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🦉 WE READ 60 OWNER COMMENTS
TerraMaster F4-424: what owners actually say
Hardware is appealing and flexible, but owners repeatedly hit random system freezes linked to a CPU C-state bug, and TerraMaster's own OS is immature
What owners complain about
- Random system freezes COMMON
Multiple F4-424 owners running Linux-based OSes (Unraid, TrueNAS) report unresponsive crashes every 1-2 days. The machine physically locks up — frozen display output, zero hardware logs — not just a network drop. Root cause identified as an Intel N100/N305 C-state / power governor bug also seen on other Chinese N100 boards.
- C-state fix required manual BIOS tweaking SOME
The freeze workaround involves limiting C-states to nothing lower than C1E via BIOS/kernel. The alternative — pinning the performance governor — keeps CPU clocks and voltage high at all times, increasing idle power draw. One owner spent months of on/off research to find this fix.
- Thermal throttling under moderate load SOME
F4-424 Pro's N305 CPU hits 94°C with only moderate usage due to the passive cooler and limited airflow. Owner had to drop turbo from 35W in BIOS to get temperatures under control, questioning whether the CPU can reach full potential in this enclosure.
- TOS app centre severely outdated SOME
TOS 5.1's app store had Docker engine v20 when current was v27, and many apps hadn't been updated since 2022. TOS 6 firmware still has issues and updates haven't been released for all devices. TerraMaster appears to be holding F6 Max series stock due to firmware problems.
- Encryption limitations FEW
TOS only supports folder-level encryption, not full disk encryption. Encrypted folders cannot be decrypted in place — files must be copied elsewhere to remove encryption.
What owners love
- Hardware value vs Synology
Owners explicitly wish Synology would match this hardware without Synology's drive/SSD/RAM lock-in, indicating the F4-424 offers competitive specs at a better value proposition.
- Mixed drive size support
The 'TRAIID' feature for mixing different drive sizes draws positive comparisons to Drobo's beyondRAID solution, filling a gap left by other NAS vendors.
- Third-party OS compatibility
Owners successfully run Unraid, TrueNAS, and other Linux-based OSes on the F4-424, treating it as capable bare hardware rather than being locked to TOS.
- Solid build for the category
Multiple owners describe it as a 'great unit' and 'solid,' with appreciation that reviews exist for the standard (non-Plus) model.
Surprising patterns
- The freeze isn't a NIC hang — owners specifically ruled out the Intel e1000e/igc hardware unit hang because the entire machine physically locks up with frozen local display output, not just network connectivity.
- An owner reports TerraMaster may be deliberately withholding F6 Max series stock until November 2024 due to unresolved firmware issues, and switched to Ugreen as a result.
- There's uncertainty about whether third-party RAM works — some TerraMaster models were reportedly locked to expensive official TM RAM, and the TM store doesn't clearly list compatible upgrades for the F4-424.
- A previous-generation owner with three F4-220 units experienced a hardware failure and a unit that wouldn't accept a reset, raising long-term durability concerns that carry over into purchase decisions about the F4-424.
WHO SHOULD SKIP IT
Buyers who want a plug-and-play NAS with a polished OS and app ecosystem should skip this — TOS is outdated and buggy, and achieving stability requires comfort with BIOS tuning and potentially replacing the OS entirely.
Synthesised from 60 real owner comments across 2 platforms. Every point is grounded in the comments — no marketing, no AI guessing. How we do it →