SmallNetBuilder

Performance

I tested with 3.4.3 Build 0520T using our standard NAS test process. I don't have a handy way in the NAS Charts to generate a side-by-side comparison of all benchmarks. But if you filter the charts for QNAP and step through the relevant tests, you'll see that the two products perform very similarly, as you might expect.

The Benchmark summary below shows Windows File copy write measured 45 MB/s, with file copy read significantly higher at 75 MB/s.

NASPT File Copy write benchmarks were higher and more evenly matched at 62 MB/s for write and 66 MB/s for read. As with all other tested NASes, the tougher NASPT Directory Copy tests didn't break out of the mid teens.

I could only run attached backup tests to a USB 2.0 drive, and used the built-in formatter that includes EXT3. Best attached backup speed of 21 MB/s was with NTFS and worst was 19 MB/s with FAT!

Rsync network backup measured 19 MB/s to the NAS testbed running Delta Copy.

iSCSI write and read to a 10 GB volume produced 35 MB/s and 50 MB/s, respectively, not bad for a $250 NAS.

The File Copy Write and Read charts below are filtered to show only dual-bay NASes. Most of the current Kirkwood-based NASes, like the Synology DS211+, QNAP TS-219P+ and Buffalo LinkStation Pro Duo LS-WVL, use the newer and faster 88F6282 @ 1.6 GHz variant.

File Copy Write Comparison - two bay products

In fact, the D-Link DNS-325 is the only other Kirkwood in the chart using the same CPU. QNAP seems to squeeze much more performance out of it than D-Link, as the charts clearly show.

File Copy Read Comparison - two bay products

Conclusion

The Price vs. Performance plot for dual-bay NASes in a nice, cozy spot, slightly higher in performance and lower in price than the Buffalo LinkStation Pro Duo LS-WVL. But the Buffalo comes with 2 TB of storage included, making it a better value for the money.

Price vs. Performance - two bay products

The Buffalo doesn't come near the TS-112 in terms of flexibility, with many more built-in features and even more addable via QNAP's QPKG system. For $250 (without drives), the TS-212 is a good combination of performance and features.

There won't be a full review of the TS-212. Use the new NAS Finder and NAS Charts to compare it with other products.