What can the F2-425 run?
By Devin Chua · Data checked by Owen Nakamura · Updated The F2-425 runs Plex and Jellyfin with 4K hardware transcoding, full Docker via TOS and real virtual machines. On its Intel N5095 (4 cores, 2.0 GHz) with 4 GB (to 16 GB), the sweet spot is Plex, Jellyfin, Home Assistant, Nextcloud.
The cheapest x86 two-bay with 2.5-gigabit networking. With two equal-size drives TRAID gives no advantage over RAID 1; it only gets interesting once you add a larger drive later.
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Everything the F2-425 can run, at a glance
Rated from this model’s real Intel N5095 (4 cores, 2.0 GHz) and its 4 GB–16 GB of RAM. “Limited” and “No” are honest — an ARM box does not virtualize, and no hardware transcode is no hardware transcode.
| App | Runs? | Performance | What it needs on this model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plex | Yes | good | 4K HW transcode (Quick Sync) |
| Jellyfin | Yes | good | 4K HW transcode via Quick Sync |
| Immich | Yes | fair | Recommend a RAM upgrade to 8 GB+ · add RAM › |
| Home Assistant | Yes | good | Container or full HA OS in a VM |
| Nextcloud | Yes | good | Runs well in Docker |
| Frigate | Yes | good | Intel iGPU decode; add a Coral TPU for detection |
| Pi-hole / AdGuard Home | Yes | good | Lightweight container |
| Paperless-ngx | Yes | good | Runs well in Docker |
| Vaultwarden | Yes | good | Lightweight container |
| Minecraft server | Yes | fair | RAM upgrade recommended for headroom · add RAM › |
| Docker (general) | Yes | good | Full container platform (TOS) |
| Virtual machines | Yes | fair | Add RAM (16 GB+) for a useful VM · add RAM › |
| Surveillance recording | Yes | good | Scales to many cameras; surveillance drives |
| Time Machine / backup target | Yes | good | Any model |
App by app on the F2-425
Plex
The F2-425 is a strong Plex box: its Intel N5095 (4 cores, 2.0 GHz) has Intel Quick Sync, so 4K HDR transcodes in hardware to whatever device is watching, and Plex installs straight from TOS. Feed it over 1 × 2.5GbE and even a demanding household barely troubles it.
Jellyfin
Prefer open-source? Jellyfin containerises cleanly on the F2-425 and uses the same Intel N5095 (4 cores, 2.0 GHz) Quick Sync engine, so you lose nothing on transcoding versus Plex — 4K in hardware, no Plex Pass, streamed over 1 × 2.5GbE.
Immich
The F2-425 makes a capable Immich server — a self-hosted Google Photos with face and object search. It runs as a Docker stack under TOS, and its 4 GB out of the box and room for 16 GB covers the 8 GB the machine-learning wants. Plan the RAM upgrade first.
Home Assistant
On the F2-425 you get both Home Assistant paths: the lightweight Container in TOS's Docker, or the full HA OS in a virtual machine, since the 4-core Intel N5095 (4 cores, 2.0 GHz) supports VMs and can lend a guest some of its 16 GB ceiling.
Nextcloud
For a full private cloud — files, calendar, contacts, office — the F2-425 hosts Nextcloud in TOS's Docker. The 4-core Intel N5095 (4 cores, 2.0 GHz) and 4 GB out of the box and room for 16 GB keep it snappy for a family; it wants more headroom than a simple file share, so do not starve it.
Frigate
For AI camera detection, the F2-425 qualifies: its Intel N5095 (4 cores, 2.0 GHz) brings an Intel iGPU to decode the feeds, and a plug-in Coral TPU (roughly CA$40–120) does the object recognition in milliseconds. With that Coral it handles several cameras on 1 × 2.5GbE without straining.
Pi-hole / AdGuard Home
The F2-425 makes a fine home for Pi-hole or AdGuard Home: the container barely registers next to storage, and because the box is already on all day, it is a natural network-wide DNS blocker for everything on your 1 × 2.5GbE.
Paperless-ngx
Paperless-ngx runs in TOS's Docker on the F2-425; the 4-core Intel N5095 (4 cores, 2.0 GHz) handles a household's OCR in bursts, with 4 GB out of the box and room for 16 GB to keep indexing quick.
Vaultwarden
Run Vaultwarden on the F2-425 and your passwords live on hardware you control: it is a tiny, Bitwarden-compatible vault that works with the official apps and browser extensions, using almost none of TOS's resources.
Minecraft server
The F2-425 can host a Minecraft world in TOS's Docker: a world wants ~4 GB, and this model offers 4 GB out of the box and room for 16 GB. Add RAM before inviting a crowd; the Intel N5095 (4 cores, 2.0 GHz)'s clock does the rest.
Docker (general)
The F2-425 runs a full container platform through TOS, which is what makes it more than a 2-bay disk box — Immich, Nextcloud, Pi-hole and the rest all run here. How many you stack comes down to 4 GB out of the box and room for 16 GB on the 4-core Intel N5095 (4 cores, 2.0 GHz).
Virtual machines
The F2-425 is a real VM host: the 4-core Intel N5095 (4 cores, 2.0 GHz) virtualizes and 4 GB out of the box and room for 16 GB lets you hand a guest a proper slice while the NAS keeps serving over 1 × 2.5GbE. Fill it toward 16 GB if VMs are the point.
Surveillance recording
With TerraMaster's built-in surveillance app and the 4-core Intel N5095 (4 cores, 2.0 GHz), the F2-425 records a serious number of cameras. Plan the 2-bay storage around your retention window, and fit WD Purple or SkyHawk drives built for the 24/7 write load.
Time Machine / backup target
Backups are the F2-425's day job: it serves as a Time Machine and Windows/phone backup target over SMB, and its 1 × 2.5GbE link keeps whole-machine backups quick. Cap each user's quota so the 2 bays are not swallowed by old snapshots.
The F2-425 at a glance
| CPU | Intel N5095 (4 cores, 2.0 GHz) |
|---|---|
| RAM | 4 GB DDR4 SO-DIMM, no ECC (1 slot), up to 16 GB |
| Bays | 2 |
| Container platform | Yes — TOS |
| Virtual machines | Yes |
| Plex/Jellyfin transcode | 4K HDR via Intel Quick Sync |
| OS | TOS 6 |
Read more
- What can I run? — the full matrix
- Best drives for the F2-425
- RAM for the F2-425
- F2-425 capacity calculator
Frequently asked questions
Can the F2-425 run Plex with 4K transcoding?
Yes. The Intel N5095 (4 cores, 2.0 GHz) includes Intel Quick Sync, so the F2-425 hardware-transcodes 4K HDR in Plex (with an active Plex Pass). It is one of this model's real strengths.
Can the F2-425 run Docker?
Yes — TOS includes a full container platform, so the F2-425 runs the whole self-hosted world (Pi-hole, Vaultwarden, Nextcloud and more), limited only by its 4–16 GB of RAM.
Can the F2-425 run virtual machines?
Yes. The F2-425 supports hardware virtualization, and with up to 16 GB of RAM it can give a Windows or Linux guest a useful slice while still serving files.
Can the F2-425 run Immich?
Yes. With a RAM upgrade toward 8 GB, the F2-425 runs Immich's machine-learning photo search comfortably in Docker — a strong self-hosted Google Photos replacement.
Can the F2-425 run Home Assistant?
Yes. Home Assistant Container runs in Docker on the F2-425 and barely touches the CPU, and you can run the full Home Assistant OS in a VM if you prefer add-ons.
Is the F2-425 a good home server, or just storage?
It is a genuine home server: full Docker (and VMs) turn it into a platform for Plex, photos, automation and more — not just a file box. RAM is the main lever on how much you stack.
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)