Official hardware
ARM Cortex-A55 1.8GHz, 2GB onboard (graphics reservation note), 4GB flash, one 3.5-inch SATA 6/3Gb/s, 1GbE, USB 3.2 Gen 1 + USB 2.0, tower, 2-year warranty. QTS 5.2.9.[1]
QNAP · NAS buying guide
QNAP TS-133
Product facts and dated cost
QNAP TS-133 · Exact identity: TS-133-US
1 primary bays · ARM quad 1.8GHz · 2GB · 1GbE · Diskless: hard drives cost extra
Catalog amount: $179 · historical · Price record: 2026-09-27T03:58:52.455103+00:00. Tax and shipping excluded.
Historical price observation. Recheck the price and availability before buying; this is not a current offer.
TS-133: specifications and dated store comparison →One bay, 2GB, Gigabit — a QTS starter, not a RAID box
US MPN TS-133-US · diskless · 2GB soldered · Cortex-A55 1.8GHz · 1×SATA · 1GbE
Draft from QNAP’s hardware/software tables and NASCompares’ first-hand TS-133 review. ChooseCompute has not tested it. There is still no independent MB/s table for this SKU in the opened written sources. See the review evidence ↓
Is the TS-133 right for you?
No second bay
Key specifications
Full specifications ↗Follow any specification for its full conditions and sources.
Living with it
Hardware, storage and network planning
Software limits that matter
Maximum volume and LUN size 250TB with a 4GB RAM condition. exFAT on ARM may need a license. These rows are on the same official spec page as the 2GB hardware.[1]
NASCompares 5×5 video OcuyTBFMQc4 (not a separate experiment)
Auto-caption 0:02–16:59 read; no frames; no original audio. Buy/skip overlap with the written TS-133 tour. ARM ‘instruction compression’ explanation is not used. No extra timed table.[4]
What original testing found
Our buying advice combines official specifications with the original reviews below. We have not tested this product ourselves. Expand a review for its setup, measurements and limitations.
NASCompares
Rob Andrews
Hands-on 1-bay
NASCompares written: ~8 hours, IronWolf noise, Plex listed without native transcoding, ~0.7GB RAM free with several apps.
Read the original reviewTest setup, measurements & limitations
QNAP TS-133 NAS Review
Tested: TS-133 2GB; single Seagate IronWolf HDD for noise comments; ~8 hours hardware/software including Plex.
Applies to: Exact TS-133 factory memory and 1-bay layout. Experience and RAM observation apply; 24–360 MB/s HDD range in the article is capability talk, not a labeled timed test.
- With media, surveillance, and one backup task, Task Manager showed ~0.7GB RAM remaining of 2GB.Source location: Memory section
- Plex listed as supported without native transcoding. Fan stayed quiet in 8 hours; IronWolf noise dominated.Source location: Noise / software lists
- Author argues the platform can saturate 1GbE with/without encryption but the only speed graphic is a QNAP report image, not a NASCompares folder table.Source location: Networking
Limits to keep in mind
- No disclosed timed SMB folder copy.
- A separate Plex experiment is summarized below; its results depend on client conversion and workload.
- Affiliate links.
NASCompares
Rob AndrewsApr 10, 2022
Plex transcode pins the 2GB ARM box
NASCompares video 2022-04-10, local LAN, no other NAS jobs. 1080p→480p transcode: Resource Monitor System 98.05% / Plex 84.02% at 10:23. HEVC that forces transcode did not play usefully; modest H.264 1080p did. Auto-captions; no original audio.
Read the original reviewTest setup, measurements & limitations
QNAP TS-133 NAS - Plex Media Server Test with 4K, 1080p and 720p Media
Tested: TS-133 (automatic transcript: Cortex-A55 1.8GHz, 2GB). Parent identity frame 1:35: QTS panel 2GB + ARM Cortex-A55. Plex local-network tests with no other NAS workloads stated. Client conversion can force transcode.
Applies to: Exact TS-133 Plex path under those conditions. Do not generalize HEVC failure to every direct-play client. Auto-captions; no original audio.
- 1080p transcode down to 480p drove the NAS near saturation: Resource Monitor labels at 10:23 show System 98.05% and Plex Media Server 84.02% (published frame; the screenshot shows the labels).Source location: automatic transcript 10:05–10:23; published frame 10:23
- Author: H.264 1080p at original quality played; denser H.264 above ~30 Mbps stuttered; 4K H.264 ~120 Mbps could not prepare/play usefully; HEVC/H.265/10-bit HDR libraries are not a fit because many clients force transcode.Source location: automatic transcript 13:02–19:14 and 20:43–20:49
- Conditions stated: ignore WAN bandwidth; local LAN; other NAS apps would add CPU/RAM load. Amazon affiliate in the description; gift/payment not established.Source location: automatic transcript 4:47–6:06; video description
| Measurement | Result | Conditions & source location |
|---|---|---|
| Resource Monitor during 1080p→480p Plex transcode | System 98.05%; Plex 84.02% | Instantaneous graph labels on published frame 10:23; not a sustained average; local Plex client converting 1080p to 480p10:23 frame + automatic transcript 10:18–10:23 |
Limits to keep in mind
- Auto-generated captions.
- No original audio listening; no dBA.
- Do not repeat the video’s ARM ‘instruction compression’ explanation.
- HEVC result is this client/library path, not every direct-play TV.
YouTube
Owner saturates 1GbE; USB 2.5GbE adapter
Self-bought TS-133 with HDD and Crucial MX500 4TB. Author: both media filled built-in 1GbE. USB 2.5GbE adapter worked; repeated ~221 MB/s write with both NICs. Caption read/power numbers conflict and are not used as a table.
Read the original reviewTest setup, measurements & limitations
QNAP TS-133. Is QNAP's cheapest NAS too striped down?
Tested: Self-bought diskless TS-133; existing HDD and a Crucial MX500 4TB SSD. Built-in 1GbE; later a $14 USB 2.5GbE adapter.
Applies to: Exact TS-133 first-hand copies. automatic transcript numeric lines conflict (read 275 vs 375 MB/s; 52W vs 5W) so only qualitative saturation and the repeated ~221 MB/s write claim are used, with caption error flags.
- Author says both the HDD and the MX500 SSD easily saturated the built-in 1GbE read and write. Caption then mixes 120 and 150 ‘MBT per second’ — treat as gigabit-class, not a precise table.Source location: automatic transcript 1:46–2:07
- USB 2.5GbE adapter worked immediately. Combined with onboard 1GbE, automatic transcript first says 221 MB/s write and 375 MB/s read, then 221 write and 275 read. Do not pick a read figure. The 221 MB/s write claim is the only number repeated.Source location: automatic transcript 3:29–4:37
- 36W brick. Later idle/load watts conflict in captions (12–14W vs 3.3–5W vs a 52W line that cannot fit a 36W adapter). Not used as a power table.Source location: automatic transcript 4:42–5:30
| Measurement | Result | Conditions & source location |
|---|---|---|
| USB 2.5GbE + onboard 1GbE write (automatic transcript, repeated) | ~221 MB/s write | SSD onboard; both NICs. Read 275 vs 375 MB/s conflict in the same caption — omitted.automatic transcript 4:02–4:37 |
Limits to keep in mind
- Auto-captions with unit/number errors.
- No frames; no original audio.
- Adapter brand/chipset not named.
- Not NASCompares; unknown sample/affiliate disclosure in the export.
Common HDD combinations
Examples ordered by recorded drive unit price, which may be historical or an editorial reference. Check capacity, vendor compatibility, included storage and price evidence before choosing. These are component checks, not compatibility certifications.
- TS-133 + 1 × WD Red Plus 2TB (WD20EFPX, 2TB each) →
Component total: $333.99 · historical · Oldest price record: 2026-09-27T03:58:52.455103+00:00 · 2TB raw, before redundancy.
Historical price estimate. Calculated from separately purchased components, not a complete-system offer. NAS price record: 2026-09-27T03:58:52.455103+00:00; drive price record: 2026-10-09T01:23:41.974420+00:00. Historical price observation. Recheck the price and availability before buying; this is not a current offer. Historical price observation. Recheck the price and availability before buying; this is not a current offer. Recheck component prices, stock, shipping and tax at the stores before purchase; even recent checks do not guarantee live prices.
- TS-133 + 1 × IronWolf 4TB (ST4000VN006, 4TB each) →
Component total: $368.99 · historical · Oldest price record: 2026-09-27T03:58:52.455103+00:00 · 4TB raw, before redundancy.
Historical price estimate. Calculated from separately purchased components, not a complete-system offer. NAS price record: 2026-09-27T03:58:52.455103+00:00; drive price record: 2026-10-09T03:58:24.994342+00:00. Historical price observation. Recheck the price and availability before buying; this is not a current offer. Price observed at the store on the shown date. Confirm the current price and availability at the store. Recheck component prices, stock, shipping and tax at the stores before purchase; even recent checks do not guarantee live prices.
- TS-133 + 1 × WD Red Plus 4TB (WD40EFZZ, 4TB each) →
Component total: $373.99 · historical · Oldest price record: 2026-09-27T03:58:52.455103+00:00 · 4TB raw, before redundancy.
Historical price estimate. Calculated from separately purchased components, not a complete-system offer. NAS price record: 2026-09-27T03:58:52.455103+00:00; drive price record: 2026-09-27T13:58:17.239646+00:00. Historical price observation. Recheck the price and availability before buying; this is not a current offer. Historical price observation. Recheck the price and availability before buying; this is not a current offer. Recheck component prices, stock, shipping and tax at the stores before purchase; even recent checks do not guarantee live prices.
Before you buy
US listings and ownership costs
Compare stores for this exact model
US MPN TS-133-US · diskless · 2GB soldered · Cortex-A55 1.8GHz · 1×SATA · 1GbE Check the total delivered price at the store.
Lowest observed price
$179
In stock at observation
Currency not confirmed
5 stores · 1 recent price observation
QNAP Store
Sold by QNAP Inc.
$179
Observed price
Currency not confirmed
In stock at observation · Condition not recorded
Observed Oct 9, 2026, 3:52:43 AM UTC[8]
View exact product at QNAP StoreNewegg
Sold by Newegg
$179
Historical price
Stock not confirmed · New
Exact US MPN listing; verify included drives, accessories and bundle contents on the live page before purchase.
Observed shipping: $0.00
Observed Oct 9, 2026, 1:12:46 AM UTC[7]
View exact product at NeweggAdorama
Seller not recorded
$179
Historical price
Currency not confirmed
Stock not confirmed · Condition not recorded
Observed Sep 27, 2026, 3:58:52 AM UTC[9]
View exact product at AdoramaBest Buy
Sold by Beach Audio Inc
$217.29
Historical price
Currency not confirmed
Stock not confirmed · Condition not recorded
Observed Sep 27, 2026, 1:48:15 PM UTC[10]
View exact product at Best BuyAmazon
Seller not recorded
Check price
Stock not confirmed · Condition not recorded
Observed Date not confirmed
View exact product at AmazonPrices are dated observations. Confirm the model, seller, condition, stock and delivered total at the store. Older prices remain visible as history. Links may earn a commission.
Questions before buying
Will Plex transcode 4K?
NASCompares’ Plex video on this 2GB TS-133: modest H.264 1080p played; 1080p transcode to 480p pinned CPU (~98% system / 84% Plex on the 10:23 graph). HEVC/H.265 that the client converts is a poor fit. That is this local Plex path, not every direct-play TV. A separate owner video saturated 1GbE with HDD and SSD.[5][6][4]
Why mention 250TB?
QNAP’s software table lists 250TB volumes only with ≥4GB RAM. TS-133 has 2GB.[1]
Is 1GbE a CPU limit?
NASCompares thinks not and mentions an optional USB-to-5GbE adapter. That is not a measured 5GbE result.[4]
How much RAM is left in use?
One NASCompares snapshot: ~0.7GB free with a handful of apps. Not a lab occupancy study.[4]
Sources
Research updated Sep 11, 2026. Individual source check dates are listed below. Measurements belong to the named reviewers; tested configurations and software versions may differ from the product you buy.
- [1] QNAP TS-133 current hardware and software tables ↗
Checked Sep 10, 2026 · Hardware table heading 'TS-133'; all shared QTS/QuTS hero tables present in the same opened HTML response.
- [2] Newegg TS-133-US product page ↗
Checked Sep 10, 2026 · Page title 'QNAP TS-133-US Network Storage - Newegg.com'; exact MPN present in the opened response. Same primary buy box: seller Newegg; USD 179.00; availability in-stock; other-seller popovers excluded.
- [3] QNAP Store TS-133-US product page ↗
Checked Sep 10, 2026 · 2026-09-10 manufacturer-store identity observation; price and stock were not asserted then. 2026-09-11 jina text, parent HK-region redirect files, and observations.json notes are not replacement live US PDPs.
- [4] NASCompares TS-133 NAS Review ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Full article via r.jina.ai
- [5] QNAP TS-133 NAS - Plex Media Server Test with 4K, 1080p and 720p Media ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Parent-exported auto-captions 0:02–21:54 read 2026-09-11; frames 1:35 (parent) and 10:23 (parent+Grok screenshot of Resource Monitor labels)
- [6] QNAP TS-133. Is QNAP's cheapest NAS too striped down? ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Parent-exported auto-captions 0:00–8:01 read 2026-09-11; no frames
- [7] Newegg product price observation ↗
Checked Oct 9, 2026 · newegg-main-item; sha256:f3f617437954a5a82da21cc1b65ec0d23ea51a8599ecd880655a7db64b49ef7e
- [8] QNAP product price observation ↗
Checked Oct 9, 2026 · Captured observation; sha256:a551132adc44a641f53267a9455d0f4ea8e4aee8dc73abe1cfb4f99b168d238b
- [9] Adorama product price observation ↗
Checked Sep 27, 2026 · Captured observation; sha256:787e9387a51df8ce2ed739f23ba116bfeaf25ad2a6f8e9074b563f039cf5bd40
- [10] Best Buy product price observation ↗
Checked Sep 27, 2026 · Captured observation; sha256:f4f0f820dc77f35f18fcd6296e41828326d5f2829f7063d674de16461e50ac43
Research and review record
- Research: Grok 4.6 · Source research and data update
- Self-check: Grok 4.6 · Researcher self-check
- Independent review: GPT-6 (Codex) · Independent review of core model/specification, source applicability and measured-result evidence; original source captures and actual researcher/reviewer attribution verified. Remaining source and workload gaps are explicitly partial.
- Editorial integration: GPT-6 (Codex) · Editorial integration and validation
Independent review completed for the scope recorded in the audit.
Source evidence and review history (JSON)