives for transferring large media files. For better functionality, the NAS also supports USB devices like mobile phones, printers, and uninterruptible power supplies.
Performance Advantages with SSD Caching and Qtier Technology
For optimal I/O and reduced latency, you can configure SSD caching. To do this, you can utilise either 2.5” SSDs or the TVS-675’s two integrated M.2 SSD slots. You can also add more M.2 SSD slots by installing QM2 PCIe cards.
With the QM2 PCIe cards installed, you can configure your M.2 SSDs in a RAID 5/6 array. This will help you attain higher sequential or read-only cache speed similar to a RAID 10 array’s performance. The NAS does this while maintaining high storage efficiency.
Direct 4K HDMI Output for Virtual Machine and Virtual Content
ZhaoXin C-960 UHD Graphics supports real-time transcoding and hardware decoding. HDMI 2.0 output supports up to 4K @60Hz, offering impressive advantages for video editing and production or industrial design. Plus, it provides you with high resolution and colour realism.
Connecting the TVS-675 to an HDMI display enables direct watching of multimedia content stored on the NAS. Also, directly outputting VMs from Linux Station or Virtualisation Station lets you utilise the NAS as a versatile workstation.
Protect Data with Heightened Security
The TVS-675 comes with comprehensive security features to protect your data. One of these features is QuFirewall that offers network security by supporting IPv6, GeoIP filtering, and firewall access lists.
WPA2 Enterprise offers enterprise-grade wireless security which is excellent for business networks. Its security system includes enhanced encryption & decryption, certificate authority, and encryption keys.
Security Counselor is a security portal that detects weaknesses and recommends ways to improve your NAS security. It also integrates anti-malware and anti-virus scanning software.
QNAP TVS-675 6 Bay NAS’ Virtual Machine and Container-hosting Solution
You can rely on the TVS-675’s Container Station and Virtualisation Station for complete virtualisation support. The coupled Network & Virtual Switch app enhances interoperability between NAS, containers, VMs, and other networked devices. With that, you can flexibly allocate virtual and physical network resources for a simpler network deployment.
Improved Collaboration with Seamless File Sharing and Synchronisation
The TVS-675 stores your files and data centrally, and supports file sharing protocols across Mac, Windows, and Linux networks. With Qsync utility, any file uploaded to the TVS-675 can be accessed by all connected devices. It allows you to sync shared folders for group file sharing for a more flexible collaboration.
Cost-efficient Fibre Channel SAN Environment
Installing QNAP dual-port 16Gb Fibre Channel expansion cards into the TVS-675 offers an affordable SAN environment. It allows setting a Fibre Channel Target with the iSCSI and Fibre Channel app. Plus, the LUN Masking and Port Binding technologies provide another layer of data security.
Switch Operating Systems for Adequate Data Reliability and Integrity
The TVS-675 is one of the QNAP NAS units that support QTS Hero. It’s the company’s ZFS-based operating system that provides end-to-end data integrity and reduction. The software uses additional system resources that ensure an optimal environment for protecting business data.
Extend Hardware Warranty for the QNAP TVS-675 6 Bay NAS
The TVS-675 is backed with a free three-year warranty. You can extend its warranty coverage by purchasing a warranty extension and have no worries.
Specifications
This time, our QNAP TVS-675 6 Bay NAS review will focus on the TVS-675’s specifications. It will help you determine if the NAS system will work effectively for your needs and requisites.
QNAP TVS-675 6 Bay NAS Hardware Specifications
QNAP makes use of the ZhaoXin KX-U6580 8-core 2.5GHz processor and the 64-bit x86 CPU architecture. They even utilised the ZhaoXin C-960 graphics processor and the AES-NI encryption engine for the TVS-675.
Its system memory is an 8GB SO-DIMM DDR4 (1x8GB) while its maximum memory is 64GB (2x32GB). You’ll find two SO-DIMM DDR4 memory slots here. However, if you’re opting for a dual-DIMM setup, you’ll need a pair of exact DDR4 modules.
There’s a 5GB dual-boot OS protection flash memory and six 3.5” SATA 6Gb/s, 3Gb/s drive bays available. Drive compatibility for 3.5” bays include 3.5” SATA HDDs, 2.5” SATA HDDs, and 2.5” SATA SSDs.
Two M.2 2280 PCIe Gen3 x1 or SATA 6Gb/s slots are present. Plus, there are two 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports as well. The TVS-675 supports SSD cache acceleration, and optional via an adapter are 5 and 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports.
For PCIe slots, there are two available and both are PCIe Gen3 x4 slots. Then, there are two USB 3.2 Gen1 ports and two type-A USB 3.2 Gen2 (10Gbps) ports. Additionally, it comes with HDMI output 1, HDMI 2.0 up to 3840 x 2160 @ 60Hz.
Dimensions, Power, and Fans of the QNAP TVS-675 6 Bay NAS
It’s also important to note the size of this product in our QNAP TVS-675 6 Bay NAS review. This will help you visualise how to position it in your office or workspace.
The TVS-675 measures 188.2 x 263.9 x 280.8mm (HxWxD) and weighs 6.2kg. Then, it has a 250W power supply unit, three 80mm 12VDC fans with a 20.2 dbA sound level.
Lastly, the NAS system’s maximum number of CIFS (concurrent connections) with maximum memory is 2,000.
Hands-on with the QNAP TVS-675 6 Bay NAS
QTS 5.0
QNAP released their QTS 5.0 after making several fairly-major enhancements to their NAS OS. Its primary highlights include an optimised Linux Kernel (5.10), better security, and WireGuard VPN support. Additionally, it also includes better NVMe SSD cache performance.
Design of the QTS 5.0 Interface
When it comes to its UI, QNAP made a couple of changes and upgrades to its design. Its individual icons and option placements are still the same, yet the GUI’s vibrancy and desktop responsiveness have noticeably improved.
When it comes to its appearance, we can’t deny that it looks great. It has a more modern touch, yet QNAP hasn’t applied it to all the apps and windows in the software.
Default wallpapers were changed in this upgraded version; plus, the text and colour palette sizes were noticeably different too. The optimisation makes the general GUI appear bigger. This is actually pretty good especially when QNAP eventually needs to fit in more information here.
Just like in QTS 4.5, this current version features a stat button on its top-right area. When clicked, it will provide a list of configuration and application options that are more comprehensive than the desktop shortcuts. It’s much clearer in QTS 5.0 and it’s also easier to follow.
Additionally, its pop-up menu is quite large, plus the sized-up text and icons result in a clearer menu list.
A huge improvement on the QTS is how it notifies and communicates with the user. This is most evident when it comes to security configuration and information.
QTS 4.5 and the earlier versions used to flood us with a ton of pop-ups. These were a form of notifications for setup options and configurations. In QTS 5.0, you’ll find a more discreet side panel that guides you in an easier and convenient manner.
Improved App Centre
Another great improvement in this current software is the app centre which has been “cleaned up”. A huge number of third-party apps were cleared from the application centre. Then, the more popular ones’ default versions were either optimised as standard, or were made clearer.
QTS 5.0 Surveillance
The most recent update to Surveillance is the change of the Surveillance Station to the new QVR Elite. It’s a less resource-hungry option that runs on a lighter technology compared to QVR Pro’s premium surveillance platform.
Both of them run the same in terms of services and software. However, the Pro version comes with a more inclusive licence compared to Elite which only has two.
When utilising the desktop client app, you’ll have a plethora of display settings and camera feed controls. These include picture-in-picture separate feeds, a customised mini-screen feed, multi-streams per camera, tracking, and PTZ controls
Then, there’s also snapshots, alerts & notification panels, eMap support, fast search, continuous record/playback support, and more.
The QVR desktop client is extremely responsive and user-friendly. Plus, it even allows higher quality feeds to appear across multi-camera configurations.
Another feature that’s still available in the newest version of QTS is support for USB web cameras with QUSBCam2. Although it’s quite an old software tool, it still lets you link up to four USB cameras. Then, these can be made accessible to other Surveillance softwares in QTS.
It’s technically a basic tool where you’ll only get a single free USB camera licence. But for the record, it allows you to connect budget cameras to your NAS for protection linked to the QVR Pro/Elite.
Google TPU Support
It also comes with a range of AI-supported surveillance services present on both the QVR Pro and Elite. The QTS 5.0 offers support for Google TPU M.2/USB upgrade. It lets you utilise AI-supported services for identifying things/people in both live recordings and when searching through these.
This was already an available feature in the earlier versions of QTS. But then, you needed a powerful NAS system to take advantage of it.
Ubuntu Station, Formerly Linux Station
This is now featured in QTS 5.0 but has little-to-no changes from its predecessor. The Ubuntu Station is another easy VM deployment tool that lets you download one of numerous Ubuntu versions. Then, it will be launched as a lightweight VM.
The VM can be remotely accessed or through the USB-KVM/HDMI setup. If you haven’t tried experimenting with this versatile platform, this is the best way to try it out.
We think this is one of the most overlooked VM tools on QNAP’s system. But despite that, we’re really glad that it’s still included in QTS 5.0.
Backup and Sync Tools
In QTS, there’s a wide collection of sync and backup tools available. These range from local and remote-standard data processes to more task and utility-specific backups.
Hybrid Backup Sync 3
This is an essential tool that’s a single access point for organising and managing multi-tiered backup routines. These can range in destination/source, can be filtered, scheduled, have attached rules, and applied exceptions.
Depending on your NAS’ hardware, the HBS3 is limitless on the number of backup/sync operations that can be conducted. Of course, these can be scheduled on your NAS as well.
QSync
If you’re making an area of synced storage between your NAS and client hardware, QSync is your best option. It’s another tool with little-to-no changes in QTS 5.0. Despite that, it’s still a highly-customisable tool for making synced folders on the NAS.
This is also a day-to-day hardware that lets you back up files in the least tedious manner.
With what it can do, it’s great for teams who require shared folders on the NAS. It’s also ideal when numerous people will access these simultaneously.
QMail
To sync/backup email accounts and receive/send mail, QMail will be useful for you. All your key business data stored on the NAS will be synced regularly, and that’s a convenient feature to have.
Keep in mind that all backup processes, destinations, and sources can be arranged to work simultaneously. It’s to ensure that your data has numerous copies across different storage media locations.
This isn’t a new feature to the QTS 5.0, but despite that, it’s still something extremely useful for all.
BoXafe
To take a big step from email account syncing, the QTS 5.0 also features the BoXafe. It’s a tool for syncing SaaS (software-as-a-service) providers like Google Workspace and Office 365. Plus, it has live data syncing with the NAS.
Here, your emails, accounts, client data, etc. won’t only be backed up/synced regularly. You can also access everything through BoXafe in a cloud platform even when your internet connection is down.
Then when your connection is back, BoXafe will safely resync all your SaaS providers and your data will be available.
Hyper Data Protector
This is similar to how BoXafe works. But instead of contacts, emails, and accounts, the entire virtual machine’s environment is backed up. Then, it’s synced with the NAS in a native manner.
The feature supports a number of VM backup tools, as well as recovery options. So instead of replacing your current VM hypervisor tool, this feature lets you enter the access credentials and destination. Then, it syncs remotely and hosts the same data.
It serves as a backup and potential means to mount VMs for more localised access. This is in the event of internet connection issues.
Although QTS 5.0 hasn’t made direct enhancements on these apps, it optimised the system’s backup cache handling. These will be felt in tasks under storage deployment and reclamation.
New Features in QTS 5.0
Now, we’re giving you a list of the different features present in QTS 5.0. There are a couple of new ones while some features were retained by QNAP.
But no matter what it has, we know that all the features packed in this software are essential. These help make using the QTS 5.0 more efficient, convenient, and user-friendly.
Free exFAT support for x86-based NAS
QTS 5.0 provides free exFAT file system support for QNAP’s x86 NAS and is optimised for flash storage. This helps accelerate transferring and sharing of large media files.
Enhanced Security
With support for TLS 1.3, QTS 5.0 automatically updates apps. Plus, it provides SSH authentication keys for securing NAS access.
WireGuard VPN Support
WireGuard VPN is now integrated in the new QVPN 3.0. It provides users with secure connectivity and a user-friendly interface.
Improved NVMe SSD Cache Performance
The new kernel enhances NVMe SSD performance and utilisation. Activated cache acceleration allows you to utilise SSD storage more efficiently while offloading memory resources.
DA Drive Analyser with AI-powered Diagnostics
The DA Drive Analyser uses cloud-based AI to predict the drives’ expected lifespan. This helps users plan eventual drive replacement and avoid unexpected downtime and data loss.
Enhanced Image Recognition with Edge TPU
By integrating Edge TPU into QNAP AI Core, QuMagie performs faster face and object recognition. QVR Face strengthens real-time video analytics for quick face recognition.
QuFTP Fulfils Secure Transfer of Files
The new version of QTS supports QuFTP service, QNAP’s latest FTP solution. It provides an encrypted FTP server and client for convenient and secure data transfer between data storages and servers.
The QuFTP program itself offers a central interface. Here, you can access log files, settings, and the FTP server. Plus, you can also manage downloads here.
With QuFTP, QNAP NAS can perform as an FTP server that features encrypted SSL/TLS connection and QoS bandwidth control. This sets FTP transfer or speed limitations for users and groups.
QTS 5.0 Software Specifications
QTS 5.0 supports various client operating systems including Microsoft Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11. For Apple, it supports macOS 10.10 and later versions.
It also works with AIX 7, Solaris 10, and later UNIX systems for IBM platforms. For Ubuntu, it’s compatible with versions 14.04, CentOS 7, SUSE 12, RHEL 6.6, and later Linux systems.
You can use QTS 5.0 with the latest versions of Google Chrome, Apple Safari, Microsoft Edge, and Mozilla Firefox.
The software supports WebDAV connection with up to 32 virtual hosts. It also comes with free antivirus, McAfee license, and QVPN service.
For Linux Station, it supports versions 16.04, 18.04, and 20.04.
Overall Thoughts
This time, we will share how our hands-on experience went in this QNAP TVS-675 6 Bay NAS review. Did it work efficiently and effectively like other QNAP NAS systems? Was it better, or was it not? Let’s find out.
This NAS system was able to deliver similar multi-core performance to an Intel Celeron quad-core processor. When we loaded a movie with the NAS, we were able to concurrently stream multiple 720p and 1080p files at the same time, no issue at all.
Since it has a large storage capacity, we were able to keep tons of essential files without worrying about space.
Also, the NAS was able to function at faster speeds. So, we didn’t even experience any hiccups when we did some transfers, and that was pretty cool.
Aside from being speedy, we think that the TVS-675 is a very powerful NAS. Its RAM isn’t limited and its processor isn’t hampered by any boundaries. If needed, we could upgrade up to 32GB which is extremely convenient since we have a ton of files around.
Overall, the TVS-675 6 Bay NAS from QNAP is a great product. And upon completing our QNAP TVS-675 6 Bay NAS review, we can definitely recommend this NAS system to all.
QNAP TVS-675 6 Bay NAS Review Summary
The TVS-675 is a small form-factor NAS that uses Zhaoxin’s first 8-core processor. It comes with features that allow for flexible expansion and efficient backup solutions. Plus, it works with QTS 5.0, the latest update of QNAP’s software.
During our tests, the TVS-675 worked efficiently and we didn’t experience any issues with it. We also liked the new updates implemented on the QTS 5.0 since it improved our user experience.
Overall, we were satisfied with the QNAP TVS-675 6 bay NAS and again, we highly recommend it. With its performance, updated software, and mid-range price, it’s one of the great options on the market today.
This product is available in different stores around the globe. You can find authorised sellers in your area by checking out QNAP’s store locator.
