It has been almost two years since I purchased my first real Network Attached Storage (NAS). After couple weeks of online research, I found QNAP TVS-472XT was the best fit for my use at the time. Recently, I started to look for upgrading the NAS. This is almost for my own satisfaction just like those who look for higher Wi-Fi speed test numbers. I have done the memory upgrade at the time of the NAS purchase. Recently, I have added second m.2 NVME SSD to covert from SSD Cache to Q-Tier configuration. The latest upgrade, I have just upgrade my CPU. All these went smoothly without any hiccups. This is a quick step by step guide for CPU upgrade on QNAP TVS-472XT NAS.
This article will cover:
Who should consider CPU upgrading?
The main question is “Will CPU upgrade going to improve my NAS performance?”. If the answer to this question is “yes” and cost is worth it, then go for it. However, the cost depends on what you are using it for and what performance you are talking about.In general, I see NAS’s primary use is for a redundant, large local network data storage. However, those who purchased TVS-x72XT model are most likely running something. Some may be using for virtualization and running Windows on it. Another may be using dockers and running instances of Pi-Hole, Home Assistant and Homebridge etc. Many may be using CPU intensive app like Plex server. In fact, Plex is one of app I notice occasional buffering issue in my own use case. Plex is a media server app where it can transcode (convert) locally stored video files while it is being streamed to match the client device capability.
Transcoding speed is almost purely based on the speed of the CPU in the computer running your Plex Media Server. The faster the CPU, the faster it can transcode. If your computer is several years old, it may simply not be powerful enough to perform the transcoding that you need.
Another common situation occurs when users run Plex Media Server on a NAS device. While NAS are great at storage and can be very convenient, most commercial NAS aimed at home users do not have powerful processors. Some are even so underpowered that transcoding has simply been disabled altogether in Plex Media Server.
PLEX: Why is my video stream buffering?
As you can see above, Plex transcoding (converting streaming video on the fly) requires CPU processing power. So if you are seeing local streaming frequently stop and go i.e. buffering issue, CPU upgrade may be the main upgrade you need.
Which CPU?
Matching TDP
Thermal design power (TDP) tells maximum heat a computer chip, like CPU, can use in Watts. Overheating computer chip can slow down the system and the worst case it may damage the system. Therefore, properly designed system will have/should have adequate cooling system for given TDP of the CPU. Otherwise, even if CPU was to have high spec/speed, thermal throttling result in CPU to not reach its full performance and may even underperform to CPUs that have lower specs. So we must ensure TDP of the chosen CPU have matching cooling system. For this, most of us should look at matching TDP value, 35W for x72XT series, on the replacement CPU to be the safest side.
most of us should look at matching TDP value on the replacement CPU to be the safest side.
Matching Socket
Socket is where CPU unit attaches to the mother board. So matching socket is mandatory. x72XT series mother board uses FCLGA1151. So you must use a CPU that supports FCLGA1151.
must use a CPU that supports FCLGA1151.
Current generation of intel core CPU is 10th/11th. There are 35W TDP core CPUs from these generation with the latest launched one include i9-11900T; however, both starting 10th generation, the chips use FCLGA1200 socket so not compatible with mother board in the x72XT series. Therefore, 8th and 9th generation are the list to choose from.
CPU selections
Above is range of the selected CPUs that have 35W TDP rating with FCLGA1151 socket support. You can see a full list of CPUs on Intel website. Since my NAS is 472XT (G5400T), upgrading to CPU used in 872XT (Core i5-8400T) will give me 2x PassMark score performance improvement. However, the price difference is modest between 8400T and 8700T. Technically, 9700T is a 9th generation counterpart of 8700T so it should have better performance, but as you can see from the PassMark score, they are essentially identical, actually slightly lower score than 8700T. If one is to go for the max specification, i9-9900T is the best spec CPU.
I managed to upgrade my QNAP TVS-457XT to a genuine (non ES version) of the Intel Core i9 9900T CPU plus 64GB Crucial SODIMM. I believe this will be the last CPU produced by Intel using the FCLGA1151 socket supported by this NAS motherboard.
Everything works great except that the NAS software kernel do not currently support the Core i9 CPU and hence the HDMI Port is disabled and the system unable to run HD Station. This is the only setback and the rest functionality is a charm. With 8 Cores and 16 threads, virtualization work a lot better now.
https://forum.qnap.com/viewtopic.php?f=182&t=146110&start=60
Now as a reference, Plex CPU requirements state:
Very roughly speaking, for a single full-transcode of a video, the following PassMark score requirements are a good guideline for the following average source file:
4K HDR (50Mbps, 10-bit HEVC) file: 17000 PassMark score (being transcoded to10Mbps 1080p)
4K SDR (40Mbps, 8-bit HEVC) file: 12000 PassMark score (being transcoded to10Mbps 1080p)
1080p (10Mbps, H.264) file: 2000 PassMark score
720p (4Mbps, H.264) file: 1500 PassMark score
Plex: What kind of CPU do I need for my Server?
So practically speaking, even the best intel 35W CPU on the list above cannot handle 4K HDR (10-bit HEVC) transcoding to 10 Mbps 1080p. In fact, Pentium G5400T is already good enough for 1080p H.264 transcoding. So the upgrade is really for anything between, which include multiple simutaneous transcoding. Per the spec, i9-9900T would have done the job for 4K SDR while i7-8700T would not.
Although I personally have zero plan to use HDMI Port and HD Station, I’d rather want to go with something that works as I do not want to be surprised later if some other oddity happens and troubleshooting as selection of not-fully supported CPU installation as potential source of the issue. So in the end, I personally selected i7-8700T. If you are upgrading CPU on 472XT, I’d personally choose from i5-8600T, i7-8700T or i9-9900T based on the price and if you are ok with losing some functionality or not. If you were upgrading CPU on 872XT, I see only i7-8700T and i9-9900T as only worth value options.
If you are upgrading CPU on 472XT, I’d personally choose from i5-8600T, i7-8700T or i9-9900T based on the price and if you are ok with losing some functionality or not. If you were upgrading CPU on 872XT, I see only i7-8700T and i9-9900T as only worth value options.
What you need
- QNAP TVS-x72XT NAS – I used QNAP TVS-472XT NAS
- TDP 35W rated FCLGA1200 socket compatible Intel CPU – I used i7-8700T ($289.00)
- Thermal compound paste – I used Arctic MX-4 ($12.99)
- Regular Philips screw driver
Step by step guide
- Uncover NAS
- Remove the heat sink
- Remove the CPU
- Install new CPU
- Clean back of heat sink
- Place thermal compound paste
- Put Heat sink back
- Put NAS cover back
- Verify the system
STEP 1: Uncover NAS
Turn your NAS to its back. Unscrew three screws along the black case/cover (1 on top, 1 on each sides).
STEP 2: Remove the Heat Sink
Rotate your NAS so you can see the picture like above.
Unscrew all four screws from the heat sink.
*These screws have a tension/pressure to give tight contact between underlying CPU and the heatsink. So as you unscrew, you may notice sudden click/detachment, which is ok.
STEP 3: Remove the CPU
Remove the CPU. While pressing the metal hook on top left corner, push it to the side, which unlocks the CPU.
You can now simply lift the CPU i.e. there is no screw holding the CPU.
STEP 4: Install new CPU
When placing new CPU, it fits only in one orientation. But in case you wonder, with above picture orientation, Intel CPU writing should be facing towards you i.e. up-side down to QNAP CPU fan log. Alternatively, look at 2 dots at margin of the CPU, which comes to right upper corner.
I personally used, i7-8700T (US$289). This is the highest grade CPU that remains full compatibility to the TVS-x72XT (ref).
STEP 5: Clean back of heat sink
I used glass clean wipe to take out all the thermal compound paste from the back of the heat sink. I am sure other non-dust cleaning wipe/cloth should work.
STEP 6: Place thermal compound paste
CPU performance can be severely throttled when it heats up. So heat sink is an important. Between heatsink and CPU, placing compound paste it improves the effect. I used Amazon’s best seller, Thermal Compound Paste (Arctic MX-4) at US$12.99.
According to the product manufacture video, they recommend single point placement of the compound.
STEP 7: Put heat sink back
Place heat sink and tight four screws back. When putting screws back, you need to put some tension to have the screw gain purchase to underlying mother board screw hole.
STEP 8: Put NAS cover back
STEP 9: Verify
Now you can boot up your NAS and log in.
Hit control panel. On the top of the control panel, you will see new CPU recognized.
Conclusion
If you are experiencing performance issue related to CPU of the NAS, you may be in a luck having x72XT series. The process was extremely easy. I would say it took total 10-15 minutes at most. Consumer NAS are not made for CPU intensive tasks to begin with, but this upgrade can put your NAS to a new level where standard consumer or even small to mid size business NAS never have been. This is upgrade is like a whole home make over show for NAS.
Hello, I’ve upgraded i9-9900T and 2x32GB Samsung DDR4 2666Mhz on my qNAP TVS-872XT, after upgrading, there’s always unexpected shutdown and restart occurred everyday. I really don’t know why this happen. Can you give me some advises?
There are users on official Qnap forum with those who got the system working with some i9 with functional limitation and also have 64GB memory. So I wonder if it relates to CPU heating though T version so it should be the same thermal requirements.
You might want to post on the official forum : . There are far more experienced users out there than myself.
Choice of the memory brand can have some incompatibility issue is what I have read so not sure if it has anything to do with it. I use Crucial and I know some official forum posters does as well.
If not getting much support elsewhere, I’d troubleshoot as following:
1. Check CPU temp to make sure it is not heating up.
2. If CPU temp is ok, revert memory to original and test the system for the duration you are having reboot issue. This way you can isolate troubleshoot to CPU itself. If still having a issue, CPU seems to be the problem.
3. If no issue, add back memory. If issue starts, then memory incompatibility is likely the issue.
Thanks for your advise.
Hello, I am back again, thank you very much for your previous reply. Yesterday, I asked the CPU seller to replace me with an i9-9900T. For the past two days, I have been wondering whether the abnormal shutdown and restart problem I mentioned last time is the power supply problem of the NAS? Although the TDP of the i9-9900T is 35w, it may far exceed 35w when operating at high frequencies. Therefore, I am also considering whether to switch to a higher power supply.
Thanks for the update. I’d be definitely curious what you would find out. Please let me know!
At the same time, I also repurchased two Crucial 32GB memory modules. The memory modules of this brand have passed the official compatibility test and are well compatible with QNAP TVS-872XT. I’ll tell you the latest situation after I replace it with the new hardware. Thank you for your help and guidance.