Which QNAP NAS is best for local AI?
Updated
QNAP AI NAS UK
QNAP's best local AI systems are its EPYC-based h1290FX servers, which take full-size workstation GPUs and up to 1TB of memory. Below them, the TVS and TS models run Ollama and Qsirch on the CPU, with official GPU support capped at small cards or none.
Which systems rank highest right now?
6 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
87/100 Local LLM
No verified price
- 2
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
77/100 Local LLM
£10,614.20
Amazon UK · Verified
- 3
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
58/100 Local LLM
£3,834
Amazon UK · Verified
- 4
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
52/100 Local LLM
£3,161
Amazon UK · Verified
- 5
QNAP TS-264
AI Capable16GB max RAM · 2 bays · 2 x 2.5GbE
- Up to 16GB memory: 7B to 8B class models (Estimated)
- 2 x 2.5GbE networking, 2 bays
27/100 Local LLM
£479
Amazon UK · Verified
- 6
QNAP TS-464
AI Capable16GB max RAM · 4 bays · 2 x 2.5GbE
- Up to 16GB memory: 7B to 8B class models (Estimated)
- 2 x 2.5GbE networking, 4 bays
26/100 Local LLM
£636
Amazon UK · Verified
Which QNAP models are built for AI?
The QAI-h1290FX is QNAP's dedicated AI server: an AMD EPYC 7302P, 128GB of ECC registered memory expandable to 1TB, twelve U.2 NVMe bays, two 25GbE ports and four PCIe Gen4 slots. QNAP sells UK bundles with NVIDIA RTX PRO Blackwell GPUs and preloads Ollama, Open WebUI and AnythingLLM. The TS-h1290FX is the same chassis sold as storage, ready for a GPU you choose.
What about QNAP's desktop models?
The TVS-h874T and TVS-h674T have strong Intel desktop processors, Thunderbolt 4 and up to 64GB of memory, but QNAP's GPU lists for them stop at a 4GB card. Treat them as fast creative storage that can run small models on the CPU.
The TS-464 and TS-264 are popular home and small-office units with a Celeron N5095 and a 16GB ceiling. They run QNAP's photo AI and Qsirch well and handle only small language models. The TS-233 is an ARM storage box for basic backup.
What does QNAP's software add?
QNAP publishes guides for Ollama and Open WebUI in Container Station and for on-premises RAG with Qsirch, which has a local AI mode on systems with a capable GPU. QuMagie handles photo recognition and the surveillance suite supports AI camera features and accelerator cards such as Hailo-8. QNAP's compatibility lists are detailed per model, which makes it easy to check a GPU before buying.
Common questions
Can a QNAP TS-464 run a local LLM?
Small ones. QNAP's own guidance is 8GB for 3B models and 16GB for 7B models, on the CPU only. It is a storage NAS first.
Is the QAI-h1290FX worth it over the TS-h1290FX?
If you want QNAP to supply and validate the GPU and software as one product, yes. If you already own suitable cards, the TS-h1290FX is the same platform for less.
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 | |
| £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 |
| £479 Amazon UK · Verified | In stock | View Deal |
| £636 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?
Every QNAP system we track except the traditional TS-233, ranked by 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%