Nas vs pc

On many occasions we need to expand the storage capacity of our equipment, and also the need arises to have it connected to a network to make continuous use of it. This is where the question of NAS vs PC usually appears. Do I expand the storage of a PC, invest in a NAS or mount an old computer with several disks? In this article we will try to analyze the factors that differentiate a NAS from a PC so that you have a clearer decision.

As you know, NAS are generally devices with very specific hardware and operating systems that are responsible for performing tasks related to data and its network sharing. Manufacturers like QNAP offer everything from simple 2-hard drive enclosures to complex servers with hundreds of TB of storage and powerful processors capable of virtualizing systems. We will reduce it to normal use, oriented to offices, home or SMEs.

Index of contents

Internal hardware and scalability

In this first section of NAS vs PC we will deal with the issue of hardware, the internal components of both devices. In this case, they are very similar teams in terms of their structure, since both are based on a PCB where the CPU, RAM and hard drives are connected. NAS even supports peripherals like monitors, mice, even expansion cards if they're mid / high range.

The fundamental difference with a PC is that this hardware is oriented to perform very specific tasks, although it is true that today's home NAS are practically computers. In any case we have processors almost always of very low consumption like the Celeron working on x86, or ARM processors like the Realtek. They are not as powerful and complete processors as a PC, but they are even capable of offering real-time video transcoding, for example, to mount a Plex server or a surveillance station. This hardware will work just fine for what it is designed for.

The key is in the storage, and this is where the NAS brings out its qualities. Hardware and software will allow us a greater scalability of hard drives, which can go from two SATA, to more than 10 hard drives together with several M.2 SATA SSDs. And you will say, "This can also be done on a PC" , true, but we forget the ability to mount RAID volumes of all kinds. Even create nested volumes like RAID 100, 101, 50, etc. No matter how powerful a PC is, without the right system you won't be able to do any of this.

OS

We go up to the user layer, where we see one of the biggest differences between NAS vs PC, when it comes to the operating system. A PC will always work with a generic system, such as Windows, Mac or Linux. Generic implies that it is not optimized for any hardware, but that it will be able to work well under any circumstances. If we want to install applications of any kind, obviously we will not be able to do it on a NAS. A PC is intended for general use: playing, working, multimedia, etc. and through programs we can expand its functions almost unlimitedly and it is one of its advantages.

But not everything is good in having a generic operating system. When we buy a NAS, we pay for both hardware and software, for example QTS is a closed system and expressly developed by QNAP for NAS and file servers. We do not have a single version, but many optimized for each NAS and each hardware. In addition, they are systems based on the Linux kernel, so their input security is greater than Mac or Windows. In a device to which we are going to entrust all our data, finances, projects and work, the least we can ask for is a safe, optimized environment with strong technical support behind it. And that is only offered by NAS, along with the companies behind it, always offering continuous updates with security patches against specter, ramsonware or whatever wants to haunt us.

Management from any point and large number of applications

It is not everything, because the big companies offer an enormous amount of own applications for their NAS systems with which to increase the functions that the team is capable of performing. In this sense, QNAP is one step ahead of the rest, with an incredible range of applications practically to do what we want: multimedia servers, print servers, tiered storage, autotiering, snapshots, backups, virtualization, surveillance stations, etc.

Another of the qualities of NAS systems is that their management is not done in the physical place where it is installed, but it is possible to do it from any point of view through a web browser, and from any computer, whatever the system be. We will have smartphone applications with which to connect to our NAS to monitor its activity and modify critical system parameters. This is also not offered by a PC, at least not at this level.

24/7 availability and consumption

Another differential factor between NAS vs PC is the purpose for which it is designed and this, facing our pocket, is a factor to consider. The NAS hardware is clearly implemented and ready to work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The reason for having an operating system that consumes many less resources than Windows, for example, is to ensure that the computer consumes as little as possible both in low and high loads.

In fact a home or office NAS like the TS-328 can consume a ridiculous 18 or 20W. While a normal PC calmly reaches 60W at rest and more than 100W with light work. It may seem silly, but a team consuming 100W daily 24 hours affects the bill greatly.

The hardware of a PC and especially the system, is not oriented to so many hours of use, not to mention the continuous updates of Windows that cause continuous reboots and the need to physically log in from the computer. This in a file server is not admissible, and neither the free systems like FreeNAS or NAS4Free do not enjoy the exhaustive support that the payment companies do.

And if the consumption does not matter to you, then look at its heating, the space they occupy and the noise that PCs make. Imagine this with a single hard drive, because if we put 3 or 4 it will look like a real store fridge. NAS avoids all of these factors, with discreet ventilation systems and minimal footprint, so having it in an office will be a treat.

Security of your files and access

Can you access your PC from a Tablet, mobile or from anywhere in the world? Yes, we can, but we will agree that we either use remote desktop, not very useful and insecure, or by secure SSH, but only in command mode. NAS and its operating system can be managed from a web browser, although they also support monitors if they have HDMI ports. For this reason, the security layer of a NAS system is quite strong, especially considering that it is based on the Linux kernel.

All connections between NAS and clients will be encrypted using SSL / TLS and at the hardware level it implements 256-bit AES protection. In this way we will avoid fatal intrusions on our files and we will avoid sniffer programs during connections. The main NAS manufacturers release continuous updates for their system, while on PCs we simply have to trust the antivirus on duty and the good use made by the Internet user.

While it is true that both PC and NAS can implement this type of security, NAS give an extra in remote connections, thanks to the use of private clouds from manufacturers, for example, MyQNAPCloud. Similarly, both PCs vs. NAS can create secure VPN connections for our access, but on a NAS, these solutions are better implemented, in the sense of usability without the user knowing the connection method expressly.

Features. The biggest advantage of NAS vs PC

And without a doubt this is where the greatest differences exist between NAS vs PC. We are going to use a PC for all kinds of daily tasks due to the versatility of its system and the infinite number of applications there are, but very few for storage control. Whereas a NAS and its system are designed precisely for this. We cannot play, true, but the capacity they provide us with regard to network data management are unmatched, and only one server is capable of overcoming them.

These are some of the most outstanding functions of a NAS:

• Multiple network connectivity: It is a device connected to the network, so it is normal to see 2 or even 6 RJ45 network ports, some of them at 10 Gbps, while a PC will hardly have 2 without expansion cards. Snapshots and backup: The basic use of a NAS is to create a store of snapshots and backup copies of our network-connected computers. Automation, stability and availability is far superior to a PC, not to mention security. Autotiering: If we are concerned that a NAS does not support high transfer speeds, current ones have the ability to intelligently select which files we use the most, to put them on disk faster, as a kind of tiered cache. This is ideal for transcoding servers and databases. Advanced RAID: On a PC we need to install expansion cards to be able to create advanced RAIDs other than 0, 1 or 10, while a NAS offers them all from the factory. Not only with the available physical slots, because many of them support the connection of DAS to increase the bays and thus achieve more advanced and secure RAID. Centralized File Server: In addition to backups, it is also a perfect FTP or SAMBA file server, supporting Active Directory and LDAP functions for user and credential authentication. Surveillance server: either with QVR or another program, a NAS serves as a surveillance server supporting more than 50 networked cameras. There are even solutions for face detection, or check-in of workers in companies. Plex multimedia server: Plex is the best networked platform to view your own content on demand at home. If we have a NAS that supports video transcoding, we can create it. While it is true that PC processors have a greater capacity in this regard.

• WEB Server: if we want to mount a Wordpress, Joomla or any Forum, we can also do it with a NAS. For some reason we have Linux under the graphic layer of the system, which gives us many possibilities in this regard. Virtualization: and of course, virtualization, yes on a NAS it is possible to do it. A clear example is the QNAP TS-677 with a 12-core Ryzen inside and 16 GB of RAM to remotely virtualize operating systems. The downside here is how expensive these computers are compared to a normal PC.

Equipment cost

In a comparison of NAS vs PC you should always talk about the price, because many times entrepreneurs and freelancers are interested in these devices.

While an average PC can cost us about 500 or 600 euros with basic hardware without storage, we have a NAS from 250 euros also without storage. For all the above, we believe that a NAS compensates us much more than a PC if the tasks to be carried out are not too demanding. In addition, in both cases we must invest about 200 euros in hard drives at least to exceed 10 TB.

The total sum can start from € 400 using a two-bay NAS like QNAP's TS-251B versus € 600 for a basic PC. Of course, if we think of more powerful NAS for virtualization with Ryzen or Intel Core ix processors, prices skyrocket, and in this case it more than makes up for a PC or better, a server.

Is it worth mounting a NAS with a PC?

We definitely don't think so, as the outlay on money could be higher and we don't have anywhere near the options and versatility of a NAS. There are free systems like FreeNAS or similar that are generic and we can install them on a PC, but neither technical support nor security is comparable. If you mount your own NAS with leftovers it will be your responsibility to lose everything in one attack.

It could be recommended to start in the world of network files, if we do not intend to give it continuous use 24/7 we could do experiments with this type of home configuration that would give us an idea of ​​the real possibilities of a NAS to give in the future the definitive leap.

NAS Recommended Models

After our long experience on the web with QNAP and its teams, we have to recommend your models. Since it seems that the other "great company" is neither in nor expected in Spain and it has quite obsolete hardware.

QNAP TS-251B NAS White Ethernet Tower - Raid Drive (Hard Drive, SSD, Serial ATA III, Serial ATA III, 2.5, 3.5 ", 0, 1, JBOD, FAT32, HFS +, NTFS, exFAT, ext3, ext4) 299.99 EUR QNAP TS-251 + - NAS Network Storage Device (Intel Celeron Quad-Core, 2 Bahas, 2 GB RAM, USB 3.0, SATA II / III, Gigabit), Black / Gray Quad-Core Intel Celeron Processor at 2 GHz, Burst frequency at 2.42 GHz; Transcode Full HD video on the fly or offline 420.38 EUR QNAP TS-453BE NAS Mini Tower Ethernet Black Raid Unit (Hard Drive, SSD, Serial ATA III, 2.5 / 3.5 ", 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, JBOD, Intel Celeron, J3455) Connectivity Type: Networking Ethernet 503.35 EUR QNAP TS-128A NAS Mini Tower Ethernet White Storage Server - Raid Drive (Hard Drive, Serial ATA III, 3.5 ", FAT32, Hfs +, NTFS, ext3, ext4, Realtek, RTD1295). 140, 20 EUR

NAS vs PC conclusions

We conclude this short guide of NAS vs PC making a final assessment of the advantages of using each of the computers for network data storage purposes.

NAS Advantages

PC advantages

Specific hardware for this type of tasks Optimized operating system for each computer and management from anywhere in the world Technical support and high security Designed to operate 24/7 at a very low consumption Capacity to mount nested RAID and tiered storage Storage scalability Compatible with file server, multimedia, web, surveillance, virtualization, etc. Low cost for everything it brings Much greater reliability in storage security Some with hardware expandability and more bays

Ability to choose and change hardware Price can offset when we go to high performance Free systems like FreeNAS exist to mount home NAS Best option for virtualization

We leave you with some articles that can be complemented with this NAS vs PC.

Have you ever had a NAS? What is your experience with them?