QNAP TS-473A Review: AMD Ryzen NAS for Power Users

The QNAP TS-473A takes a fundamentally different approach than most consumer NAS devices. Instead of Intel’s integrated graphics, it uses AMD’s Ryzen V1500B — a processor designed for embedded systems with strong CPU performance but no GPU. This architectural choice makes it excellent for certain workloads and completely wrong for others.

After extensive testing, I can say the TS-473A is a specialized tool. It’s one of the best consumer NAS options for virtualization and Docker, but it’s the wrong choice for media server enthusiasts. This review explains exactly who should buy it, who should avoid it, and how it compares to Intel alternatives.

QNAP TS-473A Specifications

Design and Build Quality

The TS-473A shares its chassis design with the Intel-based TS-464. It’s the same white plastic enclosure with copper/bronze accent strip that QNAP introduced with their x64 series refresh. The look is modern and fits well in home or office environments.

Chassis Construction

Build quality is solid — sturdy plastic construction with good fit and finish. The unit doesn’t flex or creak when handling. At 2.34 kg empty, it’s slightly heavier than the TS-464 due to the different internal layout required for AMD’s platform.

The four drive bays are arranged vertically with tool-less trays. Each tray has a locking mechanism to prevent accidental removal. Hot-swapping is supported for replacing drives without powering down.

Port Layout

Front Panel: 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (with One Touch Copy button), power button, status LEDs for system, LAN 1, LAN 2, and drives 1-4.

Rear Panel: 2x 2.5GbE RJ45 Ethernet ports, 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1x HDMI 2.0, 2x PCIe Gen3 x4 expansion slots (low-profile), Kensington lock slot, and power input (external adapter).

Bottom Panel: 2x M.2 2280 NVMe slots (PCIe Gen3 x1 each).

The dual PCIe x4 slots are a major advantage over the TS-464’s single PCIe x2 slot. This enables more powerful expansion cards and simultaneous use of multiple cards.

Cooling and Noise

A single 120mm fan handles cooling. The Ryzen V1500B has a higher TDP than Intel’s N5105 (15-25W vs 10W), so the fan works harder under load. At idle, noise is rated at 20.2 dB(A) — slightly louder than the TS-464’s 19.8 dB(A) but still very quiet.

Under sustained load (VM workloads, RAID rebuilds), fan noise increases noticeably but remains acceptable for office environments. Thermal management is good — the Ryzen doesn’t throttle even during extended stress testing.

The AMD Difference: What It Means For You

The Ryzen V1500B is fundamentally different from Intel Celeron/Pentium processors used in most consumer NAS devices. Understanding these differences is critical to deciding if the TS-473A is right for you.

Advantages of AMD Ryzen V1500B

1. Stronger Multi-Threaded CPU Performance

The V1500B is a true quad-core with SMT (8 threads total). It’s based on AMD’s Zen 1 architecture — the same foundation as the original Ryzen desktop CPUs. This provides 15-20% better multi-threaded performance than Intel’s N5105. For workloads that parallelize well (compression, encryption, multiple containers, VMs), the Ryzen has a meaningful advantage.

2. Massive RAM Support (64GB)

The TS-473A supports up to 64GB DDR4 RAM — four times the TS-464’s 16GB limit. This is transformative for running multiple VMs simultaneously, ZFS with large ARC cache, heavy Docker workloads, in-memory databases, and large Plex libraries with extensive metadata. The ability to install 64GB RAM is the single biggest differentiator from Intel-based alternatives.

3. More PCIe Lanes (Dual x4 Slots)

Two PCIe Gen3 x4 slots provide 8GB/s total bandwidth (4GB/s per slot). This is 4x the bandwidth of the TS-464’s single PCIe x2 slot. This enables 10GbE + GPU simultaneously, dual 10GbE cards for link aggregation, 10GbE + SAS expansion for external drive enclosures, and 10GbE + additional M.2 expansion cards.

4. Better ECC Memory Compatibility

The Ryzen platform supports ECC unbuffered memory, providing additional data integrity protection for critical workloads. This is particularly valuable for ZFS deployments where data integrity is paramount.

Disadvantages of AMD Ryzen V1500B

1. No Hardware Video Transcoding

This is the dealbreaker for many users. The V1500B has no integrated GPU — no equivalent to Intel’s Quick Sync. All video transcoding must be done in software using the CPU. This means much slower transcoding (1-2 4K streams vs 3-4), much higher CPU usage (80-100% vs 15%), higher power consumption during transcoding, and less CPU headroom for other tasks during transcoding.

2. Higher Power Consumption

The TS-473A draws approximately 45W under load compared to 35W for the TS-464. Over a year of 24/7 operation, this ~10W difference costs roughly $10-15 extra in electricity (at typical US rates of $0.12/kWh). Not significant, but worth noting for power-conscious users.

3. HDMI Output Has Limited Usefulness

While the TS-473A has HDMI 2.0, without an integrated GPU, HD Station and HTPC features are severely limited. You can display the QTS interface but can’t run GPU-accelerated apps smoothly. The HDMI port is essentially useless for media playback.

Performance Testing

CPU Benchmarks

The Ryzen V1500B outperforms the Intel N5105 in pure CPU tasks:

The takeaway: Intel wins slightly in single-threaded tasks, but AMD wins by 14-18% in multi-threaded workloads. For NAS tasks that parallelize well (compression, encryption, multiple containers), the Ryzen has a real advantage.

Network Transfer Speeds

Both models have dual 2.5GbE ports. Real-world transfer performance is nearly identical:

Network performance is essentially identical. Both saturate 2.5GbE connections without issue. The Ryzen’s stronger AES-NI implementation shows a slight edge in encrypted transfers, but the difference is negligible in practice.

Plex Transcoding Performance (The Bad News)

The TS-473A cannot hardware transcode. This is the single most important consideration for media server users.

Without an integrated GPU, all transcoding is software-only using the CPU:

The verdict is clear: if Plex transcoding is important, buy the TS-464. The Intel’s Quick Sync provides dramatically better transcoding performance at lower CPU usage and power consumption. The TS-473A is not suitable for Plex unless all your clients support Direct Play.

Virtual Machine Performance (The Good News)

Virtual machines are where the TS-473A truly shines. The combination of stronger CPU, 64GB RAM support, and dual PCIe slots makes it one of the best consumer NAS options for virtualization.

Tested VM Configurations:

Multi-VM Testing (with 32GB RAM installed):

Running simultaneously: 3x Ubuntu Server + Windows 10 ran smoothly with 8GB RAM free. 2x Windows 10 + 2x Ubuntu was manageable with some competition for resources. 5x lightweight Linux VMs showed no issues whatsoever.

The TS-464 can run VMs too, but its 16GB RAM ceiling limits how many you can run simultaneously. For serious virtualization, the TS-473A’s 64GB capacity is a major advantage that cannot be overstated.

Docker and Container Performance

Docker containers benefit from the Ryzen’s stronger CPU and RAM headroom. Container Station performs excellently with the TS-473A.

Test Configuration (16GB RAM installed): Running simultaneously: Plex Media Server, Home Assistant, Pi-hole, Nginx Proxy Manager, Portainer, Transmission, Watchtower, MariaDB, Redis, Grafana + InfluxDB.

Results: All 10+ containers ran smoothly with ~6GB RAM free. Container startup times were noticeably faster than the TS-464 (~15% improvement). CPU-intensive containers like Nextcloud showed better responsiveness. With 32GB or 64GB RAM, you can run significantly more containers without memory pressure.

Expansion Options

The TS-473A has superior expansion capabilities compared to Intel models — a key differentiator for power users.

PCIe Expansion

2x PCIe Gen3 x4 slots provide 8GB/s total bandwidth (4GB/s per slot). This is 4x the bandwidth of the TS-464’s single PCIe x2 slot.

Possible Expansion Configurations:

• 10GbE + GPU: Fast networking plus Plex transcoding capability
• Dual 10GbE: Link aggregation or separate network segments
• 10GbE + SAS HBA: Connect external drive enclosures for expanded storage
• 10GbE + M.2 expansion: More NVMe slots for caching or fast storage
• GPU + M.2 expansion: Transcoding plus additional fast storage

Note on GPU Passthrough: You can pass through a GPU to a VM for applications like Plex, game streaming, or GPU-accelerated workloads. This is a unique capability not easily achieved on Intel NAS models.

RAM Expansion

The TS-473A has 2 SODIMM slots supporting up to 64GB DDR4 (2x 32GB modules). This is 4x the TS-464’s 16GB limit.

When to Upgrade RAM:

• QuTS hero (ZFS): ZFS loves RAM for ARC cache. 32GB+ recommended for best performance.
• Multiple VMs: Each Windows VM needs 4-8GB minimum. Plan accordingly.
• Heavy Docker: Memory-hungry containers like databases benefit from more RAM.
• Large Plex libraries: Metadata analysis and scanning are RAM-intensive.

M.2 NVMe Expansion

Two M.2 2280 slots on the bottom panel support NVMe SSDs. Like the TS-464, these are PCIe Gen3 x1 (~1GB/s per slot). Use cases include read-only SSD cache, read-write SSD cache (requires 2 SSDs in RAID 1), Qtier auto-tiering, and all-flash storage pool for VMs/Docker.

Software: QTS and QuTS hero

The TS-473A runs the same QTS operating system as Intel models. All apps and features work identically — the AMD platform has no software limitations.

QuTS hero (ZFS) Support

The TS-473A is an excellent QuTS hero candidate. ZFS benefits enormously from RAM, and with 64GB support, the TS-473A can maintain a large ARC (Adaptive Replacement Cache) for excellent performance.

ZFS Benefits: Inline data deduplication, inline compression (LZ4, ZSTD), self-healing with checksums, near-unlimited snapshots, native encryption, and better data integrity than ext4/Btrfs.

ZFS RAM Guidelines: Minimum 8GB (1GB per TB of storage), recommended 16-32GB for good ARC cache, with deduplication 5GB per TB of deduplicated data. The TS-473A’s 64GB ceiling makes it much better suited for QuTS hero than the TS-464’s 16GB limit.

TS-473A vs TS-464: Complete Comparison

Buy the TS-473A If:

• Virtual machines are a primary use case
• You need more than 16GB RAM
• You want dual PCIe x4 expansion slots
• You plan to use QuTS hero (ZFS) extensively
• You’ll add a GPU for transcoding (and accept the extra cost/complexity)
• Plex is direct play only OR you don’t use Plex
• You run many Docker containers
• CPU performance matters more than GPU features

Buy the TS-464 If:

• Plex transcoding is important to you
• Media server is a primary use case
• 16GB RAM is sufficient for your needs
• You want HDMI output for TV playback
• You prefer lower power consumption
• You want to save $63
• You want the best all-around value

Who Should Buy the QNAP TS-473A?

Ideal Users

• Home lab enthusiasts running multiple VMs for learning and experimentation
• Docker power users with many containers requiring significant RAM
• ZFS users wanting QuTS hero with proper RAM headroom
• Small businesses needing reliable VM hosting on-premises
• Developers running build servers, CI/CD, or compilation workloads
• Users planning GPU passthrough for specialized applications
• pfSense/OPNsense users wanting a NAS + router combo
• Data hoarders who prioritize CPU performance and expansion

Not Ideal For

• Plex users who need transcoding — get TS-464
• Media server as primary use case — get TS-464
• HTPC/TV playback users — get TS-464 with HD Station
• Budget-conscious buyers — TS-464 is cheaper and better for most
• Beginners who want simplicity — the AMD nuances add complexity
• Power-sensitive users — the extra 10W adds up over time

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Strong multi-threaded CPU performance (+14-18% vs Intel)
• 64GB RAM maximum (excellent for VMs and ZFS)
• Dual PCIe Gen3 x4 slots (4x more bandwidth than TS-464)
• Dual 2.5GbE networking built-in
• Excellent Docker container performance
• Best consumer NAS for QuTS hero (ZFS)
• Can add GPU for hardware transcoding if needed
• ECC memory support for data integrity
• GPU passthrough capability for VMs

Cons

• No hardware video transcoding (major limitation for Plex)
• Higher power consumption (~45W vs ~35W)
• $63 more expensive than TS-464
• HDMI output has limited usefulness without GPU
• Wrong choice for most typical home users
• Slightly louder under load than Intel alternatives
• Adding GPU for transcoding increases cost and complexity

Frequently Asked Questions

Verdict: Should You Buy the QNAP TS-473A?

The QNAP TS-473A is an excellent NAS for a specific audience: power users who prioritize VMs, Docker, and ZFS over media transcoding. If that describes you, the Ryzen CPU, 64GB RAM support, and dual PCIe x4 slots make it a compelling choice that outperforms Intel alternatives in these workloads.

However, the lack of hardware transcoding is a significant limitation that disqualifies it for most media server users. If Plex is important to you, the TS-464 provides dramatically better transcoding performance at a lower price. The TS-473A occupies a niche: it’s the best consumer NAS for virtualization and ZFS, but the wrong choice for the majority of home users.

Rating: 4.2/5

Pros: Excellent VM/Docker performance, 64GB RAM max, dual PCIe x4 slots, strong multi-threaded CPU, best for ZFS.

Cons: No hardware transcoding, poor Plex choice, higher power consumption, costs more than TS-464.

Bottom Line: Best consumer NAS for virtualization and power users. Wrong choice for media servers and typical home use.

Complete TS-473A Builds

VM Powerhouse (~$1,800)

• QNAP TS-473A — $699
• 32GB RAM upgrade (2x16GB) — $90
• 4x Seagate IronWolf 8TB — $800
• 1x Samsung 990 PRO 1TB (VM storage) — $200
• Total: $1,789 | Storage: 24TB HDD + 1TB SSD

ZFS Maximum (~$2,200)

• QNAP TS-473A — $699
• 64GB RAM upgrade (2x32GB) — $180
• 4x Seagate IronWolf Pro 16TB — $1,400
• Total: $2,279 | Storage: 48TB (RAID-Z1)

Plex + VMs with GPU (~$2,100)

• QNAP TS-473A — $699
• 32GB RAM upgrade — $90
• NVIDIA Quadro P400 — $150
• QNAP QXG-10G1T (10GbE) — $154
• 4x Seagate IronWolf 8TB — $800
• 1x Samsung 990 PRO 1TB — $200
• Total: $2,093 | Features: HW transcoding + 10GbE + VMs

Related Resources

• Best QNAP NAS 2026 — Complete buyer’s guide
• QNAP TS-464 Review — Intel alternative (better for Plex)
• QNAP Docker Setup Guide
• QuTS Hero (ZFS) Guide
• QNAP Compatible Hard Drives
• QNAP vs Synology

Last Updated: January 2026