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QNAP TS-231P vs QNAP TS-328
The quick verdict
- Lower power drawQNAP TS-231Pdraws 15.6 W, 2.8 W less than the TS-328
- Spec leadeach leads on 4 of 8 differing specs
- Best forTS-231P for anyone running it 24/7 on little power
Rankings and scores come from the specs alone and are not affected by affiliate commissions.
Spec ruler
In short
Bottom line. Of the 8 specs that differ, the QNAP TS-231P leads on 4 (boost clock, weight, volume, and 1 more) and the QNAP TS-328 on 4 (drive bays, CPU cores, base RAM, and 1 more). On our small-office file server index, the TS-328 scores 25/100 against 14/100.
Using the 12 specs published on QNAP's official hardware specification pages, here is how the QNAP TS-231P and QNAP TS-328 compare. Drive bays: the TS-328 at 3 bays versus 2 bays for the TS-231P, 1 bay more (1.5x). Among 219 QNAP models, the TS-328 ranks in the bottom 12% and the TS-231P in the bottom 11%. The TS-328 leads on CPU cores, 4 cores to 2 cores, 2.0x. Among 204 QNAP models, the TS-328 ranks in the top 22% and the TS-231P in the bottom 9%. On boost clock, the TS-231P posts 1.7 GHz and the TS-328 1.4 GHz, a gap of 0.3 GHz. Among 201 QNAP models, the TS-231P ranks in the bottom 19% and the TS-328 in the bottom 3%. Base RAM: the TS-328 at 2 GB versus 1 GB for the TS-231P, 1 GB higher (2.0x). Among 219 QNAP models, the TS-328 ranks in the bottom 14% and the TS-231P in the bottom 6%.
Key differences 3
CPU coresTS-328 leads
- TS-328 4 cores vs the TS-231P at 2 cores
- the TS-328 has 2.0x the CPU cores
- among 204 QNAP models: TS-328 in the top 22%, TS-231P in the bottom 9%
4 cores for backups and transcodes at once
Base RAMTS-328 leads
- TS-328 2 GB vs the TS-231P at 1 GB
- the TS-328 has 2.0x the base RAM
- among 219 QNAP models: TS-328 in the bottom 14%, TS-231P in the bottom 6%
2 GB out of the box for several apps
Max RAMTS-328 leads
- TS-328 2 GB vs the TS-231P at 1 GB
- the TS-328 has 2.0x the max RAM
- among 219 QNAP models: TS-328 in the bottom 6%, TS-231P in the bottom 5%
Upgradable to 2 GB later
Key specs at a glance
| Spec | TS-231P | TS-328 |
|---|---|---|
| CPU cores | 2bottom 9% | 4WINtop 22% |
| Base RAM | 1 GBbottom 6% | 2 GBWINbottom 14% |
| Max RAM | 1 GBbottom 5% | 2 GBWINbottom 6% |
| Drive bays | 2bottom 11% | 3WINbottom 12% |
| Volume | 3.78 LWINtop 7% | 5.54 Ltop 15% |
| Weight | 1.35 kgWINtop 3% | 1.64 kgtop 8% |
Show every spec
| Spec | TS-231P | TS-328 |
|---|---|---|
| Drive bays | 2bottom 11% | 3WINbottom 12% |
| CPU cores | 2bottom 9% | 4WINtop 22% |
| Boost clock | 1.7 GHzWINbottom 19% | 1.4 GHzbottom 3% |
| Base RAM | 1 GBbottom 6% | 2 GBWINbottom 14% |
| Max RAM | 1 GBbottom 5% | 2 GBWINbottom 6% |
| Max LAN speed | 1 Gbpsbottom 22% | 1 Gbpsbottom 22% |
| LAN ports | 2bottom 38% | 2bottom 38% |
| USB ports | 3bottom 27% | 3bottom 27% |
| Weight | 1.35 kgWINtop 3% | 1.64 kgtop 8% |
| Volume | 3.78 LWINtop 7% | 5.54 Ltop 15% |
| Operating power | 15.6 WWINtop 7% | 18.4 Wtop 8% |
| Warranty | 2 yrbottom 35% | 2 yrbottom 35% |
| Metric (0–100) | TS-231P | TS-328 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance percentile | 0.5 | 4.9WIN |
| Lightness percentile | 97.2WIN | 92.4 |
| Compactness percentile | 92.8WIN | 85.2 |
| Small office fit | 14 | 25WIN |
| 10GbE video editing fit | 0 | 1WIN |
| Low-power compact 24/7 fit | 80WIN | 74 |
The details
How to choose
- Volume matters most → the TS-231P (3.78 L vs 5.54 L)
- CPU cores matters most → the TS-328 (4 cores vs 2 cores)
More TS-231P leads (performance and memory)
- Boost clock: 1.7 GHz vs 1.4 GHz
More TS-231P leads (size, power and warranty)
- Volume: 3.78 L vs 5.54 L
- Weight: 1.35 kg vs 1.64 kg
- Operating power: 15.6 W vs 18.4 W
More TS-328 leads
- Drive bays: 3 bays vs 2 bays
Combined metrics
- Total built-in LAN bandwidth (sum of port speeds): 2 Gbps on both
- Operating power per bay: TS-328 6.12 W vs 7.8 W
Combined metrics
- Weight per bay: TS-328 0.55 kg vs 0.68 kg
- Memory headroom (max minus base): 0 GB on both
Same on both
- max LAN speed 1 Gbps, LAN ports 2, USB ports 3, warranty 2 years
Use-case scores
- Small-office file server: TS-328 25 vs 14
- 10GbE video editing: TS-328 1 vs 0
- Low-power compact 24/7 use: TS-231P 80 vs 74
Use-case scores are Specotomy's own index, computed by fixed rules from official manufacturer specs; they are not manufacturer scores.
FAQ
- Which takes more RAM, the QNAP TS-231P or the QNAP TS-328?
- The TS-328, with 2 GB against 1 GB for the TS-231P.
- Which has more drive bays, the QNAP TS-231P or the QNAP TS-328?
- The TS-328, with 3 bays against 2 bays for the TS-231P.
- Which draws less power, the QNAP TS-231P or the QNAP TS-328?
- The TS-231P, with 15.6 W against 18.4 W for the TS-328.
- Which is lighter, the QNAP TS-231P or the QNAP TS-328?
- The TS-231P, with 1.35 kg against 1.64 kg for the TS-328.
- Which use cases suit the QNAP TS-231P and the QNAP TS-328?
- Low-power compact 24/7 use: the TS-231P. (based on our own use-case index)