QNAP TS-451+

Introduction

It is clear what QNAP is aiming for with the TS-451+ from the moment you open up the device, as the unit comes with a multimedia remote as the standard accessory. QNAP actually has had the multimedia remote that users can purchase separately as an add-on accessory that works with their NAS units with an integrated IR receiver. However, it has never been included as a standard accessory, but rather an add-on that users have to purchase separately. Thus, it is clear that QNAP is targeting this particular model of the NAS as a media server and HTPC.

TS-451+

As the name implies, the TS-451+ is the “plus” version of the TS-451, which QNAP launched a year ago. Compared to the older TS-451, the new model gets an upgrade to the quad-core processor and comes with more RAM. Instead of a dual-core Celeron processor, the plus model comes with a quad-core Intel Celeron J1900 processor, clocked at 2GHz with burst speed of 2.42GHz. The plus now also comes with 2GB or 4GB of DDR3L RAM as standard as oppose to 1GB/2GB standard found on the TS-451.

Model	TS-451+	TS-451	TS-453 Pro
CPU	Intel Celeron J1900 (4C @ 2.42 GHz)	Intel Celeron J1800 (2C @ 2.421 GHz)	Intel Celeron J1900 (4C @ 2.42GHz)
Memory Installed (max) (GB)	2 or 8 (8)	1 or 4 (8)	2 or 8 (8)
Flash Memory	512	512	512
HD Bays	4	4	4
LAN ports	2	2	4
USB	2 x USB, 3.0 port (Front: 1, Rear: 1) 2 x USB 2.0 port (Rear: 2)	2 x USB, 3.0 port (Front: 1, Rear: 1) 2 x USB 2.0 port (Rear: 2)	3 x USB, 3.0 port (Front: 1, Rear: 2) 2 x USB 2.0 port (Rear: 2)
HDMI	1	1	1
LED Indicator	Status, LAN, USB, HDD 1-4	Status, LAN, USB, HDD 1-4	Status, LAN, USB, HDD 1-4
IR Receiver	MCE-compatible	MCE-compatible	MCE-compatible
Power	90W external	90W external	250W internal

In many ways, the TS-451+ more closely resembles the TS-453 Pro than the TS-451. The unit essentially has the same internals as the last year’s TS-453 Pro, but with the exterior of the TS-451.

QNAP’s Pro models are constructed with a metal chassis that is meant for small business; whereas the non-pro models are designed for home users that often forgo the premium metal chassis and opt for the plastic chassis. The TS-451+ lacks the Pro tag which means that it is made with plastic chassis. It is a bit disappointing for us to see the plastic chassis on the TS-451+ since we are quite fond on the QNAP’s metallic exterior, as it not only offers a great finish to the device, but it also helps with cooling.

We can probably overlook the plastic casing on the TS-451+, but we really would have hoped to see QNAP use metal on the hard drive trays. Metal trays are much more sturdy and given to the fact that the drives are designed to be hot-swappable, we feel that a metal tray is a must-have feature, even if the unit is meant to be used for home users which may not swap in and out of the drives often as a business users. Unfortunately, the plastic that QNAP uses is a bit soft and flexible, and its design is not compatible with other high-end QNAP NAS units. Thus, you would not be able to simply slide the tray from one to another like what we were able to do with the TS-463 and the TS-471. This is rather unfortunate, as it means that if you are upgrading or downgrading, you would have to swap the drive in and out.

Given the fact the TS-451+ is designed for home users, we can see that it is missing the front panel LED display that we often find on the high-end models. While the panel can be resourceful, providing the NAS status and setting up without any PC, it may not be missed as much, as you are still able to set the NAS up with the web browser or the Windows Qfinder application. On the front, we have the standard QNAP NAS button configuration: the status indicators, power button, USB auto-copy, and a single USB 3.0 port. On the rear, we find the two USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, one HDMI, power connector, and the Kensington key.