TerraMaster F4 SSD: Silent and Solid State Performance

Epilogue

With the F4 SSD, TerraMaster enters the affordable SSD-only NAS market, offering a compelling turn-key solution that stands out in a highly competitive space. This compact NAS supports four M.2 SSDs, runs on a mature operating system developed over the past ten years, and provides a well-balanced mix of modern hardware and software at a reasonable price.

In a market saturated with alternatives, particularly from Chinese brands like the Beelink ME Mini or the GMKtec G9, the F4 SSD sets itself apart. While these alternatives are aggressively priced, they lack refined software integration and effective cooling solutions. On the other end of the spectrum, premium offerings like the Asustor Flashtor Gen 2 or Ugreen NASync DXP480T Plus serve different audiences altogether, making direct comparisons impractical due to the price and target market disparities. However, it comes with limitations, like a single 5GbE Ethernet port, an HDMI output limited to system logs, and no included heatsinks.

Within TerraMaster’s lineup, the F4 SSD may face competition from the F8 SSD, which is currently on sale (Amazon Prime Day 2025) and costs $50 more, but features eight single-lane slots. While only slightly more expensive, the F8 allows for greater storage expansion, which may appeal to users planning for long-term scalability.

A hardware consideration is the absence of traditional system-level ECC (Error-Correcting Code) memory. Instead, the F4 SSD uses DDR5 RAM, which has on-die ECC, offering a level of memory error correction acceptable for home use and non-critical applications, while providing cost savings.

The software experience, powered by TOS 6, delivers where it counts: intuitive usability, practical functionality, and a clean, responsive interface. Whether you’re a first-time NAS user or an enthusiast, TOS 6 offers an inviting platform with ongoing improvements that show TerraMaster’s intent to be competitive. On top of that, you can opt out and install another OS, like TrueNAS, without losing your warranty.

One valuable feature of TOS is TRAID (TerraMaster’s flexible RAID), which allows users to start with just a couple of drives and expand later, perfect for those who want future growth without upfront cost.

Some may notice the absence of a power cord clip, a feature commonly included to prevent accidental unplugging. However, due to the tightly fitting barrel plug and the device’s lightweight design, the risk of disconnection is minimal. Ironically, if the cable is pulled, you’re more likely to drag the entire unit rather than detach the plug.

It’s also essential to choose your SSDs wisely. Since this NAS is SSD-only, the Total Bytes Written (TBW) rating of your M.2 drives becomes critical, especially under heavy use. Lower-end consumer SSDs may wear out quickly in a NAS environment, so opt for models with high endurance.

TerraMaster’s F4 SSD strikes a balance between simplicity and efficiency, especially for those entering the NAS space or wanting a plug-and-play SSD-based system that doesn’t break the bank. While it has its trade-offs, its thoughtful design, expandability through TRAID, and support for alternative operating systems make it a versatile platform. Whether you’re a creative professional, media enthusiast, or tech-savvy home user, the F4 SSD is an option worth considering.