The Thunderbolt 2 Turbo vNAS TVS-871T is, according to QNAP Systems, the world’s first DAS/NAS/iSCSI SAN triple solution that wields the incredible power of Thunderbolt 2 to double the speed potential to 20Gb/s, enabling simultaneous 4K video transfer and display. It is also a perfect match for Thunderbolt-equipped Mac and Windows users, offering flexibility, and efficient storage solution for creative media professionals looking to streamline large 4K video and design workflows.

If speed is essential for you, then Thunderbolt 2 is what you need. Thunderbolt 2 is the latest high-bandwidth connection technology from Intel. With an amazing 20Gbps transmission rate, Thunderbolt 2 delivers more than twice the data transfer bandwidth of the first generation Thunderbolt and is four times faster than USB 3.

If you’re one of those persons that always wait for the next tech, then you better wait for Thunderbolt 3, which will let you transfer data at up to 40Gbps. But for now, only the specifications are available, so Thunderbolt 2 is what you will find in the market. And that’s what powers the QNAP TVS-871T, making it an interesting solution if you’re searching for a DAS/NAS/iSCSI SAN to integrate into your video workflow. Or anything else, really, if you move data around and need the space and the speed.

“The TVS-871T tackles the most common bottleneck for 4K workflows: I/O speed and storage”, said David Tsao, product manager of QNAP. “It provides unmatched performance for high-resolution file storage and I/O-intensive tasks to increase working productivity focusing more on 4K or 3D workflows.”

A single uncompressed 4K (4096×2160) stream at 24 fps requires a full 10Gb/s Ethernet link. Using 4K Full (4096×3112) resolution at higher frame rates requires more. On the other hand, massive 4K files eat up hard drive space very quickly! One hour of 4K content can require hundreds of gigabytes to terabytes of storage (depending on the video format). With Thunderbolt 2 providing 20Gb/s throughput, the TVS-871T is capable of transferring 4K video smoothly and handling relative workloads with ease. Its large storage capacity allows to accommodate up to 64TB (with 8TB hard drive) files, or even more by scaling up with Thunderbolt storage expansion enclosures, providing the ideal storage solution ready for high-resolution raw files.

As 4K video rapidly approaches mainstream audiences, the TVS-871T is a solution that may interest video editors, filmmakers, studios and post-production houses. The system can be configured in different ways, allowing users to design the system that best fits their needs.

Powered by a high-performance Intel Haswell processor with options including Core i5 and Core i7, the 8-bay TVS-871T not only features Thunderbolt 2 technology but also has dual 10GbE ports giving incredible flexibility to deliver incredible performance. It can simultaneously run general Ethernet services in addition to the Thunderbolt 2 network, completely independently and with no bandwidth interference. With dual Thunderbolt 2 ports available, users can flexibly arrange their workstation connections with the TVS-871T and its storage expansion enclosures based on their needs to enjoy high accessibility, optimal collaboration, and seamless expansion.

“Most current Thunderbolt DAS users are frustrated with being unable to share large amount of files quickly to increase productivity. The TVS-871T Thunderbolt 2 Turbo vNAS perfectly integrates the high-speed storage of Thunderbolt DAS and flexible file sharing of 10GbE networks, completely solving the obstacles faced by conventional Thunderbolt DAS users,” added Tsao.

QNAP Systems says that “the TVS-871T is a perfect match for Thunderbolt 2-capable Macs. Up to 2 Mac workstations can connect to a TVS-871T to process real-time video editing simultaneously. Mac users can effortlessly back up Mac data to the TVS-871T with Apple Time Machine. Assisting in creative workflows, the TVS-871T delivers powerful and stable throughput for real-time non-linear video editing, and also allows multi-track video editing with the lowest latency. Users can connect a 4K display to the TVS-871T via HDMI to directly play 4K videos, and organize videos with the Video Station.”

Featuring the latest QTS 4.2 operating system, the TVS-871T performs as an easy-to-use yet powerful NAS for file storage, backup, sharing & synchronization. With QvPC technology, users can simply connect a keyboard, mouse and HDMI display for using the TVS-871T as a cost-effective PC substitute, directly accessing stored data, running multiple VMs, surfing the web, enjoying 4K videos with Kodi, monitoring surveillance live feeds from IP cameras, and much more. The built-in App Center provides various install-on-demand apps developed by QNAP and third-party developers, adding even more value to the TVS-871T and providing near-unlimited functionality for users.

The new Thunderbolt 2 Turbo vNAS TVS-871T and its storage expansion enclosures TX-500P and TX-800P are now available. Download the pdf document “Use your turbo NAS as a PC” to know more about the product.