NAS

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Thank you for reaching out! The QNAP TVS-h874 (i9) is still one of the top-performing NAS options for Plex and heavy workloads, offering excellent future-proofing with its high-end CPU, PCIe expandability, and hybrid OS flexibility (QuTS hero and QTS). Here's a breakdown for your upgrade:

QNAP TVS-h874 Highlights
Performance: The Intel i9 processor ensures exceptional transcoding and multitasking for Plex and other resource-heavy applications.
Future-Proofing: PCIe slots for NVMe SSD caching, 10GbE network cards, or GPU upgrades.
Flexibility: QuTS hero (ZFS-based) supports data integrity, snapshots, and tiered storage.
Alternative Options
If you're open to alternatives:

Asustor Lockerstor 10 Pro (AS7110T): Strong performance with Intel Xeon CPU and 10GbE built-in.
Synology DS1823xs+: Focus on simplicity, excellent software ecosystem, and long-term support (though less hardware flexibility compared to QNAP).
Drives and Configuration
Start with 2–4 NAS-grade HDDs (e.g., Seagate IronWolf Pro or WD Red Pro) in RAID 5/6 for 16TB+ usable storage.
Add NVMe SSDs for caching to boost Plex and general system responsiveness.
The QNAP TVS-h874 is an excellent choice and fits your needs for Plex and future-proofing.