Best M.2 NVMe for the TerraMaster F4-425
By Devin Chua · Data checked by Owen Nakamura · Updated The TerraMaster F4-425 has no M.2 slots, so an NVMe cache is not possible on this model — no m.2 slots. note: nvme, ddr5 and 5gbe only come with the f4-425 plus, not this model. Over its 1 × 2.5GbE, that is barely a loss: a single CMR drive already saturates the link, and a cache only helps data you read repeatedly. If cache or a fast NVMe pool matters to you, choose a model with M.2 slots.
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Want to know whether the F4-425 fits your actual storage plan? Open the NAS Builder with this model weighted.
Do you actually need NVMe on the F4-425?
An NVMe cache accelerates random I/O — the many small, scattered reads and writes you get when lots of users, a database or virtual machines all hit the array at once. It does almost nothing for the workload the F4-425 is built for: sequential file transfers, device backups and everyday storage. On this model the 1 × 2.5GbE connection is the real ceiling, so a cache sitting in front of the drives would have no headroom to give — the network fills up long before the disks become the bottleneck.
Put the money where it moves the needle instead. A RAM upgrade helps this box more than any cache would (see RAM for the F4-425 and how much RAM a NAS needs), and larger CMR drives with the best CA$/TB, sized in the drive-count calculator. If you genuinely need a cache — a busy multi-user array, 10-gigabit networking, or a database/VM workload — that is simply a different class of NAS: an Intel model with M.2 slots and faster networking. Our SSD cache guide explains when a cache earns its place and when it does nothing, and drives by model lists the boxes that have the slots.
What sets the F4-425 apart
The only alternative to Synology with a genuine SHR counterpart: TRAID uses mixed drive sizes, TRAID+ matches SHR-2 with double fault tolerance. If you have a stack of mismatched drives, you lose less here than with UGREEN or QNAP.
The TerraMaster drive policy on the F4-425
unrestrictedOpen, and TerraMaster advertises it: “TerraMaster restricts neither drive brands nor third-party SSDs.” The compatibility list is purely advisory.
The F4-425 at a glance
| Bays | 4 × 3.5-inch SATA and 2.5-inch SATA SSD |
|---|---|
| Maximum raw capacity | 120 TB 4 × 30 TB, per the manufacturer |
| Processor | Intel N5095 (4 cores, 2.0 GHz) |
| Memory | 4 GB, DDR4 SO-DIMM, no ECC (1 slot) 16 GB official |
| M.2 NVMe | none No M.2 slots. Note: NVMe, DDR5 and 5GbE only come with the F4-425 Plus, not this model. |
| Network | 1 × 2.5GbE |
| Operating system | TOS 6 |
| RAID types | TRAID, TRAID+, Single, JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, RAID 10 TRAID also makes use of mixed drive sizes. |
Keep calculating
To see how much capacity is left after parity, the F4-425 capacity calculator is preset to its 4 bays and RAID types. For the F4-425, 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. Wondering what the F4-425 can actually do — Plex, Immich, Docker, VMs? See what the F4-425 can run.
Frequently asked questions
How many M.2 slots does the F4-425 have?
None. No M.2 slots. Note: NVMe, DDR5 and 5GbE only come with the F4-425 Plus, not this model.
Is an NVMe cache worth it in the F4-425?
Not possible — the F4-425 has no M.2 slots. Over its 1 × 2.5GbE a cache would add little anyway, since a single drive already saturates the link.
Can I put third-party drives in the F4-425?
Yes. TerraMaster locks no drive brand on the F4-425 — 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)