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QNAP TS-231P3 vs QNAP TS-253BE
The quick verdict
- Lower power drawQNAP TS-231P3draws 15.6 W, 4.8 W less than the TS-253BE
- Leads on more specsQNAP TS-231P35 of 7 differing specs (base RAM 4 GB, max LAN speed 2.5 Gbps)
- Best forTS-231P3 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 7 specs that differ, the QNAP TS-231P3 leads on 5 (base RAM, max LAN speed, weight, and 2 more) and the QNAP TS-253BE on 2 (boost clock and USB ports). On our small-office file server index, the TS-231P3 scores 46/100 against 26/100.
Using the 12 specs published on QNAP's official hardware specification pages, here is how the QNAP TS-231P3 and QNAP TS-253BE compare. Boost clock: the TS-253BE at 2.3 GHz versus 1.7 GHz for the TS-231P3, 0.6 GHz higher (1.4x). Among 201 QNAP models, the TS-253BE ranks in the bottom 44% and the TS-231P3 in the bottom 19%. The TS-231P3 leads on base RAM, 4 GB to 2 GB, 2.0x. Among 219 QNAP models, the TS-231P3 ranks in the bottom 47% and the TS-253BE in the bottom 14%. On max LAN speed, the TS-231P3 posts 2.5 Gbps and the TS-253BE 1 Gbps, a gap of 1.5 Gbps. Among 219 QNAP models, the TS-231P3 ranks in the bottom 48% and the TS-253BE in the bottom 22%. USB ports: the TS-253BE at 5 ports versus 3 ports for the TS-231P3, 2 ports more (1.7x). Among 219 QNAP models, the TS-253BE ranks in the top 18% and the TS-231P3 in the bottom 27%.
Key differences 3
Max LAN speedTS-231P3 leads
- TS-231P3 2.5 Gbps vs the TS-253BE at 1 Gbps
- the TS-231P3 is 2.5x faster
- among 219 QNAP models: TS-231P3 in the bottom 48%, TS-253BE in the bottom 22%
100 GB copy: about 5 min vs about 13 min (theoretical)
Base RAMTS-231P3 leads
- TS-231P3 4 GB vs the TS-253BE at 2 GB
- the TS-231P3 has 2.0x the base RAM
- among 219 QNAP models: TS-231P3 in the bottom 47%, TS-253BE in the bottom 14%
4 GB out of the box for several apps
USB portsTS-253BE leads
- TS-253BE 5 ports vs the TS-231P3 at 3 ports
- the TS-253BE has 1.7x the USB ports
- among 219 QNAP models: TS-253BE in the top 18%, TS-231P3 in the bottom 27%
2 more USB for drives or a UPS
Key specs at a glance
| Spec | TS-231P3 | TS-253BE |
|---|---|---|
| Max LAN speed | 2.5 GbpsWINbottom 48% | 1 Gbpsbottom 22% |
| Base RAM | 4 GBWINbottom 47% | 2 GBbottom 14% |
| USB ports | 3bottom 27% | 5WINtop 18% |
| Boost clock | 1.7 GHzbottom 19% | 2.3 GHzWINbottom 44% |
| Operating power | 15.6 WWINtop 7% | 20.4 Wtop 9% |
| Weight | 1.46 kgWINtop 4% | 1.67 kgtop 9% |
Show every spec
| Spec | TS-231P3 | TS-253BE |
|---|---|---|
| Drive bays | 2bottom 11% | 2bottom 11% |
| CPU cores | 4top 22% | 4top 22% |
| Boost clock | 1.7 GHzbottom 19% | 2.3 GHzWINbottom 44% |
| Base RAM | 4 GBWINbottom 47% | 2 GBbottom 14% |
| Max RAM | 8 GBbottom 25% | 8 GBbottom 25% |
| Max LAN speed | 2.5 GbpsWINbottom 48% | 1 Gbpsbottom 22% |
| LAN ports | 2bottom 38% | 2bottom 38% |
| M.2 slots | – | 0bottom 46% |
| PCIe slots | – | 1top 49% |
| USB ports | 3bottom 27% | 5WINtop 18% |
| Weight | 1.46 kgWINtop 4% | 1.67 kgtop 9% |
| Volume | 3.71 LWINtop 6% | 3.99 Ltop 9% |
| Operating power | 15.6 WWINtop 7% | 20.4 Wtop 9% |
| Warranty | 2 yrbottom 35% | 2 yrbottom 35% |
| Metric (0–100) | TS-231P3 | TS-253BE |
|---|---|---|
| Performance percentile | 11.7 | 17.2WIN |
| Lightness percentile | 95.7WIN | 91.2 |
| Compactness percentile | 94.2WIN | 90.3 |
| Home media server fit | No data | 68 |
| Small office fit | 46WIN | 26 |
| 10GbE video editing fit | 2 | 23WIN |
| Low-power compact 24/7 fit | 80WIN | 76 |
The details
How to choose
- Max LAN speed matters most → the TS-231P3 (2.5 Gbps vs 1 Gbps)
- USB ports matters most → the TS-253BE (5 ports vs 3 ports)
More TS-231P3 leads
- Operating power: 15.6 W vs 20.4 W
- Weight: 1.46 kg vs 1.67 kg
- Volume: 3.71 L vs 3.99 L
More TS-253BE leads
- Boost clock: 2.3 GHz vs 1.7 GHz
Combined metrics
- Total built-in LAN bandwidth (sum of port speeds): TS-231P3 3.5 Gbps vs 2 Gbps
- Operating power per bay: TS-231P3 7.8 W vs 10.2 W
Combined metrics
- Weight per bay: TS-231P3 0.73 kg vs 0.84 kg
- Memory headroom (max minus base): TS-253BE 6 GB vs 4 GB
Same on both
- drive bays 2, CPU cores 4, max RAM 8 GB
- LAN ports 2, warranty 2 years
Use-case scores
- Small-office file server: TS-231P3 46 vs 26
- 10GbE video editing: TS-253BE 23 vs 2
- Low-power compact 24/7 use: TS-231P3 80 vs 76
Use-case scores are Specotomy's own index, computed by fixed rules from official manufacturer specs; they are not manufacturer scores.
FAQ
- Which has the faster built-in LAN, the QNAP TS-231P3 or the QNAP TS-253BE?
- The TS-231P3, with 2.5 Gbps against 1 Gbps for the TS-253BE.
- Which draws less power, the QNAP TS-231P3 or the QNAP TS-253BE?
- The TS-231P3, with 15.6 W against 20.4 W for the TS-253BE.
- Which is lighter, the QNAP TS-231P3 or the QNAP TS-253BE?
- The TS-231P3, with 1.46 kg against 1.67 kg for the TS-253BE.
- Which use cases suit the QNAP TS-231P3 and the QNAP TS-253BE?
- Low-power compact 24/7 use: the TS-231P3. (based on our own use-case index)