Asustor AS5402T, 2 Bay NAS, Intel Quad-Core 2.0GHz CPU, 4X M.2 NVMe SSD Slots, 2x2.5GbE Ports, 4GB DDR4 RAM, Cloud Storage for Gaming and Live Stream, Network Attached Storage(Diskless)
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AI Verdict
A 2-bay NAS with a 10 nm Intel Celeron N5105 CPU and four M.2 NVMe slots, best for users prioritizing raw speed over software polish.
This NAS is a strong hardware package with a powerful Intel Celeron N5105 CPU, four M.2 NVMe slots, and dual 2.5GbE ports, making it capable of high-speed data handling and 4K transcoding. However, user feedback points to significant software instability and poor power management, which can undermine the hardware's potential for users expecting a seamless experience.
If you need more storage bays or a more mature, stable software ecosystem, look for NAS devices with a higher bay count (e.g., 4-bay or 6-bay) and a reputation for robust operating systems from brands known for software development.
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Pros
- Features a Quad-Core 10 nm Intel Celeron N5105 CPU, boosting up to 2.9 GHz, offering up to 31% higher performance than previous generations.
- Includes four M.2 NVMe SSD slots for high random IO performance, with tool-free installation.
- Equipped with dual 2.5-Gigabit Ethernet ports, capable of exceeding 2.5 Gbps when combined via SMB Multichannel.
- Delivers fast file transfer speeds, with PCMag reporting 245MBps write and 222MBps read, nearly double that of some competitors.
- Offers 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports at 10 Gbps for quick external device connections.
- Ideal for Plex media server use due to the Intel Celeron N5105 CPU's hardware-assisted 4K HDR transcoding capabilities.
Cons
- Asustor's ADM operating system is frequently described as buggy, limited, and clunky, with settings not always applying correctly.
- Users report issues with random restarts and instability, with some experiencing the NAS going offline or rebooting unexpectedly.
- The device can be surprisingly noisy due to constant drive activity and noticeable fan noise, making it unsuitable for quiet environments.
- SSD setup is strict; users often find they need to install an SSD as the main volume during initial setup to prevent non-stop HDD activity.
- Power management options are limited, with complaints about forced sleep behaviors and external drives not powering down as expected.
- Customer support is often described as slow, confusing, and primarily email-based, with users waiting days for responses.
Dimension Scores
PCMag reported 245MBps write and 222MBps read speeds, nearly double that of competitors like the Synology DS224+, due to dual 2.5GbE ports and NVMe interface.
Users frequently report random restarts, software instability, and issues with SSD caching leading to volume corruption, indicating below-average reliability.
As a 2-bay diskless NAS, it offers flexible capacity with support for 3.5-inch/2.5-inch HDDs/SSDs and four M.2 NVMe slots, expandable up to 48TB with additional units.
It supports cross-platform access (Windows, macOS, Unix-like) and a wide array of apps, but has strict requirements for drive initialization and MyArchive drive transfers.
Best For
- Content creators needing fast local storage and 4K HDR media transcoding capabilities.
- Users with existing 2.5GbE network infrastructure looking to maximize transfer speeds.
- Power users who are comfortable with potential software quirks and manual troubleshooting for optimal setup.
- Home users wanting a dedicated Plex media server with hardware transcoding.
Not Recommended For
- Beginners or users expecting a plug-and-play, highly polished software experience without troubleshooting.
- Users requiring a silent NAS for placement in bedrooms or quiet office spaces.
- Individuals who need robust, responsive customer support for complex issues.
Watch Out For
- The ADM operating system can be buggy and clunky, with users reporting settings not applying properly and constant background activity even when idle.
- Random restarts and instability are reported by long-term users, sometimes occurring in the middle of the night and disconnecting from the network.
- SSD caching is buggy; users advise against it, citing BTRFS volume corruption, partition loss, and constant HDD activity at slow speeds (2-20MB/s) when write capacity reaches 100%.
- ADM installs itself on Volume 1 and cannot be moved to an SSD without reinitializing all disks, making it difficult to optimize OS performance after initial setup.
- The physical installation of 3.5-inch HDDs can be noisy, with the plastic unclips feeling like they might snap.
Full Specifications
| ASIN | B0C5MB5MTS |
| Size | 2 Bay |
| Brand | Asustor |
| Color | AS5402T |
| Series | AS5402T |
| Material | Metal |
| Hard Drive | Solid State Drive |
| Item Weight | 4.4 pounds |
| Manufacturer | Asustor |
| Hardware Platform | PC |
| Item model number | AS5402T |
| Product Dimensions | 9.06 x 4.49 x 6.69 inches |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 9.06 x 4.49 x 6.69 inches |
What Buyers Say
Many users are frustrated by the software experience, despite the powerful hardware. The ADM operating system is frequently cited as buggy and clunky, leading to unexpected restarts and issues with SSD caching that can corrupt volumes. While the dual 2.5GbE ports and Intel Celeron N5105 CPU deliver impressive transfer speeds and 4K transcoding capabilities, the software's shortcomings often overshadow these benefits. Users also note the NAS can be noisy due to constant drive activity, making it less suitable for quiet spaces.
“Man, this thing has killer specs on paper, but the software is just a mess. It keeps restarting randomly, and trying to use the M.2 SSDs for cache just corrupted my volume. I wanted to love it for Plex, but the constant noise and buggy ADM are driving me nuts. Support is useless too.”
Common Praise
- The Intel Celeron N5105 CPU handles 4K HDR transcoding smoothly, making it effective as a Plex server.
- Dual 2.5-Gigabit Ethernet ports provide very fast file transfer speeds, reaching 245MBps write and 222MBps read in tests.
- Four M.2 NVMe SSD slots offer significant potential for accelerating tasks requiring high random IO.
- The 4GB DDR4 RAM is expandable up to 16GB, allowing for future performance upgrades.
- Includes three 10 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports for quick external device connectivity.
Common Complaints
- The ADM operating system is buggy, limited, and clunky, with settings not always applying correctly.
- Random restarts and system instability are common, with the NAS sometimes going offline unexpectedly.
- SSD caching is problematic, leading to volume corruption and constant, slow HDD activity (2-20MB/s).
- The NAS generates noticeable fan and drive noise, making it unsuitable for quiet environments.
- Customer support is slow, confusing, and primarily email-based, often across different time zones.
- ADM installs on Volume 1 and cannot be moved to an SSD without reinitializing all disks, complicating OS optimization.
Ownership Tips
- You might need to install an SSD as the primary volume during initial setup to avoid continuous hard drive activity.
- Disabling SSD cache might be necessary to prevent volume corruption and slow performance issues.
- Expect the NAS to be audible; it's not a silent device, especially when drives are active.
- Be prepared for potential troubleshooting and reliance on community forums, as official support can be slow and unhelpful.
- Moving existing MyArchive drives from another Asustor NAS will require reformatting them, despite the feature's intended purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I upgrade the RAM?
Yes, the 4GB DDR4-2933 RAM can be upgraded to a maximum of 16GB by replacing the single 4GB module with two 8GB modules.
Is this NAS suitable for a Plex media server?
Yes, the Intel Celeron N5105 CPU provides hardware-assisted 4K HDR transcoding, making it an ideal choice for a powerful Plex media server.
Are the M.2 NVMe SSD slots for storage or caching?
The four M.2 NVMe SSD slots can be used for caching to accelerate tasks requiring high random IO performance, but some users report issues with SSD caching functionality.
How fast are the network ports?
It features dual 2.5-Gigabit Ethernet ports, which can be combined using SMB Multichannel to achieve speeds exceeding 2.5 Gbps.
Is the NAS noisy during operation?
Users have reported noticeable fan noise and constant drive activity sounds, suggesting it might not be ideal for placement in quiet environments like bedrooms or workspaces.
Buying Guide
When buying a NAS, you're essentially getting a mini-computer for your network. You need to think about how much data you'll store, how fast you need to access it, and what you'll use it for (like streaming movies or backing up files). Don't just look at the hardware; the software (operating system) is crucial for how easy it is to use and how reliably it performs.
Intel Celeron N5105 CPU
This quad-core processor is powerful enough for tasks like 4K video transcoding for media servers (think Plex) and handling multiple users accessing files simultaneously without slowing down.
4x M.2 NVMe SSD Slots
These slots let you add super-fast solid-state drives. You can use them for caching frequently accessed data to speed up operations, or even as a dedicated, high-performance storage pool for specific applications.
Dual 2.5-Gigabit Ethernet Ports
Most home networks use 1-Gigabit Ethernet, but these 2.5GbE ports allow for much faster data transfers, especially useful if you're moving large files or have multiple devices accessing the NAS at once. You can even combine them for even higher speeds.
Diskless
This means the NAS doesn't come with any hard drives or SSDs. You'll need to buy them separately, which gives you flexibility to choose the capacity and type of drives that best suit your needs and budget.
Alternatives
If this model's software issues are a dealbreaker, look for NAS devices with a more polished and stable operating system, even if it means slightly less powerful hardware. If you need more storage capacity, consider models with 4 or more traditional drive bays.
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