ASUSTOR AS5008T Review

ASUSTOR has become one of my go to manufacturers for NAS. They have made some great NAS at some very affordable prices. Naturally, as time goes on, components are less expensive for consumers and for manufacturers. This allows NAS makers to pack more power into their storage appliances without increasing costs. In some cases, we are finding more powerful NAS at lower costs. To compliment this decrease in costs, production ramps up, R&D ramps up, and product enhancements increase. Ok, the point of all that? ASUSTOR has released a new 8-bay NAS, gave it more power, slapped a new name on it, and… lowered the cost. Enter the AS5008T.

Right off the bat, it is natural for me to compare the AS5008T to the 8-bay NAS I have already reviewed from ASUSTOR, the AS-608T. There are similarities, and a few differences. If you haven’t guessed, they are both 8-bay NAS… but that is about where the spec similarities end. The AS5008T is more powerful, has more Ethernet connections, has an upgraded HDMI port (1.4a), adds S/PDIF, and does this while weighing less. The weight loss can most likely be attributed to shedding the LCD screen.

	AS-608T	AS5008T
Price	$$$$	$$$
CPU	Intel® Atom™ 2.13 GHz Dual-Core Processor	Intel Celeron 2.41GHz Dual-Core (burst up to 2.58GHz) Processor
Memory	1GB SO-DIMM DDR3 (Expandable. Max. 3GB)	1GB SO-DIMM DDR3L (Expandable. Max 8GB)¹
HDD	2.5″ / 3.5″ SATA II/III or SSD x 8	2.5″ / 3.5″ SATA II/ III or SSD x 8
Expansion	USB 3.0 x 2, USB 2.0 x 4, eSATA x 2	USB 3.0 x 3, USB2.0 x 2, eSATA x 2
Network	Gigabit Ethernet x 2	Gigabit Ethernet x 4
LCD Panel	Yes	No
Size	215.5(H) x 293(W) x 230(D) mm	215.5(H) x 293(W) x 230(D) mm
Weight	6.2 kg / 13.67 lb	6.1 (kg) / 13.44 (lb)
Input Power Voltage	100V to 240V AC	100V to 240V AC
Power Consumption	46W (Operation);32.3W (Disk Hibernation);1.4W (Sleep Mode)	59W (Operation);32W (Disk Hibernation);3.2W (Sleep Mode)
Volume Type	Single disk, JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, RAID 10	Single disk, JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, RAID 10
Output	HDMI 1.3a x1	HDMI 1.4a x 1, S/PDIF x1
Infrared Receiver	No	Yes
Audio Output	No	S/PDIF
Tray Lock	No	No
MyArchiveDisk Bays	2	2
Redundant Power Supply	No	No

ASUSTOR decorates the product page with plenty of graphics and storage buzzwords.

High performance technology

An Intel Celeron 2.41GHz Dual-core processor and 1GB DDR3L memory, provide premium, energy efficient processing power. With read/write speeds of up to 112 MB/s, the AS50 series’ excellent performance is sure to satisfy your storage application needs.Furthermore, when AS50 series devices need more computing power, they can increase the CPU computing power from the original 2.41 GHz to 2.58 GHz, providing a smooth and seamless experience.

Effortlessly upgrade memory

Depending on your usage preferences, you can decide whether or not you want to upgrade memory. AS50/51 devices provide users with the ability to flexibly upgrade memory so there is no need to worry about the memory before you purchasing the device. When upgrading memory, you simply need to remove the cover of the NAS to do it (There are 2 expansion memory slots in total. Memory can be expanded up to a maximum of 8GB.), letting you easily improve system performance and allowing your NAS to simultaneously run more Apps.

4 times the network speed and increased reliability

The built-in quad Ethernet ports combined with the link aggregation function, allows your NAS to maintain its connection even if one of your Ethernet connections fail, significantly decreasing the likelihood of unexpected disconnections. Additionally, link aggregation provides faster transfer speeds than a single connection could, along with load balancing which automatically balances network traffic load across the two connections, making it the optimal choice for users who require high speed reliability.

Connect with a new generation of I/O technology for limitless possibilities

A professional grade NAS needs to be equipped with a diverse array of expansion functionality. ASUSTOR has built in USB 3.0, USB 2.0, eSATA, gigabit Ethernet and HDMI 1.4a ports along with a high fidelity audio S/PDIF port, allowing the NAS to connect to different types of external devices and not be limited to its internal capacity. ASUSTOR NAS redefines the meaning of flexibility and expandability in network storage.

High Quality Audio Output with S/PDIF

Turn your NAS into your digital music hub and let ASUSTOR’s 50/51 Series devices take your local audio playback to another level. You can use SoundsGood or iTunes Server to play high quality digital music from your NAS and further combine it with S/PDIF high fidelity optical output for an unmatched listening experience that will truly bring your music to life.

Create the Ultimate Home Multimedia Center

Enjoy electrifying digital entertainment on demand with ASUSTOR NAS. The built-in HDMI interface and variety of multimedia Apps let you to enjoy all of your favorite multimedia from your NAS by directly connecting it to an LCD/LED TV or amplifier.

ASUSTOR NAS supports Full HD (1080p) output, allowing you to savor your movies, TV shows, music and photos in high definition. What’s more, through ASUSTOR’s App Central, you can install additional multimedia server Apps such as UPnP Media Server and iTunes Server giving your NAS the ability to stream multimedia content to your computers, TVs and mobile devices.

Additionally, you can also further add a surround sound amplifier to create an unprecedented high definition multi-channel listening experience. Imagine watching your favorite racing movie and being immersed in the roar of the engines. Feel the thrill and the sense of speed as you listen to the sounds of cars whizzing by. Prepare for an unparalleled entertainment experience that will have you on the edge of your seat.