#LAN SPEED TEST REVIEWS PLUS#

This will likely be worth it if youвЂ™re primarily streaming, but a single 2.5GbE connection will be better if youвЂ™re continually writing to the box. As noted, this requires no help from a switch or router. The Asustor AS5202TвЂ™s performance over a single 2.5GbE connection.ДЄs shown below, read speed increased by almost 80MBps, but write speed decreased by about 40MBps when using the AS5202вЂ™s round-robin link aggregation. ThatвЂ™s likely a good enough boost for most users, considering that gigabit tops out at just below 120MBps. Note that the switch must support multi-gig (2500/5000), and not fall back to gigabit or 10/100 when 10GbE is not available.Д®ven without link aggregation, the AS5202T read and wrote at 293MBps over a single 2.5GbE connection. Switches supporting 2.5GbE, on the other hand, are rare but there are some affordable ones, including the the $180 Zyxel XGS1210-12 that I used in testing. Just as a bit of background, USB-C 2.5GbE adapters, such as this Trendnet model, cost only about $40, so you can add that speed to any computer easily. Speed is where the AS5202T justifies itвЂ™s hefty price tag. Most of the NAS boxes passing though our lab use older DDR3 memory. Bottom line in term of specs: ItвЂ™s fast, and itвЂ™s loaded.

Inside, thereвЂ™s 2GB of DDR4-2400 memory and an Intel Gemini Lake Celeron J4005 CPU running at 2GHz. On the back, youвЂ™ll find the aforementioned dual 2.5Gbps (RJ45) ethernet ports that may be aggregated for better performance, two more USB 3.2 (Gen 1) ports, and an HDMI 2.0a output.

#LAN SPEED TEST REVIEWS PLUS#

The front has the usual power and quick copy buttons, plus one Type-A 5Gbps USB port, as well as the power and drive status/activity lights. The Nimbustor 2, which IвЂ™ll hereinafter refer to by its model name, the AS5202T, is a black two-bay box (a four-bay version is also available that was selling for $429 on Amazon as of this writing). This review is part of TechHiveвЂ™s coverage of the best NAS boxes for media streaming and client backup, where youвЂ™ll find reviews of competing products, plus a buyerвЂ™s guide to the features you should consider when shopping. It might also be worth if you want to use the AS5202T as a media box for your TV-it offers 4K UHD decoding and output via HDMI. OK, you can find a two-bay NAS for much less but if you value your time, itвЂ™s worth it. ItвЂ™s not even that pricey-I found it on Amazon for $299 (unpopulated, of course).

ItвЂ™s not simply the fast 2.5GbE networking (thatвЂ™s 2.5 gigabits per second ethernet using CAT5e cables, for the uninitiated-5Gbps with link aggregation), itвЂ™s the speed of setup, the super-responsive web-based configuration interface, and just overall snappiness. Up close, its appearance doesnвЂ™t quite live up to the top-tier look in the photos its performance and features, however, most definitely do. The Nimbustor 2, AS5202T is my first look at an Asus NAS box.

Lan speed test reviews