The QNAP TR-004 is a versatile and powerful USB 3.0 external storage enclosure that supports four 3.5″ or 2.5″ hard drives. It offers easy connectivity via USB Type-A or Type-C. QNAP offers RAID functionality with this enclosure, allowing you to configure the drives in RAID 0, 1, 5, 10, or JBOD mode for flexible storage management. It is a suitable data storage system for creating secure backups or transferring large amounts of data. For its price, this model is a good choice for users looking for a robust, well-designed enclosure that is compatible with the QNAP ecosystem. Here’s what you need to know about it.
QNAP TR-004, practical design and simplified configuration
The QNAP TR-004 stands out for its functional and sleek design with a simple front panel. The front panel consists of four tool-free removable drive trays and status LEDs. It is compatible with 3.5″ and 2.5″ drives (via dedicated screw holes). It is connected via USB 3.2 Gen2 (10 Gbps) rather than SATA. On the back, there is a fan, a power input, a power button, and a USB port. RAID switches are also located here. These allow you to configure individual modes, JBOD, RAID 0, 1/10, 5, or software. Here, the RAID configuration procedure is simple and straightforward. However, the setup remains intuitive thanks to an explanatory sticker on the top of the device.
Accessories and transfer performance
The QNAP TR-004 comes with a USB Type-C to Type-A cable. For Mac users, it is still possible to use it with a Type-C to Type-C cable. The fan is relatively quiet. It ensures efficient cooling. The TR-004 is therefore positioned as an external storage solution. It is practical and well-designed for users seeking simplicity and flexibility. Furthermore, the QNAP TR-004 offers solid performance with transfer speeds reaching approximately 250 MB/s in RAID 10. Here, it is recommended to only perform firmware updates when absolutely necessary, due to certain potential risks.
Power Consumption and RAID Flexibility with the QNAP TR-004
Equipped with a 60W power supply, this enclosure boasts low power consumption. It consumes 1.6W at idle without drives and 30-33W with four 20TB drives in idle operation, although peaks of 54W can occur. This is if the internal drives are connected via 3Gbps rather than 6Gbps. This makes the TR-004 a practical solution for expanding storage. For optimal RAID configuration, the enclosure offers flexible options via physical switches or the QNAP RAID Manager.