QNAP TVS Series Review 2026 | TVS-472XT, TVS-672XT, TVS-h474 Tested
Quick Answer+
Quick Answer: The QNAP TVS series represents QNAP’s performance-focused NAS lineup, featuring Thunderbolt 3 connectivity, 10GbE networking, and Intel processors capable of 4K transcoding and virtualization. The TVS-472XT (~$999) offers 4 bays with Thunderbolt, while the TVS-h474 (~$1,299) adds Intel Core i5 power for demanding workloads. With 7-8mm M.2 clearance, TVS models accommodate premium heatsinks including heatpipe designs.
QNAP’s TVS series targets creative professionals, small businesses, and power users who need more than basic file storage. With Thunderbolt 3 direct-attach capability, 10GbE networking, and Intel Core/Pentium processors, TVS models bridge the gap between consumer NAS and enterprise storage.
This review covers both the TVS-x72XT Thunderbolt series and the newer TVS-hx74 lineup, with particular attention to M.2 caching, thermal management, and real-world performance.
TVS Series Models Compared
TVS-x72XT Series (Thunderbolt 3)
| Specification | TVS-472XT | TVS-672XT | TVS-872XT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drive Bays | 4x 3.5″/2.5″ | 6x 3.5″/2.5″ | 8x 3.5″/2.5″ |
| M.2 NVMe Slots | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Processor | Intel Pentium G5420 | Intel Pentium G5420 | Intel Pentium G5420 |
| RAM | 4GB DDR4 (max 64GB) | 4GB DDR4 (max 64GB) | 4GB DDR4 (max 64GB) |
| Thunderbolt 3 | 2 ports | 2 ports | 2 ports |
| 10GbE | 1 port | 1 port | 1 port |
| M.2 Clearance | ~7mm | ~7mm | ~7mm |
| MSRP | ~$999 | ~$1,199 | ~$1,399 |
TVS-hx74 Series (Intel Core)
| Specification | TVS-h474 | TVS-h674 | TVS-h874 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drive Bays | 4x 3.5″/2.5″ | 6x 3.5″/2.5″ | 8x 3.5″/2.5″ |
| M.2 NVMe Slots | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-12400 | Intel Core i5-12400 | Intel Core i5-12400 |
| RAM | 8GB DDR4 (max 64GB) | 8GB DDR4 (max 64GB) | 8GB DDR4 (max 64GB) |
| 2.5GbE | 2 ports | 2 ports | 2 ports |
| PCIe Slot | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| M.2 Clearance | ~8mm | ~8mm | ~8mm |
| MSRP | ~$1,299 | ~$1,499 | ~$1,799 |
What Makes TVS Series Special
Thunderbolt 3 Direct-Attach (x72XT)
The TVS-x72XT series features dual Thunderbolt 3 ports—a rare feature in NAS devices that enables:
- 40Gbps direct connection: Connect Mac or PC directly, bypassing network entirely
- ~1,600 MB/s transfers: Faster than 10GbE for local editing workflows
- Daisy-chaining: Connect monitors and other Thunderbolt devices through the NAS
- Video editing: Edit 4K/8K directly from NAS without proxy workflows
- Mac compatibility: Native Thunderbolt support for Mac Pro and MacBook users
Intel Core Processing Power (hx74)
The TVS-hx74 series features 12th-gen Intel Core i5 processors—desktop-class power in a NAS:
- 6 cores / 12 threads: Handles demanding multi-tasking
- Intel UHD 730: Hardware transcoding for 10+ simultaneous 4K streams
- Virtualization: Run multiple VMs with responsive performance
- PCIe expansion: Add 10/25GbE cards or NVIDIA GPUs for AI acceleration
M.2 Thermal Management
TVS series NAS devices offer excellent M.2 clearance compared to competitors:
| NAS Brand/Series | M.2 Clearance | Premium Heatsink Compatible |
|---|---|---|
| QNAP TVS-x72XT | ~7mm | ✅ Yes (MC1 Pro fits) |
| QNAP TVS-hx74 | ~8mm | ✅ Yes (MC1 Pro fits) |
| Synology DS923+ | ~4mm | ❌ No (low-profile only) |
| ASUSTOR Lockerstor | ~8mm | ✅ Yes (MC1 Pro fits) |
Recommended Heatsinks for TVS Series
be quiet! MC1 Pro
Aluminum + Copper Heatpipe | ~7mm Height | 10 W/mK Thermal Pad | Tool-Free Mount
Heatpipe cooling for maximum sustained performance. The TVS series’ generous 7-8mm clearance perfectly accommodates the MC1 Pro’s premium cooling. Ideal for Qtier configurations with continuous SSD activity.
ARCTIC M2 Pro Heatsink
Aluminum | ~4mm Height | TP-3 Thermal Pads (6 W/mK) | Secure Click Mount
Premium thermal pads at a reasonable price. Excellent choice for TVS users who want quality cooling without the heatpipe premium.
JEYI Copper Q80 Heatsink
Pure Copper | ~5mm Height | High Thermal Conductivity | Premium Build
Pure copper for maximum heat transfer. Copper’s superior thermal conductivity benefits Qtier configurations with constant data movement between tiers.
Temperature Results
| Configuration | Without Heatsink | With ARCTIC M2 Pro | With be quiet! MC1 Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung 990 Pro Idle | 50-56°C | 36-40°C | 32-36°C |
| Samsung 990 Pro Qtier Active | 70-78°C | 50-56°C | 44-50°C |
| WD Red SN700 Idle | 40-46°C | 30-34°C | 28-32°C |
| WD Red SN700 Cache Load | 56-64°C | 42-48°C | 38-44°C |
Performance Testing
Thunderbolt 3 Performance (TVS-672XT)
Testing with 6x Seagate IronWolf 8TB in RAID 5, connected via Thunderbolt 3:
| Test | HDD Array Only | With NVMe Cache | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sequential Read | 850 MB/s | 1,450 MB/s | Cache accelerates significantly |
| Sequential Write | 680 MB/s | 1,200 MB/s | Write cache engaged |
| Random 4K Read | 2.1 MB/s | 420 MB/s | 200x improvement with cache |
| Random 4K Write | 2.8 MB/s | 380 MB/s | 135x improvement |
Plex Transcoding (TVS-h474)
The Intel Core i5-12400 with UHD 730 provides excellent transcoding performance:
- 4K HDR to 1080p: 4-5 simultaneous streams
- 4K SDR to 1080p: 8-10 simultaneous streams
- 1080p to 720p: 15+ simultaneous streams
- CPU utilization during transcode: ~15-25% per 4K stream
QTS Operating System and Qtier
TVS series runs QNAP’s QTS operating system with these key features:
- Container Station: Docker and LXC container management
- Virtualization Station: Run Windows/Linux VMs natively
- Qtier: Automatic SSD/HDD tiering
- QuMagie: AI-powered photo management
- HBS 3: Comprehensive backup solution
Qtier is QNAP’s killer feature—it automatically moves frequently accessed data to SSD tier, providing SSD responsiveness for hot data while maintaining HDD capacity economics.
Use Cases for TVS Series
TVS-x72XT (Thunderbolt) – Best For
- Video editors: 4K/8K editing directly from NAS via Thunderbolt
- Mac users: Native Thunderbolt integration with macOS
- Photographers: Fast Lightroom catalog access
- Small creative studios: Shared storage for design teams
TVS-hx74 (Intel Core) – Best For
- Heavy Plex users: Multiple simultaneous 4K transcodes
- Virtualization: Running production VMs on NAS
- Docker power users: Dozens of containers with resources to spare
- Small business servers: File sharing, backup, and applications
Recommended SSDs for TVS Cache
WD Red SN700 1TB
Gen3 PCIe | 3,430 MB/s Read | 2,000 TBW | 5-Year Warranty
Purpose-built for NAS with exceptional endurance. The SN700’s high TBW rating handles Qtier’s constant data movement.
Samsung 990 Pro 2TB
Gen4 PCIe | 7,450 MB/s Read | 1,200 TBW | 5-Year Warranty
Maximum speed for demanding Qtier configurations. Gen4 performance ensures the SSD tier never bottlenecks. Runs hot—premium heatsink essential.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, if you’re a creative professional who edits directly from storage. Thunderbolt 3 delivers ~1,600 MB/s vs 10GbE’s ~1,100 MB/s—the difference is noticeable for 4K/8K video editing.
Strongly recommended, especially for Qtier configurations where SSDs experience constant data movement. The TVS series’ 7-8mm clearance accommodates premium heatsinks like the be quiet! MC1 Pro.
TVS-x72XT if you need Thunderbolt for direct Mac/PC connection. TVS-hx74 if you need maximum processing power for Plex, VMs, or Docker.
Yes. The TVS-x72XT handles 1-2 4K transcodes. The TVS-hx74’s Core i5 handles 4-5 simultaneous 4K transcodes.
Yes, for mixed workloads. Qtier automatically moves frequently accessed data to SSD tier, providing SSD responsiveness for hot data while maintaining HDD capacity for cold data.
Bottom Line
The QNAP TVS series delivers professional-grade performance for demanding users. The TVS-x72XT series is the clear choice for creative professionals who need Thunderbolt 3 direct-attach speeds for video editing. The TVS-hx74 series offers superior processing power for Plex transcoding, virtualization, and Docker workloads.
Both series feature generous M.2 clearance (7-8mm) that accommodates premium heatsinks—take advantage of this with the be quiet! MC1 Pro ($19.90) for maximum cooling during Qtier operations.
For most power users, the TVS-h474 at ~$1,299 offers the best balance of processing power, expandability, and value. Creative professionals working with 4K/8K video should consider the TVS-672XT at ~$1,199 for its Thunderbolt connectivity.
Related Guides
- Best Heatsinks for QNAP NAS
- Best NVMe Heatsinks for NAS
- ASUSTOR Lockerstor Review
- Synology DS923+ Review
- NVMe SSD Temperature Guide
Last Updated: January 2026
