Key takeaways
- Compare the best NAS systems for Plex media streaming by CPU, graphics, memory, NVMe slots and network speed, from fanless to 10GbE.
The Asustor Lockerstor 2 Gen2 (AS6702T) is the best NAS for Plex in this group: its quad-core Intel Celeron N5105 includes Intel UHD graphics for video transcoding, it has two SATA bays plus four M.2 NVMe slots, and dual 2.5GbE ports give plenty of network headroom. It suits households that stream a mixed library to phones, tablets and televisions. A Plex-ready NAS is a network storage box strong enough to run Plex Media Server, ideally with a CPU or integrated graphics that can convert video on the fly. One listing in this guide is a book rather than hardware, and we mark it plainly below.
Quick List
- Asustor Lockerstor 2 Gen2 AS6702T – best overall Plex NAS with Intel graphics, NVMe slots and dual 2.5GbE
- LincStation N2 – best for an all-flash, 10GbE Plex and Docker server on a budget-minded build
- QNAP TS-464 NAS Beginners Guide – a book about setting up a QNAP NAS for media streaming; a reference item, not a NAS
- Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro Gen2 AS3302T v2 – best for a simple, low-power two-bay Plex box that mostly direct-plays
- QNAP HS-264-8G – best for a silent, fanless living-room NAS with HDMI output
- Nimo AI NAS – best for a powerful mini-PC style server that goes beyond Plex into AI and virtual machines
Which One Is Right for You?
| If you… | Choose |
|---|---|
| want a quiet, fanless box that sits next to the television | QNAP HS-264-8G |
| want a mainstream Plex NAS with Intel graphics and room to add SSD storage | Asustor Lockerstor 2 Gen2 AS6702T |
| want a small, low-power NAS and your clients can direct-play your files | Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro Gen2 AS3302T v2 |
| want 10GbE networking and a compact flash-based Plex and Docker server | LincStation N2 |
| want heavy 4K transcoding headroom, ZFS and room for many drives | Nimo AI NAS |
| already own or plan to buy a QNAP TS-464 and want a learning guide | QNAP TS-464 NAS Beginners Guide |
The deciding factors are your client devices and your library format. If every device can play your files directly, even a modest ARM NAS works. If you share with relatives over the internet or watch 4K HDR files on devices that cannot decode them, you need an x86 chip with integrated graphics or a stronger processor.
All 6 Picks in Detail
1. Asustor Lockerstor 2 Gen2 AS6702T – Best Overall Plex NAS
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The Lockerstor 2 Gen2 is a two-bay NAS sold diskless, so you add the drives. It uses an Intel Celeron N5105 quad-core processor at 2.0GHz with boost up to 2.9GHz and UHD graphics, which Asustor advertises for 4K transcoding. It suits Plex users who want both bulk storage on hard drives and a fast flash tier for metadata and caching.
- Intel Celeron N5105, 4 cores, with integrated UHD graphics
- 4GB DDR4 memory, expandable to 16GB per Asustor’s data sheet
- Two SATA bays plus four M.2 NVMe slots (PCIe 3.0 x1 each)
- Dual 2.5GbE ports with SMB Multichannel support
- HDMI 2.0b output and two USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports; RAID 0, 1, JBOD and Single for the SATA bays
Asustor has since released a v2 with faster networking, so check which version the retailer is listing.
Day to day, this is the kind of NAS you set up once and forget. Install Plex from the vendor’s app store, point it at a media folder on the hard drives, and place the Plex database on an NVMe drive so that browsing posters and seasons feels immediate. The dual 2.5GbE ports can be aggregated if your switch supports it, though a single stream rarely needs more than one link. Keep the HDMI output in mind as well: it allows local playback to a television where the NAS operating system supports it.
Pros
- Hardware video transcoding via Intel graphics
- Four NVMe slots allow a fast Plex database or a flash pool
Cons
- Only 4GB of memory out of the box
- NVMe slots run at one PCIe lane each
It is the more flexible choice versus the QNAP HS-264, which uses the same class of CPU in a fanless chassis with less expansion.
2. LincStation N2 – Best for an All-Flash 10GbE Plex and Docker Server
The LincStation N2 is marketed as a six-bay NAS, but the six bays are two SATA bays and four M.2 NVMe slots. Its Intel N100 processor and 16GB of memory make it a capable Plex and Docker host for a modest price class. It suits tinkerers who want fast flash storage and a 10GbE port, and who are comfortable setting up software themselves.
- Intel N100 quad-core with 24EU UHD graphics, 16GB LPDDR5 soldered to the board
- Two SATA 3.0 bays for 2.5-inch drives and four M.2 2280 NVMe slots
- One 10GbE port (Aquantia controller)
- Ships with Unraid in the manufacturer’s materials; HDMI 2.0 output
- 128GB eMMC for the operating system
The NVMe slots each get a single PCIe 3.0 lane, so a flash pool will not reach full 10GbE speeds across all drives.
The N2 rewards users who enjoy building their own server stack. Unraid, which the maker ships with it, lets you mix drive sizes and run Plex in a container alongside other apps. The 10GbE port is useful if your switch and computer also support it, for example when moving large video projects, but a Plex-only home does not need that speed. Because the memory is soldered, the 16GB it ships with is what you get, which is generous for Plex and a few containers.
Pros
- 10GbE and 16GB of memory in a compact box
- Flexible software platform for Docker and virtual machines
Cons
- SATA bays are sized for 2.5-inch drives per the maker’s information
- Memory cannot be upgraded
Compared with the Asustor Lockerstor, it offers faster networking and more memory, but needs more setup and holds less bulk hard-drive storage.
3. QNAP TS-464 NAS Beginners Guide – A Book, Not a NAS (Reference Item)
This listing is a how-to guide for the QNAP TS-464, not a piece of hardware, so it cannot stream anything on its own. We include it plainly as a reference item for readers who choose that NAS and want step-by-step help. The title describes coverage of home storage, media streaming and backup. For context, QNAP’s own specifications describe the TS-464 as a four-bay NAS with an Intel Celeron quad-core processor, two 2.5GbE ports, two M.2 slots and a PCIe expansion slot.
- Format: instructional guide; confirm page count and edition on the listing
- Topics named in the title: home storage, media streaming and backup
- Subject hardware per QNAP: four 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch bays and dual 2.5GbE
- Does not include a NAS, drives or software licenses
A beginner guide can be genuinely useful, because most Plex problems on a NAS come from setup choices rather than hardware: wrong folder permissions, mismatched naming for movies and shows, or client devices forced into transcoding by their settings. If you buy a QNAP, a step-by-step book can shorten that first weekend. Just remember that screens and menu names change with software updates, so use the manufacturer’s current documentation alongside it. If you want hardware to run Plex today, look at the other five items.
Pros
- Useful for first-time NAS owners who like written walkthroughs
- Focused on one specific model
Cons
- Not a NAS, so it does not solve a hardware need
- Software screens may change after publication
It has no hardware equivalent in this list; the closest practical alternative is the QNAP HS-264, which shares the same operating system family.
4. Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro Gen2 AS3302T v2 – Best Simple Two-Bay Box for Direct Play
The Drivestor 2 Pro Gen2 is a compact two-bay NAS built around an ARM processor rather than an Intel chip, which affects how it handles Plex. It suits people who want photo backup, remote access and a media library streamed to devices that can play the files directly. The listing mentions 4K Plex media server use, but confirm hardware transcoding support in Plex’s documentation before counting on it.
- Realtek quad-core ARM processor at 1.7GHz per most retailer listings
- 2GB DDR4 memory and 8GB eMMC for the operating system
- Two bays for 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch drives; RAID 0, 1 and JBOD
- One 2.5GbE port and three USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports
- Btrfs and snapshot support listed
This box fits the household that wants storage and remote access first and Plex second. Because its processor is ARM-based, the sensible approach is to prepare your library for direct play: use common codecs, keep subtitles as separate files where possible, and set client apps to play original quality on your home network. Under those conditions the 2.5GbE port and low power draw make it a pleasant always-on server. If many remote viewers will need transcoded streams, an Intel-based model is the safer choice.
Pros
- 2.5GbE networking in a small, low-power chassis
- Simple for backup and remote access
Cons
- ARM design offers less software flexibility than Intel
- Only 2GB of memory
It is the lighter, simpler counterpart to the Lockerstor 2 Gen2, giving up Intel graphics and NVMe slots for lower complexity.
5. QNAP HS-264-8G – Best Silent NAS for the Living Room
The HS-264 is a fanless two-bay NAS with an Intel Celeron N5105 and 8GB of soldered memory. It suits people who want a silent box on a media shelf, with HDMI outputs for local playback. QNAP lists hardware-accelerated transcoding through Intel graphics, with one reseller noting H.264 specifically, so confirm codec support if your library uses HEVC.
- Intel Celeron N5105, 4 cores, burst up to 2.9GHz
- 8GB DDR4, soldered and not expandable
- Two bays for 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch SATA drives
- Two 2.5GbE ports and two HDMI 2.0 outputs
- Fanless design; runs QTS, with QuTS hero available
The pitch here is silence and simplicity. With no fan to hear, the HS-264 can live on a shelf beside the television, and the two HDMI outputs make it possible to connect directly to a display. Since the memory is fixed at 8GB, it is worth thinking about your app plans up front, but for a Plex-focused box that is comfortable headroom. Pair it with two matching hard drives in a mirror and a separate backup, and it becomes a tidy appliance for a small household library.
Pros
- Silent, with no fan to clog with dust
- Dual 2.5GbE and HDMI outputs
Cons
- Memory is not upgradeable
- No NVMe slots
Next to the Asustor Lockerstor, it trades expandability for silence and more built-in memory.
6. Nimo AI NAS – Best for a Powerful Mini-PC Server
The Nimo AI NAS is closer to a small server than a typical NAS. It is built around an AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS with Radeon 780M graphics, a hybrid layout of NVMe and 3.5-inch drive bays, and ZFS storage. It suits advanced users who want Plex transcoding, virtual machines and local AI work on one box.
- AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS, 8 cores, boost up to 5.1GHz, Radeon 780M graphics
- Hybrid storage with three NVMe slots and four 3.5-inch bays, up to 132TB per the listing
- ZFS file system with ECC memory mentioned in the maker’s material
- Network speed is shown as 10GbE on some pages and 2.5GbE on others; confirm on the listing
- Drives are generally not included; confirm the configuration you are buying
Treat this as a small server that happens to hold a lot of disks. The Ryzen processor and Radeon graphics give it much more transcoding capacity than the budget Celeron and N100 boxes, which matters if several family members stream remotely in high resolution at once. The trade-off is complexity: the listings describe an agentic AI layer and ZFS storage, and they disagree on networking, so read the exact product page. Plan for a bigger footprint, more power draw and a higher noise floor than the compact models.
Pros
- Far more processing power than the other NAS units here
- Room for many drives and fast flash
Cons
- Larger and likely noisier than the compact boxes
- Listings disagree on networking and memory
It is the opposite end of the range from the HS-264: much more capable, but also larger and more complex.
Specs Compared
| Model | Processor | Memory | Drive slots | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asustor Lockerstor 2 Gen2 AS6702T | Intel Celeron N5105 | 4GB DDR4 (to 16GB) | 2 SATA + 4 M.2 NVMe | Dual 2.5GbE | HDMI 2.0b; diskless |
| LincStation N2 | Intel N100 | 16GB LPDDR5 (fixed) | 2 SATA (2.5″) + 4 M.2 NVMe | 10GbE | Unraid; HDMI 2.0 |
| QNAP TS-464 NAS Beginners Guide | Not applicable (book) | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Reference item, not hardware |
| Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro Gen2 AS3302T v2 | Realtek ARM quad-core 1.7GHz | 2GB DDR4 | 2 SATA | One 2.5GbE | 3 USB ports; diskless |
| QNAP HS-264-8G | Intel Celeron N5105 | 8GB DDR4 (fixed) | 2 SATA | Dual 2.5GbE | Fanless; dual HDMI 2.0 |
| Nimo AI NAS | AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS | Confirm on listing | 3 NVMe + 4 x 3.5″ HDD | 10GbE or 2.5GbE; confirm | ZFS; up to 132TB |
How We Chose These
We started with the six listings supplied for this topic and compared them using manufacturer data sheets, QNAP and Asustor specification pages, and retailer listing fields. The criteria were processor and integrated graphics, memory, drive bays and NVMe slots, network speed, cooling and noise, and the stated suitability for Plex. We did not run our own measurements or transcoding trials, so no performance figures are quoted. One listing is a book, and one product has conflicting spec fields across retailers; we say so in each section and mark unknown values as “confirm on listing.” We also cross-checked overlapping fields, such as bay counts, capacity limits and interface names, across more than one source whenever possible.
What to Look For
Direct play versus transcoding
Plex has two ways to deliver a video. Direct play sends the file unchanged and asks almost nothing of the NAS, provided the client can decode the format. Transcoding converts the video on the fly when the client cannot play it or the connection is too slow, and that is where the CPU or graphics chip works hard. Plex’s own support guidance suggests roughly 2,000 PassMark CPU points per 1080p transcode stream in software, and far more for 4K HDR. If your devices play your files directly, even a modest NAS is enough. If they do not, choose an Intel chip with integrated graphics or a stronger processor.
Hardware transcoding and Plex Pass
Integrated graphics such as Intel UHD can transcode video far more efficiently than the CPU cores, which is why the N5105 and N100 models are popular for Plex. Plex generally requires a paid Plex Pass subscription to enable hardware-accelerated transcoding, so budget for that. Support depends on both the chip and the NAS operating system, and ARM-based boxes often lack it. HEVC and HDR tone mapping place extra demands on the hardware. Always check Plex’s documentation for your exact NAS and codec before you buy.
Storage layout, network and memory
A two-bay NAS with RAID 1 gives you one drive’s worth of space and survives a drive failure, while two bays in RAID 0 or JBOD give more space but less protection. NVMe slots are best used for the Plex database, thumbnails and cache, which speeds up browsing a large library; keep the bulk media on hard drives. For networking, a single 4K remux can run from 60 to over 100Mbps, so gigabit suffices for a few streams, but 2.5GbE helps with many clients and file transfers. Memory matters little for Plex itself; 4GB works, and 8GB gives breathing room for extra apps. A rule of thumb is to plan 1TB of storage for each 100 movies at 10GB each, then double it for growth.
Noise, power and placement
A NAS that runs all day should be quiet and efficient. Fanless units such as the HS-264 produce no fan noise but still rely on passive airflow, and hard drives remain the main noise source. Larger boxes with fans can be tucked into a closet with ventilation. Power use on the compact models is roughly 11 to 25 watts under typical use according to makers, which keeps running cost low. Place the NAS on a hard-wired connection, because Wi-Fi bridging often limits throughput and causes buffering.
A worked example: sizing a Plex NAS for a family
Suppose a family of five keeps 1,500 movies averaging 8GB and 200 TV seasons averaging 25GB. That is about 12TB of movies and 5TB of shows, so roughly 17TB of media. In a two-bay RAID 1 mirror you would need two drives of at least 20TB to hold it with growth, which makes a four-bay or larger system more economical. If at most two people stream at the same time and all of them use devices that direct-play, an N5105-class NAS is plenty. If three of those streams are remote at 1080p, plan on hardware transcoding or a stronger processor. This simple arithmetic usually settles the choice more cleanly than any single specification.
Lastly, plan for the software side. Plex Media Server installs differently on each NAS operating system, and updates sometimes lag behind the main release. Before buying, read the vendor’s app-store notes for your chosen model, look for hardware-transcoding support in the changelog, and confirm that your remote-access method, whether Plex’s relay or your own router settings, will work on your network.
Questions
Do I need a powerful NAS to run Plex?
Not if your devices can direct-play your files. Direct play barely loads the NAS, so even an ARM model can serve a family. You need more power if you transcode, especially 4K or HDR.
Is Plex Pass required?
Basic streaming works without it. Hardware transcoding, which is what makes smaller NAS boxes practical for remote streaming, generally requires Plex Pass. Check Plex’s current terms before you rely on it.
Why is a book on this list?
The listing supplied for this topic is a guide to the QNAP TS-464, not the NAS itself. We keep it visible and label it as a reference item so no reader mistakes it for hardware.
Should I put my Plex library on SSDs?
Not the whole library. Hard drives are far cheaper per terabyte and fast enough for streaming. Use NVMe slots for the Plex database and metadata, where small reads benefit most.
Is RAID needed for a Plex NAS?
RAID helps a NAS stay online when a drive fails, but it is not a backup. For a library you can re-download, JBOD may be acceptable. For personal videos and photos, use RAID plus a separate backup.
Can I watch Plex directly from the NAS on a TV?
Several models in this guide have HDMI outputs, so you can connect them to a TV. Support for local playback apps depends on the NAS operating system, so confirm before relying on it.
Update History
- October 20, 2026 – Initial publication; product set drawn from current catalog listings.
- Check the product page for current specifications and availability before buying.
Sources
- Manufacturer product and specification pages for Asustor, QNAP and LincPlus
- Retailer listing titles and specification fields for each product
- Plex support guidance on transcoding hardware requirements
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