AI NAS vs AI workstation for local LLMs
Updated
AI NAS vs AI Workstation
An AI workstation with a high-end graphics card runs local models faster than any NAS. An AI NAS wins when the same box must also store, protect and share your files around the clock. NAS systems with a full-size or x8 GPU slot narrow the gap.
Which AI NAS systems show the difference best?
7 systems qualify; the top 6 are shown. The order comes from the Local LLM score and live prices, and updates as prices change.
- 1
QNAP QAI-h1290FX
Native AI NAS1024GB max RAM · 12 bays · 25GbE
- Up to 1024GB memory: 70B class models at higher-quality quantization, or large mixture-of-experts models at 4-bit (Estimated)
- GPU path: Full-size GPU
- 25GbE networking, 12 bays
95/100 Local LLM
No verified price
- 2
NIMO Nexus Pro
Native AI NAS96GB max RAM · 4 bays · 2 x 10GbE
- Up to 96GB memory: 70B class models at 4-bit with room left for longer context (Estimated)
- GPU path: Full-size GPU
- 16 TOPS NPU for vendor AI features
93/100 Local LLM
No verified price
- 3
QNAP TS-h1290FX
AI Ready1024GB max RAM · 12 bays · 25GbE
- Up to 1024GB memory: 70B class models at higher-quality quantization, or large mixture-of-experts models at 4-bit (Estimated)
- GPU path: Full-size GPU
- 25GbE networking, 12 bays
91/100 Local LLM
£10,614.20
Amazon UK · Verified
- 4
QNAP TVS-h874T
AI Ready64GB max RAM · 8 bays · 2 x 2.5GbE
- Up to 64GB memory: 32B class models comfortably, and 70B class models at 4-bit with little headroom (Estimated)
- GPU path: PCIe x16 slot
- 2 x 2.5GbE networking, 8 bays
74/100 Local LLM
£3,834
Amazon UK · Verified
- 5
QNAP TVS-h674T
AI Capable64GB max RAM · 6 bays · 2 x 2.5GbE
- Up to 64GB memory: 32B class models comfortably, and 70B class models at 4-bit with little headroom (Estimated)
- GPU path: PCIe x16 slot
- 2 x 2.5GbE networking, 6 bays
72/100 Local LLM
£3,161
Amazon UK · Verified
- 6
UGREEN iDX6011
Native AI NAS64GB max RAM · 6 bays · 2 x 10GbE
- Up to 64GB memory: 32B class models comfortably, and 70B class models at 4-bit with little headroom (Estimated)
- GPU path: PCIe x8 slot
- 11 TOPS NPU for vendor AI features
70/100 Local LLM
£1,999.99
Amazon UK · Verified
What is an AI workstation?
A desktop computer built for AI: a powerful processor, one or more graphics cards with large memory, and fast local storage. It is designed for one person working at it, running models, training small ones or generating images, and it is usually switched off when not in use.
Where does the workstation win?
Speed and flexibility. A modern GPU with 24GB or more of memory runs 32B class models at conversational speed and handles image generation easily (Estimated). You can fit several cards, change them as models grow, and use any operating system and tool.
Where does the AI NAS win?
Always-on service and storage. A NAS is designed to run continuously at low power, protect data with RAID and snapshots, and serve the whole household or team over the network. A workstation is not, and leaving one on all day costs more in power.
The two also combine well: keep documents and models on the NAS, run heavy inference on the workstation, or point the NAS's RAG tools at the workstation's GPU over the network.
Which NAS systems come closest to a workstation?
Those with room for a real graphics card. QNAP's h1290FX servers take full-size workstation GPUs; the NIMO Nexus Pro has a full-size slot and an 800W supply; UGREEN's iDX range has an internal PCIe x8 slot. The ranking below weights GPU capability most heavily for that reason.
Common questions
Can a NAS GPU be used for gaming?
It is not designed for it. NAS operating systems give the GPU to containers and virtual machines for compute work.
Is a Mac Studio an alternative?
Apple's unified memory is popular for local models because of its capacity. It is a workstation, though, not a NAS, and it lacks drive bays.
What do these systems cost today?
Live Amazon UK prices, each with the time it was last verified. Where a system has no verified Amazon UK offer, its Amazon US price is shown in dollars and marked.
| System | Price | Stock | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| No verified price | Unknown | |
| NIMO Nexus Pro | No verified price | Unknown | |
| £10,614.20 Amazon UK · Verified | In stock | View Deal |
| £3,834 Amazon UK · Verified | In stock | View Deal |
| £3,161 Amazon UK · Verified | In stock | View Deal |
| £1,999.99 Amazon UK · Verified | In stock | View Deal |
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com, as applicable, at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
How did we rank these?
Systems with a PCIe x8 or larger slot for a graphics card, ranked 60% on GPU capability and 40% on the Local LLM profile. The score uses the Local LLM profile of the AINAS Score: each system gets six component scores from documented rules, weighted as shown. Prices come from Amazon UK and are never more than 24 hours old when used; commission plays no part.
Refine this list in the AI NAS Finder with your own budget, memory, bays and networking, or see the full leaderboard.
Local LLM weights
- AI capability
- 30%
- Memory
- 35%
- GPU capability
- 20%
- Networking
- 5%
- Storage expansion
- 0%
- Value
- 10%