This NAS drive can accommodate up to 12 SSDs and looks like a PS4 gaming console; but Asustor Flashstor Gen 2 isn’t cheap, and a dozen 8TB SSDs will cost over $8,000
- Asustor Flashstor Gen 2 supports up to 12 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDs
- Powered by AMD Ryzen CPU, expandable DDR5 memory up to 64 GB
- Dual 10GbE ports, USB4, ideal for demanding storage tasks
Asustor, a subsidiary of Asus, has launched its second-generation Flashstor NAS series, which offers high-performance, SSD-centric storage.
The line consists of the Flashstor 6 Gen 2 (AS6806X) and Flashstor 12 Pro Gen 2 (FS6812X), which support up to six and twelve M.2 NVMe SSDs respectively, with PCIe 4.0 x4 compatibility for ultra-fast data transfer speeds.
Both models are powered by an AMD Quad-Core 6nm Ryzen Embedded V3C14 processor, an upgrade from the previous generation Intel Celeron N5105 CPUs (check out our review of the 2023 Flashstor 12 Pro FS6712X here).
Not cheap
The Flashstor 12 Pro Gen 2 comes with 16 GB of DDR5-4800 ECC memory, expandable up to 64 GB, while the Flashstor 6 Gen 2 includes 8 GB of memory, also expandable. The devices are well suited for resource-intensive tasks such as 4K video editing and content creation.
The Flashstor 12 Pro Gen 2 offers dual 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports, while the Flashstor 6 Gen 2 comes equipped with a single 10 Gigabit Ethernet port. Both models support SMB Multichannel, allowing faster than standard 10GbE data transfers. The devices feature two USB 4.0 (Type-C) ports and three USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-A) ports, allowing fast external connections and compatibility with Thunderbolt 3/4 devices.
Both models are equipped with advanced cooling systems and use quiet fans to maintain optimal performance under heavy workloads while keeping noise levels low.
The NAS supports a range of applications, including VPN servers, media servers, mail servers and cloud backup. It can also accommodate up to 4,096 users in 512 groups, so it’s a good choice for teams that need simultaneous file access.
The Flashstor Gen 2 series has a compact design reminiscent of a PlayStation 4, but does not share its price with the beloved console. On AmazonThe Flashstor 6 Gen 2 costs $999, while the 12-bay Flashstor 12 Pro Gen 2 costs $1,399.
Maxing out the 12-bay model and equipping it with a dozen 8TB SSDs will increase the cost significantly, possibly topping $8,000. This high-end setup is clearly aimed at professionals and enthusiasts who need advanced storage options and are willing to pay for them.