Asustor gen2 vs qnap 973a

[Enquiries]

Good morning. Between asustor lockerstor 6 gen 2 as6806t vs qnap 973a. Both have the same price. 900€ Which one should I buy? I think the only difference is the CPU. And which asustor has graphics. Although I have a low profile 1050. Which one will give better results for the future. Will utorrent be used for movies and photos. Thanks

[ed]

Both the Asustor Lockerstor 6 Gen 2 (AS6806T) and the QNAP TS-973A are excellent options at the same price point, but they cater to slightly different needs. Here's a breakdown to help you decide:

Key Differences
CPU and Performance:

Asustor AS6806T (Gen 2): Intel Celeron N5105 (Quad-Core, 2.0 GHz, burst up to 2.9 GHz).
Excellent for general NAS tasks and light multitasking.
Supports hardware transcoding for media playback, making it ideal for photos and movies without requiring an external GPU.
QNAP TS-973A: AMD Ryzen V1500B (Quad-Core, 2.2 GHz).
More powerful than the Celeron, better suited for multitasking, heavier apps, or advanced virtualization.
GPU (Graphics Support):

The Asustor does not include a dedicated GPU but supports hardware-accelerated media tasks (Intel Quick Sync).
If you add your low-profile GTX 1050 GPU to the QNAP TS-973A, it will excel at transcoding and video editing tasks, making it more future-proof for advanced media needs.
Storage Configuration:

Asustor AS6806T:
6 drive bays for HDDs/SSDs, ideal for higher-capacity setups and scalability.
QNAP TS-973A:
5 HDD bays and 4 SSD bays (U.2 or SATA).
Optimized for tiered storage using QNAP’s caching features, balancing speed (SSD) and capacity (HDD).
Operating System:

Asustor ADM: Easier for beginners, with solid multimedia apps.
QNAP QTS: More flexible and advanced, with better support for virtualization, Docker, and app variety.
Your Use Case
uTorrent for Movies and Photos:

Both models support torrent clients like uTorrent or similar.
If you plan to transcode 4K content, the QNAP TS-973A with your GTX 1050 would offer better long-term results.
Future-Proofing:

For advanced workloads or multitasking, the QNAP TS-973A is better suited due to its Ryzen CPU and potential GPU upgrade.
If you prioritize simplicity and media sharing without additional hardware, the Asustor AS6806T is more straightforward.
Recommendation
QNAP TS-973A:

Choose this if you want to future-proof your NAS, especially for tasks that might grow more demanding, such as transcoding or virtualization. Adding your GTX 1050 will make it excellent for media.
The tiered storage setup (HDD + SSD) gives more flexibility in balancing speed and capacity.
Asustor AS6806T:

A better option if you prioritize ease of use and plan to focus on basic media storage and sharing.
Ideal for users who don’t want to deal with additional GPU setup.
Final Thoughts
For your stated needs and budget, the QNAP TS-973A edges out slightly as the better long-term investment if you utilize your GTX 1050 GPU. However, the Asustor AS6806T is still a strong contender for simplicity and straightforward media tasks.