A Guide to How Each Synology NAS Performs in Plex Media Server

Using a NAS as a Plex Media Server is something that seems to grow in popularity with each passing year! Perhaps it is the constant bickering between streaming platforms such as Disney+, Netflix and Prime as they fight over TV show streaming ownership, maybe it’s the rapid increase in costs – or perhaps it is simply that alot of users these days actually want to OWN the media they watch (as well as WATCH the media they own). Whatever the reason, many users look at Synology NAS solutions as affordable private servers that they can load their multimedia onto Box sets, Movies, Music, Audiobooks and Photos) and then stream them to devices in and outside the home. That is where Plex Media server comes in! Plex is, by far, the best way to replicate the kind of slick graphic user interface and design that streaming platforms provide, whilst allowing you to do so with your own media easily and automatically. Plex will scan and scrape metadata sources such as The Movie Database (TMDB) and IMDb for cast information, reviews, descriptions, trailers, thumbnails and more – then wrap it around your decades of media! Then they also allow you to stream it to multiple TVs, Phones, tablets and smart home devices to be enjoyed! What’s not to love? Not much right. Well, when it comes to buying a Synology NAS for Plex – there is a catch! Not all Synology NAS drives are built equally. Some have more powerful or more suitable hardware for Plex than others – and it doesn’t necessarily mean that spending MORE on a Synology NAS will automatically make it better for your ideal plex media server. So, in today’s article I want to cover the full rang eof Synology NAS systems in 2023 and how they perform in PLEX. A big thank you needs to go to the creator of this spreadsheet HERE for keeping track of the full spectrum of Synology NAS systems, their hardware and how they translate to performance when transcoding in Plex Media server.

In a Rush? Here are the Synology NAS I Recommend for Plex in 2023:

Synology DS423+ NAS – $460 4-Core Intel 64bit CPU -2/6GB Memory – 1GbE – 4-Bay	RECOMMENDED – Synology DS923+ – $575 2-Core AMD 64bit CPU – 4/16GB Memory – 1GbE – 10GbE Opt  – 4-Bay –  NVMe	Synology DS1823XS+ NAS – $1899 4-Core Intel Xeon 64bit CPU – 8/16GB Memory – 10GbE – 6-Bay –  NVMe
Best Transcoding Plex NAS Check Amazon Below for Current Prices/Stock	Best (non-Transcoding) Plex Solution Check Amazon Below for Current Prices/Stock	Best Heavy Plex Solution Check Amazon Below for Current Prices/Stock

The Plex Terminology Used in this Article

Before we go any further, it is important to clarify a few important terms that will crop up ALOT in this article. You can watch this video HERE for a full breakdown of Plex Terminology, but the most important and relevant ones to this article are as follows:

• SD, 160p, 240p, 480p, 720p, 1080p, 4K : The resolution refers to the level of detail at which media is displayed, ranging from SD to 160p, 240p, 480p, 720p, 1080p, and 4K. The higher the resolution, the more pixels are present, which is determined by the quality of the original recording. Displaying high-resolution media, such as 1080p and 4K, puts a heavier load on the NAS hardware. NAS devices with limited graphics capabilities or no graphics at all may struggle to play 4K media seamlessly or not play it at all. It’s important to keep in mind that just because a NAS brand, such as Synology, claims that their latest NAS is capable of natively playing 1080p or 4K media (natively meaning through their own software, client tools, and/or DLNA), this does not guarantee that the DS923+ A S will perform the same way with Plex. As Plex is a third-party tool, it may have different requirements and limitations.
• Transcoding, Encoding, Decoding: Transcoding, encoding, and decoding are various terms used when a media file needs to be transformed to be better suited for a specific device, internet connection, or hardware. When accessing media locally, transcoding may not be necessary, unless your files are mainly H.265/HEVC based. However, when accessing media from remote locations with limited bandwidth, weaker internet connection, or smaller devices, you may want to access the media in lower quality. This is where transcoding, or real-time encoding, comes in handy. Keep in mind that transcoding is one of the most demanding tasks for a NAS. To utilize the full resources of the NAS CPU, including its embedded graphics, you may need to enable the “Make My CPU Hurt” option in the encoder menu of the Plex NAS settings menu, which may require a Plex Pass subscription depending on the NAS.

• H.264, HEVC, H.265: The compression techniques H.264, HEVC, and H.265 are used to make large media presentations suitable for viewing on home devices. While H.264 is widely supported by all devices, not all have permission or a license to play H.265/HEVC, as the licensing and patents for H.265/HEVC are complex, expensive, and spread across multiple providers. This can lead to the need for automatic conversion/transcoding of H.265/HEVC media into H.264, which consumes more system resources. The Synology NAS drive, like the rest of the Synology NAS range, does not come with HEVC support by default.
• Bitrate:Bitrate refers to the quantity of data that is processed per unit of time, typically expressed in megabits per second (Mbps) for video and kilobits per second (kbps) for audio. The higher the bitrate, the better the quality and resolution of the media tends to be.

Choosing the Best Synology NAS for a Plex Media Server

When it comes to choosing the right Synology NAS for your Plex Media Server, below I have broken down the entire currently available NAS you can buy. I have broken them down into the following areas:

Model ID – This is the Name of the Synology NAS Device

CPU – This is the central processor of the Synology NAS server and this will be what decides the performance of your Plex Media Server

SD 480p / 576p –Most likely the lowest point at which you will need transcoding of a video media file, 480p was used for many early Plasma televisions, whereas 576p is considered Standard Definition in many countries worldwide

HD 720p – Otherwise known as ‘HD Ready’ or ‘Standard HD’, it is generally considered the lowest starting point for watching HD media and starts at 1280×720

HD 1080p – Widely regarded at ‘Full-HD’, it arrives at 1920×1080. Most media listed at high definition in 2020 will be 1080P

4K SDR 2160p – 4K SDR is the entry point into 4K Media. An SDR 2160p supported TV has around 4,000 lines of resolution (the lines across the screen that form the rows of pixels) but is not capable of completely showing the depth and richness of colours spectrum and contrast of 4K HDR. It is by no means a compromise and still an excellent picture, but rather this is due to the physical differences in the construction of the screen and not just how the images are processed, just like the differences between and SD and HDTV.

4K UHD HDR 2160p – The current top end of 4K Media file formats in popular commercial media. A 4K HDR TV has the same 4000 lines of resolution as those that support 4K SDR 2160p, but is physically capable of rendering an image with increased contrast and richer colours\separation thanks to the physical build superiority.

Be sure to check the kind of media you own (or plan on streaming from your Synology NAS), as well as the devices you will be playing back on for a better idea of what kind of plex media transcoding support you will need from your NAS server from Synology. Be sure to check the supported file types (most common modern files types you find for 1080p and 4K are .MKV .MP4 .MOV and .AVI).Below is the entire current Synology NASrange and how well they perform in the Plex Media Server Application with a single Stream.

What is Software Transcoding on a Synology Plex Media Server?

When media lives on your Synology NAS, sometimes the device a that you are playing back your plex media (Smart TV, iPhone, Laptop, iPod) onto cannot support the media file type (eg file format such as HEVC or audio formats like FLAC), the resolution or codec. In this case, the Plex Media Server on your Synology NAS will try to change the file to a more suitable version, on the fly, to ensure you can enjoy your media in the best way. This is known as transcoding and though the Plex application is actioning this with the software, the actual work is being done by the Synology NAS CPU. Software transcoding takes a heavy toll on the CPU and you will need a relatively powerful processor in order to support this feature. Typically the CPU will need to be:

• In Intel or AMD Based Based CPU that is 64bit (x86) in Architecture
• Higher than 1.6Ghz in Frequency
• More than 2 Cores

It is important to highlight that transcoding for Plex on a Synology NAS only really needs more power in the case of converting/changing video files. Audio and Image files will not require much support from the NAS.

What is Accelerated and Hardware Transcoding with Plex on my NAS?

Some Synology NAS arrive with a CPU that has improved rendering or graphical embedding enabled. This means that is Plex can utilize this hardware for transcoding, it will require much, much less of the CPU processing power to transcode a video file. In order to take advantage of Plex hardware transcoding on your Synology NAS, you will need to first check which NAS supports the transcoding to the extent you need by checking below. Next, you will need to upgrade your Plex Membership from the free version to the paid ‘Plex Pass’ subscription, as the option of Accelerated Transcoding with Synology NAS hardware is not included in the plex free subscription. The lists below feature all the current available Synology NAS and to what extent they support Hardware transcoding with a Plex Pass. To use Hardware Transcoding on your Synology NAS in a Plex Media Server, you need to enable it using the Plex Web access (head over to your Plex User interface on your browser.How to Enable Hardware Acceleration with Plex Media Server on a Synology NAS

1. Open the Plex Web app.
2. Navigate to Settings > Server > Transcoder to access the server settings.
3. Turn on Show Advanced in the upper-right corner to expose advanced settings.
4. Turn on Use hardware acceleration when available.
   
5. Click Save Changes at the bottom.

The changes should take place straight away and there is no need to reboot your Synology NAS. Be sure to have updated to the latest version of the Plex Media Server application on your NAS and that Hardware Transcoding is listed as supported in the list below.

Guide for the Chart Below

Software Transcode = Uses the NAS software and CPU Power to alter a file to a more suitable Plex Playback type

Hardware – Accelerated Transcoding – Uses Embedded Graphics that are Integrated into the CPU to Alter a file to a more suitable version for Plex Playback

RED BOX – Recommended Synology NAS for Plex Media Server. Could be based on Performance, Price or Value between both

Use the FREE ADVICE Button to contact me directly for a recommendation on the Best Plex NAS for your Setup/Budget. Please bear in mind that this is a one-man operation, so my reply might take a little bit of time, but it will be impartial, honest and have your best interests at heart.

This list is regularly updated HERE and full credit to this resource – it is AWESOME!

		Software Transcoding				Hardware – Accelerated Transcoding
Model	CPU Model	SD 480p / 576p	HD 720p	HD 1080p	4K SDR 2160p	SD 480p / 576p	HD 720p	HD 1080p	H.264 2160p	HEVC SDR 2160p	HEVC UHD 2160p
DS224+	x64 (Celeron J4125) 2.0 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	SDR Only	H.264 Output	H.264 Output
DS423+	x64 (Celeron J4125) 2.0 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	SDR Only	H.264 Output	H.264 Output
DS223	ARMv8 (RTD1619B) 1.1 Ghz	Awaiting App	Awaiting App	Awaiting App	Awaiting App	Awaiting App	Awaiting App	Awaiting App	Awaiting App	Awaiting App	Awaiting App
DS923+	x64 (Ryzen R1600) 2.6 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS723+	x64 (Ryzen R1600) 2.6 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS822+	x64 (Ryzen V1500B) 2.2 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS1522+	x64 (Ryzen R1600) 2.6 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS1221+ / RS1221RP+	x64 (Ryzen V1500B) 2.2 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS1621xs+	x64 (Xeon D-1527) 2.2Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS1621+	x64 (Ryzen V1500B) 2.2 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS1821+	x64 (Ryzen V1500B) 2.2 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS4021+	x64 ( Xeon D-1541) 2.1 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS3621+	x64 ( Xeon D-1541) 2.1 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS3621RPxs	x64 ( Xeon D-1541) 2.1 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS1520+	x64 (Celeron J4125) 2.0 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	SDR Only	H.264 Output	H.264 Output
DS120j	ARMv8 (Realtek 1296) 1.4Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS220j	aarch64 (Realtek 1296) 1.4Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS220+	x64 (Celeron J4025) 2.0 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	SDR Only	H.264 Output	H.264 Output
DS420j	aarch64 (Realtek 1296) 1.4Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS420+	x64 (Celeron J4025) 2.0 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	SDR Only	H.264 Output	H.264 Output
DS620slim	x64 (Celeron J3355) 2.0 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	SDR Only	H.264 Output	No
DS720+	x64 (Celeron J4125) 2.0 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	SDR Only	H.264 Output	H.264 Output
DS920+	x64 (Celeron J4125) 2.0 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	SDR Only	H.264 Output	H.264 Output
DS720+	x64 (Celeron J4125) 2.0 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	SDR Only	H.264 Output	H.264 Output
RS820+/RS820RP+	x64 (Atom C3538) 2.1 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS1221+ / RS1221RP+	x64 (Ryzen V1500B) 2.2 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS1621XS+	x64 (Xeon D-1527) 2.2Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS1621+	x64 (Ryzen V1500B) 2.2 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS1821+	x64 (Ryzen V1500B) 2.2 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS4021+	x64 ( Xeon D-1541) 2.1 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS3621+	x64 ( Xeon D-1541) 2.1 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS3621RPxs+	x64 ( Xeon D-1541) 2.1 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS418j	aarch64 (Realtek 1293) 1.4Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS418play	x64 (Celeron J3355) 2.0-2.5 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	H.264 Only	Decode Only	Decode Only
DS718+	x64 (Celeron J3455) 1.5-2.3 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	H.264 Only	Decode Only	Decode Only
DS918+	x64 (Celeron J3455) 1.5-2.3 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	H.264 Only	Decode Only	Decode Only
DS1618+	x64 (Atom C3538) 2.1 GHz	Yes	Some	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS818+ / RS818RP+	x64 (Atom C2538) 2.4 Ghz	Yes	Some	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS1517+	x64 (Atom C2538) 2.4 Ghz	Yes	Some	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS1817+	x64 (Atom C2538) 2.4 Ghz	Yes	Some	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS3617xs	x64 (Xeon D-1527) 2.2-2.7 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No
FS2017	x64 (Xeon D-1541) 2.1-2.7 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No
FS3017	x64 (Xeon E5-2620 v3) 2.4 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS3617xs	x64 (Xeon E3-1230 v2) 3.3 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS3617RPxs	x64 (Xeon E3-1521) 2.4-2.7 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS3617xs+	x64 (Xeon D-1531) 2.2-2.7 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS4017xs+	x64 (Xeon D-1541) 2.1-2.7 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS18017xs+	x64 (Xeon D-1531) 2.2-2.7 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS116	ARMv7 (Armada 385) 1.8GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS216	ARMv7 (Armada 385) 1.3GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS216+	x64 (Celeron N3050) 1.6GHz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
DS216+II	x64 (Celeron N3060) 1.6GHz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
DS216j	ARMv7 (Armada 385) 1.0GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS216play	ARMv7 (STM STiH412) 1.5GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS216se	ARMv7 (Armada 370) 0.8GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS416	ARMv7 (Alpine AL-212) 1.4GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS416j	ARMv7 (Armada 385) 1.3GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS416play	x64 (Celeron N3060) 1.6GHz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
DS416slim	ARMv7 (Armada 385) 1.0GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS716+	x64 (Celeron N3150) 1.6GHz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
DS716+II	x64 (Celeron N3160) 1.6GHz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
DS916+	x64 (Pentium N3710) 1.6GHz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
RS816	ARMv7 (Armada 385) 1.8GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS18016xs+	x64 (Xeon E3-1230 v2) 3.3Ghz	Yes	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS2416+/​RP+	x64 (Atom C2538) 2.4GHz	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS115j	ARMv7 (Armada 370) 0.8GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS215+	ARMv7 (Alpine AL-212) 1.4GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS215j	ARMv7 (Armada 375) 0.8GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS415+	x64 (Atom C2538) 2.4GHz	Yes	Some	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS415play	x86 (Atom CE5335) 1.6GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS715	ARMv7 (Alpine AL-314) 1.4GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS1515	ARMv7 (Alpine AL-314) 1.4GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS1515+	x64 (Atom C2538) 2.4GHz	Yes	Some	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS1815+	x64 (Atom C2538) 2.4GHz	Yes	Some	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS2015+	ARMv7 (Alpine AL-514) 1.4GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS3615xs	x64 (Core i3-4130) 3.4GHz	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS114	ARMv7 (Armada 370) 1.2GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS214	ARMv7 (Armada XP) 1.066GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS214+	ARMv7 (Armada XP) 1.33GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS214play	x86 (Atom CE5335) 1.6GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS214se	ARMv7 (Armada 370) 0.8GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS414	ARMv7 (Armada XP) 1.33GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS414slim	ARMv7 (Armada 370) 1.2GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS2314+	x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS214	ARMv7 (Armada 370) 1.33GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS2414(RP)+	x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS213j	ARMv7 (Armada 370) 1.2GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS713+	x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS1513+	x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS1813+	x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS2413+	x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS10613xs+	x64 (Xeon E3-1220 v2) 3.1GHz	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS412+	x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS712+	x86 (Atom D425) 1.8GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS1512+	x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS1812+	x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS3612xs	x64 (Core i3-2100) 3.1GHz	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS812	x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS812+	x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS2212+	x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS3412xs	x64 (Core i3-2100) 3.1GHz	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS411+	x86 (Atom D510) 1.6GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS411+ II	x86 (Atom D525) 1.8GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS1511+	x86 (Atom D525) 1.8GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS2411+	x86 (Atom D525) 1.8GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS3611xs	x64 (Core i3-2100) 3.1GHz	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS2211+	x86 (Atom D525) 1.8GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS2411xs	x64 (Core i3-2100) 3.1GHz	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS710+	x86 (Atom D410) 1.6GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS1010+	x86 (Atom D510) 1.6GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS810+	x86 (Atom D510) 1.6GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No

 

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The Best NAS for Under $500 of 2023 – Synology, QNAP, Asustor and Terramaster

We are now halfway into 2023, and even though this is an odd-numbered year, traditionally a quieter period for hardware releases in the tech industry, we have seen an enormous number of new NAS devices released by the big brands in the industry. Whether you are looking at just 2023, or the individual 2023 series, each brand has put out a confident range of solutions for home and business users to choose from. However, for many new users considering making the jump from existing cloud platforms to their own NAS system, it can still be a somewhat costly and trepidatious choice to make. Today, I want to talk about the best NAS that you can buy for under $500/ £500 / 500 euros of 2023 so far, each one based on the best value, the best price, the best hardware, and the best software.

Quick Disclaimers

Before going any further, a few things should be highlighted. First and foremost, none of these prices includes the cost of your storage media. This is because different uses have different requirements and budgets, each of which may scale from hundreds to thousands of dollars. However, all solutions in today’s article can run with as little as a single drive inside and are completely scalable – meaning you can add more storage drives and expand your storage over the years quickly and easily. Additionally, all solutions in this article are combined hardware and software solutions, providing you with a complete turnkey solution that can be deployed effectively out of the box, with many supporting the installation of third-party software such as TrueNAS or Unraid. Lastly, it’s worth highlighting that while all of these solutions are available for under $500, if you spend an extra $100 to $200 more (eg Synology DS923+ or QNAP TS-464), you can scale things up even more. These aren’t necessarily the best NAS overall; they are simply the best NAS you can buy right now in summer 2023 for under $500.

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The Asustor Flashstor 6 – Best Plex 4K/8K that’s under $500

Intel N5105 Celeron CPU – 4-16GB DDR4 Memory – 6x M.2 NVMe SSD – 2.5GbE – HDMI 2.0b 4K 60FPS – S/PDIF – USB 10G – $491 (06/07)

YouTube Video Review HERE – NASCompares Written Review HERE

It was a pleasant surprise when Asustor revealed their new NVMe-focused solution. Arriving with hardware architecture not dissimilar from other Intel Celeron-powered systems in the market, this new 2.5GbE equipped NAS is entirely focused on the use of M.2 SSDs and can support up to six drives in one or more storage pools. Although Asustor lacks some of the historical and AAA+ applications available from their competitors like Synology and QNAP, the Asustor Flashstor 6 is one of the best NAS devices I’ve seen this year. With the decreasing cost of Gen 3 SSDs as newer-generation drives come to market, fully populating a NAS with SSDs is becoming more affordable. This, combined with the system’s price range of $450-$499, makes it one of the best value solutions in the market right now. You can also easily install TrueNAS on it. Frankly, it is near impossible to build a NAS like this for less money than they are charging, and they even include their own software.

Click to view slideshow.

What we said in our Asustor Flashstor Review on 12/06/23:

I cannot stress enough how impressed I am that the Flashstor 6 and Flashstor 12 Pro are priced at $499 and $860, respectively, given the level of hardware on offer here. These are by no means enterprise-grade NAS server solutions, nor should they be thought of as such. However, given the cost of typical fully featured 4x HDD solutions from their competitors and the brand themselves, which often start at $550 and above, it is quite remarkable that the six M.2 SSD system with comparable internal hardware comes in at $499. As long as a user keeps their expectations in line with what this cost versus its capabilities, it’s really tough to argue with the price point that these two devices have arrived at on the market. The Asustor FS6712X Flashstor 12 Pro NAS presents a unique offering in the NAS market, leveraging NVMe technology to provide high-capacity, ultra-high-performance storage. The device’s design, with its rhombus-shaped enclosure and twelve M.2 NVMe slots, sets it apart from traditional NAS devices and offers a sleek and modern aesthetic. The tool-less drive installation mechanism makes it easy to set up and expand the storage capacity. However, there are some considerations to keep in mind. The limited number of PCIe lanes provided by the Intel Celeron N5105 processor may restrict the performance of high-speed NVMe drives.

The single 10GbE LAN port also presents a potential network bottleneck, limiting the device’s overall network performance. Users seeking maximum performance and network throughput may find alternative solutions better suited to their needs. Despite these limitations, the FS6712X shines as a storage solution for users who prioritize high-capacity storage, quiet operation, and low power consumption. The device’s ability to directly output 4K video, along with its range of Asustor-approved apps, makes it an excellent choice for media distribution and presentation. In terms of pricing, the FS6712X comes with a price tag of $850+. While this may appear high at first glance, it is comparable to 8 bay drive NAS SATA devices and many of those do not even include NVMe slots or 10GbE. Users looking for a more cost-effective option can consider the Flashstor 6, which offers half the number of slots and 2x 2.5GbE enabled ports for $499. As the cost of flash modules continues to drop, and larger capacity drives become available all the way up to 8TB (even without QLC), the FS6712X provides an attractive solution for those seeking high-capacity and high-performance NAS storage. While some underlying performance relativity by the end user needs to be factored in and hardware limitations exist thanks to the use of that Celeron to remain budget-friendly, the FS6712X is a tremendously smart move by Asustor. A well-designed NAS that presents a much more confident solution demonstrating the benefits of NVMe-focused NAS devices to an audience that would have assumed such things are way, WAY outside the realms of affordability!

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Synology DS423+ – Best NAS for Software under $500

Intel J4125 Celeron CPU – 2-6GB DDR4 Memory – 4xHDD – 2x M.2 NVMe SSD – 1x1GbE – eSATA Expansion – USB 5G – $469 (06/07)

YouTube Video Review HERE – NASCompares Written Review HERE

When considering a Synology NAS device, the brand’s fantastic DSM software is usually the key reason. Not all Synology NAS are built equally, and depending on the device you buy, the extent to which you can wear and the number of simultaneous processes that can be done at any given time will differ greatly. Synology does offer a more business-class and scalable solution in their portfolio, the DS923 +, but that system is noticeably more expensive and lacks some of the multimedia and graphical capabilities of the more recently released and affordable DS423 +. The Synology DS423 + arrived in Spring 2023, and while the bulk of its hardware borrows from the older Synology DS920 + and elements of its predecessors, the DS423 + is a very solid NAS that supports everything in the Synology DSM 7.2 portfolio. This NAS trades more on its software than its hardware, hence why the base level hardware pales in comparison to some of the other releases on this list, but it is still a solid and dependable solution with easily the best NAS software in the market right now, all for under $500. The system also comes with integrated graphics, NVMe SSD pool support, and the latest innovations in volume encryption and immutable data protection in DSM 7.2.

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What we said in our Synology DS423+ NAS Review on 15/03/23:

here are two ways we need to look at the Synology DS423+ NAS. In one way, the Synology DS423+ DOES support all of the features and services that users demanded in a fully-featured home/prosumer solution. It features an Intel Quad Core processor with embedded graphics, DDR4 memory, multiple gigabit ports, wide HDD/SSD compatibility and m.2 NVMe SSD support. These are all things popular and most certainly what users would want/expect in a fully featured home/prosumer solution (aka SOHO). Then, when you roll in DSM 7 and it’s enormous range of software and services, the DS423+ is an excellent NAS solution that counters a broad range of criticisms that were leveled at the DS923+ at launch. However, there is, of course, the unavoidable way that most long-term Synology users and those looking to upgrade an existing 2016/2018 Diskstation are going to look at the DS423+ – a Synology DS920+ with less memory and no expandability! For those that skipped the DSx20+ generation, the DS423+ is going to feel decidedly underwhelming at best and hugely disappointing at worst! Synology has made no bones that they prioritize their software and services, with hardware being an important but nevertheless secondary concern. The main criticism is that CPU being the same processor used in the 3 years previous generation. Intel has moved production away from the J4125 themselves several times (with most other NAS brands using the N5105 or J6412 right now) and although Synology has been known to move CPU architecture down through the generations previously, this is a particularly egregious example. If they had just scaled something up on this device, such as the network ports from 1GbE to 2.5GbE, add the option of a 10GbE upgrade or more over upgrade the base level memory from 2GB or 4GB. The Synology DS423+ IS a good NAS system and serves as a great means to enjoy the wide-ranging features of DSM privately or professionally! It just feels like more of a stop-gap system in some places and one that existing DS920+ or DS420+ owners will skip.

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QNAP TS-462 NAS – Best NAS for Hardware and Scalability for under $500

Intel JN4505 Celeron CPU – 2-16GB DDR4 Memory – 4xHDD – 2x M.2 NVMe SSD – 1×2.5GbE – HDMI 2.0 4K 60FPS – PCIe Gen 3×2 Slot – USB 10G – $489 (06/07)

YouTube Video Review HERE – NASCompares Written Review HERE

Like the previously mentioned Synology solution, this QNAP prioritizes hardware over software. There is a slightly more business-oriented version available (the TS-464) that costs more and perhaps includes more hardware than you’d use. On the other hand, the QNAP TS-462 NAS arrives at a better price point while offering a taste of every single feature available on current-generation NAS drives. Anything you’ve heard great things about in the world of NAS is available here. Into NVMe storage pools and caching? Check. Integrated graphics? Check. KVM and 4K output? Check. Support for multiple expansions, upgradable memory, and integrated AI services? Check, check, check! The TS462 even comes with a PCIe upgrade slot that allows you to add further network or local connections as needed, with the system also arriving with 2.5 GB Ethernet off the bat. Finally, there’s the QNAP software, which, although not quite as advanced as the Synology platform, is pretty darn close and is hugely customizable with a vast range of office, multimedia, virtualization, and surveillance applications all rolled in. Bottom line, this QNAP NAS is great value for money and for those who found the more business-centric TS464 and recent changes to the fixed 8 GB memory to be slightly off-putting, the TS462 is an excellent and more affordable alternative.

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What we said in our QNAP TS-462 NAS Review on 24/01/23:

The QNAP TS-462 NAS is a substantial update on the QNAP TS-451D (even worth considering for those who opted for the TS-451D or TS-451A previously) that features a more modern CPU that allows increased internal performance. This translates in hardware to M.2 NVMe SSD support, a larger bandwidth PCIe Upgrade slot, USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gb/s connectivity and 2.5GbE by default. Some areas of the device are less compelling, such as that initial 2GB of memory (which you are almost certainly going to upgrade immediately, given QTS will eat up at least half of that to run the baseline/1st party apps generally). The limiting of those M.2 NVMe SSD bays to PCIe Gen 3×1 makes alot of sense, giving the range of this PCIe3 Celeron CPU makes sense, but is nonetheless going to annoy some users. lastly, the hardware gains in the system featuring much, MUCH more powerful and visually appealing HDMI 2.1 is a fraction let down by the HD Station software getting fewer and fewer feature-rich updates (outside of stability and performance fixes). As far as running the QNAP QTS EXT4 software platform on the TS-462, you will have little to no complaints, as it can run the bulk of the 1st/3rd party applications available to the software, just remember that you are running a dual-core and two thread processor – so the glass ceiling in terms of hardware resources is going to be a pinch lower than some of their Pentium, Intel Core or Xeon systems of course. After a bumpy start to 2022, with the brand needing to win alot of users back after being targetted by ransomware groups and missteps in communication, fast forward to the start of 2023 and you have a much more secure, closed and layered QNAP NAS platform here.

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Choosing the QNAP TS-462 NAS over the increasing range of 4-Bay’s in the brand’s portfolio is a little less straightforward, with the TS-462 nestled somewhere between the TS-453E, TS-464, TVS-h474, TS-473A, TBS-464 and TS-453D (with several more 4-Bay options in the TS-x51+, TS-31P3 AND TS-31K still listed on their official site). I also think the TS-462 would do better to have been released alongside the TS-464 (and the rest of the x64 range), when the portfolio was a little less clustered and its status as an affordable alternative to the TS-462 made alot more sense! The QNAP TS-462 is designed for users looking to spend a little less on base hardware, whilst still buying a device that can be scaled in storage, network bandwidth and more down the line. QTS still continues to be fully featured and has a great many new security and access defaults/settings introduced to limit novice users leaving doors open, but still has a fractionally steeper learning curve than many of its competitors, often trying to do too many things at once (or at least not stopping an end user doing too much at times), which can lead to occasionally bumps in the road when using their platform on a more modest system as this. The QNAP TS-462 is a great 4-Bay NAS and a solid refresh/update on the TS-451D, but if you can stretch your budget a fraction more, I recommend opting for the TS-462 or TS-464 ($100-200 more) as much like this device doubles down on it’s predecessor hardware, so do those two NAS ram things up further for your money. A good NAS indeed, that lives a tad in the shadow of it’s own brothers and sisters!

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The Terramaster F4-423 – Best Value NAS Under $500

Intel N5105 Celeron CPU – 4-32GB DDR4 Memory – 4x SATA HDD – 2x M.2 NVMe SSD – 2.5GbE – HDMI 2.0 4K 60FPS – USB 10G – $469 (06/07)

YouTube Video Review HERE – NASCompares Written Review HERE

If you are looking for the lowest-priced turnkey NAS solutions in the market in desktop form, it’s tough to beat the range of solutions and affordability offered by Terramaster. Although I could pick any number of their solutions that all come for under $500, some featuring 10 GBE and others having a vast number of local connections, the best of their 2023 series so far is the F4-423. Arriving with the same quad-core Celeron as their competitors at Asustor and QNAP, but at a lower price point, their systems offer pretty much everything that everyone else does, but on a smaller budget. Support for up to 32 GB of DDR4 memory, M.2 NVMe slots for caching or storage pools, 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, and 10Gb USB ports means that you’re getting the same hardware as the prosumer boxes from competitors at more affordable home price tiers. The software, TOS 5.1, may not be as advanced as that of Synology’s DSM or QNAP’s QTS but makes up for it by focusing on the fundamentals and providing the baseline applications and services users want. There’s a lack of some premium AAA+ first-party services for things like virtualization or multiple client applications, but there is support for their own hybrid RAID system (TRAID) that is comparable to Synology’s Hybrid RAID, support for BTRFS, and a unique one-click isolation mode that can completely sever the system from all third-party remote services and all external connections at the click of a button. Additionally, the relative ease and simplicity of installing third-party software such as TrueNAS and Unraid make this an extremely affordable alternative to more expensive NAS devices on the market right now, offering a similar level of hardware for noticeably less money by comparison.

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What we said in our Terramaster F4-423 NAS Review on 23/03/22:

Terramaster still continues to be the most affordable fully-featured provider of the whole NAS market and although a number of their solutions have always felt a little rough around the edges, you always got the impression that you were getting a good deal for the hardware that was available from QNAP and Synology. Now in 2022/2023, the same continues to be true but in the F4-423 NAS’ case, you are actually getting some pretty top tier (for the Home/Prosumer) market at a price tag that is really tough to argue with. Terramaster has clearly been watching their bigger competitors and cherry-picked the features that people have been asking for (2.5GbE, USB 3.2 Gen 2, M.2 NVMe SSD bays, etc) for this new generation. In terms of software, things are a little less convincing and although TOS 5 (currently in Beta at the time of writing) still continues to evolve into something genuinely fully featured and impressive, TOS 4 that the F4-423 includes at launch is usable (if unexciting) platform that provides the base level services that a new NAS user would want, but lacks killer apps that their competitors are offering right now (File Streaming, AI photo recognition, Surveillance, etc). Most of these ARE included in TOS5, but until it arrives much later in 2022 in a full release, the F4-423 feels like a powerful NAS that doesn’t have the software to show off its strengths yet. If you are reading this later in 2022 or 2023, this might well be irrelevant though, as the brand rolls out their bit firmware update to ALL Terramster NAS devices. Overall, I definitely CAN recommend the F4-423 NAS for its hardware, for Plex Media server or as an affordable multi-tier backup solution, but if you are looking for a NAS for more tailored data access or in a much more fully-featured package – hold out a little longer till TOS 5 gets released first.

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? TERRAMASTER F4-423 4-Bay Amazon USA -16% £367.99 [LINK HERE] These Offers are Checked Daily

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