A Look Inside

It's now time to strip the NAS down to discover what components are hidden inside the casing.


The AS-606T looks like the QNAP TS-669 Pro since they use a similar case/design, but the AS-606T was, admittedly, far easier to dismantle, although we had to remove lots of screws before we could get our hands on every one of its components. During the take-apart process, we noticed that the solder side of the mainboard is completely covered by a black adhesive material to effectively protect it against shorts in case it comes in contact with the steel-made chassis. This adhesive material has a cut around the empty RAM slot on this side, which allows for an easy RAM upgrade without having to completely remove the mainboard.


The mainboard completely detached from the chassis. On it, we found several polymer CapXon caps.


The I/O ports of the mainboard.


The solder side of the mainboard on which the second empty RAM slot resides. It is easily accessible after removing the casing.


The dual-core Atom CPU (D2700) is, thanks to its low TDP, passively cooled. It is accompanied by an Intel-82801JR (ICH10R) controller.


One ADATA DDR3 1333 memory module (1 GB) has already been installed on the mainboard.


The monitoring IC is an ITE IT8728F, and an SLG8LV631V clock generator resides right next to it.


The USB 3.0 controller is provided by NEC (D720200AF1).


The system's buzzer with a RT8167B dual single-Phase PWM controller right next to it on the left.


The two-phase VRMs that feed the CPU.


We found several STMicroelectronics 24C04WP ICs (4 Kbit Serial I2C Bus EEPROM) on the main PCB.


The NAS's 512 MB of flash memory.


In the photo above, we have marked the two channel SATA 3-Gbps redriver with model number SN75LVCP412. It is made by Texas Instruments.


On the solder side of the mainboard, we found the two Gbit NICs (BCM57781) and the CH7318 AC coupled with an HDMI level shifter used by the HDMI port of the NAS.


The battery of the mainboard is installed vertically in order to be easily replaceable.


The PCIe expansion card that holds all SATA III ports. On it, we meet three Marvell 88SE9125s, a Macronix MX25L4006E standard serial interface, and a PI6C 20400ALE 1:4 Clock Driver for Intel PCI Express chipsets.


The LCD screen of the NAS utilizes a Weltrend WT69P3 IC.


The fan that cools the NAS is provided by Y.S Tech, and its model number is FD121225LB (120 mm, 12 V, 1800 RPM, 73 CFM, 34 dBA). It utilizes ball bearings for more longevity.


We left the SFF PSU that powers the NAS for last. It is provided by one of the largest PSU OEMs, Delta Electronics, and its model number is DPS-250AB. It can provide up to 240 W of power, so it is pretty strong for the needs of the AS-606T. According to the 80 PLUS organization, this PSU meets the 80 PLUS requirements, so it will save you some money off your electricity bills, although the standard 80 PLUS certification nowadays looks kind of low; that is, for desktop PSUs. Finally, the small 40 mm fan it uses is very quiet, although its diameter is small. The PSU does only, after all, deliver a fraction of its maximum power at heavy data throughput, so its cooling needs remain low. Here we should note that the QNAP TS-669 Pro uses exactly the same PSU.