Synology DS425+ NAS Revealed

The Synology DS425+ arrives as part of the company’s 2025 refresh of its popular DiskStation NAS lineup, positioned as a 4-bay solution for prosumers, content creators, and small business users who demand reliable private cloud functionality, media handling, and data protection tools—all in a desktop-friendly chassis. Succeeding the widely adopted DS423+, the DS425+ builds upon the same Intel Celeron J4125 architecture but introduces upgraded network connectivity and improved support for SSD caching, aiming to enhance performance across daily operations like file synchronization, multimedia streaming, collaborative document editing, and surveillance management. Running the latest version of DiskStation Manager (DSM), the DS425+ leverages Synology’s full ecosystem of services, including Synology Drive, Active Backup Suite, Surveillance Station, and Synology Photos. With this release, Synology is also doubling down on its strict hardware compatibility enforcement, limiting drive support to Synology-verified models only—a shift that may influence buyers with preexisting storage investments. Even so, the DS425+ offers a compact yet powerful platform for centralized storage, hybrid cloud collaboration, and secure file access from anywhere.

Synology DS425+ Hardware Specifications

At the heart of the Synology DS425+ is the same Intel Celeron J4125 processor seen in the DS423+—a quad-core, Gemini Lake-based chip with a base clock of 2.0 GHz and a burst frequency of 2.7 GHz. While this CPU has proven competent for basic NAS operations like SMB file serving, lightweight multimedia indexing, and DSM’s collaborative apps, its inclusion in a 2025 NAS release feels increasingly outdated. The J4125 first launched in 2019, and although its low power consumption and integrated hardware encryption engine remain attractive for entry-tier devices, it’s now noticeably behind in areas like video transcoding, AI-assisted tasks, and virtualization performance. For example, when running more demanding DSM features such as Surveillance Station with high-resolution streams, or multiple simultaneous file indexing operations via Synology Photos and Drive, this processor can quickly become a limiting factor, especially in multi-user environments.

Memory configuration hasn’t changed either, with the DS425+ shipping with 2 GB of DDR4 non-ECC RAM soldered to the board and a single expansion slot allowing upgrades to a maximum of 6 GB. This is a practical ceiling for general use—enough to handle several DSM packages like Synology Office, Drive, or Hyper Backup simultaneously—but it’s insufficient for users looking to run dockerized apps, virtual DSM instances, or advanced services such as Synology MailPlus in a more scalable manner. The non-ECC nature of the RAM also weakens the case for this NAS as a long-term professional solution, especially when handling sensitive or mission-critical workloads.

Networking is where the DS425+ makes a partial step forward, but not without caveats. It features a single 2.5GbE LAN port alongside a 1GbE port—an improvement over the dual 1GbE design of the DS423+—but a closer look reveals an intentional limitation. Unlike many other brands that now offer dual 2.5GbE ports for link aggregation or seamless failover at full speed, Synology’s decision to pair a 2.5GbE with a 1GbE appears less about cost or chipset restrictions and more about product segmentation. This asymmetric port setup discourages buyers from choosing the DS425+ over higher-tier units like the DS925+, which offers more symmetrical bandwidth and better expansion paths. From a hardware standpoint, there is no compelling technical reason this device couldn’t have included dual 2.5GbE—especially given its target audience of small business and prosumer users with growing data needs.

Storage connectivity fares better. The DS425+ supports four hot-swappable 3.5″/2.5″ SATA drives and adds two M.2 2280 NVMe SSD slots for cache acceleration—valuable for improving read/write IOPS, especially in workloads like media library scanning in Synology Photos or large document syncing in Synology Drive. These M.2 slots do not consume the main drive bays, preserving all four bays for primary storage—a practical advantage for users looking to maintain high capacity while improving responsiveness. However, it’s important to note that, per Synology’s 2025 compatibility policy, only Synology-branded SSDs (such as the SNV3400 series) can be used for either cache or storage pool creation, cutting out a wide array of affordable third-party options.

In terms of design, the DS425+ remains compact and energy-efficient, measuring 166 × 199 × 223 mm and weighing 2.18 kg. It uses two 92mm fans for active cooling, and power usage is modest—28.3W under load and just 8.45W in disk hibernation. Two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports are available for external drive backups or peripheral support, and the unit is shipped with two RJ-45 cables, a power supply, and a 3-year warranty (extendable to 5 years in some regions). But while the physical build quality is solid, many of the internal hardware choices feel driven more by Synology’s desire to maintain product hierarchy than by a desire to fully meet evolving user needs in this segment.

Synology DS425+ vs DS423+ NAS – Much of an Upgrade?

On paper, the DS425+ and DS423+ appear remarkably similar—so much so that many users might question whether the DS425+ is a true generational upgrade. Both models use the same Intel Celeron J4125 quad-core processor, support up to 6 GB of non-ECC DDR4 memory, and house four 3.5″/2.5″ SATA bays alongside dual M.2 NVMe SSD slots. The physical dimensions, weight, fan configuration, and even the power draw figures are virtually identical. For many core use cases—such as basic file storage, Synology Drive collaboration, and multimedia backups via Hyper Backup—the user experience will feel nearly the same. This makes the DS425+ look more like a platform refresh than a reinvention.

However, the key differences lie in network connectivity and platform intent. The DS423+ features dual 1GbE ports with support for link aggregation or failover, while the DS425+ trades this for a mix of one 2.5GbE and one 1GbE port. While this technically increases the potential maximum throughput to 2.5Gbps, this hybrid setup seems designed to offer “just enough” improvement to distinguish the DS425+ without cannibalizing interest in higher-tier systems like the DS925+. For users with modern 2.5GbE switches, the DS425+ will offer a slightly snappier file access and faster backups—particularly when working with large media libraries or high-frequency synchronization tasks in Synology Photos or Drive. But those with symmetrical link aggregation setups may find the port layout frustratingly limiting.

Another critical shift is in Synology’s approach to drive compatibility. The DS423+—like most NAS units in the 2020–2023 era—offered relatively open support for third-party HDDs and SSDs, including Seagate IronWolf, WD Red, and enterprise-class models. Users would receive warnings when using non-verified drives, but DSM remained fully functional. In contrast, the DS425+ adopts the same restrictive policy seen in all 2025 Synology NAS systems, outright blocking DSM installation and pool creation with unverified hard drives or NVMe SSDs.

This has broad implications for cost-conscious users or those migrating from older Synology NAS units, as they may find that previously functional media is now flagged and unusable. Even within Synology’s own ecosystem, only select SKUs (e.g., HAT3300, HAT5300, SAT5200, SNV3400) are accepted without persistent alerts or functionality restrictions. While this change may support long-term system stability and vendor accountability, it narrows the appeal of the DS425+ as a flexible, user-driven NAS appliance.

Ultimately, the DS425+ is one of the smallest refresh/upgrades over the DS423+, largely just in its added 2.5GbE port. But for users already operating a DS423+, the performance incentives to upgrade are limited—unless specific use cases demand faster network throughput or tighter integration with Synology’s enterprise-leaning ecosystem. For first-time buyers, the DS425+ makes more sense if you are already choosing only the media the brand recommends and want a relatively low-noise, compact NAS with good multi-user potential, cloud tools, and basic virtualization support.

Synology DS425+ NAS – Software and Services

The DS425+ runs Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM), one of the most polished NAS operating systems available today, offering a blend of enterprise-level tools and consumer-friendly accessibility. Users can configure the device as a centralized file server, hybrid cloud gateway, backup vault, media hub, or private collaboration platform—all from within an intuitive web-based interface.

The system supports the Btrfs file system, enabling advanced data protection features such as file self-healing, quota management, and snapshot replication. With support for up to 256 system-wide snapshots and 128 per shared folder, users can roll back accidental deletions or ransomware-damaged data in seconds. Synology’s Hybrid Share also allows users to extend storage capacity to the cloud with on-demand file streaming and local caching, balancing scalability with local performance.

Collaboration is another strong point of the DSM ecosystem. Synology Drive provides a private alternative to Google Drive or Dropbox, enabling real-time file synchronization across devices and platforms, with versioning, sharing permissions, and browser-based access. Integrated with Synology Office, users can collaborate on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations with password protection and revision tracking.

These tools perform well even with modest hardware like the DS425+, and are ideal for distributed teams or remote workers. For communication, Synology Chat brings secure instant messaging with support for encrypted channels and message retention policies, while Synology MailPlus offers a fully-fledged private email server with support for up to 20 users (5 licenses included). These services transform the DS425+ from a simple storage box into a multi-role productivity appliance.

Synology also continues to invest in security and monitoring, with DSM 7.2+ adding features like Adaptive Multi-Factor Authentication (AMFA), which intelligently triggers additional login requirements based on user behavior and access patterns. Admins can leverage Active Insight, Synology’s cloud-based fleet monitoring system, to detect threats and performance anomalies across multiple NAS units, and even enforce policy-based snapshot creation during suspicious activity. For those managing backups, Synology’s Active Backup Suite covers Windows, Linux, VMware, Hyper-V, and Microsoft 365/Google Workspace, while Hyper Backup supports encrypted, deduplicated, multi-destination backups to local disks, other NAS units, or Synology’s C2 Storage cloud. Surveillance Station also comes bundled with two free IP camera licenses, and can support up to 40 H.265 1080p streams simultaneously—ideal for small-scale CCTV installations that want private, license-free storage.

Synology DS425+ NAS – Price and Release Date

The Synology DS425+ is scheduled to launch globally in June 2025, following an earlier rollout across Eastern markets beginning in the second half of May 2025. Based on its positioning and minimal hardware changes from the DS423+, it is expected to arrive with a similar MSRP in the range of $449 to $499 USD. This pricing places it firmly in the upper-middle segment of Synology’s 4-bay lineup, targeting users who need more performance and features than entry-level models offer, but without the broader expansion and higher price tags of units like the DS923+ or DS925+. However, with the inclusion of the new restrictive drive compatibility policy, buyers will need to factor in the additional cost of Synology-verified HDDs or SSDs, which could notably increase the total cost of ownership compared to similarly priced NAS systems that support a wider range of drives.

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Synology at Computex 2025 – New NAS, Flash, and Surveillance Solutions Unveiled

(Article is Work In Progress – Images and Specification Updates Coming Shortly)

At Computex 2025, Synology unveiled an extensive range of new hardware and storage solutions across both consumer and enterprise tiers. From compact desktop NAS to high-performance rackmount flash storage systems, the 2025 product line spans diverse use cases in home multimedia, business backups, AI-powered surveillance, and parallel active storage infrastructure. However, a significant underlying theme across this year’s announcements is Synology’s strict enforcement of Synology-verified storage media across both the Plus series and enterprise-class devices. This ongoing shift in policy has raised concerns within the NAS community—especially among users who rely on third-party drives for flexibility and cost-effectiveness. Messaging around this storage validation system remains inconsistent, with key technical and strategic details still unclear. Nonetheless, this year’s lineup confirms Synology’s intent to consolidate hardware and media under its own ecosystem, even while expanding its presence into flash-first infrastructure and turnkey surveillance platforms.

PAS7700 – Flagship NVMe Enterprise Rackmount Storage

The PAS7700 marks Synology’s formal entry into high-performance all-NVMe storage for the enterprise sector. It is the most powerful product in the new Parallel Active Storage (PAS) series, designed with a dual-controller architecture and full end-to-end U.3 NVMe support. Each controller in the PAS7700 is powered by an AMD EPYC processor, supports up to 1TB of DDR4 ECC memory, and is capable of sustaining 30GB/s sequential throughput with over 2 million 4K random read IOPS. This architecture supports true active-active failover, high concurrency, and data consistency across large virtualized workloads or AI/ML pipelines.

Networking options include up to 4x 100GbE and 12x 25GbE ports (via optional NICs), and expansion is achieved using the PAX224, a 24-bay U.3 NVMe expansion chassis connected via HD-SAS 12Gb/s dual-link architecture. The PAS7700’s chassis is built to scale up to 216 NVMe drives for a maximum raw capacity exceeding 1.6PB, though real-world capacity will depend on drive model, RAID configuration, and overhead.

One of the more contentious elements is that, like all of Synology’s 2025 enterprise lineup, the PAS7700 mandates the use of Synology-verified U.3 NVMe SSDs. The drives shown on the show floor included 8TB Synology-branded U.3 SSDs, though Synology did not confirm their OEM origin, controller model, or endurance ratings beyond stating that they were optimized for sustained IOPS workloads. This storage lock-in policy has drawn criticism from users seeking flexibility in enterprise deployments.

PAS7700 Specifications

 

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PAS3600 – Hybrid Flash Storage for Cost-Efficient Deployment

Positioned as the mid-range sibling to the PAS7700, the PAS3600 provides a more accessible entry into the Parallel Active Storage series by utilizing SATA drives rather than U.3 NVMe. Designed for hybrid flash deployment, the PAS3600 features dual controllers, each running an Intel Xeon processor and supporting up to 256GB of ECC DDR4 memory per controller. While it doesn’t match the raw performance of the PAS7700, it still delivers substantial throughput and redundancy suitable for enterprise virtual machine hosting, storage tiering, and backup environments.

Network connectivity includes support for up to 4x 25GbE and 8x 10GbE ports via optional NICs, with the system capable of scaling out using the PAX212, a 12-bay SATA flash expansion chassis. These expansion units also use 12Gb/s HD-SAS, and maintain redundant power supplies and dual data interconnects to ensure performance stability and non-disruptive scaling. Like the rest of Synology’s 2025 enterprise systems, the PAS3600 enforces the use of Synology-verified SATA SSDs, understandable in this sector of the industry and in line with this kind fo product.

PAS3600 Specifications

 

 

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DVA7400 – AI-Powered Surveillance Rackmount System

The DVA7400 represents the most powerful surveillance solution Synology has introduced to date. It is the first in the DVA (Deep Video Analytics) lineup to be available in a rackmount form factor, making it suitable for larger, centralized surveillance deployments. The unit leverages an AMD Ryzen processor in combination with a dedicated GPU, enabling support for up to 100 camera streams and 40 simultaneous AI video analysis tasks, such as motion detection, facial recognition, and people counting.

In terms of connectivity, the DVA7400 includes dual 10GbE ports to ensure adequate bandwidth for high-resolution video ingestion and management. Additionally, it features a separate remote management interface, streamlining system oversight in enterprise environments. Internally, the system includes a dedicated AI processor with 190+ TFLOPS FP8 performance and 16GB of VRAM, allowing for real-time video indexing and recognition tasks.

As with most Synology surveillance systems, the DVA7400 includes a limited number of camera licenses by default. However, users deploying Synology-branded cameras benefit from license-free operation. Support for ONVIF-compliant third-party cameras is included but requires standard Synology Surveillance Station licenses. While the hardware is a significant leap forward, the system’s drive compatibility remains subject questionable, as the brand does not currently have an inhouse branded surveillance optimized HDD (eg comparable to WD Purple or Seagate Skyhawk – designed for much heavier WRITE over READ).

DVA7400 Specifications

 

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FS200T – Compact All-Flash NAS for Quiet Environments

The FS200T, formerly expected as the DS625Slim, is now reclassified under the FlashStation series. This compact 6-bay NAS is designed for SSD-only deployments using 2.5″ SATA drives, and is aimed at users needing high-speed, low-noise storage in home studios or small office environments. Internally, it is powered by the Intel Celeron J4125, a quad-core processor that, while dated, includes integrated graphics. It is paired with 4GB of DDR4 memory, which is not ECC and may limit enterprise use.

Network connectivity includes 1x 2.5GbE and 1x 1GbE RJ-45 ports, a configuration that presents a noticeable bottleneck when combined with a 6-SSD RAID setup. No PCIe or expansion options are available. Despite the performance limitations imposed by its dated processor and limited bandwidth, the FS200T’s small form factor and flash-focused design make it a viable solution for read-heavy tasks or quiet operation environments where rotational noise from HDDs is undesirable.

FS200T Specifications

 

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DS725+ – Dual-Bay Plus Series NAS with Expansion Support

The DS725+ is Synology’s latest 2-bay entry in the 2025 Plus series, offering modest upgrades over its predecessor, the DS723+. It features a 2-core, 4-thread AMD Ryzen R1600 processor, 4GB of ECC DDR4 memory (expandable), and includes two Ethernet ports: one 2.5GbE and one 1GbE. Unlike the previous model, the option for PCIe 10GbE upgrade has been removed, marking a notable downgrade in scalability.

Despite its small size, the DS725+ supports expansion up to 7 total drives using the Synology DX525 USB-C expansion unit, allowing users to migrate to larger RAID arrays over time. Internally, it includes two M.2 NVMe slots that can be used for either SSD caching or storage pools, enhancing read/write performance if properly configured. However, NVMe performance may still be limited by the relatively modest CPU and system architecture.

As with all 2025+ series units, this model enforces strict use of Synology-verified drives for optimal compatibility. This includes both the internal SATA bays and NVMe SSDs, aligning with Synology’s broader shift to a closed hardware ecosystem—an approach that continues to draw mixed reactions from the NAS community.

DS725+ Specifications

 

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DS425+ – 4-Bay Multimedia NAS with Modest Refresh

The DS425+ is the 2025 refresh of the DS423+, aimed at SOHO and multimedia users seeking a 4-bay system with enhanced network throughput and M.2 NVMe support. Internally, the DS425+ continues to use the Intel Celeron J4125, a quad-core processor with integrated graphics, and comes with 4GB of DDR4 non-ECC memory. This model includes two Ethernet ports—1x 2.5GbE and 1x 1GbE—a somewhat disappointing choice that limits link aggregation potential and overall throughput compared to systems offering dual 2.5GbE.

The DS425+ includes two M.2 NVMe slots, usable for either SSD caching or as part of a storage pool. However, given the CPU and system bus limitations of the J4125, real-world NVMe performance may be constrained. There are no PCIe upgrade slots, meaning no pathway to 10GbE or further expansion beyond USB and the DX525 expansion unit.

Crucially, as part of the 2025 Plus series, the DS425+ requires Synology-verified drives for compatibility—both for its SATA and NVMe bays. This has led to pushback from users accustomed to broader drive support, especially in the mid-range where cost-effectiveness and flexibility are often more important than validation.

DS425+ Specifications

 

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DS1525+ – 5-Bay All-Purpose NAS with Enhanced CPU and Expansion

The DS1525+ sits in the middle of Synology’s Plus series, offering a blend of scalability, multimedia handling, and business backup functionality. It upgrades the CPU from the DS1522+ by moving from the AMD Ryzen R1600 (2C/4T) to the AMD Ryzen V1500B, a 4-core, 8-thread processor that previously powered the DS1621+ and DS1821+. The system comes pre-installed with 8GB of DDR4 ECC memory, double that of its predecessor.

The DS1525+ includes two 2.5GbE RJ-45 network ports and supports the Synology Network Upgrade Module, which provides a pathway to 10GbE networking via a compact add-in module. This model also retains two M.2 NVMe slots for SSD caching or storage pool creation. It supports expansion to 15 total drives when connected to two DX525 expansion units, making it suitable for growing media libraries or multi-user project environments.

However, it still falls under Synology’s 2025 policy requiring Synology-verified storage media, both for the five primary SATA bays and the M.2 NVMe slots. This requirement continues to stir user debate, particularly in the mid-range segment, where third-party storage flexibility has historically been an expectation.

DS1525+ Specifications

 

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DS1825+ – 8-Bay High-Capacity NAS for Power Users and SMBs

The DS1825+ serves as the high-capacity flagship in the 2025 Plus series, aimed at power users and small to medium businesses that require extensive storage and moderate processing capabilities. Like the DS1525+, it is powered by the AMD Ryzen V1500B (4 cores, 8 threads) and includes 8GB of ECC DDR4 memory by default. The unit offers two 2.5GbE RJ-45 ports, replacing the four 1GbE ports found in its predecessor, the DS1821+.

Storage can be expanded up to 18 total drives by connecting two DX525 expansion units via USB-C. The DS1825+ also includes two M.2 NVMe slots, supporting both SSD caching and dedicated NVMe storage pools. Unlike the DS1525+, it retains a standard PCIe slot, supporting full-sized 10GbE and higher NICs—with Synology now offering 25GbE and 50GbE upgrade cards, expanding its relevance in virtualization and high-bandwidth media workflows.

However, as with all devices in the 2025 Plus series, the DS1825+ enforces Synology’s drive verification system. Only Synology-verified SATA drives and NVMe SSDs are supported for optimal operation, and unsupported drives may be flagged or disabled in future DSM updates—a policy that continues to concern experienced users building mixed-brand NAS environments.

DS1825+ Specifications

 

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DX525 – 5-Bay Expansion Unit for DS and Plus Series

The DX525 is Synology’s latest 5-bay expansion unit, designed for use with a wide range of their 2025 DS and Plus series NAS models. It connects via USB-C rather than the older eSATA standard, supporting newer devices such as the DS725+, DS425+, DS1525+, DS1825+, DS925+, and others. It provides a seamless way to expand storage without migrating to a larger system or creating a new volume, and is fully integrated into DSM’s Storage Manager for volume extension and RAID expansion.

The DX525 supports both 3.5″ and 2.5″ SATA drives, with hot-swappable trays for quick replacement. While no network or processing capability exists on the unit itself (it’s entirely dependent on the host NAS), it can be used for extending existing RAID volumes or creating new independent volumes. This makes it useful for both capacity growth and tiered storage strategies.

DX525 Specifications

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SNV5420 – Enterprise NVMe SSD for Sustained Caching Workloads

The SNV5400 is Synology’s newest high-performance M.2 NVMe SSD for caching and sustained-write workloads, positioned above the earlier SNV3400 series. Targeted at SMBs and enterprise deployments requiring high-speed caching, the SNV5400 delivers up to 660,000 random read IOPS and 120,000 random write IOPS, with a rated endurance of 2,900 TBW. It features end-to-end data protection and power loss protection, ensuring data integrity during unexpected shutdowns—essential for cache-tier applications in critical environments.

Unlike previous Synology NVMe SSDs, the SNV5400 also supports in-system firmware upgrades, reducing maintenance downtime during drive management or lifecycle refresh. It is available in at least one confirmed variant, though broader capacity options have not yet been fully disclosed. The controller used is reportedly the IG5636 FAA, believed to be a Gen4 NVMe controller, but Synology has not publicly confirmed full hardware details or OEM sourcing. In addition to the SNV5400 enterprise drive, Synology showed off a new high-performance M.2 NVMe SSD at Computex 2025 that appears to target heavier workloads than the SNV3400. It reportedly uses the IG5636 FAA controller, which supports PCIe Gen4, suggesting significantly higher throughput than their current Gen3 offerings. However, Synology did not publicly confirm specs such as endurance, capacity range, or the NAND type used.

This unnamed SSD is presumed to be part of a future SNV or new series aimed at advanced caching, AI workloads, or even storage pool applications in high-performance Plus and enterprise NAS models. Synology staff on the show floor were unable to confirm OEM origins or whether this model would be mandatory in future NVMe-capable systems.

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HAT5300 20TB – Synology’s Largest Enterprise-Grade HDD

The HAT5300 20TB is the latest and highest-capacity addition to Synology’s line of enterprise SATA hard drives, extending the HAT5300 series for large-volume and high-workload environments. Designed specifically for compatibility with Synology’s 2025 NAS and SAN systems, this 3.5-inch SATA drive offers up to 23% higher sustained sequential read performance than previous models, positioning it as a reliable option for high-throughput backup, archival, and surveillance storage tasks.

The drive supports workloads of up to 550 TB/year, making it suitable for 24/7 operation in business-critical storage arrays. It also includes persistent write cache technology, which helps preserve data integrity during power loss events. Like other models in the HAT5300 line, this drive undergoes over 500,000 hours of internal validation on Synology systems and supports in-system firmware upgrades directly via DSM.

This is currerntly the largest hard drive offered by Synology in their existing line up of storage media drives.

HAT5300 20TB Specifications

 

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BeeStation Plus – Preconfigured Private Cloud with Plex and AI Tools

The BeeStation Plus is Synology’s latest entry in the consumer-grade NAS lineup, positioned as a plug-and-play private cloud aimed at home users, content creators, and families. It comes pre-populated with an 8TB Synology HAT3300 Plus hard drive, sealed within a single-bay enclosure that does not allow for internal drive replacement or expansion. This closed-box approach prioritizes simplicity but removes RAID failover and user-serviceability, relying instead on USB or cloud-based backups.

Internally, the BeeStation Plus runs on an Intel Celeron J4125 processor—an aging but capable quad-core CPU with integrated graphics. It is paired with 8GB of memory, doubling that of the original ARM-based BeeStation. The device ships with Synology’s BeeStation Manager (BSM) software preinstalled and fully configured Plex Media Server, with media libraries and directories already initialized, enabling fast setup for streaming to smart TVs, tablets, and mobile devices. It also features local AI-powered photo indexing and object recognition via Bee Photos.

Backup support includes USB-A and USB-C ports, as well as integration with BeeProtect, Synology’s new cloud backup platform. Each BeeStation Plus includes a 3-month free trial of BeeProtect, after which it transitions to a subscription model. While this system offers some of the easiest Plex deployment in Synology’s portfolio, users should be aware of its limitations—chiefly, the lack of RAID protection, upgrade paths storage scalability limits.

BeeStation Plus Specifications

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DS225+ – Budget 2-Bay NAS for Entry-Level Users

The DS225+ is Synology’s entry-level 2-bay NAS refresh for 2025, intended for home users, small backups, and basic multimedia needs. It features the same Intel Celeron J4125 processor found in the DS425+ and BeeStation Plus—offering integrated graphics but limited modern performance. Paired with 4GB of DDR4 memory, the system supports two SATA bays, making it suitable for mirrored RAID 1 setups or small independent volumes.

In terms of connectivity, the DS225+ includes 1 x 2.5GbE and 1 x 1GbE Ethernet ports—adequate for most basic workloads, but still a step behind systems offering dual 2.5GbE or upgradable networking. The system includes two M.2 NVMe slots that can be configured for SSD caching or used as additional storage pools, although bandwidth limitations due to the aging platform may constrain real-world gains.

While the DS225+ offers a very approachable route into NAS usage, it is subject to the same Synology-verified storage media policy as the rest of the 2025 series. Users are limited to verified drives for both SATA bays will be especially annying at a device level that is considered very, very ‘entry’, which continues to frustrate those hoping to reuse older hardware or source drives independently.

DS225+ Specifications

 

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Asustor Rolling Out Gen5 Rackmount NAS – The AS7212RDX and AS7216RDX Lockerstor Pro Gen2

At Computex 2025, Asustor unveils its latest additions to the Lockerstor rackmount family—the Lockerstor R Pro Gen2 series, comprising the 12-bay AS7212RDX and 16-bay AS7216RDX NAS systems. Positioned as high-performance, scalable solutions for small to medium businesses and enterprise deployments, these new models mark a notable hardware shift for the brand. Powered by AMD’s latest Ryzen 7 Pro processors and featuring support for PCIe Gen 5, 10GbE networking, and DDR5 ECC memory, this generation is clearly engineered for intensive multitasking, virtualized environments, and high-throughput applications. In addition to core hardware improvements, the systems ship with the ADM 5 software platform, which brings expanded storage and network configuration options, enhanced snapshot tools, and a wide ecosystem of applications. Combined with support for the new Xpanstor 12R expansion chassis and backed by a 5-year warranty, the Lockerstor R Pro Gen2 series is clearly being positioned to compete in the same space as rackmount solutions from QNAP, Synology, and TrueNAS, but with a focus on open upgrade paths and hardware flexibility. In this article, we break down the hardware, software, and overall direction of this release based on what we’ve seen firsthand on the Computex show floor.

Lockerstor R Pro Gen 2 Hardware Specifications

The Asustor Lockerstor R Pro Gen2 series, comprising the 12-bay AS7212RDX and the 16-bay AS7216RDX, represents a significant upgrade in rackmount NAS architecture, engineered specifically for small to medium-sized businesses and enterprise-grade environments. At the heart of both systems is the AMD Ryzen 7 Pro processor, based on a 5nm process with 8 physical cores. This processor line, typically used in high-efficiency workstations, delivers balanced compute performance and thermal control, making it suitable for multi-threaded tasks such as virtualization, container deployment, and high-volume file services. The systems ship with 16 GB of ECC DDR5 memory as standard, offering improved memory bandwidth and error correction capabilities vital to maintaining consistent data integrity under sustained load.

In terms of storage acceleration and flexibility, both units are equipped with a single M.2 NVMe slot supporting PCIe 5.0, offering a notable increase in throughput compared to earlier PCIe 3.0 or 4.0 implementations. This slot is intended for either SSD caching or as a standalone high-speed storage tier, useful for workflows involving small file I/O, databases, or active archive datasets. Both systems also feature dual 10-Gigabit Ethernet and dual 1-Gigabit Ethernet ports, enabling high-speed networking with support for link aggregation, load balancing, and network redundancy. For those requiring more, a PCIe Gen5 x8 expansion slot is available, compatible with a wide range of enterprise accessories including SAS expansion controllers or additional 25/40/100GbE NICs, offering clear upgrade paths for future network scaling.

Operational resilience is enhanced by redundant 80 PLUS Platinum-certified power supplies, designed to minimize energy waste while providing reliable failover in the event of a PSU failure. The hot-swappable nature of these components, combined with tool-less access to the drive bays and internal fan modules, supports minimal disruption during maintenance or component replacement. Both models use a standard 2U rackmount form factor and support a variety of enterprise-class SATA or SAS drives. Additionally, they are fully compatible with Asustor’s Xpanstor 12R SAS JBOD expansion unit, allowing businesses to scale storage capacity with minimal downtime. Asustor includes a 5-year hardware warranty with these units, placing them firmly in the enterprise support tier and aligning with long-term deployment cycles common in business environments.

Lockerstor R Pro Gen 2 ADM Software

ADM 5, the latest iteration of Asustor’s NAS operating system, is pre-installed on the Lockerstor R Pro Gen2 series and delivers a broad set of administrative, storage, and security features geared toward SMB and enterprise users. The interface is browser-based, with a modular design that separates key configuration areas—such as access control, storage, network, and service management—into distinct application windows. While this layout may require some initial familiarization, it provides logical compartmentalization that benefits ongoing maintenance and delegation of user privileges. On the storage side, ADM supports both Btrfs and EXT4 file systems. Storage pools—representing RAID arrays—must be mapped directly to volumes, meaning that each volume corresponds to a single RAID pool, and the OS does not currently support multiple volumes on a single pool. Snapshot functionality is implemented at the volume level rather than on a per-folder basis, which could be limiting for users seeking granular rollback capabilities. Nevertheless, snapshots can be scheduled at hourly intervals, locked to prevent automatic deletion, and restored manually or automatically, including optional pre-restore snapshot creation. The system also includes scrubbing and defragmentation tools for Btrfs volumes.

ADM 5 includes a wide range of file-sharing services, including SMB (with multichannel support), AFP, NFS, FTP, WebDAV, Rsync, and iSCSI. Each of these services can be configured through a dedicated “Services” panel, with advanced tuning options such as SMB encryption levels, access control lists, and port customization. iSCSI support includes LUN and target creation, authentication, and snapshot scheduling. The built-in File Manager allows users to open multiple file browser windows simultaneously within the same tab, streamlining operations like drag-and-drop transfers or cross-volume comparisons. Shared folders can be configured with granular access control, write-once-read-many (WORM) settings, and optional encryption. Users can also specify upload/download-only folder behavior for shared workspaces. Drive monitoring tools include support for SMART diagnostics, IronWolf Health Management (on supported Seagate drives), and drive lifespan tracking. However, NVMe SSD management features are currently limited, with no built-in benchmarking or thermal analysis tools. On the system security side, ADM Defender provides firewall configuration, IP blacklisting, and brute-force protection policies. Two-step verification, user session management, and auto-lock policies are configurable for each user account. Remote access can be managed through integrated VPN settings, EasyConnect tunneling, and port forwarding, although some tasks require navigating across multiple panels rather than a unified dashboard.

Asustor Lockerstor R Pro Gen 2 Thoughts and Verdict

Seeing the Asustor Lockerstor R Pro Gen2 series up close at Computex 2025, it’s clear that Asustor is starting to target the upper end of the SMB and mid-enterprise market with a platform that prioritizes performance, scalability, and resilience. The use of AMD’s Ryzen 7 Pro processor, DDR5 ECC memory, and support for PCIe Gen5 across both storage and expansion puts this NAS series in a position to compete directly with more established rackmount offerings. With the added flexibility of the Xpanstor 12R SAS expansion unit and redundant 80 PLUS Platinum power supplies, the platform clearly anticipates long-term deployment cycles and high-availability expectations. ADM 5, preloaded on both the 12-bay and 16-bay models, offers a wide range of file services and storage management tools. It’s not the most streamlined interface I’ve seen at the show, but its modularity does provide powerful customization if you’re willing to invest time into setup. Snapshot support, folder-level access controls, and multi-gigabit networking options all contribute to a solid enterprise feature set. While there’s still room for refinement in areas like NVMe SSD analytics and centralized configuration workflows, the ADM ecosystem is evidently maturing in pace with the hardware.

As it stands today at Computex, the Lockerstor R Pro Gen2 looks to be one of the most forward-looking rackmount solutions Asustor has released to date, and one of the most competitive solution at the show! The combination of PCIe Gen5 infrastructure, robust software support, and a competitive warranty makes this system a serious contender for IT environments seeking reliability without stepping into proprietary lock-in or over-complex licensing. Final availability and region-specific configurations are still to be confirmed, but what I’m seeing here suggests Asustor is closing the gap with its more dominant competitors in the rackmount NAS space.

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Finally, for free advice about your setup, just leave a message in the comments below here at NASCompares.com and we will get back to you. Need Help? Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry. [contact-form-7] TRY CHAT Terms and Conditions   Alternatively, why not ask me on the ASK NASCompares forum, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in the ASK NASCompares section below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.

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Des échanges engagés ont récemment émergé sur Cachem, y compris autour d’un sujet qui peut sembler anodin : l’USB. Lors de mes derniers tests, je n’avais pas pris le temps de me pencher spécifiquement sur le nouveau port USB Type-C intégré aux modèles de la gamme Synology DSx25+. Ce port soulève pourtant de nombreuses interrogations, voire des frustrations, chez plusieurs utilisateurs. Certains affirment qu’il est inutilisable, d’autres prétendent qu’il fonctionne normalement. Après plusieurs tests, je peux vous le confirmer : ce port est bel et bien restreint dans son usage.

Un nouveau port… mais pas pour tous les usages

Avec l’arrivée des NAS Synology DSx25+, l’USB Type-C fait son apparition à l’arrière des appareils. Celui-ci remplace le port eSATA présent sur les générations précédentes, utilisé notamment pour connecter des unités d’expansion (comme les DX517). Ce changement pourrait être vu comme une modernisation bienvenue, mais dans les faits, il s’accompagne d’une limitation importante.

Alors que l’eSATA permettait aussi d’y connecter des supports de stockage externes (exemple : un disque dur externe avec Hyper Backup), ce n’est plus possible avec l’USB Type-C des nouveaux modèles. Synology a verrouillé l’usage de ce port à un seul scénario : la connexion d’une unité d’expansion DX525.

Des tests concluants… dans le mauvais sens

Pour lever tout doute, j’ai effectué plusieurs tests pratiques. Résultat : aucun périphérique de stockage externe n’a été reconnu. J’ai essayé une clé USB, un SSD externe, même un smartphone : aucune détection, aucune charge. J’ai poussé l’expérience jusqu’à brancher un câble Thunderbolt 4 relié à un PC (oui, on peut toujours rêver). Là encore, aucune réaction du système.

Ces essais confirment sans ambiguïté que le port USB Type-C n’est pas un port polyvalent. Il ne peut pas être utilisé pour de la sauvegarde, du transfert de fichiers ou même pour recharger un appareil. Il est exclusivement réservé à l’unité d’expansion Synology DX525. Ce verrouillage logiciel (ou matériel) est volontaire.

Une tendance inquiétante chez Synology

Cette limitation n’est malheureusement pas un cas isolé. Depuis quelque temps, Synology restreint de plus en plus les usages possibles sur ses NAS. On se souvient des contraintes imposées sur les disques durs récemment, avec des messages d’avertissement ou des fonctions limitées pour ceux qui n’utilisent pas des modèles « compatibles » ou certifiés. Aujourd’hui, l’USB Type-C subit le même sort.

Ce verrouillage peut poser problème, notamment pour les utilisateurs avancés ou professionnels qui recherchent une certaine flexibilité. À titre d’exemple, le modèle DS1825+ ne propose que 2 ports USB standards (Type-A), alors que son prédécesseur (le DS1821+) en offrait 4. La perte de polyvalence est bien réelle…

En synthèse

Le choix de Synology de restreindre l’usage du port USB Type-C à l’unité DX525 est clairement assumé, mais il ne manquera pas de faire débat. Si certains y voient une façon de simplifier l’écosystème et d’en garantir la stabilité, d’autres y verront une stratégie de verrouillage destinée à pousser à l’achat de matériel propriétaire.

Dans tous les cas, il est important que les utilisateurs soient informés. Si vous comptiez utiliser ce port USB Type-C pour du stockage externe, sachez que ce ne sera pas possible. Une limitation qu’il vaut mieux connaître avant d’acheter.

Synology DS725+ Expandable 2-Bay NAS Revealed

The Synology DS725+ enters the scene as part of the company’s 2025 refresh to its Plus Series lineup, targeting power users, small businesses, and edge deployments that require compact, capable storage solutions without stepping into rackmount or enterprise territory. As a successor to the DS723+, it introduces several meaningful updates that improve the system’s usability right out of the box—most notably, a doubling of base memory to 4 GB ECC DDR4 (up from 2 GB) and the inclusion of a 2.5GbE LAN port for significantly faster network transfers, especially when working with high-resolution media or syncing large datasets across offices. These improvements make it immediately better suited for modern hybrid cloud workflows via Synology Drive, smoother multi-user access in Synology Photos and Office, and more responsive local performance in Surveillance Station environments. However, these upgrades come with trade-offs: the CPU remains unchanged, using the same AMD Ryzen R1600 found in the DS723+, and the PCIe slot has been removed, eliminating the popular option to upgrade to 10GbE networking or install additional specialized cards. As a result, while the DS725+ simplifies connectivity by offering faster speeds upfront, it also enforces a more rigid hardware configuration. It’s a device clearly designed with platform consistency and managed environments in mind—particularly when paired with Synology’s increasingly closed ecosystem of verified drives and accessories. For those already aligned with Synology’s ecosystem, the DS725+ offers a stable and streamlined solution for private cloud deployment that is more about ability than base storage – but with the option to add more later, collaborative data workflows, and secure backup environments. But does it deserve your data? Let’s discuss.

Synology DS725+ NAS – Hardware Specifications

The DS725+ is powered by the same dual-core AMD Ryzen R1600 processor found in its predecessor, the DS723+. This chip runs at a base clock of 2.6 GHz with a boost up to 3.1 GHz and supports hardware encryption acceleration, making it capable of handling simultaneous services like encrypted file access, Synology Drive syncing, and light virtual machine workloads. While it’s a competent processor for this class of NAS, its reuse in the DS725+ may be seen as a missed opportunity for users who were hoping for a newer or more power-efficient generation—particularly with rising expectations around AI-powered indexing and multimedia transcoding. That said, DSM 7.2’s core apps like Hyper Backup, Snapshot Replication, and Active Backup Suite remain well within the CPU’s performance envelope, ensuring reliable day-to-day operations for home offices and remote workers.

Where the DS725+ makes a clear improvement is in memory. Unlike the DS723+, which shipped with 2 GB of ECC RAM, the DS725+ doubles the default capacity to 4 GB ECC DDR4, offering more breathing room for multitasking, container workloads, and collaborative apps like Synology Office and Chat. This is particularly helpful for deployments using packages such as Synology MailPlus or managing multiple Surveillance Station camera streams. The RAM is installed in one of two available SODIMM slots, and the unit officially supports up to 32 GB (16 GB x2), making it suitable for heavier use cases like running multiple virtual DSM instances or handling extensive indexing operations in Synology Photos. ECC memory, while not strictly essential for all users, adds a layer of data integrity that reinforces the DS725+’s suitability for professional and production environments.

In terms of connectivity, the DS725+ makes a decisive shift by replacing the DS723+’s dual 1GbE ports with a more modern setup: one 2.5GbE and one 1GbE port. This move improves real-world transfer speeds out of the box without requiring a PCIe network upgrade, as was previously necessary. However, it also reflects a deliberate limitation: the PCIe Gen3 x2 slot from the DS723+ is no longer present, meaning users cannot add a 10GbE NIC or other expansion cards. Storage-wise, the DS725+ retains the same 2-bay SATA layout, supports hot-swappable 3.5″/2.5″ drives, and introduces M.2 NVMe SSD slots that allow Synology-branded SSDs to be used not just for caching but also for primary storage pools. Users can expand total storage to 7 drives via the DX525 USB-C expansion unit, and cooling is handled by a single 92mm fan in the rear. Power draw remains low, with a 90W adapter and idle consumption under 9W, keeping it efficient for always-on deployment.

Synology DS725+ vs DS723+ NAS – Much of an Upgrade?

At a glance, the DS725+ and DS723+ appear to be cut from the same mold. They share the same AMD Ryzen R1600 dual-core processor, identical physical dimensions, drive bay count, and expansion potential via an optional five-bay unit. However, the DS725+ makes several deliberate design changes aimed at improving out-of-the-box usability, while also signaling a shift toward Synology’s 2025 platform philosophy. Chief among these changes is the inclusion of a 2.5GbE LAN port, replacing one of the two 1GbE ports found on the DS723+. This upgrade allows users to immediately take advantage of higher bandwidth for file transfers, especially useful for larger datasets handled through Synology Drive or multimedia libraries accessed via SMB. At the same time, the DS725+ sheds the DS723+’s PCIe Gen3 x2 expansion slot, which means users no longer have the option to add a 10GbE NIC or other cards. For users needing maximum future-proofing or high-throughput workloads, this loss may feel restrictive.

Another key improvement is in system memory. The DS725+ comes with 4 GB of ECC DDR4 RAM pre-installed, doubling the 2 GB included with the DS723+. This seemingly modest upgrade has real-world implications. Services like Synology Photos, which require more memory for AI-driven facial and object recognition, or Synology Office, which handles collaborative document editing, benefit directly from the added RAM—making the system more responsive and able to support more concurrent users from the outset. For users running multiple applications, hosting virtual DSMs, or leveraging Hyper Backup with compression and deduplication, the DS725+ delivers a more capable base configuration without requiring immediate memory expansion. Both systems support upgrades up to 32 GB, but the DS725+ gives a head start where it matters.

However, the most controversial difference between these two models lies in drive compatibility. The DS723+ was among the last in Synology’s lineup to offer relatively open support for third-party drives—with warning banners but no functional blocks in DSM. The DS725+, by contrast, fully embraces Synology’s walled-garden storage policy. Users must use Synology-verified drives (such as HAT3300/5300 HDDs and SNV3400 SSDs) for core operations like DSM installation, volume creation, and RAID rebuilds. While migrated pools using unverified drives may still mount with warnings, new deployments and expansions are effectively locked down. This shift reflects Synology’s strategy to control hardware variables for improved stability and long-term support—but it’s also a clear trade-off in flexibility and total cost, especially for existing users with stockpiled third-party drives from trusted vendors like Seagate or WD.

Synology DS725+ NAS DSM Software & Services

Like all current-generation DiskStation models, the DS725+ runs on Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM) 7.2, a mature, Linux-based operating system that delivers one of the most refined NAS user experiences available today. DSM combines consumer-friendly accessibility with enterprise-ready tools, making the DS725+ suitable for a wide range of use cases—from personal media libraries to business-critical collaboration environments.

Core services such as Synology Drive transform the DS725+ into a fully private cloud, enabling real-time file syncing across devices and platforms, granular access permissions, file versioning, and web-based document previews. The system can support up to 50 Drive users and half a million hosted files, making it a capable solution for small teams managing shared datasets or projects. Meanwhile, Synology Photos leverages the upgraded system memory to provide intelligent media organization, with facial and object recognition that improves as additional photos are indexed—an increasingly valuable feature in creative or archival workflows.

For data protection and business continuity, the DS725+ supports Synology’s comprehensive backup ecosystem. Active Backup Suite consolidates backup tasks for Windows and Linux endpoints, VMware and Hyper-V virtual machines, and Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace SaaS accounts. Administrators can automate tasks, monitor statuses from a unified console, and execute bare-metal recovery when needed.

Complementing this is Hyper Backup, which allows multi-destination backups—ranging from local USB storage to other NAS units, rsync targets, or Synology C2 Storage. The inclusion of Snapshot Replication provides near-instantaneous versioned recovery with 128 snapshots per shared folder and 256 per system, ensuring protection against data corruption, ransomware, or accidental deletion. These tools can be used together to create a robust, layered protection strategy even in a small-scale deployment.

Beyond file management and backup, DSM turns the DS725+ into a complete digital operations hub. With Synology Office, users can co-author documents, spreadsheets, and presentations in real time within a browser—ideal for small teams replacing Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 with a private alternative. Communication tools like Synology Chat and MailPlus offer encrypted messaging and a scalable private email server with support for up to 60 users (5 free accounts included).

For security-conscious setups or compliance-driven environments, these services operate entirely within your NAS, without relying on third-party cloud platforms. Meanwhile, Surveillance Station allows the DS725+ to manage up to 40 IP cameras at 1080p (H.265) with license-free recording for two channels, making it a competent choice for office or home surveillance when paired with Synology’s mobile and desktop apps. DSM’s inclusion of Adaptive Multi-Factor Authentication (AMFA), Active Insight fleet monitoring, and SSL/TLS support ensures that even this compact 2-bay NAS delivers serious administrative and security capabilities.

Synology DS725+ NAS Release and Price

The Synology DS725+ is set for a phased global release, with initial availability rolling out across Eastern markets—including Japan, Taiwan, China, and Australia—in late May 2025, followed by a wider international launch in June 2025. While Synology has yet to publish official retail pricing, the DS725+ is expected to arrive in line with its predecessor, the DS723+, placing it in the $449 to $499 USD range. This positions the DS725+ in the upper tier of the compact 2-bay NAS segment, offering a blend of business-capable performance and centralized storage management for prosumers, remote workers, and small teams.

Although its specifications remain similar to the DS723+ in some areas—particularly with regard to the CPU—the DS725+ includes default features like 2.5GbE networking and higher base memory, which previously required add-ons or manual upgrades. These improvements may appeal to users who want a more capable system straight out of the box without needing to invest in additional hardware. However, buyers should also be aware of the tightened hardware compatibility policy introduced across Synology’s 2025 product line. As with other new-generation models, the DS725+ requires Synology-verified drives for key operations such as DSM installation, volume creation, and SSD caching, which could impact overall system cost and drive choice flexibility.

Given these factors, the DS725+ is best suited for users seeking a stable, tightly integrated NAS experience with long-term software support and advanced functionality provided through DSM. While those with existing third-party drives may need to consider compatibility constraints, the DS725+ still represents a focused and modernized solution in the 2-bay NAS category—particularly for those fully aligned with Synology’s expanding ecosystem.

Check Amazon in Your Region for the Synology DS725+ NAS

Check B&H for the Synology DS725+ NAS

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Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

Finally, for free advice about your setup, just leave a message in the comments below here at NASCompares.com and we will get back to you. Need Help? Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry. [contact-form-7] TRY CHAT Terms and Conditions   Alternatively, why not ask me on the ASK NASCompares forum, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in the ASK NASCompares section below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.

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Une gestion efficace des données est cruciale pour les entreprises de toutes tailles. Les solutions de serveurs de fichiers des NAS QNAP offrent une réponse adaptée aux besoins de stockage centralisé, sécurisé et performant. Conçues pour s’intégrer harmonieusement dans divers environnements professionnels, elles permettent une gestion optimisée des fichiers, une collaboration fluide et une protection renforcée des données.

Gestion optimale des fichiers

Conçus pour les environnements professionnels, les NAS QNAP s’appuient sur QuTS hero, un système d’exploitation basé sur ZFS. Il garantit une intégrité totale des données, des performances élevées et une gestion intelligente du stockage grâce à la déduplication en temps réel, la compression et l’auto-réparation.

L’interface intuitive permet une gestion centralisée des fichiers via des outils comme File Station, Qfiling ou QuFTP, facilitant l’accès, l’organisation et le partage en local comme à distance. Grâce à des applications dédiées, la productivité des équipes est renforcée, tout en assurant une utilisation fluide au quotidien.

Côté performances, les NAS QNAP offrent une lecture/écriture à haute vitesse, une optimisation SSD et le support des réseaux jusqu’à 100 GbE, répondant ainsi aux charges les plus exigeantes.

En matière de sécurité, les solutions intègrent le support des configurations RAID, les snapshots pour restauration instantanée, ainsi que la technologie WORM (Write Once, Read Many) pour assurer l’immuabilité des données critiques. Ces mécanismes sont idéaux pour protéger les sauvegardes et les archives sensibles contre toute modification ou suppression non autorisée.

Les outils comme Security Center, QVPN ou encore des fonctionnalités de gestion des utilisateurs avec contrôles d’accès avancés assurent une protection complète contre les menaces internes et externes, tout en garantissant un accès distant sécurisé.

Solution évolutive

QNAP propose une architecture modulaire et extensible : ajout de disques, unités d’extension (JBOD), déploiement en cloud via QuTScloud, ou mise en place de clusters. Les entreprises peuvent facilement appliquer la stratégie 3-2-1 avec Hybrid Backup Sync : trois copies des données, sur deux supports différents, dont une externalisée.

Les environnements hybrides sont pleinement pris en charge, permettant une intégration transparente entre NAS sur site et cloud public ou privé, pour une collaboration fluide entre sites distants et une flexibilité renforcée.

Pilier essentiel de l’infrastructure

Au-delà de leurs fonctionnalités techniques, les serveurs de fichiers NAS représentent un élément structurant de l’infrastructure informatique. En centralisant les données, ils favorisent une meilleure gouvernance de l’information, réduisent les silos et simplifient la mise en conformité avec des normes telles que le RGPD.

Plus accessibles que les serveurs traditionnels en termes de coût, de consommation énergétique et de maintenance, les NAS QNAP offrent une solution scalable, durable et sécurisée pour toute organisation souhaitant moderniser sa gestion de données.

Gestion efficace de vos données

 

Les serveurs de fichiers NAS QNAP constituent une infrastructure fiable et adaptable, aussi bien pour les PME que pour les grandes entreprises. Ils forment une base solide pour bâtir un système d’information moderne, performant et résilient.

Investir dans un NAS adapté, c’est garantir la continuité d’activité, la sécurité des données, la conformité réglementaire et une réduction des coûts — jusqu’à 25 % par rapport aux solutions concurrentes, selon QNAP.

Pour découvrir l’ensemble des fonctionnalités et configurations possibles, rendez-vous sur le site officiel de QNAP.

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Orico CF Cybervault NAS Series Coming Soon

ORICO is preparing to launch a new range of hybrid and all-flash NAS systems under the CyberData Vault banner, targeting a wide spectrum of users—from content creators and post-production teams to small office environments and AI development professionals. The information, shared directly by the brand ahead of its upcoming crowdfunding campaign, reveals six individual models: CF500, CF500 Pro, CF6 (All-Flash), CF56, CF56 Pro, and the CF1000. Each variant is engineered to meet specific workflow demands, offering a range of storage bay configurations, performance tiers, and connectivity options. Central to all models is the integration of the ZFS file system, providing snapshot-based protection and data integrity checks, alongside Intel’s 12th or 13th Gen CPUs, DDR5 memory, and support for hybrid M.2 + HDD setups. These NAS units are designed for users seeking full ownership of their data infrastructure with no recurring software fees—delivering private cloud capabilities optimized for speed, scalability, and reliability.

Orico Cyberdata Vault NAS Hardware Specifications

The ORICO CyberData Vault NAS lineup spans a diverse range of hardware configurations, designed to match varying workloads from basic file storage to high-bandwidth, real-time editing and AI processing. At the entry point, the CF500 and CF500 Pro models provide 5-bay HDD storage combined with dual M.2 SSD slots, powered by either a quad-core Intel N150 or an octa-core Intel Core i3-N305 processor. These systems support up to 32GB of DDR5 memory and are well-suited for small studios or home offices seeking an affordable yet capable hybrid NAS.

Specification	CF500	CF500 Pro	CF6 (All-Flash)	CF56 (Mixed)	CF56 Pro (Mixed)	CF1000
CPU	Intel N150 (4C / 4T)	Intel Core i3-N305 (8C / 8T)	Intel Core i3-N305 (8C / 8T)	Intel Core i3-N305 (8C / 8T)	Intel Core i3-N305 (8C / 8T)	Intel Core i5-1240P (12C / 16T)
Memory (DDR5)	8GB (up to 32GB)	8GB (up to 32GB)	16GB (up to 64GB)	16GB (up to 64GB)	16GB (up to 64GB)	16GB (up to 64GB)
Boot/Flash Storage	32GB eMMC	32GB eMMC	64GB eMMC	64GB eMMC	128GB SSD	128GB SSD
Drive Bays	5 x 3.5” HDD + 2 x M.2 SSD	5 x 3.5” HDD + 2 x M.2 SSD	6 x M.2 NVMe SSD (All Flash)	5 x 3.5” HDD + 6 x M.2 SSD	5 x 3.5” HDD + 6 x M.2 SSD	10 x 3.5” HDD + 2 x M.2 SSD
RAID Support	0 / 1 / 5 / 6 / 10	0 / 1 / 5 / 6 / 10	0 / 1 / 5 / 6 / 10	0 / 1 / 5 / 6 / 10	0 / 1 / 5 / 6 / 10	0 / 1 / 5 / 6 / 10 / 50 / 60
Networking	1 x 2.5GbE	1 x 2.5GbE + 1 x 10GbE	1 x 2.5GbE + 1 x 10GbE	1 x 2.5GbE + 1 x 10GbE	2 x 10GbE	2 x 10GbE
USB Ports	2 x USB 3.2 Gen2 2 x USB 2.0	Same as CF500	Same as CF500	Same as CF500	Same as CF500	2 x USB4 2 x USB 3.2 Gen2 2 x USB 2.0
Video Output	1 x HDMI 2.0 + 1 x DP 1.4	1 x HDMI 2.0 + 1 x DP 1.4	1 x HDMI 2.0 + 1 x DP 1.4	1 x HDMI 2.0 + 1 x DP 1.4	1 x HDMI 2.1 + 1 x DP 1.4a (8K)	1 x HDMI 2.1 + 1 x DP 1.4a (8K)
AI & AIGC Features	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Thunderbolt Support	No	No	No	No	Expansion via RAID cabinet	Expansion via RAID cabinet
GPU Dock Support	No	No	No	Optional	Supported	Supported
Cooling Design	Active, efficient air cooling	Active, efficient air cooling	Active, efficient air cooling	Advanced hybrid cooling	Advanced hybrid cooling	High-performance multi-zone cooling

Mid-range models like the CF6 (All-Flash), CF56, and CF56 Pro introduce more performance-oriented features. All three are equipped with the 8-core Intel Core i3-N305 CPU and support up to 64GB DDR5 memory, but differ in storage layout. The CF6 is an all-flash system with six M.2 NVMe SSD slots and no HDD bays, tailored for latency-sensitive applications such as video editing or containerized workloads. The CF56 and CF56 Pro, on the other hand, feature a hybrid design—five 3.5″ HDD bays plus six M.2 SSD slots—offering both capacity and speed. These models also begin to incorporate higher-tier I/O, including 10GbE networking and dual HDMI/DisplayPort outputs.

At the top of the range, the CF1000 model pushes into workstation or rackmount territory with 10 HDD bays and 2 M.2 SSD slots, dual 10GbE ports, and a 12-core/16-thread Intel Core i5-1240P processor. With a 128GB SSD boot drive, up to 64GB DDR5 memory support, and expanded RAID options (including RAID 50/60), the CF1000 is positioned for users requiring serious throughput, redundancy, and application scalability. Across the series, thermal management is maintained through active cooling designs, ensuring stable performance even during sustained workloads.

Orico Cyberdata Vault NAS Software Specifications

All six models in the CyberData Vault lineup operate on CyberData OS, ORICO’s fully self-developed operating system designed for professional-grade data storage and media management. Built around the enterprise-grade ZFS file system, the OS supports features such as inline data integrity verification, native encryption, space-efficient snapshots, and advanced RAID configurations (RAID 0/1/5/6/10 on all models, and RAID 50/60 on the CF1000). The ZFS layer also enables up to a 30% performance boost over EXT4 in typical file access and backup scenarios. Data resilience is central to the platform, with support for deduplication, rollback, and point-in-time recovery, making it suitable for high-stakes environments where data consistency and uptime are critical.

CyberData OS is built with cross-platform compatibility, providing unified access and real-time collaboration between Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and smart TVs. A full set of user and role management tools enables secure file access across teams or departments, while snapshot-based rollback ensures fast recovery from accidental deletions or ransomware incidents. Remote access is handled through P2P networking, allowing seamless file transfers, Office document previews, and collaborative editing, even outside the local network—without compromising on security. The platform also supports one-click file backup and Time Machine integration for macOS, providing tailored backup workflows for both casual and power users.

Beyond core storage functions, the OS serves as a media hub, complete with 4K playback support, automatic movie wall generation, and integration with third-party cloud platforms—allowing users to stream or preview content without full downloads. AI capabilities are deeply embedded, particularly in the CF56 Pro and CF1000, where localized AIGC (AI-generated content) features are available. Users can perform semantic image searches, facial recognition, location-based media filtering, and automatic music/video categorization. These AI tools enhance productivity by minimizing manual sorting and retrieval work in large media libraries.

For developers and power users, the system includes an upgraded FaaS-based Docker environment, allowing microservices deployment, scaling of containerized apps, and remote control of Windows and Linux VMs. Paired with the GPU Dock integration, the NAS can be transformed into a high-performance workstation for offline rendering, design work, or even virtual machine gaming. Additionally, ORICO supports expansion through a Thunderbolt RAID cabinet, offering scalable, high-speed external storage ideal for demanding data workflows or secure long-term backups. Combined, these features elevate CyberData OS from a standard NAS interface to a multi-role private cloud operating environment, capable of adapting to a broad spectrum of home and enterprise tasks.

Who Are Orico?

ORICO Technologies Co., Ltd. is a Shenzhen-based hardware manufacturer known for producing a wide range of consumer and professional-grade storage, connectivity, and power solutions. Established in the early 2000s, ORICO has gained recognition for its extensive portfolio of USB hubs, docking stations, enclosures, and more recently, NAS devices. The company has built its reputation around delivering functional, affordable technology designed for both home and enterprise users, often focusing on modular expandability and compatibility with emerging interface standards like USB4, Thunderbolt, and 10GbE. With the upcoming launch of the CyberData Vault NAS series, ORICO is signaling a shift toward deeper integration of AI, high-performance computing, and enterprise-ready data management—all within a private cloud framework tailored to small teams and professionals looking to move away from subscription-based storage platforms.

The Orico Cyberdata Vault NAS – Price and Release Date

The ORICO CyberData Vault NAS series is expected to launch via Kickstarter in late May to early June, marking the company’s formal entry into the high-performance private cloud storage sector. While final pricing has not yet been confirmed, ORICO aims to offer a competitive tiered structure across the six models, reflecting differences in storage configurations, processing power, and expansion options. Positioned as a direct response to a wave of emerging Chinese NAS alternatives, the CyberData Vault lineup is expected to compete with recent and upcoming releases such as the UGREEN NASync DXP series, the Minisforum N5 Pro, and the Aoostar WTR Max. All of these systems target prosumer and professional users seeking hybrid storage, high-speed connectivity, and non-subscription-based private cloud infrastructure—an increasingly active space that ORICO appears intent on disrupting with its multi-model launch strategy.

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Finally, for free advice about your setup, just leave a message in the comments below here at NASCompares.com and we will get back to you. Need Help? Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry. [contact-form-7] TRY CHAT Terms and Conditions   Alternatively, why not ask me on the ASK NASCompares forum, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in the ASK NASCompares section below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.

WE LOVE COFFEE

 

Suite à un souci d’aiguillage, le produit devant arriver chez notre ami FX, voici que je me retrouve en test avec un NiPoGi AM06 Pro depuis un peu plus de 2 semaines. Si cette machine à un peu moins de 350€ (pour cette version) semble être parfaite sur le papier, voyons ce que cela donne à l’usage…

 

NiPoGi AM06 Pro

Le modèle que j’ai testé est équipé des composants suivants :

• Processeur : AMD Ryzen 7 5700U (15686 points selon passmark)
• Mémoire vive : 16 Go DDR4 3200Mhz (deux emplacements disponibles, dont un libre)
• Stockage : 512 Go SSD SATA (remplaçable par un SSD NVMe)
• Connectivité : Wi-Fi 6, 2x RJ45 (2,5 Gb/s + 1 Gb/s), Bluetooth 5.2
• Ports : 2x USB-C*, 2x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0, prise jack audio, HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort
• Système d’exploitation : Windows 11 Pro

* Il dispose d’un port USB-C qui va nous servir pour l’alimentation uniquement avec l’alimentation secteur USB-C fournie.

Premières impressions

 

Conçu autour d’une coque en plastique dur noir avec les coins arrondis. J’avoue que cela ne m’a pas donné d’impression de haute qualité lors de la prise en main, même si j’aime bien le coin avec le bouton d’allumage. Le Mini-PC est fourni avec un adaptateur pour le rajout d’un SSD 2,5″ SATA, un support VESA, une alimentation USB-C et un câble HDMI. Aussi, le fait qu’il n’y a pas de différenciation entre le port 2,5 Gb/s et 1 Gb/s m’a un peu surpris.

NiPoGi AM06 Pro et usage quotidien

Premier démarrage

Le NiPoGi AM06 Pro est livré avec une version propre de Windows 11 Professionnel. L’installation initiale est simple et rapide : configuration de la langue, du clavier, de la connexion réseau (Wi-Fi ou filaire) et recherche des mises à jour. En débranchant le câble Ethernet pendant l’installation, j’ai pu installer Windows avec un compte local sans difficulté. En un petit quart d’heure, l’appareil est prêt !

Fluidité et usage bureautique

Équipé d’un CPU Ryzen 7 5700U avec un APU (combinaison CPU et iGPU sur une seule puce) Radeon, on remarque tout de suite que l’appareil est très fluide pour les taches bureautiques. La navigation sur Internet, l’édition de documents texte ou même la lecture de vidéos en streaming ne lui fait pas peur ! J’y vois aussi une machine tout à fait taillée pour un faire un serveur Proxmox !

Architecture interne de la machine

Aperçu du BIOS

Le BIOS est plutôt simple, uniquement en langue anglaise

 

Matériel

Pour les plus curieux, voici quelques photos de l’intérieur du boitier :

On remarquera que la carte Wi-Fi 6 est sous le SSD. Il faut donc forcément démonter le SSD pour y avoir accès. De plus les 4 vis qui servent à tenir le cache de fermeture du boitier sont également les vis de maintien de la carte mère. Il n’y a donc rien de plus à dévisser pour extraire la carte mère (cependant, attention, cela rentre au chausse-pied !)

Voici un aperçu des informations remontées à l’aide de HWiNFO

Coté disque (AirDisk) et RAM (Kinsotin), on est clairement sur du no-name (ce qui n’est en soi pas surprenant sur ce type de machine). Cependant je n’ai pas vu de problème de fiabilité pendant mon utilisation ni au Memtest.

Résultats des tests techniques

Performances du SSD

Nous sommes sur du SSD SATA, avec donc des résultats sans surprise : correcte pour ce type de SSD, sans plus. Je regrette vraiment au vu du reste de la machine qu’on ne soit pas sur un NVMe, de plus que la machine est compatible. Au final le SSD SATA est la « tâche » dans cette belle configuration.

Test de stabilité (OCCT)

Ici aussi, une agréable surprise, CPU à 100% dans un 1er temps, puis CPU et APU en forte sollicitation, la chauffe est bien gérée avec une stabilisation de la fréquence du CPU à 3200 Mhz environ pour environ 70 à 75°C. Le ventilateur du CPU bien qu’audible lors de ce test, reste discret !

Test Ethernet et Wifi 6

Comme indiqué dans les premières impressions, il n’y a pas de différence entre le port LAN 2.5 Gb/s, et celui à 1 Gb/s, dont il faut brancher, puis vérifier sur Windows si c’est le bon port. Un peu dommage !

Les performances en 2.5 Gb/s sont sans surprise : très bonne. Lors d’un test en Wi-Fi, on remarque tout de suite la compatibilité Wi-Fi 6 avec des performances proche du Gigabit ( à environ 3m du point d’accès ) :

Consommation électrique

Le NiPoGi AM06 Pro n’est pas le meilleur élève, même s’il y a bien pire. Environ 30W sous Windows (sans tache particulière), max 45W lors de forte sollicitation, le Ryzen 7 5700U est un processeur un peu ancien maintenant (Q1/2021). Il reste cependant parfaitement adapté à un usage bureautique / multitâche grâce à ces 8 cœurs / 16 Threads et l’APU (puce graphique) intégré.

XikeStor FS5104DH & FS510402DH: All-Flash NAS Systems with Quad 10GbE and PCIe 4.0 Expansion

XikeStor has announced two desktop NAS models: the FS5104DH and FS510402DH. These systems combine Intel Core i5 mobile-class processors with M.2 NVMe storage and multiple 10GbE ports. Both are designed for users seeking compact systems with high throughput and flash storage performance. The models differ slightly in expansion options and chassis dimensions, offering users a choice depending on capacity and connectivity requirements. While they do not include traditional 3.5″ drive bays, their full flash-based architecture and high-speed networking capabilities place them in a growing category of SSD-optimized NAS platforms.

FS5104DH & FS510402DH – Key Specifications

The FS5104DH and FS510402DH share the Intel Core i5-12450H processor (8 cores, 12 threads), which provides higher performance than typical NAS systems using lower-power CPUs. This CPU uses Intel’s Alder Lake-H architecture, with a hybrid design that includes four performance cores and four efficiency cores, offering improved multi-threaded performance and better energy efficiency. With support for DDR5 memory up to 64GB and four M.2 NVMe slots, both models are focused on SSD-based data access for tasks requiring high input/output performance. These specifications are well-suited to workloads such as real-time file sharing, virtualized services, and containerized deployments.

The FS510402DH model adds dual U.2 SSD support, providing the option to use enterprise-grade storage devices with higher endurance and sustained performance under heavy I/O loads. It also includes a PCIe 4.0 x8 expansion slot, allowing users to add specialized hardware if needed, such as GPUs for transcoding, AI acceleration, or additional high-speed network interfaces.

Feature	FS5104DH	FS510402DH
CPU	Intel Core i5-12450H (8C/12T, up to 4.4GHz)	Intel Core i5-12450H (8C/12T, up to 4.4GHz)
Networking	2× 10GBASE-T + 2× 10G SFP+	2× 10GBASE-T + 2× 10G SFP+
NIC Controller	Not specified	Intel X550 (Copper) + Intel X710 (SFP+)
Storage Bays	4× M.2 NVMe (2280)	4× M.2 NVMe (2280) + 2× 2.5″ U.2 SSD support
Memory	DDR5 4800 MHz / 5200 MHz, up to 64GB	DDR5 4800 MHz / 5200 MHz, up to 64GB
Expansion	None listed	1× PCIe 4.0 x8 Slot
Display Output	HDMI + Mini DisplayPort	HDMI + Mini DisplayPort
Chassis Size	216 × 150 × 74.6 mm	216 × 150 × 50.5 mm
Power Supply	19V / 6A (120W)	19V / 6A (120W)

Hardware and Connectivity

The Intel Core i5-12450H processor used in both models is part of Intel’s Alder Lake-H series. It offers a base clock speed of 2.0GHz and turbo capability up to 4.4GHz. This CPU includes both performance and efficiency cores, supporting modern instruction sets, hardware virtualization, and AVX2. This makes the systems appropriate for users running lightweight virtual environments, media processing applications, or software containers. Hardware support for VT-x, VT-d, and AES-NI also makes these models suitable for encrypted file hosting and virtualized services with device passthrough. Memory support includes two SO-DIMM DDR5 slots, operating at up to 5200 MHz depending on configuration. Both NAS units come pre-equipped with 16GB and can be upgraded to 64GB. DDR5 memory improves bandwidth and efficiency, which may benefit users with concurrent workloads or services that rely heavily on RAM, such as metadata indexing, caching, and virtual machine hosting.

Storage is handled via four M.2 2280 NVMe SSD slots. In the FS510402DH, two additional U.2 bays support enterprise SSDs. These U.2 drives, often used in data centers, offer advantages such as power loss protection, longer write endurance, and sustained IOPS performance. The inclusion of PCIe 4.0 x8 in the FS510402DH provides flexibility for those requiring additional network bandwidth or hardware acceleration. This may be important in situations where AI tasks or intensive transcoding are involved, or where multiple VMs require independent network interfaces.

10GbE Networking and Use Case Scenarios

Both models offer four 10-gigabit Ethernet ports, split evenly between RJ45 and SFP+. This allows deployment in environments that use either copper or fiber infrastructure. The FS510402DH identifies specific network controllers — Intel X550 for copper and X710 for fiber — which are widely supported across Linux, Windows, and BSD-based systems. These controllers are known for their stability and compatibility in enterprise applications. Link aggregation is supported, enabling up to 40Gbps of combined throughput when connected to a compatible switch. This allows multiple users to simultaneously access data at high speeds or enables redundant network paths for failover. Environments that could benefit from this setup include video production studios working with 4K or 8K footage over SMB or NFS, research environments handling multi-terabyte datasets, or businesses deploying virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) solutions backed by NVMe flash storage.

Build Quality and I/O Design

The enclosures for the FS5104DH and FS510402DH are constructed from CNC-machined aluminum with an anodized finish. This design assists in passive heat dissipation and contributes to durability. A single fan is used for active cooling, and the overall noise profile is intended to be low enough for office or studio use. The metal chassis also provides a more robust build compared to consumer-grade plastic NAS devices.

Both systems include Mini DisplayPort and HDMI outputs, allowing the NAS to be accessed directly with a monitor and input devices. This may be useful for initial configuration, local GUI access, or monitoring system status without relying on remote access tools. A MiniDP to DP cable is included with the FS510402DH. USB 3.2 connectivity is also present in both models, with Type-A and Type-C ports supporting up to 10Gbps transfers for external storage devices, UPSs, or peripheral hardware. These ports enable fast offloading of data, peripheral expansion, or direct-to-NAS backups without requiring a PC intermediary.

Pricing and Availability

No official pricing or launch schedule has been provided for the FS5104DH or FS510402DH at this time. Based on component selection and feature set, the systems are positioned for small to medium business deployments and users requiring compact flash-based storage with 10GbE support. Additional announcements regarding retail availability, regional distribution, and bundled software support are expected. Once these details are confirmed, this section will be updated to reflect available SKUs, configurations, and potential comparisons with competing NAS systems

Check Amazon in Your Region for the Xikestor FS5104DH NAS

 

---

About XikeStor

Anhui Seeker Electronic Technology Co., Ltd., established in 2009, is the parent company of XikeStor. It develops both hardware and NAS operating systems with full IP ownership. The company works with component suppliers such as Intel, Western Digital, Realtek, Broadcom, and MaxLinear. It has regional offices in Shanghai, Hefei, Bengbu, and Shenzhen, along with 5,000 square meters of combined office and manufacturing space. Its presence in both consumer and enterprise markets reflects a focus on scalability and product diversity. XikeStor’s reach includes more than 60 global markets, including regions in North America, Europe, and Asia. It maintains R&D partnerships with several universities in China and has been recognized as a national high-tech enterprise. The company’s business spans NAS devices, digital communication hardware, and customized embedded software platforms. XikeStor is also involved in cross-disciplinary research and has been developing its own operating systems tailored to its hardware platforms, including software-defined storage features and NAS interfaces optimized for small and medium business use.

 

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This description contains links to Amazon. These links will take you to some of the products mentioned in today's content. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Visit the NASCompares Deal Finder to find the best place to buy this device in your region, based on Service, Support and Reputation - Just Search for your NAS Drive in the Box Below

Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

Finally, for free advice about your setup, just leave a message in the comments below here at NASCompares.com and we will get back to you. Need Help? Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry. [contact-form-7] TRY CHAT Terms and Conditions   Alternatively, why not ask me on the ASK NASCompares forum, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in the ASK NASCompares section below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.

WE LOVE COFFEE

 

Avant de commencer, cet article a pour but de vous informer sur une installation photovoltaïque. En aucun cas, je ne suis un professionnel. Je souhaite simplement vous partager mon retour d’expérience. Il est essentiel que vous effectuiez également vos propres recherches pour votre installation. Chaque projet est unique en fonction des besoins énergétiques de votre maison. Je vous donnerai ici les bases pour une installation photovoltaïque.

Vous travaillerez avec un courant de 230 V, soyez prudent. Assurez-vous de couper toute votre installation avant toute intervention dans le tableau électrique de votre maison.

Cela fait plusieurs années que je réfléchis à une installation photovoltaïque. Ma maison est entièrement électrique, que ce soit pour le chauffage, la table de cuisson ou l’eau chaude, ce qui entraîne une consommation électrique importante tout au long de l’année. L’augmentation des prix de l’électricité ces dernières années m’a poussé à relancer mon projet d’installation de panneaux photovoltaïques.

Après environ cinq mois de recherche pour identifier la meilleure installation adaptée à ma maison, que ce soit en termes de matériel, de calcul de puissance nécessaire ou de démarches administratives, j’ai finalement pu installer les panneaux photovoltaïques sur ma toiture.

Les préjugés sur le solaire

« Ça fonctionne que quand il y a du soleil ! »
C’est vrai, mais pas seulement. Même avec un ciel couvert, la lumière diffuse permet une certaine production d’électricité. Cette production peut facilement couvrir le talon de consommation de votre maison, voire bien plus. (Actuellement, lors de la rédaction de cet article, le ciel est couvert et je produis 1 200 W tout en faisant fonctionner mon lave-linge.)

« L’hiver, ça ne va rien produire ! »
Moins que pendant le printemps ou l’été, c’est certain. Mais même en hiver, un ciel clair permet une production significative. Lorsque vous vous lancez dans un projet solaire, il est important de penser que de mars à octobre, vous réduirez considérablement votre consommation sur le réseau électrique. L’hiver sera moins productif, mais cela ne signifie pas une absence totale de production.

« L’été, ça va beaucoup produire. »
Contrairement à ce que l’on pourrait croire, l’été n’est pas la meilleure saison pour la production solaire. En effet, les panneaux chauffent davantage, ce qui réduit leur efficacité, et le soleil est plus haut dans le ciel, donc moins perpendiculaire aux panneaux. Les meilleures périodes pour la production sont généralement avril et mai. Cela ne signifie pas que la production chute en été, mais simplement que ce n’est pas la période où vous atteindrez vos records de puissance.

« Il y a beaucoup d’arnaques parmi les revendeurs. Comment savoir si le devis que je vais recevoir est correct ? »
Il est vrai que le secteur du solaire est une cible privilégiée pour les arnaques, qu’elles soient téléphoniques ou par démarchage à domicile. Après plusieurs mois passés sur un groupe Facebook animé par des professionnels, j’ai pu observer les différentes astuces utilisées par ces entreprises peu scrupuleuses suite au message de personnes ce trouvant dans ce cas. Vous trouverez plus bas un paragraphe vous expliquant comment éviter ces pièges.

Je terminerai ce paragraphe par une citation de UFC-Que Choisir : « Chaque kWh produit, c’est un kWh en moins sur la facture. »

Les termes et abréviations à connaître

Il y a plusieurs termes et abréviations à connaître avant de vous lancer dans vos recherches.

Watt Crête : Quand on parle de la puissance qu’un panneau peut produire, cela sera exprimé en watt-crête avec l’unité Wc. Par exemple, un panneau de 500 Wc pourra produire au maximum 500 W à son plus haut niveau de puissance. On ne peut pas dire qu’un panneau produit 500 W, car son courant va varier de 0 à 500 W. Il ne va pas faire du 0 puis 500 W, d’où le mot « crête » qui indique ici sa puissance maximale.

MO / OC : Pour la partie onduleur, il en existe deux types. Nous avons les onduleurs centraux, souvent écrits OC, et les micro-onduleurs, indiqués MO. Nous reviendrons sur les explications plus bas.

Pour la partie câble électrique, vous verrez souvent parler de 3G2,5 mm², 3G6 mm² ou tout simplement 6 mm². Cela correspond au nombre de fils dans un câble et à leur diamètre. Par exemple, pour un câble 3G2,5 mm², cela signifie que nous avons un câble avec 3 fils (le plus souvent phase, neutre, terre) d’un diamètre de 2,5 mm² chacun.

Le talon ou bruit de fond de votre maison, c’est quoi ? C’est tout simplement l’énergie que votre maison consomme au repos, quand vous n’êtes pas présent, par exemple. Entre tous les appareils en veille, votre box internet, votre réfrigérateur, tout cela consomme en permanence. Par exemple, dans mon cas, ma maison consomme entre 200 et 300 W.

Auto-consommation : Cela signifie que nous allons consommer directement ce que nos panneaux vont produire.

Le surplus : Le surplus, c’est ce que nous allons produire mais ne pas consommer directement. Par exemple, si vous produisez 2000 W et que votre maison en consomme seulement 500 W, les 1500 W restants vont être envoyés sur le réseau.

DC / AC : DC signifie courant continu, comme le 12 V de votre voiture, identifiable par des fils rouges pour le pôle positif et noirs pour le négatif. Pour AC, c’est pour le courant alternatif de votre maison, identifiable par le neutre avec fil bleu et la phase avec un fil rouge ou marron voir noir.

Kit Plug and Play : Ce sont des kits à monter facilement qui sont simplement à brancher sur une prise de votre maison. Mais ce type de kit risque de disparaître en septembre 2025, la norme va changer, interdisant à un générateur d’électricité d’être branché au moyen d’une prise.

Le calepinage : C’est un schéma d’implantation pour le montage des rails sur votre toit.

Les principaux équipements d’une installation.

Une installation comprendra plusieurs éléments indispensables, voici la liste:

• Un système de fixation pour les panneaux (en toiture ou au sol voir traqueur solaire) ;
• Des panneaux solaire ;
• Un coffret électrique de type DC et AC. Selon le type d’installation, seul un coffret AC peut être nécessaire ;
• Un onduleur centrale ou des micros onduleur.

Les panneaux photovoltaïques

Les panneaux, c’est comme les cartes graphiques ou les CPU de nos ordinateurs, cela évolue chaque année. Actuellement, les panneaux sont de 450 à 500 Wc, et on parle déjà de 600 Wc pour la fin 2025. Il faut aussi prendre en compte la taille des panneaux. Pour les modèles en dessous de 450 Wc, leurs dimensions sont de 1 134 mm x 1 762 mm. Au-delà, pour les modèles de 500 Wc par exemple, la largeur reste à 1 134 mm, mais la hauteur passe à 1 994 mm.

Il existe également plusieurs types de cellules, dont les N-Type, qui sont les plus courantes en ce moment. Vous entendrez aussi parler de panneaux bi-verre ou bi-faciaux. Un panneau classique est composé d’une vitre de 2 mm d’épaisseur, de cellules photovoltaïques et d’un fond opaque. Les panneaux bi-verre, eux, sont composés d’une vitre de verre de 2 mm, de cellules photovoltaïques sur les deux faces (avant et arrière), et d’une seconde vitre de verre de 2 mm. Ainsi, ces panneaux peuvent produire de l’électricité des deux côtés.

Cependant, la production de la face arrière n’est pas comptée dans la puissance maximale en Wc indiquée pour le panneau. Vous vous demandez peut-être pourquoi produire à l’arrière, alors que le soleil est devant ? Les panneaux bi-faciaux ont un espace entre les cellules qui laisse passer la lumière. Ce type de panneau est particulièrement efficace pour une installation au sol, par exemple avec des graviers blancs qui reflètent la lumière sur la face arrière. Aujourd’hui, la plupart des grands panneaux sont bi-faciaux et sont également installés en surimposition sur les toitures, ce qui leur donne un avantage. Grâce à leurs deux couches de verre, soit une épaisseur totale de 4 mm, ils sont aussi plus résistants à la grêle. Un panneau produit un courant de type DC (courant continu), et au bout de ses câbles, vous trouverez des connecteurs MC4. Les panneaux sont garantis 25 ans.

Le kit de fixation

Il y a principalement 3 façons de monter ses panneaux. La première et la plus facile, au sol, sur une toiture en sur imposition (Cela veux dire légèrement au dessus de votre toiture) ou sur un traqueur solaire.

• Au sol : Si vous souhaitez faire votre installation seul avec facilité et que vous possédez un bout de terrain dégagé de toute ombre, le montage au sol sera la meilleure solution. Attention tout de même, les kits vendus où il faut ajouter du poids dans un bac peuvent être un peu légers. Les panneaux ont une grande prise au vent, et il n’est pas rare de voir ce genre de support se renverser sous l’effet du vent. Je vous recommanderais de réaliser une petite fondation. Autre avantage : ici, pas de démarche administrative. Nous y reviendrons plus bas.
• Sur toiture : Installer des panneaux sur un pan de toit présente l’avantage de ne pas occuper d’espace au sol. L’installation sera plus complexe, mais cela ne posera pas de problème pour un professionnel. Étant donné que cela modifie l’apparence physique de votre maison, une démarche administrative est nécessaire. Cette démarche peut être réalisée par l’entreprise qui effectue les travaux, vous évitant ainsi toute complication, ou par vous-même si vous effectuez l’installation seul. Ce type de montage inclut également les toits plats, qui disposent de systèmes spécifiques, ainsi que les carports. La marque de référence dans ce domaine est K2 Systems.
• Un traqueur solaire : Un traqueur solaire est un mât installé au sol qui suit le soleil tout au long de la journée, permettant aux panneaux de toujours produire à leur maximum. L’inconvénient est la limite du nombre de panneaux pouvant y être montés. Il existe très peu de modèles adaptés aux particuliers, ils peuvent être très coûteux et sont généralement limités à un maximum de quatre panneaux.

Le coffret DC / AC

C’est un nouveau tableau électrique à monter qui sera dédié à votre système solaire. Il possédera des disjoncteurs, la passerelles de connexion… Il sera relié au tableau électrique de votre maison pour y injecter l’électricité que vous allez produire.

Les onduleurs

Comme indiqué précédemment, il y a deux types d’onduleurs : les onduleurs centraux et les micro-onduleurs, chacun ayant ses avantages et inconvénients.

L’onduleur central, aussi appelé onduleur à chaîne, sera installé près de votre installation électrique. Au niveau des panneaux, ceux-ci seront branchés en série et un courant DC arrivera sur celui-ci. Il y a quelques années, ces onduleurs avaient un inconvénient majeur : ils géraient mal les zones d’ombre sur votre champ de panneaux. Aujourd’hui, c’est moins le cas. Les panneaux ont évolué, ils sont divisés en plusieurs zones de production et les onduleurs sont plus « intelligents ». Vous ne pourrez pas superviser individuellement vos panneaux ; si l’un d’eux a un défaut, il faudra tous les tester pour trouver le coupable. L’avantage est le coût d’achat, qui sera moins élevé que celui des micro-onduleurs. Ils sont généralement garantis 10 ans. Les marques les plus connues et de bonne qualité sont Fronius, SMA et Huawei.

Pour les micro-onduleurs, eux seront placés sous les panneaux. Selon la marque, il peut y avoir un micro-onduleur par panneau, voire un micro-onduleur pour deux ou plus. Il sera possible d’avoir le détail de la production de chacun. Leur grand avantage est de très bien gérer les zones d’ombre. Si vous avez, par exemple, un panneau à l’ombre et trois au soleil, ces trois derniers pourront produire au maximum. Les micro-onduleurs ont des garanties de 25 ans. Les marques les plus connues seront Enphase, APSystem voire Hoymiles. Contrairement aux onduleurs centraux, sur les micro-onduleurs, c’est du 230 V qui descend du toit.

Par ou commencer ?

Bien évidemment, la première chose à contrôler, c’est l’exposition de l’endroit où vous souhaitez faire votre installation. La meilleure exposition sera le sud, mais vous pouvez très bien produire si vous êtes sud-est ou sud-ouest et la meilleur inclinaison est de 30° environ.
Il existe une très bonne application pour cela, il s’agit de « La trajectoire du soleil« , disponible sur Android et iPhone. Elle vous donnera les heures d’exposition au soleil par heure de la journée, avec la position actuelle du soleil, mais aussi les plages horaires en été et hiver.
Vérifiez si votre toiture a la place pour une installation solaire.
Grâce à ce site, vous pouvez déjà avoir une estimation de production.

Installation par une entreprise ou soi-même ?

Il faut savoir si vous allez faire votre installation vous-même ou passer par un professionnel, car cela a une importance pour chiffrer votre puissance. Si vous faites votre installation par un professionnel, il y a deux avantages. Le premier sera une prime de l’État (ne vous attendez pas à grand-chose), le second sera la revente totale ou le surplus de votre production à EDF OA. EDF va racheter votre électricité à un tarif fixe pendant 20 ans. Cela dit, depuis février, ce n’est plus très rentable. En effet, pour bien vous expliquer ce qu’il s’est passé, il y a eu une forte hausse pour atteindre 60 cts par kWh en 2009. Depuis, cela a bien chuté, quand on sait que l’on paie entre 15 et 22 cts du kWh, la rentabilité était très bonne. Avant février 2025, nous étions à 10 cts du kWh, et maintenant nous sommes à 4 cts du kWh. Pour bénéficier de tout cela, l’entreprise devra être RGE.
L’avantage de passer par une entreprise, c’est la tranquillité d’avoir un système clé en main à la fin et d’avoir la puissance nécessaire suivant votre besoin. Vous n’aurez aucune démarche administrative à faire, tout sera fait par l’entreprise (demande en mairie, Consuel, déclaration de production auprès de Enedis, on en reparle plus bas).

Comment éviter les arnaques ?

Comme beaucoup d’entre vous, vous avez sûrement déjà reçu des appels pour du démarchage en photovoltaïque. Première chose à savoir : une bonne entreprise ne fait pas de démarchage. Oubliez tout de suite celles qui pratiquent le porte-à-porte. Ce genre de pratique vous promet souvent monts et merveilles, avec des exemples comme :

• Vous ne payerez plus d’électricité, seulement le crédit (Souvent, ils vous font un crédit sans que vous en soyez pleinement conscients).

• Vous allez récupérer la TVA (C’est faux, un particulier ne peut pas récupérer la TVA. Il faut avoir une entreprise pour cela. Certaines entreprises créent une micro-entreprise à votre nom).

• Ils vous font une remise exceptionnelle, genre -3000 €, c’est maintenant ou jamais.

Une fois le contrat signé, ce genre d’entreprise n’attend même pas l’autorisation de la mairie pour commencer l’installation. Il arrive qu’en seulement une semaine, tout soit installé.

La meilleure solution est de chercher une entreprise locale par vous-même, de consulter les avis et de demander plusieurs devis. Pour vous aider, le site « Vite un devis » vous permet de recevoir facilement plusieurs devis d’entreprises de votre secteur. Vous pouvez ensuite les partager sur ce groupe Facebook pour avoir des avis de personnes expérimentées, voire des professionnels du secteur.

Faire sois même.

Si vous êtes prêt à le faire vous-même, il faut prendre en compte la complexité d’une installation. Pour le montage des supports, il faudra monter sur votre toiture, donc vous aurez besoin d’une échelle et d’une échelle de toit, ainsi que d’un système de sécurité (anti-chute, harnais, amortisseur de chute, etc.). Pour la fixation des crochets et le montage des rails, ils devront être vissés dans les chevrons de votre toiture. Cela implique des découpes de vos ardoises, avec l’ajout de plaques de zinc ou de légères modifications pour les toits en tuiles, etc. Tout cela devra être bien réalisé pour éviter toute infiltration d’eau.

Il faut également prendre en compte que les panneaux sont encombrants (pour rappel, leurs dimensions sont de 1134 mm x 1994 mm) et que le poids des panneaux de 500 Wc atteint 27 kg. Il vous faudra aussi des connaissances en électricité.

Côté administratif, il sera nécessaire de faire une demande en mairie, d’obtenir un Consuel (ce qui peut s’avérer complexe), et de déclarer votre installation à Enedis.

Les démarches administrative

Depuis le début, je vous parle des démarches administratives. Il y a plusieurs choses à faire avant et après l’installation.

Déclaration préalable de constructions et travaux non soumis à permis de construire (CERFA 16702*01) :
C’est une déclaration à déposer en mairie. Elle n’est pas toujours obligatoire, comme pour un kit au sol, mais pour une installation à plus de 1,8 m, elle l’est. Donc, pour une installation sur toiture, il faudra la remplir. Pour cela, vous devrez fournir diverses photos et des plans avant / après. Pour m’aider, j’ai utilisé cette vidéo. La mairie a un mois pour vous répondre. Passé ce délai, vous pouvez considérer que la demande n’a pas été refusée.

Une fois l’installation terminée, il faudra retourner un document de déclaration de fin de travaux, qui vous sera remis lors de la validation.

Le Consuel :
Cette démarche n’est pas gratuite, il faudra compter environ 180 €. Pour les kits plug-and-play, le Consuel n’est pas nécessaire, mais il sera obligatoire pour une installation supérieure à 3 kWc en sortie de vos onduleurs. La demande ne sera pas facile à remplir et vous demandera des informations très détaillées sur votre installation. Il vous faudra aussi fournir un schéma électrique de votre modification, dont nous reparlerons plus bas. Pour vous aider, voici un lien.

Déclaration Enedis :
Vous devez informer Enedis que vous êtes producteur d’électricité. Pour cela, il faut vous rendre sur le site d’Enedis, aller dans la section « Ma production » et « Déclarer vos panneaux photovoltaïques« . Cette vidéo pourra vous être utile.

Mon installation

Après environ cinq mois de collecte d’informations, je me lance enfin dans mon projet. J’ai profité de cette période hivernale pour étudier l’exposition de ma toiture. En hiver, le soleil étant plus bas, et avec des arbres présents sur la propriété voisine, une partie de mon toit est ombragée le matin, mais devient entièrement ensoleillée en fin de matinée. En avril, cette ombre matinale disparaît presque totalement.

Initialement, j’avais prévu d’opter pour un onduleur central. Cependant, après cette période d’observation, j’ai finalement décidé de me tourner vers des micro-onduleurs.

J’ai pris les mesures de mon toit, ce qui me permet d’installer jusqu’à sept panneaux de 500 Wc. Mon idée de départ était d’installer des panneaux à la fois sur la maison et sur le garage, pour un total de 11 panneaux. Mais j’ai choisi de commencer plus modestement afin de maximiser l’autoconsommation.

J’ai donc réalisé un plan (le tableau comporte des espaces vides car il a été conçu pour l’installation complète). Le câblage diffère légèrement au niveau du TGBT, car celui-ci étant situé juste à côté de mon nouveau tableau, je n’ai pas installé de disjoncteur. Je me suis directement connecté au bornier du tableau. Un disjoncteur est obligatoire si le tableau se trouve à une plus grande distance. Il aurait été préférable d’en installer un, mais mon tableau principal est déjà complet.

Enfin, il est important d’ajouter la mise à la terre. Les deux rails devront être reliés par un fil de 6 mm² jusqu’au tableau. Lors du montage des panneaux pour une bonne mise à la terre avec votre kit de montage et les panneaux, vous aurez des « Terra grif« .

Je réalise ensuite mon calepinage pour estimer le coût des supports. Pour cela, je me rends sur le site de K2 Base. Après avoir créé un compte et renseigné toutes les informations nécessaires, j’obtiens un schéma d’implantation.

Il est toutefois important de vérifier ce schéma attentivement, car l’une des brides de raccordement se trouvait initialement sur un crochet. Disposant de cinq barres de 3,65 m, nous avons raccourci celle du milieu de 30 cm. Ainsi, au lieu de couper la dernière à 80 cm, nous l’avons ajustée à 110 cm. Cette modification à permis de décaler la position de la bride.

Pour en revenir aux micro-onduleurs (MO), j’ai le choix entre deux marques mentionnées plus haut : APSystems et Enphase. J’ai eu la chance de trouver une entreprise de vente de matériel, AvelHeol, située à seulement 45 minutes de chez moi, qui propose les produits APSystems. Au début, ils n’avaient pas les panneaux que je souhaitais, les DMECG de 500 Wc. Mais en continuant à mûrir mon projet, AvelHeol a finalement eu en stock tout le matériel nécessaire.

En ce qui concerne l’achat de votre matériel, je vous conseille de privilégier un revendeur proche de chez vous, idéalement avec plusieurs années d’existence.

Un critère important pour moi est l’intégration à ma domotique. L’objectif était de pouvoir connecter mon système solaire à Home Assistant. Pour APSystems, un plugin existe pour la version Plug and Play, et un autre est disponible sur HACS. Toutefois, ce plugin est fait pour la passerelle ECU-B. Or, pour une solution complète, l’ECU-C est préférable. Le problème, c’est que le plugin HACS peut rendre l’ECU-C complètement inaccessible après un certain temps.

Autre point concernant les APSystems : le micro-onduleur DS3 est conçu pour raccorder deux panneaux. Étant donné que je souhaite installer sept panneaux, cela signifie que l’un des micro-onduleurs serait sous-utilisé avec un seul panneau.

Il me reste donc Enphase. Ici, aucun souci pour l’intégration avec Home Assistant : une intégration officielle existe, ainsi que deux autres proposées par la communauté. L’inconvénient principal reste le prix des micro-onduleurs.

Un APSystems DS3, capable de connecter deux panneaux, coûte environ 200 €. Pour Enphase, chaque panneau nécessite un micro-onduleur, et il faut compter environ 230 € par unité. Pour faire une analogie : Enphase, c’est comme Synology, une solution premium et verrouillée, tandis que APSystems serait plutôt l’équivalent de Qnap, plus flexible. D’ailleurs, Enphase commence à restreindre les auto-installations : un message sur leurs applications indique qu’il sera bientôt impossible d’activer des micro-onduleurs achetés chez des vendeurs non agréés. Et là se pose un problème : leur liste de revendeurs agréés en France est très restreinte, et aucun site de vente en ligne n’y figure.

En résumé, j’ai décidé de partir sur sept panneaux DMECG de 500 Wc avec sept micro-onduleurs Enphase IQ8P, ainsi qu’un kit de fixation K2 System. Une fois le dossier déposé en mairie, j’ai obtenu le feu vert en seulement deux semaines.

Pour les panneaux et les rails, j’ai passé commande chez AvelHeol, puis je me suis rendu à leur entrepôt pour récupérer le matériel. Pour les équipements Enphase, j’ai également choisi une entreprise locale : Yesss Électrique. Bien que cette enseigne soit principalement destinée aux professionnels, elle vend également aux particuliers.

Yesss Électrique possède des agences partout en France. C’est une entreprise de longue date, et ayant l’habitude de travailler avec eux dans mon domaine professionnel, je connais leur sérieux et leur professionnalisme.

Pour constituer un kit Enphase, vous aurez besoin de :

• Le nombre de MO nécessaire pour votre installation (Il faudra voir quel modéle IQ8 il conviendra à votre panneau) ;
• Un Q-relai (Son rôle sera de couper la production en cas de coupure électrique du réseau) ;
• Un Q-Cable (Il va servir à relier tous les MO entre eux. Quand vous commander, la quantité à indiquer et le nombre de MO à relier) ;
• Une passerelle Q-Gateway. Il existe 2 versions, la Envoy-S standard qui possède qu’un seule prince tore pour le suivi de production plus destiné à la revente total. La Envoy-S metered qui possède 2 pinces. Nous avons ainsi un suivi de production et de consommation de la maison elle est aussi prévu pour la gestion des batteries. Je suis parti sur cette dernière.

Le montage peut commencer

Pour la partie des crochets, j’ai fait appel à un couvreur professionnel. Comme nous allons intervenir directement sur l’étanchéité de la toiture, je préfère que ce soit réalisé correctement. Si vous êtes à l’aise avec cette tâche, voici une vidéo qui montre la procédure sur une toiture en ardoise.

En attendant la date de pose des crochets, je me suis occupé de la partie tableau dédiée au photovoltaïque. Une extension a été nécessaire pour intégrer ce nouveau tableau. On y trouve la passerelle et le Q-relai.

Le jour J de la pose des crochets est enfin arrivé. Il a fallu environ quatre heures au couvreur pour installer les 15 crochets. De plus, la sortie de la VMC se trouvant sous les panneaux, nous avons dû la déplacer.

Nous avons également ajouté une chatière pour permettre le passage du câble jusqu’au grenier (non encore installée sur la photo).

Pour la partie montage des rails, j’ai réalisé cela avec mon père. En soi, le montage est assez simple, mais les choses se compliquent lorsqu’on travaille sur un toit avec une pente de 45° et qu’on n’est pas habitué à adopter certaines positions sur de petites échelles.

À la fin de la journée, tous les rails étaient installés.

À l’issue de cette journée, il restait à installer les micro-onduleurs, à connecter les câbles entre eux, et à poser les panneaux. Cependant, une grande fatigue musculaire s’est installée, et travailler en hauteur devenait compliqué.
Nous avions prévu de poser les panneaux le dimanche, mais cela n’a pas été possible. J’ai donc décidé de suspendre le chantier et d’attendre le lundi. J’avais initialement contacté une entreprise de ma ville pour réaliser l’installation, mais elle ne travaillait pas avec Enphase toute fois il pouvait tout de même me faire la pause. Après un appel et une visite, le rendez-vous est pris pour finir l’installation.

Avant le montage des micros-onduleurs, il faut récupérer tous les codes à barre et les placer sur une feuille dans l’ordre qu’ils seront monté. Cela sera utile lors de la configuration du système.
Voici les IQ8P de chez Enphase.

Une semaine plus tard, en seulement 1h30, tout était installé.

 

Lors de l’installation du tableau électrique, j’ai fait passer un câble 3G6 mm² jusqu’au grenier, qui ressort par une chatière ajoutée. Afin de limiter les entrées d’air frais, j’ai modélisé et imprimé en 3D un cache.

Le système est maintenant prêt à démarrer, et tout se fait via l’application Enphase Toolkit. Plusieurs étapes sont nécessaires : la première consiste à scanner les codes-barres des micro-onduleurs (MO), puis ceux du Q-Relai et de la passerelle.

Le système procède ensuite à la mise à jour de tous les composants, vérifie si les pinces de mesure sont correctement installées, et effectue divers tests.

Après environ 45 minutes, tout est opérationnel, et vous pouvez enfin profiter de votre énergie solaire. Vous pourrez maintenant installater l’application Enlighten pour votre suivi.

Et maintenant ?

Il faut faire votre demande de Consuel, voici un exemple de schéma unifilaire qu’il faudra fournir.

Il est également nécessaire d’ajouter divers autocollants sur vos tableaux et disjoncteurs. Vous pouvez acheter une planche d’autocollants à ce lien, qui indique également où les placer.

Ensuite, vous devrez remplir votre déclaration de fin de travaux et déclarer votre installation auprès d’Enedis.

Il va falloir changer nos habitudes de consommation pour maximiser l’utilisation de l’énergie solaire. Par exemple, nous avions l’habitude de lancer les machines à laver le linge tôt le matin. Désormais, nous les décalerons légèrement pour attendre que le soleil soit bien présent, surtout pendant le mois d’avril.

Prenons l’exemple du vendredi 9 mai : j’ai pu lancer une machine à laver dès 9 h, avec une consommation d’environ 1 000 W. Ensuite, j’ai fait tourner le sèche-linge, qui consomme 2 200 W, à partir de 10 h 15, alors que la production solaire atteignait 2 500 W.

Fini également les cycles de lave-vaisselle la nuit, en heures creuses. Désormais, nous le faisons plutôt sur l’heure du midi, en utilisant le programme « Quick and Clean », qui chauffe à 60°C. Ce programme consomme davantage, mais comme il utilise l’énergie solaire, ce n’est pas un problème. En plus, il est plus rapide, ce qui permet de libérer la puissance de production pour d’autres appareils plus rapidement.

Il faudra aussi modifier votre assurance habitation pour prendre en compte vos panneaux. De mon côté cela m’a fait un sur plus de 20€ à l’année. Etant sur une ancienne offre j’ai du changer mais celle-ci inclus aussi maintenant mes clôtures et portail.

Que faire quand on a plus besoin de ce que l’on produit ?

Il peut être difficile de tout consommer, surtout lorsque la production solaire varie rapidement. Par exemple, au moindre éclaircissement, je peux passer de 1 000 W à 3 000 W.

Sur une installation en autoconsommation sans revente, le surplus de production part sur le réseau gratuitement, avec une limite de 6 kVA. Bien sûr, ce n’est pas ce que l’on souhaite. Pour éviter cela, il existe le routeur solaire. Son rôle est de rediriger le surplus d’énergie vers un équipement résistif, et l’un des plus courants est le ballon d’eau chaude.

Mon cumulus est un modèle de 300 L avec une résistance de 3 000 W, qui chauffe en heures creuses. Il se déclenche à 22 h 30 pour chauffer, puis relance des cycles toutes les 30 minutes jusqu’à 6 h 30 pour maintenir la température.

Le routeur solaire va envoyer uniquement l’excédent d’énergie dans le cumulus. Par exemple, si je produis 2 500 W et que ma maison consomme en veille 200 W, sans routeur, en activant mon ballon en marche forcée, celui-ci va consommer 3 000 W. Nous utiliserons donc les 2 300 W de production solaire (2 500 W – 200 W) et les 700 W restants seront prélevés sur le réseau.

Mais avec le routeur solaire installé sur le cumulus et son relais SSR, l’énergie excédentaire est automatiquement envoyée dans la résistance. En reprenant l’exemple, le routeur détectera le surplus de 2 300 W et enverra cette puissance directement au ballon, sans puiser sur le réseau. Le ballon prendra plus de temps pour chauffer, mais il utilisera uniquement l’énergie solaire.

Voici un exemple concret :

• En bleu, ma production solaire.

• En orange, ma consommation.

• En gris, l’énergie prélevée sur le réseau.

Sur la première image (avant l’installation du routeur), on voit que le ballon se déclenche à 22 h 30. Sur la seconde image (après installation), on remarque que j’ai consommé toute la production en début de journée, mais que j’ai renvoyé du surplus sur le réseau l’après-midi.

Pour optimiser cela et garantir de l’eau chaude pour les douches du lendemain, j’ai configuré une différence de 5°C sur la température du cumulus. Ainsi, il se réchauffe en journée en utilisant l’excédent solaire, ce qui explique les pics de consommation orange dans l’après-midi.

Un routeur solaire est le plus souvent une solution DIY , bien que quelques fabricants en proposent, mais à des tarifs très élevés. Parmi les solutions DIY, on trouve notamment : le MSunPV, le F1ATB, le Yasolr, et bien d’autres.

Après un long moment d’hésitation, j’ai finalement opté pour le MSunPV. J’ai été séduit par le fait qu’il soit vendu déjà monté (même si le DIY ne me dérange pas), mais surtout par sa finition compacte avec un boîtier conçu pour être monté sur rail DIN.

L’intégration à Home Assistant était également essentielle pour moi, tous ces modèles le permettent.

Voici mon installation terminée. Côté cumulus, on peut remarquer l’ajout du relais SSR avec son large dissipateur thermique.

Si vous souhaitez plus de détails sur mon installation, vous pouvez consulter ce lien vers le forum de MSunPV.

Le routeur ne se limite pas uniquement au ballon d’eau chaude. En effet, j’ai opté pour un modèle à quatre sorties. Par exemple, si mon cumulus est déjà chaud en hiver, l’excédent d’énergie pourra être redirigé vers un radiateur dans la maison pour fournir un appoint de chauffage. Ce radiateur ne doit cependant pas être électronique.

Si vous avez une piscine, il est également possible de l’utiliser pour chauffer l’eau.

Voici mon schéma de câblage :
Pour les modes de marche forcée, j’ai conservé mon contacteur Jour/Nuit, qui est piloté par un relais Zigbee. En hiver, il sera également possible de programmer sur le routeur une plage horaire pour que le cumulus fonctionne en heures creuses si la production solaire est insuffisante.

Ici nous avons l’interface web du routeur.

Que faire une fois que toute l’énergie produite est consommée et que le cumulus est chaud ?

1. La batterie virtuelle

Une solution consiste à utiliser une batterie virtuelle. Votre surplus d’énergie est stocké de manière illimitée, et lorsque le soleil n’est plus au rendez-vous, vous utilisez ce que vous avez envoyé.

Cependant, les avantages de cette option sont mitigés. Par exemple, chez Urban Solar, il faut débourser 299 € pour s’inscrire, et ils deviennent alors votre fournisseur d’électricité. De mon côté, j’ai remarqué que leur tarif heures creuses / heures pleines est plus avantageux que celui de mon fournisseur actuel.
Toutefois, je n’ai pas encore trouvé de retours d’expérience convaincants. D’après ce que j’ai pu lire, cette solution semble plus rentable pour de grandes installations, comme 6 kWc ou plus.

2. L’autoconsommation collective

Il est également possible de vendre votre surplus d’énergie à vos voisins dans un rayon de 2 km. Cette solution est souvent gérée par des organismes.
En pratique, sans cette option, votre surplus part sur le réseau et peut être consommé par vos voisins, qui le paient au prix de leur contrat. Avec l’autoconsommation collective, vous pouvez leur revendre ce surplus à un tarif plus avantageux. Vous trouverez plus d’informations sur ce système chez SiSol.

Cependant, cette solution présente aussi des risques. En fonction de la demande, le tarif peut devenir négatif. Cela signifie que vous pourriez payer pour envoyer votre surplus sur le réseau. Dans ce cas, il est préférable de brider votre onduleur pour éviter ces frais.

3. Revente à EDF OA

Si vous êtes passé par une entreprise, il sera possible de faire la revente. Le règlement aura lieu une fois par an.

Changer de fournisseur

Le changement de fournisseur pourrait faire partie des ajustements à envisager après l’installation. En effet, de nombreuses personnes optent pour l’offre Tempo d’EDF. Cependant, il faut être vigilant aux 21 jours rouges, où les tarifs sont plus élevés.

Il est donc essentiel de bien calculer votre consommation et votre production d’électricité. Si vous disposez d’un second système de chauffage, cette offre pourrait être rentable.

La domotique

Il était primordial pour moi de pouvoir tout intégrer à Home Assistant. Pour Enphase, j’ai utilisé cette intégration, qui offre une actualisation presque en temps réel, contrairement à celle intégrée nativement à Home Assistant. Pour le routeur, j’ai utilisé cette intégration.

Après un peu de travail de mise en page, voici le résultat : vous pouvez voir l’effet du routeur, avec le graphique orange qui représente la consommation réseau, maintenue à 0 W. En haut à droite, la section production affiche 3 193 W avec une production totale de 10 697 Wh depuis le début de la journée. Juste en dessous, le routeur montre qu’il envoie 2 915 W vers le cumulus. Sur la seconde image, il s’agit du tableau de bord énergétique de Home Assistant.

Afin de rendre les choses plus faciles pour tout le monde, sur mon petit écran Home Assistant (retrouvez mon article ici), j’ai créé un tableau de bord dédié à la partie Solaire.

Les tuiles pour le lave-linge, le lave-vaisselle et le sèche-linge permettent de savoir quand la production est suffisante pour démarrer une machine. L’information « Dispo » possède un timer. En effet, si une éclaircie survient, tout passerait au vert. Pour pallier cela, j’ai mis une durée de 5 minutes.

Chaque appareil ne consomme pas la même chose. Pour la machine à laver, c’est 1000 W. Si la production est supérieure à 1000 W pendant 5 minutes, cela passe au vert, ce qui signifie que la production est suffisamment stable. Pour le lave-vaisselle, c’est 1500 W, il est en jaune, car c’est limite, j’ai seulement 1461 W de disponibles. Et pour le sèche-linge, c’est 2200 W, il est donc en rouge.
La consommation de la maison est élevée, car elle prend en compte le routeur. Les tuiles se basent sur la disponibilité nette sans le routeur, sinon tout resterait en rouge. Comme le routeur s’adapte à la consommation de la maison et de la production pour être toujours à 0w, cela n’empêche pas de démarrer une machine à laver.
J’ai aussi fait un petit écran sous ESPHome pour des infos plus techniques.

Conclusion

Je ne peux pour le moment vous informer sur l’effet positif, mon installation a 3 semaines. Mais quand on voit que j’arrive à atteindre 50% de consommation solaire sur une journée, c’est très encourageant. Si vous souhaitez vous lancer, il va falloir faire des recherches supplémentaires de votre côté. L’article avait pour but de vous partager les bases, mais il y aura différents paramètres à prendre en compte selon vos besoins, vos habitudes, et ce que vous avez au niveau des équipements électriques…

Le coût global de mon installation est de 4500€, ce qui comprend absolument tout (matériel solaire, électrique, équipement de sécurité, Consuel et routeur).

The Zimaboard 2 Single Board Server Review – The Best Yet?

In an increasingly saturated market of single-board computers and compact servers, the ZimaBoard 2 arrives with a clear goal: to offer an affordable, x86-powered, DIY-friendly alternative that bridges the gap between embedded systems and full-blown home servers. Developed by IceWhale, a brand that has already seen crowdfunding success with products like the original ZimaBoard, ZimaBlade, and ZimaCube, the ZimaBoard 2 aims to refine the company’s mission of delivering low-power, highly customizable devices for tinkerers, creators, and homelab enthusiasts. At its core, the ZimaBoard 2 is designed for users who want flexibility without complexity—whether that’s spinning up a lightweight virtualization platform, building a smart home hub, deploying a personal cloud, or running a local media server with minimal noise and energy consumption.

Unlike consumer-grade NAS systems or ARM-based boards, ZimaBoard 2 taps into the x86 ecosystem, offering broader OS compatibility and performance benefits while maintaining a compact, passively cooled footprint. This review explores the hardware, thermal and network performance, and software environment of the ZimaBoard 2, evaluating where it fits in the broader landscape of edge computing and personal infrastructure. As with previous IceWhale launches, this unit is being released initially through crowdfunding—a factor that calls for cautious optimism. Still, with a track record of fulfilling past campaigns, IceWhale appears confident in ZimaBoard 2’s readiness. Whether that confidence is justified, and whether the board truly earns its place in a crowded DIY server landscape, is what we’ll determine over the course of this review.

Zimaboard 2 Review – Quick Conclusion

The ZimaBoard 2 is a compact, x86-based single board server that strikes a balance between flexibility, efficiency, and affordability. It offers solid performance for its size, thanks to an Intel N150 processor, dual 2.5GbE ports, and a PCIe 3.0 x4 slot for meaningful expansion, making it suitable for tasks like media serving, light virtualization, and home automation. However, limitations such as non-upgradable 8GB RAM, slow onboard eMMC storage, and reliance on passive cooling require careful consideration for more demanding workloads. ZimaOS provides a user-friendly starting point with Docker support and basic file management, though advanced users may prefer to install alternative operating systems. Overall, the ZimaBoard 2 is a capable and well-engineered device for DIY server enthusiasts who understand its constraints and plan their use case accordingly

NOTE – You can visit the Zimaboard 2 Crowdfunding Page (live from 10:30AM ET 22nd April 2025) by clicking the banner below. The entry price for early backers is $169, but that will revert to $179 (and $239 for a scaled-up storage and memory version). I DO NOT receive any kind of affiliate commission or sponsorship for this review (and this review, like all reviews at NASCompares, was done without the brand in question’s interference or input). You can use the link HERE to see the campaign for yourself and/or click the banner below:

Zimaboard 2 Review – Design and Hardware

The physical build of the ZimaBoard 2 continues IceWhale’s trend of delivering thoughtfully designed hardware. The full aluminum enclosure gives the board a sturdy, premium feel, while also serving as its main cooling surface. Every port is clearly labeled, and the board layout is practical and accessible.

The PCIe slot includes a pre-cut section to accommodate longer cards, allowing for flexibility even in this small form factor. IceWhale also includes eco-friendly packaging, a detail that reflects both brand identity and attention to user experience. A cardboard insert allows users to hold the board upright alongside drives, useful for initial setup before a case is selected.

Optional accessories like a SATA adapter board with combined data/power connectors and third-party-compatible drive cages help complete the DIY experience. However, there are some practical limitations to consider: the soldered RAM means users must carefully plan for memory demands, and the internal storage, while functional, will not satisfy users looking for fast OS performance.

At the core of the ZimaBoard 2 is the Intel N150 processor, part of Intel’s Twin Lake architecture, offering four cores with a base clock that boosts up to 3.6GHz. This chip represents a significant step forward compared to the Celeron N3450 used in the original ZimaBoard, delivering better single-thread and multi-thread performance while maintaining a low 6W TDP.

Complementing the CPU is 8GB of LPDDR5x memory clocked at 4800MHz. While the use of fast memory is a welcome improvement, the limitation lies in its soldered nature—users cannot expand beyond this capacity.

This decision may be acceptable for light workloads such as running a Plex server, Docker containers, or Home Assistant, but it could become a bottleneck for users planning to run multiple VMs or resource-heavy services. The N150 CPU does support hardware virtualization and Intel AES-NI, which is essential for tasks like encrypted storage or virtual machine deployment.

In testing scenarios, the CPU delivered solid performance across typical tasks, and managed to keep up during multi-tasked environments with multiple services active. However, users with ambitions for more demanding applications will need to balance those expectations against the non-upgradable memory ceiling.

ZimaBoard 2 comes with 32GB of onboard eMMC storage, a choice that is both practical and limiting. This eMMC module is soldered to the board and is intended to house ZimaOS out of the box, giving users a ready-to-use system upon first boot. While this inclusion lowers the barrier to entry and simplifies setup for beginners, it presents performance limitations and a lack of flexibility. In testing, write speeds hovered around 35MB/s during mixed I/O operations, which is noticeably slow for tasks that involve frequent read/write cycles.

Moreover, should a user opt to install a different OS—such as TrueNAS SCALE, Proxmox, or Unraid—they would either overwrite the bundled ZimaOS or need to boot from an external USB or PCIe-based drive. Since the internal storage is neither M.2 nor socketed, it lacks the speed and modularity enthusiasts often seek in modern setups. As a result, users planning to use ZimaBoard 2 as a primary virtualization or storage server are better off supplementing it with faster storage via USB 3.1, SATA, or the PCIe slot for booting alternative OS environments. This caveat underscores a recurring theme with ZimaBoard 2: it’s well-positioned for entry-level use but requires external upgrades for more ambitious workflows.

One of the ZimaBoard 2’s most compelling features is its inclusion of two SATA 3.0 ports alongside a full PCIe 3.0 x4 slot. This greatly expands the device’s potential beyond typical SBCs, offering users a reliable way to build custom NAS setups, integrate high-speed NVMe storage, or even install networking and accelerator cards. During testing, a Synology combo card featuring two M.2 NVMe slots and a 10GbE Ethernet port was installed in the PCIe slot. The board successfully recognized all interfaces, demonstrating full PCIe compatibility and allowing throughput measurements to confirm the system could push high-bandwidth traffic.

With up to 4GB/s of bandwidth over PCIe, users can install expansion cards for fast storage, additional networking, or even compute offloading—although the small form factor means thermal and power considerations become important quickly. The SATA ports, while standard in speed, proved perfectly functional for connecting 2.5″ SSDs or traditional HDDs. IceWhale’s own accessories, like SATA power adapters and drive cages, help streamline this process, though third-party solutions work just as well.

For users aiming to transform this board into a flexible micro-server, this PCIe slot is a gateway to many possibilities and a key reason ZimaBoard 2 stands out in its category.

In terms of networking, the ZimaBoard 2 comes equipped with two 2.5GbE Ethernet ports, both powered by Intel chipsets—a choice that emphasizes reliability and driver compatibility across various operating systems. These ports are more than just a checkbox feature; they performed reliably under load and achieved full link saturation during file transfer tests and when used in conjunction with PCIe expansion.

In more advanced setups, users can configure bonding or load balancing to maximize throughput or redundancy. Additionally, there are two USB 3.1 ports for attaching external drives, peripherals, or USB-bootable OS images.

The inclusion of a Mini DisplayPort 1.2 allows for 4K video output at 60Hz, which is useful for users who want to use the board as a lightweight desktop or for initial OS installation and diagnostics—though it does require an adapter to convert to standard HDMI. Notably absent is built-in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, which aligns with its target audience of wired-first home labs and embedded installations. Overall, ZimaBoard 2 offers a well-rounded set of connectivity options that exceed expectations for its size, with the dual 2.5GbE ports making it particularly attractive for networking-focused use cases like firewalls, proxies, or containerized gateways.

Thermal management on the ZimaBoard 2 is entirely passive, with the aluminum enclosure doubling as a heatsink to dissipate heat away from the CPU and other key components. This fanless approach results in completely silent operation, which is ideal for home or office environments where noise is a concern.

However, the trade-off is that the board’s temperature will steadily rise over time, especially in enclosed cases or cabinets with poor airflow. During idle operation, with minimal system load and attached drives in standby, temperatures hovered around 50°C after an hour, increasing slightly to 52–54°C over a 24-hour window.

Under heavier usage—including Plex playback, VM activity, active networking, and full PCIe slot utilization—the system remained thermally stable but showed significant heat buildup. Power consumption in these high-usage scenarios peaked at approximately 39–40W, which is quite efficient given the workload.

Still, users planning to run the board continuously under load are strongly encouraged to introduce active airflow or leave the system in a well-ventilated space. The all-metal build is a clever and minimalist solution, but it has practical limitations that users need to plan for—especially if operating in warmer environments or planning to enclose the unit in a tight chassis.

When put through real-world workloads, the ZimaBoard 2 delivered performance that largely aligned with its specs and design goals. File transfers over the onboard 2.5GbE interfaces reached full saturation in controlled conditions, proving the CPU and I/O subsystems are capable of pushing maximum throughput without significant bottlenecks. PCIe expansion further unlocked performance potential—especially with the Synology combo card, where simultaneous NVMe and 10GbE performance were tested. While NVMe read speeds reached up to 1.6GB/s, write speeds hovered around 500–700MB/s depending on traffic from the 10GbE port.

These variances are expected, given shared PCIe lanes and bandwidth contention, but overall results were respectable. Multimedia performance was also acceptable, with Plex running smoothly and able to stream and scrape metadata while supporting light VM usage concurrently.

In these scenarios, RAM utilization climbed past 50% and CPU usage approached 100%, but the board remained operational and responsive. It’s clear that ZimaBoard 2 is well-suited to low-to-moderate workloads, and can punch above its weight with strategic expansion. However, pushing it into more demanding territory—like simultaneous virtualization, AI inferencing, or high-speed file serving across multiple interfaces—will begin to test its limits.

The lack of active cooling makes thermal planning essential for any serious workload. But overall, the ZimaBoard 2 feels polished and reliable, with a design philosophy that caters well to its core audience of DIY server builders and edge compute experimenters.

Zimaboard 2 Review – Software

ZimaBoard 2 ships with ZimaOS, a custom-built operating system from IceWhale that is based on CasaOS—a lightweight, open-source platform designed for simplicity and ease of deployment. ZimaOS retains the core principles of CasaOS but adds refinements tailored to the Zima ecosystem, particularly features that emerged during development of the more powerful ZimaCube. The out-of-the-box experience is beginner-friendly, offering an intuitive web dashboard called “LaunchPad,” which centralizes access to installed applications, system controls, and file management.

ZimaOS is pre-installed on the board’s eMMC storage, enabling immediate setup without requiring users to flash a drive or download additional software. Despite the modest resources of the ZimaBoard 2, the OS performs responsively, even with several services running in parallel. The interface is clean, albeit minimalistic, focusing on usability over deep customization.

For users who are new to home servers or Docker deployments, the learning curve is surprisingly gentle. Though it lacks some of the granularity of more established platforms like OpenMediaVault or TrueNAS, it’s clear that IceWhale has designed ZimaOS to get users up and running quickly without sacrificing key functionality.

One of the more distinctive features of ZimaOS is its integrated App Store, which acts as a curated hub for Docker-based applications. Unlike traditional NAS interfaces that require command-line Docker commands or extensive Portainer configuration, ZimaOS simplifies deployment through one-click installation and automated environment setups.

Popular applications like Plex, Jellyfin, Stable Diffusion, and more are available by default, with the option to add third-party sources for broader container variety. Behind the scenes, the system leverages containerization frameworks to handle resource isolation and volume mappings, but much of this complexity is hidden from the end user.

Application setup is further eased by pre-configured defaults such as port assignments, directory structures, and even PUID/PGID settings, reducing friction for non-technical users. For those with more experience, ZimaOS still allows you to tweak or override these settings manually. Notably, ZimaOS also includes a basic virtualization interface that supports downloading and running lightweight VMs using prebuilt images.

While this feature is better suited to the higher-specced ZimaCube due to memory and cooling constraints, its presence on the ZimaBoard 2 is still a nice touch and shows that the OS is aiming to grow into a more comprehensive platform. Overall, the application and container ecosystem here punches above its weight, especially considering the resource constraints of the board itself.

In terms of storage and file sharing, ZimaOS delivers a capable if somewhat minimal feature set that prioritizes simplicity over enterprise-style depth. Users can create RAID groups—a new feature compared to earlier CasaOS iterations—manage individual drives, and set up file-level sharing using standard protocols like SMB.

The file manager, accessible through the main dashboard, allows for browsing, copying, and sharing content in a familiar web-based interface. Integration with IceWhale’s own client tool enables a peer-to-peer feature called “peerdrop,” which links multiple Zima-based systems or client devices (like phones and laptops) for rapid syncing and data exchange.

This is especially useful for users who want an easy method to upload media, backup devices, or move files between multiple systems on a local network. Remote access can be enabled through a simple relay-based mechanism, which generates shareable links for specific files or folders, complete with read/write controls. While more advanced access control, encryption, or user quotas are not present in this build, the essentials for home or small office use are here and function as expected.

Cloud integration is also available, allowing the addition of third-party storage such as Google Drive or Dropbox for backup or syncing purposes. Though ZimaOS doesn’t try to replace full-fledged NAS operating systems in terms of depth, it successfully delivers the features most users will need, and its lightweight design ensures responsiveness even on modest hardware like the ZimaBoard 2.

Zimaboard 2 Review – Conclusion & Verdict

The ZimaBoard 2 is a competent and thoughtfully assembled single-board server that builds meaningfully on IceWhale’s earlier efforts, especially the original ZimaBoard and the ZimaBlade. Its design clearly targets users who want more flexibility and performance than traditional ARM-based boards can offer, but who also value power efficiency, silence, and a small footprint. The use of an Intel N150 CPU, 8GB of LPDDR5x memory, dual 2.5GbE ports, and a PCIe 3.0 x4 slot makes it viable for a variety of home server roles—from basic NAS and smart home coordination to lightweight container hosting and local media streaming. Features like onboard SATA, USB 3.1, and a DisplayPort connection further add to its utility. However, there are hardware limitations that may affect long-term suitability for advanced deployments. The soldered RAM cannot be upgraded, and the internal eMMC storage, while useful for initial setup, is too slow for OS-level responsiveness in more demanding use cases. Passive cooling, while appreciated for silence, also imposes some thermal limitations depending on the deployment environment.

On the software side, ZimaOS offers a decent out-of-the-box experience that caters to users with minimal technical background. It handles core tasks like application deployment, file sharing, and system monitoring without requiring advanced configuration, and its Docker-based App Store simplifies access to popular tools. For more experienced users, the system supports third-party OS installation, which is likely how many will ultimately use the ZimaBoard 2. Still, as a bundled solution, ZimaOS has matured significantly and now presents itself as a lightweight, capable, and non-intrusive platform for those who prefer to get started immediately. In the broader context of DIY server hardware, ZimaBoard 2 occupies a middle ground: more powerful and modular than Raspberry Pi-class systems, yet more constrained than full x86 mini PCs or enthusiast-grade NAS hardware. For those who understand and accept these trade-offs, and are willing to plan around its limitations, the ZimaBoard 2 offers a reliable and flexible foundation for compact, energy-efficient computing at the edge.

PROs of the Zimaboard 2

CONs of the Zimaboard 2

x86 Architecture – Compatible with a wide range of operating systems including ZimaOS, Unraid, TrueNAS SCALE, and Proxmox. Dual 2.5GbE LAN Ports – Offers strong networking capabilities for multi-service workloads and gateway setups. PCIe 3.0 x4 Slot – Enables high-speed expansion for 10GbE NICs, NVMe storage, or combo cards. Fanless, Silent Operation – Completely passively cooled, ideal for home or quiet office environments. Compact and Durable Build – Small footprint with an all-metal chassis that doubles as a heatsink. ZimaOS Included – User-friendly OS with a Docker-based App Store and basic VM tools, ready out of the box. Flexible Storage Options – Dual SATA ports plus USB 3.1 support for connecting SSDs, HDDs, or external drives. Low Power Consumption – Efficient 6W CPU with ~10W idle and ~40W max under heavy load scenarios.

Non-Upgradable RAM – 8GB of soldered LPDDR5x limits long-term scalability for memory-intensive tasks. Slow/Small Default Internal Storage – 32GB eMMC is convenient but underperforms for OS-level responsiveness or high I/O workloads. Thermal Headroom is Limited – Passive cooling alone may not be sufficient in closed environments or under sustained load without added airflow. Not launching on Traditional Retail, but instead on Crowdfunding.

NOTE – You can visit the Zimaboard 2 Crowdfunding Page (live from 10:30AM ET 22nd April 2025) by clicking the banner below. The entry price for early backers is $169, but that will revert to $179 (and $239 for a scaled-up storage and memory version). I DO NOT receive any kind of affiliate commission or sponsorship for this review (and this review, like all reviews at NASCompares, was done without the brand in question’s interference or input). You can use the link HERE to see the campaign for yourself and/or click the banner below:

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Synology Beestation Plus 8TB Revealed and Detailed

Synology has unveiled the BeeStation Plus (BST170-8T) in their pre-Computex build up (alongside an early reveal back in Jan 2025 at CES/Pepcom), the latest addition to its growing portfolio of personal cloud storage solutions aimed at everyday users. Building on the success of the original BeeStation (BST150-4T), the Plus model directly addresses feedback from users who wanted greater capacity, faster performance, and more versatile applications—without the steep learning curve of traditional NAS systems. This one-bay device ships pre-populated with an 8TB Synology HAT3310 hard drive (7200 RPM), powered by a quad-core Intel Celeron J4125 processor and 4GB of non-upgradable DDR4 memory. The combination is notable because it brings x86-class processing and hardware transcoding support to an ultra-simplified setup—something virtually unheard of in this form factor. With its out-of-the-box readiness, cloud-linked setup process, and focus on seamless user experience, BeeStation Plus is designed for those seeking to move away from Google Drive, iCloud, and Dropbox subscriptions, offering complete local control of data without compromising on usability. Features such as AI-driven photo management, native mobile apps, and Plex Media Server support are now included, making this device far more than just cold storage. For individuals and families looking to centralize their backups, photos, videos, and personal files in a user-friendly ecosystem—without paying monthly cloud fees—Synology positions the BeeStation Plus as an appealing middle ground between cloud services and more complex NAS platforms like the DiskStation DS224+.

Synology Beestation Plus 8TB – Who Is This For?

The BeeStation Plus is designed with a clear goal: to serve individuals, families, and small teams who want private, centralized storage without the barriers that typically come with managing a traditional NAS. It’s aimed at users who are familiar with cloud platforms like Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud, but want to move away from recurring subscription fees and the privacy concerns associated with third-party cloud storage. For many, the idea of hosting data locally remains appealing—yet the complexity of DSM-based Synology systems can be overwhelming. The BeeStation Plus sidesteps that entirely by offering a plug-and-play experience: no drive installation, no volume configuration, no knowledge of RAID, and no need to navigate DSM’s enterprise-leaning control panels.

Instead of DSM, BeeStation Plus runs a simplified, task-oriented operating system that emphasizes automation and immediacy. Setup is handled via a QR code and cloud-linked sign-in process using your existing Apple or Google account. Within minutes, users can begin backing up photos, syncing cloud drives, or transferring personal data using intuitive applications like BeePhotos and BeeFiles. Notably, BeePhotos offers local AI processing for face recognition and subject categorization—no data is sent to the cloud, and everything runs on-device using the integrated GPU in the Intel Celeron chip. These features mimic what users expect from modern photo cloud services, but with full local ownership.

Where the DiskStation platform caters to power users—with capabilities like multi-tiered storage pools, user-group policies, virtualization, Docker containers, and dual-LAN failover—BeeStation Plus avoids this complexity altogether. While some may view it as limiting, Synology has correctly identified a growing segment of mainstream users who simply want a secure, reliable, and easy-to-manage storage hub for their files, memories, and work. For them, BeeStation Plus delivers a near turn-key solution that doesn’t demand IT knowledge or ongoing configuration, while still offering meaningful tools like Plex integration, two-way cloud sync, and internal snapshot recovery.

Synology Beestation Plus 8TB – Hardware Specifications

At the heart of the Synology BeeStation Plus is the Intel Celeron J4125, a quad-core x86 processor that, while not cutting-edge, is a substantial leap from the Realtek RTD1619B used in the original BeeStation. The J4125 brings integrated Intel UHD Graphics 600, enabling hardware video transcoding—critical for smooth 4K Plex streaming and responsive AI-powered photo recognition within BeePhotos. This CPU choice also allows Synology to run a broader range of services, including native Plex Media Server installation and enhanced indexing performance for large photo or document libraries. Paired with 4GB of DDR4 memory, the system is built to handle simultaneous user access and background tasks like backups and media processing without performance degradation—something the original model struggled with due to its lower RAM and ARM-based chip.

The BeeStation Plus ships with a pre-installed 8TB Synology HAT3310 hard drive, a 7200 RPM SATA HDD from Synology’s own verified drive lineup. While the device only supports a single internal bay, the included drive offers ample performance for most home and SOHO workloads, and the use of a higher-RPM disk ensures better responsiveness for large file transfers and indexing tasks. The storage is non-removable by design, as BeeStation products prioritize simplicity and stability over modularity. This also means there is no RAID support—underscoring that this device is not built for redundancy, but rather for centralized storage with optional external or cloud-based backup using BeeProtect or a secondary Synology NAS.

Connectivity is modest but practical. The system includes one 1GbE RJ-45 Ethernet port for network access and two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (one Type-A and one Type-C) for expanding storage or performing external backups. External drives can be browsed directly via BeeFiles or automatically backed up using the system’s USB Backup function. While some users may lament the lack of 2.5GbE or additional LAN ports, it’s worth noting that the target audience likely won’t saturate even gigabit speeds in everyday use. In real-world tests, BeeStation Plus can hit 150–180MB/s read speeds from its internal drive—enough to support simultaneous multimedia streaming and active file transfers across the network. The compact chassis also includes a cooling fan, a new addition over the passive original BeeStation, helping ensure thermal stability during extended workloads like Plex streaming or bulk photo indexing.

Synology Beestation Plus 8TB – BSM Software and Services

The BeeStation Plus is tightly integrated with Synology’s Bee-branded suite of applications, which form the foundation of its user experience. Chief among them is BeePhotos, a powerful photo management tool that automatically backs up images from mobile devices and organizes them using on-device AI for face, subject, and location recognition. Unlike cloud photo services, all indexing occurs locally, ensuring that sensitive images never leave the device. BeePhotos now supports iCloud Photo Backup, enabling direct migration of Apple photo libraries without requiring intermediate steps via your phone or computer. The web interface replicates the timeline-based design familiar to users of Google Photos or iCloud, complete with album views, smart filters, and Chromecast streaming. Meanwhile, BeeFiles acts as the central file manager, supporting version history, password-protected sharing, USB device browsing, and desktop sync via the BeeStation desktop client for Windows and macOS.

Beyond personal use, Synology has also included multi-user support for up to eight invited users, each with isolated private storage spaces and individual access rights. Users can connect to BeeStation from anywhere via the Synology cloud portal or mobile apps, allowing seamless collaboration and remote file access. BeeStation Plus also introduces native support for Plex Media Server, offering hardware-accelerated streaming of 4K content to TVs, tablets, or mobile devices. Integration is simplified through the BeeStation web portal, and libraries can be organized via BeeFiles’ dedicated “Plex Media Library” folder structure. Users can also take advantage of BeeProtect, a low-cost, unlimited-capacity cloud backup service that stores a full copy of the BeeStation’s data offsite—ideal for disaster recovery. Internal snapshot-based restore points add another layer of protection, allowing users to roll back the system in the event of accidental deletions or ransomware events, without relying on third-party services.

Synology Beestation Plus vs Synology DS224+/DS225+ and Beestation

The BeeStation Plus represents a clear technical upgrade over the original BeeStation, featuring a move from an ARM-based Realtek RTD1619B processor to a quad-core Intel Celeron J4125, along with a jump from 1GB to 4GB of DDR4 RAM. It also swaps the 5400 RPM 4TB HAT3300 drive for a faster 7200 RPM 8TB HAT3310, doubling the storage and improving responsiveness for tasks like AI photo indexing and multimedia playback. The inclusion of an active cooling fan further reinforces its suitability for continuous workloads, while added support for Plex Media Server and iCloud Photo Backup expands its capabilities far beyond the entry-level functionality of its predecessor. Both units share the same compact 1-bay form factor and cloud-integrated setup process, but the Plus model is built for heavier use, particularly in multi-user homes or for users archiving large libraries of photos and videos.

Synology Beestation Plus 8TB – Pricing and Release

The Synology BeeStation Plus (BST170-8T) launched globally in May 2025 with a suggested retail price of $369.95 USD (excluding VAT), positioning it as a compelling middle-ground between basic cloud drives and full NAS systems. This price includes the pre-installed 8TB Synology HAT3310 hard drive, three months of complimentary BeeProtect cloud backup, and full access to the BeeFiles and BeePhotos applications out of the box. While significantly more expensive than the original BeeStation’s $199.95 launch price, the BeeStation Plus delivers a considerable leap in performance, storage, and application support. Synology is clearly aiming to attract users looking to escape rising cloud subscription fees, with the device’s total cost of ownership undercutting comparable iCloud or Google One plans over just a few years. With increasing emphasis on private cloud solutions that are easy to deploy, the BeeStation Plus marks Synology’s most consumer-friendly push yet into the mainstream storage market.

Check Amazon in Your Region for the Synology Beestation Plus 8TB

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---

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WE LOVE COFFEE

 

Depuis plusieurs mois, le marché des NAS connaît un regain d’effervescence. Longtemps dominé par une poignée d’acteurs, ce segment attire désormais des entreprises issues de secteurs connexes, bien décidées à se faire une place. Qu’est-ce qui motive cet intérêt soudain ? Quels enjeux pour les acteurs établis comme Synology ou QNAP ? Décryptage…

Un nouvel appétit pour un marché de niche

Ce que l’on observe actuellement n’est pas l’émergence de start-up, mais plutôt l’arrivée de groupes déjà bien installés sur d’autres segments technologiques. Citons notamment UGREEN, réputé pour ses accessoires, ou encore des spécialistes du Mini-PC comme Minisforum, Beelink, ORICO ou Aoostar. Tous ont récemment investi le marché des NAS avec une stratégie affirmée : concurrencer les leaders traditionnels en s’appuyant sur leurs capacités industrielles existantes.

Un marché restreint, mais en croissance

Le NAS reste un produit de niche, à destination d’un public averti, professionnel ou technophile. Toutefois, il continue d’afficher une croissance régulière (souvent à 2 chiffres). Dans un contexte de diversification nécessaire pour les industriels chinois, ce segment représente un relais de croissance crédible, d’autant plus attractif qu’il ne requiert pas de rupture technologique majeure.

Un contexte favorable à l’entrée de nouveaux acteurs

Historiquement, la conception de NAS impliquait des investissements significatifs (matériel et logiciel). Aujourd’hui, la donne a changé. Des systèmes comme OpenMediaVault, TrueNAS, Unraid ou encore ZimaOS permettent aux utilisateurs de déployer eux-mêmes une infrastructure de stockage avancée, sans expertise pointue.

Par ailleurs, l’essor de Docker facilite la gestion et l’installation d’applications sur les NAS, réduisant encore la nécessité pour les fabricants de développer des interfaces logicielles propriétaires. Une économie de ressources considérable pour les nouveaux entrants.

Résultat : les barrières à l’entrée se sont considérablement abaissées, rendant ce marché bien plus accessible qu’il ne l’était il y a encore quelques années.

Des positions historiques sous pression

Les marques traditionnelles comme Synology, QNAP et Asustor ont longtemps prospéré grâce à la robustesse de leur matériel, à leur écosystème logiciel intégré et à un service après-vente éprouvé. Mais l’arrivée d’acteurs disposant de capacités industrielles comparables (voire supérieures) rebat les cartes.

Une bataille tarifaire en perspective

L’écart de prix entre les 2 marques est notable : les NAS  UGREEN sont proposés à des tarifs sensiblement inférieurs à ceux de Synology, pour un nombre de baies équivalent et des composants souvent plus récents. Un positionnement agressif qui n’implique pas nécessairement de compromis sur les performances, lesquelles se révèlent parfois supérieures.

Des consommateurs mieux informés

Autre évolution majeure : les utilisateurs, qu’ils soient professionnels ou particuliers, sont aujourd’hui plus avertis. Ils scrutent les composants, exigent une évolutivité tangible et comparent systématiquement les rapports qualité/prix. Les nouveaux venus pourraient tirer parti de cette exigence accrue, à condition de répondre aux standards attendus.

Vers une transformation du marché ?

Si le cycle de renouvellement des NAS reste relativement lent, les précédents ne manquent pas pour illustrer la rapidité avec laquelle un marché peut se transformer. L’exemple des robots aspirateurs est éclairant : iRobot (Roomba), autrefois leader incontesté, a été rapidement dépassé par des challengers asiatiques comme Roborock, Dreame ou Mova. Le NAS pourrait-il suivre une trajectoire similaire ?

La question reste ouverte. Mais elle mérite d’être posée, tant les conditions semblent réunies pour une recomposition accélérée du secteur.

En synthèse

Le marché du NAS est à l’aube d’une profonde recomposition. Sous l’effet combiné d’une pression concurrentielle accrue, de l’évolution des attentes utilisateurs et de la baisse des barrières technologiques, les lignes sont en train de bouger. Si les leaders historiques disposent encore de solides atouts, ils ne peuvent ignorer la montée en puissance de nouveaux acteurs agiles, bien décidés à redistribuer les cartes.

Synology a officiellement annoncé son nouveau NAS : DS1825+. Même s’il n’est pas encore disponible à la vente, ses spécifications techniques sont connues. Vous avez été nombreux à nous demander ce que ce nouveau modèle apporte face à son prédécesseur, le DS1821+. Voici donc une analyse comparative pour vous aider à faire un choix…

DS1825+ vs DS1821+

Les DS1825+ et DS1821+ occupent le segment particulier chez Synology. Tous les 2 proposent 8 baies en façade pour les disques durs ou SSD, ainsi que de 2 emplacements SSD NVMe accessible sous le châssis.

Ils prennent également en charge jusqu’à 2 unités d’extension de 5 baies, permettant d’atteindre un total de 18 disques. À noter : le DS1825+ est compatible avec la nouvelle unité d’extension DX525, connectée en USB-C, tandis que le DS1821+ repose sur des extensions en eSATA (DX517).

Processeur et RAM

Le Synology DS1825+ embarque un processeur AMD Ryzen V1500B (quad-core à 2,2 GHz). C’est exactement le même que son prédécesseur, le DS1821+. La bonne nouvelle, c’est que la RAM a été doublée ici, le DS1825+ possède 8 Go DDR4 ECC de base (extensible jusqu’à 32).

Connectique

Le DS1825+ gagne 2 ports USB Type-C et 2 ports réseau 2,5 Gb/s. C’est vraiment la grande nouveauté de la gamme DSx25+.
Comme avec le DS1821+, le DS1825+ conserve l’emplacement son emplacement PCIe permettant de recevoir une carte réseau (1* 10 Gb/s, 2* 10 Gb/s ou encore 2* 25 Gb/s).

Le DS1825+ se distingue principalement par sa connectique modernisée :

• 2 ports USB-C font leur apparition (contre aucun sur le DS1821+)
• 2 ports réseau 2,5 Gb/s remplacent les 4 ports 1 Gb/s de l’ancien modèle

Attention, les ports USB-C ne sont utilisables qu’avec des unités d’expansion Synology. En effet, clé et SSD externe ne fonctionnent pas sur ces ports. L’emplacement PCIe est toujours présent, permettant d’ajouter une carte réseau 10 Gb/s ou même 25 Gb/s.

Toutefois, on note la suppression de 2 ports USB 3.0 et des ports eSATA, ce qui pourrait poser problème à certains professionnels ou utilisateurs avancés.

Politique de compatibilité plus stricte

Synology poursuit sa stratégie controversée : comme pour les autres modèles de la série DSx25+, l’utilisation de disques certifiés est désormais obligatoire. À ce jour, seuls les disques Synology sont officiellement compatibles. Une contrainte qui risque d’en rebuter plus d’un.

Tableau comparatif DS1825+ vs DS1821+

	DS1825+	DS1821+
Modèle du processeur	AMD Ryzen (V1500B)	AMD Ryzen (V1500B)
Fréquence du processeur	Quad Core 2,2 GHz (base)	Quad Core 2,2 GHz (base)
iGPU	Non	Non
Mémoire vive	8 Go DDR4 ECC (extensible jusqu’à 32)	4 Go DDR4 ECC (extensible jusqu’à 32)
Emplacements HDD	8	8
Emplacements SSD NVME	2	2
Unité d’expansion	2* DX525 (USB-C)	2* DX517 (eSATA)
Port USB 3.0	2 (dont 1 en façade)	4 (dont 1 en façade)
Port réseau 1 Gb/s	–	4
Port réseau 2,5 Gb/s	2	–
Port réseau 10 GbE	1 en option	1 en option
Consommation électrique	60,1 W (Accès) et 18,34 W (Hibernation disque dur)	59,8 W (Accès) et 26,18 W (Hibernation disque dur)
Score CPU Benchmark	4829 points	4829 points
Disponibilité	À venir	Immédiate
Prix au lancement	À confirmer	1035€

Faut-il passer au DS1825+ ?

Le DS1825+ remplace formellement le DS1821+, mais en y regardant de plus près, les améliorations sont très limitées. On perd des ports (USB 3.0, eSATA), on gagne du USB-C et un réseau légèrement plus rapide en 2,5 Gb/s… mais cela ne conviendra pas à tous les usages, notamment en environnement professionnel où le 10 GbE natif devient souvent indispensable.

La mémoire de base est doublée, mais 8 Go restent insuffisants pour de nombreux cas d’usage avancés (virtualisation, conteneurs, etc.).
Enfin, la restriction sur les disques non certifiés pourrait être un vrai frein pour les utilisateurs soucieux de leur liberté de choix ou de leur budget.

En synthèse

Le DS1825+ n’apporte pas de véritable révolution. Il constitue une évolution mineure. Si vous possédez déjà un DS1821+, il n’y a aucune urgence à migrer. En revanche, si vous partez de zéro, le choix dépendra surtout de votre besoin en connectique, de votre tolérance à la politique de disques imposée… et bien sûr du prix final, encore inconnu.

Synology (FINALLY) has an NVMe Flash Server – The Synology PAS7700 System

Synology are seemingly going ‘all guns blazing’ at Computex 2025 this year, with a wide array of hardware and software solutions being revealed at the event. Many of these we already know about via official and unofficial reveals over the last 6 months or so, how the PAS NVMe flash storage system is one that was actually originally shown last year at the brand’s 2024 Solution Exhibition in Taipei, this was still an early prototype system and was built using an existing 2U chassis and was much more comparable to existing SAS storage systems from the brand. However, the PAS NVMe Flash system has seemingly (and RAPIDLY) evolved since it was first revealed as an early 12 bay prototype 2U rackmount last year into a dual active 4U Behemoth solution that is significantly more focused on leveraging the performance benefits of NVMe, alongside the scale-out, redundancy and failover of other enterprise tier Synology NAS solutions.

Synology already has an existing range of SSD Flash soltuons, in their Flashstation series, but this proposed PAS7700 system is a completely different class of system against those more classic DSM hardware systems. Synology has been somewhat behind the curve when it comes to NVMe flash systems in the last few years (both entry class m.2 NVMe systems at desktop, but also larger business and enterprise class NVMe over U.2/U.3 compared with competitors such as QNAP (and their FX/FU series), but the PAS is hoping to fill this gap in the brand’s portfolio at this higher tier of buyer. So, what do we know so far?

Synology PAS7700 Hardware Specifications

The Synology PAS7700 is a 4U rackmount dual-node NVMe flash storage system engineered for high-performance, mission-critical enterprise workloads. Designed with a non-disruptive architecture, it enables active-active operations across both nodes, ensuring continuous data availability and efficient load distribution without single points of failure. Each node occupies 2U of rack space and operates independently, yet cooperatively, allowing both to concurrently handle client requests and internal processes. This design eliminates the need for manual failover while maintaining performance even during node maintenance or partial outages.

At the heart of each node lies a 24-core AMD EPYC processor, optimized for dense, multi-threaded workloads such as data analytics, database transactions, and large-scale virtualization. These processors provide ample PCIe Gen4 lanes to support high-speed interconnects, storage interfaces, and compute operations. Each node is equipped with 64GB of DDR4 ECC memory out of the box, with upgrade support up to 1TB. This high memory ceiling is particularly beneficial for large-scale caching, deduplication, and inline compression tasks in high IOPS environments. Memory cache protection mechanisms are built in to preserve data integrity during unexpected power loss, using supercapacitors or battery-backed modules.

The storage backplane supports a total of 48 U.2 or U.3 NVMe SSDs across the chassis—24 per node—maximizing both performance and density. Drive control is split between the native AMD EPYC-integrated PCIe controllers and additional PCIe switching and management provided by ASMedia Technologies, likely to balance performance across multiple backplanes and mitigate PCIe bottlenecks. This configuration ensures that each SSD can be utilized to its full potential with minimal latency and optimal throughput. Network connectivity includes a dedicated 1GbE copper port per node for management, along with dual 10GbE NICs for data operations. These ports support link aggregation and failover, with options for expansion to higher-speed interfaces expected, though not yet confirmed. The PAS7700 likely supports several PCIe expansion slots internally, allowing future upgrade paths to 25/40/100GbE if required. This flexibility positions the unit for use in diverse network topologies and high-bandwidth enterprise infrastructures.

That said, we should discuss the thorny subject of storage media. Synology has recently implemented a more stringent hardware compatibility policy, mandating the use of Synology-branded or certified storage media in its latest 2025 Plus Series NAS devices. This policy restricts full functionality and support to only those drives that have been validated by Synology, potentially limiting user flexibility and increasing costs due to reduced third-party options. Currently, Synology’s in-house SSD lineup includes SATA SSDs and M.2 NVMe SSDs, with capacities up to 800GB. This raises questions about their plans for higher-performance storage media suitable for systems like the PAS7700, which is designed for demanding enterprise workloads. As of now, Synology has not announced any U.2 or U.3 NVMe SSDs in their product range. Given the PAS7700’s reliance on high-speed NVMe storage, it’s unclear whether Synology will expand its SSD offerings to include higher-capacity and performance options or if they will certify third-party drives for use with this system. The company’s updated compatibility lists will be crucial for users to identify approved drives. Until more information is available, potential PAS7700 users may need to consider the implications of Synology’s hardware compatibility policies on their storage choices.

Synology PAS7700 Services and Flash Protocols

The Synology PAS7700 supports a diverse array of storage access protocols optimized for NVMe over Fabrics (NVMe-oF), ensuring compatibility with modern data center architectures and latency-sensitive applications. These protocols are tailored to support high-throughput and low-latency workloads across both local and remote environments, catering to sectors such as virtualized infrastructure, high-performance computing, and real-time analytics.

Among the supported technologies are NFS RDMA, NVMe-TCP, NVMe over Fibre Channel (NVMe-FC), and NVMe over RoCE (Remote Direct Memory Access over Converged Ethernet). These protocols differ in terms of performance characteristics, implementation complexity, and deployment environments, giving administrators flexibility in aligning the system’s networking stack with existing infrastructure and performance objectives. These include:

• NFS RDMA (Remote Direct Memory Access):

  • Enhances traditional NFS performance by bypassing the CPU for memory transfers.

  • Significantly reduces latency and CPU usage in environments using NFSv4.x.

  • Ideal for high-performance, low-latency use cases like virtual machines or scientific computing.

• NVMe-TCP (NVMe over TCP/IP):

  • Extends NVMe-oF across standard Ethernet networks without requiring specialized hardware.

  • Enables NVMe-level performance benefits using existing TCP infrastructure.

  • Easier to deploy in enterprise environments with mixed networking equipment.

• NVMe-FC (NVMe over Fibre Channel):

  • Combines the speed of NVMe with the reliability of Fibre Channel.

  • Suitable for enterprises already using Fibre Channel SANs.

  • Offers low-latency performance with high stability and established zoning capabilities.

• NVMe/RoCE (RDMA over Converged Ethernet):

  • Provides near-direct memory access over Ethernet without involving the CPU.

  • Achieves ultra-low latency for applications such as real-time trading or video rendering.

  • Requires a compatible network fabric with lossless Ethernet configuration.

We are still awaiting confirmation on whether this will be running on traditional DSM, a dual controller variation (such as found on the current UC3200 0 Active/Active system), a multinode management variation (as found in the GS/GridStation system, or a brand new splinter of DSM services (as found in the DP series with Active Protect).

Synology PAS7700 Failover and Redundancy

The Synology PAS7700 is designed with full-stack redundancy to eliminate single points of failure and minimize service disruption across hardware, software, and protocol layers. Its dual-node active-active design enables uninterrupted operations even during firmware updates, system maintenance, or unplanned hardware failures. This architecture ensures that both nodes can operate independently while maintaining synchronized data access and state, effectively enabling non-disruptive service continuity in multi-user enterprise environments. Each layer of the system—from networking to storage to memory—is fortified with specific failover mechanisms. Networking is protected via IP failover configurations, allowing services to automatically reroute through a secondary interface or node should a primary link fail. The system also supports Multipath I/O (MPIO) across iSCSI, Fibre Channel, and NVMe-oF protocols, ensuring high availability and load balancing across multiple paths. On the protocol level, persistent handle support in SMB and grace periods in NFS ensure that client sessions remain intact during failovers or server transitions.

Synology further implements failover at the component and data protection level. Memory modules are equipped with cache protection to safeguard in-flight data in the event of power loss, typically via battery backup or capacitor-based retention systems. On the storage layer, support for RAID-TP (triple parity) adds an extra layer of disk fault tolerance, protecting against up to three simultaneous drive failures. Additionally, enterprise-grade SSDs used in the PAS7700 are expected to include power loss protection (PLP), preserving cached writes during sudden shutdowns.

• Protocols:

  • SMB Persistent Handles: Maintains client file handles during failover events.

  • NFS Grace Periods: Allows NFS clients to re-establish sessions without data loss.

  • MPIO: Multipath I/O for load balancing and failover across multiple transport paths.

• Networking:

  • IP Failover: Automatically reroutes network services to a standby node or NIC if a primary fails.

• System-Level:

  • Hardware Failover: One node takes over if the other becomes non-functional.

  • Upgrade Failover: Supports live system or firmware updates without downtime.

• Memory:

  • Cache Protection: Retains volatile memory contents in the event of power loss using supercaps or batteries.

• Storage:

  • RAID-TP: Triple parity RAID support for enhanced data redundancy.

  • Power Loss Protection (PLP): SSDs preserve unwritten data during power failure.

Whether other specific SSD/Flash services that are currently available on devices like the Flashstation series (such as RAID F1 for controlled and predicted NAND wearing) will also be integrated here on scale are yet to be confirmed. While the full software environment and feature set of the Synology PAS7700 are yet to be confirmed, its hardware architecture and protocol support position it as a serious entry into the enterprise flash storage segment. With dual-node active-active operation, extensive NVMe protocol compatibility, and comprehensive failover mechanisms, the PAS7700 is clearly designed for organizations that require uncompromising uptime and performance. As more details emerge at Computex 2025, the PAS7700 is expected to clarify its role within Synology’s broader storage portfolio—particularly how it compares to the UC series and where it fits in demanding environments such as virtualized infrastructure, high-frequency transactional workloads, and critical business continuity deployments.

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Finally, for free advice about your setup, just leave a message in the comments below here at NASCompares.com and we will get back to you. Need Help? Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry. [contact-form-7] TRY CHAT Terms and Conditions   Alternatively, why not ask me on the ASK NASCompares forum, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in the ASK NASCompares section below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.

WE LOVE COFFEE

 

 

Bonjour à tous,

J’espère que vous allez bien et que vous avez profité des ponts pour vous ressourcer. Ce n’est pas fini, il y en a un autre dans 2 semaines Pour ma part, je n’en ai pas forcément profité… mais j’avoue que d’avoir une coupure dans la semaine, ça fait du bien.

Comme vous avez pu le constater, il y a eu beaucoup d’articles ces dernières semaines. Il faut dire que l’actualité autour des NAS a été riche et elle va continuer quelques semaines. En effet, avec le Computex qui arrive à grands pas (du 20 au 23 mai), les annonces devraient fleurir. Plusieurs tests très attendus ont été publiés et d’autres sont à venir. J’ai pris un peu de retard dans mes mails et je vous prie de m’excuser. Je reçois de plus en plus de demandes : tests, tutos et autres. Malheureusement, je suis quasiment seul aux commandes et moi aussi… j’ai besoin de lâcher le clavier de temps en temps.

Du côté des films et séries TV, j’avoue que j’ai regardé Conclave (oui c’est en lien avec l’actualité récente). Cela reste une fiction, mais j’ai aimé. Comme beaucoup parlent de Balle Perdue 3, je me suis dit que j’allais au moins regarder le premier opus (Balle Perdue). Ça se regarde, mais franchement… c’est pas fou. Enfin, j’ai regardé The Pitt. C’est une série TV ou l’on retrouve Noah Wyle (producteur également), encore dans un service des urgences. Elle se laisse regarder, même s’il faut avouer que c’est très loin du côté glamour de la série des années 90. Là, c’est assez gore… j’avoue que j’ai détourné les yeux à deux ou trois reprises. C’est intense, on aime ou on déteste.

Allez, je vous souhaite une excellente journée…
FX

The Synology DS925+ versus Synology DS923+ – Buy OLD or BUY New?

Every few years, when Synology chooses to refresh several of its popular devices—updating a number of its hardware features—new buyers and those looking to upgrade have a choice to make. Is it nobler in the mind to purchase the more affordable and already well-known older-generation device, or hold out and purchase the brand-new, refreshed, updated model with its improved hardware but likely slightly increased price tag? Refreshes are planned for 2025. Today, I want to discuss whether users should consider purchasing the DS923+—which has been in the market for several years now—or set their sights on the newer DS925+ NAS. On the face of it, many will consider this an easy choice, as newer hardware likely means a better system. However, the reality is much more nuanced. Alongside older-generation hardware having had a greater deal of time to be developed within its own ecosystem and by third-party developers, there is also the question of whether newer-generation hardware really is genuinely a hardware upgrade. Or do you have the potential to miss out on certain hardware features in the new generation that may have become legacy options (remember the DS920+?). Which one deserves your money and your data?

Synology DS925+ NAS		Synology DS923+ NAS
Check Amazon in Your Region for the Synology DS925+ NAS	Check B&H for the Synology DS925+ NAS	Check Amazon in Your Region for the Synology DS923+ NAS	Check B&H for the Synology DS923+ NAS

When we examine the CPU specifications in isolation, it’s clear that the V1500B in the DS925+ delivers greater multi-core throughput, while the R1600 in the DS923+ offers higher single-core clock speeds. But understanding how these numbers affect real-world tasks within Synology’s DiskStation Manager (DSM) is far more meaningful. Thanks to its 4-core, 8-thread configuration, the DS925+ excels in multi-threaded workloads, which is evident in its higher software limits. It supports up to 8 virtual machines and 8 virtual DSM instances through Virtual Machine Manager, making it ideal for users running containerized services, development environments, or isolated OS instances. Additionally, it handles more concurrent SMB connections (up to 40 with RAM expansion), supports up to 150 Synology Chat users, 80 Synology Drive users, and 80 Synology Office users—all reflecting its capacity to manage a larger user base and more simultaneous services without bottlenecks.

For surveillance and media workloads, the DS925+ also pulls ahead, matching the DS923+ in the number of supported camera channels (up to 40 cameras and 1200 FPS at 1080p H.265), but benefiting from more headroom when additional tasks are running in parallel—such as snapshots, backups, or AI-powered photo indexing via Synology Photos. Meanwhile, the DS923+, with its faster per-core performance and support for PCIe expansion, remains well-suited to users running lighter, more focused workloads or who plan to scale via hardware add-ons, such as a 10GbE network card. It still supports a respectable 4 VMs, 60 MailPlus users, and 50 users each for Synology Drive and Office, making it perfectly adequate for small teams or power users who prioritize customization and future expansion. While both CPUs are capable, the DS925+ delivers superior multi-user, multi-tasking performance, aligning closely with higher software thresholds and offering better out-of-the-box readiness for more demanding and concurrent applications across Synology’s DSM suite.

• R1600 (DS923+) excels in single-core performance (better for fast app responsiveness and lighter workloads).

• V1500B (DS925+) dominates in multi-core performance (better for multitasking, virtualization, and heavier parallel tasks).

• The V1500B also has more PCIe lanes (16 vs 8), which may benefit systems with more storage or networking needs.

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Synology DS925+ vs DS923+ – Software Specifications

Beyond hardware, the real power of a NAS lies in what it enables users to do—and that’s where software specifications take center stage. Synology’s DSM (DiskStation Manager) operating system unlocks a vast suite of applications and services, from virtualization and backup to media streaming, file sharing, and surveillance. However, the scope and scale of these capabilities are directly influenced by the underlying system hardware and memory architecture. Let’s compare the software capabilities of the Synology DS925+ and DS923+, not just in terms of what each system can technically support, but how far each can be pushed in real-world use. We examine backup limits, virtual machine support, hybrid cloud services, user and group management, surveillance channel support, and more—offering a complete picture of each system’s software potential under DSM 7.2.

While both the Synology DS925+ and DS923+ run the same robust DSM software and offer access to the full Synology ecosystem, their software ceilings differ significantly—reflecting the difference in overall system capability. The DS925+ consistently supports higher concurrent workloads across nearly every category. It enables up to 8 virtual machines, compared to just 4 on the DS923+, and supports double the Virtual DSM instances. It also allows for more Synology Chat users (150 vs 100), more Synology Office and Drive users (80 vs 50), and handles twice the VPN connections (8 vs 4). For collaborative environments, this means smoother performance when multiple users are accessing files, editing documents, or messaging in real time. It’s also more equipped for enterprise use with double the number of Shared Folder Sync tasks and higher MailPlus user capacity (90 vs 60 users), making it ideal for larger teams or more demanding deployment scenarios.

Meanwhile, the DS923+ still provides an impressive software suite, especially considering its smaller hardware footprint. It supports all major DSM features—Snapshot Replication, Hyper Backup, High Availability, Surveillance Station, and more—making it a solid choice for small businesses or power users who may not need the extended capacity but still want rich functionality. Its support for 10GbE upgrades via PCIe also allows for flexible scaling, even if its base configuration starts at a lower software threshold. The DS925+ is better suited for multi-user environments, heavier workloads, and broader deployment, while the DS923+ is ideal for lighter workflows, cost-sensitive setups, or users planning to grow into the system gradually. Understanding these software limitations and allowances is key to choosing the right NAS for your workload, user count, and future planning.

• The DS925+ outperforms the DS923+ in:

  • Max volume size (up to 200 TB with RAM upgrade)

  • SMB connections

  • Shared folder sync tasks

  • Synology Chat users

  • MailPlus users

  • Synology Drive & Office users

  • Virtual machines and VPN connections

• The DS923+ has an edge only in volume count, supporting 64 internal volumes vs 32.

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Synology DS925+ vs DS923+ NAS – Hard Drive and SSD Compatibility

As of this writing, Synology is taking a more restrictive stance on third-party drive support, especially with the introduction of its 2025 hardware series—including the DS925+. Since launching its own branded SSDs and HDDs in 2020–2021, Synology has steadily reduced the number of third-party drives listed as compatible with DSM. This trend escalated with DSM 7.1 in 2022, which introduced warning states for systems using unverified drives.

Although the impact of these warnings was later reduced, Synology has continued moving toward a locked-down storage ecosystem. The DS925+ marks a significant escalation. At launch, it only lists Synology-branded drives as compatible, and more critically, the system will not allow DSM initialization at all if unsupported drives are detected. This is a sharp departure from earlier practices where unverified drives merely triggered warnings post-setup. Despite sharing identical internal hardware with earlier NAS models from 2020 and 2023—which still support a wide range of drives from Seagate, WD, Toshiba, Samsung, and others—the DS925+ now enforces this compatibility policy at the firmware level.

In contrast, the DS923+ remains more flexible. While it will flag third-party drives as “unverified,” it still allows users to fully initialize the system, create storage pools, and access all DSM storage services without restriction. This flexibility makes the DS923+ a more appealing option for users who already own or prefer third-party HDDs and SSDs, particularly in regions where Synology’s own media is either overpriced or hard to source. Compounding the issue is the lack of clarity around Synology’s rollout. The policy was first disclosed on Synology’s German site and remains vaguely worded on the official DS925+ product page. There’s still no definitive answer on whether compatibility will expand to include major third-party brands—raising concern for system integrators, resellers, and first-time buyers.

If Synology’s goal is to ensure higher reliability through tighter integration, it should match that with transparent testing data, global pricing consistency, and readily available stock. In many regions, Synology drives are neither as accessible nor as competitively priced as third-party equivalents, which makes this policy feel restrictive rather than protective. While existing users can still migrate third-party drives from an older NAS into a DS925+, this is of little comfort to new buyers building from scratch. And the inconsistency with the DS923+—which continues to operate under the older, more open approach—only adds to user confusion. Synology appears to be transitioning toward a closed appliance model, where software, hardware, and media are tightly controlled. Whether this delivers long-term benefits or alienates a portion of its user base remains to be seen. For now, the DS925+ presents both a warning and a decision point for those evaluating their next NAS—especially if they rely on third-party drives.

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Synology DS925+ vs DS923+ NAS – Which Should You Buy?

The DS923+ is a NAS system that, when first launched by Synology at the end of 2022, was met with mixed reactions. This was largely due to Synology shifting the system’s focus away from multimedia and GPU-accelerated tasks, and instead toward file processing and business-oriented deployments. Fast forward a few years, and the rest of Synology’s portfolio has realigned—bringing back more home and multimedia models—making this more utilitarian, file-centric 4-bay system easier for users to appreciate in context. That said, the DS925+ is the better choice in almost every way. It features a processor originally designed for higher-tier business-class systems, offering more cores, more threads, and greater performance potential across productivity tasks and multi-user workloads. Synology has also finally introduced 2.5GbE on this system—an overdue improvement that significantly enhances out-of-the-box network speeds compared to the 1GbE-only DS923+. As long as the DS925+ is priced within a reasonable 5% margin of the DS923+’s original launch price, it stands as the more capable system by default. However, it does come with a notable caveat: the lack of a 10GbE upgrade option. Unlike the DS923+, which includes a PCIe Gen3 x2 slot allowing for a future 10GbE NIC upgrade, the DS925+ is capped at its built-in 2.5GbE ports. While this still provides a theoretical 6Gbps of total bandwidth across both ports via link aggregation, it means there’s no room for expansion beyond that ceiling. This limitation becomes particularly relevant for users planning to fully populate the NAS with high-performance SATA SSDs or utilize M.2 SSD storage pools. In these cases, the network will eventually become a bottleneck—one that the DS923+ can avoid through its 10GbE upgrade path. Additionally, the DS923+ supports a wider range of third-party HDDs and SSDs, allowing greater flexibility and cost control, especially in regions where Synology-branded drives are less available or more expensive. The DS923+ will still let you initialize, create storage pools, and run DSM services using unverified third-party drives, unlike the DS925+, which now enforces stricter media validation at the OS level.

Reasons to Buy the Synology DS923+

Reasons to Buy the Synology DS925+

Faster 2.5GbE Networking Out-of-the-Box – Dual 2.5GbE ports offer higher baseline network speeds (up to 6Gbps aggregated), doubling the network performance compared to the DS923+ without requiring expansion cards. More Powerful Processor (More Cores/Threads) – The V1500B CPU offers 4 cores and 8 threads, delivering superior multitasking and heavier workload handling, especially for virtual machines, multiple users, and simultaneous services. Quieter Operation – The DS925+ operates at a lower idle noise level (20.5 dB vs 22.9 dB), making it better suited for office, home office, or studio environments where sound matters. Higher User and Service Limits – Thanks to the more powerful CPU, the DS925+ supports more Synology Drive users, Synology Office users, Synology Chat users, more concurrent SMB connections, and more virtual machines than the DS923+. Better Out-of-the-Box Experience – With stronger networking, higher multi-threaded performance, and no need for immediate upgrades, the DS925+ is ready to deliver higher performance without any additional investment, perfect for users who want maximum capability from day one.

PCIe Expansion for 10GbE Upgrades – The DS923+ features a PCIe Gen3 x2 slot, allowing users to install a 10GbE network card later, massively boosting network speeds beyond the built-in 1GbE ports. Broader 3rd-Party Drive Compatibility – Unlike the DS925+, the DS923+ allows full system initialization, storage pool creation, and DSM services even with non-Synology hard drives and SSDs—giving users more flexibility and choice. Lower Power Consumption and Heat Output – The DS923+ is slightly more energy-efficient in both active use and hibernation modes, making it a better fit for always-on environments where power savings add up over time. Potentially Lower Price (Especially Post-DS925+ Launch) – As the newer DS925+ replaces it, the DS923+ is likely to see discounts and wider availability, offering excellent value for budget-conscious users without sacrificing capability. Ideal for Customization and Long-Term Scalability – With the ability to upgrade the network, use a wider range of drives, and maintain full DSM functionality, the DS923+ is better suited for users who plan to evolve their setup over time.

In practical terms, the DS925+ is the stronger out-of-the-box choice, especially for users who value simplicity, improved default performance, and do not anticipate needing higher-than-2.5GbE networking down the line. However, the long-term value proposition becomes murkier when you factor in the DS923+’s PCIe expansion, broader drive compatibility, and the potential price drops that will follow its ageing status in Synology’s lineup. In short, the DS925+ is the better NAS on day one—more powerful, faster, and quieter. But if you’re planning for day 1,000, it’s worth pausing to consider whether the expandability and media flexibility of the DS923+ may be a better fit for your storage and networking needs over the next five to seven years.

Synology DS925+ NAS		Synology DS923+ NAS
Check Amazon in Your Region for the Synology DS925+ NAS	Check B&H for the Synology DS925+ NAS	Check Amazon in Your Region for the Synology DS923+ NAS	Check B&H for the Synology DS923+ NAS

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Synology a officiellement annoncé son nouveau NAS : DS1525+. Même s’il n’est pas encore disponible à la vente, ses spécifications techniques sont désormais connues. Vous nous avez demandé ce qu’apporte ce modèle face à son prédécesseur, le DS1522+. Voici donc un comparatif pour vous aider à faire un choix éclairé….

DS1525+ vs DS1522+

Les DS1525+ et DS1522+ se positionnent dans le haut de gamme grand public chez Synology. Ils disposent de 5 emplacements en façade pour disques durs ou SSD, ainsi que de 2 emplacements SSD NVMe situés sous le châssis (pour du cache ou comme volumes de stockage).

Ils peuvent également accueillir 2 unités d’expansion de 5 baies, permettant d’atteindre un total de 15 disques. À noter que le DS1525+ introduit une nouveauté : la prise en charge du DX525, une nouvelle unité d’extension connectée en USB-C.

Processeur

Synology poursuit l’intégration de processeurs AMD Ryzen dans ses NAS. Le DS1525+ embarque un Ryzen V1500B (quad-core à 2,2 GHz), en remplacement du Ryzen R1600 (dual-core à 2,6 GHz de base, 3,1 GHz en boost) du DS1522+. Ce changement est similaire à ce qu’on a observé sur les modèles DS925+ et DS923+.

Le nouveau processeur (sortie 2018) apporte un gain de performances, en particulier en multitâche. En revanche, aucun des 2 modèles ne dispose d’iGPU, ce qui limitera les capacités de transcodage vidéo matériel.

Mémoire ECC

Les 2 NAS intègrent 8 Go de mémoire DDR4 ECC, extensible jusqu’à 32 Go. C’est un bon point, surtout comparé au DS925+ livré avec seulement 4 Go. La mémoire ECC permet de corriger automatiquement certaines erreurs et d’améliorer la stabilité, même si son intérêt reste limité sur un NAS ne reposant pas sur ZFS.

Connectique

Le DS1525+ gagne 2 port USB Type-C et 2 ports réseau 2,5 Gb/s. C’est la grande nouveauté de la gamme DSx25+, trop longtemps attendu.
Aussi, contrairement au DS925+, le DS1525+ conserve l’emplacement pour la carte réseau 10 Gb/s (en option). Cette dernière permet d’atteindre jusqu’à 1181 Mo/s en lecture et 1180 Mo/s en écriture séquentielle, selon Synology.

Politique de compatibilité plus stricte

Le point noir reste la restriction sur les disques certifiés. Synology impose l’utilisation de modèles validés suivant un cahier des charges très stricte. A l’heure actuelle, aucun disque n’est encore officiellement compatible avec la série DSx25+… sauf les disques Synology. Une contrainte qui risque de rebuter certains utilisateurs souhaitant réutiliser leurs propres disques.

Tableau comparatif DS1525+ vs DS1522+

	DS1525+	DS1522+
Modèle du processeur	AMD Ryzen (V1500B)	AMD Ryzen (R1600)
Fréquence du processeur	Quad Core 2,2 GHz (base)	Dual Core 2,6 GHz (base) / 3,1 GHz (burst)
iGPU	Non	Non
Mémoire vive	8 Go DDR4 ECC (extensible jusqu’à 32)	8 Go DDR4 ECC (extensible jusqu’à 32)
Emplacements HDD	5	5
Emplacements SSD NVME	2	2
Unité d’expansion	2* DX525 (USB-C)	2* DX517 (eSATA)
Port USB 3.0	2 (dont 1 en façade)	2 (dont 1 en façade)
Port réseau 1 Gb/s	–	4
Port réseau 2,5 Gb/s	2	–
Port réseau 10 GbE	1 en option	1 en option
Consommation électrique	44,56 W (Accès) et 13,63 W (Hibernation disque dur)	52,6 W (Accès) et 16,71 W (Hibernation disque dur)
Score CPU Benchmark	4829 points	3276 points
Disponibilité	À venir	Immédiate
Prix au lancement	815€ (à confirmer)	775€

En synthèse

Le DS1525+ est une légère évolution du DS1522+. Certes, il y a quelques améliorations, comme le processeur et les ports réseau 2,5 Gb/s… mais le Multi-Gig était déjà possible grâce à l’ajout d’une carte 10 Gb/s.  Avec sa nouvelle politique de disques certifiés, pas sur ce que ce nouveau NAS trouve sa place.

Certains utilisateurs lui préféreront le DS1522+ avec son prix affiché actuellement à environ 757 €.

Synology vient d’annoncer l’arrivée prochaine de 2 nouveaux NAS : DS1525+ et DS1825+. Ces modèles font partie de la nouvelle génération DSx25+. Au programme : un processeur AMD Ryzen V1500B, 8 Go de RAM DDR4 ECC, 2 ports réseau 2,5 Gb/s et…

Synology DS1525+ et DS1825+

Les nouveaux NAS DS1525+ et DS1825+ partagent beaucoup de points communs. Tout d’abord, ils possèdent respectivement 5 et 8 baies en façade et 2 emplacements NVMe pour des SSD (accessibles par le dessous). Ils pourront chacun recevoir jusqu’à 2 unités d’expansion (DX525) pour ajouter 2*5 baies supplémentaires.

Ils sont construits autour du processeur Quad Core AMD Ryzen V1500B cadencé à 2,2 GHz, épaulé par 8 Go de RAM en DDR4 ECC (extensible jusqu’à 32 Go). Oui, c’est le même que le DS925+ ou les anciens DS1621+ et DS1821+.

Connectivité et évolutivité

Le DS1525+ vient remplacer le DS1522+, alors que le DS1825+ remplace le DS1821+…

DS1525+

 

Au niveau de la connectique, le DS1525+ propose : 2 ports USB 3.0 (dont un à l’avant), 2 ports USB Type-C (pour les unités d’expansion), 2 ports réseau 2,5 GbE… et 1 emplacement PCIe Gen 3 permettant de recevoir la mini-carte 10 Gb/s (E10G22-T1-Mini).

Souvenez-vous, nous avions apprécié son arrivée avec le DS923+… avant de voir l’emplacement disparaitre avec le DS925+.

DS1825+

Du côté du DS1825+, ce dernier dispose : 3 ports USB 3.0 (dont un à l’avant), 2 ports USB Type-C (pour les unités d’expansion), 2 ports réseau 2,5 GbE… et 1 emplacement PCIe Gen 3 x8 permettant de recevoir une carte réseau (1* 10 Gb/s, 2* 10 Gb/s ou encore 2* 25 Gb/s). À noter que ce modèle dispose également d’une alimentation interne, contrairement aux DS1525+ et DS925+.

Politique restrictive

Avec la série DSx25+, Synology applique une politique de compatibilité stricte. Si vous installez des SSD ou disques durs non listés, le système affiche des alertes, peut désactiver le cache NVMe ou refuser la création d’un volume. Synology limite ainsi l’usage de marques tierces comme Seagate IronWolf ou WD Red. Seul les produits Synology pour l’heure compatible avec les NAS Synology. Cette démarche, présentée comme un gage de fiabilité, se traduit par un surcoût et réduit la liberté de mise à niveau pour tous.

Synology va devoir jouer la carte de la transparence et fournir rapidement une liste de disques certifiés… autre que ses propres disques.

Prix et disponibilité

Au moment où nous écrivons ces lignes, Synology n’a pas encore fourni de date officielle de sortie. Ce devrait arriver très rapidement, avant le Computex. Aucun prix n’a pour le moment fuité. Nous ne manquerons pas de modifier cet article le moment venu.

Pour en savoir plus sur ces nouveaux produits, rendez-vous sur les pages du DS1525+ et DS1825+…