Synology Hard Drives and SSD Comparison with Seagate/WD/Toshiba and More – Deal Breaker?

In recent years, Synology has steadily moved toward a more vertically integrated hardware ecosystem, and the arrival of the 2025 generation of NAS systems marks a significant escalation in that approach. With a much stricter verification process for compatible storage media—covering both hard drives and SSDs—Synology now appears to heavily prioritize its own branded storage. This shift has sparked widespread debate across the NAS community, particularly as many long-time users of Seagate IronWolf, WD Red, and Toshiba NAS drives find themselves increasingly locked out of certain key features like RAID expansion, hot spare assignment, and recovery operations unless using “verified” drives. What’s more, while some of Synology’s media are rebranded and firmware-modified versions of familiar drives from Seagate and Toshiba, the pricing and compatibility limitations often leave users puzzled—and frustrated.

In response to growing user concern, we conducted a comparison of Synology’s drive lineup against the current offerings from Seagate, WD, and Kingston—analyzing each in terms of price per terabyte, real-world performance, durability specifications, and availability. Drawing from direct benchmarking, manufacturer datasheets, and controlled NAS testing environments, this article aims to answer a key question: is Synology’s branded media actually worth the premium? While some users may welcome the simplicity of a one-brand ecosystem, others are understandably wary of higher costs, limited SKU availability, and the potential long-term implications of vendor lock-in. Let’s break down what Synology drives really offer—and where they fall short—compared to the tried and tested alternatives on the market.

Synology Hard Drives and SSDs – What Drives Are There to Buy?

Synology’s storage media catalog is divided across value, prosumer, enterprise SATA, and SAS hard drives, alongside both SATA and NVMe SSDs. While these drives carry the Synology name and firmware, they are not designed or manufactured in-house. Instead, Synology rebrands OEM hardware from established vendors: Toshiba for the enterprise SATA and SAS drives, Seagate for the value-tier NAS HDDs, and Phison-based platforms for SSDs. The internal firmware is customized by Synology to integrate tightly with DSM, and in some cases, to restrict compatibility to only their branded drives within the latest 2025 NAS systems.

The naming scheme makes it easier to distinguish between drive classes:

• HAT for SATA NAS hard drives

• HAS for SAS enterprise drives

• SAT for SATA SSDs

• SNV for NVMe SSDs

This segmentation aims to help users align their hardware with expected durability (e.g. workload in TB/year), power loss protection, and RAID integration. However, it’s worth noting that several of these drives are virtually identical to third-party counterparts—particularly in the HAT3300 and HAT3310 lines, which closely mirror Seagate IronWolf models down to mechanical structure and spec. Despite this, third-party versions of those drives remain incompatible with key RAID features on the latest Synology systems unless they are officially “verified.”

Synology NAS HDDs – HAT Series (SATA)

Model	Capacity	Price (USD)	$/TB
HAT3300	2TB	$84.99	$42.50
	4TB	$99.99	$25.00
	6TB	$149.99	$25.00
HAT3310	8TB	$199.99	$25.00
	12TB	$269.99	$22.50
	12TB (2-Pack)	$539.98	$22.50
	16TB	$299.99	$18.75
HAT5300 (Enterprise, Toshiba)	12TB	$449.99	$37.50
	16TB	$579.99	$36.25
HAT5310	8TB	$299.99	$37.50
	20TB	$719.99	$36.00

Synology SAS HDDs – HAS Series

Model	Capacity	Price (USD)	$/TB
HAS5300	8TB	$299.99	$37.50
	12TB	$459.99	$38.33
	16TB	$699.99	$43.75
HAS5310	20TB	$829.99	$41.50

Synology SATA SSDs – SAT Series

Model	Capacity	Price (USD)	$/TB
SAT5210	7TB	$1,859.99	$265.71
SAT5221	480GB	$169.99	$354.15
	960GB	$299.99	$312.49
	1.92TB	$529.99	$276.04
	3.84TB	$979.99	$255.20

Synology NVMe SSDs – SNV Series

Model	Capacity	Price (USD)	$/TB
SNV3410	400GB	$139.99	$349.98
	800GB	$269.99	$337.49
SNV3510	400GB	$174.99	$437.48
	800GB	$299.99	$374.99

While Synology’s branding suggests ecosystem cohesion, it’s essential to recognize that their drive firmware is not engineered for general-purpose systems. These drives are optimized—and in some cases restricted—for Synology NAS environments. However, performance benchmarks show that Synology drives often perform equivalently or slightly below their third-party counterparts in synthetic and real-world tests. Moreover, price comparisons reveal a 5–15% markup on average in the value tier, and significantly higher deltas—often exceeding 30–40%—in the enterprise-class and SSD segments. Combined with regional supply inconsistencies and limited SKU availability, the value proposition of Synology-branded drives remains hotly debated, especially when identical hardware from Seagate or Toshiba can be purchased for less—if only the 2025 NAS series would support them natively.

Synology Hard Drives and SSDs vs Seagate, WD, etc – Price per TB and Value

When it comes to entry-level NAS hard drives, the price differences between Synology’s HAT3300 and HAT3310 series and their third-party equivalents—such as Seagate IronWolf and WD Red Plus—are generally modest. In most cases, the cost per terabyte (TB) stays within a 0% to 15% margin, with Synology’s versions sitting slightly higher. For casual or home users who just want a drive that “just works” out of the box and benefits from firmware-level integration with DSM, that small premium might feel justifiable.

But the story changes dramatically as we move into prosumer and enterprise territory. Drives like the Synology HAT5300 and HAS5300 series can cost 40%–50% more than Seagate IronWolf Pro, WD Red Pro, or Seagate Exos alternatives—despite sharing the same mechanical internals in many cases. These aren’t just marginal differences; when you’re building a multi-drive RAID array with 12TB or 16TB drives, that pricing gap quickly snowballs into hundreds or even thousands of dollars extra. And this is particularly frustrating when, for example, Synology’s 12TB HAT5300 (built on Toshiba hardware) costs nearly double what a comparable IronWolf Pro sells for, despite similar endurance ratings and warranty terms.

Entry-Level NAS HDDs – Synology vs Seagate & WD

Synology Model	Capacity	Synology Price	Synology $/TB	3rd Party Equivalent	3rd Party Price	$/TB	% Difference
HAT3300	2TB	$84.99	$42.50	WD Red Plus 2TB	$79.99	$40.00	-5.9%
HAT3300	4TB	$99.99	$25.00	Seagate IronWolf 4TB	$84.99	$21.25	-15.0%
HAT3300	4TB	$99.99	$25.00	WD Red Plus 4TB	$99.99	$25.00	0.0%
HAT3300	6TB	$149.99	$25.00	Seagate IronWolf 6TB	$139.99	$23.33	-6.7%
HAT3310	8TB	$199.99	$25.00	WD Red Plus 8TB	$179.99	$22.50	-10.0%
HAT3310	12TB	$269.99	$22.50	Seagate IronWolf 12TB	$239.99	$20.00	-11.1%

Prosumer NAS HDDs – Synology vs Seagate & WD

Synology Model	Capacity	Synology Price	Synology $/TB	3rd Party Equivalent	3rd Party Price	$/TB	% Difference
HAT5300	12TB	$449.99	$37.50	IronWolf Pro 12TB	$249.99	$20.83	-44.4%
HAT5300	16TB	$579.99	$36.25	WD Red Pro 16TB	$349.99	$21.87	-39.7%
HAT5310	20TB	$719.99	$36.00	Seagate IronWolf Pro 20TB	$399.99	$20.00	-44.4%

Enterprise SAS HDDs – Synology vs Seagate Exos

Synology Model	Capacity	Synology Price	Synology $/TB	3rd Party Equivalent	3rd Party Price	$/TB	% Difference
HAS5300	8TB	$299.99	$37.50	Seagate Exos 7E10	$259.99	$32.50	-13.3%
HAS5300	16TB	$699.99	$43.75	Seagate Exos X18	$369.99	$23.12	-47.1%
HAS5310	20TB	$829.99	$41.50	Exos X20	$499.99	$25.00	-39.8%

Enterprise SATA SSDs – Synology vs Kingston

Synology Model	Capacity	Synology Price	Synology $/TB	3rd Party Equivalent	3rd Party Price	$/TB	% Difference
SAT5221	480GB	$169.99	$354.15	Kingston DC600M	$102.99	$214.56	-39.4%
SAT5221	3.84TB	$979.99	$255.21	Kingston DC600M	$522.99	$136.20	-46.6%
SAT5210	7TB	$1859.99	$265.71	Kingston DC600M (7.68TB)	$955.99	$124.48	-48.6%

NVMe SSDs – Synology vs WD Red SN700

Synology Model	Capacity	Synology Price	Synology $/TB	3rd Party Equivalent	3rd Party Price	$/TB	% Difference
SNV3410	800GB	$269.99	$337.49	WD Red SN700 1TB	$139.99	$139.99	-48.1%
SNV3510	800GB	$299.99	$374.99	WD Red SN700 1TB	$139.99	$139.99	-53.3%

In short, while Synology’s drives are built on reputable platforms and do offer advantages like verified DSM integration and predictable firmware behavior, the value proposition becomes questionable—especially in higher capacities and enterprise deployments. For many users, especially SMBs and home power users deploying multi-drive setups, that extra 40–50% markup can be hard to justify. When the mechanical hardware is near-identical and the only major differentiator is firmware control, it’s no wonder many are pushing back against this pricing structure.)

SYNOLOGY DSM Storage Manager Benchmarks (1st and 3rd Party Drive Media)

Zoom in to see the results. IMPORTANT that you keep in mind that these SSDs and HDDs are different capacities and therefore direct comparison and correlation between their performance is not fair – I include these because I think it is important to compare the general gist of using Synology HDD media in a system and then alternatives, but measured with Synology’s in-system tools. Larger capacities mostly tend to yeald better results in any brand of drive (not a ‘do-or-die’ rule, but generally true).

SYNOLOGY HAT3300 HDD	Seagate Ironwolf HDD
SYNOLOGY HAT5300 HDD	Seagate EXOS HDD
SYNOLOGY SAT5200 SSD	Kingston DC600 SATA SSD
SYNOLOGY M.2 NVMe SSD	TeamGroup T-Create Gen3 M.2 SSD

Synology Hard Drives and SSDs vs Seagate, WD, etc – Performance

IMPORTANT – In the process of upscaling the test result images (as there is a lot crammed in, so I have included the slightly blurred ones here) but I and will replace these with upscaled versions as soon as possible.

When it comes to performance, Synology’s hard drives and SSDs generally stay within expected ranges for their class—but with some caveats. Most of their HDDs mirror the performance of the OEM drives they’re based on, particularly in the HAT3300 and HAT3310 lines, which perform nearly identically to WD Red Plus and Seagate IronWolf models. You’re looking at familiar specs here: 5400–7200 RPM spin speeds, ~200–280MB/s sequential transfer rates, and ~180TB/yr workload ratings. That’s no surprise, considering these are essentially Seagate or Toshiba drives with Synology firmware and branding. Where things start to scale up, like in the HAT5300 and HAS5300 series, the specs remain on par with their higher-end third-party equivalents. These drives offer 550TB/year workloads, 7200 RPM motors, and MTBF figures around 2.5 million hours—just like IronWolf Pro, WD Red Pro, or Seagate Exos. But Synology currently tops out at 20TB in both SATA and SAS drives, while the competition is already pushing 22TB, 24TB, and even 26TB models. So, if you’re planning a high-capacity build, Synology might already be limiting your options on sheer scale alone.

NAS HDDs – Capacity, Performance, Endurance & Class Comparison

Model	Capacity Range	Max Transfer Rate	Spindle Speed	Workload	MTBF	Class
Synology HAT3300	2–6TB	202 MB/s	5400/7200 RPM	180 TB/yr	1M hrs	Entry NAS
WD Red Plus	2–14TB	260 MB/s	5400/7200 RPM	180 TB/yr	1M hrs	Entry NAS
Seagate IronWolf	2–12TB	210 MB/s	5400/7200 RPM	180 TB/yr	1M hrs	Entry NAS
Synology HAT3310	8–16TB	281 MB/s	7200 RPM	180 TB/yr	1M hrs	Entry NAS
Synology HAT5300	4–20TB	281 MB/s	7200 RPM	550 TB/yr	2.5M hrs	Prosumer
IronWolf Pro	2–24TB	285 MB/s	7200 RPM	550 TB/yr	2.5M hrs	Prosumer
WD Red Pro	2–26TB	287 MB/s	7200 RPM	550 TB/yr	2.5M hrs	Prosumer
Synology HAS5300	8–20TB	281 MB/s	7200 RPM	550 TB/yr	2.5M hrs	Enterprise SAS
Seagate Exos	12–24TB	285 MB/s	7200 RPM	550 TB/yr	2.5M hrs	Enterprise SAS

Performance parity continues with Synology’s SATA SSDs. The SAT5221 and SAT5210 series are very close in spec to Kingston’s DC600M drives, offering similar read/write speeds, IOPS performance, and endurance levels. The SAT5210 even pushes into ultra-DWPD territory, boasting up to 10,000 TBW and higher daily write thresholds, which is competitive in the enterprise space. If you need high write endurance and steady power loss protection, these drives tick the right boxes.

The gap, however, opens up in the NVMe tier. Synology’s SNV3400 and SNV3500 drives fall short compared to third-party NVMe SSDs like the WD Red SN700. While Synology focuses on endurance, PLP (power loss protection), and integration with DSM caching features, the performance ceiling on these drives is noticeably lower—both in terms of sequential throughput and IOPS. Capacities also top out at 800GB, while others offer 1TB and beyond with faster read/write performance. So if you’re after speed or larger NVMe caching pools, Synology’s current options may feel behind the curve.

SATA & NVMe SSDs – Synology vs Kingston

In short, Synology’s drives generally deliver solid, reliable performance that matches their third-party foundations—but the benefits of full DSM compatibility come with a trade-off. While the SATA range holds its ground, the NVMe lineup is due for an update if Synology wants to stay competitive against higher-capacity, higher-speed SSDs now widely available elsewhere. If performance is your main concern, particularly for NVMe caching or flash-heavy tasks, third-party options may be a better fit unless full integration is a must-have.

Synology Hard Drives and SSDs Guide – The Good and the Bad

In reviewing Synology’s lineup of hard drives and SSDs, it’s clear that the hardware itself is solid—built on trusted OEM foundations and tuned to work seamlessly within DSM environments. From a compatibility and reliability standpoint, these drives do offer advantages, particularly for users who want an integrated, no-hassle deployment. That said, these benefits come with notable trade-offs. In many cases, Synology’s drives are mechanically identical to models from Seagate, Toshiba, or Phison, yet priced significantly higher—especially in the enterprise and NVMe tiers. While some of that premium may be justified by firmware-level integration, PLP, or simplified support paths, the cost disparity is hard to ignore for experienced users already comfortable with third-party hardware.

Ultimately, the decision to adopt Synology-branded drives will depend on your priorities. If you’re building a system where out-of-the-box compatibility, long-term support, and unified ecosystem control are paramount, Synology’s media may be a safe bet—albeit at a higher packaged price. But if your focus is on maximizing performance per dollar, scaling capacity, or customizing your setup beyond Synology’s verified list, third-party alternatives remain the more flexible and cost-effective choice. Until Synology expands their verified media list and adjusts regional pricing or availability, many users will continue to see these drives not as a value-add, but as an imposed requirement.

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WE LOVE COFFEE

Team Group vient de sortir un SSD qui peut littéralement se suicider sur commande en se faisant griller les circuits comme dans Mission Impossible. Et non, je déconne pas car le P250Q, c’est son petit nom, est équipé d’un circuit de destruction indépendant breveté qui peut faire fondre la puce mémoire Flash en envoyant une surtension directement dans ses entrailles.

Alors évidemment, c’est pas le genre de truc qu’on va retrouver dans le PC gaming de Timéo. Non, ce SSD s’adresse plutôt aux secteurs militaires, industriels et à tous ceux qui manipulent des données ultra-sensibles. Mais avouez que l’idée est complètement dingue car en plus du mode “barbecue électronique”, le P250Q propose aussi une destruction logicielle des données qui continue même si quelqu’un coupe l’alimentation.

Seagate complète ses gammes de disques durs Exos M et IronWolf Pro avec désormais des capacités de 28 et 30 téraoctets.

Cet article Seagate lance des disques durs 30 To pour soutenir l’essor de l’IA a été publié en premier par GinjFo.

The Synology DS925+ versus QNAP TS-464 – Buy NEW or Buy QNAP?

Every so often in the NAS market, a new model arrives that challenges not just its predecessors but also its closest competitors. With the 2025 release of the Synology DS925+, buyers now face an interesting dilemma: go with Synology’s latest compact powerhouse, or choose QNAP’s TS-464—a device that has already proven itself since its release in 2022/2023 and offers a wide array of features at a competitive price. The DS925+ brings notable upgrades to CPU architecture, system memory scalability, and integration within Synology’s tightly controlled ecosystem. Meanwhile, the TS-464 has spent years benefiting from firmware maturity, PCIe expandability, and a more open hardware approach that appeals to power users and tinkerers alike. But which device is ultimately the better buy in 2025? Should you embrace Synology’s ecosystem with its newer, high-performance release, or does QNAP’s more versatile and budget-friendly offering still hold strong in the face of newer competition? Let’s dive into the details to help you decide which NAS deserves your next investment.

Synology DS925+ vs QNAP TS-464 – Hardware Specifications

When placing the 2025 Synology DS925+ alongside the 2022/2023 QNAP TS-464, one might expect the newer model to clearly dominate in every area. But hardware comparisons in the NAS market are rarely so simple. While both units are aimed at tech-savvy home users and small businesses looking for reliable, always-on storage solutions, their approaches to hardware—and the user needs they prioritize—are noticeably different. The DS925+ emphasizes streamlined performance, reduced noise, and integration within Synology’s tightly managed ecosystem. The QNAP TS-464, meanwhile, leans into raw hardware flexibility, DIY expandability, and a more open feature set for power users. Below is a detailed hardware breakdown of both NAS devices, showing where each shines and where compromises were made.

The DS925+ delivers a refined hardware experience out of the box, with its newer AMD Embedded Ryzen V1500B 4 Core/ 8 thread processor, dual 2.5GbE ports for faster LAN connectivity, and modern I/O including USB-C. It features two M.2 NVMe slots (for cache only, unless you use the Synology SNV3400 drives from Synology), dual memory slots supporting up to 32GB of ECC DDR4 RAM, and a compact metal chassis designed for quiet, efficient operation. It also runs cooler and quieter than many of its rivals, making it an ideal fit for environments where noise levels matter—such as living rooms, home studios, or small offices. This makes the DS925+ a “plug-and-play” NAS with premium internal components and minimal need for user intervention.

By contrast, the QNAP TS-464 takes a more modular, expandable approach. Powered by the Intel Celeron N5105/N5095 CPU (a quad-core processor with integrated graphics, but only 4 threads), it offers HDMI 2.0 output, two M.2 PCIe Gen3 x1 slots (which can be used for either caching or storage pools), and a PCIe Gen3 x2 slot for optional 10GbE or more M.2s, USB expansion, or even GPU cards. QNAP also includes dual 2.5GbE ports, putting it on par with the DS925+ in terms of network speed, but it edges ahead in overall hardware adaptability. Want multimedia output via HDMI? QNAP has it. Want to add NVMe storage pools or real-time transcoding? QNAP supports that too. That said, the TS-464 is based on a slightly older CPU architecture, lacks ECC memory support, and typically generates more fan noise under load. Additionally, its OS and ecosystem are broader in scope but often require more manual setup. Ultimately, the DS925+ is purpose-built for those who prioritize a quiet, polished, and simplified experience with modern performance. The TS-464, on the other hand, remains an excellent choice for users who prefer control, multimedia support, and greater hardware flexibility. Choosing between them largely depends on whether you value Synology’s stability and turnkey design, or QNAP’s freedom and potential.

AMD V1500B vs Intel N5105 – CPU Specifications (Synology DS925+ vs QNAP TS-464)

In any NAS system, the processor plays a pivotal role in determining the scope of functionality—whether it’s managing multiple concurrent users, running virtual machines, powering AI-driven applications, or simply handling encrypted transfers and background tasks efficiently. The Synology DS925+ and the QNAP TS-464 take noticeably different approaches in this regard. The DS925+ features the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1500B, a server-grade SoC designed for sustained multi-threaded workloads. The TS-464, on the other hand, runs on the Intel Celeron N5105, a more consumer-oriented chip that prioritizes integrated multimedia support and power efficiency. While both CPUs are quad-core, their architecture, instruction set, and target use cases diverge sharply—affecting not only raw processing, but also the capabilities unlocked within DSM and QTS/QuTS, respectively.

In terms of raw specs, the V1500B offers 4 cores and 8 threads with a base clock of 2.2GHz and support for ECC memory—a key advantage for mission-critical environments. This CPU is built for multitasking and thrives in scenarios involving virtual machines, container services, and intensive file indexing or backup operations. As a result, the DS925+ supports up to 8 concurrent virtual machines, 8 virtual DSM instances, and higher thresholds for connected users across Synology apps. It is better suited to offices or power users who rely on services like Synology Office, Drive, or Surveillance Station running in tandem. The system handles up to 150 Synology Chat users, 80 Office users, and 80 Drive users, offering excellent multitasking performance with low overhead.

The QNAP TS-464’s Intel N5105 is a 10nm Jasper Lake processor, also quad-core but without hyper-threading and with a slightly lower base clock (2.0GHz). However, it includes integrated Intel UHD Graphics, giving it one key advantage the DS925+ lacks: hardware-accelerated video transcoding via QNAP’s own QuMagie, Video Station, and especially Plex Media Server with support for on-the-fly 1080p and 4K decoding when paired with proper client-side licensing. This makes the TS-464 ideal for multimedia-heavy environments. Beyond media, the N5105 powers QTS and QuTS hero with access to QNAP’s broader and often more modular ecosystem. This includes Hybrid Backup Sync (HBS 3) for unified backup and disaster recovery, QuDedup for deduplicated snapshot replication, QVR Elite and QVR Pro for professional-grade surveillance (supporting multiple IP camera licenses natively), and AI Core features like face recognition and event detection when paired with the QuMagie or QVR Human apps. The TS-464 also supports Virtualization Station, enabling users to run lightweight Linux or Windows VMs with direct passthrough access to USB or PCIe devices, and Container Station, which offers both Docker and LXC container compatibility with GPU passthrough for NPU-based AI inference workloads. Thanks to the included PCIe Gen 3 x2 slot, the system supports optional upgrades like 10GbE NICs, QM2 expansion cards (for M.2 SSD or additional 2.5GbE/10GbE ports), or even Wi-Fi 6 cards, something entirely absent in the DS925+. Additionally, QNAP allows direct output to an external display via HDMI 2.0, enabling standalone use of HD Station apps like Chrome, LibreOffice, Kodi, and even Linux desktop environments — a feature highly prized in HTPC and security NVR deployments. Users can leverage Linux Station to run full Ubuntu VMs locally, or install Ubuntu Core through the App Center for custom development or edge AI inference scenarios.

Taken together, the TS-464 may not support the same high virtual machine/user count as the DS925+, but it compensates with a broader set of integrated appliances catering to power users, home labs, edge AI, and media-heavy deployments. It’s a more “tinker-friendly” platform, favoring flexibility and breadth over centralized system control and vertical integration. If you need an appliance that works across entertainment, security, and hybrid cloud workflows, with room for add-on functionality via hardware or apps, the TS-464 is hard to beat for the price. That said, the Synology DS925+ ultimately offers greater headroom for enterprise workflows, heavier VM usage, and large-scale hybrid deployments. It sacrifices media transcoding and graphical acceleration, but gains a server-class CPU that ensures consistent performance under heavier load conditions. Meanwhile, the TS-464 excels in edge-case versatility, offering more multimedia flexibility and richer expansion potential via PCIe. If your priorities lie in business-class performance, ECC memory support, and robust multi-user capacity, the DS925+ is the clear winner. But for media streaming, home lab tinkering, and a wider hardware feature set, the TS-464 remains a very compelling alternative.

Synology DS925+ vs QNAP TS-464 – Software Specifications

When it comes to NAS platforms, hardware is only half the story—what truly determines a system’s long-term value is the strength, maturity, and flexibility of its software. Synology’s DSM (DiskStation Manager) and QNAP’s QTS/QuTS Hero are two of the most advanced NAS operating systems available today, offering extensive suites of services for backup, virtualization, hybrid cloud, media streaming, and AI-assisted surveillance. But while both OS platforms cover similar ground, their design philosophies, application depth, and supported workloads differ substantially. The Synology DS925+ and QNAP TS-464, though comparable in price and both aimed at prosumers and SMBs, unlock very different software experiences depending on the deployment goals—be it centralized IT infrastructure, media-rich home labs, or container-based edge computing.

With the DS925+, Synology leans into its strength in unified management and vertical integration. DSM 7.2 is optimized for reliability, simplicity, and scalability within Synology’s ecosystem. The DS925+ supports up to 8 virtual machines and 8 Virtual DSM instances through Virtual Machine Manager, offers extensive group and user quotas, and enables full integration with Synology’s cloud services (such as Synology C2 Backup, C2 Identity, and Hybrid Share). Its higher hardware ceiling allows for more active users: 150 on Synology Chat, 80 on Synology Drive and Office, and up to 8 simultaneous VPN connections. Backup capabilities are similarly robust, with a higher threshold of shared folder sync tasks and superior support for incremental snapshot replication. Surveillance Station on the DS925+ supports up to 40 IP cameras and benefits from reduced CPU overhead during continuous recording, even while handling concurrent backup or media indexing operations. DSM’s elegant UI, consistent updates, and tightly integrated packages make it ideal for organizations that value centralized IT administration and long-term platform stability.

On the other hand, the QNAP TS-464 running QTS 5 or QuTS Hero offers a more open and modular software ecosystem. While the Intel N5105 CPU imposes lower multitasking ceilings than the V1500B, QNAP compensates with a broader set of feature-specific applications and customization paths. The TS-464 supports virtualization through Virtualization Station (for VMs) and Container Station (for Docker + LXC), and unlike the DS925+, can output video directly via HDMI 2.0—allowing the NAS to act as a standalone Linux desktop, NVR, or HTPC via HybridDesk Station. QNAP also differentiates itself with Hybrid Backup Sync (HBS3), which enables multi-destination sync, deduplicated backup via QuDedup, and real-time disaster recovery tools not found in DSM. QVR Pro and QVR Elite offer an expansive surveillance suite with optional AI-powered analytics (e.g., face recognition, people counting) when paired with compatible QNAP AI apps. The inclusion of ZFS with QuTS Hero (an optional OS for the TS-464) enables inline compression, self-healing file systems, and block-level snapshots, which can be critical for data integrity in business scenarios.

QNAP also encourages expansion through its App Center, which includes over 150+ native and third-party apps, from Node.js and GitLab to Home Assistant, Ubuntu Station, and even Mattermost for self-hosted chat. While the system supports fewer concurrent users and VMs than the DS925+, its strength lies in feature breadth and system-level flexibility. Add-ons like 10GbE NICs, QM2 SSD accelerators, or Wi-Fi 6 cards via PCIe further extend its versatility, especially for hybrid edge workloads or multi-role deployments that evolve over time. In short, the Synology DS925+ is designed for administrative simplicity and long-term scaling, excelling in consistent performance across multi-user deployments with deep DSM integration. The QNAP TS-464, meanwhile, is a powerful sandbox for customization, offering greater freedom, multimedia functionality, and third-party integration—at the cost of some operational polish and software limits. Choosing between them depends on whether your priorities lie in predictable enterprise-grade execution or a more adaptable, feature-dense platform.

Synology DS925+ vs QNAP TS-464 – Hard Drive and SSD Compatibility

In 2025, Synology has taken its most aggressive step yet toward locking down hardware compatibility, and nowhere is this more evident than in the DS925+. Following years of gradual restrictions—starting with warnings for unverified drives and progressing to default white-listing only Synology-branded media—the DS925+ now represents a firm line in the sand. At the time of writing, this system will not allow DSM initialization if it detects hard drives or SSDs that are not officially listed on Synology’s compatibility list. This list includes exclusively Synology HAT5300/HAT3310 HDDs and SAT5200 SSDs, with no third-party Seagate, WD, Toshiba, Samsung, or Kingston media currently supported. Regardless of drive quality or performance, unsupported models will be outright blocked during system setup. While Synology claims this guarantees optimal reliability and performance within DSM 7.2, the move drastically reduces flexibility for users and integrators alike.

In stark contrast, the QNAP TS-464 embraces an open compatibility philosophy. It supports virtually all major consumer and enterprise drives—from Seagate IronWolf and Exos, to WD Red, Red Plus, and Ultrastar, as well as Toshiba N300/X300 and Samsung/Kingston SSDs—up to 24TB per drive (or higher as of late 2025). QNAP also maintains a regularly updated compatibility list, but crucially, this list is advisory rather than mandatory. Users can install any 3.5″ or 2.5″ SATA HDD/SSD, and as long as it meets the physical and electrical standards, the TS-464 will initialize without issue. This means integrators, home users, or small businesses can reuse existing drives or select from the most cost-effective options in their region—something that’s increasingly difficult to do on newer Synology units. Moreover, QNAP allows mixing and matching of drive brands and capacities within the same storage pool (especially under QuTS hero’s ZFS environment), giving users granular control over redundancy, performance tuning, and cache layering with non-proprietary M.2 NVMe SSDs. This openness also applies to QNAP expansion units, many of which continue to work even with completely mixed-brand storage configurations—something Synology’s newer expansion policies have started to restrict.

For users in regions where Synology-branded media is expensive, hard to find, or simply not justified for non-critical applications, this policy shift on the DS925+ can be a deal-breaker. It positions the system closer to an appliance model, where Synology controls not only the hardware and software, but the storage medium itself. While that vertical integration may improve long-term reliability for some enterprise users, it’s difficult to reconcile with the broader DIY NAS community that values choice and modularity. Ultimately, this creates a philosophical divide: QNAP remains open, modular, and adaptable, trusting users to make informed decisions about their storage media. Synology, in contrast, is consolidating control, with the DS925+ exemplifying a move toward a closed ecosystem—potentially alienating users who previously praised DSM for its balance of simplicity and flexibility. Prospective buyers need to weigh not just performance and features, but how tightly they want to be tied to a single vendor’s hardware roadmap.

Synology DS925+ vs QNAP TS-464 NAS – Which Should You Buy?

The Synology DS925+ is a 2025 refresh designed with clear intent: push performance, tighten control, and streamline the out-of-box experience. In contrast, the QNAP TS-464—released in late 2022—is a Swiss Army knife of NAS flexibility, packed with customization options, open compatibility, and enough horsepower to meet the needs of both power users and small business deployments. Choosing between them ultimately comes down to what kind of NAS experience you’re after: a controlled, polished, and tightly integrated environment, or an open, adaptable, and hardware-friendly platform. On raw performance, the DS925+ has the edge. Its quad-core, 8-thread AMD V1500B CPU delivers higher throughput for multitasking, virtual machines, and heavier concurrent services, and DSM’s user/service thresholds are notably higher as a result. Add in dual 2.5GbE ports by default, and it’s clearly a step ahead of the DS923+ predecessor 1GbE-only base configuration, and you are looking at a healthy upgrade in several ways in this refresh. However, QNAP claws back ground with its PCIe Gen3 x2 slot, allowing 10GbE upgrades, Wi-Fi cards, and even GPU acceleration in select use cases—something Synology removed entirely from the DS925+. In QNAP’s favor is also its support for real-time hardware transcoding, HDMI 2.0 video output, and direct-attached monitor access—making it a better fit for media-centric environments where local playback, Plex, or Kodi usage matters.

Synology DS925+ NAS		QNAP TS-464 NAS
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But perhaps the most significant dividing line is drive compatibility. The DS925+ will only initialize DSM with Synology-validated drives—locking out nearly all third-party HDDs and SSDs unless explicitly approved. This hardline stance means limited flexibility for users wanting to build using existing drives or regional market alternatives. Meanwhile, the TS-464 supports virtually all consumer and enterprise drives, from Seagate to Toshiba to Kingston, giving users total control over their storage budget and deployment roadmap. This open-ecosystem approach extends to M.2 NVMe usage too, where QNAP allows storage pool creation, caching, and tiering with off-the-shelf modules, while Synology restricts pool creation to only their branded NVMes. If you’re an IT administrator, content creator, or SMB looking for a polished, performance-forward NAS and you’re fully on board with Synology’s ecosystem—including its branded drives—then the DS925+ offers a streamlined, high-ceiling experience with excellent multitasking potential and cleaner UI/UX polish under DSM 7.2. But if you’re someone who values flexibility, upgrade paths, media support, or simply wants to control your storage choices without vendor lock-in, the QNAP TS-464 is an incredibly compelling alternative—offering strong performance for its price, an open architecture, and a deeper toolbox under QTS/QuTS Hero.

NAS Solutions	NAS Solutions
+ Better Software (In almost every respect!) + Much Better Global Support Presence + More business desirable + Larger Range of solutions – Compatibility restrictions on HDD and Upgrades More and more – Underwhelming hardware (comparatively)	+ Better Hardware for Price + Wider Variety of Solutions and Hardware Profiles + Supports ZFS and/or EXT4 (with ZFS platform now available on latest Intel Celeron Systems) + Wide accessory range and compatibility – Software can often feel inconsistent – Hit by Security Issues if the past
Check Amazon By Clicking Below:	Check Amazon By Clicking Below:

The Synology DS925+ is the better plug-and-play NAS for prosumers and SMBs who want a high-performance, low-maintenance experience—provided they’re comfortable buying into Synology’s tightly controlled ecosystem of software and storage hardware. On the other hand, the QNAP TS-464 remains the better choice for users who value flexibility, hardware freedom, and scalability—especially if media features, drive compatibility, or future upgrades are part of the plan. Ultimately, the DS925+ is the sharper tool, but the TS-464 is the more versatile one.

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Aoostar WTR Max NAS vs Minisforum N5 Pro NAS Comparison

The demand for high-performance, multi-functional NAS systems has never been higher, as users increasingly expect far more than basic file storage from their hardware. Today’s workloads often include virtualization, AI-assisted operations, multi-tiered storage strategies, and high-speed, low-latency networking—demands that blur the line between a traditional NAS and a fully-fledged home server. In response to these needs, two closely matched contenders have emerged in the prosumer and power-user space: the Aoostar WTR Max and the Minisforum N5 series, which consists of both the more affordable standard N5 and the higher-spec N5 Pro. These devices, released in mid-2025, share some common DNA—both are bare-metal NAS platforms that let you install your own operating system and tailor your setup to your specific use case—but they diverge significantly in how they balance compute power, storage density, connectivity options, noise and power efficiency, and overall value.

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In this article we provide a detailed, category-by-category comparison of these systems based on hands-on testing and real-world workloads. Key factors like physical design, internal architecture, storage configuration, CPU and memory performance, external connectivity, and power and noise profiles are all assessed in depth. We also consider important use case distinctions, such as suitability for 24/7 enterprise-grade uptime, AI model hosting, or quiet home use. Whether you’re looking to build a dense storage appliance, a virtualized host for multiple VMs, a locally deployed AI engine, or simply a robust and scalable home NAS, this analysis aims to clarify which of these two (or three, when factoring in the standard N5) offers the best fit. As the boundaries between NAS and full server hardware continue to blur, understanding these subtle trade-offs will help you make a more informed investment for your own specific workload and budget.

Written Review of the Minisforum N5 Pro NAS – HERE

YouTube Review of the Minisforum N5 Pro NAS – HERE

Written Review of the Aoostar WTR Max NAS – HERE

YouTube Review of the Aoostar WTR Max NAS – HERE

Minisforum N5 Pro vs Aoostar WTR Max NAS – Price and Value

When examining the price points of the Aoostar WTR Max and the Minisforum N5 series, it becomes clear that each brand has intentionally targeted slightly different segments of the advanced NAS and home-server market. The Aoostar WTR Max launches at $699 in a barebone configuration, which includes the chassis, preinstalled AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS CPU, external PSU, dual 10GbE SFP+ networking, and a front LCD panel. Like its competitor, it does not include RAM or additional storage at this price.

By comparison, the Minisforum N5 standard model enters at a lower price point of $583 in a similarly barebone configuration—also lacking RAM and user storage—but it does not include ECC memory support or a PRO-class CPU, which are key differences. The premium-tier Minisforum N5 Pro sits at a much higher entry price of $1,039, still barebone but featuring a far more capable Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370 CPU and ECC support. Users who prefer to have memory preinstalled can opt for a top-tier N5 Pro bundle, which includes 96GB ECC RAM and raises the total cost to $1,583.

Aspect	Aoostar WTR Max	Minisforum N5 (Standard)	Minisforum N5 Pro	Best & Why/Note
Base Price (barebone)	$699	$583	$1039	Aoostar WTR Max — cheapest base option
Optional ECC RAM	✓ (supports ECC)	✗	✓	N5 Pro — ECC support only on Pro and Aoostar

Relative to its competitors, the Aoostar WTR Max occupies a deliberate middle ground—costing more than the standard N5 but significantly less than the N5 Pro. This makes it a particularly appealing option for users who want enterprise-relevant features like ECC memory support and a balanced CPU without committing to the premium pricing of the Pro. The standard N5 clearly appeals to budget-conscious buyers who are willing to forgo ECC support and settle for a mid-tier CPU to save over $100 compared to the Aoostar.

Conversely, the N5 Pro is positioned for buyers who prioritize maximum multi-core performance, AI acceleration, and ECC memory—even if that means paying nearly 50% more than the Aoostar. For users who value the best balance of price and advanced functionality—including high storage density, good networking capabilities, and ECC support—the Aoostar WTR Max arguably delivers the most well-rounded value proposition among the three systems, particularly for general-purpose NAS or mixed-use home lab scenarios.

Minisforum N5 Pro vs Aoostar WTR Max NAS – Design

Both the Aoostar WTR Max and the Minisforum N5 series feature compact, all-metal chassis designs that prioritize serviceability, efficient internal space utilization, and professional-grade durability. The Aoostar WTR Max adopts a slightly larger rectangular footprint, accommodating six SATA bays, a dedicated seventh tray slot for up to four M.2 NVMe SSDs, and an integrated LCD display on the front panel for customizable real-time monitoring of system metrics such as temperature and network activity.

Ventilation on the Aoostar is extensive, with intake vents at the bottom, perforated panels on both sides, and dual rear-mounted exhaust fans drawing heat from the drive bays and CPU area. A vapor chamber heat spreader and a dedicated bottom-mounted cooling fan help distribute and evacuate thermal load evenly across internal components. The Minisforum N5 and N5 Pro, meanwhile, share a more compact and minimalist chassis with a slightly smaller footprint and a slide-out drive cage mechanism, making internal access and servicing more straightforward. Both Minisforum models include five SATA bays, a versatile three-slot M.2/U.2 arrangement, and a clean brushed-metal exterior that avoids visual distractions by omitting a front-facing display.

Minisforum N5 Pro vs Aoostar WTR Max NAS – Storage

Storage capabilities represent one of the most significant differences between the Aoostar WTR Max and the Minisforum N5 series, reflecting divergent priorities in how each system balances density and simplicity. The Aoostar WTR Max delivers a standout total of eleven drive slots, composed of six 3.5”/2.5” SATA bays, a dedicated seventh tray supporting up to four M.2 NVMe SSDs. This architecture provides users with the ability to create sophisticated storage topologies, combining high-capacity mechanical drives for bulk cold storage and multiple high-speed NVMe SSDs for tiered caching, scratch disks, or performance-optimized pools.

The additional M.2 tray, which is unique to the Aoostar design, simplifies the installation of multiple NVMe drives without occupying space within the motherboard area, while still offering full Gen 4 speeds on select slots. In contrast, the Minisforum N5 and N5 Pro are more restrained, offering five SATA bays and three NVMe/U.2 slots, which can be configured either as three M.2 drives or as one M.2 with two U.2 drives using the supplied adapter card. The Minisforum setup also includes a dedicated M.2 slot for its 64GB OS SSD, but sadly, this slot consumes one of the three available NVMe positions. Both Minisforum models support hot-swapping on the SATA bays and flexible RAID modes, but the higher bay count and more independent storage interfaces of the Aoostar clearly cater to users with larger or more diverse storage needs.

Storage capabilities represent one of the most significant differences between the Aoostar WTR Max and the Minisforum N5 series, reflecting divergent priorities in how each system balances density and simplicity. The Aoostar WTR Max delivers a standout total of eleven drive slots, composed of six 3.5”/2.5” SATA bays, a dedicated seventh tray supporting up to four M.2 NVMe SSDs. This architecture provides users with the ability to create sophisticated storage topologies, combining high-capacity mechanical drives for bulk cold storage and multiple high-speed NVMe SSDs for tiered caching, scratch disks, or performance-optimized pools.

The additional M.2 tray, which is unique to the Aoostar design, simplifies the installation of multiple NVMe drives without occupying space within the motherboard area, while still offering full Gen 4 speeds on select slots. In contrast, the Minisforum N5 and N5 Pro are more restrained, offering five SATA bays and three NVMe/U.2 slots, which can be configured either as three M.2 drives or as one M.2 with two U.2 drives using the supplied adapter card. The Minisforum setup also includes a dedicated M.2 slot for its 64GB OS SSD, this slot consumes one of the three available NVMe positions. Both Minisforum models support hot-swapping on the SATA bays and flexible RAID modes, but the higher bay count and more independent storage interfaces of the Aoostar clearly cater to users with larger or more diverse storage needs.

Minisforum N5 Pro vs Aoostar WTR Max NAS – Ports and Connectivity

Both the Aoostar WTR Max and the Minisforum N5 series deliver a wide array of external ports and connectivity options, though their designs reflect different priorities and deployment philosophies. The Aoostar WTR Max is clearly oriented toward high-density, network-heavy environments, offering two 10GbE SFP+ fiber ports alongside two additional 2.5GbE RJ45 copper ports. This configuration enables up to four simultaneous physical network connections, making it well-suited to scenarios that demand redundant paths, segmented VLANs, or hybrid fiber-copper topologies.

In addition, the Aoostar includes a front-mounted USB-C port, an SD card slot for quick local transfers, a rear USB4 port, an HDMI output for direct monitoring or console access, and an OCuLink port for external PCIe-based expansions. The SD card slot is an unusual but useful addition for media workflows, though the absence of any PCIe slot in the WTR Max’s internal layout limits upgrade options to what can be connected externally through OCuLink or USB4.

Connection Type	Aoostar WTR Max	Minisforum N5 (Standard)	Minisforum N5 Pro	Best & Why/Note
10GbE RJ45	✗	✓	✓	N5/N5 Pro — standard copper 10GbE
10GbE SFP+	✓×2	✗	✗	Aoostar WTR Max — SFP+ for fiber
5GbE RJ45	✗	✓	✓	N5/N5 Pro — additional RJ45 flexibility
2.5GbE RJ45	✓×2	✗	✗	Aoostar WTR Max — more mid-tier ports
USB4	✓	✓×2	✓×2	N5/N5 Pro — more USB4 ports
HDMI	✓	✓	✓	Tie — all include HDMI 2.1
PCIe Gen4 Slot	✗	✓	✓	N5/N5 Pro — PCIe x16 expansion
OCuLink	✓	✓	✓	Tie — all include OCuLink

The Minisforum N5 and N5 Pro, by contrast, prioritize versatility and broader compatibility with typical IT infrastructure. Both models feature a 10GbE RJ45 copper port and a secondary 5GbE RJ45 port, allowing direct connection to high-speed copper backbones or standard multi-Gig switches without requiring transceivers. They also include two USB4 ports (one front, one rear), an HDMI 2.1 output, an OCuLink port for external PCIe-based devices, and crucially, a PCIe Gen4 x16 (x4 electrical) slot.

This PCIe slot unlocks possibilities for internal upgrades such as GPUs, additional NICs, AI accelerator cards, or other PCIe devices—a flexibility that the Aoostar lacks. This makes the Minisforum a more future-proof choice in environments where needs may change or grow, and where access to off-the-shelf PCIe hardware is desirable. Together with its more copper-friendly network ports and two USB4 connections, the Minisforum family aligns well with home labs, creative workstations, and hybrid environments that benefit from adaptable, modular expansion options.

On balance, the Minisforum N5 series edges ahead in overall versatility and general-purpose applicability. While the Aoostar WTR Max offers a greater total number of network interfaces and superior fiber capabilities out of the box, those features come with trade-offs, including reliance on SFP+ transceivers, higher fiber infrastructure costs, and reduced flexibility for other kinds of expansion. For users specifically targeting a fiber-based or multi-path network deployment, the Aoostar remains highly appealing. However, for broader scenarios that favor compatibility with standard copper networks, more USB4 bandwidth, and internal PCIe upgrade capabilities, the Minisforum N5 and N5 Pro offer a more balanced and adaptable external connectivity package – but just less ACTUAL external bandwidth for networking!

Minisforum N5 Pro vs Aoostar WTR Max NAS – CPU and Memory

The Aoostar WTR Max and the Minisforum N5 series diverge substantially in processing power and memory capabilities, with the N5 Pro clearly at the high-performance end of the spectrum. The Aoostar WTR Max is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 Pro 8845HS, an 8-core, 16-thread processor based on AMD’s efficient Zen 4 architecture, and supports up to 128 GB of DDR5 memory with ECC. This makes the WTR Max a strong contender for users who need solid multi-threaded throughput, data integrity via ECC, and headroom for running many virtual machines or containerized workloads.

It is especially attractive in enterprise-like environments where reliability and memory capacity are priorities. The Minisforum N5 standard, by contrast, uses the older Ryzen 7 255, also with 8 cores and 16 threads, but based on the earlier Zen 3+ architecture, with a cap of 96 GB DDR5 and no ECC support. It remains competent for general NAS duties, file serving, light VM usage, and moderate multimedia tasks. Stepping up to the N5 Pro, however, brings a dramatic increase in compute and AI capabilities: its Ryzen AI 9 HX Pro 370 processor offers 12 cores, 24 threads, ECC support, and a built-in neural processing unit (NPU) delivering up to 50 TOPS for AI inferencing, while maintaining the same 96 GB DDR5 limit. This makes the N5 Pro ideal for highly concurrent workloads, virtualized environments, AI model hosting, and scenarios where raw CPU power and error resilience are critical.

(The CPU in the Minisforum N5 Pro is also featured on the X1 Pro from Minsforum, so below you can see the GFX benchmarks of this processor vs the same CPU + an MGA1 External Oculink eGPU)

Looking deeper at the individual CPUs, their architectures reflect different generational and market goals. The Ryzen 7 255 in the Minisforum N5 is a Zen 3+ part built on a 6 nm process, with a base clock of 3.3 GHz and turbo up to 4.9 GHz. It provides 16 MB of L3 cache and includes integrated Radeon 780M graphics with 12 RDNA 3 compute units. At ~45 W TDP, it is a capable midrange processor for general NAS use but lacks advanced enterprise features like ECC and AI. The Ryzen 7 Pro 8845HS in the WTR Max upgrades to Zen 4 at 4 nm, bumps the base clock to 3.8 GHz while maintaining the same 5.1 GHz boost, and delivers better power efficiency.

It retains the Radeon 780M GPU but with improved clocks and adds ECC memory support plus 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes for broader connectivity options. At the top sits the Ryzen AI 9 HX Pro 370 in the N5 Pro, which leverages AMD’s Zen 5/5c hybrid architecture. Despite a lower base clock of 2.0 GHz (favoring efficiency) with the same 5.1 GHz turbo, it increases core count to 12 and thread count to 24, doubles L3 cache to 24 MB, and upgrades the GPU to Radeon 890M with 16 RDNA 3 compute units clocked up to 2.9 GHz. The Pro has a higher rated integrated NPU, capable of 50 TOPS, positioning it as an ideal candidate for on-premises AI inferencing and acceleration workloads, several times higher than the potential 16 TOPS rating on the CPUs of the N5 Standard and WTR ,Max. Its TDP range of 28–54 W also reflects its hybrid design’s balance of power and efficiency, although it offers slightly fewer PCIe lanes (16) than the WTR Max’s 20.

Minisforum N5 Pro vs Aoostar WTR Max NAS – Power Consumption and Noise

Both the Aoostar WTR Max and the Minisforum N5 series aim to strike a balance between capable performance, manageable power consumption, and acceptable noise levels, though they adopt distinct philosophies around power delivery and cooling. Both the Minisforum N5 and the Aoostar WTR Max feature external power supply unit (PSUs), of a pretty hefty 280W – these will almost certainly not be for everyone, but do allow for both systems to maintain a decent small-scale (however, be aware that they DO get warm)!

In terms of measured power consumption, the WTR Max idles at approximately 32–34 W even when fully populated with drives, and it ramps up to around 73–89 W under heavy load, such as during multi-VM and high-throughput testing.

The chassis design favors airflow with strategically placed ventilation on the sides, rear, and bottom, a pair of large rear exhaust fans, and a dedicated internal fan that focuses specifically on the hard drive bays. This combination keeps temperatures steady under pressure, and even during sustained activity, noise output remains modest — around 35 dBA at idle and typically peaking near 44 dBA when heavily loaded, which is relatively quiet given its drive density and active cooling.

Minisforum N5 Pro vs Aoostar WTR Max NAS – Verdict and Conclusion

In reviewing the Aoostar WTR Max and the Minisforum N5 series—including both the standard and Pro models—it becomes clear that each system was designed with a distinct user profile and set of priorities in mind, making direct comparisons nuanced rather than absolute. The Aoostar WTR Max distinguishes itself with a compelling balance of high storage density, strong CPU performance featuring ECC memory support, excellent chassis ventilation and a competitive mid-range price point.

Its combination of six SATA bays, five M.2 slots, quiet operation under sustained loads, and a tidy all-in-one form factor appeals to users who value storage flexibility, operational efficiency, and simplicity in deployment. The Minisforum N5 standard model carves out its niche as an affordable entry point for those with lighter needs—delivering solid, modern NAS performance in a compact chassis at the lowest price of the three. At the other end of the spectrum, the Minisforum N5 Pro targets advanced power users, offering the AI‑accelerated Ryzen AI 9 HX Pro 370 processor, ECC memory capability, and unmatched multi-threaded and inference performance, all of which position it squarely in the high-end category for workloads like intensive virtualization, heavy concurrent tasks, and AI-assisted applications. For those specific use cases, the N5 Pro’s premium price is justified by its unmatched compute capabilities and feature set.

Ultimately, choosing between these systems requires a careful assessment of workload demands, expansion expectations, and budget constraints. The Aoostar WTR Max delivers a well-rounded combination of storage capacity, compute power, noise and thermal efficiency, and ease of deployment at a price that is reasonable for most advanced home and small business NAS environments. Its blend of practical features and robust hardware makes it especially attractive for users who prioritize storage-heavy applications and quieter, more efficient operation. The Minisforum N5 standard model is best suited for users with modest requirements and tight budgets, offering a clean, capable NAS platform for general use without the advanced features or costs associated with its Pro sibling. The N5 Pro, however, remains the clear choice for users who need the highest possible performance, AI‑specific capabilities, and maximum concurrency—provided they are willing to pay a premium for these cutting-edge benefits. In short, while all three systems deliver strong value in their respective niches, the Aoostar WTR Max arguably offers the most versatile and cost-effective package for typical NAS workloads, striking a smart balance between affordability, capacity, and performance.

Category	Best Choice	Reasoning
Price (Value for Money)	Minisforum N5 (Standard)	Lowest price while delivering competent NAS performance
Overall Storage Capacity	Aoostar WTR Max	More bays and better storage flexibility (11 drives total)
Ease of Maintenance & Design	Minisforum N5 / N5 Pro	Slide-out cage, cleaner internal layout, easier servicing
Connectivity Versatility	Minisforum N5 / N5 Pro	PCIe slot, USB4, OCuLink, balanced copper networking
SFP+ Fiber Networking	Aoostar WTR Max	Only system offering dual 10GbE SFP+ ports
Compute Power & AI	Minisforum N5 Pro	12 cores, 24 threads, 50 TOPS NPU, ECC support
Noise Under Heavy Load	Aoostar WTR Max	Better ventilation, lower load noise levels
Best All-Rounder	Aoostar WTR Max	Balanced price, storage, performance, and cooling
Power User / VM & AI Workloads	Minisforum N5 Pro	High concurrency, AI acceleration, virtualization

Check Amazon for the WTR Pro MAX	Check AliExpress for the WTR Pro MAX	Check Amazon for the Minisforum N5	Check AliExpress for the Minisforum N5

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Prime Day Bargains on Synology, QNAP, UGREEN, Terramaster, Seagate and More to Watch

That’s right, it’s that time once again—Amazon Prime Day 2025 has arrived. The biggest e-retail giant in the world is rolling out its annual mega sale, and for those of us with a Prime subscription quietly siphoning cash every month, now’s the time to get something back. Whether you’re a home user looking to back up your devices or a business admin in need of robust storage solutions, Prime Day has consistently proven to be a great opportunity to upgrade your setup without breaking the bank. Unlike Black Friday—which tends to sprawl out across weeks and multiple platforms—Prime Day is a more concentrated event. That means the window to make a decision is often brief, and the best deals can vanish in hours, sometimes even minutes. So if you’re eyeing that NAS you’ve been meaning to buy or hoping to expand your RAID array with some fresh HDDs or SSDs, now’s the time to act fast.

Today, we’re rounding up as many of the best Amazon Prime Day deals on NAS and storage tech as we can find. That includes offers on popular brands like Synology, QNAP, WD, Seagate, Terramaster, and others. Alongside the real-time deals that we (me and Eddie—yes, still working double shifts!) track throughout the event, we’ve also put together a list of recommended hardware to watch for. Many of these devices pop up on lightning deals with limited stock, so having a shortlist in mind can really help.

Important Note – Every year, we run these Prime Day and Black Friday deal pages the same way: by personally curating the offers we believe are genuinely worth it. If it’s not something we’d buy ourselves, we won’t include it. You can also contribute and share any bargains you come across using the community deal-sharing tool below. We do this for a couple of reasons. First, to help people make smarter decisions with their tech purchases. Second, because every time someone clicks a deal link and makes a purchase, we receive a small commission from Amazon—no extra cost to you. That affiliate income directly supports the site and allows us to keep producing NAS guides, reviews, and how-to content every single day.

So, whether you’re looking to finally set up your first Plex server, expand your surveillance system, or just secure a better backup routine—there’s a good chance something will be on offer during Prime Day 2025. And if you’re unsure what’s right for your setup, don’t forget you can always use our Free Advice service for tailored recommendations.

Let’s dive into the deals!

NOTE – Just Adding European Deals Right Now. The U.S Amazon Prime Day deals and offers are just appearing as we speak, so I will add them as they pop up and are worth going for !

GMKTec G9 Nucbox 4x NVMe NAS + 64GB eMMC -15% $169.99 – HERE

26TB WD Red Pro NAS Hard Drive, –15% $484.49 List Price: $569.99 – HERE

UGREEN DXP4800 PLUS NAS (US) -25% $519.99 (Regular price $699.99) – HERE

Terramaster F6-424 6-Bay NAS -20% £479.99 (Was: $599) – HERE

Asustor Flashstor 12 Pro FS6712X – 12Bay SSD 10GbE NAS, -15% $679.00 List Price: $799.00 – HERE

CWWK Mini PC N100 Firewall Hardware 2 x 10GbE SFP+, 2 x i226V 2.5GbE, –20% $179.20 HERE

QNAP TS-233-2G-US 2 Bay NAS, 20% $159.00 (List Price: $159.00) – HERE

QNAP TS-433-4G-US 4 Bay NAS, 18% $309.00 (List Price: $379.00) – HERE

Seagate IronWolf Pro 24TB NAS Hard Drive – Now $419 –  HERE

Seagate Expansion 28TB External Hard Drive, -13% $329.99 Now – HERE

CWWK X86-P6 N150 4X m.2 NAS – -15% €184.44 Was: €216.99 – HERE

GMKTec G9 Nucbox 4x NVMe NAS + 64GB eMMC – HERE

CyberPower CP1500PFCRM2U PFC Sinewave UPS, -25% $299.95 List Price: $399.95 – HERE

Terramaster F8 SSD NAS (8x M.2 SSD and 10GbE -25% OFF, Now £412.49 – HERE

Crucial P310 4TB SSD (CT4000P310SSD801), 7GB/s -21% OFF, Now £205.99 – HERE

Seagate 20TB Ironwolf Pro NAS HDD – 8% £372.99 (RRP: £405.55RRP) – HERE

Discounts on UGREEN NAS- 20% OFF 6th July – 10th July 2025 – HERE

LincStation N1 6 Bay SSD NAS Storage – -15% £271.15 (Was: £319.00) – HERE

Terramaster F6-424 6-Bay NAS -20% £439.99 (Was: £549.99) – HERE

SODOLA 5 Port 2.5Gb Network Switch + 1 x 10G SFP V- HERE

Crucial BX500 SATA SSD 4TB, -15% £185.99 (RRP: £219.99) – HERE

UGREEN DXP4800 PLUS NAS (UK) -20% £479.98 RRP (£599.99RRP) – HERE

TERRAMASTER F2-212 2Bay NAS – Quad Core CPU DDR4 RAM -25% £127.49 Was: £169.99Was: £169.99 – HERE

Seagate IronWolf 4TB, NAS Hard Drive -9% £85.99 (RRP: £94.91) – HERE

Discounts on UGREEN NAS- 20% OFF 6th July – 10th July 2025 – HERE

TERRAMASTER F4-424 Max NAS, WAS $899, NOW $674 –HERE

————–  Useful Links  —————

US Amazon – Amazon USA Prime Day Official Page – Amazon UK Prime Day Official Page

Amazon Warehouse (20% Off Everything on Prime Day)

USA – UK – Germany

Still unsure of what you need – use the Free Advice Section here on NASCompares.

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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

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If you like this service, please consider supporting us. We use affiliate links on the blog allowing NAScompares information and advice service to be free of charge to you.Anything you purchase on the day you click on our links will generate a small commission which isused to run the website. Here is a link for Amazon and B&H.You can also get me a Ko-fi or old school Paypal. Thanks!To find out more about how to support this advice service check HEREIf you need to fix or configure a NAS, check Fiver Have you thought about helping others with your knowledge? Find Instructions Here  

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Best NAS You Can Buy Right Now (Mid-2025) for Under $499

As of mid-2025, the sub-$499 NAS market is more competitive than ever, with several brands offering systems that deliver strong hardware, dedicated operating systems, and multiple drive bays within a modest budget. For home users, prosumers, and small teams looking to centralize data, manage backups, or stream media locally, this price bracket now includes options that would have cost significantly more just a few years ago. From rackmount storage appliances to compact flash-based servers, there are now choices to suit a wide variety of workloads and network environments.

This article examines five out-of-the-box NAS systems that are currently available for $499 or less. While each system takes a slightly different approach—whether prioritizing raw bandwidth, containerization, virtualization support, or software simplicity—they all represent viable solutions for users seeking value without compromising core functionality.

Important Disclaimer and Notes Before You Buy

All of the NAS systems featured in this list are diskless, meaning they do not include storage media by default. Users will need to purchase compatible 3.5″ HDDs, 2.5″ SSDs, or M.2 NVMe drives separately depending on the system’s configuration. This significantly affects the total cost of ownership, particularly for all-flash systems where NVMe drives are required. Some devices also use onboard flash or eMMC storage to house the operating system, but this is not sufficient for general file storage. Buyers should also consider the cost of drives, RAID redundancy planning, and any accessories (e.g., cables or cooling enhancements) when budgeting for deployment.

Another consideration is the variation in NAS operating systems provided. While most models come with a vendor-specific OS—such as Synology DSM, TerraMaster TOS, UGOS, or Unraid—some platforms allow or even encourage the installation of third-party alternatives like TrueNAS or Unraid without voiding hardware warranties. However, in cases where the software stack is less mature or limited in features, users may need to invest more time configuring services such as Plex, Docker, or SMB sharing manually. As such, these systems are best suited to users who are comfortable managing basic network services or are willing to explore more advanced functionality over time.

UniFi UNAS Pro 7-Bay NAS

$499 – ARM Cortex-A57 – 8GB – 7x 3.5″ SATA – 1x 10GbE SFP+, 1x 1GbE – UniFi OS – BUY HERE

The UniFi UNAS Pro is a 2U rackmount NAS solution designed primarily for high-speed, large-scale data storage. It features seven hot-swappable 2.5″/3.5″ SATA drive bays and is built around a quad-core ARM Cortex-A57 processor running at 1.7GHz, paired with 8GB of onboard DDR4 memory. Unlike general-purpose NAS systems that include container support or multimedia features, this device is focused purely on network file storage. It offers robust network connectivity with both a 10GbE SFP+ port and a 1GbE RJ45 port, making it suitable for use cases where bandwidth is a priority—such as centralized backups, archival storage, or high-volume file transfers within a UniFi-managed network.

The system is managed via UniFi’s Drive app within the UniFi OS ecosystem, and supports standard RAID configurations including RAID 0, 1, 5, and 6. Power redundancy is provided via a dual-input system—an internal 200W AC/DC PSU and support for USP-RPS DC failover. There’s also a 1.3-inch front panel touchscreen for quick diagnostics and system status at the rack. While it lacks container support, virtualization, or media server capabilities, it integrates easily with other UniFi products or can operate as a standalone storage node in a mixed environment. For users who require reliable, scalable storage with 10GbE connectivity but can forego app extensibility, the UNAS Pro represents a straightforward, hardware-driven option in the sub-$500 space.

Component	Specification
CPU	Quad-Core ARM Cortex-A57 @ 1.7GHz
Memory	8GB DDR4
Drive Bays	7x 2.5″/3.5″ SATA HDD/SSD
Networking	1x 10GbE SFP+, 1x 1GbE
Power	200W internal PSU + USP-RPS redundancy
OS	UniFi OS / Drive App
Display	1.3″ touchscreen
Form Factor	2U Rackmount
Dimensions	442 x 325 x 87 mm
Weight	9.5 kg with brackets

---

UGREEN NASync DXP4800 NAS

$499 – Intel N100 – 8GB – 4x 3.5″ SATA + 2x M.2 NVMe – 2x 2.5GbE – UGOS Pro – BUY HERE

The UGREEN NASync DXP4800 is a desktop 4-bay NAS that combines hybrid storage architecture with modern I/O and a maturing proprietary OS. It is powered by an Intel N100 quad-core processor from Intel’s 12th-gen Alder Lake-N series, paired with 8GB of DDR5 memory and 32GB of onboard eMMC storage for the operating system. In addition to its four SATA bays, it includes two M.2 NVMe SSD slots, enabling users to build a fast caching tier or SSD-only volumes for improved application performance. Network connectivity includes dual 2.5GbE LAN ports, and the system supports link aggregation for higher throughput or failover scenarios.

On the software side, the unit runs UGOS Pro, UGREEN’s in-house NAS operating system. It includes support for RAID 0/1/5/6/10, Docker containers, Plex, remote access, and cloud sync tools. While UGOS is less mature than systems like DSM or TrueNAS, it has improved over successive updates and includes a clean web UI for file sharing, snapshots, and media streaming. Front and rear USB 3.2 ports (including USB-C) and an SD 3.0 card reader add to its usability for media professionals. For users who prefer a GUI-based setup with broad feature support and hybrid storage flexibility, the DXP4800 offers substantial value in the under-$500 bracket—especially when discounted.

Component	Specification
CPU	Intel N100 (4 cores, up to 3.4GHz)
Memory	8GB DDR5 (upgradable to 16GB)
Drive Bays	4x SATA (3.5″/2.5″) + 2x M.2 NVMe
Networking	2x 2.5GbE LAN
Ports	1x USB-C (10Gbps), 2x USB-A, SD Card Reader
Video Output	1x HDMI (4K)
OS	UGOS Pro
Power Consumption	35.18W (access), 15.43W (hibernation)
Dimensions	257 x 178 x 178 mm (approx.)

LincStation N2 NAS

$399 – Intel N100 – 16GB – 2x 2.5″ SATA + 4x M.2 NVMe – 1x 10GbE – Unraid OS – BUY HERE

The LincStation N2 is a compact, all-SSD NAS that delivers a high-performance spec sheet at a relatively low price. Powered by an Intel N100 processor and equipped with 16GB of LPDDR5 memory, it supports a mix of two 2.5″ SATA SSDs and four M.2 2280 NVMe drives. This six-bay design—entirely SSD-based—is geared toward users who require faster IOPS, quieter operation, and lower power draw than traditional hard drive-based systems. Network connectivity is handled by a single 10GbE RJ45 port, a rare inclusion in this price bracket and especially valuable for direct workstation or multi-client environments.

The device ships with an Unraid Starter license pre-installed, giving users access to advanced features like Docker container support, virtual machines, hardware passthrough, and flexible storage management. While Unraid requires some learning curve for new users, it offers a high degree of customization and adaptability compared with fixed software stacks. The system also includes HDMI output, USB-C, USB 3.2, and multiple USB 2.0 ports, making it suitable for use as a lightweight home server or media workstation. For users prioritizing SSD storage, 10GbE, and virtualization support, the LincStation N2 delivers a capable platform that’s uncommon at this price point.

TerraMaster F4 SSD NAS

$399 – Intel N95 – 8GB – 4x M.2 NVMe – 1x 5GbE – TOS (TerraMaster OS) – BUY HERE

The TerraMaster F4 SSD is a 4-bay, all-flash NAS designed for high-speed home storage, media streaming, and photo management. It is equipped with an Intel N95 processor, an entry-level quad-core CPU from Intel’s Alder Lake-N family, and 8GB of DDR5 memory via a single SODIMM module. Storage is handled via four M.2 NVMe slots: two operating at PCIe 3.0 x2 speeds and two at PCIe 3.0 x1. These are designed for SSDs only—no support for SATA drives is provided. On the network side, the unit includes a single 5GbE port, offering a higher single-link bandwidth than systems using dual 2.5GbE, and can be directly connected to 10GbE networks at reduced speeds.

The system runs TerraMaster’s TOS operating system, which supports multimedia applications like Plex and Emby, cloud sync, photo AI tagging, user account control, and flexible backup solutions. TOS includes support for Btrfs and TRAID (TerraMaster RAID), along with remote access features and mobile apps for file synchronization and photo uploads. With three high-speed USB ports (2x Type-A and 1x Type-C), HDMI output, and low-noise fan operation (~19 dB), the F4 SSD targets users looking for a quieter, flash-based NAS for home environments. It lacks 2.5″/3.5″ bay support but offers fast SSD performance in a small form factor with minimal configuration requirements.

Synology DiskStation DS425+ NAS

$499 – Intel Celeron J4125 – 2GB – 4x 3.5″ SATA + 2x M.2 NVMe – 1x 2.5GbE, 1x 1GbE – DSM 7.x – BUY HERE

The Synology DS425+ is a 4-bay NAS designed to serve as an entry point into Synology’s DSM ecosystem, offering a balance between hardware efficiency and access to a mature, enterprise-grade operating system. It runs on the Intel Celeron J4125 processor, a quad-core chip with a base frequency of 2.0GHz and a burst frequency of 2.7GHz. The system ships with 2GB of DDR4 non-ECC memory, expandable up to 6GB, and supports both 3.5″/2.5″ SATA drives and two M.2 NVMe SSDs for caching or storage volumes. For networking, it includes one 2.5GbE port and one standard 1GbE port, giving users some flexibility depending on their switching infrastructure.

DSM (DiskStation Manager) remains one of the most advanced NAS operating systems available, offering built-in apps for file management, media streaming, surveillance, and virtualization. Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR) is supported for flexible storage management, along with Btrfs file system benefits such as snapshots and data integrity checks. The DS425+ is part of Synology’s 2025 refresh lineup, which enforces stricter compatibility with Synology-branded drives. Users should confirm drive support in advance, particularly if planning to reuse existing disks. Despite these limitations, for users seeking reliability, security features, and long-term OS support, the DS425+ remains a strong choice at the $499 price point.

The NAS market under $499 in mid-2025 presents a broad spectrum of options tailored to different storage priorities and technical requirements. Whether you’re looking for high-capacity traditional RAID storage, SSD-focused performance, or a feature-rich operating system, there are viable choices within this price bracket. The UniFi UNAS Pro stands out as a pure storage appliance with 10GbE connectivity and seven bays, suited for high-throughput archival or backup scenarios. Meanwhile, the UGREEN DXP4800 and LincStation N2 offer hybrid and full-flash storage respectively, with both systems supporting modern features like Docker, virtualization, and optional third-party OS deployment. For those focused on user-friendly software ecosystems and long-term support, Synology’s DS425+ remains a leading contender, albeit with stricter drive compatibility requirements. On the other hand, the TerraMaster F4 SSD delivers compact all-SSD storage with high-speed 5GbE networking and a growing feature set in TOS, including AI photo management and multimedia tools. All five models require user-supplied storage media and, in some cases, benefit from user familiarity with setup or configuration processes. Ultimately, the best choice depends on how much weight you place on performance, expandability, software polish, and overall system control within this tightly priced segment.

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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

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If you like this service, please consider supporting us. We use affiliate links on the blog allowing NAScompares information and advice service to be free of charge to you.Anything you purchase on the day you click on our links will generate a small commission which isused to run the website. Here is a link for Amazon and B&H.You can also get me a Ko-fi or old school Paypal. Thanks!To find out more about how to support this advice service check HEREIf you need to fix or configure a NAS, check Fiver Have you thought about helping others with your knowledge? Find Instructions Here  

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Minisforum N5 Pro Review – Reinventing NAS?

The Minisforum N5 Pro marks the company’s first deliberate step into the network-attached storage (NAS) segment, building upon its established experience in producing compact desktops, mini-PCs, and workstation-class hardware. First hinted at during industry discussions at IFA 2024 and formally revealed during CES 2025 in Nevada, the N5 Pro was later showcased in its near-final form at Computex 2025 in Taipei before entering production. Positioned as a high-performance NAS platform for advanced users, homelab enthusiasts, and small business operators, the N5 Pro aims to deliver server-class processing and expandability within a familiar, small-footprint chassis design. Alongside the N5 Pro, Minisforum released a standard N5 model at a lower price point, utilizing an 8-core processor without ECC memory support but retaining the same overall feature set and drive layout. Both systems ship with Minisforum’s proprietary MinisCloud OS pre-installed on a 64GB NVMe SSD, while remaining fully compatible with third-party NAS operating systems such as TrueNAS, Unraid, or Linux distributions. This review examines the N5 Pro model in detail, including its industrial design, internal hardware configuration, connectivity options, bundled software, real-world performance testing, and overall value proposition within the evolving NAS market.

The is now available to buy: Minisforum N5 Pro (Check Amazon) – HERE Minisforum N5 Pro (Check AliExpress) – HERE Shop for NAS Hard Drives on Amazon – HERE Shop for SSDs for your N5 Pro on Amazon – HERE IMPORTANT – Below are the links to the OFFICIAL Minisforum site to buy the N5 and N5 Pro. However, using these links does not support us (i.e we do not get an affiliate fee). We want you to buy this device from whichever retailer best suits your needs, but we hope you are able to support the work we do (such as this review and our YouTube channel) but using the links above for your storage media, or any other data storage/network solution purchase. Minisforum N5 on Official Site- HERE Minisforum N5 Pro on Official Site – HERE

Minisforum N5 Pro Review – Quick Conclusion

The Minisforum N5 Pro is an impressive and highly versatile NAS platform that successfully combines the core strengths of a storage appliance with the capabilities of a compact, workstation-class server, making it suitable for demanding and varied use cases. Its defining features include a 12-core Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370 CPU with 24 threads and onboard AI acceleration up to 50 TOPS, support for up to 96GB of ECC-capable DDR5 memory for data integrity, and a hybrid storage architecture offering up to 144TB total capacity through a mix of five SATA bays and three NVMe/U.2 slots. Additional highlights such as ZFS file system support with snapshots, inline compression, and self-healing, along with high-speed networking via dual 10GbE and 5GbE ports, and expansion through PCIe Gen 4 ×16 and OCuLink interfaces, position it well beyond the capabilities of typical consumer NAS systems. The compact, fully metal chassis is easy to service and efficiently cooled, enabling continuous operation even under sustained virtual machine, AI, or media workloads. At the same time, the bundled MinisCloud OS, while feature-rich with AI photo indexing, Docker support, and mobile integration, remains a work in progress, lacking some enterprise-grade polish, robust localization, and more advanced tools expected in mature NAS ecosystems. Minor drawbacks such as the external PSU, the thermally challenged pre-installed OS SSD, and the higher cost of the Pro variant relative to the standard N5 are important to weigh, particularly for users who may not fully utilize the Pro’s ECC and AI-specific advantages. For advanced users, homelab builders, and technical teams who require high compute density, flexible storage, and full control over their software stack, the N5 Pro delivers workstation-level performance and configurability in NAS form—offering one of the most forward-thinking and adaptable solutions available today in this segment.

BUILD QUALITY - 10/10

HARDWARE - 9/10

PERFORMANCE - 9/10

PRICE - 7/10

VALUE - 8/10

8.6

PROS

High-performance AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370 CPU with 12 cores, 24 threads, and AI acceleration (50 TOPS NPU) is INCREDIBLE for a compact desktop purchase
Support for up to 96GB DDR5 memory with ECC, ensuring data integrity and stability in critical environments
ZFS-ready storage with numerous ZFS and TRADITIONAL RAID configurations, snapshots, and inline compression
Hybrid storage support: five 3.5\\\"/2.5\\\" SATA bays plus three NVMe/U.2 SSD slots, with up to 144TB total capacity
Versatile expansion options including PCIe Gen 4 ×16 slot (×4 electrical) and OCuLink port for GPUs or NVMe cages
Dual high-speed networking: 10GbE and 5GbE RJ45 ports with link aggregation support + (using the inclusive MinisCloud OS) the use of the USB4 ports for direct PC/Mac connection!
Fully metal, compact, and serviceable chassis with thoughtful cooling and accessible internal layout - makes maintenance, upgrades and troubleshooting a complete breeze!
Compatibility with third-party OSes (TrueNAS, Unraid, Linux) without voiding warranty, offering flexibility for advanced users

CONS

MinisCloud OS is functional but immature, with unfinished localisation and limited advanced enterprise features - lacks MFA, iSCSI, Security Scanner and More. Nails several key fundamentals, but still feels unfinished at this time.
Despite External PSU design (will already annoy some users), it generates a lot of additional heat and may not appeal to all users overall
Preinstalled 64GB OS SSD runs hot under sustained use and lacks dedicated cooling. Plus, losing one of the 3 m.2 slots to it will not please everyone (most brands manage to find a way to apply an eMMC into the board more directly, or use a USB bootloader option as a gateway for their OS
Premium $1000+ pricing may be hard to justify for users who don’t need ECC memory or AI capabilities compared to the standard N5 at $500+

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Minisforum N5 Pro Review – Design and Storage

The Minisforum N5 Pro continues the company’s emphasis on compact yet industrial-grade hardware, retaining a desktop-friendly footprint of 199 x 202 x 252 mm and weighing just under 5 kg. Its exterior is constructed from anodized aluminum alloy, which not only enhances durability but also serves as part of the system’s passive thermal management by dispersing residual heat through the shell.

The front panel is understated, housing clearly labeled LEDs for system status, network activity indicators for both network interfaces, and separate activity lights for each of the five SATA bays.

A recessed power button with integrated LED, reset hole, and anti-theft lock slot round out the front-facing controls. The system’s modular internal structure divides the upper and lower sections cleanly, with the drive cage occupying the top tier and the motherboard and expansion slots housed below.

The slide-out tray design for the storage cage facilitates fast maintenance and upgrades, and access to all internal components requires minimal disassembly, aided by two easily removable rear screws and a fully detachable back panel. This thoughtful layout supports not only ease of serviceability but also helps maintain clean cable management for improved airflow.

The N5 Pro’s storage architecture is designed for maximum flexibility and density within its size constraints. The primary storage array comprises five individual 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch SATA 3.0 bays arranged in a stacked configuration at the front of the chassis. Each bay supports drives of up to 22TB, allowing a maximum mechanical storage capacity of 110TB, which positions the N5 Pro among the most storage-dense NAS devices in its class.

Unlike some competing NAS designs that rely on port multiplexing, each SATA port on the N5 Pro is directly connected to the mainboard without oversubscription, ensuring consistent throughput per drive. Beyond the five SATA bays, the system includes three additional high-speed NVMe slots.

Two of these support either M.2 or U.2 SSDs up to 15TB each, while the remaining slot supports an M.2 SSD up to 4TB.

Minisforum includes an adapter to convert the two U.2-compatible slots to standard M.2 form factor if desired, which accommodates more commonly available SSDs without sacrificing future enterprise U.2 upgrade options.

In its default shipping configuration, the N5 Pro arrives with a 64GB M.2 2230 SSD preinstalled, preloaded with MinisCloud OS. This small OS drive occupies one M.2 slot and can be replaced with a larger, higher-performance SSD if needed.

The device supports a full suite of RAID levels, both through hardware and software configuration, thanks to its ZFS-based storage stack within MinisCloud OS. Users can configure the five SATA bays in RAID 0 for maximum throughput, RAID 1 or RAID 10 for redundancy, or RAIDZ1/RAID5 and RAIDZ2/RAID6 for more advanced parity protection.

The combination of ZFS and hardware flexibility allows mixed configurations, where NVMe SSDs can be dedicated to cache or high-performance “hot” data pools while SATA disks serve as mass storage. This arrangement supports scenarios like virtual machine hosting alongside archival media storage in a single chassis. Notably, ZFS features such as inline LZ4 compression and snapshot-based recovery are natively supported in MinisCloud OS, enabling efficient storage utilization and simplified recovery workflows.

During extended operation with fully populated SATA bays and NVMe slots, the drives maintained expected IOPS and sustained throughput without any noticeable drop in performance, a reflection of the system’s balanced backplane and effective drive isolation.

The 5 SATA Bay cage is connected to then main board with a 2GB/20Gb/s connection and is managed by the SATA sata JMicron Technology Corp. JMB58x

The physical implementation of drive installation is straightforward, with each SATA tray supporting toolless insertion and clearly numbered for easy identification. The trays are designed to accommodate both 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch drives securely, while the NVMe and U.2 slots are easily accessible on the motherboard side of the chassis. Importantly, the U.2 support provides access to enterprise-class SSDs, which offer higher durability, better thermal tolerance, and larger capacities compared to consumer NVMe drives.

This feature caters to professional environments where storage write endurance is critical. The SATA backplane is integrated into the drive cage and connects cleanly to the motherboard with no loose cabling, simplifying airflow management and minimizing potential points of failure. Throughout the chassis, Minisforum has kept the cable routing tidy, with wiring harnesses anchored to prevent obstruction of airflow paths or contact with hot surfaces.

Cooling for the storage components is managed through a well-considered combination of passive and active elements. Front-side intake vents direct cool air across the SATA drives, while two dedicated rear-mounted exhaust fans draw heat away from the drive array and motherboard area.

The vented base panel assists with maintaining negative pressure and facilitating lateral airflow, preventing localized hot spots.

The NVMe and U.2 SSDs benefit from placement near the rear and bottom fans, maintaining acceptable temperatures under sustained workloads.

Interestingly, you can see the similarities in the design of the brand’s current smaller workstation systems, with their 2 fan (top and bottom) placement – they have just built on top of this by introducing the storage and it’s own dedicated cooling.

The 64GB OS SSD, however, does not feature a dedicated heatsink and was observed to operate at relatively high temperatures during stress testing—likely due to its compact 2230 form factor. Users opting to keep MinisCloud OS on this drive may consider upgrading to a larger, better-cooled SSD for improved thermal performance.

Despite its compact footprint, the system’s thermal behavior remained predictable during long periods of mixed I/O, demonstrating that Minisforum’s chassis and airflow design are effective at keeping the storage subsystem within operational limits.

Minisforum N5 Pro Review – Internal Hardware

Internally, the Minisforum N5 Pro differentiates itself from its standard N5 counterpart primarily through its more powerful processor, memory capabilities, and additional AI acceleration hardware. At the heart of the system is the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370, a Zen 5-based CPU offering 12 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock as low as 2.0 GHz for low-power states and a maximum boost clock of up to 5.1 GHz under peak loads.

The inclusion of ECC support in the Pro variant enables the use of error-correcting DDR5 memory modules—essential in mission-critical environments where data integrity is a priority. The non-Pro model, by contrast, is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 255, offering 8 cores and 16 threads, a slightly higher base clock at 3.3 GHz, but no support for ECC memory.

This choice in processors reflects different target audiences: the Pro version is designed for advanced workloads, AI model inference, and demanding multi-threaded tasks, whereas the standard N5 targets more conventional NAS and multimedia use cases. Both CPUs have a very similar integrated GPU architecture (only around 0.1Ghz of difference and similar engine design), however the non-PRO CPU R7 255 CPU actually has 20 PCIe Lanes, compared with the 16 Lanes of the HX370. Despite this, both the Pro and Non Pro have the exact same Ports, connections and lane speeds for the SSD bays and PCIe upgrade slot! So, unsure if these additional lanes are picking up slack somewhere I cannot see, or are insured (likely the former).

The Pro variant also integrates AMD’s Radeon 890M integrated graphics with 12 compute units based on the RDNA 3 architecture, supporting burst frequencies up to 2.9 GHz, which is advantageous for tasks requiring GPU-accelerated transcoding or light graphical workloads. This is a small step up from the Radeon 780M present in the standard N5, which tops out at 2.7 GHz and features fewer compute units. Notably, the N5 Pro includes a dedicated AI Neural Processing Unit (NPU) rated up to 50 TOPS (trillions of operations per second), which is absent in the standard N5. This NPU is leveraged by MinisCloud OS for AI-based features such as photo recognition and intelligent indexing, and may also benefit advanced users deploying AI workloads in containerized environments or VMs – but REALISTICALLY the main draw for this CPU and in AI deployment would be true edge-AI and LOCALLY deploying an LLM/AI on the system effectively (ChatGPT, Deepseek, etc).  Together, these enhancements give the Pro configuration a performance and feature set closer to workstation-class hardware while maintaining NAS functionality.

Memory capacity and bandwidth are also noteworthy. Both variants of the N5 support up to 96GB of DDR5 memory across two SO-DIMM slots, operating at up to 5600 MT/s. In the Pro, ECC modules can be installed for error correction, while the standard model is limited to non-ECC DDR5. ECC memory is an important differentiator in enterprise and data-centric scenarios, preventing silent data corruption and improving long-term system stability.

The unit tested for this review was populated with 96GB of ECC DDR5, which performed consistently and without detectable error events during extended uptime tests. The system’s DDR5 architecture provides approximately 75% more bandwidth than equivalent DDR4 configurations, which is beneficial for high-concurrency operations, ZFS scrubbing, and virtual machine memory allocation. In effect, this memory flexibility makes the N5 Pro adaptable for both small office file sharing and more advanced computational tasks such as AI training or multi-VM deployments.

Minisforum’s choice to pair these components with a full range of storage and expansion interfaces ensures that none of the hardware is bottlenecked under realistic workloads. The PCIe Gen 4×16 slot and OCuLink port are physically accessible from within the chassis and are routed directly to CPU lanes, ensuring optimal throughput for expansion cards or external GPU enclosures.  Thermal management of the internal hardware is also carefully designed: copper heatpipes, a dedicated CPU fan on the base, rear exhaust fans, and airflow channels work in tandem to keep CPU, GPU, and memory temperatures in line, even under sustained heavy usage. In testing, the CPU maintained stable boost clocks without throttling, and the DIMM temperatures remained within specification. This level of hardware specification in a NAS-class device positions the N5 Pro well beyond the scope of typical consumer NAS appliances, edging into workstation territory while retaining the flexibility and storage capabilities of a dedicated file server.

Component	N5 Pro	N5 Standard
Processor	AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370 (12C/24T, 2.0–5.1 GHz, Zen 5)	AMD Ryzen 7 255 (8C/16T, 3.3–4.9 GHz, Zen 5)
Integrated GPU	Radeon 890M (12CU, RDNA 3, up to 2.9 GHz)	Radeon 780M (RDNA 3, up to 2.7 GHz)
Neural Processing Unit	Up to 50 TOPS	Not available
Memory Support	DDR5 ECC or Non-ECC, up to 96GB, 5600 MT/s	DDR5 Non-ECC only, up to 96GB, 5600 MT/s
PCIe Slot	PCIe 4.0 ×16 (wired as ×4)	PCIe 4.0 ×16 (wired as ×4)
OCuLink Port	PCIe 4.0 ×4	PCIe 4.0 ×4
Cooling Features	Base CPU fan, copper pipes, rear dual fans	Base CPU fan, copper pipes, rear dual fans

Minisforum N5 Pro Review – Ports and Connections

The Minisforum N5 Pro offers a broad set of connectivity options designed to cater to a variety of deployment scenarios, from conventional NAS file sharing to more specialized compute and expansion use cases. On the rear panel, the system includes two dedicated Ethernet ports: one 10GbE RJ45 port based on the AQC113 controller, and a secondary 5GbE RJ45 port driven by a Realtek RTL8126.

Both ports support auto-negotiation and full-duplex operation, with the 10GbE interface capable of saturating high-speed networks for demanding workloads like multi-user file access, virtual machine networking, or high-resolution media streaming. Testing confirmed the ports could operate independently or together under link aggregation protocols provided by the installed OS. NIC activity LEDs are also front-mounted, providing clear visual feedback on link state and throughput. This dual-port setup makes it feasible to separate public and private subnets or configure failover for improved reliability in critical environments.

Beyond networking, the N5 Pro provides extensive high-speed peripheral and display interfaces. Two USB4 ports (with Alternate Mode DisplayPort 2.0 support) are located on the rear panel, each capable of delivering up to 20 Gbps and supporting external storage enclosures or even GPU enclosures over Thunderbolt/USB4. A single HDMI 2.1 FRL output is present, supporting up to 8K@60Hz or 4K@144Hz resolution for administrators who wish to attach a local display directly to the NAS for maintenance, media playback, or monitoring.

Additional USB ports include two USB 3.2 Gen2 ports and a legacy USB 2.0 port for basic peripherals. The USB4 interfaces can also facilitate high-speed direct transfers to and from supported devices, though these capabilities are more fully realized under MinisCloud OS than third-party platforms. This is a big deal and allows for 2 more DIRECT 20Gb/s clients to connect to the system via the 2x USB4 ports, as well as the 5GbE and 10GbE connection!

Additionally, the USB4 Port, thanks to earlier testing of this setup on the Minisforum X1 AI Pro, allow for a USB4 SSD drive to comfortably deliver 3000/1500MB/s for backups as needed.

Together, these ports make the N5 Pro unusually versatile compared to typical NAS devices that tend to offer only basic USB and HDMI output.

For users who require expansion beyond the system’s standard storage and networking options, the inclusion of a full-length PCIe Gen 4 ×16 slot (electrically wired as ×4) and an OCuLink PCIe Gen 4 ×4 port provides meaningful flexibility. The PCIe slot is accessible from within the chassis and supports a variety of cards, including additional NICs, AI accelerators, or storage controllers, while the OCuLink port offers external PCIe expansion for GPU enclosures or dedicated NVMe drive cages. I was able to install a 2x 10GbE NIC card into the PCIe slot AND still use the Oculink port for the Minisforum MGA1 eGPU! Software and SDriver support will be important, but nonetheless, this is some fantastic expandability and flexibility!

During testing, the OCuLink interface successfully interfaced with an external GPU, and appeared in the OS for passthrough to VMs, confirming its utility in advanced configurations. Minisforum’s choice to include both conventional PCIe and OCuLink enables users to adapt the system to evolving needs, whether for rendering tasks, AI workloads, or extending storage beyond the internal bays. This combination of high-speed networking, display output, and expansion interfaces demonstrates the system’s hybrid role as both a NAS and a general-purpose compute platform.

Minisforum N5 Pro Review – Software and Services

The Minisforum N5 Pro ships with a pre-installed operating system called MinisCloud OS, which runs from the included 64GB M.2 2230 SSD. Based on the FNOS platform, MinisCloud OS is a ZFS-enabled NAS operating system with a graphical web interface, mobile app support, and built-in services for media, backup, and collaboration. Users can choose to use MinisCloud OS out of the box or replace it entirely with third-party solutions such as TrueNAS, Unraid, or other Linux-based NAS distributions without voiding warranty coverage.

MinisCloud OS includes a desktop-accessible GUI, with menus covering storage management, RAID/ZFS pool creation, user and group permissions, Docker container deployment, and real-time monitoring. For users who prefer a turnkey NAS experience with minimal setup, MinisCloud OS provides a convenient starting point. However, it is worth noting that the OS is still maturing; some parts of the interface, particularly language localization and advanced feature polish, are clearly in active development.

At the core of MinisCloud OS is its ZFS-based storage engine, which enables advanced features such as snapshots, inline LZ4 compression, self-healing integrity checks, and instant rollback of data pools. The snapshot interface is intuitive and responsive, allowing users to schedule, lock, and restore snapshots at a per-pool level with minimal steps. Compression is enabled by default, improving storage efficiency, particularly for highly repetitive or archival datasets.

While ZFS support is a welcome inclusion, the implementation of some monitoring features—such as SSD temperature and SMART data for NVMe drives—remains inconsistent, as noted during testing. Despite these limitations, MinisCloud OS is capable of handling mixed drive types in flexible RAID configurations (RAID 0/1/5/6/10/RAIDZ), combining high-speed NVMe SSDs with large-capacity SATA drives for tiered storage strategies. The OS also supports secure access controls, allowing administrators to segment personal, shared, and public storage spaces.

Beyond storage, MinisCloud OS offers a suite of applications targeting home and small office users. Media services include a basic DLNA server, AI-driven photo library with face and object recognition, and a music streaming module. While the AI photo library benefits from the NPU in the N5 Pro, testing showed mixed accuracy in object recognition and indexing. Backup services include one-click PC/Mac backups, scheduled sync jobs, and encrypted sharing via link-based access.

Docker support is also integrated, enabling users to deploy isolated containers for third-party apps and services. While these features align the OS with other consumer NAS ecosystems, they do feel less polished than more mature platforms from competitors, and gaps such as lack of native iSCSI target creation or advanced security scanning were noticeable. MinisCloud OS seems best suited as a lightweight, user-friendly option for those who do not wish to invest time configuring a third-party OS but may not satisfy advanced enterprise users.

The inclusion of fully offline account creation and per-user container isolation demonstrates Minisforum’s efforts to balance privacy and flexibility. No cloud account is required to use the OS, and user isolation ensures that data in Docker containers remains segregated across different accounts. Public network traversal and encrypted external sharing are supported through the web portal, making it possible to access data from outside the local network securely.

Mobile apps for Android and iOS mirror the desktop web interface and allow remote access and basic administrative tasks. Nevertheless, limitations in feature depth and the still-developing language localization suggest that while MinisCloud OS is functional and a helpful starting point, serious users will want to transition to platforms like TrueNAS or Unraid to unlock the full potential of the hardware.

Minisforum N5 Pro Review – Testing, Noise and Heat

In testing, the Minisforum N5 Pro demonstrated performance levels consistent with its workstation-class specifications, particularly in multi-threaded CPU tasks and mixed storage operations. Using TrueNAS and Unraid as alternative OS options during benchmarks, the system was able to sustain heavy virtual machine (VM) workloads without instability. The Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370 CPU maintained its advertised boost clocks of up to 5.1 GHz during short burst operations, while sustaining a lower but stable frequency under extended full-load scenarios. The 12 cores and 24 threads allowed deployment of up to 12 Windows VMs and multiple Linux containers concurrently, each with dedicated vCPUs and memory. Even with the CPU loaded at approximately 50%, overall system responsiveness remained acceptable, thanks in part to the large 96GB DDR5 memory pool available in the tested configuration. ECC support ensured no uncorrected memory errors were recorded throughout a 7-day continuous stress test, affirming the platform’s suitability for 24/7 environments.

Storage performance also met expectations, though it varied depending on drive type and configuration. The five SATA bays, populated with Seagate IronWolf HDDs and SATA SSDs, delivered consistent throughput in RAID 5 and RAID 6 pools, with sequential read speeds averaging 900–1000 MB/s and writes around 800 MB/s under ZFS.

NVMe performance was significantly higher: the two Gen 4 ×1 M.2 slots achieved sustained reads of approximately 1.7 GB/s and writes of 1.6 GB/s, while the single Gen 4 ×2 M.2 slot reached peak reads of 3.3 GB/s and writes of 3.1 GB/s, approaching the theoretical limits of the interface.

Transfer speeds between SSDs in mixed-slot configurations were observed at 1.2–1.3 GB/s, indicating some internal contention or chipset limitation at the aggregate level.

The U.2 adapter included with the unit allowed testing of enterprise-class SSDs, which performed within expected parameters, though thermals for these drives require attention in prolonged heavy write scenarios.

Network performance aligned with the hardware’s 10GbE and 5GbE capabilities. The AQC113-based 10GbE NIC saturated its link easily during single and multi-stream transfers, maintaining over 900 MB/s sustained throughput in SMB and iSCSI workloads. The secondary 5GbE port also performed well, delivering consistent ~480 MB/s transfers in environments where full 10GbE infrastructure was unavailable. Link aggregation configurations were tested using LACP, though practical benefits were limited due to single-client testing constraints. USB4 and OCuLink connections were tested using external NVMe enclosures and a GPU eGPU box, both of which enumerated properly in the OS and achieved PCIe-level throughput. These features open possibilities for specialized use cases, such as GPU passthrough to VMs or offloading compute-intensive tasks to external accelerators.

Thermal and acoustic performance were also evaluated under a variety of workloads. At idle, the N5 Pro maintained a noise floor of approximately 32–34 dBA with fans set to automatic, rising to 48–51 dBA when forced to maximum. This places it within an acceptable range for small office or homelab deployments. CPU temperatures stayed within safe operating limits, averaging 40–42°C at idle and peaking at 78–80°C under full load during VM and Plex transcoding stress tests.

Drive temperatures were generally stable, although the pre-installed 64GB OS SSD exhibited higher than ideal temperatures, reaching 60°C under prolonged access. Power draw varied significantly with workload: idle power consumption was around 32–34W, increasing to roughly 80W under combined heavy CPU, storage, and 10GbE load. These results confirm that the system is both efficient at idle and capable of scaling up when fully utilized.

Minisforum N5 Pro Review – Conclusion & Verdict

The Minisforum N5 Pro firmly establishes itself as a hybrid solution that blurs the lines between a high-performance NAS appliance and a compact workstation-class server. It combines server-grade processing, memory integrity features, and robust storage options in a footprint comparable to many consumer NAS systems. Equipped with the 12-core Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370 CPU, ECC-capable DDR5 memory support, an intelligent ZFS-ready storage architecture, and an unusually broad range of expansion options—including PCIe Gen 4 and OCuLink—the N5 Pro is clearly targeted at advanced users and small professional teams with more demanding and diversified workloads than those served by entry-level NAS units. In practical testing, the system proved capable of maintaining high multi-threaded performance during intensive virtualized environments, delivering consistent high-throughput over 10GbE networking, and retaining stable thermals even under extended peak activity. The compact, fully metal chassis design provides excellent serviceability and sufficient cooling despite the dense hardware configuration, while the support for both U.2 and M.2 enterprise-class SSDs further broadens its application to mixed storage, caching, and high-availability scenarios. However, while the bundled MinisCloud OS offers a wide feature set—including snapshots, AI-driven indexing, and containerization—it remains a relatively immature platform compared to industry standards like TrueNAS and Unraid. Users looking for long-term OS maturity and advanced ecosystem integration will likely opt to replace it with one of these more established alternatives, which is fully supported without affecting warranty coverage.

Potential buyers should consider carefully whether the specific advantages of the N5 Pro—namely, its additional CPU cores, ECC memory support, and AI-specific compute capabilities—justify its higher price over the standard N5 model, which offers identical storage and connectivity at a lower cost by using a more modest processor and omitting ECC. For workloads that include high-density virtualization, multi-user environments where data integrity is paramount, or AI-enhanced workflows such as photo indexing or local inference tasks, the Pro variant’s premium hardware is likely to pay dividends. On the other hand, for simpler NAS duties such as centralized backups, media streaming, and file sharing, the standard N5 offers nearly all of the same physical functionality for significantly less. It is also worth noting the few limitations that arose during testing: the external PSU design may not appeal to all users; the thermal behavior of the bundled 64GB OS SSD suggests it should be upgraded for sustained use; and the unfinished aspects of MinisCloud OS—particularly its localization, advanced monitoring, and some missing enterprise-grade protocols—leave room for refinement. None of these are deal-breaking, but they highlight that this system is best suited for technically confident users who plan to fully exploit its hardware capabilities. Taken together, the N5 Pro stands out as a capable and flexible NAS platform, offering a level of performance and configurability rarely seen at this scale. For those willing to invest the time to install and tune their preferred OS and storage strategy, it represents one of the more forward-thinking and technically ambitious NAS options currently available. For users seeking a fully polished, plug-and-play appliance experience, however, more mature offerings from Synology, QNAP, or Asustor may still be the better fit for their needs.

The is now available to buy: Minisforum N5 Pro (Check Amazon) – HERE Minisforum N5 Pro (Check AliExpress) – HERE Shop for NAS Hard Drives on Amazon – HERE Shop for SSDs for your N5 Pro on Amazon – HERE IMPORTANT – Below are the links to the OFFICIAL Minisforum site to buy the N5 and N5 Pro. However, using these links does not support us (i.e we do not get an affiliate fee). We want you to buy this device from whichever retailer best suits your needs, but we hope you are able to support the work we do (such as this review and our YouTube channel) but using the links above for your storage media, or any other data storage/network solution purchase. Minisforum N5 on Official Site- HERE Minisforum N5 Pro on Official Site – HERE

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What Are Synology NAS Product Refreshes and What is Synology’s Logic?

When Synology introduces a new wave of NAS devices, it’s easy to assume that each new model is a significant leap forward. However, many of these launches are better classified as product refreshes, not entirely new product lines. This distinction matters. A refresh typically reuses a core hardware platform—such as the chassis, CPU, or layout—but includes modest updates like better network interfaces, more memory, or small component shifts. In 2025, Synology rolled out one of its broadest refresh cycles in years, affecting models across their two-bay, four-bay, five-bay, and eight-bay portfolios. Understanding what a refresh actually is helps users make more informed decisions, especially when evaluating whether to upgrade or wait.

Synology refreshes its products for a few practical reasons. First, component availability and pricing change over time. CPUs and other hardware elements that were once expensive or reserved for high-tier models often become more affordable, making them suitable for use in lower-tier devices. For example, the AMD V1500B processor, once exclusive to mid-tier and enterprise NAS systems, has trickled down into several 2025 refreshes like the DS925+ and DS1525+. Similarly, market-wide transitions—such as the shift from 1GbE to 2.5GbE—are reflected in these updates, allowing Synology to modernize existing models while keeping their manufacturing costs and prices relatively stable.

One of the key things that sets a refresh apart from a brand-new NAS model is Synology’s commitment to product tier consistency. Devices like the DS725+, DS425+, or DS1825+ aren’t being built to reinvent the wheel. Instead, they exist to preserve the price-to-performance balance that their predecessors established in the Synology product lineup. By holding onto the same CPU, expanding RAM slightly, and upgrading network ports from 1GbE to 2.5GbE, Synology keeps these NAS solutions within their traditional target audience—be it home users, prosumers, or small businesses. The physical design and key feature sets are familiar, and that’s deliberate. Refreshes aim to improve what already works, not redefine the category.

It’s also worth recognizing that Synology’s product refreshes are not aimed at recent buyers. If you just picked up a DS723+ or DS923+ last year, you are not the intended audience for the DS725+ or DS925+. Instead, these refreshes are aimed at users still running a DS216+, DS416, or DS1813+—users who are five to ten years deep into their existing systems. For them, the new hardware represents a meaningful leap forward, even if it looks modest on paper. When you compare a DS916+ to a DS925+, the differences in memory, CPU threads, M.2 caching, and DSM features become much more pronounced.

Pricing also plays a central role in Synology’s refresh strategy. For the most part, Synology tries to keep prices stable across generations, despite inflation and rising manufacturing costs. For example, the DS425+ and DS225+ refreshes, though modest in their hardware upgrades (mainly 2.5GbE LAN replacing 1GbE), still aim to hit the same price points as their DS423+ and DS224+ predecessors. This can make refreshes seem less appealing to new buyers comparing specs on a chart, but it serves long-term users who value Synology’s software ecosystem, consistent performance, and extended support.

One notable outlier in Synology’s refresh strategy is the continued use of the Intel Celeron J4125 processor, particularly in models like the DS425+, DS225+, and DS625slim. Despite Synology’s tendency to update hardware every 2–3 years based on market trends and component availability, the J4125—originally launched in 2019—feels increasingly outdated in 2025. Intel itself has moved away from the Celeron/J-series naming convention entirely, transitioning to more efficient and capable platforms like Alder Lake-N and N-series processors. This shift highlights just how long in the tooth the J4125 has become. With no support for newer instruction sets, lower efficiency compared to modern equivalents, and limited future compatibility, its continued presence in refreshed Synology NAS models stands in stark contrast to the broader trend of hardware advancement. While Synology has prioritized price consistency and DSM support, the persistence of this older CPU dampens the appeal of these refreshes for new buyers who expect more current internals at a similar price point.

Another important factor is Synology’s software-first development model. Their NAS hardware isn’t meant to push technical limits but rather serve as a stable, reliable platform for DSM (DiskStation Manager). That’s why even in refreshes, the focus is on compatibility and long-term support over flashy specs. Synology has made this clear through product cycles like the DS1825+, which retains the same CPU as the DS1821+ but gains 2.5GbE and better memory configuration—supporting the increasing demands of DSM applications without needing an overhaul of the entire system.

In summary, a product refresh in Synology’s ecosystem is not a groundbreaking redesign, but a thoughtful, incremental update within an established product profile. These refreshes ensure the long-term viability of key NAS tiers while adapting to evolving market standards like 2.5GbE, more demanding software workloads, or new expansion options. For long-time users, they offer an accessible upgrade path. For newcomers, they may seem underwhelming on paper. But in either case, they represent a balancing act between hardware, price, and software synergy, which has long been Synology’s model—whether you agree with it or not.

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Aoostar WTR Max NAS Review

The Aoostar WTR Max is a compact, AMD-powered NAS platform aimed at advanced users seeking a balance between high-density storage and compute capabilities. Designed as a substantial upgrade over the earlier WTR Pro model, it offers support for up to eleven total drives, including six SATA bays and five M.2 NVMe slots, all within a small desktop-style chassis. At its core is the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS processor, featuring eight cores and sixteen threads, a 5.1 GHz boost clock, and integrated Radeon 780M graphics. The system also supports ECC memory configurations and is cooled by a multi-zone, vapor-chamber-based solution designed to accommodate extended uptime. Unlike many branded NAS systems, the WTR Max does not ship with a proprietary OS, instead encouraging users to install Linux-based distributions such as TrueNAS SCALE or Proxmox. With features like dual 10GbE SFP+ ports, an OCuLink expansion port, and USB4, the unit is aimed at homelab operators, multimedia professionals, and technically proficient users looking for a customizable and high-performance alternative to locked-down NAS appliances.

Aoostar WTR Max NAS Review – Quick Conclusion

The Aoostar WTR Max stands out as a rare blend of high storage density, advanced connectivity, and raw compute performance in a compact NAS form factor, making it well-suited for experienced users seeking a versatile, self-managed platform. With support for up to 11 drives—six SATA and five NVMe Gen 4—paired with an enterprise-grade Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS CPU and ECC memory compatibility, the system offers workstation-class capabilities for storage-heavy workflows, including virtualization, multimedia processing, and hybrid file serving. Dual 10GbE SFP+ and dual 2.5GbE ports provide ample bandwidth for multi-user access or isolated subnet roles, while the OCuLink interface enables high-speed external expansion, compensating for the absence of a traditional PCIe slot. Additional benefits like a fully customizable LCD status display, low fan noise, and consistently low thermals under load reinforce the system’s value in 24/7 deployments.

However, the WTR Max does present some caveats—namely, internal NVMe cross-performance appears constrained by shared bandwidth, and the lack of an internal PCIe slot could be limiting for users requiring more conventional upgrade paths. The LCD panel’s configuration software also proved cumbersome, raising security flags and requiring manual IP client setup, which may deter less technically inclined users. Lastly, the use of an external 280W PSU—while effective—won’t appeal to those expecting internal power integration in a workstation-style chassis. Nonetheless, for users who value full control over their NAS stack and want to avoid restrictive ecosystems, the WTR Max delivers a rare combination of hardware freedom and scalability that few turnkey systems offer in this price and size category.

BUILD QUALITY - 10/10

HARDWARE - 10/10

PERFORMANCE - 8/10

PRICE - 9/10

VALUE - 9/10

9.2

PROS

High Storage Density in Compact Form
Supports up to 11 drives (6x SATA + 5x NVMe) in a desktop-sized chassis, ideal for users with large-scale storage needs but limited physical space.

Enterprise-Class CPU with ECC Support
AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS offers 8C/16T performance, ECC memory support, and integrated RDNA 3 graphics—rare at this price and size.

Dual 10GbE SFP+ and Dual 2.5GbE Networking
Provides flexible, high-throughput networking for content creators, virtual environments, or advanced home labs.

Strong Virtualization and Transcoding Performance
Smooth Proxmox VM hosting and real-time Plex 4K/8K transcoding using Radeon 780M hardware acceleration.

OCuLink PCIe Expansion Port
Enables high-speed external storage or GPU support without sacrificing internal NVMe bandwidth.

Customizable LCD Monitoring Panel
Real-time display of system metrics (CPU, RAM, network, storage) with theme options, useful for headless setups.

Robust Cooling System with Vapor Chamber
Glacier Pro 1.0 design keeps thermals in check across four fans and distinct airflow zones; low fan noise even under load.

Open Software Ecosystem
No proprietary OS or restrictions; supports TrueNAS, Unraid, Proxmox, or Linux-based setups for full admin control.

CONS

Limited Internal NVMe Cross-Throughput
Inter-M.2 transfer speeds are capped (~500–600 MB/s), possibly due to shared chipset lanes or controller design.

No Internal PCIe Slot
Expansion is limited to OCuLink; users needing traditional PCIe cards (e.g., GPUs or HBAs) may find this restrictive.

LCD Panel Software Can Be Problematic
Configuration software raised browser security flags and requires static IP client setup, making it less accessible.

External Power Brick Only
280W external PSU is functional but not ideal for rackmount or integrated enclosures; some users may prefer internal ATX power.

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Aoostar WTR Max NAS Review – Design & Storage

Physically, the Aoostar WTR Max is housed in a full-metal anodized aluminum alloy chassis that balances structural rigidity with passive thermal conductivity. The exterior finish is minimal but functional, offering side ventilation cutouts and removable access panels secured with thumb screws. Despite its relatively compact form factor for an 11-bay NAS system, the unit features six front-facing drive trays, each supporting 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch SATA drives.

These trays use a click-and-load design—no tools required—which simplifies drive installation and replacement. During prolonged hands-on testing, the trays handled both consumer-grade HDDs and Synology enterprise-class drives without mechanical or airflow restricting conflict, making compatibility a non-issue for most users. The structural alignment of the trays channels cool air from bottom-front intake vents across the drives and out the rear via dual exhaust fans, ensuring thermal separation between the storage and compute areas even during continuous multi-drive operation.

Beyond the six SATA bays, the WTR Max incorporates five PCIe Gen 4 M.2 NVMe 2280 slots, enabling dense solid-state storage directly on the mainboard and modular trays. Four of these are mounted within a vertically oriented, removable tray situated at the end of the main drive bay stack. This spring-loaded tray resembles modular SSD carriers found in more expensive enterprise-grade systems and allows for rapid SSD swaps or upgrades. Also, each of the 4 m.2 slots on this 7th bay still had room for a standard m.2 heatsink too!

The fifth M.2 slot is positioned horizontally on the motherboard base, adjacent to the DDR5 SODIMM slots and covered by an active cooling fan. Of the five slots, two run at PCIe Gen 4 x1 and two at Gen 4 x2, with the fifth—on the motherboard—also supporting Gen 4 x2. Testing confirmed sufficient physical clearance for installing large NVMe heatsinks on all slots, and SSDs remained within optimal temperature ranges even under sustained I/O workloads.

Internally, the SATA subsystem is controlled via an ASMedia ASM1166 controller operating over a PCIe Gen 3 x2 interface, capable of delivering up to 2GB/s total throughput across all six bays. This bandwidth is sufficient for both HDD arrays and SATA SSDs, and is particularly well-suited for software-managed RAID configurations in Linux-based OSes such as Unraid, TrueNAS, or OpenMediaVault.

During testing, mixed workloads involving simultaneous read/write access across multiple HDDs and SSDs were handled without observable I/O queueing or temperature spikes. Drive temperatures averaged between 38°C and 45°C during a 24-hour benchmark run, with airflow guided from the bottom intake and over the storage chamber by the dual rear exhaust fans—ensuring consistent cooling across all drive positions, even during power-on-demand cycles triggered by scheduled remote backups.

The design of the seventh modular tray holding four of the M.2 NVMe slots is particularly noteworthy. Rather than opting for fixed PCB slots that require full disassembly for access, Aoostar implemented a removable cartridge system similar to those found in rack-mounted server appliances. This tray locks in place without screws, and its spring-loaded retention system provides firm pressure on runners inside once installed beneath the SSDs. This is a very smooth ejection and injection system for this extra bay!

Air is directed over this tray by the two rear-mounted fans, with additional airflow routed from below via the central fan on the base of the chassis. In testing, even under back-to-back file transfer tests using Unraid’s file mover and native benchmark tools, SSD temperatures rarely exceeded 48°C. The inclusion of independent airflow for the NVMe zone demonstrates thoughtful separation of thermal domains within the small enclosure, reducing the chance of thermal throttling during concurrent high-speed transfers.

The drive configuration options available on the WTR Max support a flexible tiered storage approach—useful in both home lab and small office environments. For instance, the six SATA bays can accommodate high-capacity HDDs (up to 24TB each), suitable for media archiving or surveillance video, while the M.2 slots can be allocated for fast read/write operations, app deployments, or SSD caching layers. Real-world bandwidth testing of these drives showed the Gen 4 x1 slots achieving around 1.6GB/s read speeds and the Gen 4 x2 slots reaching 2.9GB/s, aligning with their advertised capabilities.

Although inter-M.2 transfer rates peaked at 500–600MB/s—suggesting internal lane bottlenecks (i.e sending data between each of the 4 m.2 on this 7th bay) —the system still provided consistent and predictable performance. This architecture supports phased upgrades, allowing users to populate the system gradually based on workload growth without disassembling core components or compromising airflow design.

Aoostar WTR Max NAS Review – Internal Hardware

At the core of the Aoostar WTR Max lies the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS processor, an 8-core, 16-thread chip built on the Zen 4 architecture using TSMC’s 4nm process. This processor, operating with a base clock of 3.8 GHz and boosting up to 5.1 GHz, is typically found in business-class notebooks and embedded workstations. Its inclusion in a NAS-oriented device marks a shift toward more versatile and compute-intensive roles for compact systems.

It also supports configurable TDPs of 35W, 45W, and up to 54W, depending on cooling and power profiles, allowing the system to balance efficiency and performance based on workload. Integrated Radeon 780M graphics, based on the RDNA 3 architecture with 12 compute units, deliver hardware-accelerated AV1, HEVC, and H.264 encoding and decoding. During stress testing, the WTR Max handled simultaneous 4K and 8K video transcoding jobs in Plex with CPU usage remaining below 50%, thanks in part to hardware transcoding support via the integrated GPU. This level of onboard media processing is rare in NAS systems, even among high-end appliances.

In terms of memory support, the device offers two DDR5-5600 SODIMM slots, allowing for up to 128GB of total RAM. More notably, the platform supports ECC (Error Correcting Code) memory when paired with compatible modules—an enterprise-grade feature typically limited to workstation-class motherboards. While the review unit shipped with 32GB of standard DDR5 memory, ECC compatibility was verified via low-level SSH diagnostics and BIOS interrogation, confirming that ECC is fully operational at the hardware level.

During tests involving Proxmox, six Windows 10 virtual machines and two Ubuntu VMs ran concurrently, with each VM allocated 2 to 4 vCPUs and 2 to 4 GB of memory. No instability or memory-related errors were recorded, and the system maintained consistent performance under variable load conditions. The side-by-side DIMM slot arrangement benefits from direct airflow via the base intake fan, which also provides passive cooling to the adjacent motherboard-mounted NVMe SSD slot.

Thermal performance is managed by Aoostar’s proprietary Glacier Pro 1.0 cooling solution, which integrates a vapor chamber heat spreader on the CPU and a multi-fan chassis ventilation layout. The vapor chamber, paired with a low-profile active cooler, rapidly disperses thermal load from the CPU across the copper plate, minimizing heat concentration during burst operations. The system features four fans: one at the base pulling intake air upward across the motherboard, two rear-mounted exhaust fans, and one CPU-mounted blower. Each thermal zone—CPU, NVMe tray, and SATA chamber—benefits from isolated airflow paths.

During a 24-hour access schedule test simulating hourly user activity, CPU temperatures ranged from 35°C at idle to 49°C under peak load with 10GbE transfers and active virtual machines. Even when pushing the system with forced maximum fan speed and high CPU utilization, recorded noise output remained within 43–44 dBA, with a base idle level of 35–38 dBA.

For a system with this many internal components—including six HDDs, five SSDs, and four fans—the acoustic footprint was relatively modest, especially considering the close thermal spacing and the volume of air moved internally.

Aoostar WTR Max NAS Review – Ports and Connections

The Aoostar WTR Max provides an unusually extensive networking suite for a system of its size, offering both high-speed and multi-interface flexibility. The two Intel X710-based 10GbE SFP+ ports support full duplex operation, making them ideal for NAS-to-NAS replication, large-scale Plex libraries, or multi-user editing environments via shared storage. These ports were tested using iPerf3 and real-world file transfers between NVMe pools and a 10GbE-connected workstation, showing stable saturation of the interface without fluctuation. As these are SFP, users are going to have to factor in tranceivers or DAC cables with tranceivers included), but as these two ports are so close together, using SFP-to-RJ45 adapters is going to be a question of temperature monitoring.

In addition, two 2.5GbE RJ45 Ethernet ports are available, which can be used in a variety of configurations including link aggregation, VLAN assignment, or as out-of-band management interfaces. The coexistence of fiber-based and copper-based networking within the same unit opens deployment to both consumer and prosumer setups. During tests, the user assigned one 2.5GbE interface to general network access while isolating 10GbE traffic to storage-only communication, demonstrating flexibility in segmentation.

USB and high-speed peripheral connectivity is equally comprehensive. The front of the device houses a USB 4.0 port, which supports Thunderbolt-like bandwidths (up to 40Gbps), display passthrough, and power delivery—making it suitable for external drive arrays, video output, or even docking stations. Next to it, a standard USB-C port and USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port provide backward compatibility for legacy peripherals. On the rear, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports were used during testing for attaching external backup drives and a keyboard/mouse combo during Proxmox installation.

All ports were recognized without driver conflicts in both Linux and Windows-based environments. The device also includes a microSD slot on the front, which proved useful for OS boot media, diagnostics, or fast access to camera footage. In the test scenario, the slot was used to quickly transfer small image files to the Plex container, and performance aligned with UHS-I speeds. This wide array of port options allows users to operate the WTR Max in both network-only and semi-local scenarios, such as multimedia servers with attached peripherals.

A standout feature in this device’s connectivity suite is the OCuLink port, which provides a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface for external expansion. This port was successfully used to attach an NVMe enclosure using a M.2-to-OCuLink bridge, allowing high-speed external storage without interfering with internal NVMe bandwidth allocation. Although hot-swapping is not supported, the stability and speed of the external connection matched internal Gen 4 performance. This is a notable advantage for users who require flexible expansion or temporary scratch drives without opening the chassis.

In the review scenario, the OCuLink port was also noted as a potential bridge to add GPU acceleration, external PCIe networking, or SAS HBA expansion—though Aoostar provides no internal PCIe slot, making the external route the only PCIe-level expansion path. This design choice reflects a compromise between size and flexibility, prioritizing I/O density over internal modularity. That said, oculink is not for everyone! And additional adapters such as eGPU are going to be needed if you are looking at upgrading network performance and are going to drastically increase your spend compared with traditional PCIe upgrades!

For users requiring local video output or dual-purpose NAS/workstation functionality, the WTR Max includes a rear-mounted HDMI 2.1 port supporting up to 4K at 240Hz, in addition to display-capable USB4 and USB-C ports depending on OS support. In practice, during Proxmox and Unraid testing, HDMI video output was used for initial OS installation and local monitoring. This can be useful for deployments involving virtual desktops, docker-based dashboards, or kiosk-style media servers. Audio is handled through a 3.5mm output jack, functional in Linux environments once the relevant drivers are installed.

On the front of the unit, Aoostar has implemented a customizable LCD display, accessible via proprietary software. While the software itself presented download warnings in some browsers and required IP-specific client setup, once configured it displayed real-time statistics such as CPU temperature, RAM usage, network throughput, and storage status. Multiple themes are included (e.g., cyberpunk, minimal, and stat-based), and the panel can be toggled on/off depending on user preference. Although not essential, the display provides a level of visual diagnostics uncommon in this product tier. This was the only area of the review that I found inconsistent and messy! Tapping into this specific internal IP, as well as using an application that was being flagged constantly by my windows system, AND trying to do this with the NAS behind 3 layers of network (my own setup) was not smooth. Additionally, although the LCD panel templates were useful, they did seem to contain a lot of copyright imagery (Cyberpunk, Pacman, etc) and I would question the comiance from their source! Hopefully this LCD control and customization gets smoothed out soon, as well as the app finishes it’s windows certification at least.

Aoostar WTR Max NAS Review – Performance and Testing

The Aoostar WTR Max underwent a series of tests spanning disk benchmarks, live file transfers, mixed storage scenarios, and sustained uptime evaluations to assess its practical capabilities across NAS, virtualization, and media applications. In synthetic disk tests, the PCIe Gen 4 x1 NVMe slots delivered consistent read speeds of ~1.6 GB/s and write speeds just under 1.5 GB/s, while the Gen 4 x2 slots achieved peak sequential performance of ~2.9 GB/s read and ~2.8 GB/s write, aligning well with expected lane bandwidth.

These figures were observed under both Windows and Linux environments, using CrystalDiskMark and ATTO. However, during internal NVMe-to-NVMe copy operations—across both like-for-like (x2 to x2) and mixed (x1 to x2) configurations—transfer rates plateaued around 550 MB/s. This suggests the presence of a shared bus or controller limitation not disclosed by the vendor, though the speeds remained consistent with no unexpected drops. Importantly, SSD temperatures stayed within thermal spec, typically ranging from 38°C to 45°C under sustained use, aided by both airflow and full-sized heatsink compatibility.

For networking performance, the system’s dual 10GbE SFP+ interfaces were subjected to direct iPerf3 stress tests and real-world copy operations involving both SATA and NVMe-based storage arrays. Both ports reached saturation—approximately 9.5 Gbps—under bidirectional iPerf3 tests with no jitter or packet loss, even during simultaneous Plex streaming and background drive activity. SMB transfers of large 4K video files to a remote 10GbE-equipped workstation routinely exceeded 1.1 GB/s sustained, indicating that the system’s storage and network layers were well-aligned.

The two 2.5GbE RJ45 ports were also tested as either bridged interfaces in Proxmox or as failover backups, with VLAN tagging and static routing configured via systemd-networkd. No conflicts or bottlenecks were detected, even when running scheduled backups over one NIC while media was streamed through another. This concurrent multi-interface performance demonstrates how the WTR Max can comfortably handle mixed workloads across different network zones or physical infrastructure types.

Power consumption testing covered four defined usage scenarios to gauge idle and active draw under realistic conditions. With no drives installed and only the OS running from the onboard NVMe SSD, the system idled at just 18W, largely due to the mobile efficiency of the Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS and lack of mechanical components. Installing five M.2 SSDs increased baseline consumption to around 24W. With all six SATA bays populated using 8TB–18TB HDDs alongside five SSDs, power draw under passive load settled at approximately 52–53W. During full-load testing—consisting of active read/write operations on all drives, high-bitrate Plex streaming, dual 10GbE saturation, and 40–50% CPU usage—system draw fluctuated between 73W and 89W. These numbers fall within reasonable bounds for a 12-core-equivalent server system with 11 drives, four fans, and integrated GPU transcode activity. The external 280W power supply never exhibited instability and has sufficient overhead for adding expansion enclosures or OCuLink-powered peripherals like an eGPU or NVMe array.

Application testing further underscored the platform’s ability to support a hybrid range of tasks. In multimedia scenarios, Plex Media Server was configured to transcode a 400 Mbps 4K file, a 200 Mbps 4K stream, and two simultaneous 80 Mbps 8K/4K sources—all while maintaining fluid playback and system responsiveness. The integrated Radeon 780M handled these loads using hardware transcoding (VAAPI), keeping CPU load under 50% throughout. In a separate deployment, Proxmox was used to launch six Windows 10 VMs and two Ubuntu LTS servers, with each VM receiving 2–4 vCPUs and 2–4 GB of memory. All machines remained responsive under simultaneous browser, terminal, and light media workloads. Importantly, the LCD panel continued to provide accurate telemetry even during these test periods, showing live RAM, CPU, and storage activity. No kernel-level instability, drive timeouts, or system hangs were observed during multi-day operation. This level of consistency positions the WTR Max as a capable platform not just for data storage, but also for virtualized desktop hosting, container orchestration, or edge-processing scenarios where performance and uptime are equally critical.

Aoostar WTR Max NAS Review – Conclusion & Verdict

The Aoostar WTR Max presents a rare combination of compact form factor, enterprise-aligned specifications, and hardware flexibility that places it apart from both consumer-grade NAS appliances and DIY server builds. With support for eleven total storage devices—including six SATA bays and five Gen 4 NVMe slots—plus ECC memory compatibility and dual 10GbE networking, it delivers a feature set typically reserved for much larger or more expensive systems. Its Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS processor offers sufficient compute power for a wide range of workloads, from virtualization and containerization to media encoding and storage routing. Real-world performance during testing confirmed that the WTR Max could handle multiple simultaneous high-bitrate video transcodes, multi-VM operation, and 10GbE network saturation, all while maintaining consistent thermals and manageable power usage. While internal bandwidth sharing across NVMe slots may limit some inter-disk operations, this did not impact external throughput or sustained application performance.

For users seeking a flexible platform to host their own NAS operating system—whether TrueNAS, Unraid, or Proxmox—the WTR Max provides considerable value, assuming a willingness to configure and manage the software stack independently. It does not include a proprietary OS or vendor-specific ecosystem, which may be a drawback for those expecting turnkey functionality but a strength for users looking to avoid software licensing limitations or drive compatibility locks. The LCD front panel, OCuLink expandability, and support for up to 128GB of DDR5 RAM further extend its potential across use cases that include hybrid desktop/NAS roles, edge compute appliances, or lab environments. While priced above entry-level NAS systems, its performance, thermal behavior, and hardware access align more closely with workstation-class systems. A future comparison with devices like the Minisforum N5 Pro will offer more context, but based on current observations, the Aoostar WTR Max establishes itself as a serious option for self-hosters demanding both storage density and processing headroom.

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Synology DS1825+ vs DS1821+ NAS Comparison – Get It Right, FIRST TIME!

When Synology releases a new NAS in its “Plus” lineup, users often expect a blend of practical improvements, long-term support, and a reasonable upgrade path from the previous generation. The Synology DS1825+ arrives in 2025 as the official successor to the 2020/2021-released DS1821+, carrying over much of the same core design while introducing selective enhancements—and a few contentious changes. Both are 8-bay desktop NAS systems targeted at advanced home users, small businesses, and content creators who need multi-user access, flexible RAID configurations, and extensive app support. However, while the DS1821+ was praised for its broad compatibility and modular connectivity, the DS1825+ adopts a more tightly controlled hardware ecosystem. In this comparison, we break down the key differences across hardware, ports, storage capabilities, DSM software features, and drive compatibility so you can decide which model truly fits your long-term needs—without second-guessing your choice later.

Synology DS1825+ vs DS1821+ NAS Comparison – Internal Hardware

At the center of both the Synology DS1821+ and DS1825+ is the AMD Ryzen V1500B processor, a 4-core, 8-thread embedded SoC with a 64-bit architecture and a base frequency of 2.2 GHz. This chip, built on the Zen architecture, offers a balance of power efficiency and multi-threaded performance suited for environments with simultaneous multi-user file access, virtual machines, and complex RAID configurations. Synology’s decision to retain the same processor in the DS1825+ reflects confidence in its reliability and capability. However, for users hoping for a jump to Zen 2 or Zen 3-based hardware, the lack of a CPU upgrade could be a disappointment—especially considering that competing vendors have started adopting newer architectures for their mid-range systems. Still, for typical NAS tasks that do not involve on-the-fly 4K video transcoding or GPU-heavy operations, the V1500B remains a stable and effective platform with AES-NI encryption support and virtualization compatibility across VMware, Hyper-V, and Docker workloads.

Thermal and power characteristics between the two systems remain largely consistent, with both featuring dual 120mm fans and an internal 250W PSU that can handle full drive loads with expansion units attached. The DS1821+ and DS1825+ are also nearly identical in physical size and structure, though the newer model has a slightly higher idle noise level—23.8 dB(A) versus 22.2 dB(A)—due to denser internal configuration and possibly fan speed curve adjustments. From an operational standpoint, the DS1825+ is marginally more power-efficient in idle states, consuming just 18.34W during HDD hibernation compared to 26.18W in the DS1821+. These marginal differences suggest a refinement in system tuning, although not a radical redesign. Overall, while the DS1825+ doesn’t revolutionize internal hardware, its doubled memory and subtle optimizations give it the edge for users planning to push DSM with multiple services or those who prefer an upgrade-free deployment experience.

Synology DS1825+ vs DS1821+ NAS Comparison – Ports and Connections

One of the most tangible areas of differentiation between the DS1821+ and DS1825+ lies in their external connectivity. The older DS1821+ is equipped with four 1GbE RJ-45 LAN ports, a familiar configuration that supports link aggregation and network redundancy. This setup was common in Synology’s mid-range lineup during its 2020–2022 releases, offering a total aggregated bandwidth of up to 4Gbps—assuming your switch infrastructure supports it. For many small business users, this array of ports provided simple flexibility: you could dedicate individual ports for different services or bond them for faster file transfers. However, in practice, 1GbE is increasingly becoming a limiting factor for modern workloads, especially in environments with large raw video files, database access, or multiple users performing high-speed backups.

Beyond networking, the DS1825+ introduces a notable change in expansion port design. The DS1821+ includes two eSATA ports for attaching Synology DX517 expansion units, which align with legacy expansion practices. In contrast, the DS1825+ replaces these with two USB-C-based expansion ports, designed specifically for use with the newer DX525 expansion units. While this doesn’t directly affect day-to-day operations, it signals a move toward a USB-based proprietary interface for future expansion, likely with more streamlined cabling and higher throughput potential. Additionally, the DS1825+ trims down from four USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports to three, a minor trade-off that may impact users with multiple USB-connected devices such as UPS units or backup drives. Still, for most users, the improved network and expansion standards make the DS1825+ more forward-looking, even if it reduces legacy connectivity options found on the DS1821+.

Synology DS1825+ vs DS1821+ NAS Comparison – Storage

Both the DS1821+ and DS1825+ offer eight front-facing SATA drive bays, supporting 3.5″ HDDs and 2.5″ SSDs, with hot-swappable trays for easy maintenance and upgrades. On the surface, storage capacity and configuration appear nearly identical: both models can scale up to 18 total drives using two Synology expansion units and support RAID levels including SHR, RAID 5, 6, and 10. This makes either system a viable choice for users with large datasets, whether for media, surveillance, or business-critical file hosting. However, subtle distinctions in how storage can be configured and expanded in each model make a significant difference over time.

Storage Feature	Synology DS1821+	Synology DS1825+
Drive Bays	8 × 3.5″/2.5″ SATA (hot-swappable)	8 × 3.5″/2.5″ SATA (hot-swappable)
Max Drive Bays (with Expansion)	18 (via 2 × DX517)	18 (via 2 × DX525)
M.2 NVMe Slots	2 × M.2 2280 (cache only, 3rd-party SSDs allowed)	2 × M.2 2280 (cache or storage pools, Synology-only SSDs)
Max Single Volume Size	108 TB	200 TB (requires 32 GB RAM)
Max Internal Volumes	64	32
Supported RAID Types	SHR, JBOD, RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10	SHR, JBOD, RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10
Third-Party HDD/SSD Support	Fully supported (with warnings)	Blocked at install/init if not verified
Storage Pool Creation with Unverified Drives	Allowed	Blocked
Storage Pool Expansion (Unverified Drives)	Supported	Blocked
RAID Recovery with Unverified Drives	Supported	Blocked
Hot Spare (Unverified Drives)	Supported	Blocked
Storage Manager Behavior (Unverified Drives)	Warnings shown, but system fully functional	Persistent alerts, some functions disabled

The DS1825+ supports storage pools using its two internal M.2 NVMe slots, something the DS1821+ does not. On the older model, those slots are limited strictly to SSD caching, and even then, Synology allowed users to use third-party NVMe drives for read/write acceleration. In the DS1825+, Synology enables users to form full storage pools using M.2 SSDs—but only if those SSDs are from Synology’s own SNV3400 or SNV3410 series. This adds flexibility in theory, especially for users interested in all-flash configurations or high-speed tiers, but restricts user choice in practice. The DS1821+ offers more freedom in selecting SSDs and hard drives, with only non-blocking warning messages when using unverified models, while the DS1825+ actively blocks storage pool creation and system initialization with unlisted drives.

This tightening of compatibility extends into pool expansion, RAID rebuilds, and even hot spare assignments. In the DS1821+, users could freely mix third-party drives and expand pools over time using available or similarly specced HDDs—even those not on the official compatibility list. The DS1825+ takes a stricter approach: attempts to initialize DSM with unverified HDDs will fail, and pool expansion or RAID recovery with unsupported drives is outright blocked. While existing volumes from older NAS systems can still be migrated and booted, they will trigger persistent compatibility warnings in DSM, often with degraded system health indicators. This shift may offer Synology more control over performance validation and support consistency, but it limits flexibility for users relying on diverse or existing storage media—making the DS1821+ a better option for those with a mix-and-match approach, and the DS1825+ more suitable for fully standardized Synology deployments.

Synology DS1825+ vs DS1821+ NAS Comparison – DSM Capabilities

Both the DS1821+ and DS1825+ are powered by Synology’s DiskStation Manager (DSM) 7.2 operating system, offering access to a rich suite of applications for file management, backup, surveillance, virtualization, and cloud syncing. Core tools such as Synology Drive and Synology Photos provide a private cloud alternative to services like Google Drive or Dropbox, while packages like Hyper Backup and Active Backup for Business enable full-system and client-based data protection strategies. These services run similarly on both systems, but hardware differences can influence practical performance. For example, the DS1825+ ships with 8 GB of ECC memory by default, making it more responsive when running multiple DSM apps in parallel—such as Snapshot Replication combined with Virtual Machine Manager and Drive Client Sync. In contrast, the DS1821+ ships with 4 GB of memory, which may require an upgrade before achieving similar multitasking fluidity, especially in environments with more than a few simultaneous users.

DSM Feature / Capability	Synology DS1821+	Synology DS1825+
DSM Version	DSM 7.2+	DSM 7.2+
Max Internal Volumes	64	32 ▼ Reduced
Max Single Volume Size	108 TB	200 TB (requires 32 GB RAM) ▲ Increased
Snapshot Replication	256 per shared folder / 4,096 total system snapshots	256 per shared folder / 4,096 total system snapshots
Virtual Machine Manager (VMM)	Up to 8 VM / Virtual DSM instances	Up to 8 VM / Virtual DSM instances
Surveillance Station	Up to 40 cameras / 4K / 1,200 FPS (H.265)	Up to 40 cameras / 4K / 1,200 FPS (H.265)
Synology Drive Users	Up to 110 users ▲ Higher	Up to 100 users ▼ Lower
Synology Office Users	Up to 110 concurrent users ▲ Higher	Up to 100 concurrent users ▼ Lower
Hybrid Share Folder Support	10	10
High Availability Support	Yes	Yes
RAID Recovery (with unverified drives)	Supported	Blocked
Hot Spare / Expansion (unverified drives)	Supported	Blocked
Storage Manager (Unverified Drives)	Warnings only, system fully functional	Persistent alerts, functions blocked
M.2 NVMe Storage Pools	Not supported	Supported (Synology NVMe SSDs only)
M.2 NVMe Caching with 3rd-party SSDs	Supported	Blocked
Protocols Supported	SMB1/2/3, NFSv3/v4, FTP, WebDAV, Rsync, iSCSI, HTTP/HTTPS, LDAP	SMB1/2/3, NFSv3/v4, FTP, WebDAV, Rsync, iSCSI, HTTP/HTTPS, LDAP

Differences emerge in how each system handles volume structure and scaling. The DS1821+ supports up to 64 internal volumes, giving it an advantage in deployments where users need to segregate workloads—for instance, separating surveillance footage, shared team folders, user home directories, and VM storage into distinct volumes for quota management and performance tuning. This flexibility makes the DS1821+ better suited for educational institutions or small business IT teams who manage multiple user groups and need clear storage separation. The DS1825+, on the other hand, limits internal volumes to 32 but increases the maximum single-volume size to 200 TB (with 32 GB RAM installed). This makes it better aligned with large, contiguous workloads like uncompressed 4K video editing archives, security footage retention for legal compliance, or massive CAD/CAM datasets—all of which benefit more from fewer, larger volumes than from numerous smaller ones.

Service limits within DSM also subtly differentiate the two models. The DS1821+ is rated for up to 110 concurrent users in Synology Drive and Office, whereas the DS1825+ recommends a slightly lower threshold of 100 users. While the difference is marginal, it may reflect the DS1825+’s tighter memory tuning or more restrictive compatibility model, which now relies on verified Synology storage media for optimal performance. For example, in environments running Synology Office with real-time collaborative editing—paired with Drive, MailPlus, and external file sharing through WebDAV—the DS1821+ might offer more flexibility when loaded with third-party high-performance SSDs for caching. The DS1825+, restricted to Synology’s own SNV3400/3410 NVMe drives, demands tighter ecosystem compliance, which could affect responsiveness if storage performance becomes a bottleneck. Nonetheless, both models offer full support for advanced DSM modules like Synology High Availability, SAN Manager, and Hybrid Share, ensuring that users deploying in mission-critical environments still have access to the high-availability and hybrid cloud features that define Synology’s enterprise-ready platform.

Synology DS1825+ vs DS1821+ NAS Comparison – Conclusion

Choosing between the Synology DS1825+ and DS1821+ comes down to whether you prioritize modern hardware refinements or broader long-term flexibility. The DS1825+ introduces subtle but meaningful upgrades: faster 2.5GbE connectivity, double the base memory, and NVMe storage pool support—features that clearly position it as the more forward-thinking choice for users committed to staying within the Synology ecosystem. However, these improvements come with tighter restrictions, most notably in its rigid drive compatibility policy. DSM cannot be installed unless only Synology-verified drives are used, and the system actively blocks unverified drives from being used in storage pools, RAID rebuilds, or even hot spare configurations. In contrast, the DS1821+ offers more freedom—supporting a wider range of HDDs and SSDs, allowing RAID recovery and expansion with non-Synology drives, and presenting a cleaner, less obstructive DSM experience when migrating from older hardware. While it may lack the newer model’s out-of-the-box performance gains, its open-ended architecture gives users—especially those with legacy drives or mixed environments—more breathing room. For users building a NAS from scratch and willing to adopt Synology’s closed hardware ecosystem, the DS1825+ is a capable and streamlined solution. But for those looking to extend the life of existing hardware or retain control over their storage media choices, the DS1821+ remains the more versatile and user-friendly option.

Aspect	Synology DS1821+	Synology DS1825+
Pros	– Full support for 3rd-party drives (HDDs & SSDs)	– Higher default RAM (8 GB ECC pre-installed)
	– Supports RAID recovery, expansion, and hot spares with unverified drives	– 2.5GbE networking (faster out-of-the-box performance)
	– More flexible for DIY and legacy system migrations	– NVMe storage pool support (Synology SSDs only)
	– Supports more internal volumes (up to 64)	– USB-C expansion ports with newer DX525 units
	– Better choice for mixed-brand or cost-conscious deployments	– Improved volume scaling (up to 200TB per volume with RAM upgrade)
Cons	– Older network setup (1GbE x4, slower unless aggregated)	– Strict drive compatibility enforcement (Synology-only drives required)
	– No NVMe storage pool support	– Blocks DSM install with unverified drives
	– Lower default memory (4 GB, upgrade likely needed for advanced workloads)	– Fewer internal volumes supported (32 max)
		– Persistent system warnings when migrating existing arrays with non-Synology drives
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Synology DS1525+ vs DS1522+ NAS Comparison – Get It Right, FIRST TIME!

With the arrival of the Synology DS1525+ in 2025, many users are now weighing it against its immediate predecessor, the DS1522+, released in 2022. On the surface, both NAS units share the same 5-bay form factor, nearly identical chassis design, and very similar price points—typically between $699 and $799 at launch. However, a deeper dive reveals a number of meaningful changes in hardware resources, storage expansion policies, and how Synology now handles drive compatibility and system flexibility. While the DS1525+ does offer better networking and CPU core count, it also introduces tighter restrictions on what drives can be used, how storage pools are formed, and what options are available to users looking to migrate data from older systems. By contrast, the DS1522+ retains a far more open approach to hardware, offering greater freedom for enthusiasts and IT professionals. In this article, we’ll break down the internal hardware, ports, storage support, DSM software capabilities, and system behavior of these two NAS systems—giving you the context you need to make the right decision the first time, and avoid buyer’s regret later.

Synology DS1525+ vs DS1522+ NAS Comparison – Internal Hardware

The most noticeable hardware difference between the DS1525+ and DS1522+ lies in their processors. The DS1522+ is powered by a dual-core AMD Ryzen R1600 CPU, which operates at a base frequency of 2.6 GHz and can boost up to 3.1 GHz. This chip delivers strong single-threaded performance and is very power efficient, making it well-suited for environments where tasks are sequential or lightly parallelized—such as SMB file sharing, surveillance, or general-purpose storage. The DS1525+, in contrast, uses a quad-core AMD Ryzen V1500B processor running at a fixed 2.2 GHz. While it lacks boost frequency, the additional cores and threads make it the more capable option for multitasking-intensive DSM deployments. Workloads like hosting multiple Docker containers, running several VMs, or operating high-volume backup jobs are handled more smoothly by the V1500B thanks to its stronger concurrent throughput. While synthetic benchmarks might show the R1600 ahead in single-threaded operations, in day-to-day NAS usage, the V1500B’s multitasking benefits are more relevant—particularly for users aiming to centralize many services on one box.

Synology DS1525+ vs DS1522+ NAS Comparison – Ports and Connections

The differences between the DS1525+ and DS1522+ become more apparent when examining their networking and expansion connectivity. The DS1522+ is equipped with four 1GbE RJ-45 LAN ports, which support link aggregation for up to 4 Gbps combined bandwidth when used with a managed switch. This configuration provides solid redundancy and flexible port allocation, especially for environments where isolating traffic across different services (e.g., backups, media, surveillance) is desirable. However, in 2024 and beyond, 1GbE is increasingly viewed as a bottleneck—particularly for users working with 4K video editing, large VM images, or fast local backups. The DS1525+ addresses this issue by shifting to 2 × 2.5GbE RJ-45 LAN ports, allowing up to 5 Gbps total bandwidth through link aggregation, and faster speeds on a per-connection basis, even when using unmanaged 2.5GbE switches that are now more common and affordable. This change aligns the DS1525+ with modern mid-tier NAS expectations and offers improved real-world performance, especially for multi-user workloads and high-speed transfers from SSD caches or NVMe pools.

Feature	Synology DS1522+	Synology DS1525+
LAN Ports	4 × 1GbE RJ-45	2 × 2.5GbE RJ-45
Link Aggregation / Failover	Yes	Yes
USB Ports	2 × USB 3.2 Gen 1	2 × USB 3.2 Gen 1
Expansion Ports	2 × eSATA (for DX517)	2 × USB Type-C (for DX525)
PCIe Slot	1 × PCIe Gen3 x2 (for 10GbE upgrade)	1 × PCIe Gen3 x2 (for 10GbE upgrade)
Wake on LAN / WAN	Yes	Yes
Scheduled Power On / Off	Yes	Yes
Hot-Swappable Drive Bays	5 × SATA HDD/SSD (M.2 not hot-swappable)	5 × SATA HDD/SSD (M.2 not hot-swappable)
M.2 NVMe Slots	2 × M.2 2280 (cache only, 3rd-party SSDs supported)	2 × M.2 2280 (cache and storage, Synology SSDs only)
Expansion Compatibility	DX517 (eSATA interface)	DX525 (USB-C interface)

In terms of USB connectivity, both models include two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, suitable for attaching external drives, UPS units, or compatible USB printers. These ports remain unchanged between models and offer no direct performance advantage to either system. Where the expansion capability does change significantly is in the port type for connecting additional storage enclosures. The DS1522+ includes two eSATA ports, allowing it to connect up to two DX517 expansion units, adding 10 more drive bays. The DS1525+, however, replaces these with two USB Type-C expansion ports, which interface with the newer DX525 expansion units. While the overall expansion capacity remains the same (15 total bays), the move to USB-C reflects a generational shift in Synology’s design language. USB-C may offer slightly more flexible cable routing and future-proofing, but it also introduces a hard cutoff between older and newer ecosystems. For users with existing DX517s or other eSATA-based gear, this limits backwards compatibility and locks the DS1525+ into the latest hardware infrastructure.

Additionally, both units include a PCIe Gen3 x2 slot for optional 10GbE network upgrades. Synology’s E10G22-T1-Mini card is supported on both models and provides a compact, cost-effective way to future-proof network performance. However, given the DS1525+ already starts with 2.5GbE, users may find less urgency to upgrade immediately compared to the DS1522+, where a 10GbE card may be needed sooner to break past 1GbE limitations. Both models support Wake-on-LAN and scheduled power events, and both feature dual rear fans for effective cooling regardless of network traffic or drive load. From a connectivity standpoint, the DS1525+ represents a forward step toward higher-speed networking and modern expansion methods—but it does so at the cost of legacy compatibility, which may matter for users with established infrastructure. In contrast, the DS1522+ offers broader port coverage and flexibility but risks becoming dated more quickly in high-throughput environments.

Synology DS1525+ vs DS1522+ NAS Comparison – Storage

At first glance, storage capacity and physical layout appear virtually identical between the DS1525+ and DS1522+. Both systems offer five main drive bays that support 3.5″ SATA HDDs and 2.5″ SATA SSDs, as well as two M.2 NVMe SSD slots for caching or, in the case of the DS1525+, full storage pool creation. Each NAS can be expanded up to a total of 15 bays using two proprietary Synology expansion units (DX517 for the DS1522+, DX525 for the DS1525+), enabling up to 240 TB of raw storage assuming maximum capacity drives. However, a major divergence emerges when we examine drive compatibility policies. The DS1522+ follows Synology’s older, more permissive approach: users may install third-party drives from brands like Seagate, Western Digital, or Toshiba with only warning messages shown during setup. Storage pools, RAID arrays, and DSM installation all proceed without functional restrictions, making it a flexible platform for users with existing drives or cost-sensitive deployments.

Storage Feature	Synology DS1522+	Synology DS1525+
Drive Bays	5 × 3.5″/2.5″ SATA HDD/SSD (Hot-swappable)	5 × 3.5″/2.5″ SATA HDD/SSD (Hot-swappable)
M.2 NVMe Slots	2 × M.2 2280 (Cache only, 3rd-party SSDs allowed)	2 × M.2 2280 (Cache & Storage Pool, Synology SSDs only)
Maximum Drive Bays (with Expansion)	15 (with 2 × DX517 via eSATA)	15 (with 2 × DX525 via USB-C)
Supported RAID Types	SHR, Basic, JBOD, RAID 0/1/5/6/10	SHR, Basic, JBOD, RAID 0/1/5/6/10
Max Internal Volumes	64	32
Max Volume Size	108 TB	200 TB (requires 32 GB RAM)
NVMe Storage Pool Support	Not supported	Supported (Synology SNV drives only)
3rd-Party Drive Support	Fully supported (with warnings)	Blocked (DSM install/expansion/recovery restricted)
RAID Recovery with Unverified Drives	Supported	Not allowed
Storage Pool Expansion (Unverified)	Supported	Blocked
Hot Spare Assignment (Unverified)	Supported	Blocked
Drive Migration (with 3rd-party drives)	Functional, with warnings	Allowed, but persistent warnings & blocked expansion

The DS1525+, by contrast, enforces the strict drive verification policy introduced in Synology’s newer Plus series models, like the DS925+ and DS1825+. At launch, only Synology-branded drives (HAT3300, HAT5300, SAT5200, and SNV3400 series) are listed as officially compatible. If users attempt to initialize DSM using unverified HDDs—such as a standard WD Red Plus or Seagate IronWolf—the installation process will be blocked entirely. This represents a significant limitation for long-time Synology users who are accustomed to broader hardware flexibility. Even after successful DSM setup, the system will not allow users to expand storage pools, rebuild degraded RAID arrays, or assign hot spares using non-verified drives. Persistent warnings and degraded status indicators in Storage Manager will appear even for migrated volumes, making the DS1525+ less accommodating for mixed-media configurations or DIY upgrades. SATA SSDs, while slightly more flexible in some scenarios, are still subject to similar warning behaviors post-install.

Further separating the two models is support for NVMe-based storage pools. The DS1522+ only allows M.2 NVMe SSDs to be used for read/write caching, and it permits the use of third-party SSDs for this function, giving users a cost-effective route to performance acceleration. The DS1525+, however, allows these NVMe slots to be used for full DSM storage volumes—but only when using Synology-verified SNV-series SSDs. This enables the creation of fast, low-latency storage pools using NVMe media, which is a compelling advantage for certain workflows (like media scratch disks or high-speed sync folders). Still, the restricted compatibility policy limits practical utility for those who already own quality NVMe drives from other vendors. In short, while the DS1525+ technically offers more advanced storage architecture, the DS1522+ offers far more freedom, especially for users managing legacy systems, migrating data from older Synology devices, or sourcing their own HDDs and SSDs independently.

Synology DS1525+ vs DS1522+ NAS Comparison – DSM Capabilities

Both the DS1525+ and DS1522+ run Synology’s DSM 7.2 operating system and provide access to the same broad library of official and third-party packages. This includes core applications such as Synology Drive for file sync and access, Synology Office for collaborative documents, and Active Backup for Business for system-wide backup management. The app experience is largely identical on both devices, with support for Virtual Machine Manager, Hyper Backup, Snapshot Replication, Synology Photos, and Surveillance Station. However, the differences in system hardware and compatibility enforcement subtly influence how DSM behaves and what features remain available under different configurations. For example, both models support up to 256 snapshots per shared folder and a system-wide maximum of 4,096 snapshots, but users on the DS1525+ will be subject to stricter compatibility enforcement in DSM’s Storage Manager if using drives that aren’t on Synology’s approved list.

DSM Feature / Capability	Synology DS1522+	Synology DS1525+
DSM Version	DSM 7.2+	DSM 7.2+
Max Internal Volumes	64	32 ▼
Max Single Volume Size	108 TB	200 TB (requires 32 GB RAM) ▲
Snapshot Replication	256 per shared folder / 4,096 total system snapshots	256 per shared folder / 4,096 total system snapshots
Synology Drive Users	Up to 60	Up to 80 ▲
Synology Office Users	Up to 60	Up to 80 ▲
Virtual Machine Manager (VMs)	Up to 4 Virtual Machines	Up to 8 Virtual Machines ▲
Virtual DSM Instances (Licensed)	Up to 4	Up to 8 (1 free license) ▲
Hybrid Share Folder Limit	10	10
Surveillance Station (H.265)	40 cameras / up to 1200 FPS	40 cameras / up to 1200 FPS
Maximum SMB Connections (RAM Expanded)	30	40 ▲
RAID Recovery with 3rd-Party Drives	Supported	Blocked
Storage Expansion with Unverified Drives	Supported	Blocked
Hot Spare (Unverified Drives)	Supported	Blocked
M.2 NVMe Caching (3rd-Party SSDs)	Supported	Blocked
NVMe Storage Pool Creation	Not supported	Supported (Synology SNV SSDs only)
DSM Storage Manager Behavior (Unverified)	Warnings only, all features functional	Persistent alerts, blocks expansions and rebuilds
High Availability Support	Yes	Yes
Full System Backup (Hyper Backup)	Yes (DSM 7.2+)	Yes (DSM 7.2+)

Where this becomes particularly relevant is during system migration or advanced storage scenarios. The DS1522+ handles drive migration and unverified HDDs without functional limitation. DSM will display minor warnings but still permit RAID recovery, storage pool expansion, hot spare assignments, and cache creation—even with mixed-brand hardware. By contrast, the DS1525+ introduces active blocks within DSM for unsupported drives. Users migrating from older Synology NAS devices using drives like WD Red Plus or Seagate IronWolf will find that, while the DS1525+ may import the pool, DSM will flag the drives as unverified and prevent future RAID rebuilds or expansions unless all disks are from Synology’s supported list. These alerts cannot be disabled, and they will persist across the user interface, making the system appear at risk even if the drives themselves are healthy. This creates a significant difference in administrative experience, especially for IT professionals managing multiple systems or resellers integrating legacy hardware.

In terms of user and service scalability, the DS1525+ supports slightly higher limits overall. It allows for up to 80 Synology Drive users and Office users (versus 60 each on the DS1522+) and can support up to 8 concurrent virtual machines versus 4 on the DS1522+, assuming sufficient RAM is installed. Surveillance Station camera and FPS limits are virtually identical, and both models support High Availability, Hybrid Share, SAN Manager, and central management features. However, the DS1525+ supports larger single volume sizes—up to 200 TB if upgraded to 32 GB RAM—compared to the DS1522+’s 108 TB ceiling. In return, the DS1522+ offers more internal volume flexibility with support for up to 64 volumes, double the DS1525+’s 32 volume limit. This trade-off reflects Synology’s shifting priorities in DSM: the DS1525+ favors fewer, denser volumes and more centralized control, while the DS1522+ gives power users finer-grained storage separation. Both systems excel with DSM, but your experience will differ depending on whether you prioritize scalability and structure—or open, hardware-flexible operation.

Synology DS1525+ vs DS1522+ NAS Comparison – Conclusion

The Synology DS1525+ and DS1522+ may look nearly identical on the outside, but they diverge sharply in philosophy, system behavior, and long-term value. The DS1522+, launched in 2022, stands as one of the last truly flexible 5-bay NAS systems in Synology’s portfolio. It offers a dual-core AMD Ryzen R1600 processor with excellent single-thread performance and supports up to 15 drives with two DX517 expansions. More importantly, it retains the traditional Synology approach to third-party drive compatibility—meaning users can install and operate a wide range of HDDs and SSDs (Seagate, WD, Toshiba, etc.) without system blocks. DSM will issue warnings if a drive isn’t officially listed, but critical features like RAID recovery, storage pool expansion, and hot spare assignment continue to function. That level of hardware openness makes the DS1522+ particularly attractive to power users, budget-conscious builders, and small IT teams looking to repurpose existing hardware. The DS1525+, released in 2025, represents a subtle but significant shift in Synology’s design strategy. On paper, it offers solid upgrades: a quad-core AMD Ryzen V1500B processor that enables better multitasking, faster 2.5GbE LAN ports for improved data throughput, lower noise and power consumption, and full NVMe storage pool support (with Synology SSDs). These improvements make the DS1525+ a better fit for users running multiple simultaneous services—such as Surveillance Station, Synology Drive, and Docker containers—all while maintaining smooth operation. However, these benefits come with stricter limitations. The unit enforces Synology’s 2025-era drive verification policy, which outright blocks DSM installation or RAID operations with unverified drives. Migration is allowed, but users will be met with persistent warnings, degraded system status indicators, and feature restrictions that can’t be bypassed. The flexibility to reuse older drives, expand arrays freely, or mix hardware brands has been systematically curtailed.

In essence, the choice between these two NAS systems reflects more than just performance—it’s a decision between openness and control. The DS1522+ remains a strong all-rounder for users who want to build their system on their own terms, manage diverse storage needs, or repurpose hardware they already trust. It’s well-suited to small businesses, creators, and experienced users who value transparency and adaptability. The DS1525+, by comparison, is more refined, but also more prescriptive. It favors users willing to commit fully to Synology’s ecosystem—those who prioritize simplicity, tighter integration, and long-term consistency, even at the expense of flexibility. It’s a better fit for turnkey environments where reliability and vendor support matter more than customization. Both NAS devices are excellent in their own right, but the right choice depends entirely on how much control you’re willing to trade for convenience—and whether your NAS should be a platform you shape, or a solution that shapes your workflow.

Aspect	Synology DS1522+	Synology DS1525+
Pros	– Broad 3rd-party HDD/SSD compatibility	– 2.5GbE LAN ports for faster networking out of the box
	– Fully supports RAID recovery, expansion, and hot spares with any drive	– NVMe SSDs can be used for storage pools (Synology SSDs only)
	– Better suited for drive migration from older NAS systems	– Quad-core CPU enables better multitasking and virtualization
	– More internal volumes supported (up to 64)	– Lower power draw and slightly quieter operation
	– Ideal for budget-conscious users and mixed-brand deployments	– Slightly higher user caps in DSM apps (Drive, Office, VMM)
Cons	– Only 1GbE networking unless upgraded	– Blocks DSM install and critical functions with unverified drives
	– No support for NVMe storage pools	– Only Synology SSDs supported for caching or NVMe volumes
	– Lower VM performance ceiling (dual-core CPU)	– Fewer internal volumes supported (32 max)
		– Less suitable for users with existing 3rd-party storage hardware
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Is the CWWK N355 Soft Router Firewall / NAS Box Worth Your Data? (Review)

DIY router boxes have gained popularity in recent years, especially those coming out of China with various hardware configurations. The CWWK N355-powered firewall appliance is an intriguing option, not just as a high-performance router but also as a potential NAS device. Unlike many reviews that focus on its networking capabilities, this review explores its viability as a compact and efficient NAS solution.

CWWK N355 DIY 10GbE Router/NAS Review – Quick Conclusion

The CWWK N355 is a well-rounded and versatile device that excels in networking, virtualization, and compact NAS applications, thanks to its dual 10GbE SFP+ ports, 2.5GbE LAN, expandable DDR5 RAM, and M.2 NVMe storage support. It is a compelling choice for firewall applications, Proxmox virtualization, and even lightweight NAS or media server setups, offering a balance of performance and connectivity in a compact and durable metal chassis with active cooling. The Alder Lake-N N355 CPU delivers efficient multi-core performance, making it suitable for running multiple services, including Docker containers, VMs, and network security applications. Additionally, its expandable memory and storage options give users flexibility, though its storage implementation is somewhat restrictive due to only one native NVMe slot and a SATA port with no internal mounting space. However, its aging Intel 82599ES 10GbE controller, high idle power consumption of 21-22W, and lack of full-speed PCIe lanes limit its potential for high-performance NAS deployments. While it can handle moderate file-sharing and media streaming workloads, users who require full 10GbE speeds, extensive storage expansion, and power efficiency may find better options in dedicated NAS motherboards with PCIe slots or higher-efficiency processors. Still, for those looking for a compact, high-speed network appliance with strong customization potential, the CWWK N355 remains a solid choice for advanced home labs, small business networking, and hybrid router-NAS setups. As long as users are aware of its networking bottlenecks and storage limitations, it offers impressive versatility and performance at an attractive price point.

BUILD QUALITY - 8/10

HARDWARE - 8/10

PERFORMANCE - 7/10

PRICE - 10/10

VALUE - 10/10

8.6

PROS

High-Speed Networking: Equipped with dual 10GbE SFP+ ports and two 2.5GbE LAN ports, providing excellent connectivity for advanced networking setups.
Expandable Storage: Features two M.2 NVMe slots (one requiring an adapter) and a SATA 3.0 port, allowing for versatile storage configurations.
Efficient Alder Lake-N CPU: The Intel N355 (8C/8T, up to 3.8GHz) offers efficient performance for firewall applications, Proxmox, lightweight NAS, and media servers.
DDR5 Memory Support: Supports up to 48GB DDR5 RAM, enabling smooth multitasking, virtualization, and Docker/containerized environments.
Robust Build and Cooling: Full aluminum chassis acts as a heat sink, with a top-mounted active cooling fan for effective thermal management.
Wide OS Compatibility: Works with Windows 11 Pro, Linux distributions, ESXi, OPNsense, pfSense, OpenWrt, and TrueNAS, making it highly flexible.
Compact and Power-Efficient: Small form factor and 15W TDP CPU make it space-saving and relatively low-power compared to traditional rack-mounted alternatives.

CONS

Aging 10GbE Controller: The Intel 82599ES 10GbE chipset is outdated, limiting maximum network speeds and performance efficiency in high-bandwidth workloads.
Limited SATA Storage Options: While it includes a SATA 3.0 port, there is no internal mounting space for a 2.5-inch drive, requiring external solutions.
Higher Idle Power Draw: Consumes 21-22W at idle, which is higher than dedicated NAS devices, potentially affecting long-term energy costs.

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The CWWK N355 features a robust industrial design, with an all-metal chassis that acts as a heat sink, efficiently dissipating heat from critical components. The exterior is entirely metal, including the base panel, which features mesh ventilation to enhance airflow. A top-mounted active cooling fan ensures consistent airflow across the CPU and networking components, preventing thermal throttling under sustained workloads.

Internally, copper heat plates are placed over the CPU and 10GbE controllers, allowing for direct heat transfer to the chassis. This cooling system is highly effective, maintaining temperatures within safe limits even under heavy network and storage loads. During testing, the device remained at an average of 50-55°C under full load, with the fan producing minimal noise.

The cooling implementation makes the CWWK N355 a viable option for extended use in high-performance NAS, virtualization, or firewall applications where thermal efficiency is crucial. Given its mix of powerful networking features, ample connectivity, and storage options, this device has the potential to serve a broader range of applications than just routing. However, evaluating its strengths and weaknesses is crucial before repurposing it for a NAS setup.

One of the standout features of the CWWK N355 is its impressive network connectivity. Equipped with dual 10GbE SFP+ ports and two 2.5GbE i226V LAN ports, it offers significantly more bandwidth than traditional consumer NAS devices.

These high-speed connections enable rapid file transfers, efficient virtualization networking, and multi-user simultaneous access without bottlenecks.

It also includes two M.2 NVMe slots and a SATA 3.0 port, making it highly flexible for storage configurations. This means users can integrate fast NVMe storage while still having the option to include traditional SATA drives for cost-effective capacity expansion.

The aluminum chassis with active cooling enhances its thermal efficiency, ensuring stable operation even under load, a crucial aspect for maintaining performance in continuous 24/7 operation.

The N355 CPU, an Alder Lake-N processor, brings 8 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 1.8GHz and a boost up to 3.8GHz. This processor is designed for efficiency while maintaining a respectable level of performance for various workloads.

It also features integrated Intel UHD graphics, which allows it to handle lightweight GPU tasks such as video decoding, remote desktop applications, and low-power graphical processing.

The DDR5 SO-DIMM slot supports up to 48GB RAM, although some listings mention 32GB as the maximum. This expanded memory capacity is particularly beneficial for virtualization, allowing users to run multiple lightweight VMs, containers, and even a Plex media server with modest hardware-accelerated transcoding capabilities.

The combination of efficient CPU performance and expandable RAM makes it versatile, but users should be aware of its limitations when handling resource-intensive applications.

However, storage expansion comes with some challenges. While the device technically supports two M.2 NVMe drives, only one slot is a standard 2280 interface. The second slot requires an adapter, which is included, but adds complexity to installation. This additional requirement may be a concern for users who are less experienced with hardware modifications or prefer simpler plug-and-play configurations.

The SATA drive support is somewhat limited—while the port is available, there is no dedicated internal space for mounting a 2.5-inch drive inside the enclosure, meaning external mounting is necessary. This lack of internal SATA mounting may be a dealbreaker for those who prefer a more integrated and clutter-free build. While external enclosures or adapters could be used to house SATA drives, it introduces additional complexity and potential cable management issues.

Power consumption is another area of concern. Under idle conditions, the device draws 21-22W, which is quite high compared to traditional NAS appliances. Many consumer NAS systems are designed to run efficiently at around 10W to 15W when idle, making this unit significantly more power-hungry when not under load.

Under load, with 10GbE connections active, VMs running, and storage drives in use, power consumption reaches 36W. While this is still within reasonable limits for a device offering high-speed networking and multi-core processing, it is something to consider for users prioritizing energy efficiency. Over time, the additional power draw may add up, especially for those running multiple devices in a home or small business setup. If power efficiency is a critical factor, other lower-power options might be preferable.

Performance-wise, the M.2 NVMe drives achieve read speeds of up to 720MB/s and write speeds of 690MB/s.

While SATA performance peaks at around 200MB/s with a standard HDD. These speeds are respectable but fall short of fully utilizing the available 10GbE networking potential.

While this is acceptable for most home NAS applications, the 82599ES 10GbE controller is a notable bottleneck. It is an older PCIe Gen2 x4-based controller (in this deployment at least), which limits full 10GbE speeds.

In testing, even with dual 10GbE connections active, network transfers maxed out at around 600-700Mbps per link, rather than saturating the full 10GbE bandwidth on each of them.

This suggests that while it is capable of handling high-speed transfers, it is not the ideal choice for users who need to maximize 10GbE connectivity for large-scale data transfers or enterprise workloads.

While the CWWK N355 offers excellent networking and processing power, its relatively aging 10GbE controller, high idle power consumption, and limited internal storage space make it less ideal for an all-purpose NAS. However, it excels as a high-performance firewall/router, Proxmox host, or Plex server for users who can work around these limitations.

Users interested in setting up an advanced home lab or small business server might find this device appealing due to its networking flexibility, processing capability, and virtualization potential. While it lacks native software optimization found in dedicated NAS brands, those comfortable with manual setup and open-source NAS software will find it a capable and adaptable device.

For those seeking a dedicated NAS solution with full 10GbE performance, an ITX motherboard with PCIe 3.0 slots and dedicated storage expansion might be a better alternative. Such options would provide greater flexibility for storage expansion, more efficient networking solutions, and overall better optimization for NAS workloads. But if you’re looking for a compact, all-in-one networking and storage device, the CWWK N355 is an impressive contender.

Just be mindful of the legacy components and potential bottlenecks before making your final decision. With the right configuration and expectations, it can serve as a cost-effective and powerful addition to a home lab or small business network setup.

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Synology Explain WHY They Changed Drive Support and Verification in 2025 NAS

During a recent visit to Taipei for Computex 2025, I took the opportunity to visit Synology’s headquarters and speak directly with company representatives about one of the most discussed and divisive topics in the NAS community today — the company’s increasingly strict stance on hard drive compatibility. With the rollout of Synology’s latest generation of hardware, users have been met with significant limitations on the use of third-party drives, prompting concern over reduced flexibility, potential e-waste, and the future direction of Synology’s hardware ecosystem. This article provides a can overview of that visit, beginning with the HQ tour, but mainly it is about putting several big questions users have about the brand’s change in support of Seagate, WD, etc on their 2025 devices.

Four core questions — based on direct community feedback — were put forward, addressing the motivation, risks, and future implications of Synology’s current drive support policy. Each answer is presented exactly as delivered. Note, this article is not sponsored by Synology and they have no control over the editorial stance and output! For users, partners, and industry observers alike, understanding these policy shifts is essential for making informed decisions about Synology systems moving forward.

Touring the Synology Headquarters

The Synology headquarters tour took place during a coordinated visit arranged alongside the Computex 2025 trade event. Approximately 30 to 40 individuals were in attendance, a mix that included official Synology partners, resellers, independent media, and technology commentators. The tour began with a structured company overview presentation outlining Synology’s operational history, business units, and market positioning.

While much of this information was familiar to long-term observers, it served to reinforce the company providing integrated storage and data management solutions. The presentation also included a brief overview of Synology’s global distribution and the evolving structure of its enterprise product lines.

Attendees were then guided through various areas of the facility, which covered several floors within a shared building. Synology does not occupy the entire structure, but the portions shown during the tour were substantial, comprising office sections, collaborative workspaces, logistics coordination areas, and support-related operations. Notably, many desks were temporarily unoccupied due to staff presence at Computex’s Nangang Exhibition Center.

Nonetheless, the offices remained populated with active terminals and systems undergoing live testing.

A significant portion of the tour focused on the environmental and durability testing facilities, including designated zones for acoustic profiling, thermal analysis, and dust resilience. The diversity of units being tested suggested coverage across multiple device classes, including both rackmount and desktop models.

The most extensive portion of the tour was the dedicated test and burn-in area. This floor was almost entirely devoted to long-term performance and diagnostic evaluations. Numerous Synology NAS units — some dating back to the early 2010s — were in continuous operation, either running synthetic workloads or undergoing compatibility assessments with the current DSM operating system.

The presence of so many legacy devices in active testing underscored the company’s emphasis on software longevity and cross-generational hardware support. However, it also provided a contrast to Synology’s new strict verification policies, especially given the mixed hardware environments visible during testing. The tour was led by ZP Kao, Sales Director at Synology, and Chad Chiang, Regional Manager for the UK and Germany, who offered clarification and responded to several direct inquiries during the walkthrough.

Why Has Synology Changed Its HDD Support Policy? Questions and Answers

Questions I put to Synology about their change in policy regarding verifying and supporting drive media being used on their 2025 and later series of NAS devices. I based these on the comments and suggestions from videos on the YouTube channel and comments on previous articles. I am under no illusions that these changes by Synology in their drive support policies have financial justifications (ranging from Support efficiency and it’s financial overhead, to the simple profitability of prioritizing their own labelled firmware optimized storage media choices over those of other brands), but I wanted to know if these were the only reasons for this? What other reasons could Synology provide to support this large and unpopular move. Thank you once again to Chad Chiang for taking the time to answer these questions.

Note – for a better understanding of the current DSM Support of Unverified media, as well as test scenarios detailing each setup and how DSM handles it, you can read it HERE in my Test Article.

How has the verification process changed for which drives you can use on Synology systems moving forward? And are there drive options from WD and Seagate currently undergoing support verification?

Answer – At Synology, we constantly reflect on a core question: Why do people choose a NAS? We believe the answer lies in the need for secure, reliable, and hassle-free data storage. This belief has guided our mission for over a decade. When analyzing our support history, the data clearly shows that systems using Synology-branded drives experience 40% fewer issues compared to those with third-party HDDs. This insight underscores the importance of using thoroughly tested drives. As for which third-party vendors are currently undergoing drive verification, we’re unable to disclose details. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, we recommend reaching out directly to the respective manufacturers.

The response positions Synology’s verification changes as a reliability-focused initiative and smooth platform running as the chief reasoning for them, referencing internal data that suggests a 40% reduction in support issues when Synology-branded drives are used. However, as mentioned previously, the statement does not provide supporting metrics such as sample size, timeframes, or specific failure modes, making it difficult to assess the scope or significance of this claim. I do not doubt that it is true, but without the X/Y and details of how this result was achieved, we are only getting half the story here.  The policy shift is framed as a precautionary measure aimed at minimizing user disruption, but the absence of transparency regarding ongoing verifications with WD or Seagate limits clarity for users seeking alternatives – which is why users are seeing this more as a means for the brand to increase profitability in the 2025 series as a bundled utility purchase – not as a means of system stability.

Ultimately, discussing the technical standards or benchmarks involved in the verification process in paramount here. It largely confirms that responsibility for future third-party compatibility lies with the drive manufacturers themselves, effectively shifting the onus of transparency to them. While it is understandable that Synology might want to mitigate support complexity, the lack of specificity about how the verification criteria have evolved or what steps vendors must follow leaves key questions unanswered for both users and third-party storage providers. I reached out to representatives from Seagate and WD to see if they could elaborate further on this new media side verification process with their respective NAS/Server class media – neither was able to provide further details at this time.

UPDATED 07-05-25 = Added Unverified HDD and SSD (Migrated) Storage Pool RAID Repair, RAID POOL Expansion and Hot Spare Tests. Right now, the following is what works and what does not (between pre-2025 Series and the 2025 Series that is releasing now):

Feature / Function	Pre-2025 Synology NAS<br>(e.g., DS1821+, DS920+, DS923+)	2025 Synology NAS<br>(e.g., DS1825+, DS925+, DS1525+)
DSM Installation – Verified Drives	Full support	Full support
DSM Installation – Non-Verified Drives	Allowed (with warnings)	Blocked completely
Drive Migration (Non-Verified Drives)	Fully functional, minor alerts	Works, but shows persistent warnings
Storage Pool Creation – Verified Drives	Fully supported	Fully supported
Storage Pool Creation – Non-Verified Drives	Allowed (with warnings)	Blocked
Storage Pool Expansion – Verified Drives	Fully supported	Fully supported
Storage Pool Expansion – Non-Verified Drives	Allowed (mixed arrays supported)	Blocked – drives flagged as incompatible
Hot Spare Assignment – Verified Drives	Fully supported	Fully supported
Hot Spare Assignment – Non-Verified Drives	Allowed	Blocked
RAID Recovery – Verified Drives	Supported	Supported
RAID Recovery – Non-Verified Drives	Supported	Blocked – system will not rebuild with unverified media
M.2 NVMe Cache – Synology SSDs	Supported	Supported
M.2 NVMe Cache – 3rd Party SSDs	Supported	Blocked
M.2 NVMe Storage Pools – Synology SSDs	Not supported	Supported
M.2 NVMe Storage Pools – 3rd Party SSDs	Not supported	Blocked
SMART Monitoring – Verified Drives	Full support	Full support
SMART Monitoring – Non-Verified Drives	Full support	Limited or blocked (TBC)
Storage Manager Alerts – Non-Verified Drives	Warnings, dismissible	Persistent, cannot be cleared
Overall Compatibility Flexibility	High – mix-and-match drives allowed	Low – walled-garden enforcement

Users are able to migrate existing storage arrays that feature Unverified/unsupported drive media in previous Synology systems into 2025 Plus series devices and still use DSM services – however once they do so, they are unable to use the same model ID of drives to perform RAID recovery, RAID expansion or introduced a hot spare, unless that drive is on the verified drive list. Why is this?

Answer- Advanced operations such as RAID recovery, expansion, or hot spare assignment are technically intensive and carry a higher risk of data loss if inconsistencies arise. Drives that haven’t been validated through Synology’s verification process may behave unpredictably under stress, impacting array stability or performance. For this reason, support for these functions is limited to verified drives—a precaution designed to safeguard user data and maintain long-term system reliability.

So, this answer outlines Synology’s rationale for restricting critical RAID operations on unverified drives and It emphasizes the increased risk associated with advanced storage operations, particularly when performed on drives that may not have been tested under stress or fault conditions. The justification focuses on data integrity and system reliability, suggesting that verified drives have undergone stress testing scenarios that others have not. However, the lack of granularity in what defines “unpredictable behavior” makes it difficult to independently evaluate the severity or frequency of these issues. Much like the statistics point earlier, this seems a remarkable stretch in terms of reaction to what many users would consider a very, very low % risk factor. Equally, though there is an argument that some drive media is less suitable for NAS usage (eg the WD Red SMR drives, desktop single drive use media like Seagate Barracuda and high power draw HDDs/SSDs in some cases), these make up a very small % of drive media in the market and using this as a reasoning to effectively bar the continued support of drive media that has been supported/used in Synology server use over the last 2 decades to prevent RAID recovery and Expansion in the latest gen for those carrying them over seems insane overkill.

The policy effectively limits upgradability and flexibility in mixed-drive environments. While it is technically reasonable to restrict risky operations on unvalidated components, the ability to migrate but not expand or rebuild a RAID introduces a half-measure — allowing users to enter unsupported configurations while restricting them mid-cycle. The result is a system state that may appear functional at first but ultimately lacks key functionality unless users conform to the verified list. For long-term users upgrading from older systems, this shift can lead to unexpected limitations without adequate warning, particularly in small or home office deployments. The messaging has been poor and though I made a video about these limitations (embedded above), there is practically no other clear and transparent information about this online (with incongruous detailson the Synology Knowledge base that could stand to be a lot clearer and louder).

HOT TAKE, and hear me out – If Synology do not allow support of RAID repair/Expansion on drives that have been migrated over from older NAS systems where the drives WERE originally supported (unless they use 2025 verified drives) because of reasons of stability, I have a somewhat extreme suggestion. As unpopular as it might have been, Synology should have just BARRED the support of migration from older generation Synology NAS devices with unverified drives entirely. I personally think they should have allowed for RAID repair/Expansion of unverified drives, but if they are going to pursue this for reasons of system stability, they should have committed to this fully and not allowed this grey area with migration. As it just looks bad for the brand, as means of ensuring people can upgrade/remain in the ecosystem, but then have limited scalability when those older drives require replacement/growth.

Were pre-populated Synology NAS devices considered, given the strict verified support stance that this new Synology hardware generation contains?

Answer – Regarding pre-populated NAS solutions, there hasn’t been significant internal discussion or a formal strategy around this model. As such, I don’t have a concrete answer at this time. The focus remains on ensuring that any storage media used—whether user-installed or bundled—is fully verified to meet Synology’s reliability standards.

Not much to unpack here. It makes sense. I imagine they DID discuss this as an option (as they are already engaging with this with systems like the Beestation), but at least for now, it seems off the table. As unpopular as this might have been, in some ways it could have solved a lot of this friction for some users. Provide the 2025 PLUS series as an empty/enclosure-only solution with similar compatibility as the 2024 and earlier generation – but then also supply several pre-populated options that feature Synology drive media as standard. However, that would be a different discussion entirely (eg logistics, SKUs, viability, ROI by offering this alongside flexible options).

Can you provide example(s) of critical system issues that using unverified drives caused, that were the tipping point for this new strict HDD support policy?

Examples of what stepped up our verification process moving forward:

Performance Issues: Unverified drives may function under light workloads but can suffer serious performance drops (e.g., IOPS decline) under multi-user access or when running demanding services like virtualization, backup, or databases. This can lead to poor user experience or service disruptions (e.g., iSCSI timeouts).

Stability Risks: Without thorough testing, unverified drives are more prone to failures under stress conditions such as unexpected power loss or long-duration file transfers—leading to timeouts, reboot failures, or data integrity issues in high-load or long-term operations.

Compatibility Problems: Drives not validated for compatibility may show unstable behavior with certain NAS controllers, resulting in drive drops, RAID instability, or data access interruptions over time.

Advanced Feature Failures: Unverified drives may fail during operations like SMART testing or Secure Erase, especially after unexpected power outages. Some drives may not respond properly under frequent access or specific command sets, affecting system stability.

Drive Failures Under High Load or Density: Some drives may become unresponsive under high data density or I/O intensity, with issues persisting even after a reset.

The examples provided by Synology highlight a variety of operational issues associated with unverified drives, most of which relate to performance degradation, system instability, or failure of advanced features under stress. These scenarios focus on workloads involving sustained I/O, power fluctuations, and controller-level interactions. In isolation, many of the issues described are plausible for lower-tier or unsuitable drive models, particularly in demanding or enterprise-like environments. That said, that are very low margins (eg 0.01% or lower) when you look at the traditional deployment of many Synology NAS solution in the Plus series. Again though, the scale and frequency of these issues remain unclear. There is no indication of how widespread such failures are across Synology’s user base, nor whether they represent rare edge cases or common occurrences. The examples also apply more logically to enterprise or high-density configurations, whereas the same strict policies now affect all tiers — including two-bay and four-bay systems used by home and prosumer users. Without concrete statistics or clearer thresholds, it is difficult to assess whether these issues justify the breadth of the policy. The policy appears to target potential worst-case scenarios, but may have broader consequences for user flexibility than the risk profile necessarily warrants.

Additional Information and Details from the MyBroadband Article

Further context on Synology’s new drive compatibility policy was provided in an interview between MyBroadband journalist Daniel Puchert (click to read) and Michael Chang, Synology’s Regional Sales Manager. The discussion reinforced many of the points raised during the HQ visit, while also offering additional information into the motivations behind Synology’s stricter approach to drive support in their latest generation of NAS systems. Chang explained that Synology’s primary objective was to ensure product reliability and reduce system-level faults that were increasingly traced back to third-party hard drives. According to Chang, complaints received by Synology often involved third-party drive issues, yet Synology would still be held accountable by users due to their role as the NAS provider. This prompted the company to centralize responsibility and tighten control over supported hardware configurations. While Synology-branded drives are currently the only models certified, Chang noted that other vendors are being invited to participate in the compatibility validation program — provided they meet the same testing standards.

(In the case of the NAS drives) “..because Synology’s product would typically facilitate the usage of third-party hard drives, it would also be the scapegoat for any faults with the entire system.”

“..complaints received by Synology regarding issues relating to its NAS devices were most often caused by faulty hard drives.

“severe storage anomalies have decreased by up to 88%” for hard drive models that have adopted its hard drive compatibility policy, compared to older models.”

“We still welcome third parties to join Synology’s ecosystem and have invited vendors to join our validation program,”

Michael Chang, Synology Regional Sales Manager – full article HERE

The article also mentioned that Synology-certified drives undergo over 7,000 hours of testing, and systems using those drives reportedly experience 40% fewer failures than those using uncertified media. Additionally, Synology claims that severe storage anomalies have dropped by up to 88% in systems following its compatibility policy. Although Chang confirmed that third-party compatibility may expand in the future, it will only do so under strict adherence to Synology’s internal benchmarks. These statements align with Synology’s position during the HQ tour, further emphasizing a shift toward a closed, highly controlled ecosystem that prioritizes consistent performance over hardware flexibility.

Synology and HDD Support and Verification – Conclusion and the Long Term

My biggest issue with all this is that, almost certainly, we are going to see Seagate, WD, Toshiba and more slow (slooooooooowly) appear on the compatibility lists for a number of the 2025 generation of devices over the coming months. So, what was all this for? The PR damage and likely early sales damage of the Synolgoy 2025 Series because of this change of support I would estimate is going to be pretty substantial – and all the reports and reactions to this online are not going to go away as soon as a Seagate Ironwolf or WD Red drive appears on the support lists. Also, Synology work on these devices for a very, very long time before launch – why is all this happening now – and not before launch. The cynic in me wants to just assume it was pure profitability and that Synology want to maximize profits, and if when this does begin to U-Trun ,that the brand can say that it was the plan all along. But whether that is true or not, the damage to the brand in the eyes of a substantial % of their long term fans is notable, and with many more players in the market (UniFi, QNAP, UGREEN and more) launching new products in Q3 and Q4 – is this all going to be a gamble by the brand that ends up costing them more than just leaving the support status quo where it was? Only time will tell.

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Where to Buy a Product
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If you like this service, please consider supporting us.
We use affiliate links on the blog allowing NAScompares information and advice service to be free of charge to you. Anything you purchase on the day you click on our links will generate a small commission which is used to run the website. Here is a link for Amazon and B&H. You can also get me a Ko-fi or old school Paypal. Thanks! To find out more about how to support this advice service check HERE   If you need to fix or configure a NAS, check Fiver   Have you thought about helping others with your knowledge? Find Instructions Here  

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TerraMaster continue de faire évoluer sa gamme de NAS avec l’annonce d’un nouveau modèle particulièrement intéressant : le F4 SSD. Derrière ce nom se cache un NAS full flash compact, équipé de 4 emplacements pour SSD NVMe, conçu pour répondre aux besoins en performance et en silence. Regardons de plus près ce nouveau produit…

TerraMaster F4 SSD

TerraMaster continue son chemin dans les NAS et nous annonce aujourd’hui l’arrivée prochaine d’un boitier pour le moins surprenant. Il s’agit d’un NAS  compact (138 x 60 x 140 mm) doté de 4 emplacements pour des SSD NVMe. Il est construit autour d’un processeur Quad Core Intel N95 capable d’atteindre 3,4 GHz et épaulé par 8 Go de RAM DDR5 (extensible jusqu’à 32 Go).

Ce processeur affiche un score PassMark de 5 358 points, ce qui le place au-dessus de nombreux modèles entrée/milieu de gamme. Il intègre également un iGPU utile pour le transcodage vidéo et un bloc d’accélération dédié aux charges de travail IA, notamment dans le traitement audio et vocal.

Positionnement dans la gamme TerraMaster

Le F4 SSD est une déclinaison du F8 SSD. Il séduira les utilisateurs à la recherche d’un NAS silencieux, rapide, et pensé pour un usage orienté SSD NVMe. TerraMaster le positionne bien sûr sur le stockage et la sauvegarde… mais aussi pour ses capacités multimédias.

TerraMaster met  en avant son silence. En marche, ce dernier n’émettrait pas que 19dB… Pour rappel, c’est le bruit du tic-tac d’une montre à 1 mètre. Un argument de poids pour une utilisation en environnement domestique ou dans un bureau silencieux. Pour vous rassurer, sachez que le NAS dispose d’un petit ventilateur au-dessous.

Test du TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus : un NAS full-flash performant

Connectique

Côté connectique, le F4 SSD ne déçoit pas. Il propose :

• 3 ports USB 3.2 Gen 2 à 10 Gb/s (2 x Type-A + 1 x Type-C),

• 1 port HDMI 2.0b pour la sortie vidéo,

• 1 port Ethernet 5 Gb/s.

La présence d’un port réseau 5 Gb/s est à souligner : moins courant que le 2,5 Gb/s ou le 10 Gb/s. Il offre une alternative intéressante pour ceux qui souhaitent un débit supérieur sans passer au très haut de gamme.

Prix et disponibilité

Le TerraMaster F4 SSD est déjà disponible sur le site officiel au tarif de 430 €. Une arrivée prochaine devrait suivre chez les revendeurs habituels.

Pour en savoir plus, rendez-vous sur la page officielle du produit…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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