iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
The Qnap TS-963X pairs an unusual nine-bay layout—five 3.5-inch bays and four 2.5-inch bays—with a built-in multi-rate 10GbE port. That combination still has practical appeal for a small office or advanced home setup, but its platform is dated, its strongest published speed figures come from an all-SSD test, and an independent 2018 review found its 10GbE performance modest. QNAP now labels the TS-963X configurations legacy, so it makes most sense when the mixed drive layout and networking solve a specific need and the price, compatibility, and software support check out.
What the Qnap TS-963X offers
The TS-963X is a desktop-tower NAS built around an AMD G-Series GX-420MC quad-core 2.0 GHz processor with AES-NI. QNAP lists 2 GB and 8 GB configurations, and its current product page marks the TS-963X-2G and TS-963X-8G as legacy models. QNAP markets the unit for business tasks such as database transfers, virtual-machine storage, and large backups; those are vendor use cases, not independent confirmation that it suits every workload. QNAP TS-963X specifications
Nine bays in two sizes
There are five 3.5-inch SATA 6 Gb/s bays and four dedicated 2.5-inch SATA 6 Gb/s bays. The smaller bays can hold 2.5-inch SATA HDDs or SSDs, enabling a mixed HDD-and-SSD arrangement. The NAS ships without drives, and the user guide confirms that drives can be hot-swapped. QNAP TS-963X User Guide
Multi-rate 10GbE
One 10GBASE-T copper port supports 10, 5, 2.5, and 1 Gbps, as well as 100 Mbps; a second port provides Gigabit Ethernet. Reaching 10GbE requires compatible equipment at the other end, such as a switch or client network adapter. For longer 10GbE cable runs, QNAP recommends Cat 6a or Cat 7. The NAS port alone does not make the rest of a network 10GbE.
#1 Best Overall
- OWC 8GB UPGRADE: Consists of a single 8GB DDR3L 1600 PC3L-12800 CL11 2Rx8 204-pin 1.35V SODIMM Memory RAM Module Upgrade memory module compatible with QNAP models TS-963X, TVS-463, TVS-663, TVS-863 And TVS-863+.
- 100% COMPLIANT: JEDEC-Standard and ROHS Compliant. Warranty-Safe Upgrade. Designed and Tested to Meet or Exceed all Manufacturer OEM Specs.
- EASY INSTALLATION: In Most Cases, Installing Memory is an Easy DIY project. Watch our OWC Basic Installation Video for Help.
- INDUSTRY LEADING: Consumer-friendly Advanced Replacement Program and Limited Lifetime Warranty, which includes Free Tech Support by Other World Computing.
- Replacement for QNAP part number RAM-8GDR3L-SO-1600.
How fast is the TS-963X?
QNAP publishes sequential figures of 779 MB/s read and 569 MB/s write over 1×10GbE for an unencrypted volume, and 508 MB/s read and 513 MB/s write for an AES-256 encrypted volume. These are vendor lab results, not expected speeds for every installation. QNAP TS-963X performance figures
The test used QTS 4.3.4 and RAID 5 across nine Intel SSDSC2BB240G4 SSDs. Its Windows 10 client had an Intel Core i7-6700 and 32 GB RAM, with a QNAP LAN-10G2T-X550 network card; QNAP used IOMeter with 64 KB blocks, 20 workers, and one outstanding I/O. The results should not be generalized to HDD arrays, different clients, or sustained file transfers. QNAP cautions that figures may vary by environment.
Rank #2
- Quad-core Intel N5105/N5095 4-core/4-thread burst up to 2.9 GHz with 8GB DDR4 RAM
- Dual 2.5GbE (2.5G/1G/100M) ports accelerates file sharing across teams and devices or streamline large file transfers
- Dual M.2 PCIe Gen3x2 NVMe SSD slots enable cache acceleration or SSD storage pools for improved performance
- Multiple USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (type-A) with up to 10Gb/s transfer speeds, allowing compatibility with newer, faster USB drives/expansion enclosures for transferring large media files
- Centrally store and organize personal or family photos, music, and videos
Independent reviews add useful context, though they are historical rather than current comparisons. IT Pro’s Dave Mitchell called overall 10GbE performance “underwhelming” in a review published July 16, 2018, while noting the multi-gigabit networking and storage features. IT Pro’s Qnap TS-963X review
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →StorageReview’s January 2019 review reported 53.06 W operating power with five HDDs and four SSDs installed, and 35.64 W in HDD standby. These are configuration-specific measurements, not an estimate of what a particular owner will pay for electricity. StorageReview’s QNAP TS-963X review
Rank #3
- ARM Cortex-A55 quad-core 2.0GHz processor with 4 GB DDR4 RAM
- Built-in NPU for AI Acceleration to boost performance for high-speed face and object recognition.
- 2.5GbE (2.5G/1G/100M) ports accelerates file sharing across teams and devices or streamline large file transfers
- Budget-friendly Home NAS for file storage and multimedia streaming
- Centrally store and organize personal or family photos, music, and videos
What the four SSD bays are useful for
The four 2.5-inch bays allow SSDs to be used for cache, Qtier, or flash storage, rather than requiring SSDs to displace the larger HDD bays. QNAP lists SSD caching and Qtier as supported possibilities. Neither is an automatic speed upgrade: the benefit depends on the workload, data access pattern, configuration, and SSDs. Cache is most relevant to repeated access patterns; tiering places data across storage tiers according to policy.
QNAP also lists VJBOD, containers, virtual machines, Hybrid Backup Sync, and snapshots among the software capabilities. As this is a legacy model, confirm that the exact QTS version, applications, and features you need remain available and compatible before buying. IT Pro also noted that the TS-963X lacks embedded graphics, making multimedia services a poor fit if hardware graphics acceleration is required.
Rank #4
- Intel Celeron N5105/N5095 4-Core/4-Thread processor, burst up to 2.9GHz, 8GB DDR4 RAM (On-Board, Non Expandable
- Dual 2.5GbE (2.5G/1G/100M) ports accelerates file sharing across teams and devices or streamline large file transfers
- Dual M.2 PCIe Gen3x2 NVMe SSD slots enable cache acceleration or SSD storage pools for improved performance
- Multiple USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (type-A) with up to 10Gb/s transfer speeds, allowing compatibility with newer, faster USB drives/expansion enclosures for transferring large media files
- Centrally store and organize personal or family photos, music, and videos
Memory, drives, and setup checks
Memory limits and cautions
Depending on SKU, the TS-963X came with 2 GB or 8 GB of memory. It has two DDR3L SO-DIMM slots and a 16 GB maximum (2×8 GB). QNAP advises using identical modules in a dual-module setup and warns that unsupported memory may reduce performance, cause errors, or prevent the operating system from starting. Check QNAP’s guidance and the unit’s installed memory before planning an upgrade. QNAP TS-963X specifications
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchDrive compatibility
The bay dimensions and SATA interface do not establish that every drive model is supported. Check QNAP’s compatibility list for the exact HDD or SSD model and the intended bay. The NAS is sold without HDDs, so include the cost of compatible drives in the total purchase decision.
Best Value
- 8GB Single DDR3/DDR3L PC3-12800 1.35V 2rx8 Non-ECC Memory Stick (204-pin SO-DIMM 1600MHz)
- Genuine A-Tech Brand Lifetime Warranty! Toll Free Technical Support
- Designed for easy installation and maximum compatibility in your IS-453S, TBS-453A, TS-1253U, TS-1253U-RP, TS-1263U, TS-1263U-RP, TS-1263XU, TS-1263XU-RP, TS-463U, TS-463U-RP, TS-463XU, TS-463XU-RP, TS-563, TS-863U, TS-863U-RP, TS-863XU, TS-863XU-RP, TS-963X, TVS-463, TVS-663, TVS-863, or TVS-863+
- Compatible replacement for QNAP RAM-8GDR3L-SO-1600
Initial installation
QNAP’s guide outlines this sequence for setup:
- Place the NAS in a suitable environment.
- Install the drives; the guide warns that installation erases data on the drive.
- Connect the power and network cables, then turn on the NAS.
- Install QTS and log in.
The guide lists a Phillips #1 or #2 screwdriver and an anti-static wrist strap among the tools. Consult the full guide for the drive installation procedure and safety details.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Who should consider the TS-963X?
The TS-963X is worth investigating if a nine-bay mixed-size layout and multi-rate copper 10GbE are unusually useful to your setup. Its appeal is strongest for someone who can make a deliberate HDD-plus-SSD arrangement and already has, or plans to add, compatible multi-gigabit network equipment.
It is a less convincing choice if you expect class-leading 10GbE throughput, need a current platform, or are buying primarily for graphics-accelerated multimedia services. Before committing, verify the used or remaining-stock price, physical condition, QTS and application compatibility, drive support, and any support coverage directly; current pricing, availability, warranty, and long-term software support are not established here.
How to judge it against another NAS
Compare alternatives on the features that define this model rather than treating its SSD lab figures as a general performance guarantee.
Quick Recap
- Drive layout: compare the number and size of HDD and SSD bays, and whether a mixed array fits your plan.
- Networking: check included port speeds, multi-rate support, and the switches, cabling, and client hardware required to use them.
- Performance evidence: favor comparable measurements using similar HDD arrays and workloads; keep encrypted and unencrypted results distinct.
- Compute and media: check processor generation and graphics capability against your applications.
- Expansion and software: verify memory limits, expansion options, backup and snapshot features, and current compatibility.
- Ownership cost: account for the NAS, drives, network upgrades, and power use; local used-market prices and lifecycle support need direct verification.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
