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QNAP TS-431KX vs QNAP TS-963X
The quick verdict
- Lower power drawQNAP TS-431KXdraws 26.7 W, 26.4 W less than the TS-963X
- Leads on more specsQNAP TS-963X4 of 8 differing specs (drive bays 9, boost clock 2 GHz)
- Best forTS-431KX for anyone running it 24/7 on little powerTS-963X for small offices sharing files
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-431KX leads on 3 (LAN ports, volume, and operating power) and the QNAP TS-963X on 4 (drive bays, boost clock, max RAM, and 1 more); 1 is within 2%. On our small-office file server index, the TS-963X scores 92/100 against 60/100.
Using the 12 specs published on QNAP's official hardware specification pages, here is how the QNAP TS-431KX and QNAP TS-963X compare. Drive bays: the TS-963X at 9 bays versus 4 bays for the TS-431KX, 5 bays more (2.2x). Among 219 QNAP models, the TS-963X ranks in the top 29% and the TS-431KX in the bottom 35%. The TS-963X leads on boost clock, 2 GHz to 1.7 GHz, 1.2x. Among 201 QNAP models, the TS-963X ranks in the bottom 27% and the TS-431KX in the bottom 19%. On max RAM, the TS-963X posts 16 GB and the TS-431KX 8 GB, a gap of 8 GB. Among 219 QNAP models, the TS-963X ranks in the bottom 48% and the TS-431KX in the bottom 25%. LAN ports: the TS-431KX at 3 ports versus 2 ports for the TS-963X, 1 port more (1.5x). Among 219 QNAP models, the TS-431KX ranks in the bottom 48% and the TS-963X in the bottom 38%.
Key differences 3
Drive baysTS-963X leads
- TS-963X 9 bays vs the TS-431KX at 4 bays
- the TS-963X has 2.2x the drive bays
- among 219 QNAP models: TS-963X in the top 29%, TS-431KX in the bottom 35%
With 8 TB drives: 72 TB vs 32 TB raw
Max RAMTS-963X leads
- TS-963X 16 GB vs the TS-431KX at 8 GB
- the TS-963X has 2.0x the max RAM
- among 219 QNAP models: TS-963X in the bottom 48%, TS-431KX in the bottom 25%
Upgradable to 16 GB later
Operating powerTS-431KX leads
- TS-431KX 26.7 W vs the TS-963X at 53.1 W
- the TS-431KX: 26.4 W less power
- among 208 QNAP models: TS-431KX in the top 16%, TS-963X in the top 40%
about 230.9 kWh less per year if left on 24/7
Key specs at a glance
| Spec | TS-431KX | TS-963X |
|---|---|---|
| Drive bays | 4bottom 35% | 9WINtop 29% |
| Max RAM | 8 GBbottom 25% | 16 GBWINbottom 48% |
| Operating power | 26.7 WWINtop 16% | 53.1 Wtop 40% |
| Volume | 5.83 LWINtop 17% | 9.18 Ltop 33% |
| LAN ports | 3WINbottom 48% | 2bottom 38% |
| USB ports | 3bottom 27% | 4WINtop 35% |
Show every spec
| Spec | TS-431KX | TS-963X |
|---|---|---|
| Drive bays | 4bottom 35% | 9WINtop 29% |
| CPU cores | 4top 22% | 4top 22% |
| Boost clock | 1.7 GHzbottom 19% | 2 GHzWINbottom 27% |
| Base RAM | 2 GBbottom 14% | 2 GBbottom 14% |
| Max RAM | 8 GBbottom 25% | 16 GBWINbottom 48% |
| Max LAN speed | 10 Gbpstop 2% | 10 Gbpstop 2% |
| LAN ports | 3WINbottom 48% | 2bottom 38% |
| USB ports | 3bottom 27% | 4WINtop 35% |
| Weight | 3.47 kgtop 23% | 3.53 kgtop 24% |
| Volume | 5.83 LWINtop 17% | 9.18 Ltop 33% |
| Operating power | 26.7 WWINtop 16% | 53.1 Wtop 40% |
| Warranty | 2 yrbottom 35% | 2 yrbottom 35% |
| Metric (0–100) | TS-431KX | TS-963X |
|---|---|---|
| Performance percentile | 33.3 | 51WIN |
| Lightness percentile | 77.5WIN | 75.8 |
| Compactness percentile | 82.2WIN | 66.7 |
| Small office fit | 60 | 92WIN |
| 10GbE video editing fit | 52 | 55WIN |
| Low-power compact 24/7 fit | 67WIN | 39 |
The details
How to choose
- Operating power matters most → the TS-431KX (26.7 W vs 53.1 W)
- Drive bays matters most → the TS-963X (9 bays vs 4 bays)
More TS-431KX leads
- Volume: 5.83 L vs 9.18 L
- LAN ports: 3 ports vs 2 ports
More TS-963X leads
- USB ports: 4 ports vs 3 ports
- Boost clock: 2 GHz vs 1.7 GHz
Combined metrics
- Total built-in LAN bandwidth (sum of port speeds): TS-431KX 12 Gbps vs 11 Gbps
- Operating power per bay: TS-963X 5.9 W vs 6.68 W
Combined metrics
- Weight per bay: TS-963X 0.39 kg vs 0.87 kg
- Memory headroom (max minus base): TS-963X 14 GB vs 6 GB
Within 2%
- Weight: TS-431KX 3.47 kg, TS-963X 3.53 kg
Same on both
- CPU cores 4, base RAM 2 GB, max LAN speed 10 Gbps, warranty 2 years
Use-case scores
- Small-office file server: TS-963X 92 vs 60
- 10GbE video editing: TS-963X 55 vs 52
- Low-power compact 24/7 use: TS-431KX 67 vs 39
Variant TS-431X2
- matches the TS-431KX on drive bays, CPU cores, boost clock, and 6 more but differs on weight (2.01 kg vs 3.47 kg), volume (5.92 L vs 5.83 L), and operating power (26.2 W vs 26.7 W).
- Where values differ, this comparison does not carry over to the TS-431X2.
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-431KX or the QNAP TS-963X?
- The TS-963X, with 16 GB against 8 GB for the TS-431KX.
- Which has more drive bays, the QNAP TS-431KX or the QNAP TS-963X?
- The TS-963X, with 9 bays against 4 bays for the TS-431KX.
- Which draws less power, the QNAP TS-431KX or the QNAP TS-963X?
- The TS-431KX, with 26.7 W against 53.1 W for the TS-963X.
- Which use cases suit the QNAP TS-431KX and the QNAP TS-963X?
- A small-office file server: the TS-963X. 10GbE video editing: the TS-963X. Low-power compact 24/7 use: the TS-431KX. (based on our own use-case index)