UGREEN NASync DXP4800 GT: The Ultimate NAS Solution for Creators and Small Teams
In the ever-evolving landscape of data storage, the UGREEN NASync DXP4800 GT emerges as a formidable contender, offering a harmonious blend of design, capacity, and performance tailored for creators and small teams.
Design and Build
The DXP4800 GT boasts a sleek black chassis accented with copper-toned front trim, reflecting UGREEN’s commitment to modern aesthetics. Its front panel is thoughtfully designed, featuring four numbered, lockable drive bays for easy access and security. Additionally, the panel houses a power button, status LEDs, an SD card slot, a USB-C port, and a USB-A port, facilitating quick media imports without the need to access the rear of the device. While its design is understated, the unit’s quiet operation and expandability make it a versatile addition to any workspace.
Storage Capabilities
Equipped with four drive bays, each supporting SATA drives up to 32TB, the DXP4800 GT offers a substantial total capacity of 128TB. This is further enhanced by two M.2 NVMe slots, each accommodating up to 8TB, adding an extra 16TB to the storage pool. These M.2 slots operate at PCIe Gen3 x2 speeds, which, while slightly below the Gen4 speeds of some high-end models, are more than sufficient for SSD caching purposes. UGREEN specifies a maximum combined capacity of 144TB when utilizing both SATA and NVMe drives. The system supports various configurations, including JBOD (Just a Bunch of Disks), Basic, and RAID levels 0, 1, 5, 6, and 10, allowing users to prioritize between speed and data redundancy. An integrated 64GB eMMC chip is dedicated to the operating system, ensuring that the main storage bays are fully available for user data.
Performance and Testing
In testing scenarios, the DXP4800 GT was equipped with four 2TB Seagate Red drives provided by UGREEN, as well as four 24TB WD Red Pro drives. For SSD testing, pairs of Samsung 990 Evo Plus and Samsung SSD 9100 Pro 1TB drives were utilized. It’s noteworthy that while high-speed drives were used for testing, the system performs efficiently with more affordable PCIe 3.0 drives, making it accessible without compromising performance. The UGOS Pro operating system offers the flexibility to expand existing RAID arrays by adding more drives, though users should anticipate extended rebuild times, especially with RAID 5 configurations.
Networking and Connectivity
The DXP4800 GT is equipped with dual 10GbE networking ports, catering to the high-speed data transfer needs of creators and small teams. This ensures that large files, such as high-resolution videos and extensive project files, can be accessed and transferred swiftly, enhancing workflow efficiency. The inclusion of front-facing USB-C and USB-A ports, along with an SD card slot, further simplifies the process of importing media directly into the NAS, reducing downtime and streamlining operations.
User Experience and Software
UGREEN’s UGOS Pro operating system provides a user-friendly interface that simplifies the management of storage configurations, user permissions, and system monitoring. The ability to add drives to existing RAID arrays without data loss is a significant advantage, offering scalability as storage needs grow. However, users should be prepared for potentially lengthy rebuild times when expanding RAID arrays, a common consideration in NAS management.
Conclusion
The UGREEN NASync DXP4800 GT stands out as a robust and versatile NAS solution, particularly suited for creators and small teams seeking a balance between performance, capacity, and cost. Its thoughtful design, expansive storage options, and high-speed connectivity make it a compelling choice in the mid-range NAS market. While certain features may not match the highest-end models, the DXP4800 GT delivers exceptional value, making it a worthy investment for those looking to enhance their data storage and management capabilities.
