For years, I’ve been a huge fan of Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices. They’re these magical little boxes that sit on your network and become the central hub for all your digital life—photos, videos, documents, backups, you name it. For the longest time, the conversation was dominated by just two names: Synology and QNAP. They’ve built incredibly solid reputations, and for good reason. Their software is incredibly polished, and they make it easy for almost anyone to get started with a personal cloud.

But recently, I’ve been hearing a lot of buzz about a new player, a brand I mostly knew for external hard drive enclosures: Orico. They’ve launched a new series, the Cyber Vault, and one model in particular, the CF56 Pro, has caught my attention. It’s a very different kind of NAS, and I think it’s a sign of where the market might be heading.

Design, Build Quality, and Physical Considerations

Core Specifications and Architectural Overview

The Orico CyberData CF56 Pro is built on a foundation of components typically found in a high-end mini PC or workstation rather than a conventional NAS. The central processing unit (CPU) is an Intel Core i5-1240P, a powerful 12-core, 16-thread mobile processor with a maximum boost frequency of 4.4GHz. This CPU is equipped with Intel Iris Xe Graphics, providing robust hardware-accelerated transcoding capabilities for media applications like Plex or Jellyfin. The system is equipped with 16GB of DDR5 memory, which is expandable to a substantial 96GB via dual SO-DIMM slots. This memory capacity is far beyond the requirements of basic file serving, indicating an intended use case involving virtualization and running multiple, resource-intensive Docker containers simultaneously.  I can easily see myself running multiple virtual machines, hosting a private media server that handles 4K transcoding without breaking a sweat, or even experimenting with local AI models.

The storage architecture is a notable departure from traditional NAS designs, featuring a hybrid configuration that combines five bays for 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch SATA drives with an impressive six M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 slots. This design allows for a tiered storage strategy, with traditional hard drives handling bulk data and the M.2 NVMe SSDs providing high-speed caching or an all-flash array for demanding applications. With support for up to 24TB hard drives and 8TB M.2 SSDs, the maximum total capacity is an immense 168TB.  I could use the HDDs for bulk, long-term storage of my media library and backups, while the super-fast SSDs would be perfect for my active video editing projects or for running virtual machines. This level of flexibility is something I’ve only ever seen in expensive, enterprise-grade NAS systems or by building a custom rig myself. 

Connectivity is a core strength of the CF56 Pro, which features dual 10GbE RJ45 LAN ports for high-speed network transfers, which can be bonded to achieve a theoretical 20GbE bandwidth. The device also includes a comprehensive selection of external ports, including two 40Gbps USB4 ports that support Thunderbolt 4/3, two 10Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, and a single 10Gbps USB-C port. The inclusion of dedicated display outputs, including HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4a, both capable of 8K resolution, further reinforces its dual identity as a NAS and a potential desktop or media center PC.   

This selection of components is not accidental. The hardware package is deliberately overpowered for what is typically expected of a NAS. A traditional NAS would be configured with a lower-TDP, less powerful CPU and 1GbE network ports. The CF56 Pro’s excess power is a clear signal that Orico is targeting a user who needs to perform compute-intensive tasks, such as multi-stream 4K/8K video transcoding or running a complex virtualized environment. The device’s integrated display outputs also suggest it can function as a standalone system connected directly to a monitor or television, a capability that blurs the line between a network appliance and a dedicated mini-PC.

Design, Build Quality, and Physical Considerations

The Orico CyberData CF56 Pro is a “gloriously engineered” piece of hardware with a build quality that stands in stark contrast to the “flimsy construction” of some competitors. The outer case is made from a 1.9mm thick aluminum extrusion that feels remarkably substantial, while the front and back panels are made from thick, non-flexing ABS plastic. The device features a distinctive vertical arrangement for its five drive bays, a design choice that results in a larger footprint but allows for a more spacious and organized internal layout compared to the typical sideways configuration of five-bay units.   

However, this premium construction is accompanied by several puzzling design decisions that affect usability. The drive trays, despite being hidden by a magnetic front cover, are made of plastic and are not lockable. The release mechanism for the trays is described as unintuitive, requiring the user to push a button on the side to the left to release the drive. Furthermore, all of the device’s numerous high-speed USB ports are located on the rear panel, a perplexing choice for a device that is also positioned to function as a desktop computer, where front-facing ports for easy access would be more practical.   

The placement of the M.2 SSD slots is also somewhat convoluted. Four of the six slots are conveniently located under a magnetic mesh panel on top of the unit, making them easily accessible for upgrades. The remaining two are situated in a recess on the underside, protected by a metal panel secured with four screws. This compartmentalized design adds an extra step to upgrading the storage. The contrast between the premium chassis and these minor but notable usability flaws highlights a potential disconnect between the device’s industrial design and its overall user experience. The trade-off is clear: the user gets a durable and robust machine but must accept certain ergonomic compromises.   

Connectivity and Expansion

The Orico CyerData CF56 Pros connectivity options are a major selling point, distinguishing it from many competitors in its price range. The dual 10GbE LAN ports are essential for professional workflows involving large file transfers, such as 4K video editing or large-scale data backup, where a standard 1GbE connection would become a bottleneck. The presence of two 40Gbps USB4 ports, which support the Thunderbolt 4/3 protocol, offers significant flexibility for connecting external devices, including daisy-chaining multiple storage enclosures to expand capacity or even attaching a GPU dock.   

A key limitation, however, is the absence of a traditional PCIe expansion slot. While many high-end NAS devices, particularly from QNAP, rely on a PCIe slot to provide users with the option to add high-speed networking, M.2 SSDs, or other I/O cards, Orico has chosen a different approach. By integrating 10GbE and a multitude of USB4 ports directly onto the motherboard, the company provides a comprehensive, pre-configured solution. This design choice aligns with a specific product philosophy: to provide a powerful all-in-one package that does not require the user to purchase and install additional components. While this simplifies the initial setup for a user who needs these features, it removes the flexibility to add new hardware in the future, such as a custom graphics card or a specialized network adapter, a choice that a traditional PCIe slot would allow for.   

Thermal Performance and Power Consumption

The Orico CyerData CF56 Pro’s high-performance components come with a corresponding increase in power consumption and thermal output. The device peaks at 79-81W during demanding tasks like 8K video transcoding when fully populated with both hard drives and M.2 SSDs. While the system is equipped with a large rear fan for cooling, thermal stress testing revealed a significant point of failure. The top M.2 NVMe region of the chassis was found to reach temperatures approaching 80°C under sustained load, a concerning level for the longevity and performance of the SSDs.   

The design has a specific flaw related to the cooling of the M.2 drives. While the four top-mounted drives have some passive airflow, the two drives located on the underside of the unit lack a thermal pad to connect them to the metal plate cover for effective heat dissipation. This was a missed opportunity to leverage the device’s robust metal construction for passive cooling. The manufacturer has acknowledged this issue and is reportedly addressing it with a second- and third-generation PCB redesign to improve thermal management around the CPU and M.2 slots.  

The existence of these thermal issues and the subsequent announcement of a redesign are significant considerations for prospective buyers. The product is not a fully mature, off-the-shelf appliance but rather a crowdfunded prototype still in active development. This means that early adopters are essentially participating in the final stages of the product’s quality assurance process. The risk here is that the final retail version may differ from the prototype and the user becomes a beta tester for the manufacturer’s thermal solutions. This is a powerful demonstration of the inherent risks associated with purchasing a product through a crowdfunding campaign, though you are buying a product from an established brand with a long-standing history of rigorous research and development.

The Good and The Bad (from my perspective)

Core Strengths

• Overpowered Hardware: The inclusion of an Intel Core i5-1240P CPU provides exceptional processing power for demanding tasks, far surpassing the capabilities of many competing NAS devices in the same class. This makes it a formidable platform for virtualization, media transcoding, and complex container workloads.   

• Hybrid Storage Configuration: The unique combination of five SATA bays and six M.2 NVMe slots offers unparalleled flexibility in storage design. It allows for high-capacity, conventional storage and high-speed SSD caching or an all-flash array in a single chassis.   

• Premium Build Quality: The device’s solid construction, featuring a 1.9mm thick aluminum chassis, provides a durable and aesthetically pleasing form factor that feels substantial and well-engineered.   

• High-Speed Connectivity: The dual 10GbE LAN ports and USB4/Thunderbolt 4/3 ports are high-end features typically found on significantly more expensive or enterprise-grade NAS units, providing a high-bandwidth foundation for modern data workflows.   

Critical Weaknesses

• Immature Software: It is early days but the native CyberData OS is a significant drawback. Its lack of two-factor authentication, an incomplete app ecosystem, and poor performance optimization prevent the device from delivering on its hardware promise out-of-the-box. You are of course free to install another OS.

• No ECC Memory Support: The most critical weakness for a device of this caliber is the lack of support for ECC (Error-Correcting Code) memory. This is a major concern for any user planning to use the ZFS file system, which, while not strictly requiring ECC, is designed to be paired with it to ensure data integrity and prevent silent data corruption.   

• Thermal Issues: The identified thermal concentration in the top NVMe region, where temperatures reached nearly 80°C under load, is a serious design flaw that could impact the longevity and performance of the SSDs. While Orico is reportedly addressing this with a PCB redesign, it remains a concern for early models.   

• No PCIe Expansion: The lack of a PCIe slot, while offset by the built-in high-speed ports, limits the device’s long-term expandability and the user’s ability to add new hardware in the future.   

• Crowdfunding Risk: As a crowdfunded product, the CF56 Pro is subject to inherent risks, including production delays, potential changes in final specifications, and a less established support ecosystem compared to market leaders.

How it Compares to the Big Guys

Orico vs. Synology (DiskStation DS1522+)

The Synology DiskStation DS1522+ is a direct competitor in the 5-bay NAS space, but the two devices target different user profiles. The DS1522+ is powered by an AMD Ryzen R1600 dual-core CPU with a base frequency of 2.6GHz, which is less powerful than the Orico’s Intel Core i5-1240P. The DS1522+ comes with four 1GbE ports and a network upgrade slot for an optional 10GbE module, whereas the Orico provides dual 10GbE ports out-of-the-box.  

The most significant distinction is in software and data integrity. Synology’s polished, user-friendly, and feature-rich DiskStation Manager (DSM) 7 is widely considered the industry gold standard. It offers a vast, mature app ecosystem and an intuitive interface for managing backups, media, and security. Crucially, the DS1522+ supports DDR4 ECC (Error-Correcting Code) memory, a feature designed to prevent silent data corruption and ensure data integrity, which is a major advantage over the Orico. The Synology is the superior choice for a user who values a comprehensive, supported, and secure software ecosystem and is willing to accept a less powerful hardware platform.   

Orico vs. QNAP (TS-464)

QNAP’s TS-464 is a four-bay NAS that offers a different set of trade-offs. The TS-464 is equipped with an Intel Celeron N5095 quad-core processor, which, while capable, is significantly less powerful than the Orico’s Core i5-1240P. The QNAP provides two 2.5GbE LAN ports and two M.2 NVMe slots for SSD caching.   

The key hardware differentiator for the QNAP is the inclusion of a PCIe Gen 3 x2 slot. This slot provides a level of hardware expandability that the Orico unit lacks. A user can add a 10GbE network card, more M.2 slots, or even a graphics card in the future, providing a degree of future-proofing that the Orico does not have. QNAP’s QTS operating system is also a mature platform that offers a flexible and robust experience, sitting somewhere between the simplicity of Synology and the raw hardware focus of the Orico. The QNAP is a strong contender for users who need a balanced approach, with solid hardware and a feature-rich, expandable software ecosystem.   

Orico vs. Ugreen (NASync DXP4800 Plus)

Ugreen and Orico are two new entrants to the NAS market with a remarkably similar strategy: providing powerful, hardware-first devices at a compelling price point. The Ugreen NASync DXP4800 Plus is a 4-bay NAS powered by an Intel Pentium Gold 8505 processor and comes with one 2.5GbE and one 10GbE port. It also includes two M.2 NVMe slots.   

The Orico surpasses the Ugreen in raw specifications with its more powerful i5 CPU and six M.2 slots compared to Ugreen’s two. The Ugreen DXP4800 Plus offers a front-facing SD card reader, a small but useful feature for photographers and content creators that the Orico lacks. Both companies' native operating systems (Orico’s CyberData OS and Ugreen’s UGOS Pro) are in their early stages and lack the polish and extensive app support of Synology and QNAP. This comparison highlights the escalating hardware competition in the prosumer space, where new players are pushing the boundaries of what is offered at a given price point.

My Final Take

The Orico CyberData CF56 Pro isn’t for everyone. If you’re looking for a simple, plug-and-play solution to back up your family photos, there are better, more mature options out there. But if you’re like me—a data hoarder, a content creator, a homelab enthusiast—who craves power, speed, and the freedom to truly own your data, then this is one of the most exciting products I’ve seen in a long time. It’s an enticing look at a future where NAS devices are less like locked-down appliances and more like powerful, customizable servers for the modern digital home.

The CyberData CF56 Pro is currently available via Kickstarter, with shipping expected this month. I have my order in and will post a full review once I get my hands on it.