Best RAM for the QNAP TS-264
By Devin Chua · Data checked by Owen Nakamura · Updated The QNAP TS-264 ships with 8 GB of DDR4 SO-DIMM, no ECC (2 slots) and officially takes 16 GB. What benefits from the upgrade is specific to this box: the Intel Celeron N5095 (4 cores) hardware-transcodes and runs containers, and those — not plain file storage — are what more memory feeds. Below are matching modules from Amazon.ca in CAD.
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Compatible memory 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.
What more memory buys on the TS-264
The TS-264 takes DDR4 SO-DIMM, no ECC (2 slots) up to an official 16 GB, across 2 slots, starting from 8 GB. Whether that upgrade earns its money is a question about this exact box: the Intel Celeron N5095 (4 cores) transcodes Plex and runs containers, and it is the containers, not the file shares, that ask for more RAM.
The TS-264 uses non-ECC DDR4 SO-DIMM, no ECC (2 slots), so a flipped bit is not corrected. That is rarely a problem in practice, but it is why DIY TrueNAS builders insist on ECC; on the TS-264 you simply match the SO-DIMM spec and standard sticks are fine. 16 GB official; 32 GB is reported in forums but not endorsed.
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
What memory does the TS-264 use?
DDR4 SO-DIMM, no ECC (2 slots), starting from 8 GB. 16 GB official; 32 GB is reported in forums but not endorsed. It uses standard non-ECC modules.
Can the TS-264's memory be upgraded?
Yes. The TS-264 has 2 slots, officially to 16 GB.
Is more RAM worth it in the TS-264?
Only if you run containers. The TS-264's Intel Celeron N5095 (4 cores) transcodes and runs Docker well, and it is the containers — not file shares — that ask for more than the stock 8 GB.
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)