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The Flashstor 6 and Flashstor 12 Pro have similar ports and connectivity options, with one notable distinction. Both models feature S/PDIF audio and visual outputs, ideal for high-end audio systems, and HDMI 2.0b for 4K resolution at 60FPS with improved bandwidth capabilities. In addition, they come equipped with the Austor Portal application, which provides a parallel GUI accessible via HDMI. This GUI offers independent control, not just mirroring the network/web GUI of ADM. It can be operated using a keyboard, mouse, network remote, or mobile app remote.
The Flashtor 6 and Flashtor 12 Pro models offer different storage capacities and connectivity options. The Flashtor 6 features six PCIe 3.0 M.2 slots for M.2 2280 drives, while the Flashtor 12 Pro offers 12 slots. Both NAS devices support RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, and 10 arrays.
Upon examining the Flashstor 12 Pro NAS, you'll find a vital cooling fan situated beneath the M.2 NVMe slots. This fan significantly contributes to the unit's temperature control by directing airflow through the PCB slots and across a large heatsink enveloping the CPU. To access the M.2 slots, simply remove four tiny screws and slide the fan cover off, which also unplugs the USB-A port powering the fan. Beneath the fan, there are clearly labeled M.2 slots numbered from 1 to 6. A closer look reveals several ASMedia ASM1480 PCIe multiplexers located above these slots. These multiplexers primarily manage the PCIe traffic on the 6-bay unit with limited PCIe Gen 3 lanes, allowing support for two NICs in the 6-bay configuration or a single 10G NIC in the 12-bay configuration, in addition to the M.2 slots.
Upon flipping the 6-bay unit and removing its top cover, you'll see unoccupied pads for extra M.2 slots and ICs. In comparison, the 12-bay unit boasts populated ICs, specifically three ASMedia ASM2806 PCI express switch chips.The 12-bay configuration includes an additional heatsink covering the 10 Gbps NIC chip, while the 6-bay version utilizes two 2.5 Gbps Realtek RTL8125GB NICs. Both units feature two DDR4 SODIMM slots, with one slot pre-installed with 4GB of DDR4 3200 CL22 RAM. Although the N5105 can support up to 16GB of RAM, it's recommended to adhere to the specified maximum for optimal stability.
Plastic retention tabs simplify the installation and removal of drives in the M.2 slots, ensuring a secure fit and providing peace of mind even in case of minor drops or NAS movement.
We'll try out an assortment of SSDs (old and new) to see how that works out.
When powering on the unit, you'll instantly see a striking red motif encircling the power button on the side, accompanied by the illumination of four status LEDs on the top. Although the Flashtor series is based on NVMe storage, users can still utilize traditional hard drives when they require larger storage capacities. However, to expand the storage capacity, users can opt for the AS6004U, a four-bay NAS storage expander from Asustor, available at a retail price of $329. The AS6004U connects to the Flashtor devices through a standard USB 3 port.
In terms of USB connectivity, both the Flashstor 6 and Flashstor 12 Pro have 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 and 2x USB 2.0 ports. The USB 2.0 ports are primarily intended for accessories related to audio/visual output. However, the USB 3.2 Gen 1 (10Gb/s) ports are versatile. Additionally, these USB ports can be used to connect official Asustor SATA HDD/SSD expansion chassis, enabling the addition of larger and more cost-effective cold/warm storage if required.
