Best RAM for the QNAP TS-233
By Devin Chua · Data checked by Owen Nakamura · Updated The QNAP TS-233's 2 GB (2 GB, soldered) is fixed to the board and cannot be upgraded, so you choose this once at purchase. The ARM Cortex-A55 (4 cores, 2.0 GHz) is an ARM file-server chip that would not use much more anyway: for file storage and backups the 2 GB is enough, and if you need headroom for containers or VMs, a model with memory slots is the answer.
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What sets the TS-233 apart
The cheapest QNAP and deliberately modest: an ARM processor, 2 GB of soldered RAM, one gigabit port. The network caps you at about 110 MB/s here, so a faster drive buys no more speed. Buy on noise and price per TB, not on data rate.
The QNAP drive policy on the TS-233
unrestrictedOpen. QNAP locks no drives.
The TS-233 at a glance
| Bays | 2 × 3.5-inch SATA and 2.5-inch SATA SSD |
|---|---|
| Processor | ARM Cortex-A55 (4 cores, 2.0 GHz) |
| Memory | 2 GB, 2 GB, soldered Soldered, not upgradeable |
| M.2 NVMe | none No M.2 slots |
| Network | 1 × 1GbE |
| Operating system | QTS 5.2 |
| RAID types | Single, JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1 |
Keep calculating
To see how much capacity is left after parity, the TS-233 capacity calculator is preset to its 2 bays and RAID types. For the TS-233, 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
What memory does the TS-233 use?
2 GB, soldered, starting from 2 GB. Soldered, not upgradeable It uses standard non-ECC modules.
Can the TS-233's memory be upgraded?
No. The 2 GB is soldered to the TS-233's board and cannot be changed — a decision you make once, at purchase.
Is more RAM worth it in the TS-233?
Rarely. The TS-233's ARM Cortex-A55 (4 cores, 2.0 GHz) does light file-server work; the stock 2 GB covers file storage and backups, and the chip would not make much of more.
Can the TS-233 run Plex with hardware transcoding?
Only in software. The TS-233's ARM Cortex-A55 (4 cores, 2.0 GHz) has no Quick Sync, so Plex transcodes on the CPU — enough for direct play, not for heavy 4K transcoding.
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)