Best M.2 NVMe for the QNAP TS-264
By Devin Chua · Data checked by Owen Nakamura · Updated The QNAP TS-264 has 2 M.2 slots. They are freely populated (2 × m.2 2280 nvme (pcie 3.0 x1), freely populated), so a Samsung 990 EVO, WD Red SN700 or Crucial P3 all work. Whether a cache pays off depends on the 2 × 2.5GbE, expandable via the PCIe slot link and on whether you re-read the same data — for a media library streamed once, it does not.
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M.2 NVMe for the TS-264, live from Amazon.ca
What sets the TS-264 apart
Two bays, but the kit of a bigger machine: two NVMe slots, two 2.5-gigabit ports and a PCIe slot. With only two drives, RAID 1 is the one sensible choice, which halves the capacity no matter how large the drives are.
Cache or a fast pool on the TS-264?
The TS-264's 2 M.2 slots (2 × m.2 2280 nvme (pcie 3.0 x1), freely populated) can serve as a read cache or, depending on the OS, as their own fast storage pool. A cache only speeds up data you read more than once: on the TS-264, a media library streamed through once gains nothing, while repeated project files, photo libraries or container images show the difference immediately. Weigh that against its 2 × 2.5GbE, expandable via the PCIe slot link, which is often the real limit.
Because the TS-264 takes any M.2 drive, a Samsung 990 EVO, WD Red SN700 or Crucial P3 all work; for a write cache or VM pool, pick one with a real TBW rating rather than a DRAM-less budget SSD, since a cache wears faster than normal use.
The QNAP drive policy on the TS-264
unrestrictedOpen. QNAP locks no drives; the compatibility list is guidance.
The TS-264 at a glance
| Bays | 2 × 3.5-inch SATA and 2.5-inch SATA SSD |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Celeron N5095 (4 cores) |
| Memory | 8 GB, DDR4 SO-DIMM, no ECC (2 slots) 16 GB official; 32 GB is reported in forums but not endorsed. |
| M.2 NVMe | 2 slots 2 × M.2 2280 NVMe (PCIe 3.0 x1), freely populated |
| Network | 2 × 2.5GbE, expandable via the PCIe slot |
| Operating system | QTS 5.2 or QuTS hero (ZFS) |
| RAID types | Single, JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1 |
Keep calculating
To see how much capacity is left after parity, the TS-264 capacity calculator is preset to its 2 bays and RAID types. For the TS-264, the wider basics of choosing a drive are in the buying guides, where we also explain why CMR rather than SMR is mandatory in any RAID array.
Frequently asked questions
How many M.2 slots does the TS-264 have?
2. 2 × M.2 2280 NVMe (PCIe 3.0 x1), freely populated
Is an NVMe cache worth it in the TS-264?
Only if you re-read the same data on the TS-264: project files, photos, container images. A media library streamed once gains nothing, and with 2 × 2.5GbE, expandable via the PCIe slot the link is often the limit before the drive is.
Can I put third-party drives in the TS-264?
Yes. QNAP locks no drive brand on the TS-264 — its compatibility list is guidance, not a gate — so any CMR NAS drive works.
Devin Chua works out which drives, RAM and NVMe cache fit which NAS model at nasdrives.ca, and what the RAID choice means for usable capacity, checked against what is in stock on Amazon.ca.
Data checked by Owen Nakamura, Technical editor (data checking)