QNAP TS-473A 4-Bay NAS Enclosure with QSW-1105-5T Network Switch

Overview

The QNAP TS-473A-SW5T-US is a combined solution featuring a four-bay NAS enclosure and a 5-port 2.5 GbE network switch, designed to deliver high-speed storage and networking for home users and small businesses. The NAS supports up to four SATA III drives with flexible RAID options and includes an AMD Ryzen V1500B quad-core processor running at 2.2 GHz paired with 8 GB of DDR4 memory, expandable to 64 GB. This setup ensures smooth handling of multi-user workloads, media editing, and virtual machine hosting. The included QSW-1105-5T switch offers five 2.5 GbE ports, enabling faster network throughput over standard Cat 5e cables without the noise of a fan.

Key features

• Four drive bays compatible with 2.5 or 3.5 inch SATA III hard drives or SSDs, allowing flexible storage configurations
• Dual 2.5 GbE network ports on the NAS support link aggregation or separate network setups for improved data transfer speeds
• Two M.2 NVMe PCIe slots provide SSD caching to accelerate demanding tasks like large file transfers and media editing
• Powerful AMD Ryzen V1500B quad-core processor ensures efficient multitasking and responsiveness under heavy workloads
• Pre-installed 8 GB DDR4 memory with the option to expand up to 64 GB to accommodate growing performance needs
• QSW-1105-5T switch offers five 2.5 GbE ports for faster network connections using existing cabling, ideal for collaborative environments
• Fanless design of the network switch guarantees quiet operation, suitable for noise-sensitive spaces
• Supports multiple RAID levels (0, 1, 5, 6, 10, JBOD) to balance performance and data protection according to user requirements
• Two PCIe slots in the NAS allow for future expansion with 10 GbE network cards or other compatible add-ons

Key specs

• Processor: AMD Ryzen V1500B quad-core 2.2 GHz
• Memory: 8 GB DDR4 (expandable to 64 GB)
• Drive bays: 4 x 2.5/3.5 inch SATA III
• M.2 slots: 2 x NVMe PCIe for SSD caching
• Network ports (NAS): 2 x 2.5 GbE
• Network switch ports: 5 x 2.5 GbE (fanless)
• RAID support: 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, JBOD
• Expansion slots: 2 x PCIe for network or storage cards

Connectivity and compatibility

The NAS and switch combination is designed to integrate seamlessly into existing network environments using standard Cat 5e cabling, providing a significant speed upgrade without requiring new wiring. The dual 2.5 GbE ports on the NAS support link aggregation, which can double network throughput when connected to compatible switches or devices. The QSW-1105-5T switch’s five 2.5 GbE ports allow multiple workstations to benefit from faster data transfers, making it easier to handle backups, media streaming, and collaborative projects without bottlenecks.

Performance and reliability

Equipped with a quad-core AMD Ryzen processor and expandable DDR4 memory, the NAS delivers consistent performance for multi-user access and demanding applications like virtual machines and 4K media streaming. The inclusion of M.2 NVMe SSD caching further boosts responsiveness by reducing latency during intensive read/write operations. RAID configurations provide data redundancy options to protect against drive failures, ensuring your important files remain safe. The fanless design of the network switch contributes to a quieter workspace while maintaining reliable network performance.

Ideal uses and environments

This NAS and switch bundle is well suited for small offices, creative studios, and home users who require fast, reliable storage and networking. It supports a variety of workloads including media editing, file sharing, and virtual machine hosting. The quiet operation of the switch makes it a good fit for noise-sensitive environments such as home theaters or shared workspaces. Users looking to future-proof their setup will appreciate the expandability options through PCIe slots and memory upgrades, allowing the system to grow alongside their needs.