Test System And Details
Test Configuration
System Hardware | |
---|---|
Platform | Asus P5E3 Deluxe, Rev.1.03G; Intel X38, BIOS: 0810 (02/11/2007) |
CPU | Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 (65 nm Conroe core) @ 2.26 GHz |
RAM | 2 x 1,024MB Crucial Ballistix DDR3-1600 |
eSATA Controller | JMicron JMB363 |
System Hard Drive | Seagate Barracuda 7200.9, 160GB 7,200 RPM, SATA 3 Gb/s, 8MB Cache |
Test Hard Drives | 4 x 3.5" Samsung Spinpoint HD321KJ 320GB, 7,200 RPM, SATA/300, 16MB Cache |
DVD-ROM | Samsung SH-D163A , SATA150 |
Video Card | Gigabyte Radeon HD 3850 GV-RX385512H GPU: 670 MHz; Memory: 512MB DDR3 (830 MHz, 256-bit) |
Network Card | Marvell Yukon 88E8056 PCIe Gigabit Ethernet Controller |
Sound Card | Integrated |
Power Supply | Cooler Master RS-850-EMBA, ATX 12V V2.2, 850 Watt |
System Software | |
Operating System | Windows Vista Enterprise SP1 |
DirectX 10 | DirectX 10 (Vista-Standard) |
DirectX 9 | Version: April 2007 |
Graphic Drivers | ATI Radeon Version 7.12 |
Network Drivers | 9.0.32.3 (Vista Standard) |
Intel Chipset Drivers | Version 6.9.1.1001 (20/02/2008) |
JMicron Chipset Drivers | Version 1.17.15.0 (24/03/2007) |
Intel NAS Performance Toolkit
We tested the NAS devices using the Intel NAS Performance Toolkit. For a more detailed description of the benchmarks, see the article Benchmarking With Intel's NAS Toolkit.
The Thecus N4200 used the firmware version 3.00.12 in our tests, while the QNAP TS-459 Pro used the firmware version 323 (0209T).
Power and Noise (Subjective)
Both NAS devices consume about the same amount of power, which should come as no surprise considering their almost identical hardware. The noise of both units was subjectively measured, and while they seem rather equal, the QNAP TS-459 Pro didn't do quite as good a job at dampening hard drive vibrations. This resulted in a slight but annoying humming sound. Gently pressing on the hard drive housing made the humming go away permanently. The plastic rails used in the Thecus N4200 drive bays are the better solution. Both NAS units are quiet enough to keep next to you while you work without being a bother.
Header Cell - Column 0 | Thecus N4200 | QNAP TS-459 Pro |
---|---|---|
Off | 1.7W | 0.7W |
Peak | 105.6W | 110.5W |
Sleep | 23.7W | 24.4W |
Idle | 45.7W | 45.1W |
Rebuild | 56.5W | 52.2W |