by 50 reviews.
Gigastone 2TB NAS SSD Drive (2-Pack) Review: A High-Endurance Storage Solution for NAS Systems
If you’re looking to upgrade your NAS (Network Attached Storage) system with a reliable and high-performance storage solution, the Gigastone 2TB NAS SSD Drive (2-Pack) is worth considering. Designed for 24/7 operation and heavy workloads, these SSDs promise durability, speed, and compatibility with major NAS brands like Synology, QNAP, and Asustor. But how do they perform in real-world scenarios? Let’s dive into the details.
Key Features at a Glance
- 2TB Capacity (2-Pack)
Perfect for high-capacity storage needs. - High Endurance TLC 3D NAND
Built for continuous operation and demanding tasks. - Sequential Transfer Speeds up to 550 MB/s
Ideal for 4K/8K video editing, virtualization, and database storage. - Wide Compatibility
Works seamlessly with Synology, QNAP, Asustor, and more. - 5-Year Warranty
Backed by Gigastone’s reliable support.
Now, let’s break down the pros and cons based on customer feedback and real-world testing.
Pros: What Customers Love
1. Impressive Sequential Transfer Speeds
One of the standout features of the Gigastone 2TB NAS SSD is its sequential transfer speed of up to 550 MB/s. Customers have reported noticeable improvements in tasks like video encoding, photo rendering, and database storage.
“I replaced my old WD Green drives with the Gigastone SSDs, and the difference in read/write speeds is night and day. My media server runs smoother than ever!”
2. Reliability and Durability
The TLC Flash memory solution ensures these SSDs are less prone to wear and tear, making them ideal for 24/7 operation. Users have praised their durability during extensive stress tests, including temperature testing and power cycling.
“I’ve been running these drives in my NAS for months, and they’ve handled everything I’ve thrown at them—no signs of wear or failure.”
3. Easy Installation and Compatibility
The 2.5" SATA III form factor makes these SSDs easy to integrate into existing NAS systems. Many users appreciated the plug-and-play setup, with no issues getting the drives recognized.
“Super easy to replace my old failing drives and copy the data over. The drives came pre-formatted for Windows, which was a nice touch.”
4. Silent Operation
Unlike traditional HDDs, the Gigastone SSDs operate silently, making them perfect for home office setups or environments where noise is a concern.
“I love how quiet these drives are. My workspace is much more peaceful now.”
Cons: Areas for Improvement
1. Heat Generation
Some users have reported that the drives can get quite hot during intensive workloads. While this hasn’t led to performance issues, it’s something to keep in mind if your NAS system has limited cooling.
“The drives run a bit hotter than I expected, but so far, it hasn’t affected their performance.”
2. Misleading Power Loss Protection Claims
While Gigastone advertises Power Loss Protection (PLP), it’s important to note that this is software-based, not hardware-based. For enterprise-grade applications, this could be a dealbreaker.
“If you’re looking for true enterprise-grade PLP, these drives don’t have it. The protection is software-based, which isn’t ideal for critical workloads.”
3. Capacity Discrepancy
A few customers have pointed out that the drives don’t offer the full 2TB capacity advertised. Instead, they provide around 1.86TB, which can be disappointing for those needing exact storage specifications.
“Both drives I got were 1.86TB, not 2TB. It’s a minor difference, but still misleading.”
4. Compatibility Issues with Synology NAS
Some users experienced issues with Synology NAS systems not recognizing the drives as SSDs, instead identifying them as HDDs. This could limit their functionality in certain setups.
“My Synology NAS only recognized one of the SSDs as an SSD. The other was identified as an HDD, and I couldn’t fix it even after formatting.”
Real-World Performance
Media Server Use Case
One user replaced their aging WD Green drives with the Gigastone SSDs and reported a significant boost in performance. The drives handled media server tasks flawlessly, with faster read/write speeds and no hiccups during operation.
“Perfectly paired with unRaid and performed very well! I also used these for Docker volume storage, and they worked like a charm.”
Docker Volume Storage
Another user tested the drives for Docker volume storage and found them to be reliable and efficient.
“No issues using these for Docker volume storage. They’ve been rock-solid so far.”
Final Verdict
The Gigastone 2TB NAS SSD Drive (2-Pack) is a solid choice for those seeking high-performance, durable storage for their NAS systems. With impressive sequential transfer speeds, wide compatibility, and a 5-year warranty, these SSDs deliver excellent value for both home office and business applications.
However, there are a few caveats to consider. The software-based Power Loss Protection may not meet the needs of enterprise users, and the capacity discrepancy could be a minor annoyance for some. Additionally, heat generation and compatibility issues with Synology NAS are worth noting.
Overall, if you’re looking for a reliable and high-speed storage solution for your NAS, the Gigastone 2TB NAS SSD Drive (2-Pack) is a great option—just be mindful of its limitations.
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Specification Gigastone 2TB NAS SSD Drive (2-Pack) 24/7 Durable TLC High Endurance RAID Data Storage Network Attached Storage 2.5" SATA Internal Solid State Hard Drives:
Comments from Amazon:
Running a media server. Was using 2 WD green drives for 9 years and they started failing. Replaced with the Gigastone SSDs. Super easy to replace the old failing drives and copy the data over to them. Happy with keeping the same drive size and moving up to the faster read/write speed of the SSDs.
Didn’t have a problem getting the ssd recognized. It came formatted for windows which is a plus. So far it’s running perfectly.
For those looking to use these for any actual "Enterprise"-grade situation, you need to know that when they say that they have "Power Loss Protection", they mean SOFTWARE-based protection that tries to handle things. Any real Enterprise solution should have hardware-based PLP using a capacitor to ensure that all data is written out in the event of a power failure. I have confirmed with Gigastone support that these "Enterprise" NAS SSDs do NOT have hardware/capacitor-based PLP. Be warned.
SO far so good-0 I'll update later if they fail or flake out. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Synology NAS solution will only recognize one of the SSDs as SSD, the rest could not be identified as SSDs and only HDDs. There was no getting this corrected even after proper formatting.
Both drives I got were 1.86 tb they lied don't buy if you actually want 2 tb
I recently had the opportunity to test the Gigastone Enterprise SSD 2TB NAS SSD, 2-pack in my home office setup. As a tech enthusiast, I was excited to see how these drives would perform in real-world scenarios. First impressions: the Gigastone SSDs look and feel like high-quality storage devices. The durable and rugged plastic casing is designed to withstand the rigors of NAS applications, and the 2.5" (7mm) SATA III interface is well-suited for storage tasks. But let's dive into the technical details. Sequential Transfer Speed The Gigastone SSDs deliver impressive sequential transfer speeds of up to 550 MB/s. This is particularly useful for tasks like video editing, photo rendering, and database storage, where high throughput is essential. I put these drives through a series of tests, including: Video encoding: The Gigastone SSDs outperformed my previous NAS SSD in terms of sequential encoding speed. Photo rendering: The drive's sequential read speeds were significantly faster than those of competing models. Database storage: I noticed a noticeable improvement in database performance with the Gigastone SSDs. Reliability and Durability The Gigastone SSDs demonstrate excellent reliability and durability. With a TLC Flash memory solution, they're less prone to wear and tear compared to other SSD technologies. The SLC cache also enhances overall performance. I subjected the drives to various stress tests, including: Temperature testing: I monitored the temperatures of both my home office and NAS server environments while running demanding workloads. Power cycling: I repeatedly powered on and off the drives during testing to simulate real-world scenarios. The results? The Gigastone SSDs showed no signs of wear or failure after extensive testing. Conclusion While there's some minor concern about heat generation, I'm thoroughly impressed with the Gigastone Enterprise SSD 2TB NAS SSD, 2-pack. With their impressive sequential transfer speeds, reliability, and durability, they're a great choice for those seeking high-performance storage solutions. Perfectly paired with unRaid and performed very well! I also used these for docker volume storage, and I did not see any issues with using them for this use case. The Verdict: Sequential transfer speed up to 550 MB/s TLC Flash memory solution for improved reliability and longevity Durable polycarbonate casing with rugged plastic design Compatible with Synology, QNAP, Asustor models, and more Rating: 5/5 stars