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NAS Compares
The UGREEN NAS – 1 Month Later (Should You Back it or Bail on it)
3 mai 2024 à 16:00

The UGREEN NAS – 1 Month Later (Should You Back it or Bail on it)

NAS Compares

Par : Rob Andrews

3 mai 2024 à 16:00

Should You Back or Bail on the UGREEN NASync Kickstarter Campaign?

With the UGREEN NAS campaign drawing close to an end, I think a lot of users are wondering where exactly the UGREEN NAS system is at? So, SO many reviews online (more on how/why later), but it’s been a month – has the system got better, got worse? Do the comments in those reviews still hold water? I wanted to assemble a few of the earliest and more balanced reviewers I could find who have shared their thoughts on the UGREEN NAS online and chat to them a month later to get their further input on it. I assembled panel, consisting of Me (Robbie from NASCompares) ,Lauri from Tech Notice, Frank from WunderTech and Logan from TwoGuyzTech — to come back to the system and brand, to help users decide whether they should get off the fence and back it, keep continuing to back this Kickstarter Campaign, or ‘get off’ the hype train now before its too late. These three YouTube reviewers and myself were among the first to receive and review the NASync series more than a month ago. Although their reviews are now live, UGREEN have continued to roll out updates to the system software, posted comments and updates on their crowdfunding campaign and outlined a lot of their proposed plans for these new systems. How much of that is going to be present in the finished product, how much is long-term roadmap stuff and how much is just hot air, is up for debate.

I wanted to talk with these three reviewers 1 month later to discuss where they are at with the UGREEN NAS device they were sent, have things improved and their thoughts on what this means for the NAS market. The Kickstarter has been notably successful, raising nearly 5 million pounds with more than 12,000 backers, necessitating a critical and informed analysis for those considering investment. As good as all that sounds, a lot of users who backed this project a month ago at launch might be having cold feet and want to know where the product is ‘at’ now, as updates by UGREEN during the fundraising period have been a little sparse (though responding to commentors has been better). Likewise, there are going to be more cautious users who are still on the fence and just want to know where the NASync series is at ‘at the 11th hour’ before they choose to back this. So, here is the results of that discussion. Thanks again to Lauri, Frank and Logan for their time. None of us have been paid/sponsored by UGREEN for this content or our reviews, these are our own opinions (the good and the bad!).

VIDEO LINK

In a Rush? Here is the TL:DR on The UGREEN NAS 1 Month On

Logan @TwoGuyzTech – Logan, who provided the inaugural review of the DXP 4800 Plus model, begins by praising UGREEN’s capabilities in hardware manufacturing. He describes the unit as robust, featuring an impressive CPU setup with a unique configuration that lends itself well to demanding tasks. Despite this, Logan highlights significant discrepancies between the marketed and actual features—particularly the absence of Thunderbolt 4 support, despite promotional materials suggesting otherwise. This, he argues, could mislead potential buyers about the product’s capabilities. Expanding on hardware limitations, Logan critiques the system’s scalability and expansion potential. Unlike competitors like Synology, which allow for easy scalability through expansion units, UGREEN’s system lacks similar functionalities. This could deter users whose storage needs might grow. Moreover, the absence of a PCIe slot for adding extra network interfaces is seen as a missed opportunity to enhance the system’s connectivity and performance capabilities, potentially limiting its appeal to more advanced users.

Frank @Wundertech – Frank shifts the focus to the software side of the NAS. He appreciates UGREEN’s strategic decision to concentrate on core functionalities, which simplifies the user interface and system maintenance. This approach, according to Frank, allows for a more stable foundational system that can be incrementally improved through updates. However, he identifies critical deficiencies in the backup functionalities that are vital for NAS systems. Initially, the device was limited to basic R-Sync and proprietary UGREEN device backups, which he found inadequate. During his testing, Frank encountered significant issues with the SMB (Server Message Block) protocol, a standard service for file sharing over a network. He discovered that upon attempting to access the NAS via SMB, he had unrestricted access to all directories without needing authentication—a severe security flaw. This issue indicates that the NAS system might not enforce proper user authentication, potentially exposing sensitive data. Despite updates attempting to address these concerns, the initial oversight raises questions about the rigor of UGREEN’s software testing and security protocols.

Lauri @TheTechNotice – Lauri offers a broader critique of the tech industry’s trend towards launching unpolished products with the intent to issue fixes post-launch. He expresses his frustration with the UGREEN system, which was marketed as ready-to-use yet exhibited numerous software glitches and usability issues upon receipt. Basic functionalities like software updates and file access were problematic, echoing a “release now, fix later” approach that he finds unacceptable. Lauri also faced SMB-related challenges, albeit different from Frank’s. His attempts to connect to the NAS via SMB were thwarted by the system’s inability to map network drives or properly save SMB settings, suggesting deeper issues with the software’s network handling capabilities. These experiences highlight inconsistencies in the product’s performance, further complicating the potential user’s decision-making process.

Marketing Strategies, Consumer Impact and Conclusion – The panel extensively discusses UGREEN’s marketing strategy, noting the company’s decision to flood the market with review units. This approach, while ensuring widespread visibility, may dilute the impact of individual reviews and obscure critical feedback due to the sheer volume of content available. Such a strategy can mask the product’s deficiencies, making it difficult for potential buyers to gauge the system’s reliability and performance accurately. Concluding the discussion, the panel agrees that while UGREEN’s NAS hardware is commendably robust and well-designed, the software side lags in maturity and reliability. They stress the importance for potential backers to understand the ongoing development of the software, especially given the critical SMB issues and general lack of software polish at launch.

What did Lauri from TheTechNotice Think of the UGREEN NAS Range 1 Month on, How the Brand Approached the Market and His Experience with the Device?

Lauri from Tech Notice offers a unique perspective by critiquing not just the Ugreen NAS SYNC series but also the broader tech industry’s trend toward releasing products that are not fully vetted or complete. He starts his discussion by expressing a general dissatisfaction with the practice of launching products that are ostensibly unfinished, with the intention of resolving issues through later updates. This approach, he argues, places undue burden on consumers who expect a finished, fully functional product upon purchase. Lauri’s frustration is rooted in his personal experiences with the Ugreen NAS, which was marketed as ready-to-use but exhibited several software glitches and usability issues right out of the box. He details problems such as difficulties with software updates and accessing files—basic functionalities that were inconsistent or non-functional upon initial use. Such issues underscore a “release now, fix later” philosophy that he finds unacceptable, especially when consumers are not adequately forewarned about the state of the product.

Expanding on his critique, Lauri discusses his specific encounters with the SMB (Server Message Block) protocol within the Ugreen system. Unlike Frank’s experience where access was too permissive, Lauri faced the opposite problem: an inability to effectively map network drives or adjust SMB settings. This inconsistency in SMB protocol handling between units further illustrates the lack of uniformity and reliability in Ugreen’s software development, complicating the user experience and diminishing the product’s reliability. Moreover, Lauri notes the NAS’s aesthetic and physical design, acknowledging that while the hardware appears polished and well-designed, the software does not match this quality. This disparity leads to a jarring contrast between the product’s promising physical presentation and its underwhelming functional performance. He points out that such discrepancies can lead to consumer distrust, as the sleek design sets expectations that the software functionality currently does not meet.

Throughout his review, Lauri also touches upon the responsiveness of the company to feedback. While he notes some improvements following user complaints and updates, he emphasizes that the fundamental approach of rushing products to market remains a significant concern. This strategy, prevalent in the tech industry, often results in products that require considerable post-market modification to reach the standard expected by consumers at launch. Lauri’s assessment provides a critical analysis of the Ugreen NAS SYNC series, particularly highlighting the problematic industry trend of premature product releases. His insights stress the importance of aligning product functionality with consumer expectations and market standards. Lauri’s critique serves as a call to action for tech companies to prioritize thorough testing and development before launch, ensuring that products meet all advertised functionalities and security standards to foster trust and satisfaction among users.

You Can find out more about Lauri HERE on his YouTube Channel

How Did Frank from WunderTech Find his time with the UGREEN NAS System? Did He Encounter Problems and Would He Recommend it?

Frank from WunderTech begins his discussion by highlighting the strategic focus Ugreen has adopted in the development of their NAS SYNC series software. He appreciates the company’s deliberate choice to concentrate on refining core features instead of overloading the system with an extensive array of applications. This approach, he argues, facilitates a more stable base system that is easier for users to manage and for developers to troubleshoot and improve over time. It also aligns well with Ugreen’s apparent goal of making the NAS user-friendly and reliable in performing fundamental tasks. However, Frank identifies critical deficiencies in the system’s software, especially concerning its backup functionalities—an essential component for NAS systems. Initially, the device was constrained to basic R-Sync and backups to another proprietary Ugreen device. Such limitations significantly reduce the utility and appeal of the NAS for users who need versatile and robust backup solutions, which are critical for data integrity and disaster recovery. Frank notes that while subsequent software updates have introduced additional features like Docker, which broadens the system’s capabilities and appeal, the core issue with limited backup options remains a significant concern.

During his evaluation, Frank encountered severe issues with the SMB (Server Message Block) protocol, a standard service in NAS systems for sharing files over networks. He was startled to find that upon attempting to access the NAS via SMB, he had unrestricted access to all directories without needing any form of user authentication. This discovery points to a severe security oversight, exposing sensitive data to potential unauthorized access. Such a fundamental flaw in access control is troubling and raises questions about the robustness of Ugreen’s software security measures. Frank further discusses the implications of these security issues, emphasizing the risk they pose not only to data confidentiality but also to the overall trust in Ugreen’s product. He suggests that while the hardware may be solid, the software’s inability to ensure basic security protocols could deter potential users who prioritize data security. This aspect is crucial for businesses and individual users who rely on NAS systems to store sensitive or critical information.

Moreover, Frank appreciates the incremental software updates that Ugreen has been rolling out, which demonstrate the company’s commitment to addressing feedback and improving the product. He highlights a particular update that resolved some of the earlier problems with the backup options, albeit still not to the extent that he considers fully satisfactory. The addition of features like Docker is viewed positively as it indicates Ugreen’s responsiveness to user needs and their willingness to expand the system’s functionality over time. Frank’s analysis provides a detailed critique of the Ugreen NAS SYNC series from a software perspective. He credits the company for its focused and strategic approach to software development but underscores significant areas of concern, particularly around security and backup functionalities. His insights suggest that while the hardware may be competitive, the software requires substantial improvements to meet industry standards and user expectations, particularly in areas crucial for data security and flexibility in data management.

You Can find out more about Frank HERE on his YouTube Channel

What did Logan from TwoGuyzTech Think of the UGREEN NAS and where it is at 1 Month Later?

Logan from TwoGuyzTech, who provided the inaugural review of the DXP 4800 Plus model, begins his feedback by praising the robustness and overall hardware quality of Ugreen’s NAS system. He emphasizes the powerful CPU configuration, which features a single performance core along with four efficiency cores. This setup is particularly notable as it is uncommon in NAS systems within the same price bracket, offering potentially higher processing speeds and better handling of multiple tasks simultaneously. Despite the strong hardware foundation, Logan points out significant discrepancies between Ugreen’s marketing materials and the actual product features—specifically, the absence of Thunderbolt 4 support on half of the range, yet it was very prominent in the advertising (as was the 10GbE connectivity). This issue is not just a minor oversight; it’s a major deviation from what was advertised in terms of what some less knowledgable users would expect to receive, which could mislead potential buyers about the product’s capabilities. Logan stresses that such discrepancies could erode trust and satisfaction among consumers, who may feel they are not getting the full value as promised.

Further expanding on the product’s hardware, Logan notes that while the NAS performs well in its current state, the lack of scalability is a critical downside. He compares the Ugreen NAS SYNC series unfavorably with competitors like Synology, which offers easy scalability through additional expansion units. This limitation in Ugreen’s design means that users with increasing data storage needs would find the product less useful over time as their requirements grow. Logan also criticizes the absence of a PCIe slot, which would allow users to add additional network interfaces or other expansions. This feature is typically valued by advanced users who may need more customization or additional bandwidth for data-intensive tasks. The lack of such a feature further narrows the potential user base of the product, making it less appealing to a segment of the market that could benefit from greater connectivity options.

Addressing another aspect of hardware capability, Logan discusses the system’s input/output options. While he acknowledges that the NAS provides adequate I/O ports that should meet the needs of most users, he points out that the implementation of these ports could have been optimized better to enhance performance further. This feedback suggests a missed opportunity to maximize the hardware’s potential, which could have differentiated the Ugreen NAS SYNC series more clearly from its competitors. Logan’s detailed review provides a nuanced perspective on the Ugreen NAS SYNC series. While he commends the robust hardware and CPU design, he is critical of the marketing misrepresentations and the system’s limitations in scalability and expansion. His feedback underscores the importance of aligning marketing messages with actual product capabilities and designing with future scalability in mind to meet the evolving needs of users.

You Can find out more about Logan HERE on his YouTube Channel

How UGREEN have Approached Marketing and Launching the NASync Series – Good or Bad?

The UGREEN NAS SYNC series marketing strategy reflects a robust and aggressive approach aimed at capturing market attention quickly and broadly. UGREEN’s decision to distribute a large number of review units (possibly in the hundreds in just a matter of weeks) prior to the completion of its Kickstarter campaign ensured that the product received widespread visibility across various media platforms. This saturation strategy is not uncommon in the tech industry but stands out due to the volume of units distributed and the breadth of coverage sought. From a marketing perspective, this approach can significantly amplify product awareness and generate buzz, creating a groundswell of potential customer interest and engagement early in the product lifecycle – choosing to spend their ‘marketing budget’ on sending products to small-niche reviewers and influences, rather than traditional online marketing and targeting bigger platforms. However, this aggressive marketing strategy also raises several concerns. One major issue discussed by the panel is the potential dilution of individual reviews’ impact. With so many reviews available, it becomes challenging for consumers to find consistent information and form a clear opinion about the product’s quality and reliability. This could inadvertently mask critical feedback that might be crucial for potential users making informed purchasing decisions. Additionally, by flooding the market with review units, UGREEN risks creating a perception that might not fully align with the user experience, particularly if the product under-delivers compared to what is seen in widespread positive reviews.

Moreover, there was always an inherent risk in UGREEN’s approach regarding consumer trust. If the product failed to meet the expectations set by its aggressive marketing, it could lead to customer dissatisfaction and damage the brand’s reputation in the long run if a LARGE number of reviewers had encountered persistent issues and that would have been heavility publized in turn. Therefore we have to give them some credit for the courage of their convictions to trust that their product would not ‘hang itself’ in the court of public opinion, when sent at such high volume in a comparatively unfinished state. This is especially pertinent given the software issues highlighted during the panel discussion. The strategy of relying heavily on post-launch updates to address fundamental flaws—flaws that are sometimes glossed over due to the sheer volume of initial positive reviews—could backfire, leading to frustrated users who feel misled by the reviews they consulted before purchasing. While UGREEN’s marketing strategy for the NAS SYNC series has virtues in terms of reach and visibility, it also poses significant risks that hinge on the company’s ability to deliver a product that truly matches the expectations set forth in its widespread marketing campaign. The approach requires a delicate balance between aggressive marketing and product quality assurance to maintain and grow consumer trust. This all brings into question once again, why a brand this large has opted for crowdfunding through Kickstarter – as it is fairly clear that this is a product that is either (in terms of hardware) finished and in production already, or at the very least is more than ready for ‘pre order’ if it had been on sale at your local eShop. The marketing and ‘user interest’ benefits of Kickstarter are useful, but the ‘indie’ and ‘small business’ focus of crowdfunding continues to diminish!

Should You Back the UGREEN NAS Kickstarter? Or Should You Back Out Now?

Based on the detailed discussions from Frank, Lauri, Robbie, and Logan, the consensus on whether to recommend the UGREEN NAS SYNC series appears to be mixed and highly dependent on the specific needs and technical tolerance of potential users. Frank acknowledges the solid hardware and appreciates the strategic focus on core functionalities, which simplifies the user experience and system management. However, he is significantly concerned about the software’s maturity, particularly around security flaws with the SMB protocol and limited backup functionalities. Frank might recommend the NAS to tech-savvy users who are comfortable handling and potentially resolving these issues themselves, particularly those interested in leveraging the strong hardware by installing a third-party OS or those looking for a budget-friendly NAS solution that could improve over time with software updates.

Lauri, on the other hand, expresses strong reservations due to the “release now, fix later” philosophy he perceives in the tech industry, which he finds particularly evident in the UGREEN product. His experience with software glitches and poor user interface could deter him from recommending the NAS to users who expect a seamless, out-of-the-box experience. Lauri might only recommend this product to users who are enthusiasts or hobbyists who enjoy troubleshooting and have the patience to wait for potential fixes and updates that could eventually realize the hardware’s full potential.

Logan is broadly more positive about the system and, if the case of using a 3rd party OS (one you get over the installation hurdles) recommends the system. But still thinks that UGREEN could stand to be a little more clear in how the product is being presented, As a pre-built NAS product, especially at the crowdfunding price point, it’s hard to argue with. However, if/when the system crosses into traditional retail (with a loftier RRP), the virtues of the system’s value may well diminish and hopefully, UGREEN will maintain enthusiasm in the product range and software to roll in a phase 2, phase 3 and eventually an established product that can sand up next to the market leaders.

I (Robbie) acknowledge the potential of the hardware but am cautious about the software issues that have been repeatedly highlighted. I would certainly recommend the NAS to a niche market of users who value hardware specifications and cost-effectiveness over immediate, robust software functionality (the growing ‘middle’ between turnkey NAS and DiY Server Build Home-Labbers). These users would likely be those who are not dependent on advanced features or who have the technical ability to manage and mitigate the system’s current shortcomings. My recommendation would likely come with the caveat that buyers keep their expectations in check regarding the software and stay informed about ongoing updates and community feedback. Ultimately, while the UGREEN NAS SYNC series shows promise due to its robust hardware and competitive pricing, the recommendations from the panel are guarded and tailored to specific types of users. Potential buyers should weigh these considerations carefully against their personal or organizational needs and technical capabilities before making a decision.

Pros	Cons
Robust Hardware	Software Maturity
– The DXP 4800 Plus model features a powerful CPU setup with a single performance core and four efficiency cores, suitable for demanding tasks.	– The software has been criticized for being immature, with ongoing updates needed to address fundamental functionality and stability issues.
– Solid build quality and design that is recognized for its robustness, which adds to the reliability of the physical unit.	– Initial releases lacked comprehensive features, especially in backup functionalities which were limited to basic R-Sync and proprietary backups.
Scalability and Performance	Marketing vs Reality
– The hardware itself is recognized for high performance, which could be suitable for users with extensive data processing needs.	– Despite promotional materials suggesting advanced features like Thunderbolt 4 support, the actual product lacks these capabilities, leading to potential customer dissatisfaction and trust issues.
Focused Software Development	Security Concerns
– The strategy to concentrate on core functionalities rather than an abundance of features can lead to a more stable system that is easier to manage and troubleshoot.	– Significant security flaws were discovered, especially with the SMB protocol where authentication issues could expose sensitive data to unauthorized access.
Market Visibility	Expansion Limitations
– Extensive distribution of review units ensured widespread visibility and coverage, potentially increasing consumer awareness and interest.	– Compared to competitors like Synology, the UGREEN NAS system lacks easy scalability options such as expansion units, which limits the system’s long-term usability for growing storage needs.
Competitive Pricing	Inconsistent User Experience
– The UGREEN NAS offers a better value for its price point, especially when compared to the more expensive models from established brands like Synology and QNAP, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious consumers.	– Users, including tech reviewers, reported inconsistent experiences, particularly with software updates and SMB settings, which could deter potential users from adopting the system.

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

Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

Finally, for free advice about your setup, just leave a message in the comments below here at NASCompares.com and we will get back to you.

Need Help? Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry. [contact-form-7]

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

Or support us by using our affiliate links on Amazon UK and Amazon US

Alternatively, why not ask me on the ASK NASCompares forum, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in the ASK NASCompares section below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.

$305 (21/04/24 – Check Amazon)

NAS Compares
Synology DS224+ vs QNAP TS-262 NAS – Best For Your Budget?
1 mai 2024 à 18:00

Synology DS224+ vs QNAP TS-262 NAS – Best For Your Budget?

NAS Compares

Par : Rob Andrews

1 mai 2024 à 18:00

Synology DS224+ vs QNAP TS-262 NAS – Which is Better?

Isn’t it great when any facet of the tech industry gives birth to competition! In the early days of any new form of technology, the relative scarcity and newness of anything result in very few options for buyers to get the best value or competitive experience for their money. However, it doesn’t take long before competition emerges, innovation flourishes, and ultimately any different form of new tech becomes a more fleshed-out choice for the buyer. The same has certainly happened in the world of network-attached storage (NAS), and although there are several different brands available in NAS, the two biggest names are quite comfortable: Synology and QNAP. For buyers looking at a compact, fully-featured NAS solution, two of the very best options in 2024 are the Synology DS224+ and the QNAP TS-262. Both of these solutions are targeted at home users who want to be able to do a little bit of everything and although they do have a decent amount of small business potential, they have slightly different attitudes towards what you can get for your money. Although it could be very easy to describe this comparison as hardware versus software, the reality is a little bit more nuanced. But before we go ahead and compare these two current-generation NAS solutions, we need to also highlight what both of these systems have in common. Regardless of whether you choose the DS224+ or TS-262 NAS drive, you are guaranteed the following:

Both units feature an Intel Celeron processor for a good price vs hardware balance
Both can Stream and Transcode on the fly (so, live) 1080p HD or 4K media, with superior performance natively and mid-range performance in Plex, as well as both arriving with integrated graphics, so more aggressive graphical manipulation (encode/decode/conversion) is done much more efficiently
Both the Synology DS224+ and TS-262 NAS support AI-supported photo and ‘thing’ recognition supported to a very high degree from the free branded software included
For Business users who currently enjoy the use of Google Workspace or Microsoft/Office 365, both of these NAS provide excellent means to backup your mass cloud accounts (as well as natively sync, dupe and configure rules on the fly)
Both the TS-262 NAS and DS224+ NAS support snapshots, for more incremental and version-protecting failsafe in efforts to protect you from Malware and Ransomware attacks, by allowing multi-versioning storage history to browse through and restore
Both units are DLNA certified so can be accessed, browsed and played from by popular DLNA devices, such as Amazon Firestick, Alexa, Google Home, Chromecast, DS224+ TV, Bose, Sonos, iPads, etc, as well as connectivity between these platforms with IFTTT
Both are multi-bay, RAID enabled devices NAS devices that support JBOD, RAID 0 and RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6 and RAID 10 (as well as Synology Hybrid RAID too for their Plus series range), though support of storage media on each device does differ significantly in places

Both devices run on their own proprietary operating system that can be accessed remotely or locally. These include regular updates to the firmware, security patches, applications and more. Ranging from multimedia, home and multi-tiered backup applications, to more business-end tools such as Surveillance software, Virtual Machine deployment and business-class backup and synchronization tools.
Both the TS-262 and DS224+ use and can be accessed equally by a multitude of mobile applications such as DS File, DS Video, Moments, DS Photo, DSCam and DS Music that are created by and constantly improved by Synology. As well as QFile, QMusic, QuMagie and QManager from QNAP for iOS and Android.
Both NAS are completely compatible with Windows, Android and Mac systems, as well as acting as a bring between software platforms to share and distribute files for migration and file sync (Synology Drive and QNAP QSync)
Both units can be used as mail and/or business servers, providing excellent 3rd party CRM and first-party CMS systems. There is the Synology collaboration Suite of applications Chat, Drive, Mail, Calendar, Office and Active Backup Suite. Whereas on QNAP there is the QMail, Hybrid Backup Sync 3, Virtualization station and BoXafe tools
Both systems support the NVR use with QVR Pro and Surveillance Station applications, support numerous cameras and arrive with at least 2 camera licenses with your purchase (8 Camera Licenses with the QNAP, 2 with the Synology)

Both systems are fully featured examples of what each brand can offer on their own individual server platform. However, you want to know what is different about them and which one best deserves your data!

Synology DS224+ vs QNAP TS-262 NAS – Price and Value

Normally, in these comparisons, I would very quickly highlight that when comparing Synology and QNAP, the latter would be the more affordable choice. It has kind of been that way for a while, but things changed towards the end of 2022 when Synology revamped and reorganized their portfolio. In brief, Synology changed a number of the positions of their solutions while simultaneously removing a few different tiers in a portfolio to change which solutions were covering home, small business, medium business, and large-scale deployments. This meant that some systems had their hardware and their price point realigned up or down to better suit the overall portfolio and choice for buyers, and the result is that the DS224+ surprisingly manages to be the lower price of these two very similar systems in some (not all) locations. The DS224+ arrives at around $350 (give or take currency exchange, tax, and shipping), whereas the TS-262 arrives much closer to the $400 mark and in some regions actually crosses this a little higher too. Part of this raised price on the QNAP TS-262 is because of a change in memory implementation (arriving as a fixed 4GB memory and later changing to 2 SODIMM slots and more flexibility). More affordable examples of the TS-262 are available online (couple below), but typically the price is going to be a pinch higher.

Neither of these prices includes storage media and, depending on the capacity of the drives you are considering in either of these two main NAS systems, that is going to take its toll on your budget. So if the price tag of the system you are buying carries a lot of weight in your decision, the Synology DS224+ is probably going to be a better cost choice for you. However, we do have to factor in that not only is the price difference between these two devices comparatively small in the grand scheme of things, but we also have to think about what we get for our money and ultimately ‘value’! In this context, a NAS can be judged on its value in two very distinct ways: the hardware that you are getting for your money and the inclusive software the system arrives with, and it is in this way that these two NAS systems are remarkably different in terms of their priorities.

Synology DS224+ vs QNAP TS-262 NAS – Hardware and Connections

Very few of my comparisons have displayed two NAS systems that, although at a casual glance are very similar, are so wildly different in the finer details and scalability than these two NAS devices. The Synology DS224+ system is easily the less hardware-rich of the two, heavily relying upon a hardware architecture that feels somewhat dated in comparison to the QNAP TS-262. In Synology’s defense, they have had a lot of time experimenting and testing their software with this particular CPU (the Intel J4125 quad-core Intel Celeron) and clearly know how to make the most out of it within their software in terms of efficiency and capability. Nevertheless, for PC builders, those who understand how hardware innovates over time, and those who are looking for the best value for money in their kit, this Synology CPU choice is pretty underwhelming. Thanks to that portfolio change I mentioned earlier by Synology, the hardware you find in this home user multimedia NAS is actually near enough identical to the 2020 generation prosumer and fully-featured TIA. That would be pretty good if it wasn’t for the fact that the CPU was released in 2019 and that despite this system’s similarity to the 2020 prosumer tier, some scalability options and upgrade options are not available here. The QNAP, by comparison, manages to scale up over the Synology in so many different ways, with a couple of slightly peculiar backsteps along the way. First, let’s look at the arrangement of that hardware side by side:

Synology DS224+ vs QNAP S-262 NAS Hardware Comparison
Synology NAS
Amazon Price:	$305 (09/08/23 – Check Amazon)	$332 (09/08/23 – Check Amazon)
Processor model	Intel Celeron N5105	Intel Celeron J4125 (2019 Gen)
processor architecture	64-bit	64-bit
processor clock	2-core 2.0 (base frequency) / 2.9 (burst frequency) GHz	4-core 2.0 (base frequency) / 2.7 (burst frequency) GHz
Integrated Graphics	Yes (450-800Mhz)	Yes (250-750Mhz)
Hardware encryption engine (AES-NI)	Yes	Yes
system memory	4GB DDR4 non-ECC	2 GB DDR4 non-ECC
Pre-installed memory modules	Yes, Fixed	Yes, Initial 2GB Fixed
Total number of memory slots	0	1
Maximum memory capacity	4GB	6 GB (2 GB + 4 GB)
The maximum number of disk slots for an expansion unit	2x USB 3.2 (Supports 2/4/8 Bay Expansions)	N/A
M.2 drive bay	Yes, x1 (Gen 3×1)	N/A
Compatible Disk Type	3.5″ SATA HDD 2.5″ SATA SSD 2280 M.2 NVMe	3.5″ SATA HDD 2.5″ SATA SSD
Disk hot-plug support*	Yes	Yes

The big hurdle for a lot of users is clearly going to be that CPU choice. Side by side, the quad-core CPU inside the Synology is going to mean more cores for the system to take advantage of over the dual-core inside the QNAP. Potentially, both CPUs feature integrated graphics, which also means that for processes such as transcoding, handling of graphical data, and simple offline conversions, they are going to use fewer system resources to get the job done. But when we take a closer look, we can see that there is a lot more to it. For a start, the N4505 jewel court CPU inside the QNAP is a much newer generation processor and features a slightly higher clock speed too. Despite half the available core numbers, that is going to result in the CPU being noticeably more efficient thanks to modern innovation by Intel in newer refreshes of their processors. The integrated graphics on the N405 CPU are of a higher birth speed, and although the QNAP CPU will lose out on the sheer breadth of processing capabilities being dual-core rather than quad-core, in a home user environment, and unless you are going to push the system hard, you aren’t really going to feel it.

Then there is the memory inside the two NAS systems and a very distinct difference in how either brand deploys their systems. The Synology system arrives with less default memory at 2GB versus 4GB on the QNAP. However, the Synology features an upgradable Sodimm memory slot that allows you to add a further 4GB of memory. The QNAP, on the other hand, features 4GB by default, but that 4GB is soldered internally for reasons of efficiency and cost (in light of continued memory shortages over the last 2 years and rising NAND flash costs), which results in the TS-262 NAS not allowing memory upgrades further. Therefore, you are getting more RAM on the QNAP on day one, but better long-term scalability by around 50% on the Synology. The fact that both systems feature soldered memory by default is super annoying, particularly when you know both of the CPUs can support more memory officially according to Intel, of 8 GB and 16 GB respectively.

From this point, however, in terms of hardware, QNAP absolutely steals the show moving forward! In terms of ports, connectivity, and upgrade options, Synology has clearly taken a very rigid stance on the DS224+ system, and this results in an incredibly low glass ceiling in comparison to the TS-262 NAS and the sheer wealth of ways to upgrade its hardware throughout the system’s lifetime. The most obvious example is in network connectivity and one that more modern network equipment is going to benefit most! The Synology DS224+ arrives with two Ethernet ports, both gigabit in architecture. Synology has come under fairly regular criticism for sticking quite rigidly with 1Gb network ports on the bulk of their systems, only providing improved gigabit connections or 10G on their XS or enterprise-grade systems by default. Although these two Ethernet ports support bonding options such as link aggregation, port trunking, and the more modern and easy-to-set-up SMB multi-channel via Windows, there are going to be a lot of users that are disappointed with gigabit network port when even domestic-class hard drives these days can comfortably provide 160 to 200 megabytes per second performance, and increasingly affordable SATA SSDs double or triple that number. Therefore, an external connection that immediately throttles performance down to 109 megabytes per second per port is going to be disappointing. This is further exacerbated by the fact that there is no means to upgrade the network connectivity on the Synology NAS beyond 1G, with no PCIe upgrade slot or any compatibility or support officially for 2.5G or 5G adapters which are becoming increasingly affordable.

The QNAP TS-262, on the other hand, is a completely different story! Arriving with a single Ethernet port, you may think things have started poorly, but this Ethernet port is 2.5 GB Ethernet (2.5 times that of the Synology) and whether you are running a one gig architecture and/or thinking of upgrading your network equipment, this is going to allow you to have higher performance via the single port than both of the ports on the Synology combined. However, this is further improved when you discover that the QNAP now also supports network adapters as I alluded to earlier, meaning that you can add a $20 2.5G USB upgrade and even a $50 5G upgrade to the system to further upgrade network connectivity and fully capitalize on the increased performance afforded to you via your media inside the system in RAID 0 or RAID 1. In fact, these USB ports get even better when you find out that, unlike the 5GB. USB 3 Gen 1 ports in the Synology, the QNAP features 10G USB 3 Gen 2 ports. These USB ports support vastly more peripheral and accessory devices on the TS-262 than they do on the DS224+, ranging from network upgrades, wireless upgrades, office peripherals, and assignment towards virtual machines for either more utilization. But more importantly, these USB ports support storage expansions from QNAP that allow you to add a further two, four, eight, and sixteen bay expansions (in conjunction with the PCIe slot), which means that you are not limited in the system’s lifetime to just those two bays of storage. Synology, on the other hand, has no expansion support for the DS224+. They do have a couple of expansion devices for desktop use in their portfolio, but they are connected via eSATA and have not added this connection to their DS224+ NAS.

Continuing down the rabbit hole of expansion and scalability, there is the fact that the QNAP NAS has a PCIe upgrade slot. It cannot be understated just how important and useful a lot of users are going to find this upgrade slot; even entry-level home users are going to feel the benefits here. Unsurprisingly, there is no PCIe upgrade slot on the Synology DS224+, but why is it such a big deal that these NAS devices would feature one? Well, much like the previous point I made about default network connectivity on the DS224+ and TS-262, having a PCIe upgrade slot means that you can add even greater network connectivity such as 10 GbE via a one or two-port card! There is also support for SSD storage upgrade cards that allow you to add two more M.2 NVMe SSDs and turn this 2-bay NAS into a 4-bay NAS! Or you can go ahead and get combo cards that have both built into a single card that occupies one slot and gives you a massive storage upgrade and a massive external bandwidth upgrade! There is even support for Wi-Fi 6 upgrade cards, USB port upgrade cards, and a long-ranging list of third-party PCIe cards that can be installed inside this system to improve performance inside and outside! Because of the CPU choice here and efforts to keep things affordable on systems on the scale of the DS224+ and TS-262, the PCIe architecture of this upgrade slot is gen 3 x 2, which does limit the internal bandwidth to 2000 megabytes per second, but nevertheless, having the option of this upgrade on the TS-262 alongside those network USB upgrade choices, when the DS224+ provides neither, is definitely something worthy of note.

However, the upgrades on the QNAP TS-262 do not stop there with this system. Also arriving by default with two times M.2 NVMe SSD base as well. That’s right; you don’t even need to wait to upgrade with a PCIe card, and you can go ahead and utilize M.2 SSDs for caching or as raw storage pools straight away on day one, thanks to the system featuring these by default. Remember earlier when I mentioned that the Synology DS224+ is using hardware architecture in this home-tier solution that three years ago was in the prosumer tier, about certain hardware limiting choices have been made? One of those was the two M.2 NVMe SSD base that previous generations of this device had featured and are notably absent on the Synology DS224+. It’s a real shame that Synology opted to not feature these in this architecture, despite clearly having enough resources here to support it. This is quite a clear choice by the brand to place the system in a very specific area of their portfolio so it does not overlap the next tier, the Synology DS723+.

Finally, there is the fact that the QNAP TS-262, like a number of other different NAS solutions in their portfolio that feature integrated graphics, also arrives with visual output, in this case, an HDMI 2.0 4K 60 frames per second port. This visual output, combined with two dedicated USB 2.0 ports that can be used for low priority peripherals alongside this if you choose, allows you to run a completely parallel (not mirrored!) Software GUI that is dedicated to the HDMI out, called HD station. Well, it should be highlighted that QNAP does not update this service and its applications anywhere near as frequently as it does the other apps in the brand’s portfolio. There is still a good range of services that can be used here that allow you to run a standalone surveillance system with KVM, a direct multimedia center that has direct control via an infrared remote control/Wi-Fi remote via mobile/USB keyboard and mouse, the ability to run a standalone PC via this HDMI, while the system also continues to run the QNAP NAS OS and apps over the network as usual, and a whole bunch of other things. Synology has always been pretty clear about their integration of HDMI out on their systems, largely ignoring it for any system other than a handful of their surveillance systems. This is by no means a killer feature for most users, and I know that the percentage of QNAP NAS owners that actually utilize the HDMI is surprisingly small. But nevertheless, this is just another example of the sheer scope of hardware that has been packed into the QNAP TS-262.

Overall, it should come as absolutely no surprise that in terms of hardware, the QNAP TS-262 absolutely smashes it! Even if the base-level hardware of the Synology had been a more modern generation CPU choice (and we have to at least give them the benefit of the doubt that the system does provide more scalability in terms of memory and is a quad-core CPU too!), the overall standard and modern architecture of the QNAP TS-262 is just impossible to ignore, and you are getting frankly insane value for money in terms of hardware on the TS-262, then you do on the slightly older feeling DS224+ by comparison. However, we can’t just focus on the hardware, as having the best hardware in the world won’t mean anything if you can’t utilize it properly. So let’s start talking about the software that is included with both of these NAS systems to see if this is where Synology can shine.

Synology DS224+ vs QNAP TS-262 NAS – Software and Services

Spoiler alert, Synology is going to win this! If you have been spending even a moderate amount of time looking at either of these brands, you’ll know that where QNAP seemingly hit the accelerator in the hardware department, Synology absolutely dominates in terms of the software! QNAP arrives with QTS 5.1, the latest iteration of their software, and although it does lack some of the smoothness and intuitive nature of the Synology platform (DSM 7.2), it is still a very well-put-together and heavily-featured platform. Here is how they compare:

	QNAP QTS 5.1	Synology DSM 7.2
Browser Support	Supports all Browsers	Supports all Browsers
	Browser File Management	Browser File Management
	Photo/Music/Video Tools	Photo/Music/Video Tools
	Multimedia Console	Synology Drive
	AI Photo Recognition	AI Photo Recognition
	Edge m.2 Coral TPU Support
Storage Services
	SED Drive Support	SED Drive Support
	QTier	Synology Hybrid RAID
	Hybrid Mount	Hybrid Share
	ISCSI Target/LUN	ISCSI Target/LUN
	vJBOD	Volume Encryption
	Snapshots	Snapshots
	SSD Cache (Read/Write/Both)	SSD Cache (Read/Write/Both)
	Cloud Sync / QSync	Cloud Sync
	Drive Failure Predcition & Migration	Fast RAID Rebuild
	RAID Resync control	RAID Resync control
	Secure Erase	Acrtive Backup Suite
	Lots of Expansions (TR/TL)	Hyper Backup
	HBS 3	Synology CMS
	Qfiling and Qsirch	Write Once Read Many
Business Applications
	QVR Pro – 8 Camera Licenses (+USB Camera Support)	Surveillance Station – 2 Camera Licenses
	Virtualization Station	Virtual Machine Manager
	Ubuntu Linux Station 18/20	Docker Support
	Container Station	Active Backup 365 & Workspace
	Hypervisor Protector	Synology Office, Chat, Calendar
	QMailAgent	Synology Mail / MailPlus
	HD Station	Synology C2 and Services
	BoXafe

	Security Councillor	Security Councillor
	Malware Remover	Synology VPN Plus
	McAfee Anti-Virus Scanning	Log and Notification Center
	QVPN	Auto Blocking on SSH, Telnet etc
	Log and Notification Center	256 bit Encryption
	Auto Blocking on SSH, Telnet etc	2 Step Authentication
	256 bit Encryption	Firewall App
	2 Step Authentication	Access Protection and Allow/Deny list
	Firewall App	Synology Secure SignIn
	Access Protection and Allow/Deny list	Synology C2 Password

The TS-262 also supports QNAP’s QTier service, a unique alternative to utilizing faster SSDs as storage pools or for caching. With Q Tier, you can combine your available slower hard drive storage media and faster SSD media into a single storage pool. Upon doing so, over time the system will learn what are the most frequently accessed files, ranging from small metadata and OS files all the way up to larger block data, which is then moved (not copied, as found with caching in smaller files) to the faster storage area. Then over time, as you and your other users use the TS-262, those more frequently accessed files will be retrieved from the faster SSD and create a much more responsive and faster user experience. Combine that with the improvements in the base level, network bandwidth on day one, or via upgrade, and the benefits of QTier in a mixed media storage device are very useful indeed.

We also have to acknowledge that one of these two brands suffered something of a PR disaster back in 2021/2022 when QNAP was one of the brands that was targeted by the Deadbolt ransomware group (alongside Asustor and Terramaster), resulting in more than 3,000 successfully hit devices who suffered targeted data encryption in small or whole system storage extents. The impact of this, combined with QNAP’s handling of the attack and their response to semi-force updates on systems remotely, resulted in a lot of lost face by many in this brand, and they will be carrying the stigma of this event for quite a few years yet. In comparison, Synology, though targeted by the group, were not successfully attacked, and at the time of writing, it appears that no Synology NAS user was ever hit by Deadbolt ransomware. In fact, aside from the Synolocker attack on Synology NAS systems over a decade ago, there has not been any widespread reported successful attack on their platform that comes even slightly close to the Deadbolt attack on QNAP.

To put this into a little bit of perspective, all network-attached storage devices received regular security updates for years, long beyond the hardware warranty of any singular NAS hardware. This is because software development can only ever really be one step ahead of the hackers. A brand releases software, hackers begin to try to find vulnerabilities, and when successful, the software brand releases a firmware update, and the cycle begins again. The majority of software these days is actually built on just a handful of different software architectures such as Linux, which in turn go through the same cycle of update>attack>update as any other software. However, when THEY roll out an update, the software that is built on them needs to customize that firmware update on their platforms, which takes time! Both of these brands, alongside every other reputable software brand that has even a hint of internet/remote access, has their security advisory pages that you can find online, which will detail the number of vulnerabilities that have been highlighted and the progress of their resolution. So, no brand will ever be considered 100% bulletproof from security vulnerabilities, as any piece of software might have a vulnerability that has just simply not been found yet, but there is simply no denying that between these two brands when it comes to security and how they have managed this subject, Synology seemingly has the edge.

If you are still on the fence about whether you should buy the Synology DS224+ or QNAP TS-262, and you intend to spend a decent amount of time with their respective software, then I would strongly recommend that you head to one of the two demo pages below. Both of these allow you to test out and experience the respective NAS software from each of these brands and will give you a good understanding of how each one works, how intuitive or user-friendly they are, and whether either software will provide you the level of reliability, stability, or customization that you are going to need before you purchase either the DS224+ or TS-262 NAS.

Synology Diskstation Manager 7.2 Online Demo – HERE

QNAP QTS 5.1 Online Demo – HERE

Ultimately, much like previously when QNAP was holding court and comfortably winning the hardware comparison of these two NAS devices, in the case of software, Synology absolutely smashes it. It’s not a complete flawless victory, as the QNAP QTS platform does provide a wide range of first-party services, much more customizable and adaptable services, and a wide range of third-party support compared with Synology DSM. But in terms of UX design, smoothness of GUI, long-term security management, and first-party ecosystem services, the Synology DSM platform on the DS224+ comfortably places it ahead. This is as you would expect from a brand that, when purchasing one of their solutions, places the emphasis on the software more than anything else. You can really feel the investment there! If you are in need of further comparison, you can check out my reviews on both DSM and QTS below in the software reviews over on YouTube:

QNAP QTS 5.1 Before You Buy (YouTube)	Synology DSM 7.2 Before You Buy (YouTube)

Synology DS224+ vs QNAP TS-262 NAS – Verdict and Conclusion

It would be so, so easy to simply label this a case of hardware versus software, and indeed there is a ring of truth to that when you look at just how much is packed in with both the DS224+ and TS-262 in terms of priorities from either brand. However, the reality is a little bit more nuanced, as it really will come down to both what the user needs and their level of experience. Though the software on the DS224+ towers over the hardware when you purchase the device, it also needs to be stated that good software can make the most of weaker hardware, and having a system that requires a lower skill level in order to make the most out of it, for some, is going to be worth its waiting gold! You need to think of the Synology NAS systems as something of a complete ecosystem rather than just a data storage solution, providing more applications to replace those third-party alternatives that may exist in your network and create a truly synchronized storage networking communication environment! However, all of that arrives with limitations, with a lower glass ceiling and often with a feeling that the system is being held back intentionally in efforts to maintain that balance in the case of the DS224+. The TS-262, by comparison, gives you more hardware, more bandwidth, greater opportunities to upgrade and scale out your storage, and does so with a software platform that takes off the training wheels. This can lead to inconsistencies, this can lead to a higher learning curve, and ultimately leads to an experience where you may have to spend more time getting the system to wrap around your existing workflow rather than the other way around. This is where the TS-262 excels, as it tries to give you the control to do things your way, but may also hit the odd hurdle when it’s trying to do and be too many things to too many people. If you are looking for a streamlined experience that will hold your hand the whole way, go for the Synology DS224+! If you are looking to take the reins of your hardware, get a system to work the way YOU want it to, and have more opportunities to scale up your network storage in many directions, go for the QNAP TS-262. Both systems excel in what they’re trying to do at this price point, and as long as you know what you want from this system in advance, they will fulfill those needs appropriately!

NAS

Amazon Price:

QNAP TS-262 NAS

Synology DS224+ NAS

$335 (21/04/24 – Check Amazon)

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The Best 10GbE NAS Drives – 2024

NAS Compares

Par : Rob Andrews

29 avril 2024 à 18:00

A Guide to the Best 10GbE NAS Drives

Data continues to grow exponentially, with everyday devices generating substantial amounts of data. High-resolution photos, 4K Ultra HD HDR movies, and internet connections surpassing gigabit speeds have become the norm. This surge in data creation and transfer has highlighted the limitations of the traditional 1GbE (RJ45) LAN/WAN ports, often causing network bottlenecks. In the past year, client hardware like phones, laptops, TVs, and tablets have adapted to this challenge, increasingly incorporating advanced WiFi protocols such as WiFi 6 (802.11ax). Similarly, in the realm of Network Attached Storage (NAS), addressing bandwidth limitations has been a focus for several years, with one of the key solutions being the adoption of 10GbE technology. 10GbE, offering ten times the bandwidth of the conventional 1GbE, enables network transmissions to exceed 1,000MB/s. Although 10G technology has been around for a while, it’s only in the last few years, particularly in 2023 and 2024, that it has become significantly more affordable. This price reduction has made it feasible for both home and business users to upgrade. The cost of 10G adapter cards has dropped to under £100, and network switches are now priced only slightly higher than their 1G counterparts. Furthermore, in some instances, the physical compatibility of 1G and 10G is identical (Copper RJ45), simplifying upgrades and allowing for considerable hardware reuse.

10GbE has become much more accessible than previously anticipated. To assist in your decision-making process, below is a video detailing numerous reasons to upgrade to or opt out of 10GbE, which could be helpful in your search for the best 10GbE NAS to buy in 2024.

Best NAS of the Year

(Honourable Mention) Terramaster T9-450 $999-1099 – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H
(Best Software) Synology DS1823xs+ $1799 – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H
(Best Hardware) QNAP TS-855X $1300-1500 – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H
(Best Value 10G + NVMe) Asustor Flashstor 12 Pro $799 – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H

Key Features of Top 10GbE NAS Drives in 2024

When exploring the various 10GbE NAS drives available, it’s crucial to recognize that they are not all created equal. Despite the temptation of lower-priced models from emerging brands, these often lack durability and comprehensive features. Here are the essential features that the best 10GbE NAS drives, regardless of brand, should include:

1. **Integrated Hardware and Software**: Includes a web browser interface, mobile and desktop apps for backup, media streaming, surveillance, and file management.
2. **Multi-OS Compatibility**: Accessible via Windows, Mac, Android, and Linux.
3. **Warranty**: Typically 2-3 years, extendable to 5 years.
4. **Network and Remote Access**: Local network access and secure remote access with brand-supported services at no extra cost.
5. **Support for Latest Hard Drives**: Compatibility with the latest 20TB NAS hard drives.
6. **RAID Support**: Multiple drive configurations for data protection and performance.
7. **Regular Updates**: Frequent updates for security, features, and services.
8. **Cloud and Enterprise Service Integration**: Syncing capabilities with cloud services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive, and enterprise services such as AWS and Azure.
9. **Shared Drive Hosting**: Ability to host a synchronized drive on your device, visible in the native file manager.
10. **Direct Network Connectivity**: Access via ethernet for 100MB/s or higher connectivity.
11. **Backup and Sync Tools**: Client-side tools for regular backups of files and system data.

Ensure any 10GbE NAS you consider, beyond the top recommendations, includes these features. These aspects are often compromised in cheaper models, resulting in less proficient NAS servers. Let’s now look at the best 10GbE NAS drives to buy right now.

Honourable Mention, Good Value 10GbE – Terramaster T9-450 NAS

0-198TB, 9-Bays, 2x PCIe Gen 3 M.2 NVMe 2280, Intel C3558R Atom Quad Core CPU, 8-32GB Memory, 2x 10GbE SFP, 1x 2.5GbE Port, PCIe Slot (TBC), 2yr Warranty

Current Price/Availability on Amazon – $999-1099

Hardware Review – LINK

YouTube Video Review – Watch

What I said in my review May ’23:

Terramaster has really changed the playing field with the T9-450 NAS. I was already a big fan of their latest generation of 6-Bay, 9-Bay and 12-Bay desktop chassis – providing a pretty substantial amount of storage in a tower design that borrows ventilation methodology traditionally found in rackmounts, but the T9-450 takes this logic and doubles down on it hard. The dual 10GbE on the system means that, despite it’s comparatively modest price point (when comparing against similar scale solutions from Synology and QNAP) you genuinely have a solution with the potential to allow you to enjoy every single MB/s or GB/s of your RAID externally. This is further bolstered with additional 2.5GbE ports, m.2 NVMe bays, uncomplicated support of HDDs/SSDs and just generally a very sensible system that shows how much Terramaster has matured as a brand. The TOS software is still not quite up there with Synology’s DSM or QNAP’s QTS in terms of ease of use and AAA+ features, but it is definitely a great entry point OS that has tighted it’s security since the brand was targetted by a ransomware group (along with other brands, they were affected by Deadbolt attacks) – it certainly lacks some of the background optimization of it’s competitors, but then this is reflected in the budget of the system too.

The internal PCIe slot that has been largely ignored is a bit of a missed opportunity and I am not a big fan of how they have addressed memory compatibility, but overall it is very, very tough to criticise the T9-450 NAS when you factor in the value of the package here. Factor in that you can very easily swap out the OS for many others, and it largely silences alot of the negatives here too. Overall, the T9-450 could potentially be the best NAS that Terramster has ever released and if they continue to address later releases with the same level of hardware value, this could definitely give the bigger names in the industry something of a headache down the road. I highly recommend this system for its value and performance potential!

SOFTWARE - 7/10

HARDWARE - 10/10

PERFORMANCE - 8/10

PRICE - 9/10

VALUE - 10/10

8.8

PROS

Surprisingly compact for 9 Bays of Storage

Good Middle ground between a Rackmount and Desktop System

Dual 10GbE - LOVELY STUFF!

Also has support of SMB MultiChannel and an extra 2x 2.5GbE

Decent throughput Capable CPU

Great RAID Options

Snapshot Replication

BTRFS/EXT4 Support as preferred

A large amount of maximum memory supported (16-32GB - TBC)

M.2 SSD Bay inside for caching/storage

TOS 5.1 is genuinely good, if not quite as polished/evolved as it\\\'s competitors

VERY easy to install TrueNAS, UnRAID, Proxmox, OpenMediaVault, etc (and also easy to reverse)

CONS

Secret PCIe Slot - Unused?!

Supports ECC Mmeory, but not included (might annoy some)

NOT QUIET!

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now?

These Offers are Checked Daily

Best All Round 10GbE NAS for HW and SW – Synology DS1823xs+ NAS

0-176TB, 8-Bays, 2x NVMe Cache Bays, Quad-Core Ryzen V1780B 3.4Ghz CPU, 8-32GB DDR4 ECC Memory, 1x 10GbE, 2x 1Gbe Port, 1x PCIe 3×8 Upgrade Slot, 5yr Warranty

Current Price/Availability on Amazon – $1799

Hardware Review – LINK

YouTube Video Review – Watch Long Review – Watch Short Review

What I said in my review March ’23:

If you are looking for a solid and confident move away from expensive long-term cloud subscription services, away from your defunct Drobo system or simply looking for a Synology NAS that has good hardware inside, outside and with DSM all over it – the DS1823xs+ NAS is a very solid choice indeed! With a huge degree of expandability and upgradability open to the end user to scale with later in the system’s life, extensive long-term committed software support and that 5yrs hardware warranty out the box – this is a system that is clearly designed for the long-haul and as soon as you factor in the complete hardware+software nature of this purchase with DSM included, it’s a very tasty box! There are a few odd choices here or there (e.g M.2 NVMe Pools not presented in the way some might like and HDD/SSD compatibility that clearly favours the enterprise tier), this is still easily the most powerful and capable 8-Bay system that Synology has ever produced. Whether you are a small, medium or large business user, this system has a large amount of potential for your data and has the horsepower for multiple VMs, large-scale surveillance, widespread backups, broad multi-user access and all of these running at the same time in a remarkably compact package.

That said, the DS1823xs+ NAS has a little bit of an identity crisis when you scale it up with the rest of the larger tiers of the Synology portfolio and, although I genuinely like it, seems to be a system that exists BETWEEN the Synology PLUS and XS series (see my points about the RS2423+) and when you look at it in that context, it sees the tiniest bit more expensive than it should be. If you are looking at the DS1823xs+ NAS and fully intend to scale up the storage, external bandwidth or memory in the next two years, I would recommend skipping this and opting for the DS3622xs+ instead. However, the base model of the DS1823xs+ has alot of ‘umpf’ under the bonnet and short of those hurdles for some on compatibility, the DS1823xs+ seemingly lives up to alot of it’s expectations!

SOFTWARE - 10/10

HARDWARE - 8/10

PERFORMANCE - 9/10

PRICE - 8/10

VALUE - 8/10

8.6

PROS

Supports ALL of the Synology App Suite

Huge Amount of Expandability

High Capacity / Low Impact

10/10 Chassis Design

M.2 NVMe SSD Storage Pools

Balanced/Powerful CPU

5yr H/W Warranty & Long S/W Support

Tier Storage Ready

ECC Memory and 8GB Day 1

Hugely User-Friendly GUI

10GbE x86 8-Bay Expandable Synology......FINALLY!

CONS

HDD/SSD Compatibility is going to Annoy some

M.2 NVMe SSD Lane Limits

Lack of SHR

DS3622xs+ is £1000+ more, but significantly upscaled on almost everything

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now?

Synology DS1823xs+ 8 Bay NAS Desktop: High-Performance Storage Solution Amazon

UK 27.57 OFF (WAS 1788) [LINK]
Synology DiskStation DS1823xs+ 8-Bay + 2 x NVMe, 3.5 Diskless, 2xGbE + 1x10GbE, Amazon usa

USA 16.57 OFF (WAS 2282) [LINK]

These Offers are Checked Daily

Best Storage 10GbE NAS – QNAP Triple Tier TS-855X Server

0-130TB SATA HDDs, 0-16TB SATA SSDs, 0-16TB 3×4 M.2 NVMes, 6+2+2-Bays, C5125 8-Core Atom CPU, 8-128GB Memory, 1x 10GbE and 2x 2.5GbE Ports, 2x PCIe 3×8 Slots, 3yr Warranty

Current Price/Availability on Amazon – $1300-1500

Hardware Review – LINK

YouTube Video Review – Watch

What I said in my review June ’23:

I have to say, I am INSANELY impressed by how much bang for buck is being included in the TS-855X and although it is not the most powerful device in the market (arguably intentionally, as it favours the more affordable Atom over a xeon), it is a sensible workhorse of a NAS. On the positive side, the QNAP TS-855X NAS comes with numerous strong selling points. The device offers large storage potential, especially with the ZFS file system, making it a powerhouse for data management. The choice of CPU is also sensible, providing a balance between performance and cost-effectiveness. The inclusion of the QTier tool is particularly appealing, adding a layer of efficiency to the storage management. Another big plus is the user-friendly GUI for ZFS in QuTS, making it accessible for users with varying levels of technical expertise. The three-tier storage options and support of ECC memory with a maximum of 128GB further enhance the device’s versatility and potential. Moreover, the TS-855X provides a wealth of expansion options and comes with 8 camera licenses with QVR Pro/QTS. The well-ventilated design contributes to thermal efficiency, ensuring optimal performance, while its support for the latest 22TB and soon-to-be-released 24TB drives future-proofs your investment.

However, the TS-855X is not without its drawbacks. While the two SATA SSD bays provide extra storage options, they would have been better if they were U.2 slots, which offer faster speeds. Although the device supports ECC memory, the initial 8GB memory in the base model is non-ECC, which might not be optimal for all ZFS services. The memory capacity might also be somewhat low for users with intensive data needs. Furthermore, the software can sometimes be inconsistent under heavy use, and it has a steeper learning curve compared to competitors like Synology. Finally, the pricing structure for the TS-855X is a mixed bag. While some users may find the cost reasonable given its features, others might feel it’s a bit steep for what it offers. Therefore, while the QNAP TS-855X NAS offers a plethora of attractive features and strong performance, it’s worth keeping in mind that a spend of a few hundred more dollars opens the door to Intel Core-powered NAS in the TVS-hx74 series or more powerful Xeon triple-tiered systems such as the TVS-h1288X. If you want power, but on a budget, it’s a great choice!

SOFTWARE - 8/10

HARDWARE - 8/10

PERFORMANCE - 9/10

PRICE - 8/10

VALUE - 8/10

8.2

PROS

Large Storage Potential (Especially in ZFS)

Sensible Choice of CPU

QTier Tool is VERY Appealing

ZFS in QuTS but with a User Friendly GUI

Three Tier Storage Opts

Support of ECC Memory & 128GB Max

Tonnes of Expansion Options

8 Camera Licenses with QVR Pro/QTS

Well Ventilated Design

Supports Latest 22TB and 24TB (soon)

CONS

2x SATA SSD Bays Would Hva ebeen Better if U.2

Initial 8GB Memory is low for all ZFS services + is not ECC in default/Base Model

Software can be a little inconsistent under excessive use

Features a steeper learning curve than Synology

Early Pricing is a Mixed Bag

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QNAP TS-855X-8G-US 8 Bay High-Performance 8-core 10GbE NAS for deploying Hybrid- Amazon usa

USA 248.38 OFF (WAS 1647) [LINK]

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Best Value 10GbE NVMe NAS – The Asustor Flashstor 12 Pro NVMe Flash Server

0-96TB, 12x M.2 NVMe 3×1 Bays, Supports 2x USB Expansions, N5105/N5095 4-Core CPU, 4-16GB DDR4 (non-ECC) Memory, 1x 10Gbe Port, 3yr Warranty

Current Price/Availability on Amazon – $799

Hardware Review – LINK

YouTube Video Review HERE)

What I said in my review June ’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!

SOFTWARE - 7/10

HARDWARE - 9/10

PERFORMANCE - 7/10

PRICE - 10/10

VALUE - 10/10

8.6

PROS

6x NVMe SSD Flash NAS for under $500 - COME ON!

Low Power Use

Full 1st Party NAS OS Included

USB 3.2 Gen 2 10G Connectivity and wide USB Support/Compatibility

Very Slick and compact design

SP/DIF and HDMI 2.0b Outputs will hugely please the multimedia user community

Likewise, Plex Performance is very good for 4K and 1080p conversions

CONS

6x NVMe Performance will never be realised because of the Intel Celeron CPU inside and 3x1 Limits

2.5GbE x2 is good.. but its still hugely limiting for those NVMes

Lack of ECC memory (cost prohibitive of course) will put some serious users off

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now?

ASUSTOR FLASHSTOR 6 (FS6706T) Network Storage Amazon usa

USA 7.09 OFF (WAS 475) [LINK]
ASUSTOR FLASHSTOR 12 Pro (FS6712X) Network Storage Amazon usa

USA 12.68 OFF (WAS 848) [LINK]

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UGREEN DXP8800 PLUS NAS Review

NAS Compares

Par : Rob Andrews

26 avril 2024 à 18:00

UGREEN NASync DXP8800 PLUS Review

UGREEN continues to push forward with its NASync series of NAS devices and although the range is pretty broad, the device in the lineup that business/professional users are looking at as an affordable alternative to Synology and QNAP is the big 8-Bay model – The UGREEN DXP8800 PLUS NAS. Pretty much the ‘top end’ model of the series, this is an 8 SATA and 2 Gen 4 M.2 NVMe SSD System, rolling out the gate with dual 10GbE connectivity, Thunderbolt 4 ports, a PCIe upgrade slot, an i5 10 Core Processor and up to 64GB of DDR5 memory. It’s ALOT. First arriving at $899 for early backers, now at $974, this system is a huge saving when compared with the $1899 Synology DS1823xs+ and $2000-3500 QNAP TVS-h874 series. But what is the catch? What compromises have UGREEN made? Ultimately, does the UGREEN DXP8800 PLUS NAS deserve your money and your data? Let’s discuss it in today’s review.

Other UGREEN NAS Reviews:

The DXP4800 PLUS 4-BAY NAS Review – VIDEO – WRITTEN

The DXP480T 4-BAY NVMe SSD NAS Review – VIDEO – WRITTEN

The DXP8800 PLUS 8-BAY 10GbE NAS Review – VIDEO – WRITTEN

Important – The UGREEN DXP8800 Plus NAS is still in the mid stages of crowdfunding. The unit provided for review by UGREEN might not represent the finished product if/when crowdfunding is concluded and eventual fulfillment begins. UGREEN is an already long-established and trusted brand, but nevertheless, it is important to keep in mind that this is still a product that is initially being made available via crowdfunding and therefore an element of additional care is always advised, compared with a comparable product purchased via traditional retail outlets.

UGREEN DXP8800 PLUS NASync Review – Quick Conclusion

Much like the rest of the NASync series, the UGREEN DXP8800 PLUS 8-Bay NAS is incredibly good value in terms of hardware and, if you are looking for the very best desktop NAS hardware for the price point available in the market – the DXP8800 PLUS is truly unbeatable in its specifications, build quality and overall physical presentation. Even going full ‘DiY’ and trying to build a system of this calibre yourself (case, cables, i5 embedded mobo, 2 port 10GbE card, 2 NVMe, 8 SATA, case, cooling, etc), you would struggle to beat the sub $999 of this system by a meaningful margin. Add to this the fact that UGREEN have now softened their stance on 3rd party NAS OS’ on their NAS devices having no aggressive impact on your 3-year hardware warranty has won a lot more users over, as the DXP8800 PLUS becomes the perfect TrueNAS or UnRAID NAS for users who don’t want the hassle of building from scratch, chasing multiple warranty’s and silicon paste under the fingernails! Genuinely, it is impossible to fault the DXP8800 PLUS on a hardware level (it’s not even that noisy, compared to other 8-Bay NAS in the market at least).

When it comes to software and performance, however, things are a little more complicated. The UGREEN NAS software (UGOS) is still very much in beta, and it feels likes it. The system (at time of writing) has still yet to complete initial crowdfunding and development of the software is still on-going (so we are still judging a software OS that hasn’t finished). But nevertheless, the absence of services such as 2 factor authentication, WORM, a comprehensive security monitor, volume encryption, a virtual machine hypervisor, broader 3rd party cloud sync and backup tools, etc – the absence of these (as well as inconsistencies in the software and performance, that arguably are possibly related to it’s beta status) lead to it being hard to recommend the DXP8800 PLUS on a software level. However, this system will not see physical fulfilment to backers till at least June/July at the very earliest, which is still a decent amount of time to polish the software and roll out beta’s of individual services that are promised on the UGREEN roadmap. Perhaps you are looking at the DXP8800 PLUS series for TrueNAS/UnRAID/OMV etc, or simply to set it up for local SMB storage for your backups and then use the docker app to run Plex. For those users, the DXP8800 is an absolute bargain. Just remember that we are still talking about Kickstarter and crowdfunding (still an odd move by such a big brand) and therefore this needs to be treated as such, not comparable to traditional retail! Overall, I am hugely impressed and look forward to seeing where this system, UGOS and UGREEN go in the exciting world of NAS in the next year or two. The DXP8800 PLUS is a BEAST of a NAS in terms of hardware, but the software is still WiP.

SOFTWARE - 6/10

HARDWARE - 10/10

PERFORMANCE - 7/10

PRICE - 10/10

VALUE - 9/10

8.4

PROS

PCIe Expandability

8 HDDs + 2x Gen 4 M.2 in 1 box under $999

Good Balanced CPU choice

10GbE Dual Ports!

An SD Card Slot (wierdly rare!)

10/10 Build Quality

Great Scalability

Fantastic Mobile Application (even vs Synology and QNAP etc)

Desktop/Browser GUI shows promise

Established Brand entering the NAS Market

Not too noisy (comparatively)

Very Appealing retail package+accessories

CONS

10GbE Performance was less than expected

Crowdfunding choice is confusing

Software (still in Beta) is still far from ready 18/4/24

UGREEN DXP8800 PLUS NASync Review – Presentation

You really do have to hand it to UGREEN. The presentation of the DXP8800 Plus is genuinely top-tier. This brand’s experience in computer accessories has clearly influenced the presentation of their NAS system, opting for glossy retail packaging that boldly showcases the system’s capabilities over a standard dull brown box.

Inside the shiny box is a well-organized shipping container, with the system secured by rigid foam and an accessory kit containing everything needed to get started. As previously mentioned, retail packaging and device protection during transit are often overlooked by brands, risking damage. Despite being largely unpopulated, except for an internal 2280 SSD for the OS, minimizing the risk of damage, the extra effort on protection is appreciated.

The DXP8800 Plus includes nearly everything needed for setup, aside from hard drives. Given the early stage of the system’s crowdfunding campaign, additional storage options may later become available.

The included kit, while basic, ensures users new to hosting their own servers have everything required.

It’s the attention to detail that impresses – from M.2 NVMe heat pads of notable quality and thickness for thermal dissipation, to the included Cat 7 network cables with high-quality gold/copper ends, differentiating them from standard cables.

Even the instruction manual, a rarity as most NAS brands now direct users online, stands out with its glossy presentation and offers more than basic setup guidance.

One thing I wanted to note (especially after reviewing the DXP4800 PLUS and DXP480T NAS systems previously) is that the DXP880 8-Bay NAS arrives with 3 years of warranty, when the bulk other devices in the series arrive with 2-Years. It’s a small but significant difference, as most users who are looking at 8-Bays of storage tend to be doing so for business-related use – so that extra year will certainly be noted and appreciated!

However, the choice of a 3rd party CWT internal power supply (PSU), though expected at this scale, given UGREEN’s reputation for high-quality power adapters and cables. While not a deal-breaker, it’s curious to see a non-UGREEN PSU used, especially when the DXP480t model reviewed elsewhere came with a branded UGREEN PSU. This inconsistency in their approach to PSUs is puzzling.

Overall, the presentation of the DXP8800 Plus from UGREEN, a newcomer to the NAS market intending to launch via Kickstarter, is exceptionally well done. Despite some accessory quality inconsistencies, the overall package is commendable for a pre-release sample. Now, let’s proceed to discuss the system’s design.

UGREEN DXP8800 PLUS NASync Review – Design

At first glance, the DXP 8800 Plus appears to be a fairly standard 8 NAS enclosure, and you might be forgiven for thinking it’s just reiterating the typical case design prevalent among numerous companies. However, there’s more to its design and efficiency than meets the eye. For starters, the external enclosure is entirely metal, enhancing heat dissipation directly from the base panel housing the M.2 modules. Additionally, UGREEN has infused the design with their unique stylistic choices, evident in the presentation of individual bays and the arrangement and accessibility of various ports and connections.

The inclusion of small design flourishes, like the rear removable mesh metallic fan panel that magnetically attaches to the casing, is particularly appreciated. While such a feature is familiar to prosumer PC cases, it’s surprisingly rare in NAS designs – puzzling, given NAS systems’ continuous operation and higher likelihood of accumulating dust and debris. Despite being a relatively minor detail, this fan cover’s presence in UGREEN’s first product impresses me aesthetically and functionally.

The internal fans are two low noise standard 92mm PC fans, that can be fully controlled in their RPM by the system software manually, or left to automatically adapt to the system’s needs.

Handling individual storage bays, however, presents a mixed reaction. The bold numeric design distinguishes it aesthetically from other NAS brands that often opt for bland, nondescript bays. The tool-less, click-and-load trays that forego the need for a screwdriver for drive installation and the inclusion of individual locking mechanisms (with keys) are commendable features.

Yet, these trays feel somewhat flimsy compared to the more robust trays found in desktop solutions from Synology and QNAP. While they secure the hard drives and align with the internal enclosure runners, the internal locking mechanism doesn’t inspire confidence in its security. The trays’ perceived cheap production quality slightly detracts from the overall positive aesthetic. Despite this, the system supports the latest 22TB hard drives (testing of 24TB Seagate Ironwolf Pro HDDs in progress), which means daily interaction with these trays will be minimal.

The main storage area features a pre-constructed PCB with eight integrated SATA and power connectors. The system documentation indicates that SAS drives are unsupported, a non-issue for this system’s scale and price point.

Upon removing the base’s metallic panel, the two M.2 NVMe SSD bays and upgradable DDR5 SODIMM ports are revealed. Space constraints make heat sink installation challenging, but UGREEN has anticipated this with the inclusion of thick heat pads in the accessory kit, facilitating heat dissipation through the external casing.

UGREEN’s entry into 24/7 service storage with the DXP 8800 Plus is noteworthy, especially for a brand new to this sector. Their effort to differentiate through design and functionality is largely successful, although the storage trays’ quality could be improved. Overall, the system’s design is a strong point, and I look forward to discussing ports and connectivity next.

UGREEN DXP8800 PLUS NASync Review – Power Consumption

The DXP8800 PLUS is a beefy system and although I was expecting the system to be a little greedy on the power consumption anyway, it was still arguably a pinch higher than I expected. Initially, UGREEN stated that the power consumption of the 2 and 4 bay systems would be (for general system load):

DXP2800: Standby 16.77W (2*4TB HDD + 1*256GB SSD) / DXP2800: Standby 26.92W (2*8TB HDD + 1*256GB SSD)
DXP4800: Standby 29.279W (2*4TB HDD + 1*256GB SSD) / DXP4800 Plus: Standby 30.608W (4*4TB HDD + 1*256GB SSD)
DXP4800 Plus: Standby 51.437W (4*8TB HDD + 1*256GB SSD)

Now, let’s put those numbers into perspective. Below is the power consumption of the DXP8800 PLUS NAS, populated with 4x Toshiba MG 8TB Enterprise HDDs, 4x Kingston DC600M SATA 480GB SSDs and 2x Kingston KC3000 NVMes, in both Idle and Active:

Based on the figures that UGREEN provided for the DXP4800 PLUS, the DXP8800PLUS was using twice the power. On the face of it, this seems reasonable (the latter system IS twice the scale in almost every way – also using a 10 Core i5 vs a 5 Core Pentium). Nevertheless, this is quite a hungry system and users looking at an 8-Bay 10G system like this, when moving away from more modest 2/4-Bay systems should be aware!

UGREEN DXP8800 PLUS NASync Review – Noise Levels

next up, the noise levels (always tough to show in a written article!). If you want to HEAR the noise levels of the UGREEN DXP8800 PLUS NAS, then you can head HERE to this specific section of the DXP8800 PLUS YouTube Review. Otherwise, for the reported dBa levels of the system in standby and active, use the videos below:

Standy/Idle:

Active Use, Fans on ‘FULL’:

REALLY surprised at the noise level. Given the largely metal construction of the system, I expected it to hit the early 40’s in dBa, at the very least. But it was surprisingly low ambient volume (relative to other 8-Bay NAS of course). Then there is the fact that I used a combination of smaller 8TB HDDs and SSDs, which did reduce noise levels somewhat. If I had been using more aggressive 12-14TB HDDs, then the operational noise of these more industrial built drives would have been much different – but then we would be measuring HDD noise and not system noise.

UGREEN DXP8800 PLUS NASync Review – Ports and Connections

One of the earliest things to notice about the connectivity on offer on the DXP 8800 Plus NAS is that this system brings back support for SD cards. This may seem almost insane to the average photo and video editor, but SD card readers on NAS devices have been largely absent for almost a decade, despite enormous protestations from photo and video editors for years.

Therefore, it’s kind of impressive that UGREEN has opted to provide an SD card slot and a front-mounted USB Type-A 10Gbs connection, AND 2x Thunderbolt 4 USB-C conenctions on the DXP8800 Plus when practically every other brand in the NAS industry does not. It’s going to be a tremendously convenient feature for those wanting to ingest media directly into the system via numerous storage methods and camera systems, making it that much more convenient than many others in the market.

The front-mounted Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports can only be used with the UGREEN DXP8800 PLUS as the ‘host’ and connected devices as ‘clients’. In ‘normal speak’, that means that these ports can only be used for accessories (storage etc) that are managed by the NAS. That means that currently you cannot use the Thunderbolt 3/4 USB-C port on your PC or Mac to connect with the NAS for a ‘Thunderbolt NAS’ connection, much as you would find from several QNAP Thunderbolt NAS (Guide on this HERE) devices.

Flipping the device around, we see that the system has even more USB ports that can be utilized by the system in a host-client relationship. That means that the UGREEN NAS system will act as the host device for connected storage drives and supported peripherals. Unfortunately, this does mean that you cannot directly connect to this device using those USB ports, and the USB 2.0 connections are pretty much exclusively designed for connecting printers and office peripherals, uninterruptible power supplies, or keyboard/mouse in KVM setups alongside the visual output.

The visual output of this system is a 4K 60 frames per second HDMI 2.0 connection (8K output is possible if you scale the memory up). The software for the UGREEN NAS system is still in beta, and currently, the HDMI output is limited to command line access.

Currently, there is no graphical user interface afforded to the HDMI output, such as you would find on a QNAP or Asustor NAS system, but as this is a relatively niche feature for many, I’m not going to give them too much of a hard time over this.

Although the lack of the Thunderbolt direct connectivity will be a blow for some, the majority of users will be much ,much more impressed with the network connectivity of the DXP8800 PLUS. The system arrives with two 10GbE network ports (which is exceptional at the under $999 price tag, at least during crowdfunding).

Just to put this into perspective, the Synology DS1823xs+ is an 8 Bay NAS that has 1x 10GbE connection (and 2x 1GbE) with a 4 Core / 8 Thread AMD Emb.CPU and arrives at $1800 without TAX. Likewise, the QNAP TVS-h874T4 arrives with several versions with 10GbE and/or Thunderbolt 4 connectivity (with Intel i3/i5/i7/i9 CPUs) and that system starts at around $1999 and can reach as high as $3999). We need to factor in that the DXP8800 Plus is a crowdfunding product (so therefore hardly comparable to traditional retail as a regular over the counter purchase), but whether you purchase it at the $974 crowdfunding or intended $1499 RRP (Realistically, I imagine it will sit at around $1299-1399 at full retail) – this is a HUGE saving on hardware and for a 10GbE ready system, exceedingly hard to beat. Remember though, HAVING 2x 10GbE is not the same as being able to fully USE 20GbE – that depends on so many factors (Shared internal PCI lanes and PCIe switches, SATA and NVMe controllers internally, as well as the actual media you choose to use to try and saturate the connection.

Nevertheless, this DXP8800 PLUS arriving with the two 10GBASE-T (Copper) connections with Aquantia controllers internally to manage it, is very appealing. But it does not stop there. The DXP8800 PLUS is one of a small % of the NASYnc series to feature a PCIe upgrade slot too. It’s a half-height slot and x4 speed (so largely going to be used for NIC upgrades), but nevertheless worked a treat.

I installed a simple, budget 2x 10GbE Intel X540 adapter from Aliexpress (found HERE) and it was immediately visible and usable in the UGREEN NAS Software:

Overall, in terms of ports and connectivity, I’m really happy with everything I found on the DXP8800 Plus, and the increased scalability in terms of improving upon the network connectivity down the line, as well as the price point of the base level of network connectivity, combined with a decent degree of functionality and modern storage expandability to boot. The lack of Thunderbolt direct connectivity is a shame, but this is already something of a rarity in the market anyway (QNAP dominate this and despite the likes of QSAN and Promise trying to emulate this previously, they have hit walls) and UGREEN do state they are investigating this at development. Overall, I am really happy with the hardware thus far. Let’s dig a little deeper.

UGREEN DXP8800 PLUS NASync Review – Internal Hardware

As mentioned earlier, it’s surprisingly confident of UGREEN to launch so many different NAS devices simultaneously for their first foray into network-attached storage. Not only have they provided several different storage scales and architectures, but they are also supporting three different internal hardware CPUs in terms of CPU. The scale in terms of price and capabilities of each system varies.

The DXP8800 Plus arrived with an Intel i5 10-core processor (2p + 8e), integrated graphics, 20 PCIe lanes, and a maximum 55W TDP. Despite its compact SOC form, this 12th generation Intel i5 processor offers substantial power, benchmarking well against the N100 and Pentium 8505 models in other UGreen NAS models. Testing this processor, especially in this early crowdfunding prototype, presents challenges. Though UGREEN have softened their position on 3rd party OS support (and it’s impact on your hardware warranty if you pursue this), it is still not the intended USE CASE of what UGREEN state this system is to be deployed in (to verify their claims on it’s performance). See video below for more information on this:

Consequently, we’re limited in our ability to benchmark using third-party OSs or reference previous benchmarks for similar architectures. The UGreen NAS’s operating system, still in beta, requires further optimization to fully showcase what the hardware can achieve.

This processor is well-equipped with sufficient PCIe lanes to manage the 8 SATA drives and 2x M.2 NVMe SSDs, offering respectable speeds through SSH (at least on slot #1 – more on that later). The main concern with this processor selection is the lack of ECC memory support, crucial for high-speed flash systems to minimize bit errors during intensive operations.

Although SOC processors that support ECC are rare, especially from Intel, using one for this system and potentially for the DXP8800 Plus could significantly impact the price and development timeline. Nevertheless, this CPU is arguably the best choice for such a compact system in 2024, balancing power efficiency, heat management, and performance capabilities.

Arriving with integrated graphics, supporting up to 64 gigabytes of memory (arriving with 8GB of DDR5 SODIMM and two slots), there is a lot to like here. It is especially surprising when you realize that the brand already provides closely priced N100 and Pentium models next to this device in UGREEN’s NAS portfolio. This processor performs exceedingly well with Plex Media Server and, thanks to those 20 lanes, also means there’s a decent spread of available hardware architecture across the whole device.

But do keep in mind that this system does not support ECC memory. Indeed, none of the UGREEN systems support ECC memory, and although they make a point of highlighting the on-die checks associated with DDR5, most experienced storage enthusiasts tend to prefer traditional ECC memory support. Nevertheless, 8GB is a good amount of memory to start with, and it’s great to know that you are not locked in with presoldered and fixed memory on the board, which is a move often used by more economical brands to save some money and dedicate lanes more efficiently. The layout of the internal architecture is still yet to be confirmed at the time of writing this review, but digging a little into the backend via SSH revealed that each of the M.2 NVMe slots on the base of this system are Gen 4 x 4.

However, further digging into the 2nd M.2 slot showed that it has been downgraded the 8GT/s x2 :

Not entirely sure what to make of this, as this IS a prototype review unit. But it does seemingly though a little initial shade on the whole ‘two Gen 4×4 slots’. I will need to investigate this further with the brand and when I get a further update on this, I will let you know by updating the article here. Meanwhile, the OS SSD bay that hosts the UGOS NAS software arrives on that Phison E13 Gen 3 SSD, that is downgraded the Gen 3×1 (SO, SUB 1,000MB/s performance – which is fine for the Operating System SSD, but does mean that data passing through it (or at least managed to a large degree) might be potentially bottlenecked.

So, how this all separates out on the system chipset and whether these are being delivered into PCIe switches to spread the architecture out for the rest of the system storage, double network connectivity, and dedicating lanes to all those available connections, is definitely an area that leaves pause for thought.

(image below from other UGREEN NAS Systems)

Which I had difficulty identifying, but I suspect is a Marvell AQtion Aquantia AQC113/AQC114/AQC114CS/AQC115Cs, comprising (from official pages) a high-performance,Scalable mGig, Ethernet MAC+PHY Controllers designed to support the following network rates: 10GBASE-T/5GBASET/ 2.5GBASE-T/1000BASET/100BASE-TX/10BASE-Te. When equipped with a PCI Express Gen 4 x4, this family of Scalable mGig Ethernet MAC+PHY Controllers easily handle the 10 GbE line-rate performance. The AQC113, AQC114, AQC114CS, AQC115C device family combines a mGig Ethernet MAC Controller with a full-reach, low-power, highperformance, multi-gigabit, single-port Gen 4 Ethernet Alaska PHY transceiver into a single, monolithic device that is designed using the latest 14nm, multi-gate, FinFET process technology.

(image below from other UGREEN NAS Systems)

The USB controller/manager appears to be an ASM1543, (from the ASmedia pages) a one Four to two differential channels mux switch with integrated Type-C Configuration Channel Logic Circuitry, using for USB3.1 type-C mux and CC detection application. The signal performance of mux switch is up to 10Gbps SuperSpeedPlus USB bus with low insertion loss and return loss, and it also supports USB plug orientation, configurable as DFP role or UFP role through the setting of strapping pins, and implementing the strapping for the setting/detection of Type-C current mode, following USB3.1 Revision 1.0 and USB Type-C Connector and Cable Revision 1.3 standard specification.

(image below from other UGREEN NAS Systems)

Next, we find a Richtek RT3624BE, (from the manf pages) a synchronous buck controller which supports 2 output rails and can fully meet Intel IMVP9.1 requirements. The RT3624BE adopts G-NAVPTM (Green Native AVP) which is Richtek’s proprietary topology derived from finite DC gain of EA amplifier with current mode control, making it easy to set the droop to meet all Intel CPU requirements of AVP (Adaptive Voltage Positioning). Based on the G-NAVPTM topology, the RT3624BE features a new generation of quick response mechanism (Adaptive Quick Response, AQR) to optimize AVP performance during load transient and reduce output capacitors. The RT3624BE integrates a high accuracy ADC for platform and function settings, such as ICCMAX, switching frequency, over-current threshold or AQR trigger level.

(image below from other UGREEN NAS Systems)

In terms of the SATA storage management, I found a ASMedia ASM116 SATA host controller(AHCI). (TBC) Which is upstream PCIe Gen3 x2 and downstream eight SATA Gen3 ports. It’s a low latency, low cost and low power AHCI controller. With four SATA ports and cascaded port multipliers, ASM1164 can enable users to build up various high speed IO systems, including server, high capacity system storage or surveillance platforms.

(image below from other UGREEN NAS Systems)

Earlier in March when I was testing the (late alpha, early Beta) version of the NAS software, system and services, the performance numbers I got were not hugely encouraging internally. However, there have been numerous improvements on the system software and I am pleased to confirm that the M.2 NVMe slot 1 was indeed 4×4 bandwidth and that some brief 1GB transfer/creation testing showed some early 5.5GB/s benchmarks on the Gen 4×4 SSD I has inside the system.

Now we cannot rule out the impact of caching internally and these tests are NOT reflective of everyday (i.e non synthetic) use, but it was definitely an encouraging sign. However, when I tried to repeatedly move 1GB of data between each of the NM,2 NVMe, the performance would drop down to 1.1-1.5Gb/s, which further suggested some lane sharing and a possible bottleneck by a controller and/or that downgrade perhaps. Again, this is a beta software/system and UGREEN repeated that this system is still undergoing optimization.

External performance over 10GbE was also an area that I really, REALLY hope this is sees significant optimization. I was hitting a bottleneck of around 650-700MB/s on upload and download (on a 10Gbe / 1,000MB/s connection). The performance numbers below were over 10GbE (with the MTU set at 1500 – As the software is currently not allowing me to scale it to 9000 MTU/Jumbo frames). Below is the tests for 4x 8TB Toshiba HDDs in RAID 5, 4x Kingston DC600M SATA SSDs in RAID 0 and 1x Kingston KC3000 Gen4 NVMe SSD.I then went ahead and conducted a windows 10GbE transfer to the RAID 5 array:

Further testing confirmed performance dips when transferring data between SSDs, indicating a shared pathway. Despite this being a pre-release sample, and acknowledging potential future optimizations, the observed SSD performance, though still faster than many market alternatives, fell comparatively short of expectations given the hardware capabilities (though still higher than the majority of M.2 SSD performance offered by other brands providing HDD SATA + M.2 solutions right now).

The UGREEN NAS’s software, still in beta, promises further insights into the brand’s direction with their NAS solution and its accompanying software and services, warranting a closer examination as development progresses.

UGREEN DXP8800 PLUS NASync Review – Software

At the time of writing, the UGREEN NAS software is still in beta, with the mobile application is live now. Reviewing the software included with the DXP8800 Plus—as a final product—feels somewhat premature. The NASsync software beta reveals many baseline functions and long-term plans, detailed in the video below in our initial overview and first impressions of the UGREEN NAS software:

You can read the MASSIVE Software review (covering the Desktop and Mobile experience) HERE on the NASCompares Review Article.

Alternatively, you can watch the video version of the UGREEN UGOS NAS Software Beta Review in the video below:

The TL;DR on the UGREEN NAS software (UPDATED)

it’s on track to become a smooth and user-friendly experience, comparable to giants like Synology and QNAP, especially in terms of the web browser experience. Unlike opting for the complexity of TrueNAS or the streamlined, container-focused UI of UnRAID, the UGREEN NAS software is more akin to Synology DSM. The foundation is clearly laid out for expansion in terms of features and tools for the user’s disposal. However, there are notable absences of baseline applications such as container or virtual machine support, and a multi-tiered backup solution within the web GUI (though the UGREEN NAS mobile and desktop clients are in development, expected to preview in March). Basic services for file management, shares, user account control, and an app center—soon to be linked to a repository—are all user-friendly but present some inconsistencies, likely due to its beta status and ongoing development. The physical product may be closer to final development, but the software needs more time for optimization. SMB services were less consistent than desired, and settings changes sometimes didn’t save or recall correctly. This is common for beta software finding its footing, yet it’s important to note that the hardware feels more refined than the software at this stage, months before user delivery. In brief:

What I liked:

Intuitive UI with services located logically and responsive controls.
The mobile application for iOS and Android is one of the best I have ever used in NAS!
Baseline services such as network interface management, user account control, firewall handling, and SSH interface control are all present.
A clearly defined app center awaiting connection to an online repository.
Helpful tips and guidance are available on most pages, aiding new users.
Support for modern services like SMB3 multi-channel and domain services in the beta.
Clear account and resource management accessible from the desktop, likely appealing to most users.
The inclusion of a remote access relay service and UGREEN account creation from day one, simplifying remote access for new users with built-in firewall and domain tools.
UPDATE 5/4/24 – The HDMI output is now full controllable via the mobile application and is intiuative
UPDATE 5/4/24 – A Docker application has now been added with access to numerous repository options!
UPDATE 5/4/24 – SSH is now disabled by default

What I disliked:

Absence of two-factor authentication in the software.
Lack of virtualization applications at this stage.
Sporadic SMB performance.
The Security Advisor tool is only suitable for Antivirus and Anti-Maleware protection, not to scan the system for security weaknesses and advisory actions
The HDMI output cannot be used by the desktop/browser user to the same extent as the mobile application + cannot be used by container tools (Plex, Home Automation, etc)
In-progress language integration, leading to occasional default displays in Chinese or error messages in Chinese despite English settings.

Improvements needed:

Expansion of app integration and desktop client tools for easier system-client bridging.
Introduction of a default application for device discovery on the local network, a basic service offered by many NAS brands.
More information on UGREEN account and remote access security.

Acknowledging this is a beta, it’s fair to reserve full judgment until the software fully rolls out. As it stands, this beta is promising yet lacks some established NAS software fundamentals. Hopefully, we’ll see significant advancements as the release approaches.

UGREEN DXP8800 Plus NAS Storage Review – Verdict and Conclusion

Much like the rest of the NASync series, the UGREEN DXP8800 PLUS 8-Bay NAS is incredibly good value in terms of hardware and, if you are looking for the very best desktop NAS hardware for the price point available in the market – the DXP8800 PLUS is truly unbeatable in its specifications, build quality and overall physical presentation. Even going full ‘DiY’ and trying to build a system of this calibre yourself (case, cables, i5 embedded mobo, 2 port 10GbE card, 2 NVMe, 8 SATA, case, cooling, etc), you would struggle to beat the sub $999 of this system by a meaningful margin. Add to this the fact that UGREEN have now softened their stance on 3rd party NAS OS’ on their NAS devices having no aggressive impact on your 3-year hardware warranty has won a lot more users over, as the DXP8800 PLUS becomes the perfect TrueNAS or UnRAID NAS for users who don’t want the hassle of building from scratch, chasing multiple warranty’s and silicon paste under the fingernails! Genuinely, it is impossible to fault the DXP8800 PLUS on a hardware level (it’s not even that noisy, compared to other 8-Bay NAS in the market at least).

When it comes to software and performance, however, things are a little more complicated. The UGREEN NAS software (UGOS) is still very much in beta, and it feels likes it. The system (at time of writing) has still yet to complete initial crowdfunding and development of the software is still on-going (so we are still judging a software OS that hasn’t finished). But nevertheless, the absence of services such as 2 factor authentication, WORM, a comprehensive security monitor, volume encryption, a virtual machine hypervisor, broader 3rd party cloud sync and backup tools, etc – the absence of these (as well as inconsistencies in the software and performance, that arguably are possibly related to it’s beta status) lead to it being hard to recommend the DXP8800 PLUS on a software level. However, this system will not see physical fulfilment to backers till at least June/July at the very earliest, which is still a decent amount of time to polish the software and roll out beta’s of individual services that are promised on the UGREEN roadmap. Perhaps you are looking at the DXP8800 PLUS series for TrueNAS/UnRAID/OMV etc, or simply to set it up for local SMB storage for your backups and then use the docker app to run Plex. For those users, the DXP8800 is an absolute bargain. Just remember that we are still talking about Kickstarter and crowdfunding (still an odd move by such a big brand) and therefore this needs to be treated as such, not comparable to traditional retail! Overall, I am hugely impressed and look forward to seeing where this system, UGOS and UGREEN go in the exciting world of NAS in the next year or two. The DXP8800 PLUS is a BEAST of a NAS in terms of hardware, but the software is still WiP.

PROS of the UGREEN DXP8800 PLUS NAS	CONS of the UGREEN DXP8800 PLUS NAS
PCIe Expandability 8 HDDs + 2x Gen 4 M.2 in 1 box under $999 Good Balanced CPU choice 10GbE Dual Ports! An SD Card Slot (wierdly rare!) 10/10 Build Quality Great Scalability Fantastic Mobile Application (even vs Synology and QNAP etc) Desktop/Browser GUI shows promise Established Brand entering the NAS Market Not too noisy (comparatively) Very Appealing retail package+accessories	10GbE Performance was less than expected Crowdfunding choice is confusing Software (still in Beta) is still far from ready 18/4/24

Click the Link Below to find out more about the UGREEN NASync NAS Series on the brand’s official Site:

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NAS Compares
Synology DS224+ vs DS723+ NAS – Which 2-Bay is Best?
24 avril 2024 à 18:00

Synology DS224+ vs DS723+ NAS – Which 2-Bay is Best?

NAS Compares

Par : Rob Andrews

24 avril 2024 à 18:00

Synology DS224+ vs DS723+ NAS – Which Should You Buy

Buying your first network-attached storage device can be really intimidating! If you have spent the better part of a decade storing your personal or business data on public cloud services or in a drawer full of USB drives, but have now taken the grown-up decision to go ahead and migrate over to your own private network-attached storage (NAS). You might have done this for reasons of cost, centralization or perhaps for security, whatever the reason for your data migration, there is simply no denying that the world of NAS can be a fraction complex and confusing early doors. Like any kind of modern computer appliance, you want to make sure you buy right the first time and when it comes to choosing between two of the latest generations of Synology NAS devices, these two incredibly similar two-bay devices might be two of the most different solutions I have ever compared. The Synology DS224+ is a home and small business-focused compact NAS designed to leverage an affordable price point between reasonable hardware and reasonable software and abilities. The slightly older Synology DS723+, on the other hand, has much of a high and even in some places entry enterprise-level focus about its architecture and is needless to say the more expensive of the two. Nevertheless, both of these Synology NAS devices can be picked up for around $350 to $450 (without drives), the contrast between their pricing, are actually very different beasts. Therefore, for users that don’t quite know their AMD embedded from their Celeron integrated processors, or who aren’t sure of the benefits that ECC can bring, today I want to compare the Synology DS224+ and Synology DS723+ and help you decide which one best deserves your data!

Just before we get into the meat and potatoes of this comparison, it is worth highlighting that regardless of whether you buy the Synology DS723+ or DS224+, you are guaranteed to get a system that can perform all of the following:

Both units feature x86 processors, which allow a wide degree of app/services to run well and are a good price vs hardware balance
Both the DS723+ and DS224+ are constructed of plastic desktop compact chassis, thereby reducing power consumption, noise and heat generated
Both can Stream 1080p HD or 4K media, with superior performance natively and mid-range performance in Plex
Both the Synology DS723+ and DS224+ NAS support AI-supported photo and ‘thing’ recognition supported to a very high degree from the free branded software included
For Business users who currently enjoy the use of Google Workspace or Office 365, both of these NAS provide excellent means to backup your mass cloud accounts (as well as natively sync, dupe and configure rules on the fly)
Both the DS224+ NAS and DS723+ NAS support snapshots, for more incremental and version protecting failsafe in efforts to protect you from Malware and Ransomware attacks, by allowing multi-versioning storage history to browse through and restore
Both units are DLNA certified so can be accessed, browsed and played from by popular DLNA devices, such as Amazon Firestick, Alexa, Google Home Chromecast, Apple TV, Bose, Sonos, iPads, etc, as well as connectivity between these platforms with IFTTT
Both are multi-bay, RAID enabled devices NAS devices that support JBOD, RAID 0 and RAID 1 (as well as Synology Hybrid RAID too for their Plus series range), though it is worth highlighting the DS723+ is the only one that supports an expansion and therefore also can support RAID 5, RAID 6, RAID 10 and SHR-2 (more on that later)
Both devices run on their own proprietary operating system that can be accessed remotely or locally. These include regular updates to the firmware, security patches, applications and more. Ranging from multimedia, home and multi-tiered backup applications, to more business end tools such as Surveillance software, Virtual Machine deployment and business-class backup and synchronization tools.
Both the DS224+ and DS723+ use and can be accessed equally by a multitude of mobile applications such as DS File, DS Video, DS Photo, DSCam and DS Music that are created by and constantly improved by Synology.
Both NAS are completely compatible with Windows, Android and Mac systems, as well as acting as a bring between software platforms to share and distribute files for migration and file sync]
Both units can be used as a mail and/or business servers, providing excellent 3rd party CRM and first-party CMS systems, as well as the fantastic Synology collaboration Suite of applications Chat, Drive, Mail, Calendar, Office and Active Backup Suite
Both systems will support DSM 7.1 or DSM 7.2 out the box, as well as support software updates (security and feature) for many years moving forward
Both systems support the Synology Surveillance Station applications, support numerous cameras and arrive with 2 camera licenses with your purchase

But you didn’t come to this comparison page to find out what they had in common, you wanted to know what makes them different and which one best suits your needs, so let’s crack on with this comparison.

Synology DS224+ vs DS723+ NAS – Price and Value

Now, for those of you that are keeping a very close eye on the budget, it will already be clear to you that the Synology DS224+ is the lower-priced NAS of the two, by quite a considerable margin! Arriving, depending on where you are in the world, for around $330 to $360, it will immediately look more appealing to those on a tight budget when compared against the $450 to $499 of the DS723+. And that is before you’ve gone ahead and purchased any storage media too, so that’s saving of $100 to $150 could go a long way to further bolstering your network-attached storage setup. So, if the most important thing to you right now is remaining within a tight budget, then it might be worth seeing to read the rest of this article as when comparing DS224+ and DS723+, we have to look considerably more at the subject of value, not price. Price. Both of these devices arrive with the same software, Synology DSM 7.2, as well as both systems being two drive NAS solutions that support nearly identical ranges of storage media too, but more on that later. In terms of physical size, the range of components, they are pretty darn similar at a casual glance. However, it is in terms of the individual hardware components and scalability where the Synology DS723+ shows its worth, which we will cover shortly in the hardware section. But at least in terms of numerical value, the Synology DS224+ carries the lead. However, the reality isn’t quite that simple.

This is because the Synology DS723+ was released more than half a year earlier than the DS224+ and because of its wider availability and longer presence in the market, it has been featured in numerous special offers throughout that time. We saw this near $500 NAS on a few considerably impressive special offers throughout Amazon Prime day and other smaller eShop-specific events. So, yes, the DS224+ is the lower-priced NAS of the two, but do make a point of checking your local online retailer to see if the DS723+ is on special offer right now!

Synology DS224+ vs DS723+ NAS – Hardware and Connections

The hardware architecture of the DS224+ and DS723+ clearly have two very different target audiences in mind. The DS224+ has more of a home and multimedia feel about it, while the DS723+ feels substantially more like a business solution. This is reflected in numerous areas such as the distinct differences in CPU, memory specifications, and potential for growth. Even if you were to take into account the affordability of the DS224+, it has to be said that in the majority of hardware available, the DS723+ is significantly more powerful and scalable in practically every way. Here is a brief summary of the key hardware highlights of either system, side-by-side:

Synology DS224+ vs DS723+ NAS Hardware Comparison
Synology NAS
Amazon Price:	$349	$449
Processor model	Intel Celeron J4125 (2019 Gen)	AMD Ryzen R1600 (2020 Gen)
processor architecture	64-bit	64-bit
processor clock	4-core 2.0 (base frequency) / 2.7 (burst frequency) GHz	2-core 2.6 (base frequency) / 3.1 (max overclock) GHz
Integrated Graphics	Yes (250-750Mhz)	No
Hardware encryption engine (AES-NI)	Yes	Yes
system memory	2 GB DDR4 non-ECC	2 GB DDR4 ECC
Pre-installed memory modules	Yes	2GB (2GB x 1) via SODIMM
Total number of memory slots	1	2
Maximum memory capacity	6 GB (2 GB + 4 GB)	32GB (16GB x 2)
The maximum number of disk slots for an expansion unit	N/A	7 (DX517 x 1)
M.2 drive bay	N/A	2 (NVMe, PCIe 3×1)
Compatible Disk Type	3.5″ SATA HDD 2.5″ SATA SSD	3.5″ SATA HDD 2.5″ SATA SSD M.2 2280 NVMe SSD
Disk hot-plug support*	Yes	Yes

So first and foremost, we need to discuss the main differences between the CPUs available here. The Intel Celeron found inside the DS224+ is a four-core, four-thread processor with a clock speed of 2.0 GHz that can be burst to 2.7 GHz when needed. However, despite the age of this CPU, which was released towards the end of 2019, it is the integrated graphics of this processor that gives it a slight edge for some users in terms of NAS deployment- especially those looking at multimedia use for their system. For users that are looking at the manipulation of graphical data, or more commonly are using the NAS as a multimedia server and wish to convert dense multimedia into something more manageable locally (for example, converting a dense 4K file into a much smaller and portable version to watch on the phone whilst commuting to work, on the fly), integrated graphics allow the NAS to perform this task with much lower overall resource consumption.

Thanks to it having a more specialized tool to get this job done. The embedded Ryzen R1600 processor on the other hand, lacks the integrated graphics and is a dual-core processor instead of a quad-core. However, it substantially makes up for this by being a much more powerful dual-core processor, with four threads that allow the system to assign system resources in a similar way to that of having multiple cores. Equally, the clock speed is noticeably higher here with the DS723+ CPU having a 2.6 GHz base power that can be burst when needed to 3.1 GHz. It is true that in cases of graphical manipulation or multimedia conversion, the AMD CPU here will be far less efficient and capable. However, in practically every other way, it is superior to that of the J4125 inside the DS224+. And if you are more concerned with traditional file transfer speeds internally and externally, the DS723+ will comfortably be the better-performing NAS.

The CPU choices in the DS224+ and DS723+ also result in very different memory architectures in each device, which will undoubtedly result in different scalability in the long term. The DS224+ arrives with 2GB of memory, soldered to the main controller board, which can be further expanded via an available SODIMM memory slot to 6 GB total. This may be a little disheartening when you find out that the CPU here is actually capable of supporting 8 GB maximum memory. However, due to that initial 2GB memory being fixed internally, you cannot officially exceed 6 GB physically. This shortfall is considerably magnified when you bring into comparison the DS723’s memory structure. It arrives with 2GB of DDR4 memory which can be expanded to a whopping 32 GB total across two available SODIMM slots. Additionally, the system arrives with error-correcting code (ECC) memory, which ensures that data that passes through the memory during write operations will have its integrity checked by a separate module on the memory of the system. If any irregularities or inconsistencies are spotted, that data will be repaired. This goes a long way to reassure any doubts around the integrity of long-term archival data and susceptibility to things like bit rot. This is one of the main reasons why the DS723+ is considered much more of a business solution overall.

Much like the memory choices by Synology in these two NAS devices, the ports and connections of them both are similar, but one is definitely more scalable than the other. Both systems arrive with standard gigabit ethernet connectivity, with two available ports that each will provide up to a maximum 109 megabytes per second. Both systems also arrive with USB 3 connectivity, but it is only 5GB gen 1 USB, and the more expensive DS723+ only has a single port when the DS220 Plus has two, which really surprised me. However, it is from here onward that the DS723 massively upscales things.

Model ID	Synology DS224+	Synology DS723+
Synology NAS
RJ-45 1GbE LAN port*	2 (Supports Link Aggregation / Failover)	2 (Supports Link Aggregation / Failover)
USB 3.2 Gen 1 port*	2	1
eSATA port	0	1
USB Copy	Yes (inc. Physical Button)	Yes
PCIe expansion	N/A	1 x Gen3 x2 LAN card slot
Size (HXWXD)	165 mm x 108 mm x 232.2 mm	166mm x 106mm x 223mm
weight	1.30 kg	1.51 kg
system fan	92 mm x 92 mm x 1 pcs	92 mm x 92 mm x 1 pcs
fan mode	full speed mode low temperature mode silent mode	full speed mode low temperature mode silent mode
Front panel LED indicators with adjustable brightness	Yes	Yes
Noise value*	22dB(A)	20.7 dB(A)
wake on lan	Yes	Yes
Power Supply / Transformer	60W	65W
AC input voltage	100V to 240V AC	100V to 240V AC
current frequency	50/60 Hz, single frequency	50/60 Hz, single frequency
Power consumption	14.69 W (access) 4.41 W (disk hibernation)	21.07 W (access) 8.62 W (disk hibernation)

For a start, the DS723+ features an eSATA external port that is used to connect the official Synology 5-bay expansion device, the DX517. This means that while the DS220 Plus has a maximum long-term capacity of two SATA drives, the DS723+ allows you to expand your storage down the line by an additional five SATA bays. This can be done gradually and this storage can either mirror the original NAS or extend the storage pool across both devices.

Scalability and expandability do not stop there though, with the DS723+ also having the option to add a network adapter upgrade module (the E10G22-T1-MINI) to increase your network bandwidth to 10GbE. This is going to be incredibly useful for users who plan on taking advantage of SSDs or plan on having a much busier network environment between the NAS and multiple users and tasks at any given time.

And it doesn’t stop there! The Synology DS723+ also features two SSD bays on its base for installing M.2 2280 SSD modules, which can be used for caching or as raw storage pools, depending on which drive you use (more on that later). This is a feature that, although growing more common across Synology’s NAS portfolio, it is still unavailable on the new DS224+ and, alongside the lack of storage expansion support, severely limits the storage potential long term on the more affordable NAS.

inally, we need to discuss storage media compatibility, as this has grown to be another thing that has changed the way in which a user can populate their NAS quite a lot in recent years. On the list of storage media that they are prepared to verify as compatible with their systems. Although technically, one could say that any SATA media drive would be compatible with a SATA NAS, there are still a few incredibly isolated examples of compatibility, durability and stability. Synology requires that all drives need to be officially checked and verified before they’re prepared to add them to their list in order to truly guarantee that a user will get the promised Synology experience from their hardware with that media. As questionable as this might sound, the result is that the list of compatible storage media for both of these devices, despite their incredible similarities, is actually pretty darn different. Take a closer look at the slideshow below of compatible HDDs from WD and Seagate on these two NAS systems (from 21st July 2023) and see if you can spot an odd inconsistency:

In the case of the DS224+, we see a smaller pool of supported storage media, as well as a lower list of larger capacity drives being featured also. The DS723+, on the other hand, seemingly has a larger pool of more high capacity drives added and available to it, as well as a larger range of Synology’s own drives available for use with that system that includes the higher end options in the HAT5300 range. Synology has clearly prioritized higher-end drives for more advanced Synology systems, but for those that like to use their system clearly and rigidly within the defined parameters of a brand to maintain their warranty/guarantee, this is going to be a little disheartening to see the smaller pool of verified compatible storage media on the more affordable NAS solution. This is something that may well change over time as more drives are added to verified compatibility lists, but Synology has not exactly been putting their foot on the gas here. Given how close these two systems have been released side by side and the large disparity between their compatibility lists, I can’t see a huge amount of change happening anytime soon. It is absolutely no surprise that the more expensive Synology NAS has a better degree of hardware options in the long term. Though, it should be highlighted that a lot of the real benefits available in the DS723 are optional extras, long-term scalability and upgrades that are not necessarily available in the default model. It could be very easily argued that you are paying for entry to then pay extra for delivering upgrades, SSD upgrades, storage scalability, and increasing your memory years from now. Nevertheless, the fact that the baseline memory is ECC and the AMD CPU is indeed more powerful in most ways, does make up some of that additional cost and ultimately mean that in terms of hardware and connectivity, the DS723+ is the better of the two.

Synology DS224+ vs DS723+ NAS – Software and Services

At the risk of being incredibly repetitious, both of these devices are remarkably similar in what they can do in Synology’s premium DSM software platform, but the scalability and scope provided by the DS723+ inevitably leads to that more expensive system, ultimately giving you just more resources with which DSM can utilize. In terms of the actual range of applications, services supported on either system and scope for use right out of the box, both the DS224+ and DS723+ have got more than enough to run every single available app and tool available in DSM 7.2. Despite their rather modest scale, both systems can run multiple virtual machines, host a fantastically capable surveillance solution with numerous cameras, both can provide an excellent Plex media server experience (with a slight edge to the DS224+ in terms of conversions and transcoding when needed), and in terms of backups, both systems support the full range of services from Hyper Backup and Active Backup Suite. If you are a small business or just a small group of users who are going to be interacting with either of these NAS units fairly regularly, you’re going to have a largely identical experience in either one of these two systems using the baseline default hardware. However, things will change as soon as you start moving into larger simultaneous access, more high-volume application exchanges between the system and client hardware, and the scope of each one of those individual processes growing over time. In terms of the escalation of accessing the services of DSM and long-term future-proofing of a system running at top speed, despite growing requirements and demands of the system, the DS723+ comfortably wins.

Synology NAS	Synology DS224+	Synology DS723+
Maximum single volume capacity*	108TB	108TB
Maximum number of storage spaces	64	64
M.2 SSD volume support*	Yes	Yes
SSD Read/Write Cache (White Paper)	Yes	Yes
SSD TRIM	Yes	Yes
Support RAID disk array type	Synology Hybrid RAID Basic JBOD RAID 0 RAID 1	Synology Hybrid RAID Basic JBOD RAID 0 RAID 1 RAID 5 (with expansion unit) RAID 6 (with expansion unit) RAID 10 (with expansion unit)
file agreement	SMB/AFP/NFS/FTP/WebDAV	SMB/AFP/NFS/FTP/WebDAV
Maximum simultaneous SMB/AFP/FTP connections	500	500
Maximum number of simultaneous SMB/AFP/FTP connections (with extended memory)	1500	2000
Windows Access Control List (ACL) Integration	Yes	Yes
NFS Kerberos authentication	Yes	Yes
Maximum number of local user accounts	2048	2048
Maximum number of local groups	256	256
Maximum number of shared folders	256	512
Maximum Shared Folder Sync Tasks	8	8
VMware vSphere with VAAI	N/A	Yes
Windows Server 2022	N/A	Yes
Citrix Ready	N/A	Yes
OpenStack	N/A	Yes
Media Server	Yes	Yes
DLNA compatible	Yes	Yes
Synology Photos	Yes	Yes
face recognition	Yes	Yes
Snapshot Replication	Yes	Yes
The maximum number of snapshots supported by a single shared folder	1024	1024
Maximum number of system snapshots	65536	65536
Surveillance Station	Yes	Yes
The maximum number of cameras supported (camera authorization is required)	25 (including 2 sets of free licenses	40 (including 2 sets of free licenses)
Frames per second (FPS) (H.264)	750 FPS @ 720p (1280×720) 750 FPS @ 1080p (1920×1080) 350 FPS @ 3M (2048×1536) 275 FPS @ 5M (2591×1944) 170 FPS @ 4K (3840×2160)	1200 FPS @ 720p (1280×720) 800 FPS @ 1080p (1920×1080) 350 FPS @ 3M (2048×1536) 280 FPS @ 5M (2591×1944) 170 FPS @ 4K (3840×2160)
Frames per second (FPS) (H.265)	750 FPS @ 720p (1280×720) 750 FPS @ 1080p (1920×1080) 600 FPS @ 3M (2048×1536) 475 FPS @ 5M (2591×1944) 200 FPS @ 4K (3840×2160)	1200 FPS @ 720p (1280×720) 1200 FPS @ 1080p (1920×1080) 600 FPS @ 3M (2048×1536) 480 FPS @ 5M (2591×1944) 200 FPS @ 4K (3840×2160)
Synology Drive	Yes	Yes
Recommended number of clients that can sync simultaneously	350 (the number of devices that can be connected at the same time when the recommended number of stored files is reached)	350 (the number of devices that can be connected at the same time when the recommended number of stored files is reached)
Recommended number of files to store	5,000,000 (Applicable to files indexed or belonging to Synology Drive , files accessed through other protocols, please refer to the file service in the above field)	5,000,000 (Applicable to files indexed or belonging to Synology Drive , files accessed through other protocols, please refer to the file service in the above field)
Synology Office	Yes	Yes
Maximum number of users	1200	1200
Video Station	Yes	Yes
Virtual Machine Manager	Yes	Yes
Recommended number of virtual machines	2 (see more)	4 (see more)
Recommended number of Virtual DSMs (licensing required)	2 (including 1 set of free licenses)	4 (including 1 set of free licenses)
VPN Server	Yes	Yes
Maximum number of connections	40	40
Synology High Availability	Yes	Yes
log center	Yes	Yes
Number of logs received per second	800	800
Backup folders and packages	Yes	Yes
backup the whole system	Yes	Yes
Remark	Full system backup requires DSM 7.2 or later.	Full system backup requires DSM 7.2 or later.
Maximum number of Hybrid Share folders	10	10

Notwithstanding that the system has a much higher clock speed CPU that, despite only being a dual-core processor, features a four thread architecture with DSM, allowing a lot of the spreading of resources normally associated with cores to be made available with vCPU allocation (containers, virtual machines and just natively). Then there is the scope for the larger overall capacity available to be upgraded towards in terms of memory, with the rather modest 6GB of memory on the DS224+ looking quite underwhelming when compared against the whopping 32 GB maximum memory that is scalable on the DS723+. That ultimately adds up to the more expensive NAS system having a better opportunity to grow alongside a more demanding data storage network of connected devices and users over time. And we haven’t even touched on the performance benefit in DSM and all of the first and third party applications when we factor in support of SSDs for caching or storage pools in the DS723+, both of which are going to allow much better, long-term utilization and overall, a much smoother experience for a considerably longer amount of time than that of the DS224+. Ultimately, if you think your utilization of the NAS is going to grow steadily and increasingly over time, the DS723+ is the better choice here in terms of software, in and out of DSM.

Synology DS224+ vs DS723+ NAS – Conclusion and Verdict

Unsurprisingly, what we have here is an old-fashioned case of getting what you pay for. The DS224+ is a very solid, and reliable NAS solution and is definitely more than capable of running the bulk of modern NAS hardware needs, also, remaining pretty flexible in the resources available to it on day one to get the job done. Equally, for home users and particularly those seeking a more flexible approach to multimedia, the DS224+ does bring a decent amount of bang for buck when you compare it against the bulk of other Synology solutions in the brand’s portfolio. But it just pales in comparison to the sheer scope of scalability, upgrade options and flexibility long-term that the DS723+ provides. And regardless of whether you’re a business user or a home user that may perhaps be looking to do something more aggressive with their storage down the line, the DS723+ justifies a lot of the extra expense, simply by weight of it having that ECC memory, SSD NVMe storage options, expandability, 10G as an optional extra and the scale of how far you can upgrade the memory. As mentioned earlier, we have to at least acknowledge that a lot of these advantages that the DS723+ presents compared with the DS224+ are ones that you will only really take advantage of if you spend a little bit more money, but having the option for that scalability down the line for many users is going to be worth the investment on day one. Side by side, in most cases, the DS723+ will comfortably outperform the DS224+ even in the default model, so you still aren’t losing out just because you’re paying extra for upgrade options you may not use later down the line.

Synology NAS
Amazon Price:	$349	$449

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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

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Alternatively, why not ask me on the ASK NASCompares forum, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in the ASK NASCompares section below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.

NAS Compares
Synology NAS Noctua Fans and Velcro Mod – DS923+ / DS423+ / DS920+ / DS420+ / DS918+
19 avril 2024 à 15:00

Synology NAS Noctua Fans and Velcro Mod – DS923+ / DS423+ / DS920+ / DS420+ / DS918+

NAS Compares

Par : Rob Andrews

19 avril 2024 à 15:00

How to Make Your Synology 4-Bay NAS Cooler and Quieter in Just 20 Minutes!

The appeal of having your very own private cloud space, accessible much more securely and faster than the average third-party cloud service, is undeniable. Purchasing a Synology DS923+, DS423+, DS920+ or DS420+ NAS to centralize all your data, granting true control over who accesses your data, as well as how, when, and where it’s distributed, has long been a desirable alternative to services like Google Drive and Dropbox. Whether you’re a home user or a business user, it’s clear that a NAS comes with its own unique downsides. Two of the most frequently mentioned issues are that the systems can be noisy when in operation, which can become annoying if you’re in close proximity. Additionally, keeping the system on 24/7 results in the generation of a significant amount of heat, necessitating increased active cooling through fans, which inevitably leads to even more noise. The level of noise generated by your NAS varies from user to user, affected by factors such as the scale of the system’s storage capacity, the specific drives used, and the extent of its utility. However, there are several clever hacks and modifications you can apply to a broad range of Synology 4-Bay NAS devices to reduce operational noise and improve system temperature, ensuring your device runs cooler and quieter in the future. In this guide, I will show you step-by-step how to apply these modifications in around 20 minutes.

In a Hurry? Here are the parts for this guide:

Noctua NF-A9 Fans (x2 Needed) $16-20 – AMAZON – ALIEXPRESS
Velcro Strips/Spots $4-6 – AMAZON – ALIEXPRESS
Foam Panel $6-10 – AMAZON – ALIEXPRESS
Synology 4-Bay NAS $499+ – AMAZON

Before You Start – Disclaimer and Important Considerations

Before following this step-by-step guide to improve the noise and cooling performance of your Synology NAS, it’s crucial to understand whether your system will benefit from these modifications, as well as the potential risks to your support and warranty from Synology. So, before we begin, please keep the following in mind:

Synology does not endorse physical or software modifications to their systems using non-Synology components or methods not approved by Synology. The changes and suggestions detailed in this guide do not align with the recommended maintenance and use of your Synology NAS. By following these steps, you will almost certainly void your hardware warranty. Consider this carefully if you rely on Synology’s support, warranty, and guarantees.
Many users are mistaken about what components within their Synology NAS are generating the ambient noise during operation. It’s important to realize that in many high-use, high-capacity setups, the primary source of noise is not the Synology unit itself but the professional and enterprise-class hard drives. These drives, designed for larger capacity and business use, incorporate more platters and actuator movements and are inherently more enterprise-grade in their architecture. As a result, most of the noise comes from within the hard drives themselves, making it nearly impossible to eliminate this noise from any storage system. If your system uses hard drives larger than 10 to 12 terabytes, then the noise during heavy/active use is likely emanating from the drives. While the modifications in this guide can help mitigate some issues (e.g., the Velcro tray modification will reduce vibration), noisy hard drives will remain noisy, regardless of any changes made to the NAS enclosure. Keep this in mind before investing in accessories for the modifications suggested in this guide.
Lastly, not all Synology units are built the same. The physical size of the DiskStation or RackStation, the number of fans, the size of individual fans, and the placement of storage drives can vary significantly. While you can compare systems with the same number of hard drive bays and enclosure size for modification purposes, you cannot apply the same modifications to larger or smaller models. For instance, the DS224 Plus features a single rear-mounted fan and twin hot-swappable ‘click and load’ bays within a largely plastic enclosure, whereas the DS420j is mostly metal, features internal-only, non-hot-swappable trays, and two rear fans smaller than those found in most other NAS systems. Ensure you are purchasing the correct size fans for your specific Synology NAS model.

That’s it! Let’s get started on upgrading the cooling and reducing the noise on your Synology NAS.

BACKUP, BACKUP, BACKUP!

Ensure you have a backup of all the data stored on your Synology NAS. This can be on another NAS device, a connected USB device, or a cloud service. Although the risk of data loss from the modifications you’re about to make is exceptionally low, you will be handling your storage media and ejecting and inserting drives, which could lead to accidental mishandling. Therefore, having a backup of your data before proceeding is crucial.

FULL GUIDE TO SYNOLOGY BACKUP OPTIONS IN THE LINK BELOW (opens in new tab):

Next, safely power down your Synology NAS system via the controls in DSM (DiskStation Manager). After the system has fully shut down, allow 3 to 4 minutes for the storage media to completely spin down.

Now, disconnect the power, network connectivity, and any other accessories or peripherals connected to the Synology system.

Carefully remove each hard drive from the Synology unit, placing them safely to one side. It’s important to avoid jostling these drives while you’re making modifications to your system. If you have internal M.2 NVMe SSDs inside the system, these can remain in place. Additionally, try to keep track of which bay each hard drive is removed from so you can ensure they are returned to their correct slots. Although modern versions of Synology DSM can still identify drives if they are placed in different slots, it’s best not to risk potential complications.

Synology NAS Velcro Hard Drive Mod Guide Start

As mentioned earlier, a significant source of ambient noise from a Synology NAS during operation comes from the internal hard drives. As they spin, they cause vibrations throughout the NAS. The larger the drive’s capacity, the more ambient vibration and access noise it tends to produce. This is where the Velcro modification for the individual trays comes into play. The goal is to neutralize the vibration caused by these drives, preventing it from being transmitted through the chassis of the Synology NAS. There are two methods to use Velcro within the Synology NAS, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. It’s important to only use the soft, fuzzy side of the Velcro.

Velcro Method 1

One approach is to place strips of Velcro into the individual SATA storage slots of the Synology NAS.

It’s optional to place a Velcro strip at both the top and bottom of each slot. A single piece of Velcro at the base of the drive bay should be sufficient to neutralize the vibration traveling through the system, though adding a second piece at the opposite end can enhance stability. These modifications will not increase the system’s operating temperature but may make reinserting the drives slightly more challenging. This is expected, as the Velcro strips are designed to secure the drive more firmly in place.

Velcro Method 2

Velcro method 2 is a little bit more surgical and requires a pair of scissors and the removal of the drives from each of the trays.

Once you have removed the drive from each tray, you need to place five individual squares of the soft side of the Velcro in each of the areas displayed in the images. Place four squares, two on each side, at the points where the Synology tray clips traditionally go into the holes of the drive as shown here.

Then, also add an additional Velcro square on the inside of the tray where the back of the drive meets the handle of the tray, as shown in the image below.

Once you have done this, reintroduce the hard drive into the tray. You may notice that aligning the clips into the drive is a little harder this time around and this is because the additional fifth Velcro square is wedged between the drive and the tray. This is normal and just requires a little bit more pushing to apply the clips into the tray and secure the drive.

Now, regardless of which method you chose to apply the Velcro absorption panels into the Synology storage area, you may now reintroduce each of the drives into the Synology NAS. Once again, be aware that the drives will go in with a little more friction than previously, and this is part of the way in which the vibration of the drives will be decreased during operation. The tray should still neatly connect with the back SATA connection.

There you go, you now have the means to hugely reduce ambient vibration noise from the drives traveling through the Synology NAS system. If you are especially concerned about vibration and the Synology NAS creating increased ambient noise, you may also introduce a foam panel underneath the Synology unit, which will further decrease any vibration being caused between the network-attached storage device and the desktop that you deploy the system onto.

Next, let’s discuss how to swap out the default fans on the NAS for faster and lower noise alternatives.

Synology NAS Noctua Fan Modification Guide Start

The first thing you need to do is ensure that the hard drives are completely disconnected from your Synology NAS, as you will be disassembling the system and rotating it at certain points which can all add up to drives being jostled and potentially damaged. So make sure that all storage media has been removed from the Synology NAS before proceeding.

Next, rotate the Synology NAS and remove the two screws located on the left-hand side of the chassis as indicated in the image below:

Once you have removed these two screws, the chassis should slide apart into two pieces. If the two pieces do not neatly slide apart, then gently place your hand on the inside of the storage area and apply a small amount of pressure in the area shown in the image below:

This should allow the larger area of the external casing to come off neatly, allowing you full access to the internal metal SATA cage and internal components.

Next, you need to make your way to the rear of the NAS and remove the two black clips that hold the individual fans in place at the top of the SATA cage.

Next, head to the side of the Synology NAS frame and gently remove the fan power clips from the internal board. They are white clips that you can see in the image below:

Next, return to the rear of the Synology NAS chassis and remove all eight of the screws indicated below, as these hold the default Synology fans in place.

The fans should neatly slide out from their cavity in the rear of the Synology NAS.

While doing this, do take note of the direction of the fans, as well as their alignment, which shows you exactly where the cables feed into the base of the Synology NAS cavity for the fans.

Now you need to get the two noctua replacement fans (or the third-party fans you have opted to buy) and hold them in the identical alignment and direction that you found the official fans when you removed them.

Gently insert the left fan first and guide it into the cavity that is now available.

When doing this, make sure that you guide the fan power cable through first to ensure that you are able to reconnect it later.

Some fans, like the Noctua fans, arrive with their own rubber screws or just general screws for reinstalling these fans

It is recommended that you use the original Synology screws when installing these new fans, as using other screws may lead to causing damage to the rear of your chassis. After you have screwed the new fans into the Synology NAS, connect the fan power cables appropriately back into the Synology motherboard as shown below:

Next, you need to reattach the clips that hold the fans in alignment and in place with the SATA cage at the top. It’s worth noting that premium fans often come with rubber covers at their corners.

These can interfere with the placement of the fan clips on the Synology NAS, so it is recommended that you remove these rubber covers to ensure that the fans fit neatly within the Synology fan cavity.

Ensure that the power cables are not trapped when reattaching the external enclosure, as this could damage the cables and prevent the fans from functioning properly! Once the external casing is back in place, reattach the two individual screws on the left-hand side of the rear of the case to secure the enclosure.

Now you can reintroduce the storage media that you removed earlier, ensuring to place them back in the same slot alignment as before. Finally, reattach power and network connectivity to your Synology NAS to reboot the system.

Now you will need to reboot the system. Depending on the quality of the fans you’ve purchased, the impact of replacing fans in a Synology NAS can range from minimal to massive! To ensure that the installation has been successful, once your Synology NAS has rebooted, navigate to the Control Panel > Power and Hardware. From there, you can check the system’s operational temperature as well as the RPM of the fans. If you’ve correctly connected the fan power cables, you should still be able to control the RPM of these fans if you choose.

And that’s it! Adding new, low-noise optimized fans to your Synology NAS will definitely have a significant impact on reducing the ambient sound of the NAS when it’s running. Likewise, applying the Velcro modification to each of the individual storage bays will mean that hard drive vibration that travels through the system during heavy write operations will be significantly reduced. However, keep in mind that if your system is housed in a larger metal enclosure, or you are using Pro/enterprise-grade hard drives, achieving noise reduction in the Synology NAS can be challenging. You are reducing the operational sounds of the NAS, but few modifications can prevent the inherent noise levels of more industrial-quality drives.

Would NOT Recommend This:

Source - https://geoffruddock.com/soundproof-synology/ — Source – https://geoffruddock.com/soundproof-synology/

You might be tempted to place your Synology NAS in a contained foam noise-dampening cube, which is a solution some people mention online. While this can effectively reduce total ambient noise, it may also restrict active airflow to your system and potentially lead to recirculating warm or hot air inside the system. This can exacerbate poor operational temperatures, leading to increased fan usage and higher power consumption. So, just keep in mind that while these modifications can positively impact your Synology NAS, their effectiveness has limits, especially in more industrial or enterprise deployments.

In a Hurry? Here are the parts for this guide:

Noctua NF-A9 Fans (x2 Needed) $16-20 – AMAZON – ALIEXPRESS

Velcro Strips/Spots $4-6 – AMAZON – ALIEXPRESS

Foam Panel $6-10 – AMAZON – ALIEXPRESS

Synology 4-Bay NAS $499+ – AMAZON

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Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

Finally, for free advice about your setup, just leave a message in the comments below here at NASCompares.com and we will get back to you.

Need Help? Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry. [contact-form-7]

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

Or support us by using our affiliate links on Amazon UK and Amazon US

Alternatively, why not ask me on the ASK NASCompares forum, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in the ASK NASCompares section below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.

NAS Compares
Are NAS Drives Safe?
15 avril 2024 à 18:00

Are NAS Drives Safe?

NAS Compares

Par : Rob Andrews

15 avril 2024 à 18:00

Are NAS Drives Safe Enough to Use in 2024?

Are you a NAS owner? Perhaps you are considering buying a NAS based on a recommendation from a friend, work colleague, IT professional or even myself (Robbie) on YouTube. The appeal of owning your own server, cutting the connection with your subscription cloud providers such as Dropbox or Google drive, having all your data backed up in-house and that feeling of pure control/ownership is hard to underestimate. However, over the last 4-5 years or more, it has been hard to ignore that the brand has suffered a series of security issues surrounding the subject of ransomware – a process whereby your data is encrypted with a unique, near uncrackable cypher and a document (typically a .txt) is left for you with instructions for you to make a payment in bitcoin to a predesignated account in order for instructions and the key to recovery your data. Ransomware in of itself is not new and originally dates back to 1996 under the name cryptoviral extortion (you didn’t come here for a history lesson, but the wiki covers a lot of those early developments into the concept) and is frighteningly easy to conduct IF an intruder has access to your system and/or the means to inject the command to encrypt the data inside of any system. Words like virus, hack and malware have been thrown around the internet for the last 20-30 years, however, Malware feels significantly more organized and comparatively recent, as well as being something that has been enacted on all storage platforms, such as Google Drive (thanks to sync tools), Apple was directly hit in 2021 and over 300 BIG name companies that you WILL of heard of in the last 18 months that included:

Acer, FujiFilm, Northern UK Rail, Exabyte Web Hosting, Foxtons, The Salvation Army, Shutterfly Photography, Bose Sound, The NRA, Kronos CRM systems, Gigabyte Motherboards, Volvo, SPAR, Olympus Cameras, GUESS Fashion, ADATA, CD Projekt, Travelex, SK Hynix, Capcom, Crytek, Kmart

Those are just a brief scan of confirmed news reports and only a small fraction of the companies, brands and institutions that have been successfully targetted. Tech companies, media companies, charities and countless retail outlets. Why am I going through all this? Well, 1, these companies should have exceptionally sophisticated storage and remote access protocols in place, 2, cannot use the excuse of being companies with practically no formal association with high-level storage and 3, are companies with a responsibility to protect significantly custom databases that eventually fell foul (partially or fully) to vulnerabilities. Personally, I DO think, when NAS brands have blame on their side (eg Asustor/Terramaster with Deadbolt, QNAP with QLocker, Synology with SynoLocker, etc) that they need to acknowledge publically, make significant errors in these attack proactive management AND have handled a number of the follow-up actions to these incidents very poorly (both in terms of communication and execution) – They need to put their hands up and say “We F’d Up” and take responsibility, up to a point! However, I do also think that the end-user base is also not completely innocent and alongside ascertaining whether any particular NAS brand is safe to use in 2024, we should also think about how we store data, the limits of our own due diligence and our expectations from server devices.

Important note – If you are currently unaware of the severity of ransomware attacks, malware attacks and authentication bypass vulnerabilities, you need to subscribe to this page HERE on NASCompares. Also, if yo are in any doubt about NAS security and owning a system, REMEMBER, the very LEAST you can do is:

Set your system software updates to automatic (either FULL or just security updates)
Disable the ‘admin’ account (it should be disabled by default, but make sure!)
Disable SSH / Terminal services if you are not using them (again, these should be ‘off’ by default, but check)
Create exclusre login credentials to services/clients (eg Plex should/can have a user:plex + password, and then restrict that account to only the folders and services that it needs, then restrict or ‘ready only’ the rest
Have at least one backup in place. Remember that a backup is a complete copy of all your data in a different system/location!!!
Change random ports in the system for accessing the NAS (you tend to find NAS systems use 8000, 8001, 8080, 5000, etc. Change them to something random)
Enable 2 Step Authentication / 2FA / OTP
Do not F&*k around with your router or open ports unless you know what you are doing!

Additionally, if you have been affected by ransomware on your storage solution (QNAP, Synology, UnRAID or whatever brand), this post is not intended to play ‘blame games’ or detract from the impact (personally or professionally) that it has caused. I have experienced ransomware attacks, malware attacks through my browser, virus attacks on my OS and seen my fair share of attacks fail and (annoying) succeed. Please do not take this article in the spirit of ‘get stuffed, It’s your fault!”, but as a means of dissecting the current state of play with NAS devices and the realistic expectations/responsibilities of all involved.

PSA – GET YOUR BACKUPS IN ORDER!

Before you even go one paragraph further, I have a simple question for you – do you have a backup in place? If yes, then carry on to the next part. If not, and I cannot stress this enough, GET ONE NOW. The time you are spending reading this you could be susceptible to data loss in about 10 different ways without even factoring in ransomware (Power failure leading to hard drive corruption, Malware from a slightly iffy google search this morning, cloud storage provider going bust, OS failure on your device, etc). In this day and age owning a sufficient data backup is as sensible as buying a raincoat or looking both ways when you cross the street – you don’t do it because you like rain or like looking at cars, you do it because they are peace of mind, they are a safety net, they are for caution in case of the worst. It is a bit tenuous, but owning one or multiple backups always make me think of this quote from Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King:

“There are really only two types of men in the world when it comes to bad trouble,” Andy said, cupping a match between his hands and lighting a cigarette. “Suppose there was a house full of rare paintings and sculptures and fine old antiques, Red? And suppose the guy who owned the house heard that there was a monster of a hurricane headed right at it. One of those two kinds of men just hopes for the best. The hurricane will change course, he says to himself. No right-thinking hurricane would ever dare wipe out all these Rembrandts, my two Degas horses, my Jackson Pollocks and my Paul Klees. Furthermore, God wouldn’t allow it. And if worst comes to worst, they’re insured. That’s one sort of man. The other sort just assumes that hurricane is going to tear right through the middle of his house. If the weather bureau says the hurricane just changed course, this guy assumes it’ll change back in order to put his house on ground zero again. This second type of guy knows there’s no harm in hoping for the best as long as you’re prepared for the worst.”

Get a Backup in place

More Ransomware Attacks on QNAP than Any other NAS Brand?

WannaCry, QLocker, eChoraix, Deadbolt, how, many, times…

Probably the most compelling argument against the safety of NAS for many buyers is the simple fact that NAS brands increasingly seem to been in the news more for reasons of ransomware attacks. Indeed, even a quick browse of the last 24 months on the site ‘Bleeping Computer’ for stories on QNAP shows you that there have been multiple vulnerabilities found in their software/access that have allowed encryption commands to be injected into the QNAP NAS system to execute the ransomware attacks. How can this one brand be such a soft target? What are they doing wrong? Well as it stands, reading through news posts before/after previous ransomware attacks, as well as the dissection of events on the official forums in the midst of the an attack, the consistent threads are:

QNAP is rolling out software and services with weak default settings and acceptable minimums to allow inexperienced users to open up external access WITHOUT the users understanding the risks
QNAP has weaknesses in it’s software that the brand arguably takes a more reactive, than proactive stance on repairing
QNAP’s recommendations on actions to user post-ransomware attack both publically and in 1-to-1 dialogue with users has been felt unsatisfactory
Your QNAP NAS is better off currently used offline/network only

As general as all that might sound (without letting personal opinions colour it) those are largely the four core issues for many that have voiced their feelings on this in the forums. Moving away from the hefty subject of data loss slightly (we will be returning to that in a bit, but that is a question of Backups and routines to discuss), there is the fact that there have been vulnerabilities found in QNAP 1st party applications and services – but then again, so have there been in different NAS brand’s own services too. A click look at their respective Security Advisory pages will tell you this. This doesn’t exonerate QNAP in any way here, as part of the ‘social agreement’ between the end-user and QNAP is that as long as we ‘follow due diligence in protecting the data inside the NAS as directed AND maintain our own network/router setup, the QNAP NAS should protect our data inside the NAS to the best of it’s ability. This is where it all becomes problematic. As QNAP have never successfully balanced the line between giving the user freedom, control and customization WHILST still preventing the user from doing anything self-harming without a full idea of the consequences. It’s a line that their biggest competitor Synology seems to toe better and this comparison only serves to re-enforce the feeling (and numbers) that QNAP are attacked more.

The Nature and Practice of Firmware Updates on ALL NAS Brand Devices – Prevention & Cures

“Remind me Tomorrow” click

Though sometimes NOT the means with which a vulnerability in the NAS software/services is achieved, it is still a factor in some instances that updating to a later firmware would actually have closed a vulnerability. However, this is a remarkably broad statement and the truth is a great deal more nuanced. First, we have to understand that ALL software that has a remote access component via the internet will likely be investigated by cybercriminals for weaknesses. Not just NAS ones – ALL of them, from Microsoft office and Android mobile OS, to your LG TV and Amazon FireTV. Hell, I bet there are people who have investigated the ‘buy now’ option of WINRAR in effort to see if an opening exists to use it as a ransomware entry vector. What I am saying is that as soon as a commercially popular software with internet access exists, people are going to try and take it apart to find out its weaknesses for exploitation. If/When these weaknesses are found and actioned (or submitted to the brand for bounty programs – whereupon brands ask people to try and break their software, so they can make it better/safer/improved), the brand then issues a firmware update to the affected software/services to its user base, then around the merry-go-round we go again! This is not a process that happens daily – but it definitely happens weekly or monthly (depending on the frequency of the brand to instigate the changes that are raised to them). This is why is it so common for companies that are affected by ransomware in their software/services to immediately highlight the need for firmware updates. At that point, the attack vector and vulnerability is reverse engineered, patched and closed. Many of these vulnerabilities are small. Very, VERY small sometimes. Indeed, it is for this reason that all the reputable NAS brands have security advisory pages that list current weaknesses, vulnerabilities and issues on their platform that are being investigated (Synology HERE, Asustor HERE and yes, QNAP HERE) and in all my time in the world of network-attached storage, I do not think I have ever seen one of these pages have ‘100% resolved’, but when something is resolved the resolution is invariably rolled into an update. So what we can take from this is that although firmware updates do not completely remove the possibility of new vulnerabilities being found in the future, they do seemingly close the bulk of existing vulnerabilities that have been found by/volunteered to the brand.

So why do we not install the firmware updates automatically? This isn’t limited to NAS of course! From the Mac notification that have been nagging you at the top right of your screen, to the windows update at the bottom right and all those applications on your phone that are asking you to please install the latest updates to your software – we choose to ignore them til ‘later’! Worse still, there is the old ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ mentality that will often result in many users only installing smaller updates, but flat out avoiding the BIG updates as they can ‘change where everything is’ or ‘I heard it breaks a bunch of stuff’. Businesses in particular with shared files in their thousands are always reluctant to run any process that can suspend that access temporarily or change how something works. So, there we have a fine melting pop of ingredients that has led (in some instances, but not all – as we will go further go into) to many users being hit by ransomware attacks via vulnerabilities that, although patches were available, were not actioned. How do we resolve this? Forced update that leaves the user’s own hesitance out of the equation? Limitations of the system’s remote connectivity unless the latest firmware update is installed (console gamers will be very familiar with that method of course)? Or a 50/50 split where minor updates are optional, but larger ones are mandatory? It’s a tough tight rope to walk. So, let’s see how QNAP walked/walks this tight rope and how they could have possibly done it ALOT better.

System Updates and Updates – Should a NAS Brand FORCE Firmware Updates to Users?

Forced? Optional? Access Penalties?

As mentioned, tighter control of firmware implementation would allow the brand to ensure that a NAS that has internet accessibility is updated to a high/current firmware revision. Alternatively, the brand could limit the systems external connectivity and disable all settings if the firmware on the system is not up to date – simply running a check with the NAS brand connected domain when trying to access these services and settings and declining if the latest update is not installed. Xbox and Playstation users are more than aware of this as a fixed rule to ensure that installed software is officially licenced and checked in advance. However, those are closed systems and many buyers have selected NAS over cloud services precisely because of the flexibility and customization it offers. However, when NAS brands have previously FORCED firmware updates remotely for services, it has NOT been received well:

Forced updates are something of a taboo subject too, with the recent rather heavy-handed move by QNAP back in 2020 in light of the Deadbolt ransomware attack to remote push the latest firmware update to all QNAP NAS systems that were internet-connected without any notice to the end-users (overriding any settings that disabled or prevented this). Now, clearly, QNAP did this as an extreme and something to prevent the vulnerability of the system software and/or configuration from being exploited further (that have still not been fully confirmed in its attack vectors, with some users who have ridiculously high-security settings still getting hit). In non-ransomware instances, I think QNAP issuing a message to their user base with a “In 5 day’s there will be an essential system update on XX day XX month at XX:XX time” message, with even a brief explanation of why would have been infinitely more preferable and would have been met with a much more positive stance (as well as it also making many users update sooner). However, clearly, the decision for a forced update was more of a last resort/hastily decided choice and that forms part of another reason that many users find the QNAP platform to sometimes bring services and software to market that could do with a little more time in the oven. Whatever way you look at it, QNAP was going to be damned, whatever they did. But did they put themselves in this position? What about the expectations of the end-user and due diligence? What SHOULD be the expected skillset of a NAS buyer to start with?

The Extent of the End User Responsibility, Skillsets and Expectations? What Are YOUR Responsibilities as a NAS Owner?

How much should a user be expected to know about networking?

The simplicity of NAS systems can often be oversold. It’s annoying and I am as guilty as most of this, but given the wide range of users who install a NAS system into their storage environments, the ease of setup and use is not shared with the ease of setup and understanding of network security in your home or office. On the one hand, NAS brands have supplied multiple services and processes in their system software that make remote access easy, encrypted transmissions easy, SSL certificate applying easy, 2-step authentication easy, UPNP and router pushing easy – you name it, they have tried to make it easy. But should they have? The ease of setting up a number of these services (as well as non-randomized settings in some places) can easily give users a false sense of security. So, for those users of a higher skillset, it would be acceptable that a NAS should only be remotely accessed with the highest layers of security applied, and it should not allow remote level access to be possible without some unique intervention and set-up by the end-user (not just a password and/or disabling an admin account), although to stop presets of this nature would lead to a noticeable spike in the difficulty of setup, perhaps that is what is needed. This is by no means a new issue we are discussing and even a brief google search online finds examples of attack vectors and methods as far back as 1999 on public/org sites.

However, in reality, it simply would not work like this, The user base of most established NAS brands are just too varied and though these tougher and more unique security implementations would secure things, the less technically skilled users would hit hurdle after hurdle, once again, one of the prices of some (not all) of that flexibility. Alot of users who have been hit by ransomware attacks have specifically headed to official forums because they do not have the remote setup experience that might be deemed an acceptable minimum to start opening ports via the NAS settings or directly on the router. This once again brings us back around to what should be the expected skill level of an average NAS Drive owner, how much of the control and security profile of the storage system belongs to the NAS manufacturer and how much should the buyer be expected to do independently? You can buy a car, you can fill it with petrol and the manufacturer can tell you its top speed, and miles to the gallon – but no car manufacturer would feel the need to add to all their adverts “must have a driving licence”, do they? It’s a rather stretched simile I know, but the fact remains that users cannot expect to connect their storage to the internet in 2024, open up pathways to it via the internet and not at least make allowances or provisions that an attack could happen. This leads us to the hardest and coldest fact of practically EVERY SINGLE NAS related recent ransomware attacks that, although only applies to a % of users, is still depressingly true.

How Backups and Data Storage are Still being Misunderstood – UNDERSTANDING WHAT A BACKUP IS, AND A NAS IS NOT!

A frighteningly large number of victims with no backup. Acceptable backup levels?

One of the hardest choices for anyone that has been successfully targetted by ransomware attackers (not exclusive to NAS either) is the choice to pay or not. When I am asked to make recommendations for a home or business user in the free advice section here on NASCompares or the comments on YouTube, I will always ask what the user storage quote is currently (now then double annually over 5yrs), their user base (volume and frequency) and their budget? That last one is always a kicker for some, as no one wants to show their cards! I’m not a salesman and I do not work for a eRetailer, I ask because there is a lot of ground between a £99 DS120j and a £5000 RS3621XS+. However, budget is INCREDIBLY important and should not only be measured by the number of 0’s in the account, but also by the cost of if the data is lost! Many users are so busy thinking of how much it will cost to provision for the future, that they are not factoring in the cost of replacing the past! This is the exact personal vulnerability that ransomware targets and sadly, a lot of users still do not understand 1) what a backup actually IS and 2) what a backup actually ISN’T.

If your data ONLY lives on the NAS, then the NAS is not a backup. You likely knew that. But socially and conventionally, we tend to forget it quite easily. We make space on phones by deleting stuff because ‘it is backed up on the NAS’. We sync our laptops and MacBooks with a remote folder to keep our files safe on the NAS, but still make changes or delete files on the hoof. We take the NAS as red as a backup and at that point, it isn’t! Likewise there are things that SOUND like backups… RAID… Snapshots… Hot Spares… they sound very reassuring, but are not backups, they are safety nets! And are all typically found ‘in system’. A REAL backup is something that is the same files, ELSEWHERE! There is no avoiding that a NAS (Synology, QNAP, TrueNAS, Whatever!) is NOT a backup solution in of itself, but can be used IN a Backup Strategy. All brands highlight at numerous points on their website that you should have a 1-2-3 Backup strategy, or a bare-metal and cloud backup, or a periodic USB backup, a NAS to NAS remote backup – or ALL of them! Sadly, there are a lot of users in the official NAS branded forums that have been hit by ransomware and did not have backups in place, with some knowledge that they needed a backup but their budget’s prohibited it. Whilst others say that a NAS brand publishes in its online literature that it’s a backup device, they bought it as a backup device, therefore the company missold it and that is the end of argument!

The sad truth is that the brand is not responsible for your backup routine or strategy, it supplies the means to store and access data and their responsibility (succeed or fail) is to ensure its hardware and/or software provides a default secure level of access, as well as the means to configure that access to the users control. There HAVE been vulnerabilities found and they have patched them, as is the usual process in these things (at least, they say they have at that is the best guarantee we can ever have from a brand in the circumstances), but they are NOT responsible for your backup routine. This now leads us to the subject of the NAS hardware, the NAS software and comparisons between brands.

Hardware vs Software Priorities – Is Synology Safer Than QNAP?

Hardware vs Software, QNAP vs Synology, Is the grass greener?

Way back in the mid twenty-teens, whenever I would discuss QNAP and Synology on the platform, I would always say that you go to Synology for the Software and QNAP for the Hardware. Synology’s DSM platform clearly makes up the bulk of the companies investment and attention, makes up a significant chunk of the price tag and is designed around keeping things as user-friendly as possible (within reason). This is why their devices at each generation refresh (DS918+>DS912+>DS923+ or DS218+>DS220+>DS224+) only make smaller increases on the previous generation – the software IS the focus. With QNAP we tend to see the hardware taking bigger leaps each generation. Better standard ethernet, better PCIe gens, Better CPUs much earlier and overall greater hardware at any given time. For PC builders and those that know a lot more about the contents of their laptop than the contents of their router, this is speaking THEIR language and makes the price tag translate better. Fast forward to now and although that logic still remains the same, these brands are more 60/40 in their architecture (where 60 = their preferred hardware or software bias). The issue starts when QNAP seem to rush their software out the door very quickly. Alongside a lot of more beta applications being available, they roll out a lot of new types of software that (and I am sorry to use that expression again, but) could have used more time in the oven. This approach to software development and release can be dicey and although it makes QNAP the more exciting platform (with its better hardware, more diverse software and continued AI or generally automated services), it also means that the platform has less of the layers of troubleshooting red-tape that Synology has (which inversely means the Synology product is going to be more expensive and less hardware rich, as that investment of time needs to be repaid to be justified). In recent years, QNAP has seemingly slowed down it’s hardware releases and rolled out more in software, introducing bounty programs for vulnerabilities, pen testing and is seemingly learning from their mistakes (we hope). Whilst Synology have further doubled down on software innovation, with solutions remaining longer in the market between refreshes) and continued on their path to continued dominance in NAS. Whether you look at the whole thing as a tortoise and the hare situation, or a case of ‘slow and steady wins the race’, there is no denying that Synology appears to take security more seriously than most other brands.

Look at the Apple TV box or Amazon FireTV / Firestick? Is it user-friendly? yes! Is it slick and intuitive? Yes! Is it flexible in the installation of 3rd party applications? NO (at least, not without workarounds)! Is it hardware-powerful? LORD NO! One glance on eBay will show you a thousand other media boxes at the same price with Android on board, 5-10x the hardware and customization coming out of the wazoo. Nevertheless, many users will not buy the apple/amazon media option because although they KNOW it will be slick and ‘hold your hand’ all the way, it will be a closed system, noticeably more expensive and even then “nothing is full proof, right?”. And a lot of the anger at QNAP for their increased ransomware targeting and handling of this needs to also be balanced against why a lot of users chose the QNAP NAS brand. The QNAP NAS platform does have good applications and services, some genuinely unique ones and ones that allow tremendous flexibility and customization – but users need to remain relative to what drew them to the platform and have sufficient backups AND safety nets in place. I would say this about QNAP, about Synology, hell… Google drive, DropBox, Backblaze… ALL of them have localized client tools that rely way too much on the success of versioning/roll-backs being possible on the cloud platform. None of them are 100% full proof and QNAP dropped the ball multiple times here, but none of these ways are unprecedented and should be provisioned for regardless of your NAS brand or cloud platform.

The Sad Truth about Servers, Security and Vulnerabilities

Vulnerability > Update > vulnerability > update > rinse > repeat

No platform, software or service is going to be 100% bulletproof. You can increase your personal layers of security (VPNs, Encryption, layers, restrictive white lists, etc) to hit 99.99% but whatever way you are looking at it, everything we use is software-based and therefore, fallible. Equally, users cannot pretend that it is still the early days of the internet anymore and still be annoyed when a statistical possibility that should have been factored against was not. Do I think NAS drives are safe? I’m sorry to say that the answer is never going to be a simple Yes/No. I think they provide what they say they provide and I think that NAS hardware is still the best in the market right now. But the majority of NAS brand software needs to be less rushed (I somewhat absolve Synology of this, as they seemingly take it 10/10 seriously!), the extra time/budget be spent on that software, or utilize a trusted 3rd party. The need to relinquish some of the customization of their platform in efforts to remove some of the configuration out of the hands of less tech-savvy users who end up overly reliant in defaults. Perhaps a much more rigorous setup policy that, on day 1, have an EXPERT door and a NOVICE door, with randomized defaults and extremely regimented update rules on the latter. Equally, the brand (though better than it was) needs to work on its communication with its end-user base, both in the event of critical issues and education on what the user base needs to have to increase security OUTSIDE of their product.

I still recommend the majority of turnkey NAS brands in the market in terms of their bse product and the range of security/system protection tools they include, but we need to be realistic and honest with ourselves about what we buy and our expectations. If I buy a NAS, I expect it to store the data I store in it and allow me access to it on my terms, but ‘my terms’ might be a lot more/less strict than the next person and with that comes due diligence in 2024. I hope that the last big ransomware attack, deadbolt from the start of 2022, is the last ‘big’ one we hear about moving forward, but I do not think it will be. More than just any one brand, one look at the vulnerabilities listed on security advisories of all the brands tell us that there is big money to be made by these intruders and the brands can only stay 1 step ahead. As always, me and Eddie here on NASCompares have been running a page that links to the bigger NAS security Advisory pages that gets regularly updated, so if you want to get notifications on these as they get added (pulled from the official pages themselves), then you can visit the page below and put your email in for updates when they happen. Have a great week and backup, backup, BACKUP.

Click Below to Read

Finally, If you are currently unaware of the Deadbolt ransomware attack that took place on QNAP NAS devices, you can find out more in the NASCompares article and video below:

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NAS Compares
Jonsbo N2 vs Jonsbo N3 vs Jonsbo N4 – Which NAS Case Is Best?
12 avril 2024 à 15:00

Jonsbo N2 vs Jonsbo N3 vs Jonsbo N4 – Which NAS Case Is Best?

NAS Compares

Par : Rob Andrews

12 avril 2024 à 15:00

Should You Buy the Jonsbo N4, N3 or N2 for your NAS DiY Build?

Building your NAS has inarguably become easier in recent years, thanks in large part to considerably more tailored and NAS-designed components arriving on the market that allow users to take a lot of the guesswork out of building a private cloud and network server from scratch. Although a lot of improvements and innovations have occurred in power-efficient SoC/Mobile CPUs and the miniaturization of technology, when it comes to actual NAS enclosures/cases – it’s actually a much less populated market than you might think. NAS cases are not really the same as traditional PC cases – designed with a greater focus on storage capabilities, hot swapping storage when needed, engineered for 24×7 use and designed to house the NAS-focused CPU+MoBo combos that have rolled out from brands such as ASrock, Topton, CWWK, Minisforum and more. Indeed, arguably one of the most popular brand’s in the market for NAS enclosures is Jonsbo, with its growing range of NAS-designed enclosures. Now that its fourth iteration has rolled out, the Jonsbo N4, I thought it time to find out what the main differences are between their three most popular NAS cases right now, the Jonsbo N2, N3 and N4. Each one has its strengths and weaknesses, ranging from scalability and day 1 storage, to motherboard compatibility and cooling systems. So, let’s compare the Jonsbo N4 vs N3 vs N2 and help you decide which one is best for you and your data!

USEFUL RESOURCES:

Here are links to the previous full reviews of the Jonsbo N2, N3 and N4 NAS Cases:

Jonsbo N2 vs N3 vs N4 YouTube Video – HERE
Jonsbo N2 5+1 Bay Review – VIDEO – ARTICLE
Jonsbo N3 8+2 Bay Review – VIDEO – ARTICLE
Jonsbo N4 6+2 Bay Review – VIDEO – ARTICLE

N2 Best for Low/Efficient NAS Deployment Lowest Price Point Smallest Physical Footprint Smallest Storage Capacity Only 1 PCIe Card Slot and Half Height	N3 Best for a Power NAS Build + Bigger CPU Cooling Largest Storage Capacity + Full Size PCIe Cards Best Prosumer Deployment BIG Size and oddly tall Noisiest System of the Three	N4 Better MoBo Compatibility (MITX and MATX) Best Size vs Storage Option + 4x PCIe Slots Most Conventially Aesthetically Appealing Most Expensive PCIe Cards Must Be Half Height

======= Where To Buy? =======
$76 (Check Aliexpress HERE)	$99.42 (Check Aliexpress HERE)	$76.99 (Check Aliexpress HERE)
$149 (Check Amazon HERE)	$170 (Check Amazon HERE)	*$199 (Check Amazon HERE)**

Jonsbo N2 vs N3 vs N4 – The TLDR

The Jonsbo N2, N3, and N4 NAS Enclosures cater to an interesting range of storage and cooling needs for DiY NAS builders, which is most likely the reason that Jonsbo has become so popular with home lab’ers and server enthusiasts. First up, the N2, with its compact footprint, is designed around the ITX motherboard form factor, accommodating up to 5 3.5″ HDDs for storage. Its built-in 120mm fan ensures efficient cooling within a tightly packed space, while the design accommodates a maximum CPU cooler height of 65mm, emphasizing its focus on compact, yet powerful builds. The N3 expands on these capabilities, offering support for up to 8 3.5″ HDDs, thereby increasing the potential storage capacity significantly. Despite its larger size, it retains support for ITX motherboards only but allows for a taller CPU cooler (up to 130mm), addressing the needs of users requiring more robust cooling solutions and storage within a still compact NAS solution.

The N4 model diverges notably in terms of design and compatibility, embracing a more eclectic mix of materials with its steel and wood construction. This enclosure is compatible with both ITX and M-ATX motherboards, broadening its appeal to users with varying motherboard preferences. It supports up to 6 3.5″ HDDs, positioning it between the N2 and N3 in terms of storage capacity but makes a distinct statement with its unique material choice and aesthetic. The N4 also supports a slightly larger CPU cooler height than the N2, up to 70mm, but less than the N3, balancing between compact design and cooling efficiency. Its cooling strategy is centered around a single built-in 120mm fan, ensuring that despite its capacity for larger motherboards, thermal management remains a priority. Through these nuanced differences in storage capacity, motherboard support, CPU cooler height, and cooling strategies, the Jonsbo N2, N3, and N4 enclosures offer tailored solutions for a range of user requirements, from compact, efficient setups to more expansive, versatile builds.

Jonsbo N3 vs N2 vs N4 – NAS Size and Physical Footprint

The Jonsbo N2, N3, and N4 NAS cases exhibit a thoughtful progression in physical size to accommodate varying user needs and preferences. The N2, the most compact of the trio, measures 222.5mm in width and depth, standing 224mm tall. This square-like dimension underscores its design for efficiency and minimal spatial footprint, ideal for users seeking a space-saving solution without compromising on storage capacity, with room for up to five 3.5″ HDDs. In contrast, the N3 slightly expands on this design philosophy, with dimensions of 233mm by 262mm by 298mm (WxDxH), thereby offering a larger internal volume. This additional space is leveraged to support up to eight 3.5″ HDDs, catering to users with greater storage needs while still maintaining a relatively compact form factor suitable for small office or home environments.

Model	Dimensions (WxDxH) mm	Max. CPU Cooler Height (mm)	Cooling System	Ventilation
N2	222.5 x 222.5 x 224	65	120x15mm fan *1 (built-in)	Side panels, top, rear
N3	233 x 262 x 298	130	100x25mm 2 (optional), 80x25mm 2 (built-in)	Side, back, ventilated front panel
N4	286 x 300 x 228	70	120mm *1 (built-in)	Side panels, top, rear, wooden front panel

Moving further up in size, the N4 distinguishes itself with dimensions of 286mm by 300mm by 228mm (WxDxH), making it the widest and deepest, yet not the tallest among the three. This layout is indicative of its design to accommodate both ITX and M-ATX motherboards, providing flexibility for users who may require more expansive motherboard support. The increased width and depth also facilitate an enhanced cooling solution and additional drive bays, accommodating up to six 3.5″ HDDs. Despite its larger size relative to the N2 and N3, the N4’s design remains conscious of space efficiency, striking a balance between accommodating more powerful hardware and maintaining a form factor that is still manageable within a variety of settings. This gradation in size across the Jonsbo NAS case lineup reflects a deliberate approach to meet diverse user requirements, from the most space-conscious to those needing a broader scope of hardware support and cooling efficiency.

Jonsbo N2 vs N4 vs N2 – Storage Capacity

The storage capacity of the Jonsbo N2, N3, and N4 NAS cases varies to cater to different user demands, reflecting a clear gradation in terms of available drive bays for HDDs and SSDs. The N2 offers the starting point with room for one 2.5″ SSD and five 3.5″ HDDs, presenting a balanced option for moderate storage needs within a compact frame. Stepping up, the N3 enhances this capability significantly, accommodating one 2.5″ SSD and eight 3.5″ HDDs, thus positioning itself as a more suitable option for users requiring higher data storage capacity in a still relatively compact NAS solution.

Model	2.5″ SSD Bays	3.5″ HDD Bays	Motherboard Compatibility	Max. CPU Cooler Height (mm)	PCI Expansion Slots
N2	1	5	ITX	65	1
N3	1	8	ITX	130	2
N4	2	6	ITX / M-ATX	70	4

The N4, while providing support for two 2.5″ SSDs and six 3.5″ HDDs, offers a middle ground in terms of storage capacity; it supports slightly more SSD storage than the N2 and N3 but has fewer bays for HDDs compared to the N3. This structured variation in storage capacity across the Jonsbo lineup ensures that users can select a case that best matches their specific storage requirements, from basic setups to more demanding data accumulation needs.

HOWEVER, keep in mind that only the first 4 bays of the Jonsbo N4 NAS Case support hotswapping, as the 2x 3.5″ (bay 5 and 6) and the 2x 2.5″ SATA SSD bays (bay 7 and 8) do NOT support any kind of backplane ou-the-box and require separate cabling for the individual SATA and SATA-POWER connectors. This was a very odd choice by the brand, and we cover this in more detail HERE in the written review of the N4 and HERE in the video review.

Jonsbo N3 vs N2 vs N4 – Motherboard, PCIe and Cooler Support

The Jonsbo N2, N3, and N4 cases offer varied motherboard support to cater to different preferences and needs, with a particular focus on ITX form factors but with some variation in support that reflects their differing designs and intended use cases. The N2 and N3 are specifically designed for ITX motherboards, aligning with their emphasis on compact, efficient space usage while providing robust storage solutions within their size constraints. This singular focus on ITX boards in the N2 and N3 cases is ideal for users looking for NAS solutions that prioritize space-saving without sacrificing performance. The ITX form factor’s compact size allows these cases to maintain a smaller footprint, making them suitable for environments where space is at a premium.

Jonsbo N2 and N3 Motherboard Cavity

In contrast, the N4 expands its compatibility to include both ITX and M-ATX motherboards, offering greater flexibility and accommodating a broader range of user requirements. This dual compatibility allows for more significant expansion and upgrade possibilities, catering to users who may seek additional performance or connectivity options that M-ATX motherboards can provide.

The Jonsbo N4 Motherboard Cavity

The M-ATX support in the N4 not only broadens the potential use cases for the case but also makes it a more versatile choice for users who may want to repurpose or upgrade their system in the future without being constrained by the smaller ITX form factor.

Model	Motherboard Type	PCIe Expansion Slots	Max. Number of PCIe Cards	Max. PCIe Card Height	Max. PCIe Card Width	Max. CPU Cooler Height (mm)
N2	ITX	1	1 (Low profile)	Low profile	Single slot	65
N3	ITX	2	2	Standard	Up to 2 slots	130
N4	ITX / M-ATX	4	4	Standard	Up to 2 slots	70

The consideration of CPU cooler space and PCIe expansion slots further differentiates these cases. The N2 and N3 allow for CPU coolers up to 65mm and 130mm in height, respectively, reflecting their different design priorities and internal space allocations. The N4, while providing for CPU coolers up to 70mm in height, notably offers support for up to four PCIe expansion slots due to its M-ATX compatibility. This added expansion capability is a significant advantage for users looking to install additional graphics cards, network cards, or other PCIe devices, enhancing the system’s overall versatility and performance potential. The increased space and flexibility in the N4 make it an appealing option for users who prioritize expandability and upgradeability in their NAS or PC builds, offering a balance between compact design and the enhanced utility afforded by the M-ATX form factor.

Jonsbo N3 vs N2 vs N4 – Cooling and Ventilation

The cooling and ventilation strategies employed by the Jonsbo N2, N3, and N4 cases are critical to their design, influencing not only their thermal management capabilities but also their aesthetic appeal and functionality. The N2 case features ventilation on the side panels, a considerable vent panel on the top, and additional venting on the rear, facilitating multidirectional airflow that supports effective heat dissipation from internal components. This arrangement is particularly advantageous for maintaining optimal operating temperatures within the compact confines of the case, ensuring that even when fully loaded with storage drives, airflow remains unimpeded. The inclusion of a large top vent is noteworthy, as it capitalizes on the natural rise of hot air, thereby enhancing the cooling efficiency without the need for excessive fan use, which can be beneficial for users seeking a quieter operation.

Jonsbo N2 NAS Case

The N3, on the other hand, extends the ventilation scheme to include vents on the sides, back, and notably, a ventilated front panel. This comprehensive approach to airflow management ensures that cool air can be drawn in from the front and expelled through the side and rear vents, creating a constant flow of air through the chassis. The ventilated front panel not only contributes to the cooling efficiency but also adds to the case’s visual identity, merging functional design with aesthetic considerations. The ability to intake air from the front is particularly beneficial for systems with multiple drives, as it helps to mitigate heat buildup around the storage bays, maintaining optimal performance of the drives and other internal components.

The N4 case adopts a similar ventilation strategy to the N2, with vents on the side panels, a large top vent, and rear ventilation, ensuring ample airflow through the case. However, it distinguishes itself with a wooden front panel that covers half of the front, adding a unique aesthetic touch while still allowing for air intake through the lower half of the front panel. This design choice strikes a balance between form and function, offering effective cooling by combining the benefits of the N2’s ventilation pattern with a stylistic differentiation. The wooden panel adds a touch of elegance and natural texture to the case, setting it apart visually from many other NAS and PC cases on the market, without compromising on the thermal management aspect.

Across all three models, the use of rubber pull handles on the drive bays instead of trays not only simplifies the installation and removal process but also reduces vibration transmission, contributing to quieter operation. This design choice reflects a thoughtful consideration of usability and noise reduction, further enhancing the user experience.

Jonsbo N3 vs N2 vs N4 – Conclusion and Verdict, Which Should You Choose?

The Jonsbo N2, N3, and N4 NAS cases offer a diverse range of options catering to various user needs, from compact, efficient storage solutions to more versatile systems that allow for significant expansion and customization. The N2 stands out for its compact design and efficient use of space, making it ideal for users seeking a minimal footprint without sacrificing storage capability. Its focused cooling strategy ensures that it remains suitable for environments where noise levels and space are critical considerations. The N3, with its expanded storage capacity and comprehensive ventilation system, caters to users requiring more extensive data storage without venturing into the realm of bulkier, less aesthetically pleasing solutions. Its design balances the need for increased storage with effective thermal management, making it a compelling option for power users in need of a compact yet capable NAS case. On the other hand, the N4 broadens the horizon with its support for both ITX and M-ATX motherboards, offering a bridge between compact NAS solutions and more expansive PC builds. Its unique aesthetic, highlighted by the wooden front panel, adds a touch of sophistication, distinguishing it from typical NAS and PC cases. The N4’s design flexibility, coupled with effective cooling and ventilation, positions it as a versatile choice for users who prioritize both form and function. Across the board, Jonsbo’s NAS cases reflect a commitment to quality, innovation, and user-focused design. Whether prioritizing compactness, storage capacity, or flexibility in motherboard support, users are provided with thoughtfully designed options that do not compromise on performance or aesthetic appeal, making the N2, N3, and N4 standout choices in their respective categories.

N2 Best for Low/Efficient NAS Deployment Lowest Price Point Smallest Physical Footprint Smallest Storage Capacity Only 1 PCIe Card Slot and Half Height	N3 Best for a Power NAS Build + Bigger CPU Cooling Largest Storage Capacity + Full Size PCIe Cards Best Prosumer Deployment BIG Size and oddly tall Noisiest System of the Three	N4 Better MoBo Compatibility (MITX and MATX) Best Size vs Storage Option + 4x PCIe Slots Most Conventially Aesthetically Appealing Most Expensive PCIe Cards Must Be Half Height

======= Where To Buy? =======
$76 (Check Aliexpress HERE)	$99.42 (Check Aliexpress HERE)	$76.99 (Check Aliexpress HERE)
$149 (Check Amazon HERE)	$170 (Check Amazon HERE)	*$199 (Check Amazon HERE)**

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Need Help? Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry. [contact-form-7]

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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Alternatively, why not ask me on the ASK NASCompares forum, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in the ASK NASCompares section below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.

NAS Compares
Terramaster Release TOS 6 (Beta) – What’s New?
8 avril 2024 à 18:00

Terramaster Release TOS 6 (Beta) – What’s New?

NAS Compares

Par : Rob Andrews

8 avril 2024 à 18:00

Terramaster NAS Release TOS 6 in Beta

The release of Terramaster TOS 6 Beta for NAS devices marks a significant milestone in the evolution of NAS operating systems, with an array of new features and comprehensive improvements designed to enhance user experience, system performance, and security. This sixth iteration introduces a radically redesigned user interface and integrates more than 40 new functionalities while refining over 370 aspects, ensuring a top-tier upgrade for TNAS users.

Expanded Key Features and Improvements in TOS 6

Linux Kernel 6.1 LTS Upgrade: Transitioning to the latest Linux kernel version, TOS 6 benefits from improved scheduling algorithms, enhanced memory management, superior file system support, optimized network performance, advanced security features, and better power management. This upgrade facilitates a more robust and efficient system, capable of handling the demands of both home and enterprise environments with ease.

Revolutionized Docker Manager 2.0.16: This release introduces Docker Compose project management, adding a new dimension to container orchestration on TNAS devices. The addition of a container terminal and system notifications for Docker image operations streamlines container management. These enhancements, combined with UI and functionality optimizations, cater to developers and IT professionals seeking a versatile platform for containerized applications.

File Manager Overhaul: With user feedback and industry best practices in mind, the File Manager has been retooled to offer an intuitive, efficient file navigation and management experience. Features such as enhanced directory navigation, column display mode for deep folder hierarchy exploration, tabbed browsing, adjustable thumbnail sizes, and a suite of new file operation tools significantly elevate user productivity.

Online Disk Wiping: This new utility offers a straightforward solution for securely erasing all data from disks directly within the TOS interface, facilitating easy preparation of drives for repurposing or disposal without the need for external tools.
Cloud Drive Mounting: Seamlessly integrate cloud storage services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and more directly into TNAS. This feature enhances the flexibility of data access and management, allowing for efficient data synchronization and sharing between local and cloud storage.

Security and Privacy Control (SPC): Introducing a robust security framework designed to prevent unauthorized execution of programs on TNAS devices. SPC enhances the overall security posture by ensuring only vetted and authorized applications can run, significantly reducing the risk of malware and ransomware infections.

SMB Multichannel Support: By enabling multiple network connections for SMB file sharing, TOS 6 ensures higher data transfer speeds, improved reliability, and enhanced redundancy. This feature is particularly beneficial in multi-user environments where network performance directly impacts productivity.
Direct Data Drive Mounting: Offering unparalleled convenience, this feature allows users to access data on external drives without the need for disk reformatting or repartitioning, preserving existing data while extending the storage capabilities of TNAS devices.
Storage Pool Migration: Streamlines the process of migrating storage pools between TNAS devices, aiding users in hardware upgrades or replacements without the hassle of data migration or system reconfiguration.
Advanced ACL Permissions: Delivers granular access control with 13 additional customizable permissions on top of the standard read, write, and deny options. This advanced permission management system enables precise control over data access, ensuring data security and compliance.

TOS 6 Beta System Enhancements

TOS 6 introduces a slew of system-wide enhancements aimed at delivering a more stable, secure, and user-friendly NAS operating environment:

Performance and Stability: With the new Linux kernel and system optimizations, TOS 6 offers improved system stability and performance, ensuring that TNAS devices can handle intensive tasks and larger volumes of data more efficiently.
Hardware and Innovation Support: Prepared for the future, TOS 6 includes support for the latest hardware innovations, such as Intel’s “Meteor Lake” chips, and introduces new data structures and error decoding capabilities for enhanced data processing and system reliability.
Enhanced Security Measures: Building upon TerraMaster’s commitment to security, new features like customizable HTTPS certificates, optimized firewall rule settings, and the innovative SPC module significantly enhance the protection of user data against external threats.
User Interface and Usability Improvements: From a streamlined desktop design and simplified navigation to a new “Start” menu and customizable user avatars, TOS 6 focuses on creating a more engaging and personalized user experience.
Comprehensive Application and Service Enhancements: The update enriches the application ecosystem with new functionalities, improved file services, and advanced storage features, catering to a wide range of user needs from media indexing and scheduled task notifications to cross-platform data interoperability and USB storage device health management.

Through these extensive features and improvements, TOS 6 Beta not only advances the capabilities of TNAS devices but also sets a new standard for NAS operating systems, offering a sophisticated platform for storage, management, and security that meets the evolving needs of both individual and enterprise users.

How To Access the TOS 6 Beta – Update Instructions

Applicable models:
F2-221, F2-223, F2-422, F2-423, F2-424
F4-221, F4-223, F4-421, F4-422, F4-423, F4-424, F4-424 Pro, U4-111, U4-423
F5-221, F5-421, F5-422
T6-423
F8-421, F8-422, U8-111, U8-420, U8-423, U8-450, U8-322-9100, U8-522-9400, U8-722-2224
T9-423, T9-450
T12-423, T12-450, U12-423, U12-322-9100, U12-722-2224
U16-322-9100, U16-722-2224, U16-722-2288
U24-612, U24-722-2224

Applicable TOS Versions:
TOS 5.1.123 or later versions; if your device does not meet the update requirements, please do not update! Otherwise, system crashes may occur.

Precautions:
1. The Beta version is an early version of the program, containing most major functions but not yet completed, and may have some defects. This version is only released to specific groups or the general public for testing and feedback collection; the Beta version should not be used in work or production environments. If your TNAS device is running business operations or storing important data, please refrain from participating in this test.
2. Updating the system theoretically will not affect the data on your hard drive, but for safety reasons, please be sure to back up your data in advance.
3. After the update, if applications such as Plex, Emby, Aria2, etc., need to access new shared folders, you will need to reconfigure application user permissions.
4. Previously created firewall rules will be cleared, and you will need to create new firewall rules after the update.
5. If you are using port 5444, you will need to modify this port before updating.
6. After the update, TNAS will exit the domain, and you will need to rejoin the domain and refresh domain users.
7. After the update, if your encrypted shared file key contains special characters, you can only mount it by entering the key.
8. System configuration backups from TOS 5 cannot be restored to TOS 6.
9. Hyper Cache created before the update will become invalid after the update; it is recommended to uninstall Hyper Cache before updating.
10. Docker Manager versions 1.1.99 or earlier cannot run on TOS 6; please update Docker Manager before updating the system.

How to Update to TOS 6 Beta on Your Terramaster NAS?

1. Download the TOS 6 Beta update package: TOS 6 (md5:821b697ddb27dbc9c95ce2be398c791b)
2. Go to TOS > Control Panel > General Settings > System;
3. Under “Manual Update”, upload the update package;
4. Click “Apply”;
5. After the system update is complete, you will need to refresh your browser;
6. Your TNAS IP address may change after the system update. If you are unable to connect to your TNAS using the previous IP address, please use the TNAS PC client to search for the new IP address again.

Other Software Downloads:
TNAS PC for Windows OS: https://tos-downloads.oss-cn-hongkong.a … .1.352.exe
TNAS PC for macOS: https://download2.terra-master.com/TNAS … versal.dmg
TNAS Mobile for Android:https://download2.terra-master.com/TNAS … 3.2.31.apk
TNAS Mobile for iOS: Download from the iOS App Store. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
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Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

Finally, for free advice about your setup, just leave a message in the comments below here at NASCompares.com and we will get back to you.

Need Help? Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry. [contact-form-7]

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

Or support us by using our affiliate links on Amazon UK and Amazon US

Alternatively, why not ask me on the ASK NASCompares forum, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in the ASK NASCompares section below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.

UGREEN NASync DXP480T NAS Review

NAS Compares

Par : Rob Andrews

5 avril 2024 à 15:00

UGREEN DXP480T NASync SSD NAS Review

What exactly IS the DXP480T? Ever since UGREEN launched their NASync range of NAS devices on Kickstarter, there has been a lot of interest in this computer accessories and peripheral company making its big move into Network Attached Storage. No doubt hoping to challenge this market’s leaders Synology and QNAP, UGREEN have revealed a 6 system series (the DXP range) and although the first 5 of them are interesting enough, it is the compact yet powerful NVMe Flash-equipped NASync DXP480T that has drawn many a hungry I.T user’s eye! Arriving with a 10 Core Intel i5 Processor, DDR5 memory, PCIe Gen 4 Architecture, 4x m.2 2280 NVMe SSD bays, 10GbE networking, Thunderbolt 4 ports and Wifi 6E connectivity – There is ALOT crammed into this tiny little box! Add to this the ‘still in development’ UGOS NAS software that is included with the system and the $479-519 price tag for early access on Kickstarter (going up to $799 RRP when it hits ACTUAL retail) and what you have here is a fantastic proposition for photo and video editors that are looking for a small footprint, low noise, but high-performance private server. But is it too good to be true? Is there too much hardware in there to stay cool? And why is a big brand like UGREEN turning to crowdfunding? Let’s discuss the DXP480T and whether it deserves your money and your data.

Note – The YouTube Review of the DXP480T NAS is Available HERE

Ugreen DXP480T NAS Review – Quick Conclusion

There is ALOT of like her in the UGREEN DXP480T Flash NAS! Right now there is little to no alternative to this product in the market. Flash/SSD NAS has been around for a long time and even M.2 NVMe NAS systems have been cropping up in one form or another for 2+ years. But desktop and home-accessible M.2 NVMe Flash NAS solutions? Barely any. Notable alternatives such as the storage-rich Asustor Flashstor 6 / 12 Pro or the performance-rich QNAP TBS-464 or TBS-h574TX have been launched in the last 12 months, but the DXP480T is more powerful than the former and less expensive than the latter. However UGREEN and it’s DXP/NASync series are still very, VERY new in the market (green?) and alongside their NAS software being still a good distance away from fully stable, the choice to launch this new series of devices on crowdfunding is still a little puzzling for 12-14 year established brand in the tech sector. The system is fantastically compact, powerful for the scale, very rich in hardware features and all of this rollout out on a price tag at both early backer Kickstarter and eventual retail RRP that is highly challenging to beat!

But this is still a product that is not finished yet and therefore we need to keep that in mind! If this NAS an unfinished game, it is not ‘Cyberpunk’ or No Man Sky’ levels of incomplete – but it is still a good 20-30% unfinished in terms of features and optimization. I will be certainly keeping an eye on UGREEN as they progress, and hopefully they will challenge the status quo of Synology and QNAP right now, but we will have to wait and see. Bottom line, the DXP480T is 100% the BEST M.2 NVMe NAS system for it’s scale in terms of hardware, it’s just the rest of the software development going through the usual beta testing that is holding it back from greatness. Recent softening by UGREEN with regard to users installing 3rd party operating systems (TrueNAS, UnRAID, Open Media Vault, Proxmox hypervisor, etc) with regard to hardware warranty has definitely resolved/calmed the apprehension by many users though, so the beta software hurdle might not even be an issue for you. The crowdfunding still at has 30 days left (at the time of writing) and 9,800 backers pledging over $4,00,000 of funding seems to indicate this! But as always, this is crowdfunding and not traditional retail, so use caution! The DXP480T is a solid and unique system and I hope to talk even more about this and UGREEN spin-offs in future!

SOFTWARE - 7/10

HARDWARE - 10/10

PERFORMANCE - 7/10

PRICE - 10/10

VALUE - 9/10

8.6

PROS

xceptional Hardware for the Price4 x M.2 NVMe Flash system at this scale+price is fantastic!

Great CPU Power vs Efficiency in the i5-1235u

10GbE as standard is excellentWiFi 6E adds an extra and variable access method10/10 Build Quality

Great Scalability

Fantastic Mobile Application (even vs Synology and QNAP etc)

Desktop/Browser GUI shows promise

Established Brand entering the NAS Market

Low Noise

Very Appealing retail package+accessoriesThunderbolt 4 connectivity ensures FAST local backups

The Operating System SSD does not occupy a storage bay (extra 2242 m.2 SSD included)

CONS

10GbE Performance was bit underwhelming

Crowdfunding choice is confusing

Software (still in Beta) is still far from ready 22/3/24

Only 1x Physical Network port means no wired failover

Although 2 of the slots are 4x4 Speed, hardware lane limits mean 2 of the slots are 3x2

Ugreen DXP480T NAS Review – Retail Package

The retail kit for this system arrives impressively polished for a product still in its crowdfunding phase, featuring a well-decorated and well-presented retail package that efficiently packs a surprising amount of equipment into a modestly sized box.

Upon opening the stylish retail package, you’re welcomed by the system itself, encased in a protective matte plastic wrap. Remarkably compact for a four-bay (technically five) NAS system, it’s slightly larger than a mini PC, making it one of the smallest NAS systems reviewed on NAS compares.

The kit is comprehensive, excluding storage, including a gold-tipped Ethernet cable, thermal pads for M.2 NVMe SSD bays, extra screws, a setup manual, warranty information, and an external PSU.

Notably, the system comes with an official UGreen 140W PSU, reflecting the brand’s reputation for quality power supplies. The inclusion of first-party designed and branded components emphasizes the product’s proprietary nature, distinguishing it from rebranded hardware.

The entire retail kit’s presentation is thoroughly executed, showcasing a thoughtful design even in details like the instruction booklet—a feature many brands have phased out.

Every component’s quality is top-notch, setting the stage for a discussion on the DXP480T NAS’s design.

Ugreen DXP480T NAS Review – Design

At a casual glance, you might easily assume that the DXP480T is a mini PC masquerading as a NAS. Given the influx of SOC-powered mini PCs from Eastern brands at low prices, this assumption wouldn’t be far-fetched. However, the DXP480T’s design is meticulously tailored to NAS functionality, with internal components arranged to optimize heat dissipation across its M.2 NVMe slots. This compact unit measures just 17.9cm x 14.2cm x 5.2cm, yet manages to house four M.2 2280 slots and an additional internal 2242 M.2 slot for the UGreen OS, making it one of the smallest NAS systems reviewed here on NAScompares and around half a kilo in weight!

Despite its compact size, the DXP480T does not support hot swapping due to its closed physical enclosure and the nature of M.2 drives, though E1.S drives are starting to challenge this norm. The chassis design is a balanced act of 50% active airflow and 50% heat dissipation, featuring plastic outer edges and a top composed of multiple heat dissipation panels connected to the internal hardware, alongside a large heatsink base with two built-in laptop-scale fans. This design emphasizes cleanliness and efficiency, given its storage capacity.

UGreen’s branding is prominent throughout, establishing a distinctive ‘house style’ for the NASync/DXP series right out of the gate. The system’s dimensions (18cm wide, 14cm deep, and 5.5cm tall, including rubber feet) enhance its appeal, offering a streamlined aesthetic without sacrificing functionality.

The fan-assisted panel, secured by two screws, hinges off to reveal the NVMe storage and the intricately designed heat dissipation panel surrounding it. Despite the limited physical space, UGreen has ingeniously incorporated ventilation from nearly every angle, maximizing passive airflow through mesh-covered vents on four of the system’s six sides.

This setup exposes four M.2 SSD slots, distinguished by build quality and clarity in design. However, the use of external face panels for active cooling restricts the use of SSDs with their own heatsinks. UGreen includes high-quality heat pads that align perfectly with SSD chips, compensating for this limitation.

Internally, the slots are divided into two speeds, likely due to the processor’s PCI lane availability, offering Gen 4 x 4 for the first two slots and PCIe Gen 3 x 2 for the remaining two. This strategic decision, driven by necessity, positions the DXP480T favorably against competitors, even if it means accepting some compromises in SSD speeds.

The minimalistic design extends to the system’s front, featuring only a single LED for power, omitting front-mounted USB ports for local backups. This choice, likely a trade-off for internal design efficiency, may disappoint some users looking for more convenient connectivity options.

In summary, the DXP480T’s design impresses with its compact form factor, efficient heat management, and thoughtful branding. While not without its limitations, particularly in external connectivity, UGreen’s meticulous attention to detail positions this NAS as a compelling option for users prioritizing sleek design and effective thermal management.

Ugreen DXP480T NAS Review – Ports and Connections

As previously mentioned, the DXP480T’s ports and connectivity are located at the system’s rear, which results in a somewhat crowded arrangement and necessitates a few compromises.

One significant compromise concerning the device’s ports is its network connectivity. The system features a default 10GbE over a copper RJ45 connection, offering potential bandwidth of up to 1000 megabytes per second. This feature stands out, especially when considering the device’s competitive pricing compared to other NAS devices released in the last two years. However, the downside is that this is the sole physical network port, limiting options for failover or assigning service priorities to different IPs and devices.

The system compensates for this single network port to some extent with wireless connectivity.

An internal M.2 Wi-Fi card connector houses a Wi-Fi 6E network adapter and two antennas, supporting both host and client interfaces.

However, the current beta version of UGreen’s UGOS NAS software does not stably support this feature, and full development completion is still pending.

Additionally, the DXP480T offers Thunderbolt 4 connectivity via two USB-C connections. While Thunderbolt-enabled NAS devices are becoming popular in post-production environments, the DXP480T’s Thunderbolt ports are limited to host use, not supporting direct connections to Mac or Windows devices as clients. UGreen is exploring options to enable two-way communication for these ports. The device also includes USB 3 and USB 2 connections for storage and peripherals, and while direct host-client interfacing over USB is not supported, these connections add to the system’s versatility. However, the lack of a front-mounted USB port for easy local backups is a notable omission.

There is also an HDMI output, however at this time it can only be used for multimedia via the UGOS and is actioned via the mobile application (with doubles as a remote control). Unfortunately, this is not possible via the desktop/browser GUI and also HDMI access as a parallel GUI (either via an app in the docker/container app, a 3rd party media app like Plex/Emby/Jellyfin or an official HDMI GUI Portal that is comparable to HD Station from QNAP or Asustor Portal)

Despite these limitations, the inclusion of 10 GBE and basic Thunderbolt connectivity in such a compact NAS device, at a competitive price point, is commendable. However, the potential long-term system temperature remains a concern.

Ugreen DXP480T NAS Review – Internal Hardware

When it comes to any kind of NAS system that focuses on SSD media, the internal hardware and layout of the system are paramount. SSD media, when overheated, will inevitably throttle, affecting both its performance and that of the surrounding system. Essentially, heat is the Achilles’ heel of flash SSD systems, and given the DXP480T’s compact size, significant effort will need to be made to manage this.

Equipped with a 10-core i5 processor, 8GB of DDR5 memory, ample storage bays, a dedicated OS SSD, a Wi-Fi card, and a 10G controller, it’s a challenge to fit all this into such a small enclosure. Initially, removing two screws around the storage media bays reveals a plastic layer.

Within, we find each of the individual 2280 M.2 NVMe slots. We also discover the SODIMM DDR5 memory slots, one of which is populated by a Samsung DDR5 memory module. Although the system doesn’t support ECC memory, it benefits from the native DDR5 support for on-die error correction. Nonetheless, many storage enthusiasts will likely be disappointed by the lack of ECC support in a flash server system.

As previously mentioned, the system includes a Wi-Fi 6 Intel wireless adapter connected to two internal antennas that encircle the system. It’s a tidy setup, and barring an upgrade to Wi-Fi 7 in the future, there’s little need for changes. It’s debatable how many users will utilize the 1.2Gbps connectivity offered by Wi-Fi 6E; though technically faster than traditional gigabit LAN, effective use requires close proximity. Despite this, it offers a form of failover for this system with a single physical ethernet connection.

The system also arrives with the UGreen NAS software pre-installed on a 2242 Phison E13 controller SSD, set in a Gen 3 x4 slot. Choosing to install the OS on a dedicated SSD, rather than through an eMMC or USB drive, will please some and annoy others. Typically, NAS brands use a bootloader on a small internal drive to install the OS on the main storage array, affecting the system’s performance based on the internal storage media used. Opting to install the OS directly onto an SSD ensures that system services and software run independently, not impacting the performance of the storage media, allowing for operation with new disks if necessary. However, this also means the OS drive lacks backup or redundancy, rendering the system inoperable should the drive fail, potentially damaging the storage media during intense operations. There are pros and cons, but overall, it seems preferable for the system software and services to reside on their dedicated SSD or partition.

Removing additional screws unveils the system’s core. It’s astonishing how much is packed into such a compact enclosure! The heart of the DXP480T features a custom micro-ITX board, housing an Intel i5 10-core processor (2p + 8e), integrated graphics, 20 PCIe lanes, and a maximum 55W TDP. Despite its compact SOC form, this 12th generation Intel i5 processor offers substantial power, benchmarking well against the N100 and Pentium 8505 models in other UGreen NAS models.

Testing this processor, especially in this early crowdfunding prototype, presents challenges. The DXP480T, like the rest of the UGreen NAS line-up, doesn’t officially support third-party OS installation without voiding the warranty. Consequently, we’re limited in our ability to benchmark using third-party OSs or reference previous benchmarks for similar architectures. The UGreen NAS’s operating system, still in beta, requires further optimization to fully showcase what the hardware can achieve.

This processor is well-equipped with sufficient PCIe lanes to manage the four M.2 NVMe SSDs, offering respectable speeds through SSH. The main concern with this processor selection is the lack of ECC memory support, crucial for high-speed flash systems to minimize bit errors during intensive operations.

Although SOC processors that support ECC are rare, especially from Intel, using one for this system and potentially for the DXP8800 Pro could significantly impact the price and development timeline. Nevertheless, this CPU is arguably the best choice for such a compact system in 2024, balancing power efficiency, heat management, and performance capabilities.

UGREEN DXP480T NASync NAS Tests

The Noise level of the system when in operation is very low and is genuinely only noticeable during busy periods when the twin base mini laptop style fans kick in. Here are the dB levels of the system when in idle/standby:

UGREEN DXP480T IDLE/STANDBY NOISE:

And here is the noise level of the system when the fans are in full active/use:

UGREEN DXP480T ACTIVE USE / FULL FAN NOISE:

The construction of the DXP480T flash NAS deserves high praise. Rather than modifying a mini PC case, UGreen designed a compact flash system from scratch, demonstrating considerable care and attention to component placement. The hardware is undoubtedly attractive, further emphasized by our deep dive into this and the DXP4800 Plus models. Yet, the performance and capabilities of the software remain to be seen.

Ugreen DXP480T NAS Review – Performance & Software

The performance of the UGREEN DXP480T is something of a mixed bag. Clearly, compromises have needed to balance between the hardware resources on offer here and to keep the system’s smaller scale. For example, the 2x Gen 4×4 slots are only possible thanks to the scaling back of the 2x Gen 3×2 slots. They COULD have scaled all the slots (with a decent enough PCIe switch/controller) to all be 3×2 via bifurcation, but I think I prefer the 2 higher-performing slots at least giving me the chance to hit 5-7GB/s. I do wonder what they mean for those who plan on spreading a RAID 5 on the 4 M.2 NVMes – as this effectively means you have 2 drives with more bandwidth and irregular write across the 4 disks potentially (though realistically, it will just end up capping at the speed of drives 3 and 4). The performance of the DXP480T Flash system can be broken down into 2 main areas. Internal Performance and External Performance.

The Storage manager of UGOS features it’s on benchmarking tools that can be used per drive. The initial performance when I was using an early version of the software was severely unoptimized, but regular updates for the UGOS beta has rolled out almost weekly and with each, there has definitely been improvements in the system responsiveness and the performance of the drives. At the most recent test of the software, the Gen 4×4 slots of the system (populated with Phison E18 4×4 M.2 NVMes from Seagate Firecude 530 and Addlink A95) were hitting 5,100-5,500MB/s (5.5GB/s) performance. This is still around 1000MB/s less than what these drives are capable of (factoring in the mobile SoC processor and 8GB RAM), but as the software and services are still in beta, this performance might continue to improve throughout development. Then I ran the same test on the PCIe Gen 3×2 slots on the DXP480T. These ports were populated by Teamgroup T-Force Gen 3×4 SSDs, which have a reported 3,100MB/s performance when used in a x4 slot. However, as slot 3 and 4 of the DXP480T are Gen 3×2, I wondered how this would shake out. I was pleased to see a speed of 1.5-1.8GB/S – exactly what I wanted to see!

Then I accessed the system via SSH and used putty to directly benchmark the SSDs over cl. There was definitely some internal caching taking place in the early tests, however, the performance was still averaging around 5.5-6GB/s, which was very pleasing.

However, in order to ascertain if the SSDs in slots 1 and 2 were sharing any controller/switch (maybe even a larger lane being separated into the other 2 slots) I actioned data transfer between SSD 1 and SSD 2. The speed unsurprisingly halved, but was still much, much between the 1-1.5GB/s I encountered when performing this test 2 weeks and 2 firmware updates ago! Now I was hitting 2.5-3GB/s. For internal bandwidth saturation internally on this scale, that is still pretty good.

Then I performed numerous Windows 10GbE transfer tests. The Windows transfer of 20GB of data hit a clean 1,000MB/s saturation when I was using synthetic testing, but traditional transfers on Read activity (to my Windows 10, Gen 4×4 SSD OS Client) peaked at 550MB/s, but the Write was a little under 500MB/s. This decreased fairly rapidly over sustained performance as very clear oversaturation took hold. Upon raising this with the brand in advance of this review for comment, UGREEN told me that SMB performance and transfers are still undergoing optimization. I hope this is the case!

This continued to be the performance mark when I ran an AJA benchmark.

Crystal disk was run twice (using 2 different file size scales, 64MB and 1GB) and once again Read largely saturated the connection, whilst Write was still only 50-65% saturating the available 10GbE bandwidth.

Then I ended on an ATTO Diskbenchmark test that was..frankly.. wild! It was a fairly consistent 700-800MB/s on average, but the perpetual and sustained performance of ATTO benchmarks to the system definitely revealed some of the areas where optimization is still needed and the system was quickly oversaturated (fans ramping up quickly, the memory use very high for the comparatively simple task).

There is definitely some good performance potential here in the DXP480T – as long as UGREEN continue to improve and optimize. This is a prototype review unit (i.e a review unit provided prior to crowdfunding) and certainly feels that way – but numerous software patches that arrived BEFORE the crowdfunding arrived that improved things granularly and I have no reason to believe that this will not continue from now till when/if the system begins fulfilment at crowdfunding and eventual full retail. Watch the video below to see the tests in full (it skips ahead directly to the testing):

Click Below to SKIP AHEAD to the Performance Testing of the DXP480T NAS

At the time of writing, the UGREEN NAS software is still in beta, with the mobile application is live now. Reviewing the software included with the DXP480T —as a final product— feels somewhat premature. The NASsync software beta reveals many baseline functions and long-term plans, which you can watch in the video version of the UGREEN UGOS NAS Software Beta Review in the video below:

You can read the MASSIVE Software review (covering the Desktop and Mobile experience) HERE on the NASCompares Review Article.

Regarding Power Consumption Tests of the UGREEN DXP480T NAS

NOTE – Power consumption tests were performed on the DXP480T during an earlier software beta revision. However, 3 further software and system service updates have been issued since these power consumption tests were performed 3 weeks ago and UGREEN (and a fellow YouTube Reviewer) have stated that this has improved the power efficiency of the system. Therefore in the interests of fairness (as the performance testing was performed on this later software revision (v1.0.0.0334), I have withdrawn my power test result and will be retesting soon and presenting it here + in a later video, as time allows.

The TL;DR on the UGREEN NAS software

The software is on track to become a smooth and user-friendly experience, comparable to giants like Synology and QNAP, especially in terms of the web browser experience. Unlike opting for the complexity of TrueNAS or the streamlined, container-focused UI of UnRAID, the UGREEN NAS software is more akin to Synology DSM. The foundation is clearly laid out for expansion in terms of features and tools for the user’s disposal. However, there are notable absences of baseline applications such as container or virtual machine support, and a multi-tiered backup solution within the web GUI (though the UGREEN NAS mobile and desktop clients are in development, expected to preview in March). Basic services for file management, shares, user account control, and an app center—soon to be linked to a repository—are all user-friendly but present some inconsistencies, likely due to its beta status and ongoing development. The physical product may be closer to final development, but the software needs more time for optimization. SMB services were less consistent than desired, and settings changes sometimes didn’t save or recall correctly. This is common for beta software finding its footing, yet it’s important to note that the hardware feels more refined than the software at this stage, months before user delivery. In brief:

What I liked:

Intuitive UI with services located logically and responsive controls.
The mobile application for iOS and Android is one of the best I have ever used in NAS!
Baseline services such as network interface management, user account control, firewall handling, and SSH interface control are all present.
A clearly defined app center awaiting connection to an online repository.
Helpful tips and guidance are available on most pages, aiding new users.
Support for modern services like SMB3 multi-channel and domain services in the beta.
Clear account and resource management accessible from the desktop, likely appealing to most users.
The inclusion of a remote access relay service and UGREEN account creation from day one, simplifying remote access for new users with built-in firewall and domain tools.
UPDATE 5/4/24 – The HDMI output is now full controllable via the mobile application and is intuitive
UPDATE 5/4/24 – A Docker application has now been added with access to numerous repository options!
UPDATE 5/4/24 – SSH is now disabled by default

What I disliked:

Absence of two-factor authentication in the software.
Lack of virtualization applications at this stage.
Sporadic SMB performance.
The Security Advisor tool is only suitable for Antivirus and Anti-Maleware protection, not to scan the system for security weaknesses and advisory actions
The HDMI output cannot be used by the desktop/browser user to the same extent as the mobile application + cannot be used by container tools (Plex, Home Automation, etc)
In-progress language integration, leading to occasional default displays in Chinese or error messages in Chinese despite English settings.

Improvements needed:

Expansion of app integration and desktop client tools for easier system-client bridging.
Introduction of a default application for device discovery on the local network, a basic service offered by many NAS brands.
More information on UGREEN account and remote access security.

Acknowledging this is a beta, it’s fair to reserve full judgment until the software fully rolls out. As it stands, this beta is promising yet lacks some established NAS software fundamentals. Hopefully, we’ll see significant advancements as the release approaches.

Ugreen DXP480T NAS Review – Verdict and Conclusion

There is ALOT of like her in the UGREEN DXP480T Flash NAS! Right now there is little to no alternative to this product in the market. Flash/SSD NAS has been around for a long time and even M.2 NVMe NAS systems have been cropping up in one form or another for 2+ years. But desktop and home-accessible M.2 NVMe Flash NAS solutions? Barely any. Notable alternatives such as the storage-rich Asustor Flashstor 6 / 12 Pro or the performance-rich QNAP TBS-464 or TBS-h574TX have been launched in the last 12 months, but the DXP480T is more powerful than the former and less expensive than the latter. However UGREEN and it’s DXP/NASync series are still very, VERY new in the market (green?) and alongside their NAS software being still a good distance away from fully stable, the choice to launch this new series of devices on crowdfunding is still a little puzzling for 12-14 year established brand in the tech sector. The system is fantastically compact, powerful for the scale, very rich in hardware features and all of this rollout out on a price tag at both early backer Kickstarter and eventual retail RRP that is highly challenging to beat! But this is still a product that is not finished yet and therefore we need to keep that in mind! If this NAS was an unfinished game, it is not ‘Cyberpunk’ or No Man Sky’ levels of incomplete – but it is still a good 20-30% unfinished in terms of features and optimization. I will be certainly keeping an eye on UGREEN as they progress, and hopefully they will challenge the status quo of Synology and QNAP right now, but we will have to wait and see. Bottom line, the DXP480T is 100% the BEST M.2 NVMe NAS system for it’s scale in terms of hardware, it’s just the rest of the software development going through the usual beta testing that is holding it back from greatness. Recent softening by UGREEN with regard to users installing 3rd party operating systems (TrueNAS, UnRAID, Open Media Vault, Proxmox hypervisor, etc) with regard to hardware warranty has definitely resolved/calmed the apprehension by many users though, so the beta software hurdle might not even be an issue for you. The crowdfunding still at has 30 days left (at the time of writing) and 9,800 backers pledging over $4,00,000 of funding seems to indicate this! But as always, this is crowdfunding and not traditional retail, so use caution! The DXP480T is a solid and unique system and I hope to talk even more about this and UGREEN spin-offs in future!

PROS of the UGREEN DXP480T NAS

CONS of the UGREEN DXP480T NAS

Exceptional Hardware for the Price4 x M.2 NVMe Flash system at this scale+price is fantastic!
Great CPU Power vs Efficiency in the i5-1235u
10GbE as standard is excellentWiFi 6E adds an extra and variable access method10/10 Build Quality
Great Scalability
Fantastic Mobile Application (even vs Synology and QNAP etc)
Desktop/Browser GUI shows promise
Established Brand entering the NAS Market
Low Noise
Very Appealing retail package+accessoriesThunderbolt 4 connectivity ensures FAST local backups
The Operating System SSD does not occupy a storage bay (extra 2242 m.2 SSD included)

10GbE Performance was bit underwhelming
Crowdfunding choice is confusing
Software (still in Beta) is still far from ready 22/3/24
Only 1x Physical Network port means no wired failover
Although 2 of the slots are 4×4 Speed, hardware lane limits mean 2 of the slots are 3×2

Click the Link Below to find out more about the UGREEN NASync NAS Series on the brand’s official Site:

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The Jonsbo N4 NAS Case Review

NAS Compares

Par : Rob Andrews

29 mars 2024 à 15:00

Jonsbo N4 NAS Case Hardware Review – Technically ‘Jonsbo N2 and a Half’?

I think it would be fair to say that in the world of DIY NAS building, few brands have achieved a similar level of notoriety and acclaim as Jonsbo. This Chinese brand, once non-descript and relatively unknown, promises efficient and cool server enclosures, eventually getting their products front and center in the most prestigious communities for those building their very own server from scratch. At the start of 2024, we saw the release of the Jonsbo N4, a new desktop NAS chassis that seemingly wants to coexist between the profiles of the rest of the devices in their portfolio. Arriving slightly less scalable than that of the N3, yet offering more physical space than that of the N2, the Jonsbo N4 is, however, the first NAS enclosure by the brand to support M-ATX motherboards—an exceptionally long-requested feature! So, is this new Jonsbo enclosure a better purchase for you and your aspiring DIY NAS build? Does it deserve your data?

Note – You can watch my review of the Jonsbo N4 NAS Case HERE on YouTube

UPDATE – The Jonsbo N4 NAS Case is Now Available to Buy on AliExpress HERE

Jonsbo N4 NAS Case Hardware Review – Quick Conclusion

I like the Jonsbo N4 NAS Case, but there is no denying that for so many reasons the N3 is a superior NAS enclosure. Earlier this year when the N4 was first announced, we made a comparison guide on the N2, N3 and N4 (HERE) and reached the conclusion that the N4 was arguably the most niche unit of the series so far, making us wonder if perhaps Jonsbo had got these numbers in the wrong order! Fast forward to now and when we have spent some time with the N4 case and that opinion has not changed at all! The N4 IS a good NAS case, but in efforts to support MATX motherboard use, strange choices have been made in what to do with the increased dimensions afforded to the system. The arrangement of the SATA storage bays is weirdly inconsistent, the decision to go for 6x 3.5″ and 2x 2.5″ (instead of just going ‘route 1’ and just opt for 8x 8.5″ SATA) is a stance choice in 2024 (as the focus on SSDs rapidly shifts away from 2.5″ to M.2 NVMe, onboard MoBos). The funnelling on cables on the system is very clear, the PCIe card frequency is high and the physical design and aesthetic appeal are better on the N4 than any other Jonsbo NAS case. But the reduced motherboard cavity space and it’s impact on optional rear fans, smaller CPU coolers and half-height PCIe cards is going to be a hurdle for more enterprising users! For under $100 (without delivery!), Jonsbo is still going to be the ‘go-to’ NAS case manufacturer in 2024 onwards, but the Jonsbo N4 is still a little more niche a proposal in terms of its physical appeal to a lot of users. A good DiY NAS Case, but make sure that you look into the N2 and N3 case first, as you might find more to love there!

Model: N4 (Black / White)

Dimensions: 286mm (W) x 300mm (D) x 228mm (H) / Material: 0.7mm Steel + Wood, Weight: 3.75kg

Storage: 6x 3.5″ HDD slots + 2x 2.5″ SSD slots

Motherboard: ITX / Micro-ATX

Ports: 1x Type-C USB, 1x USB 3.0 Type-A

PSU: SFX (up to 125mm in length) / Maximum CPU Cooler Height: ≤70mm

PCI Expansion: x4 , Maximum Graphics Card Length: ≤230mm

Cooling: 1x 120mm fan (built-in)

Check AliExpress HERE – Check Amazon HERE

Jonsbo N4 NAS Case Hardware Review – Packaging and Shipping Presentation

Arriving in a Jonsbo-branded case, much like other solutions by the brand, the N4 is currently only available on AliExpress. With a sub $100 price tag, it’s the delivery costs of around $40 to $50 that might surprise you. Eventually, this case will no doubt become more widely available across traditional e-commerce outlets, but at launch, this system seems to arrive at a comparative price point to the rest of the Jonsbo NAS enclosure family.

The page pretty much gives you all the information you’re going to need for an exclusively e-shop purchase. And, for something that most would largely assume would arrive in plain brown box packaging, the N4 retail package is actually surprisingly nice and provides a decent amount of detail.

The contents of the Jonsbo N4 retail package are pretty standard. The enclosure is encased in hard black foam, and the accessories are all included in a branded white accessory box. The unit I ordered online was unscathed, despite the shipping container having a few dents.

Emptying out the retail container and shipping box provides us with pretty much everything I expected. There is the unit itself, but also a fold-out A4 installation guide. There are numerous screws and cable ties for use during the installation. And finally, there is the assortment of drive handles and rubber grommets. I will discuss these more later on, but that is pretty much everything you get with this system.

The system is not officially available for purchase pre-populated with a power supply, nor does it arrive with any SATA or Molex power cabling included and pre-attached. This is quite a bare-bones NAS enclosure, and alongside the obvious purchase of a motherboard, CPU, memory, and PSU, etc., don’t forget that you’re almost certainly going to need those SATA fan-out cables and possibly Molex power adapters.

Overall, I’m happy with what I’m getting here, and as long as you know that you’re getting a bare-bones NAS enclosure, there’s nothing to be unsatisfied with here. Let’s discuss the external design of the N4.

Jonsbo N4 NAS Case Hardware Review – Design

The Jonsbo N4 case is approximately the same height as the N2 but distinguishes itself by being the widest NAS enclosure from the brand, largely due to the support for the larger M-ATX motherboard cavity internally. Interestingly, this system manages to be nearly identical to most other eight-bay 3.5-inch SATA NAS cases, while technically being a six-bay case traditionally.

There is ample passive ventilation throughout the entire NAS enclosure. Each side of the casing features a ventilation strip positioned beside the motherboard once installed, and the top panel also has a large ventilated area in the metal top cavity to assist warm air in naturally rising out of the case.

The design also introduces a real wood front panel purely for aesthetic reasons, not unlike the AUDHEID 8-bay case. It is surprisingly high quality, even if it largely offers minimal technical or operational improvement to the enclosure. The N4 is available in both black and white metal enclosure options, and although I have the black version here, I would argue the white version looks quite unique with the wooden panel motif. The wooden panel, situated directly in front of the motherboard internally, should not present any heat concerns due to significant passive ventilation around it and ample pathways for the internal CPU cooler to circulate air throughout the system behind this panel.

The storage area of the N4 is located behind a magnetically attached and ventilated front panel at the base of the system. This panel, easily removable via two finger hooks on either side of the enclosure, reveals the individual SATA storage bays of the N4. This vented and mesh dust-protected front panel is of reasonable quality and addresses the inconvenient access to storage bays seen in previous models from the brand.

Overall, I’m quite pleased with the small aesthetic improvements made in the Jonsbo NAS system over the units that preceded it. Drive bay access has been simplified, the stylistic integration of wood and metal paneling looks appealing, passive ventilation is well-designed and plentiful, and overall, the case feels high quality and not at all cheaply constructed. Let’s discuss the storage potential of the Jonsbo N4, as this has been a topic of heated debate ever since the brand announced this new enclosure.

Jonsbo N4 NAS Case Hardware Review – Storage

Discussing the storage capabilities of the Jonsbo N4 has, in the month since its launch, drawn a lot of debate. The system arrives with two tiers of storage: 3.5-inch SATA media and 2.5-inch SATA media. Unlike previous releases by the brand in this enclosure series, all storage media bays are directly accessible via the front of the casing. The first-generation system was a two-drive system, the N2 was a five 3.5” drive system, and the N3 was an eight-drive system. The N4, however, scales things back and arrives with six 3.5-inch SATA storage media bays.

Alongside these, we find two 2.5-inch SATA drive media bays. With the total storage separated in a grid of 4 + 4, this is a peculiar choice, as the use of 2.5-inch SATA SSDs has notably decreased in recent years. There’s a clear division in most storage circles: 3.5-inch SATA storage is used for low-priced, high-capacity storage, and M.2 NVMe SSD storage is chosen for high performance but low capacity. Given that the majority of modern motherboards these days come with at least one M.2 NVMe slot, traditionally used for an operating system SSD, the necessity of 2.5-inch SATA SSD bays in a 2024 NAS enclosure is up for debate!

The debate regarding the storage bays of the system is further exacerbated when you learn that only four of these bays support hot-swapping. Slots one, two, three, and four are all attached with a SATA/SAS backplane located at the rear of the enclosure.

Whereas, the other two 3.5-inch SATA and two 2.5-inch SATA are just empty physical cavities that will require the user to directly connect SATA cables from the motherboard, as well as introduce individual SATA power for each drive. The convenience of hot swapping without getting too up close and personal with the system components on the fly is a peculiar choice of storage deployment in a system released hot on the heels of the Jonsbo N2 and N3.

With the scale of the system’s physical width increased for its support of M-ITX motherboards, the N4 is similarly sized to the majority of other eight-bay NAS systems in the market. Yet, practically all other eight-bay NAS enclosures opt for traditional SATA trays that directly load onto a single 8-port internal backplane. It is an odd choice by the brand to opt for this style of drive insertion.

This is further exacerbated by Jonsbo’s continued decision to forgo the use of traditional storage media trays and instead opt for rubber handles and individual grommet drive screws for each physical drive. Not only does this mean that the installation of 2.5-inch SATA media in these larger bays requires an additional physical adapter, but the installation of the Jonsbo storage media drives with these handles has always felt clunky and poorly served when drives are being moved in and out of the system.

In Jonsbo’s defense, this approach is somewhat of a house style for the brand in many of their previous releases, and they do reduce operational vibration and noise compared to the insertion of metal trays. However, this decrease in drive vibration is somewhat minimal and arguably even less useful when using larger capacity or enterprise drives that are simply too mechanical and jam-packed with hardware to be suitably muted in operation anyway.

All in all, I find these rubber handles for drives reminiscent of something from the early 2000s of entry-level home server devices and feel completely out of place with the rest of the system’s arguably modern aesthetic.

Jonsbo N4 NAS Case Hardware Review – Internal

The Jonsbo N4 features three removable panels for accessing the bulk of the internal system framework. Additionally, several internal cavities/pathways guide cables between the installed motherboard and individual components. Given the relatively compact framework of the system, efficient cable management is paramount to prevent blocking active airflow. Although a bit of a tight fit, Jonsbo mostly pulls it off, albeit with a few questionable choices along the way.

The single 120mm fan is secured with four screws at each corner, and once removed, it allows for easy maintenance of the active cooling fan.

I find myself missing the dual-fan arrangement featured on the N3 model, especially since, short of a substantial CPU cooler, this is the only fan that can be installed in the system. There are no additional placement holes for optional fans.

The system has a PSU cavity that supports an SFX power supply, up to 125mm in height. An empty space above the PSU area is used for funneling cables from the front panel slots five through eight.

The rear fan area reveals four individual SATA connectors that require funneling additional SATA cables from, via either a fan-out cable or individually, into your chosen motherboard. The backplane is powered by a single Molex female input.

The front-mounted USB Type-A and USB Type-C ports connect to three individual F-panel connector cables that run directly behind the wooden section of the enclosure. The system lacks audio sockets and does not feature LEDs for the individual storage bays, presenting an understated case overall.

Removing the top panel is straightforward, done by unscrewing some screws at the rear of the enclosure. This reveals the space available for installing your ITX or MATX motherboard.

Screw points for mounting your motherboard are clearly identified with the letters M, I, or M/I – the latter indicating a shared screw point for either motherboard installation. The guidance holes for PSU power and SATA cabling are clear; however, it’s highly recommended to route these cables in advance of installing your motherboard as doing so afterward will be challenging.

This brings us to another area of the system that’s somewhat divisive. The height of the motherboard installation cavity is quite low, supporting only low-profile CPU coolers. While there are many impressive half-height CPU coolers available, and modern SOC processors often come with slim 1 to 2cm fan-assisted heatsinks, this limitation is notable.

Users often choose NAS cases that support MATX motherboards for the purpose of using more powerful CPUs, alongside the benefits of larger PCIe slots and more DIMM slots. This all necessitates more cooling, making the N4’s limited capacity for CPU coolers a bit puzzling.

Regarding MATX benefits, the system has slots for up to four individual PCIe cards. Realistically, most users will install one to two double-width cards. The system’s lower motherboard cavity height also means it only supports half-height PCIe cards, which should be fine for network interface cards or compact M.2 NVMe upgrade cards. However, modern graphics cards and larger PCIe upgrade cards will not fit.

Realistically, the majority of users interested in the Jonsbo N4 are likely looking for a system suited to multimedia, low to mid-level VM and container deployment, or simply to enhance their home lab. A smaller segment seeking to expand into AI, high graphical demands, or aggressive VM deployment might find the reduced PCIe card capacity limiting.

Jonsbo N4 NAS Case Hardware Review – Conclusion and Verdict

I like the Jonsbo N4 NAS Case, but there is no denying that for so many reasons the N3 is a superior NAS enclosure. Earlier this year when the N4 was first announced, we made a comparison guide on the N2, N3 and N4 (HERE) and reached the conclusion that the N4 was arguably the most niche unit of the series so far, making us wonder if perhaps Jonsbo had got these numbers in the wrong order! Fast forward to now and when we have spent some time with the N4 case and that opinion has not changed at all! The N4 IS a good NAS case, but in efforts to support MATX motherboard use, strange choices have been made in what to do with the increased dimensions afforded to the system.

The arrangement of the SATA storage bays is weirdly inconsistent, the decision to go for 6x 3.5″ and 2x 2.5″ (instead of just going ‘route 1’ and just opt for 8x 8.5″ SATA) is a stance choice in 2024 (as the focus on SSDs rapidly shifts away from 2.5″ to M.2 NVMe, onboard MoBos). The funnelling on cables on the system is very clear, the PCIe card frequency is high and the physical design and aesthetic appeal are better on the N4 than any other Jonsbo NAS case. But the reduced motherboard cavity space and it’s impact on optional rear fans, smaller CPU coolers and half-height PCIe cards is going to be a hurdle for more enterprising users! For under $100 (without delivery!), Jonsbo are still going to be the ‘go-to’ NAS case manufacturer in 2024 onwards, but the Jonsbo N4 is still a little more niche a proposal in terms of its physical appeal to a lot of users. A good DiY NAS Case, but make sure that you look into the N2 and N3 case first, as you might find more to love there!

N2 Best for Low/Efficient NAS Deployment Lowest Price Point Smallest Physical Footprint Smallest Storage Capacity Only 1 PCIe Card Slot and Half Height	N3 Best for a Power NAS Build + Bigger CPU Cooling Largest Storage Capacity + Full Size PCIe Cards Best Prosumer Deployment BIG Size and oddly tall Noisiest System of the Three	N4 Better MoBo Compatibility (MITX and MATX) Best Size vs Storage Option + 4x PCIe Slots Most Conventially Aesthetically Appealing Most Expensive PCIe Cards Must Be Half Height

======= Where To Buy? =======
$76 (Check Aliexpress HERE)	$99.42 (Check Aliexpress HERE)	$76.99 (Check Aliexpress HERE)
$149 (Check Amazon HERE)	$170 (Check Amazon HERE)	*$199 (Check Amazon HERE)**

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$479 (Amazon 25/02/24)

NAS Compares
Synology DS423+ vs DS923+ NAS – Which Should You Buy in 2024?
25 mars 2024 à 18:00

Synology DS423+ vs DS923+ NAS – Which Should You Buy in 2024?

NAS Compares

Par : Rob Andrews

25 mars 2024 à 18:00

Synology DS423+ vs DS923+ NAS – Which Should You Buy

Buying your first network-attached storage device can be really intimidating! If you have spent the better part of a decade storing your personal or business data on public cloud services or in a drawer full of USB drives, but have now taken the grown-up decision to go ahead and migrate over to your own private network-attached storage (NAS). You might have done this for reasons of cost, centralization or perhaps for security, whatever the reason for your data migration, there is simply no denying that the world of NAS can be a fraction complex and confusing early doors. Like any kind of modern computer appliance, you want to make sure you buy right the first time and when it comes to choosing between two of the latest generations of Synology NAS devices, these two incredibly similar four-bay devices might be two of the most different solutions I have ever compared. The Synology DS423+ is a home and small business-focused compact NAS designed to leverage an affordable price point between reasonable hardware and reasonable software and abilities. The slightly older Synology DS923+ (by 6+ months), on the other hand, has much of a high and even in some places entry enterprise-level focus about its architecture and is needless to say the more expensive of the two. Nevertheless, both of these Synology NAS devices can be picked up for around $450 to $600 (without drives), the contrast between their pricing, are actually very different beasts. Therefore, for users that don’t quite know their AMD embedded from their Celeron integrated processors, or who aren’t sure of the benefits that ECC can bring, today I want to compare the Synology DS423+ and Synology DS923+ and help you decide which one best deserves your data!

Just before we get into the meat and potatoes of this comparison, it is worth highlighting that regardless of whether you buy the Synology DS923+ or DS423+, you are guaranteed to get a system that can perform all of the following:

Both units feature x86 processors, which allow a wide degree of app/services to run well and are a good price vs hardware balance
Both the DS923+ and DS423+ are constructed of plastic desktop compact chassis, thereby reducing power consumption, noise and heat generated
Both can Stream 1080p HD or 4K media, with superior performance natively and mid-range performance in Plex
Both the Synology DS923+ and DS423+ NAS support AI-supported photo and ‘thing’ recognition supported to a very high degree from the free branded software included
For Business users who currently enjoy the use of Google Workspace or Office 365, both of these NAS provide excellent means to backup your mass cloud accounts (as well as natively sync, dupe and configure rules on the fly)
Both the DS423+ NAS and DS923+ NAS support snapshots, for more incremental and version protecting failsafe in efforts to protect you from Malware and Ransomware attacks, by allowing multi-versioning storage history to browse through and restore
Both units are DLNA certified so can be accessed, browsed and played from by popular DLNA devices, such as Amazon Firestick, Alexa, Google Home Chromecast, Apple TV, Bose, Sonos, iPads, etc, as well as connectivity between these platforms with IFTTT
Both are multi-bay, RAID enabled devices NAS devices that support JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6 and RAID 10 (as well as Synology Hybrid RAID too for their Plus series range), though it is worth highlighting the DS923+ is the only one that supports an expansion and therefore also can support RAID 5, RAID 6, RAID 10 and SHR-2 over an expansion (more on that later)
Both devices run on their own proprietary operating system that can be accessed remotely or locally. These include regular updates to the firmware, security patches, applications and more. Ranging from multimedia, home and multi-tiered backup applications, to more business end tools such as Surveillance software, Virtual Machine deployment and business-class backup and synchronization tools.
Both the DS423+ and DS923+ use and can be accessed equally by a multitude of mobile applications such as DS File, DS Video, DS Photo, DSCam and DS Music that are created by and constantly improved by Synology.
Both NAS are completely compatible with Windows, Android and Mac systems, as well as acting as a bring between software platforms to share and distribute files for migration and file sync]
Both units can be used as a mail and/or business servers, providing excellent 3rd party CRM and first-party CMS systems, as well as the fantastic Synology collaboration Suite of applications Chat, Drive, Mail, Calendar, Office and Active Backup Suite
Both systems will support DSM 7.1 or DSM 7.2 out the box, as well as support software updates (security and feature) for many years moving forward
Both systems support the Synology Surveillance Station applications, support numerous cameras and arrive with 2 camera licenses with your purchase

But you didn’t come to this comparison page to find out what they had in common, you wanted to know what makes them different and which one best suits your needs, so let’s crack on with this comparison.

Synology DS423+ vs DS923+ NAS – Price and Value

Now, for those of you that are keeping a very close eye on the budget, it will already be clear to you that the Synology DS423+ is the lower-priced NAS of the two, by quite a considerable margin! Arriving, depending on where you are in the world, for around $449 to $499, it will immediately look more appealing to those on a tight budget when compared against the $549 to $599 of the DS923+. And that is before you’ve gone ahead and purchased any storage media too, so that’s saving of $100 to $150 could go a long way to further bolstering your network-attached storage setup. So, if the most important thing to you right now is remaining within a tight budget, then it might be worth seeing to read the rest of this article as when comparing DS423+ and DS923+, we have to look considerably more at the subject of value, not price. Price. Both of these devices arrive with the same software, Synology DSM 7.2, as well as both systems being two drive NAS solutions that support nearly identical ranges of storage media too, but more on that later. In terms of physical size, the range of components, they are pretty darn similar at a casual glance. However, it is in terms of the individual hardware components and scalability where the Synology DS923+ shows its worth, which we will cover shortly in the hardware section. But at least in terms of numerical value, the Synology DS423+ carries the lead. However, the reality isn’t quite that simple:

This is because the Synology DS923+ was released approx than half a year earlier than the DS423+ (Nov 2022 vs April 2023) and because of its wider availability and longer presence in the market, it has been featured in numerous special offers throughout that time. We saw this near $500 NAS on a few considerably impressive special offers throughout Amazon Prime day and other smaller eShop-specific events. So, yes, the DS423+ is the lower-priced NAS of the two, but do make a point of checking your local online retailer to see if the DS923+ is on special offer right now!

Synology DS423+ vs DS923+ NAS – Hardware and Connections

The hardware architecture of the DS423+ and DS923+ clearly have two very different target audiences in mind. The DS423+ has more of a home and multimedia feel about it, while the DS923+ feels substantially more like a business solution. This is reflected in numerous areas such as the distinct differences in CPU, memory specifications, and potential for growth. Even if you were to take into account the affordability of the DS423+, it has to be said that in the majority of hardware available, the DS923+ is significantly more powerful and scalable in practically every way. Here is a brief summary of the key hardware highlights of either system, side-by-side:

Synology DS423+ vs DS923+ NAS Hardware Comparison
Synology NAS
Amazon Price:	$479 (Amazon 25/02/24)	$599 (Amazon 25/02/24)
Processor model	Intel Celeron J4125 (2019 Gen)	AMD Ryzen R1600 (2020 Gen)
processor architecture	64-bit	64-bit
processor clock	4-core 2.0 (base frequency) / 2.7 (burst frequency) GHz	2-core 2.6 (base frequency) / 3.1 (max overclock) GHz
Integrated Graphics	Yes (250-750Mhz)	No
Hardware encryption engine (AES-NI)	Yes	Yes
system memory	2 GB DDR4 non-ECC	4 GB DDR4 ECC
Pre-installed memory modules	Yes	4GB (4GB x 1) via SODIMM
Total number of memory slots	1	2
Maximum memory capacity	6 GB (2 GB + 4 GB)	32GB (16GB x 2)
The maximum number of disk slots for an expansion unit	N/A	7 (DX517 x 1)
M.2 drive bay	N/A	2 (NVMe, PCIe 3×1)
Compatible Disk Type	3.5″ SATA HDD 2.5″ SATA SSD	3.5″ SATA HDD 2.5″ SATA SSD M.2 2280 NVMe SSD
Disk hot-plug support*	Yes	Yes

So first and foremost, we need to discuss the main differences between the CPUs available here. The Intel Celeron found inside the DS423+ is a four-core, four-thread processor with a clock speed of 2.0 GHz that can be burst to 2.7 GHz when needed. However, despite the age of this CPU, which was released towards the end of 2019, it is the integrated graphics of this processor that gives it a slight edge for some users in terms of NAS deployment- especially those looking at multimedia use for their system. For users that are looking at the manipulation of graphical data, or more commonly are using the NAS as a multimedia server and wish to convert dense multimedia into something more manageable locally (for example, converting a dense 4K file into a much smaller and portable version to watch on the phone whilst commuting to work, on the fly), integrated graphics allow the NAS to perform this task with much lower overall resource consumption.

Thanks to it having a more specialized tool to get this job done. The embedded Ryzen R1600 processor on the other hand, lacks the integrated graphics and is a dual-core processor instead of a quad-core. However, it substantially makes up for this by being a much more powerful dual-core processor, with four threads that allow the system to assign system resources in a similar way to that of having multiple cores. Equally, the clock speed is noticeably higher here with the DS923+ CPU having a 2.6 GHz base power that can be burst when needed to 3.1 GHz. It is true that in cases of graphical manipulation or multimedia conversion, the AMD CPU here will be far less efficient and capable. However, in practically every other way, it is superior to that of the J4125 inside the DS423+. And if you are more concerned with traditional file transfer speeds internally and externally, the DS923+ will comfortably be the better-performing NAS.

The CPU choices in the DS423+ and DS923+ also result in very different memory architectures in each device, which will undoubtedly result in different scalability in the long term. The DS423+ arrives with 2GB of 2666Mhz memory, soldered to the main controller board, which can be further expanded via an available SODIMM memory slot to 6 GB total. This may be a little disheartening when you find out that the CPU here is actually capable of supporting 8 GB maximum memory. However, due to that initial 2GB memory being fixed internally, you cannot officially exceed 6 GB physically. This shortfall is considerably magnified when you bring into comparison the DS723’s memory structure. It arrives with 4GB of DDR4 3200Mhz memory which can be expanded to a whopping 32 GB total across two available SODIMM slots. Additionally, the system arrives with error-correcting code (ECC) memory, which ensures that data that passes through the memory during write operations will have its integrity checked by a separate module on the memory of the system. If any irregularities or inconsistencies are spotted, that data will be repaired. This goes a long way to reassure any doubts around the integrity of long-term archival data and susceptibility to things like bit rot. This is one of the main reasons why the DS923+ is considered much more of a business solution overall.

Much like the memory choices by Synology in these two NAS devices, the ports and connections of them both are similar, but one is definitely more scalable than the other. Both systems arrive with standard gigabit ethernet connectivity, with two available ports that each will provide up to a maximum 109 megabytes per second. Both systems also arrive with USB 3 connectivity, but it is only 5GB gen 1 USB. However, it is from here onward that the DS723 massively upscales things:

Model ID	Synology DS423+	Synology DS923+
Synology NAS
RJ-45 1GbE LAN port*	2 (Supports Link Aggregation / Failover)	2 (Supports Link Aggregation / Failover)
USB 3.2 Gen 1 port*	2	2
eSATA port	0	1
USB Copy	Yes (inc. Physical Button)	Yes
PCIe expansion	N/A	1 x Gen3 x2 LAN card slot
system fan	92 mm x 92 mm x 2 pcs	92 mm x 92 mm x 2 pcs
fan mode	full speed mode low temperature mode silent mode	full speed mode low temperature mode silent mode
Front panel LED indicators with adjustable brightness	Yes	Yes
Noise value*	19.8dB(A)	22.9 dB(A)
wake on lan	Yes	Yes
Power Supply / Transformer	90W	100W
AC input voltage	100V to 240V AC	100V to 240V AC
current frequency	50/60 Hz, single frequency	50/60 Hz, single frequency
Power consumption	28.3 W (access) 8.45 W (disk hibernation)	35.51 W (access) 11.52 W (disk hibernation)

For a start, the DS923+ features an eSATA external port that is used to connect the official Synology 5-bay expansion device, the DX517. This means that while the DS423+ has a maximum long-term capacity of four SATA drives, the DS923+ allows you to expand your storage down the line by an additional five SATA bays (so 9 Bays total). This can be done gradually and this storage can either mirror the original NAS or extend the storage pool across both devices.

Scalability and expandability do not stop there though, with the DS923+ also having the option to add a network adapter upgrade module (the E10G22-T1-MINI) to increase your network bandwidth to 10GbE. This is going to be incredibly useful for users who plan on taking advantage of SSDs or plan on having a much busier network environment between the NAS and multiple users and tasks at any given time. And it doesn’t stop there! Though BOTH systems also features two SSD bays on its base for installing M.2 2280 SSD modules (which can be used for caching or as raw storage pools, depending on which drive you use), the DS423+ is a Gen 2 PCIe lane system, whilst the DS923+ is a Gen 3 system – resulting in double the bandwidth per lane (ultimately, the difference between 500MB/s max per SSD on the DS423+ and 1,000MB/s on the DS923+). This is a feature that, although growing more common across Synology’s NAS portfolio, it is still unavailable on many of their lower tier/affordable systems (such as the DS224+) and, alongside the lack of storage expansion support, the gen2 speeds on these bays will place limits the storage potential long term on the more affordable NAS.

Finally, we need to discuss storage media compatibility, as this has grown to be another thing that has changed the way in which a user can populate their NAS quite a lot in recent years. On the list of storage media that they are prepared to verify as compatible with their systems. Although technically, one could say that any SATA media drive would be compatible with a SATA NAS, there are still a few incredibly isolated examples of compatibility, durability and stability. Synology requires that all drives need to be officially checked and verified before they’re prepared to add them to their list in order to truly guarantee that a user will get the promised Synology experience from their hardware with that media. As questionable as this might sound, the result is that the list of compatible storage media for both of these devices, despite their incredible similarities, is actually pretty darn different. Take a closer look at the slideshow below of compatible HDDs from WD and Seagate on these two NAS systems (from 21st July 2023) and see if you can spot an odd inconsistency:

In the case of the DS423+, we see a smaller pool of supported storage media, as well as a lower list of larger capacity drives being featured also. The DS923+, on the other hand, seemingly has a larger pool of more high capacity drives added and available to it, as well as a larger range of Synology’s own drives available for use with that system that includes the higher end options in the HAT5300 range. Synology has clearly prioritized higher-end drives for more advanced Synology systems, but for those that like to use their system clearly and rigidly within the defined parameters of a brand to maintain their warranty/guarantee, this is going to be a little disheartening to see the smaller pool of verified compatible storage media on the more affordable NAS solution. This is something that may well change over time as more drives are added to verified compatibility lists, but Synology has not exactly been putting their foot on the gas here. Given how close these two systems have been released side by side and the large disparity between their compatibility lists, I can’t see a huge amount of change happening anytime soon. It is absolutely no surprise that the more expensive Synology NAS has a better degree of hardware options in the long term. Though, it should be highlighted that a lot of the real benefits available in the DS723 are optional extras, long-term scalability and upgrades that are not necessarily available in the default model. It could be very easily argued that you are paying for entry to then pay extra for delivering upgrades, SSD upgrades, storage scalability, and increasing your memory years from now. Nevertheless, the fact that the baseline memory is ECC and the AMD CPU is indeed more powerful in most ways, does make up some of that additional cost and ultimately mean that in terms of hardware and connectivity, the DS923+ is the better of the two.

Synology DS423+ vs DS923+ NAS – Software and Services

At the risk of being incredibly repetitious, both of these devices are remarkably similar in what they can do in Synology’s premium DSM software platform, but the scalability and scope provided by the DS923+ inevitably leads to that more expensive system, ultimately giving you just more resources with which DSM can utilize. In terms of the actual range of applications, services supported on either system and scope for use right out of the box, both the DS423+ and DS923+ have got more than enough to run every single available app and tool available in DSM 7.2. Despite their rather modest scale, both systems can run multiple virtual machines, host a fantastically capable surveillance solution with numerous cameras, both can provide an excellent Plex media server experience (with a slight edge to the DS423+ in terms of conversions and transcoding when needed), and in terms of backups, both systems support the full range of services from Hyper Backup and Active Backup Suite. If you are a small business or just a small group of users who are going to be interacting with either of these NAS units fairly regularly, you’re going to have a largely identical experience in either one of these two systems using the baseline default hardware. However, things will change as soon as you start moving into larger simultaneous access, more high-volume application exchanges between the system and client hardware, and the scope of each one of those individual processes growing over time. In terms of the escalation of accessing the services of DSM and long-term future-proofing of a system running at top speed, despite growing requirements and demands of the system, the DS923+ comfortably wins.

Synology NAS	Synology DS423+	Synology DS923+
Maximum single volume capacity*	108TB	108TB
Maximum number of storage spaces	64	64
M.2 SSD volume support*	Yes	Yes
SSD Read/Write Cache (White Paper)	Yes	Yes
SSD TRIM	Yes	Yes
Support RAID disk array type	Synology Hybrid RAID Basic JBOD RAID 0 RAID 1 RAID 5 RAID 6 RAID 10	Synology Hybrid RAID Basic JBOD RAID 0 RAID 1 RAID 5 RAID 6 RAID 10
file agreement	SMB/AFP/NFS/FTP/WebDAV	SMB/AFP/NFS/FTP/WebDAV
Maximum simultaneous SMB/AFP/FTP connections	500	1000
Maximum number of simultaneous SMB/AFP/FTP connections (with extended memory)	1500	2000
Windows Access Control List (ACL) Integration	Yes	Yes
NFS Kerberos authentication	Yes	Yes
Maximum number of local user accounts	2048	2048
Maximum number of local groups	256	256
Maximum number of shared folders	256	512
Maximum Shared Folder Sync Tasks	8	16
VMware vSphere with VAAI	N/A	Yes
Windows Server 2022	N/A	Yes
Citrix Ready	N/A	Yes
OpenStack	N/A	Yes
Media Server	Yes	Yes
DLNA compatible	Yes	Yes
Synology Photos	Yes	Yes
face recognition	Yes	Yes
Snapshot Replication	Yes	Yes
The maximum number of snapshots supported by a single shared folder	1024	1024
Maximum number of system snapshots	65536	65536
Surveillance Station	Yes	Yes
The maximum number of cameras supported (camera authorization is required)	40 (including 2 sets of free licenses	40 (including 2 sets of free licenses
Frames per second (FPS) (H.264)	1200 FPS @ 720p (1280×720) 800 FPS @ 1080p (1920×1080) 350 FPS @ 3M (2048×1536) 280 FPS @ 5M (2591×1944) 170 FPS @ 4K (3840×2160)	1200 FPS @ 720p (1280×720) 1050 FPS @ 1080p (1920×1080) 600 FPS @ 3M (2048×1536) 360 FPS @ 5M (2591×1944) 200 FPS @ 4K (3840×2160)
Frames per second (FPS) (H.265)	1200 FPS @ 720p (1280×720) 1200 FPS @ 1080p (1920×1080) 600 FPS @ 3M (2048×1536) 480 FPS @ 5M (2591×1944) 200 FPS @ 4K (3840×2160)	1200 FPS @ 720p (1280×720) 1200 FPS @ 1080p (1920×1080) 1000 FPS @ 3M (2048×1536) 600 FPS @ 5M (2591×1944) 300 FPS @ 4K (3840×2160)
Synology Drive	Yes	Yes
Recommended number of clients that can sync simultaneously	350 (the number of devices that can be connected at the same time when the recommended number of stored files is reached)	350 (the number of devices that can be connected at the same time when the recommended number of stored files is reached)
Recommended number of files to store	5,000,000 (Applicable to files indexed or belonging to Synology Drive , files accessed through other protocols, please refer to the file service in the above field)	5,000,000 (Applicable to files indexed or belonging to Synology Drive , files accessed through other protocols, please refer to the file service in the above field)
Synology Office	Yes	Yes
Maximum number of users	1200	1200
Video Station	Yes	Yes
Virtual Machine Manager	Yes	Yes
Recommended number of virtual machines	2 (see more)	4 (see more)
Recommended number of Virtual DSMs (licensing required)	2 (including 1 set of free licenses)	4 (including 1 set of free licenses)
VPN Server	Yes	Yes
Maximum number of connections	40	40
Synology High Availability	Yes	Yes
log center	Yes	Yes
Number of logs received per second	800	800
Backup folders and packages	Yes	Yes
backup the whole system	Yes	Yes
Remark	Full system backup requires DSM 7.2 or later.	Full system backup requires DSM 7.2 or later.
Maximum number of Hybrid Share folders	10	10

Notwithstanding that the system has a much higher clock speed CPU that, despite only being a dual-core processor, features a four thread architecture with DSM, allowing a lot of the spreading of resources normally associated with cores to be made available with vCPU allocation (containers, virtual machines and just natively). Then there is the scope for the larger overall capacity available to be upgraded towards in terms of memory, with the rather modest 6GB of memory on the DS423+ looking quite underwhelming when compared against the whopping 32 GB maximum memory that is scalable on the DS923+. That ultimately adds up to the more expensive NAS system having a better opportunity to grow alongside a more demanding data storage network of connected devices and users over time. And we haven’t even touched on the performance benefit in DSM and all of the first and third party applications when we factor in support of Gen3 SSDs for caching or storage pools in the DS923+, both of which are going to allow much better, long-term utilization and overall, a much smoother experience for a considerably longer amount of time than that of the DS423+. Ultimately, if you think your utilization of the NAS is going to grow steadily and increasingly over time, the DS923+ is the better choice here in terms of software, in and out of DSM.

Synology DS423+ vs DS923+ NAS – Conclusion and Verdict

Unsurprisingly, what we have here is an old-fashioned case of getting what you pay for. The DS423+ is a very solid, and reliable NAS solution and is definitely more than capable of running the bulk of modern NAS hardware needs, also, remaining pretty flexible in the resources available to it on day one to get the job done. Equally, for home users and particularly those seeking a more flexible approach to multimedia, the DS423+ does bring a decent amount of bang for buck when you compare it against the bulk of other Synology solutions in the brand’s portfolio. But it just pales in comparison to the sheer scope of scalability, upgrade options and flexibility long-term that the DS923+ provides. And regardless of whether you’re a business user or a home user that may perhaps be looking to do something more aggressive with their storage down the line, the DS923+ justifies a lot of the extra expense, simply by the weight of it having that ECC memory, twice the default memory on day 1, Gen3 SSD NVMe storage options, expandability, 10G as an optional extra and the scale of how far you can upgrade the memory. As mentioned earlier, we have to at least acknowledge that a lot of these advantages that the DS923+ presents compared with the DS423+ are ones that you will only really take advantage of if you spend a little bit more money, but having the option for that scalability down the line for many users is going to be worth the investment on day one. Side by side, in most cases, the DS923+ will comfortably outperform the DS423+ even in the default model, so you still aren’t losing out just because you’re paying extra for upgrade options you may not use later down the line.

Synology NAS

Amazon Price:

Synology DS423+ NAS

Synology DS923+ NAS

$599 (Amazon 25/02/24)

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NAS Compares
A Guide to Buying the RIGHT Hard Drives for Your NAS – 2024 Edition
18 mars 2024 à 18:00

A Guide to Buying the RIGHT Hard Drives for Your NAS – 2024 Edition

NAS Compares

Par : Rob Andrews

18 mars 2024 à 18:00

Choosing the Best Hard Drives for your NAS

If you’re considering a NAS server for your home or business, selecting the appropriate hard drive is crucial. Just as each utensil in a cutlery set serves a unique purpose, NAS drives are designed for specific scenarios. Using unsuitable drive media in your NAS can significantly affect its performance and efficiency. In the past years, hard drive manufacturers have developed server-tailored hard drives (including SSDs) that cater to the unique demands of NAS systems. These drives are designed for sporadic access patterns, continuous operation (24×7), quick read/write cycles, and enhanced durability required in NAS environments.

As of late 2023, the market has seen an evolution in storage capacity, with commercial hard drives reaching up to 22TB and data centers testing drives between 24-30TB. This increase in capacity reflects the growing data storage demands in both personal and professional settings. However, the abundance of options, with more than fifteen top-tier NAS and Data Center class drives available, can make the selection process overwhelming. In this guide, I aim to simplify this process. Below, you’ll find a breakdown of eight different NAS/Server architectures along with the most suitable hard drive options for each, updated to reflect the latest advancements in technology and market trends as of 2023/2024.

Note – Use our Best Price Per TB Calculator tool HERE in order to get the best value storage for your needs. It includes filters for NAS size, redundancy, budget and capacity needs too!

Recommended NAS Hard Drives

Best All Round = Seagate Ironwolf HDDs $50-229 – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H
Best for Synology 2023/2024 Series = Synology HAT3300 HDDs $109-189 Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H
Best for QNAP Business = Seagate Ironwolf Pro HDDs $79-399 Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H
Best for Enterprise Rackmount = WD UltraStar HDDs $70-550 Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H
Best for Synology Enterprise NAS = Synology HAT5300 HDDs $199-599 Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H
Best for Budget NAS Builds = Toshiba H300 HDDs $250-450 Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H

Key Considerations in Buying Hard Drives for Your NAS

Before selecting the right NAS hard drive, it’s essential to grasp some key terms in the data storage industry. This knowledge ensures that the drive you choose meets your requirements to the highest standard. Here are some crucial terms you need to know, updated for 2023/2024, to decode the marketing jargon and understand the strengths and weaknesses of each drive:

RAID – Standing for Redundant Array of Independent Disks, RAID is a method of using multiple NAS HDDs simultaneously to enhance capacity, speed, and, most importantly, data safety. Unlike backups, RAID 0 combines total storage for high performance but lacks a safety net if a drive fails. RAID 1 cuts your total storage in half but provides a one-drive safety net. RAID 5 and RAID 6 offer one or two disk safety nets, respectively, and support much larger storage arrays. Other RAID levels exist, but these are the most widely used.

SATA – Despite it’s age, SATA still remains the most popular connection of HDDs in 2023/2024 (despite the rise of M.2 NVMe SSD use in NAS). SATA allows up to 6 Gigabits per second throughput. However, mechanical HDDs rarely exceeded 280MB/s. By 2023/2024, while SATA remains prevalent, advancements in connections like SAS, NVMe, and U.2, particularly in SSDs, have become more significant in enterprise settings.

Saturation – This term refers to the amount of data flowing through an interface/bandwidth. For instance, a SATA HDD might allow up to 600MB/s, but most NAS HDDs achieve around 180-280MB/s due to their mechanical design. Therefore, the saturation for a single drive is lower, at 180/280MB/s.

Platters – These are the disks inside the HDD that store data. Higher capacity drives feature more platters. Although compression techniques can increase space, there’s a limit to their effectiveness.

Rotation Speed – This indicates how fast the platters spin, enabling the arm/actuator to locate and write data magnetically.

Cache – This memory area on the NAS hard drive compiles and distributes data being processed by the disk. Larger capacity NAS hard drives typically have a larger cache, as do drives using Shingled Magnetic Recording (SMR), which requires more handling space due to its unique writing style.

Terabytes Written (TBW), AKA ‘Workload Rating’– A metric often given annually, TBW indicates the amount of data a NAS Hard Drive can handle in a year while maintaining performance. This figure considers the potential for repeatedly filling and emptying the drive, common in data centers or tiered backups. Standard NAS hard drives usually have a TBW of around 180TBW, Pro series around 300TBW, and Enterprise-class HDDs 550TBW or more. This is often referred to as the workload rating.

Magnetic Recording – This refers to how data is stored on the platters. As of 2023/2024, there are several prevalent types: SMR (Shingled Magnetic Recording), PMR/CMR (Perpendicular/Conventional Magnetic Recording), EAMR (Energy Assisted Magnetic Recording), and HAMR (Heat Assisted Magnetic Recording). Each type has its pros and cons, but PMR/CMR remains the most popular for NAS hard drives.

Warranty Length – This is the period during which the manufacturer will repair or replace a NAS hard drive if it fails due to manufacturing issues. Warranties typically range from 3 to 5 years.

These terms are essential for choosing the best NAS hard drive for your system in the context of 2023/2024. Next, we’ll examine different NAS hardware environments and recommend the best NAS hard drive for each.

Best Hard Drives for an Affordable RAID 6 Desktop 6/8-Bay NAS – Seagate Ironwolf (non-Pro)

1-12TB, 5900-7200RPM, 64-256MB Cache, 180TBW, 3yr Warranty, Rescue Data Recovery Services Included $50-229

For those who are looking at a NAS server for business, or are home users who have made the enterprising move into the Prosumer bracket, then a 6-Bay or 8-Bay desktop NAS solution will become incredibly attractive. At this storage tier, we find a number of very cool and incredibly useful features become more widely available. For a start, we find the utility of RAID 6 (the 2 disk safety net configuration) much more palatable, as it makes less of a dent on our total available storage. Additionally, at this storage size, we start to see much more powerful processors, such as the Intel Core (i3, i5, etc) series arrive, AMD Ryzen and even Xeons. This combined with huge expandability of both memory internally and storage externally and generally with 10Gbe included as standard or available as an upgrade. So, at this scale of NAS storage, the hard drive choice becomes more important, as you do not want to create an internal bottleneck. For this tier of storage, I recommend the Seagate Ironwolf range of NAS drives. They arrive with a large number of 7200RM drives (with 5400RPM in the smaller capacities), a 180 terabytes per year guaranteed workload and the Seagate Rescue service. For those that are not aware, the Seagate Rescue+ package is a data recovery service that is included with your Ironwolf and Ironwolf Pro drives that, alongside your 3 year warranty, includes an additional 3 years of data recovery services.

What that means is that if your drive fails through no fault of your own within reason (so, no, not smashing it with a hammer), you can send the drive off to the Seagate recovery labs and they will try to get that data back. From accidental deletion, all the way through to mechanical and forensic level recovery, this is an impressive inclusion! You should still factor other safety nets in your architecture (backups, UPS, RAID, etc) but given the cost of data recovery services (costing anything from hundreds to thousands of pounds), this is a very, VERY useful inclusion when you need it. Additionally, Seagate Ironwolf hard drives sill manage to be the most affordable NAS drives on the market compared with their competitors, even when including the Rescue recovery included. They are also the only 3rd party NAS hard drive brand that has a tool to monitor drive health available on practically ALL the NAS software GUIs in the market, in Seagate Ironwolf Health Management.

+ Excellent Price Point

+ Rescue Data Recovery Services

+ Seagate Ironwolf Health Management

+ ONLY CMR/PMR Drives in their NAS Range

– Max Drive Capacity is 12TB (Pro Series go up to 22TB)

– Noisier General Operation than WD Red Drives

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now?

Seagate IronWolf, 8TB ST8000VN002 £185 Amazon usa

USA £185 [LINK]
Seagate IronWolf 8TB NAS Internal Hard Drive HDD Amazon usa

USA $139.99 [LINK]

These Offers are Checked Daily

Best Hard Drives for a Small NAS Drive – WD Red & WD Red Plus

1-14TB, 5400/7200RPM (higher Caps = 7200RPM), 64-256MB Cache, 180TBW, 3yr Warranty, WD Red 1-6TB (SMR), WD Red Plus 1-14TB (CMR) $69-379

If you are looking to populate a compact, modestly powered, desktop NAS system (so a 1-Bay or 2-Bay NAS drive), then you have quite a large range of Hard Drives on offer. It is worth highlighting though that larger and more enterprise drives (i.e faster and longer warranty) will be noticeably noisier. Additionally, you will need to factor in that your maximum storage is going to be capped at either a single drive OR (in a 2-Bay NAS with RAID 1) your storage halved to maintain redundancy. Finally, you will need to factor in that most 2-Bay NAS devices will either have a smaller external network connection (1/2.5Gbe) or are not really capable of saturating a full connection externally. So, baring these factors in mind, I would recommend the WD Red series of NAS hard drives for small NAS systems. They do not typically have more aggressive hardware internally, so the ambient noise when these drives are running will be remarkably low.

The performance, due to the lower rotations per minute (RPM) and cache might not seem spectacularly high, but in a 1-Bay or 2-Bay NAS, you likely could not push much performance externally anyway, so why spend much more on something that in most cases you will not be able to take advantage of. Be warned though, as you reach the much higher capacities above 8TB, the general background noise of the drives will increase incrementally.

+ Affordable Price Tag

+ Low Noise and Power Consumption in 24×7 Use

+ Good base level of Capacities Available

– Some Drive feature Shingled Magnetic Recording (SMR)

– Performance is fairly average in the smaller capacities

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now?

12TB WD Red Plus Western Digital usa

USA Buy 2 12TB drives for $379.98. [LINK]
18TB WD Red Pro Western Digital usa

USA Buy 2 18TB drives for $549.98. [LINK]

These Offers are Checked Daily

Affordable Hard Drives for a RAID 5 Desktop 4-Bay NAS – Toshiba N300

4-18TB, 7200RPM, 128-512MB Cache, 180 TBW, 3yr Warranty, 1-1.2M MTBF Rating $250-450

A 4-Bay NAS drive is generally when home and small/medium business users start to take their storage seriously. There are such a wide variety of hardware options that arrive at this storage tier, ranging from powerful Intel/AMD processors and DDR4 memory, to 10Gbe and PCIe upgrades. This arrives with the utility if RAID 5, that allows users to have a much larger potential capacity and performance, but still have a single drive of redundancy to fall back on in the event of drive failure. At this degree of NAS storage, you have a much greater potential to not only largely saturate a 10Gbe connection, but alternatively, you can also look into installing 2.5Gbe and 5Gbe upgrades and fill multiple plus gigabit connections directly or via a switch. In order to maximize this connection, but to also not max out your budget, I recommend the Toshiba N300 range of Hard Drives. Although they are a brand that is generally held commercially in the 3rd place when it comes to NAS media drives, their N300 range arrives at a similar/lower price point than Seagate Ironwolf and WD Red, but also arrives with 7200RPM on all capacities, with the lowest capacity arriving with 128MB caching and scaling up to 256MB quickly in the series. The increase in RPM will increase the background clicks, hums and whirs of the drive, but at 4-Bays, this is something that the NAS enclosure itself will begin to generate too. A high performing and often overlooked drive that, at the top capacity, can hit performance of up to 274MB/s.

+ Well Priced for a 7200RPM and 128/256/512 Cache Drive

+ Available in up to 18TB, even in non-Pro N300 Series

+ Error Recovery Control

– Will Generate More Noise at 7200RPM

– Not As Widely Available

– Not as well regarded as Seagate or WD

The 3.5-inch N300 NAS Hard Drive offers unprecedented reliability for NAS and other high-performance storage systems. It is optimized to meet the reliability, endurance, performance and scalability requirements of 24-hour x 7-day high-capacity storage for personal, home office and small business use. The N300 is available in capacities of up to 18 TB.

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now?

These Offers are Checked Daily

Best Hard Drives for a Small Rackmount NAS – WD Red Pro

2-22TB, 7200RPM, 128-512MB Cache, 300TBW, 5yr Warranty $85-429

Now we move onto the Rackmount NAS compatible hard drives, we have to start looking squarely at two main factors – Performance and Durability. If you are a business or established Prosumer user, then chances are that your NAS system is going to be used for a much larger % per day than most average users. Whether it is for surveillance, virtual machines, business file-sharing or just a combination of all of them every day, you want drives that are going to give you a good level of performance internally AND externally. Likewise, as the hard drives in even a modest rackmount NAS will be on for extended periods, you need to know that the drive can maintain the promising performance indefinitely AND without braking. This is where we start to look at specifications such as TBW (Terabytes Written), Mean time between failure, workload cycles and the warranty in more detail. For those looking at 10Gbe equipped or at least ’10Gbe Ready’ modest rackmount systems, I would recommend the WD Red Pro series of compatible NAS hard drives. Generally, one of the first Pro series NAS hard drives to arrive on the market, the WD Red Pro series is designed for NAS systems up to 24Bays and is available up to 18TB currently.

What did we say about the WD Red Pro 22TB highest tier model? We reviewed it back on September ’22 and whichever way you look at it, the WD Red Pro 22TB Hard drive is a stone-cold WINNER of a drive – both in terms of what it brings to the end user AND what this new 10-platter/OptiNAND drive design means for the future of the WD drive line up. WD does not over promise with this drive (with performance exceeding the brands reported benchmarks in almost every one of my tests, even using mid-range equipment) and they even nailed the price point in line with previous drives in the portfolio (though there is simply no avoiding that you are going to need deep pockets to fully populate any system with these 22TB drives). That said, much like any other WD Red Pro drive, the more industrial architecture still leads to a slightly higher running temp, noisier operation and slight increased power use. This is to be expected, but with no non-Pro alternative available at this capacity, the feasibility of fully populating a smaller scale system with the WD Red Pro 22TB is going to be both expensive AND noisy. I definitely recommend this drive to larger-scale NAS and SAN environments that need sustained RAID performance, high capacity and storage reliability – just maybe buy some earplugs if you plan on working in the same room as them.

Certainly one of the most expensive NAS HDDs out there, but provides a very good level of storage, performance, durability and overall is a very dependable drive for SMB users (Small/Medium Business) that want a drive they can rely on.

+ Top Tier NAS Drive Performance

+ 300TB/Y Workload

+ Build for up to 24-Bay Servers

– Certainly Noiser than non-Pro equivalents

– More Expensive than the Seagate Pro Option

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now?

18TB WD Red Pro Western Digital usa

USA Buy 2 18TB drives for $549.98. [LINK]

These Offers are Checked Daily

Best Hard Drives for an SMB Rackmount NAS 12-Bay – Seagate Ironwolf Pro

4-22TB, 7200RPM, 256MB Cache, 300 TBW (Newer NT version rates at 550TBW), 5yr Warranty, Rescue Data Recovery Services Included $79-399

When it comes to the move into Rackmount storage for businesses (novices stop here) then not only do you have to only consider Pro/Enterprise-class drives only, but you can also start to look at drives that include certain business level advantages in terms of coverage and service. Much like the non-PRO series of hard drives mentioned earlier, the Seagate Ironwolf Pro series of HDDs include the Rescue+ data recovery services but also includes an impressive 5 years of the manufacturers warranty. However, it is in terms of performance, capacity and durability that the difference between these two ranges become apparent. For a start, the Ironwolf Pro HDD range arrives in capacities of up to 18TB (20TB promised for later in 2021 thanks to Energy Assisted Magnetic Recording), with ALL drives in the PRO range arriving with 7200RPM and 256/512MB of cache. The result is that these drives will hit up to an impressive 260MB/s, which even in smaller RAID 5 groups will easily saturate a 10Gb connection with just 4-5 drives.I performed te sts on 64MB, 256MB, 1GB and 4GB test files, as well as mixed 70/30% R/W. The results were consistent and largely lived up to Seagate’s claims here.

What did we think of the Seagate Ironwolf Pro larger capacities? We reviewed the new NT series (higher durability at 550TBW over 300TBW in the previous revisions) 20TB version and Straight out the gate, the Seagate Ironwolf Pro 20TB HDD comfortably delivers on it’s promises of performance. This alongside full tested and confirmed compatibility with Synology and QNAP NAS devices means that you have a drive here that can turn any 4-Bay NAS into a 60TB RAID5 Storage colossus – let alone once you start thinking about rackmounts and hyperscale. The pricing at the time of writing is a little muddled (the result of having two SKUs/Model IDs floating around in the market and eTailers having to play catch up) but that should hopefully iron out over time. I particularly appreciate that the workload discussion surrounding ‘Pro’ Class drives at 300TB/yr vs rapid HDD capacity growth is being addressed here with a 550TB/yr version to rival that of ‘Ent’ class drives – whatever the reason/motivation. The value of the Ironwolf Health Management tool is going to be something of debate and the inclusion of 3yrs data recovery services is a nice extra that (with any luck) few will need to use – but having them included in a 20TB HDD that still manages to maintain a similar level of Price per TB vs the bulk of NAS HDDs in the Pro tier increases the value notably. As HDDs continue to increase in scale and Seagate (among other brands) continues to outline their plans to hit 50TB by the end of the decade, the Seagate Ironwolf Pro ST2000NT001 is another good example of an HDD that finds a sweet spot between price, durability and value. Just be aware that this is a drive designed for large-scale use and that means high operational noise and higher than typical power use than non-Pro and smaller cap drives!

In recent years we have seen Seagate reshuffle their range of available capacities to align the capacities from 1-12TB to arrive in the standard Ironwolf range and Capacities of up to 18TB and 22TB to arrive on the PRO series (likely due to those larger capacity options requiring the more enterprise hardware as standard and making a non-PRO version impossible without purposely nerf’ing the lesser drives intentionally. There is crossover in 4-12TB models in between, however, the distinction in RPM, cache, build design and TBW rating is wide enough to justify this. The noise level of the Ironwolf HDD series in PRO is noticeable higher, but given these are designed for larger arrays, this noise increase will be less noticeable over the ambient noise of the whole system generally.

+ Excellent Price Point vs Ironwolf NON-Pro in the Portfolio

+ Rescue Data Recovery Services

+ New NT Version Available with 550 TB Annual Workload

+ Seagate Ironwolf Health Management

+ ONLY CMR/PMR Drives in their NAS Range

– Smallest Drive Capacity is 4TB

– Noticeable Boot Up Noise

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now?

Seagate IronWolf, 8TB ST8000VN002 £185 Amazon usa

USA £185 [LINK]
Seagate IronWolf 8TB NAS Internal Hard Drive HDD Amazon usa

USA $139.99 [LINK]

These Offers are Checked Daily

Best Hard Drives for an Enterprise Rackmount NAS Server – Seagate EXOS

1-24TB, 72000RPM, 256-512MB Cache, SAS & SATA Options, 550 TBW, 5yr Warranty, $99-519

Now we finally move into the class of hard drive that is more classically defined at ‘Data Center’ and/or Hyperscale environments. Often choosing between a PRO class and Enterprise-class drive can be ticky at a glance. However, Pro class drives generally arrive with a much longer terabytes written rating per year (ie the amount of data that can be written to the drive throughout its lifespan per annum), arrive in numerous interfaces (so both SAS and SATA generally) and typically arrive with numerous format and encryption standard versions available. These are available because some industries and organizations insist on drive media that features in-built protection and secure erase on the drive itself. Of all the enterprise and data centre-class media in the market, I generally recommend the Seagate EXOS series for any hyper scale system environment. They are very, VERY closely followed by the Western Digital UltraStar class of drives, but the Seagate EXOS series is a little clearer to understand, has larger capacity options available earlier, will hopefully release Mach2 version drives in 2021 (dual actuator/arm SATA drives at 400MB/s+) and generally arrive a pinch lower in price too in like-for-like comparisons against the Ultrastar.

Sound Test Video Live Soon (Below)

Recent changes by Synology in their newest 2021 series of rackmounts systems to ONLY support their own range of HDD media has led to their own drives featuring on their own respective hardware, so make sure to check that your intended NAS rackmount system supports Seagate EXOS drives before you head to checkout!

+ Huge Range of Architecture Options (FIPS, Military Encryp, 4KN, SED, SAS and more)

+ Constantly Evolving (Mach 2 versions, x14, x16 & x18 etc)

+ Comparatively Lower in Price vs Ultrastar

+ New 24TB Model (X24) Version Available in 2024

– Range Can Be Confusing

– Availability Can Be Difficult + Some Models Are ‘Bulk Purchase’ Only

– Noisy!

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now?

These Offers are Checked Daily

Best Hard Drives for a Business Synology NAS – Synology HAT5300

8-18TB, 7200RPM, 256/512MB Cache, 550TBW, 5yr Warranty, Synology System ONLY, Firmware Control on Synology DSM $199-599

Arriving on the scene in Jan 2021, the Synology branded range of Hard drives for enterprise server use took ALOT of people by surprise! Synology has always had a long-standing reputation with the production of network-attached storage, so in efforts to produce a complete first-party storage system that includes the software, the network hardware AND the media inside is very what their brand has been all about. In their defence too, these are not just cash-grab drives and are in-fact enterprise-class drives that are being priced at PRO series drives (so an Ultrastar/EXOS drive that is at the price tag of a WD Red or Ironwolf Pro). The drives themselves arrive (at launch anyway) with just three capacities available (8TB, 12TB and 16TB) and the architecture of them is quite eye-catching. A 550TBW per year rating, a 2.5Million MTTF, 256/512MB cache and performance ranging across the capacities from 230MB/s to a reported 270MB/s+. The drives are originally Toshiba M06/07/08 Enterprise drives that have a tweaked Synology NAS firmware onboard, so they are geared specifically towards utilization inside the Synology ecosystem. You can even check and upgrade the individual drive firmware directly from with the Synology DSM graphical user interface too, which is quite a unique and convenient feature for those larger arrays with differing drive versions being installed throughout your server’s lifespan.

You cannot really question the quality of the hardware architecture featured on the Synology HAT5300 range of hard drives. We clearly find here a range of drives that have been designed by Toshiba (an HDD vendor with decades of experience and Synology are not being coy about highlighting the partnership on this media), combined with one of the biggest providers of modern NAS in Synology, with media that is tweaked for use within their NAS systems and despite arriving at a Pro series price tag, arrive with hardware far more comparable to that of Seagate EXOS and Western digital Ultrastar hard drives. With a terrifically impressive annual workload, an approach to drive firmware and upgrades relatively unseen from any other drive for NAS’ and remarkable transparency from Synology in the marketing of these drives on day one certainly needs to be acknowledged. Moreover, Synology is not the first brand to champion the use of locked hard drive media in their service systems and they certainly won’t be the last. Overall, I am happy with the new Synology hard drives and despite possible reservations about where the logic of locked drives and exclusivity on this product and range will be extended to in the future (standard class versions?), I still happily recommend the Synology HAT5300 media series alongside other champions of NAS hard drive in 2021.

The move towards hard drive locking by Synology is something that has impressed some and disappointed others – but if you were going to be installing drive media inside a NAS system for business anyway, then ultimately these are still a very solid and well-performing product for you.

+ Enterprise Drives at a PRO class Price

+ 550TBW on ALL Capacities

+ Drive Firmware can be Updated from within the Synology DSM GUI

– Using them in not Synology NAS Hardware is not Supported

– More Expensive than other Enterprise Class HDDs from Seagate & WD

– Noisy Operation

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now?

Synology DS1821+ 64TB 8 Bay Desktop NAS Solution, Installed with 8 x 8TB HAT5300 Amazon

UK 4.16 OFF (WAS 4073) [LINK]

These Offers are Checked Daily

Best Hard Drives for a Business QNAP NAS – WD Ultrastar

1-18TB, 7200RPM, 256-512MB Cache, 550TBW, 5yr Warranty, FIPS and SED Options, SATA, SAS and U.2 NVMe SSD Options $70-550

Finally, we move onto possibly the most well known of the enterprise-class of Hard Drives on the market. When it comes to data center and hyper-scale storage environments, Western Digital’s UltraStar range has the same reputation and long-running recognition as IBM has in the computer industry. They have been the go-to drive media of choice in the huge storage environment’s for years, thanks in large part to the fact they have been designed, developed and improved at the same time as the systems they were going into. In recent years, competitors have taken chunks of the market from them (as they are a larger and slightly slower behemoth to suddenly change tactic) and feature larger product runs that have to last extensive lengths of time to facilitate data center replacement media as needed. Nevertheless, in recent years the Ultrastar brand under WD has diversified hugely and alongside the popular WD Gold label has branched into a vast array of interface types, form factors, media variants and scales. Typically the first drive series to crack into a new capacity tier (the first to crack 20TB too).

Sound Test Video Live Soon (Below)

The Ultrastar series of hard drives will often be compared against the WD Red Pro range of NAS hard drives when considering populating a server. It is worth remembering that the Ultrastar series is designed for both a higher performance AND a much more enduring performance – i.e it can maintain that level, as well as switch between processes, for much longer. Indeed in testing, the Ultrastar even features a much higher Read and Write performance than pretty much any other drive that peaks as high as 280MB/s in our ATTO DiskBenchmark testing below with just a single HDD. Even the IOs (IOPS_ went as high as 19,000, which although low when compared with modern high-end SSDs, for a single HDD is really impressive).

The drives themselves are fantastically dull in appearance of course, as one might expect from the enterprise tier and also feature quite an aggressive spin up noise. However, in much larger scale environments, you will almost certainly not hear the drive media over the ambient system fan noise. Overall still an oldie but a goodie!

+ Consistently High Performance

+ Well-established HDD Drive and Brand

+ Numerous Interfaces, in-Drive Encryption Systems and Choices

– DEFINITELY one of the most confusing product ranges

– Noticeably Noisy at boot

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now?

These Offers are Checked Daily

Best Hard Drives for a Home or Small Business 2023/2024 Gen Synology NAS – Synology HAT3300 Plus Series

4/6/8/12TB, 5900-7200RPM, 64-256MB Cache, 180TBW, 3yr Warranty, Synology NAS Designed, Firmware Update in DSM $109-189

There is most certainly a clear design choice here to mirror that of the existing regular-class server drives on the market right now. The Synology HAT 3300+ series has been reported several times, not just here on the blog, to be built using Seagate Iron Wolf drive media with specific Synology firmware on board. Arriving with 180-terabyte annual workloads, 5400rpm, 256-megabyte cache, arriving in a CMR architecture and air-sealed – the specifications we see here are all quite standard. The 12TB benefits from an increased RPM and helium sealing, as per most 12 TB drives in the market, but apart from that the Synology Plus hard drive series are going to run quieter than most pro or enterprise-class drives, as well as have a slightly lower power consumption, but are also going to have a slight performance decrease than that of the HAT5300 and HAT3300. But that is only going to be of significance in larger RAID configurations realistically.

The differences between the Synology HAT3300, HAT5300/HAS5300 are pretty much exactly as you would find if you compared WD Red and Seagate IronWolf versus that of Seagate Exos and WD Ultrastar. Indeed, I am a little surprised that Synology has not introduced a middle ground in the form of a pro series drive, but perhaps this is something that will roll out later down the line. Nevertheless, this results in quite a void of performance, durability, and scale between these two ranges when compared to long-term established server hard drive ranges from these other companies filling the gaps of capacity and pro middle ground choices. It should be immediately highlighted that regardless of which Synology hard drive you opt for, you still benefit from firmware updates being actionable from within the Synology DSM software, easier and more streamlined warranty support, and firmware optimization that is specifically tailored towards Synology hardware deployment. We have discussed this at length previously when discussing the Synology enterprise hard drives and SSDs, and although you pay a premium for Synology’s own branded drives when compared to third-party alternatives that people have been using for decades, there are nonetheless merits in using drives specifically geared towards your NAS system rather than requiring a slightly broader design that suits more diverse servers. Here is how the Synology enterprise SATA, enterprise SAS, and mid-range plus hard drives differ in their specifications:


Classification	Enterprise SATA	Enterprise SAS	Domestic SATA
Series Name	Enterprise/XS	Enterprise/XS	PLUS
Model	HAT5300	HAS5300	HAT3300
Interface	SATA 6Gb	SAS 12Gb	SATA 6Gb
Recording	CMR/PMR	CMR/PMR	CMR/PMR
Capacity (5/23)	4/8/12/16/18TB	8/12/16/18TB	4/6/8/12TB
RPM	7200RPM	7200RPM	5400RPM (7200 on 12TB)
Cache	256/512MB	256/512MB	256MB
Sector Size	512e	512e	512e
Max Transfer Speed (Capacity Dependant)	254/260/253/274/281MB/s	241/253/274MB/s	202/240MB/s
Drive Sealing	AIR/AIR/Helium/Helium/Helium	AIR/Helium/Helium/Helium	AIR/AIR/AIR/Helium
Power Use (Idle)	4.07/5.61/4.25/4.00/4.16W	6.62/4.36/4.46W	3.96/3.4/3.4/5.07W
Power Use (Active)	7.76/9.29/7.83/7.63/8.35W	9.87/7.80/8.12W	4.85/5.3/5.3/8.33W
Load/Unload Cycles	600K	600K	600K
Workload Rating	550TB (Annual)	550TB (Annual)	180TB (Annual)
MTBF (Hrs)	2.0/2.5Million	2.5Million	1Million
Warranty	5 Years	5 Years	3 Years

+ Much more affordable than the HAT5300 Series

+ Better range off smaller capacities than HAT5300

+ Drive Firmware can be Updated from within the Synology DSM GUI

– Not Supported on Bigger Synology NAS Systems (eg XS or SA Series)

– Lacks Data Recovery Service of Seagate Ironwolf HDDs

– 12TB Maximum Capacity (at time of writing)

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now?

Synology DS224+ 8TB 2 Bay NAS Solution installed with 2 x 4TB HAT3300 Drives Amazon

UK 10.11 OFF (WAS 650) [LINK]

These Offers are Checked Daily

IMPORTANT! Compatibility of Hard Drives with Synology NAS Systems

An increasingly important factor when selecting NAS hard drives is their compatibility with specific NAS systems. Over the last 18-24 months, there has been a noticeable trend, especially with Synology, towards reducing the range of compatible, supported, or verified HDDs. Synology has shown a preference for their own HAT3300 and HAT5300 drives, somewhat limiting the choice for users of their systems. This shift marks a departure from the traditionally open approach where most NAS brands, including Synology, supported a wide range of third-party drives.

This change in policy is significant for users needing specific storage solutions or those accustomed to a broader choice of drives. It contrasts with other NAS brands, which continue to support a variety of third-party drives, including the latest high-capacity models. When choosing a NAS hard drive in 2023/2024, it’s crucial to consider not just the drive’s specifications but also its compatibility with your NAS system. This ensures that you can take full advantage of the NAS’s features and avoid potential compatibility issues.

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Finally, for free advice about your setup, just leave a message in the comments below here at NASCompares.com and we will get back to you.

Need Help? Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry. [contact-form-7]

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NAS Compares
The Topton N305 NAS Motherboard – Hardware Deep Dive Review
15 mars 2024 à 15:00

The Topton N305 NAS Motherboard – Hardware Deep Dive Review

NAS Compares

Par : Rob Andrews

15 mars 2024 à 15:00

The Topton N305 NAS Motherboard+CPU Combo – Should You Buy It?

If you have come to this article on the Topton N305 NAS Motherboard, then chances are you are a very specific kind of NAS user! When you want to build your own NAS from scratch, there is always the balance between POWER and POWER EFFICIENCY! The former, means you can get so much more done, as quickly as possible – the latter is a pursuit to ensure that this 24×7 DiY NAS server is not going to cost you a small fortune in electricity costs! Until recently, the 2020/2021 released Topton N5105/N6005 NAS+Mobo combo was considered the best balance in the market to provide a fair balance of performance, capability and power efficiency. However, because Intel has moved forward with its refresh of their processors into the newer generation (largely killing off the Intel Celeron and Pentium naming) AND brands such as Topton have now vastly improved their development techniques, many MANY eyes have now moved over to the newer Topton Intel N305 and N100 NAS Motherboard. Most ‘Build Your Own’ (BYO) NAS buyers are considering this highly praised little M-ITX combo for their new Plex Build, their new modest Container/VM server with Proxmox, or scaling up from a private cloud to a 5-6 drive UnRAID or TrueNAS server! But, is the N305 NAS motherboard actually any good? What are the main differences to consider between the N305 and N100 model? And is it reliable enough for your data? In this article we dig into the hardware and share what we find!

Note – You can watch the Topton N305 full hardware review and dive HERE on YouTube

Additionally, find our lists of the recommended NAS CPU+Mobo Combos HERE on NASCompares in a dedicated article


Where to Buy (Amazon / Aliexpress)	ALIEXPRESS $279 HERE (Upgrades Available) Amazon $348 HERE (Board Only)
Component	Specification
Processor	Intel Alder Lake-N i3-N305
Memory	1x SO-DIMM DDR5 4800MHz, up to 16/32GB
Storage	2x M.2 NVMe 3×1 Slot, 2x SATA3
PCIe Slot	PCIe 3×1 (cut)
Graphics	Intel UHD Graphics
Display Outputs	2x HDMI, 1x DP, 1x Type-C (all 4096 x 2160@60Hz)
Network Card	4x Intel i226-V 2.5G
4G LTE/SIM	Yes
Wireless?	MICROPCIe Slot (Shared with PCIe 3×1 Slot)
USB Ports	5x USB2.0, 1x USB3 via FPanel and Pins
Cooling	Passive cooling with fanless heatsink
BIOS	AMI EFI BIOS with various supports
TDP	9-15W
Power Input	DC 12V (External PSU option)
Case Material	Aluminium Alloy
Expansion	PWM fan power connector, TPM Pin
Dimensions	158.0mm x 126.5mm x 60.2mm
Color	Black or Gray (random)
Installation	Desktop, Wall-mounted
Operating Environment	0°C to 70°C, 5%-85% Humidity

Topton N305 DiY NAS CPU+MoBo Combo – Hardware Design

The Topton N305 Board is offered on Aliexpress with various pricing options based on the included components. The basic package, which includes just the CPU and motherboard, is priced at $319. For an additional $10, customers can obtain the package with a SAS fan-out cable for enhanced storage capabilities, totalling $329. The most comprehensive option includes everything mentioned plus an external PSU, available for $359. This tiered pricing structure provides flexibility for buyers based on their specific needs and desired configurations.

The latest version of the Topton N305 ITX motherboard now includes a metal, high quality fan-assisted heatsink. This new feature aims to enhance cooling efficiency for the system. It’s a significant update for those looking for improved thermal management in their ITX setups.

The N305 CPU, a central component of Topton’s latest NAS and DiY switch motherboard, showcases Intel’s innovative engineering through its Alder Lake-N architecture, catering specifically to efficiency and performance. With its Intel 7 lithography, the processor strikes a balance between power consumption and computational prowess, offering a TDP of 9-15W. This optimization allows for reduced energy usage while maintaining high performance, making it an ideal choice for NAS systems where efficiency is paramount.

Embedded within the motherboard, the N305 CPU supports advanced memory capabilities, including DDR5, ensuring broad compatibility and future-proofing for evolving storage technologies. The processor’s ability to handle up to 16GB of memory alongside its versatile support for various memory speeds up to 4800 MHz underlines its capacity to manage intensive data transactions and storage operations. This flexibility is crucial for NAS applications, which demand rapid access to and processing of voluminous data sets.

Furthermore, the integration of Intel UHD Graphics within the CPU provides substantial support for multimedia tasks, extending the motherboard’s utility beyond mere storage. This feature, coupled with the processor’s support for multiple displays and high-definition outputs, enables the N305 NAS Motherboard to serve as a central hub for not only storage but also media streaming and light graphical tasks. The inclusion of advanced technologies like Intel Quick Sync Video highlights the CPU’s adeptness at encoding and decoding video streams efficiently, thereby enhancing the functionality of NAS systems built with the N305 motherboard for a variety of applications.

The Topton N305 NAS Motherboard incorporates a single SO-DIMM slot for memory, strategically located on the motherboard’s rear, optimizing space and accessibility. This design choice underscores the board’s compact and efficient layout, catering to users seeking a balance between performance and form factor in their NAS solutions. However, it’s important to note that this system does not support ECC (Error-Correcting Code) memory. The absence of ECC support is typical for systems prioritizing cost-effectiveness and simplicity over the error correction capabilities critical in enterprise-level servers. Despite this, the motherboard’s memory compatibility, supporting up to 32GB of DDR5 RAM at speeds of 4800MHz (and compatibility with 5200/5600MHz), ensures robust performance for various NAS applications.

At the top section of the Mini-ITX NAS motherboard, there are two distinct SATA connection ports available for direct drive connections. Additionally, it features an SFF-8643 output. This output enables the connection of four more SATA drives. The connectivity expansion is facilitated through a compatible cable.

The motherboard utilizes a JMB585 controller for enhanced SATA drive management, bridging the gap between PCIe hosts and SATA/AHCI storage devices. This integration allows the board to support five SATA ports through the JMB585, enhancing its storage capabilities.

The controller also enables Port Multiplier support, significantly expanding potential storage configurations. This setup is particularly beneficial for users looking to maximize their storage options, offering a versatile solution for a variety of storage needs.

Example:

It supports command-based switching (CBS) and FIS (Frame Information Structure)-based switching (FBS). JMB585 also support TRIM to the SSD and can transmit and receive data by both of AHCI mode and legacy IDE mode to and from the host respectively.

Although this review is of the DC output version of the Topton N305 NAS board, there is also two 4-POWER (12V) connectors at the rear corner of the motherboard to supply additional power for bulk storage needs as required in some enclosures and backplanes.

This review focuses on the DC output variant of the Topton N305 NAS motherboard. Additionally, it features two 4-POWER (12V) connectors located at the rear corner. These connectors are designed to supply extra power for extensive storage needs. This capability is especially useful in certain enclosures and backplanes where additional power is necessary for bulk storage management.

The Topton N305 DC motherboard is supplied with an external power supply unit (PSU), specifically a 180W model produced by Chicony, a name that may not be familiar to all. No, me neither…

The fan-assisted CPU cooling system on the Topton N305 NAS motherboard receives commendation for its efficiency, producing minimal noise while maintaining a surprisingly low profile. This design choice enhances the overall user experience by ensuring effective thermal management without adding bulk or disruptive sound to the setup.

The N305 NAS motherboard facilitates M.2 NVMe storage through two 2280 slots. These slots are strategically located on the rear or base of the motherboard for easy access and efficient space utilization. This configuration allows for high-speed storage solutions to be incorporated seamlessly into the system, enhancing its performance capabilities.

The M.2 connectors on the N305 NAS motherboard are specified as PCIe Gen 3×1, providing a maximum bandwidth of 1000MB/s for each slot. While it may be seen as a drawback that 3×4 NVMe drives will operate in these 3×1 slots, limiting their maximum speed, this configuration remains noteworthy. Considering the motherboard’s compact scale and the overall allocation of 9 PCIe lanes, the inclusion of these connectors and their performance capability is still an impressive feat, balancing system expansion with available resources.

Our examination through SSH terminal within UnRAID has verified the configuration of the slots. It’s confirmed that they operate at the downgraded bandwidth of 3×1. This adjustment aligns with the system’s specifications and ensures compatibility within its infrastructure.

During our disk speed tests on the motherboard, a standard PCIe 3×4 NVMe drive was tested using a 1GB file. The results showed a sequential read/write speed of approximately 750-780MB/s. This performance is indicative of the operational bandwidth limits imposed by the 3×1 slot configuration on the motherboard.

In our tests transferring data between two M.2 NVMe drives with a 1GB file, the speeds achieved ranged from 320-330MB/s. This suggests that the two NVMe slots share a single lane or path on the motherboard. The shared pathway is likely the reason for these specific transfer speeds, indicating a bottleneck at the shared connection point.

Located at the front-bottom of the motherboard is a PCIe slot, specifically designed for further system enhancements and expansions. This slot opens up opportunities for additional upgrades, allowing users to customize their setups according to their specific needs. It represents a key feature for those looking to extend the motherboard’s capabilities beyond its initial configuration.

The PCIe slot on the motherboard operates with Gen 3×1 specifications, offering a maximum bandwidth of 1,000MB/s. Despite this limitation, it has been physically designed to accommodate longer cards, such as x4, x8, or x16. This thoughtful design ensures compatibility with a wider range of expansion cards, providing users with greater flexibility in upgrading their systems. It is something of a compromise between bandwidth capability and physical compatibility, enhancing the motherboard’s adaptability for various use cases. The limitations in PCIe speed and lane allocation on the motherboard stem from the CPU’s architecture, which provides 8-9 lanes. This constraint not only affects the N305 model but also has implications for the N100 version of the motherboard and CPU NAS combo. The lane count directly influences the number and types of devices that can be supported concurrently, impacting overall system expandability and performance. This highlights the importance of the CPU’s lane capacity in determining the motherboard’s capability for expansions and upgrades.

Located on the back of the motherboard is a MINIPCIe slot, primarily intended for adding a wireless network card. This slot, while versatile, is not suitable for a wide range of other expansions. Its inclusion provides an option for wireless connectivity, enhancing the board’s functionality without significantly diversifying its expansion capabilities. The MINIPCIe slot located at the rear of the motherboard is shared with the main PCIe 3×1 slot, meaning they cannot be used simultaneously. This configuration limits the ability to expand the system’s connectivity and upgrade capabilities at the same time. Users must choose between utilizing the MINIPCIe slot for wireless networking or the PCIe slot for other expansions, highlighting a trade-off in the motherboard’s design for flexibility versus functionality.

In an interesting move, likely catering to prosumer uses like pfsense and OpenWRT builds, the motherboard includes a 4G LTE/SIM card slot. This addition is somewhat unexpected but expands the board’s utility by enabling direct cellular network access. It suggests a broader vision for the motherboard’s applications, potentially appealing to users requiring remote or backup internet connectivity. Integrating the 4G LTE/SIM card slot for cellular network access into NAS systems like UnRAID may present challenges, as such operating systems might not support this type of cellular network interface. This limitation underscores the importance of verifying compatibility with the intended NAS OS to ensure full functionality of the onboard features. The presence of cellular connectivity options expands the potential use cases for the motherboard, although users must navigate the constraints of OS support.

The motherboard is equipped with four 2.5GbE network ports, each powered by an Intel i226-V controller. This setup significantly enhances the board’s networking capabilities, providing robust, high-speed connections suitable for demanding network environments. The inclusion of multiple 2.5GbE ports allows for flexible network configurations and supports advanced networking features, making it an ideal choice for users looking for high-performance networking options in their NAS setups. The integrated network card on the motherboard enables it to achieve a default network bandwidth of over 1GB per second. This high capacity can be distributed across multiple client devices or utilized fully by a single device through advanced networking techniques such as SMB3, load balancing, LAG, or trunking with a compatible smart switch.

This feature significantly enhances the motherboard’s network performance, catering to both distributed and concentrated network demands. Integrating a 10GbE NIC upgrade into the motherboard’s PCIe 3×1 slot could potentially elevate the network bandwidth to 2GB or 2000MB/s. This enhancement would leverage the available PCIe slot to significantly boost the networking capabilities of the system. Such an upgrade indicates a strong potential for achieving superior network performance, making the system well-suited for high-demand networking tasks. The performance ceiling for the two NVMe drives on the motherboard, even when configured in RAID 0/1, is around 1000MB/s. Meanwhile, connecting 5-6 SATA drives, depending on whether they are HDDs or SATA SSDs, can result in varying performance. With HDDs, expect around 600-800MB/s, and with SATA SSDs, performance can reach up to 1000-1100MB/s. This variation is due to the JMB585 SATA controller operating on a Gen 3 lane, influencing the overall throughput of connected storage devices.

The motherboard is designed with an abundance of USB ports, catering to various connectivity needs. Among these, two ports are uniquely positioned internally, providing a convenient option for connecting an OS boot drive directly on the motherboard. This feature enhances the flexibility and functionality of the system, allowing for streamlined setup and efficient use of space.

The motherboard features six USB 2.0 ports in total, with four positioned on the rear and two internally on the board, designed for versatile connectivity options, including the possibility of an OS boot drive connection. Additionally, it supports USB 3.2 connectivity through front panel and internal pins, expanding its compatibility with faster USB devices.

The motherboard is equipped with HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.4 outputs, supporting 4K resolution at 60FPS. This capability ensures high-quality video output for tasks requiring detailed visuals. Such features make the board suitable for applications beyond traditional computing tasks, including media playback and content creation that demands high-resolution displays.

We conducted a video analysis of the Topton N305 NAS Motherboard+CPU combo, exploring its BIOS features and conducting various tests using UnRAID. This in-depth examination aimed to understand the motherboard’s capabilities, performance, and how it handles in different scenarios, particularly focusing on its compatibility and performance with UnRAID as a potential NAS solution. This process provided valuable insights into its suitability for various computing tasks and its overall performance metrics.

The Topton N305 NAS Motherboard+CPU Combo – Should You Buy It?

As of 2024, the Topton N305 NAS motherboard stands out for its balance between power efficiency and functionality, especially at its price range. Its CPU, with a flexible TDP ranging from 9 to 15 watts, impressively manages to offer an 8-core, 8-thread configuration capable of reaching up to 3.8 GHz per core. This makes it an excellent choice for tasks like 4K transcoding on a Plex Media Server, with the potential to handle 8K content thanks to its integrated graphics hitting 1.25 GHz. Despite the limitation of having only 9 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, the design efficiently allocates these resources, supporting up to six SATA drives, two M.2 slots, and a PCIe expansion slot, all on a compact MITX board. While the N100 version presents a more cost-effective and slightly less powerful alternative, the modest increase in power consumption of the N305 variant justifies its higher performance capability, making it a superior choice for those needing a more potent setup. The N305’s design, which mirrors the physical and lane layout of the N100 while significantly enhancing performance, demonstrates an impressive achievement in maximizing the utility and efficiency of a small form factor motherboard.


Where to Buy (Amazon / Aliexpress)	ALIEXPRESS $279 HERE (Upgrades Available) Amazon $348 HERE (Board Only)
Component	Specification
Processor	Intel Alder Lake-N i3-N305
Memory	1x SO-DIMM DDR5 4800MHz, up to 16/32GB
Storage	2x M.2 NVMe 3×1 Slot, 2x SATA3
PCIe Slot	PCIe 3×1 (cut)
Graphics	Intel UHD Graphics
Display Outputs	2x HDMI, 1x DP, 1x Type-C (all 4096 x 2160@60Hz)
Network Card	4x Intel i226-V 2.5G
4G LTE/SIM	Yes
Wireless?	MICROPCIe Slot (Shared with PCIe 3×1 Slot)
USB Ports	5x USB2.0, 1x USB3 via FPanel and Pins
Cooling	Passive cooling with fanless heatsink
BIOS	AMI EFI BIOS with various supports
TDP	9-15W
Power Input	DC 12V (External PSU option)
Case Material	Aluminium Alloy
Expansion	PWM fan power connector, TPM Pin
Dimensions	158.0mm x 126.5mm x 60.2mm
Color	Black or Gray (random)
Installation	Desktop, Wall-mounted
Operating Environment	0°C to 70°C, 5%-85% Humidity

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Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

Finally, for free advice about your setup, just leave a message in the comments below here at NASCompares.com and we will get back to you.

Need Help? Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry. [contact-form-7]

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

Or support us by using our affiliate links on Amazon UK and Amazon US

Alternatively, why not ask me on the ASK NASCompares forum, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in the ASK NASCompares section below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.

NAS Compares
Synology DS Video and Video Station VS Plex Media Server
11 mars 2024 à 18:00

Synology DS Video and Video Station VS Plex Media Server

NAS Compares

Par : Rob Andrews

11 mars 2024 à 18:00

Plex Media Server Vs Synology Video Station on a NAS

One of the most popular reasons that users choose to buy a network-attached storage (NAS) device is for use as a media server. The appeal is pretty clear. With most users now owning decades of media (either in digital form or ripped from optical media at home), the ability to enjoy these box sets and Movies on the latest devices can be complicated. Despite this, streaming all of your multimedia from a NAS to all of your TVs, phones, tablets and other devices are growing increasingly popular and a lot of this is thanks to the increasing affordability of NAS from brands like Synology and QNAP and free software from companies like Plex and Emby. The most popular NAS for home media tends to be Synology, with its support of numerous media server applications and its own premium video service app too. This combined with the oversaturation of third-party online streaming services that ask you to pay a subscription (such as Netflix) with little control or right to ownership of the media you watch means that many users just want to enjoy their own unique media collections. So now that a lot of users are choosing to switch from the likes of Netflix and Prime Video towards an in-house media server, the next question is which piece of software they should choose.

The most popular private media server app right now worldwide to counter the likes of Netflix is Plex Media Server, software available in host and client form that allows you to transform your media collection into a glossy, slick and informative UI that genuinely rivals big online streaming platforms. Synology on the other hand would likely prefer users to stick with their own fully-featured media server application, Synology Video Station, which they have invested well in and developed to an impressive standard that easily rivals that of Plex. So today I want to compare these two media server choices and help you decide which one is the ideal media server choice for you.

Important – ‘Free’ Vs Paid Media Server Services on a NAS

Before going any further, it is worth addressing the elephant in the room, namely that a number of key media server services that are included with Plex Media Server are locked behind a paid subscription service known as Plex Pass. Whereas Synology Video Station is an application that is included with your NAS on Day 1 at no additional cost. All that said, neither service can technically be called free, as both still require you to purchase a Synology NAS. Additionally, it is still worth highlighting that some more recent Innovations in Plex online services and utilisation of hardware transcoding (the ability to use the CPU’s embedded graphics or an available graphics card to adapt files on the fly to make them better suited to a client) is not available on the free tier of Plex, but ARE available by default in the Synology Video Station application. You can still utilise software transcoding on Plex for free and this will deal with a large degree of transcoding requirements, but the fact that you have to pay extra within the Plex app to utilise the hardware already available on your NAS is something a number of users find difficult to accept. Throughout this article, any feature that is only available as a paid Plex Pass feature will be highlighted as such.

Plex VS Synology Video Station – Installation and First Time Setup

Installation of either the Synology Video Station or Plex Media Server application is near enough identical. Both are readily available in the Synology app centre and can be installed within two clicks. Both media server applications do not require your multimedia files to be stored in a pre-designated/directory location and the sources for TV shows, Movies and more can be scanned and indexed by each media server application after they are installed. In fact, the initial installation on both is incredibly straightforward and there is really only one main difference between them. That difference is that whereas the Synology Media application uses your original NAS login credentials, Plex will require you to set up an account with them online in order to use the software, even if you only intend to use your Plex Media Server on the local network/DLNA. As Plex is a third-party application, this is a little understandable if a tiny bit annoying for some.

It is also worth highlighting that both media server applications will receive regular updates during their lifespan and this is treated slightly differently too. As Synology Video Station is a first-party app, as soon as an update is available, you will be notified immediately in the app centre and even have the opportunity to apply these firmware updates automatically. Plex updates on the other hand will almost always need to be installed manually, as the available default Plex application on the Synology app centre is updated considerably less frequently and as soon as you setup Plex for the first time, it will ALWAYS inform you that there is a new update available straight away. The Plex Media Server application itself will tell you when an update is available regularly at the top right and in the settings menu, but requires you to download the latest Plex server update to a connected computer and then you need to upload this update directly to the Synology NAS app centre manually. It is only a small inconvenience really, but does mean that regular updates on your media server of choice are handled more easily and with likely more frequency on Synology Video Station rather than Plex.

Plex VS Synology Video Station – GUI, Media Support and Browsing

The user interface of Synology Video Station and Plex Media Server are quite similar when viewed on a client device, such as a console, TV and Amazon Fire TV stick. With all of your available Movies and Boxsets clearly shown and the metadata collected by each media server application creating a great user interface for your connected users.

However the back end/server view of each media server application is considerably different and where the Synology Video Station application is designed exclusively around video media options and configuration (as Synology have a wide range of applications for different Media types and general NAS server maintenance already available), Plex, on the other hand, is a far better equipped tool for a complete server, with the bulk of server maintenance and customisation options built into the single Plex GUI. If you are something of an IT novice, the wide range of options that Plex Media Server throws at you for system maintenance can be a touch intimidating and because Plex is designed around many different kinds of media support (something we will touch on later) it’s configuration needs to be noticeably broader than the video-centric options in the Synology official video application. These additional options, if you take the time to go through them, will definitely lead to a better media server user experience and a far better multimedia streaming system overall, it’s just a question of how bespoke and how elaborate you want your media server to be.

As mentioned, there is a clear difference in the multimedia types supported in Plex Media Server or Synology Video Station. In terms of handling of video Media, they are near enough identical with some exceptions with regard to specialist audio handling for certain dense Media. However, much like the back-end server control mentioned earlier, Synology Video Station only handles video media and relies on alternative applications such as Synology moments, photo station, Synology photos, audio station and download station to play and obtain other kinds of multimedia. Plex Media Server is a much more diverse multimedia tool with support of your photo collections (AI-assisted too), album collections, podcast streaming and several online video streaming services included. In both cases, it makes a lot of sense why they are designed this way, but some users may prefer their media server to be more of a Swiss army knife and others may want their video streaming, music streaming and photo streaming to be different services for different devices and clients. Neither Plex or Synology Video Station really gain any advantage here but simply show how they are different in their architecture. If you want simplicity in the user interface, go with Synology Video Station. If you want simplicity in your media server as a whole, go with Plex Media Server.

Plex VS Synology Video Station – Meta Data Scraping

The scraping of metadata in a media server is precisely what separates a bog-standard selection of files and folders on your screen from a slick graphical user interface that is engaging, informative and a joy to use. When we talk about metadata, we are talking about thumbnails, box art, media descriptions, cast listings, review scores, trailers and more. When we say scraping, that is the process of the software accessing numerous online databases to retrieve and store this information locally to the NAS. The result is your years of TV and movie collection being transformed into something near identical to Netflix and Amazon Prime video in presentation. Metadata ultimately benefits connected users and their client hardware devices, with both Plex and Video Station being very similar in how they look to a client device, albeit with a few branded differences in colour and config.

However, on the server-side, both Synology Video Station and Plex have gone a different way with metadata scraping at a setup level. Of the two, Synology Video Station is definitely the less option-heavy and although this is thanks in many ways to a lot of key options being found in the general server GUI outside of the app, it is still pretty thin on the ground for configuration of your video media server. This is not an enormous surprise given how Synology have generally erred towards keeping things as user-friendly as possible and this is often done by simplifying configurations and sitting numerous settings to system default. The options for scraping metadata on the Synology are surprisingly thin on the ground and some more advanced options require you to sign up to some resource database websites to obtain a two-way key. Despite this, Synology still manages to scrape a tremendous amount of metadata without this key and resource linking. Indeed, although the number of supported databases for metadata listed on the Synology Video Station app is few and far between, it was still able to find the same level of metadata found on the Plex Media Server application and displayed all of the test media perfectly.

Plex Media Server has access to significantly more online databases and although the system will generally ask you to select which one individually you wish to scrape for metadata in each library, it does do it with a high degree of accuracy. It also manages to scrape this metadata for more than just your Movies and applies this also to your music collection and podcast collection too within the app. Metadata scraping via Plex Media Server also does not require any kind of log-in to these individual databases and is largely automated off the bat, with users being able to switch designated databases for each Media type and folder on the fly. Of course, this all doesn’t guarantee accuracy and will still always be based on the format and layout of your Media in many cases (tv shows listed as S01E01 for season 1, episode 1, etc), but nevertheless, it has to be said that with more available resources and less configuration required for each of them, that Plex Media Server has the broader and more likely to succeed position on metadata scraping.

Plex VS Synology Video Station – Playback and Transcoding

This is one of the most important parts of any media server in the grand scheme of things – multimedia playback and transcoding. This is typically the action of changing a media file into a version that is more acceptable to the client device that you are enjoying it on (TV, Phone, Console, etc). This extends to but is not limited to, changing the resolution, changing the bitrate, changing the file format and ultimately compressing a file into a smaller version in most cases. Because Plex and Synology Video Station are available on the same NAS system, it means that media variations with regard to codecs, compressions and file types will be equally supported at the default level. If a file can be played back in its original version on Plex, it can be played back on Synology Video Station. However, it is when these files need to be adapted with transcoding that we see clear distinctions between each of them. Transcoding is something that remote accessing client users will likely use without even realising it, as they might well be on a limited data connection (speed or coverage at the time) or using a smaller device (such as a phone) to playback a monster 4K 60FPS movie that is overkill on that hardware. So, transcoding is at its best when you do not notice it is being done OR it is adaptable in as many ways as possible to cover all your likely scenarios.

When the NAS needs to perform a transcode on a file on the fly (eg, so you need to convert a video file into a better-suited version for the client watching device upon request and without delay) it will typically do it with software transcoding or hardware transcoding. Software transcoding is when the system uses the raw resources of the CPU and memory inside the NAS to convert the file. Hardware transcoding is when the NAS system features a graphical component (such as embedded graphics featured on a CPU) or an available graphics card that is installed – as these are designed for handling video files and/or graphical manipulation tasks, and will therefore utilise considerably fewer resources. Plex Media Server only provides hardware transcoding in the paid subscription service Plex Pass and then needs to be enabled in the encoding section by selecting the option ‘make my CPU hurt’. Software transcoding is available for the free version of Plex Media Server but is far less efficient and will result in much higher-end Media in 4K and 1080p playback consuming the majority of hardware resources to transcode or will simply not play at all.

Synology Video Station on the other hand, because it is a native first-party app, has full access to the hardware transcoding element of the NAS and therefore allows users to take advantage of it easily and immediately, and at no additional cost. This has been one of the driving forces behind the popularity of Synology Video Station application, as although the majority of NAS brands have their own video player, Synology is the only one that manages to merge the slick meta-data supported graphical user interface found in Plex but still manages to provide the free and unlimited limited access to the hardware resources you would expect after spending several $100s on a NAS. That said, the way that Synology handles the subject of transcoding in its user interface is a little peculiar, especially for users who are trying to balance the best possible playback vs the most appropriate transcoding level on the fly/manually.

When you wish for the NAS system to transcode a file in the Video Station user interface, you are presented with the options for adjusting the picture quality to high, medium, low, very low, etc. This is exactly what one might expect from a brand that wants to consistently keep things as simple as possible, however, for those who want to select a specific quality level to playback the file or want a better idea of the best quality level in future should be for other files, this will be extraordinarily limiting. Plex Media Server on the other hand allows you to switch between an automatic transcode option that changes the file to the recommended quality level for the client and connection, or you can specifically switch one of numerous video quality levels that break down into both resolution and bitrate in several places. Overall, the ability for Video Station to be able to take advantage of hardware transcoding at no additional cost and with little or no intervention from the end-user is still ultimately the best thing here. I just wish they gave uses a better degree of control and choice as found in Plex Media Server.

Plex VS Synology Video Station – Client Support

Having a slick and well-performing media server is always good, but if you cannot watch the media inside it on the devices you regularly use, then it’s all a bit pointless. Most people are already well aware that the multimedia collections they have on a NAS can easily be streamed over the local area network via popular methods such as DLNA and UPnP (digital living network alliance and universal plug and play). However, they are much more file and folder, breadcrumb level streaming and in order to enjoy the pretty GUI of Plex and Synology Video Station, an official client app needs to be available on the respective app centre or made unofficially and manually installed. This is an area where Plex Media Server almost completely wins over Synology Video Station, as it simply cannot compete with the variety and accessibility of the Plex client availability in popular app centres.

Full credit to Plex, they have really taken the time to make sure their platform is available on pretty much any modern device, in what multiple client or media server application forms. They also take the time after an official update of services and then push these updates across each available downloadable client. This is largely impossible for Synology to compete with and they instead opt for a much more targeted client support regime, supporting all modern mobile phone OS’, desktop operating systems and some of the major sofa accessible app centres on TVs and streamers like Amazon fire TV. In 8 out of 10 cases, your device will support both Plex and Synology Video Station, but this is by no means total and sometimes a hardware client (such as an off-brand Android phone, tablet or media box) that you hope to support Video Station will sadly not.

It is once again worth mentioning that Synology separates different multimedia types towards their own individual client apps, for example, DS Audio or Audio Station for music and DS Photo for photography. Indeed, some of these apps are quite advanced with practically unique connectivity to the likes of Amazon Alexa (something currently impossible on any other NAS platform without a 3rd party application like ‘my-media’ Alexa skill. But this, unfortunately, does not make up for being truly overshadowed by the wider degree of support available on Plex across numerous clients and smart Home devices – though the latter does require a Plex Pass. For sheer volume of connectivity on the clients, Plex wins by an absolute landslide.

Plex VS Synology Video Station – Conclusion

Throughout this comparison of Plex Media Server and Synology Video Station, it has become abundantly clear that one tool is designed around being a Swiss army knife of features and functions, whilst the other performs a smaller but key range of services exceptionally well. Those who have been using Plex Media Server for a number of years are highly unlikely to make the jump to Synology Video Station, as it may feel less feature-rich and perhaps a tad bare-bones. However, those users who are new to the idea of private NAS based multimedia streaming would do very well to try out Synology Video Station first, as I genuinely believe when it comes to concentrating on video streaming services, it is genuinely one of the best platforms out there – albeit clearly restricted to just Synology NAS devices. Plex Media Server attempts to do many things in its pursuit of being the go-to media server of choice for those jumping ship from Netflix and succeeds in most cases, it is just worth remembering that in recent years the platform has perhaps tried to diversify a tad too much.

PLEX MEDIA SERVER

Synology Video Station

Best for Mixed Media

Best for Ease of Access on Client Hardware

Best for Transcoding Control

Best for Add On Services

Best for Metadata Sources

Best for Price

Best Performance for Transcoding

Best for Ease of Use

Best for Ease Setup

Best for Updates & Firmware Revs

Thanks for reading and I hope this guide helps you choose the perfect multimedia server for streaming with your friends, family and colleagues. If you are still lost on the right NAS, multimedia software or ideal backup system for your needs, then take advantage of the free advice section below. This is a completely free and unbias service to help work out their ideal data storage solution for you. It is manned by my myself and EddieTheWebGuy, so although replies may take an extra day or so, we will answer your email and have your best interests in mind! Have a great week.

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Synology BeeStation Hard Drive Upgrade – A Step By Step Guide
8 mars 2024 à 15:00

Synology BeeStation Hard Drive Upgrade – A Step By Step Guide

NAS Compares

Par : Rob Andrews

8 mars 2024 à 15:00

How to Upgrade the Hard Drive in Your BeeStation

Why Would You want to change the hard drive in the Synology Beestation? Whether you are an existing owner of the Synology Beestation or a potential NAS buyer who is considering moving away from public cloud services onto your own personal cloud, the Beestastion and BSM provide a fantastically user-friendly alternative to the Synology Diskstation and DSM solutions that the brand has been releasing for almost 25 years. The Beestation can be set up in minutes, sets up all the apps, storage and services in 3 clicks and is BY FAR the most user-friendly NAS system I have ever used! However, it DOES have 1 weakness… one rather sizable Achilles heel… THAT 4TB hard drive inside! The Synology Beestation (At launch – so that might change as time goes on) arrives with a single 4TB Synology HAT3300/3310 5400RPM Hard Drive for storing all your data. This can lead to a lower glass ceiling when it comes to your long-term storage – fun fact, The latest iPhone Pro models supports upto 48MP Apple ProRAW images, which captures more dynamic range at the cost of much larger files, around 75MB for each image. That would still allow just under 60,000 images on a 4TB drives – but once you factor in video backups, PC backups and more, 4TB of capacity is actually going to run out quicker than you think, especially if you connect the maximum 8 supported users. Then there is the performance barrier of a single 5400RPM HDD. Hardware are not great for larger simultaneous input/outputs (e.g lots of individual write operation tasks happening at the same time) and the response times and smoothness of the BSM/BeeStation experience will be diminished. You are also losing out on RAID failover, something that is largely unavailable in a 1 bay, but short of using a dual drive cage adapter (more on that later on) this is unavoidable.

This brings us neatly back around to the subject of changing the HDD inside the Synology Beestation to something with a higher capacity, maybe a Pro series drive with 7200RPM and more cache. or perhaps even a faster SSD instead of an HDD? Synology has not allowed this system to support hot swapping or easy accessibility to the drive media (understandable, as a 1 Bay system). Synology have released this device as an entry-level product that is not designed for more specialized use, so providing the means to upgrade the media and migrate system processes over to a new drive is NOT a straightforward process. Additionally, we should also take some time to discuss the risks and Synology’s position on this.

IMPORTANT WARNING!

This is a really, really important point. Taking apart the Synology BeeStation runs a significant risk of not only damaging your data but also completely nullifying any hardware or software support that Synology will provide you. The BeeStation was designed to be a closed system and not targeted towards higher-end tech enthusiasts, and therefore does not allow the same easy dismantle procedure that you find in the DiskStation range. This Synology BeeStation was provided to me by Synology UK, and I am dismantling the system without their assurance or without their authorization to do so; the same needs to be applied to your own BeeStation system if you intend to follow the steps in this guide to tear down and dismantle it. This system was not designed to be taken apart, and taking it apart may result in the following:

You might cause damage to the hard drive inside via static electricity, motion, or physical pressure
The Beestation uses a passive cooling system and strategic heatsinks around the internal components, allowing the system to be low noise thanks to a lack of active cooling fan. But changing the storage media inside might compromise this passive cooling system and therefore lead to unpredictable internal system temps or a detrimental effect of the system as a whole.
The BeeStation casing is an exceptionally tight-fitting enclosure, and dismantling it will almost certainly leave marks and clear indications that you have done so, which will invalidate any hardware support available to you as you have tampered with the system and performed actions that are not covered by the hardware warranty.
You run the risk of scratching the internal motherboard, PCB, or delicate components during the dismantling of the BeeStation, which will result in complete system failure at worst and detrimental performance drops at best if this occurs.

Do not proceed with dismantling your Synology BeeStation unless you are happy to run the risk that it may be deemed inoperable or that your support by Synology may cease as a result.

Additionally, the Synology BeeStation includes numerous measures to back up the content of the system’s data and set up to the Synology C2 cloud, a connected USB drive, or at an object file/folder level to third-party cloud services. It is extremely recommended that you have an up-to-the-second backup in place before you attempt any of the steps in this guide. Any data loss resulting from following the steps in this guide is purely at your own discretion, and myself and NAS Compares cannot be held accountable. Bottom line, be aware that what you are doing right now is outside of what this system was supposed to do, and that you are doing so at your own risk. Understand? Good. Let’s get on with dismantling the BeeStation and tear down this cost-effective NAS.

Also, it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you read through the steps completely first, before you begin dismantling your BeeStation NAS, as it’s decent bits more layered in the access compared with a normal Diskstation NAS system.

What Do You Need for this Guide

There are actually not too many things needed for upgrading your Synology BeeStation Drive. I recommend the following:

A Synology BeeStation (duh?)
A SATA HDD (or SATA 2.5″ SSD with 3.5″ physical Adapter – EXAMPLE)
A crosshead Phillip screw driver – the longer the better!
The Synology Assistant Client Tool for Windows, Mac or Linux (installed on a system that is on the same local area network as the Beestation) – HERE
A downloaded copy of the latest Synology BSM Software .pat file – Download it HERE

The Firmware is optional, as it depends on the upgrade path you choose, but it doesn’t hurt to have it downloaded and ready.

BACKUP YOUR DATA FIRST – How To Backup Your Beestation Personal Cloud NAS

It is INCREDIBLY important that you backup any important data that is already on your Synology Beestation, as the process of installing a new HDD or SSD into the system will result in it replacing the original 4TB HDD. Luckily, there are a couple of great options for backing up your data for restoration when your new HDD/SSD is up and running. The most extensive (and large) one that will ultimately save you time later re-creating shares and folder structure is using the system backup in the System Configuration menu. This allows you to create a full system backup to either the Synology C2 Cloud (subscription cloud service, but does include a trial period) or to a connected USB drive. Later in the guide, I will explain how to restore a full USB backup.

Alternatively, if you are not especially fussed about the system configuration and want a more file/folder-specific backup that only backs up the core/important data (ie you don’t have/want a 4TB backup, but just want some select files/folders), you can use the USB Backup or Cloud Backup options in Beefiles. These are chiefly designed to backup an area of storage from a 3rd Party Cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive) or USB with a specific BeeFiles Folder (you can create multiple). This also has the feature of ensuring the data is 2 way synchronized, which means you CAN use this to copy data form the NAS to the Cloud/USB automatically.

Personally, I would recommend using the System level backup if you can ensure you have a large enough C2 Storage/USB. But also, you should have at least TWO copies of your data, as the system level backup will be in a Synology BSM/Beestation format and will only work in another Beestation system – it won’t be visible via a traditional DAS/Direct connect method.

The last thing to discuss before we begin the Hardware portion of this guide is how you wish to disconnect from the BeeStation system. Installing a new HDD/SSD will also require the system to be formatted. This will happen during the re-initialization when you install a new drive, so you have two options before this. The first is to unlink the Beestation from your Synology Account (as the system is connected via a serial number to your synology account). You will then reconnect with it later on during re-initialization. The main benefit of this method is that Unlinking with the system will KEEP your data on the 4TB hard drive inside – which means if you need to reverse all this (or even just want the old data as a OS-level backup of sorts), this process will be easier and ensure your data is still in place.

Alternatively, you can opt to just fully factory reset the whole device, which will not only disconnect your Synology Account but also delete all the data from the 4TB Hard Drive. After you have chosen the option that suits your needs. Safely power down the device via the GUI or after the system restore. Then you need to leave the system alone for a few minutes (to allow the 4TB HDD to spin down) and then disconnect all USB, Ethernet and power cables.

How To Upgrade Your Beestation HDD – The Start

First thing you need to do is disconnect all ethernet (LAN), power cables and USB devices and give the system sufficient time to allow the HDD inside to spin down. Then carefully turn the device up and have the base vent panel face up. Again, be CAREFUL as this system features a mechanical HDD inside and that can be susceptible to shock/motion damage.

Next you need to slowly and carefully peel back the rubber foot panel located at the base, at the front of the Beestation (i.e the single LED light side). It is held in place with strong adhesive, but you can replace it back after opening the case up later, as the rubber foot sits in a grooved panel and the adhesive has plenty of reuse!

Under the rubber panel are two Phillips/cross-head screws. There are the ONLY external means to open up the enclosure/casing of the BeeStation.

Remove each of these screws (keep them to one side and make sure to remember they are the base screws, as the system has 2 kinds of screws in it’s construction and mixing them up with rip the screw holes to pieces!

Removing these two screws will allow you to apply a small above of pressure to leverage the front panel of the BeeStation NAS to be removed. Important – do this carefully (that word again!) as the entire casing is made up of 2 pieces and it’s super easy to crack it in two!

The top part of the front panel is actually an L-shaped panel that has the fully ventilated dust panel attached. Mkae sure that your ease the panel off carefully enough not to break those 4 hooks at the top, as these are what align the top panel with the rest of the casing.

Slight side note, but for those that care about dust build up on 24×7 systems like the BeeStation, this can be quite useful to perform cleaning. Anyway, carrying on!

Next up os removing the Hard Drive that the Beestation Personal Cloud arrives with. The first thing you need to remove is the 2 smaller screws located around the edge of the casing. DO NOT REMOVE THE 2 LARGER SCREWS IN THE MIDDLE!!! These larger screws hold the HDD in place and you need to do this much later, or else risk the drive moving around during the dismantling.

Each screw will be easy to remove, however there are actually 3 more screw located around the base of the framework. They are tricky to reach, and a longer screwdriver would be recommended, but it can be done with an ordinary 15cm + screwdriver will get the job done.

At the front base area, you can find two black Phillips/cross-head screws that you need to remove. You will need to come at there from a slight angle if you only have a short screwdriver. Important – DO NOT USE AN ELECTRIC/AUTOMATIC SCREWDRIVER!!! Notwithstanding that you will tear the soft screw to pieces, you might cause vibration that will be damaging to the HDD next to the screw! Do it the OLD SKOOL way!

The last screw is much harder to spot and reach, it is located at the bottom-back of the enclosure, on the NON-Motherboard side. You will need to come at it from a slight angle, even with a longer screwdriver. Note, you COULD have removed the top panel attached to the HDD in order to get to the screw a little easier, but I personally would rather the HDD remains in an immobile cage throughout this part of the Beestaion teardown. It’s your call!

That is the last screw that you need to remove and , once it is done, you can begin the removal of the HDD clip/cage.

The HDD Clip/cage will slide out sideways (with a little resistance). BE CAREFUL with the removal of the HDD cage/clips, as the right-hand side will have the controller board (which has the heatsink on top of the CPU, and a bare PCB – which can be super susceptible to static and moisture!

One you have removed the HDD Cage tray, you will now have three components on the table:

Next, removing the Hard Drive from its plastic handles. The HDD is held in place by 4 screws that go directly into the same four screw holes that are usually used by HDD bays on Diskstastion NAS that utilize trays. Ther are four screw in each corner. Important note for later – Make a note of the clips and direction that are on either side of the HDD – whether you want to reassemble this Beestation to the factory build OR you are considering exploring larger HDDs, getting these clips the wrong way around or in the wrong direction will, at best, mean it won’t for back together and you need to redo them, or at WORST, you end up damaging the controller board and casing as you attempt to re-insert the drive.

Each screw uses a counter-sunk system and also arrives with a rubber washer between the screw head and the plastic. This means that you do not need to fully remove the screw, as there is a small % of space left. Regardless, just remove the four screws and each of the side panels should come off very easily.

Once again, make sure you keep track of which panel goes with each side of the HDD – As this will be a right pain during reassembly. An important area of note here is that IF you are considering adding larger/alternative drives to the Beestation and you have your heart set on an SSD, you are going to need a 2.5″ to 3.5″ HDD adapter, as the screw holes that the tray clips AND the PCB Backboard are not available on a 2.5″ SSD. This does also open the door to the potential for a Dual 2.5″ SATA SSD to 3.5″ SATA Adapter case, which would provide the performance benefits of 2x SATA SSD in a RAID 0, or the redundancy benefits of 2x SATA SSDs in a RAID 1, if the case supports internal RAID 0/1). Here are two options:

2.5″ to 3.5″ SATA Adapter ($7.99+)

Find on Amazon HERE

SYNOLOGY ASSISTANT NOT CONFIGURED PICTURE

Find on Amazon HERE

However, there is considerably more to adding a new hard drive to the BeeStation than just the physical injection!

The one we want to focus on is the HDD tray/cage. Carefully turn it around and lay the drive facedown on the table.

Once the drive is ‘face down’, you need to carefully (yes, THAT word again! Take a drink) remove the two silver screws, Try to touch the blue PCB controller board as little as possible.

Once you have removed those two screws, you need to either slide the controller board away from the Hard drive, or slide the hard drive away. You are doing this to disconnect the SATA connector that is soldered to the controller board. Do NOT leverage the hard drive upwards/downwards, as you run the risk of breaking the connector.

The controller PCB should come away very easily and with little resistance. But before we move forward, it’s worth checking the SATA connector is unharmed.

Place the controller PCB delicately to one side and then get your new storage media drive (your new HDD or SSD) unpacked and ready

Slot the new SATA drive into the PCB via the SATA slot.

Then flip the drive and board over, then screw in the two silver screws to attached the PCB to the HDD. Next, reattached the two tray clips to either side of the new HDD – gain, make sure you select the correct clips for either side and in the correct direction.

Then slot the drive cage back into the base Beestastion black plastic casing. It will be a very specific alignment and you will know it is correct, as the back ports will be completely flush with the rear port cavities on the casing

Screw the 3 base screws in place once again. plus then re-screw the two top placement screws

Then slide back into place the L-shaped top panel. Ensure the 4 hooks at the top slide in neatly and the LED cover at the front/base will meet flush with the other plastic panel.

Re-screw the two silver screws that hold the L-shaped panel in place and then re-attached the rubber foot panel.

Reconnect the local area network/internet connection, as well as the USB drive (if you have a USB backup) and finally the power cable. Then press the power button and now move over to your network connection PC/Mac/Linux desktop and we can start the reinitialization.

Re-Installing BSM on your BeeStation

When the device begins booting, after a few minutes you will hear the system beep. However, instead of heading to the usual Synology Bee Portal site page, you need to open up the Synology Assistant tool. It will scan the local area network and it will find the Synology BeeStation, but it will say that it is in the process of ‘Upgrading’

Now the amount of time this takes will depend on a lot of factors (drive size, download speed if the system is collecting the BSM software online. After some time has passed (10-20 mins tops), the system will reboot ( you will hear the drive spin down and the light on the system will change from a flashing orange light to a slow white light.

1 – UPGRADING

2 – REINITIALIZING

After a few minutes, the synology assistant should now show the message ‘Starting Services’. Don’t forget to click the ‘search’ button at the top left to rescan to see any new changes to the system status.

After a period of time, the system will now show a new message that indicates that the system needs configuration in the synology assistant:

Now you just need to double-click the Beestation listing on the Synology Assistant tool, and it will open up a new tab on your web browser that will guide you through the original BSM installation process, via the Synology Beestation Portal web site:

When you have logged into your Synology Account and have gone through the first 4 steps of the installation, you will be asked if the system is showing an orange light. If it does not, you will need to follow to on-screen restart prompts using the reset button, which will all the system to reboot into ‘find’ mode. Once you have the On-screen serial number prompt and the light on the BeeStation is Solid orange (not flashing) you can go through the usual system setup prompts and connect the BeeStation with your Synology account as normal and log in as you would have before.

What if my Synology BeeStation does not boot into the usual installer?

There IS a chance that your BeeStation will instead display a message saying ‘Not Configured’ upon the first power on after installing your new drive, typically caused by a lack of facility to download the latest firmware (i.e the network connection is not present or restricted on your network). This will result in the system booting into a similar system setup window as found on the Synology Diskstation/DSM devices.

If this occurs, double-click the BeeStation listing on the Synology Assistant tool, and it will open a new tab on your web browser that shows the manual installation steps for BSM on your BeeStation system via the LAN. Just follow the steps on the screen to select the downloaded BSM image you have on your PC/Mac machine, as well as begin the installation to the new HDD/SSD – This will wipe the contents of the drive, but that is normal and you should be using a new/blank drive anyway.

This will install the latest BSM software and the system will restart after 10 mins and you can follow the steps outlined in the previous section to setup the Beestation with your new HDD/SSD for the first time.

How to Restore Your Data to the Upgraded Drive BeeStation?

Now that your BeeStation is up and running, with your new HDD/SSD, you might have a backup of your data on USB or on the Cloud that you want to restore. If you want to use the BeeFiles Backup services for USB/Cloud, you can do this easily with the options in the BeeFiles tool and your cloud sync or USB that you created earlier can be re-connected and the data will be sent back to the Beestation. However, if you have opted to do the system-wide backup in the System settings menu, you will need to head in the system config page and select the Restore Tab on the left hand side of the page:

Next, select the Restore option, ensuring that you either have the USB Backup drive you used connected to the BeeStation system, or you have established a connection with your appropriate Synology C2 account.

Next, you need to go through the list of Backup Images (if you have multiple) and select the appropriate system backup image you want Then you need to select the backup and proceed with restoring this system image

It is worth noting that this process can take a great deal of time (depending on the size of the backup, whether it is cloud/local based and the filled % of the capacity that back was of the original 4TB drive. In my tests, it took 35 mins to restore the system that had 300-400GB of data – it is a slow by methodical process.

Once that is done, the system will reboot and when it has finished, you will need to re-enter and connect your Synology Account. After you log back into the system, you can go into the system setting and BeeFiles again, and you will see that not only is all the data restored, but also that the Synology BSM software has resized the partition to ensure that you are not losing any of the extra space that is available on your new possibly larger HDD (i.e it does not reinstall the 4TB system image, then ignore the extra HDD space – it expands the volume to the full available space of the drive)

And there you go! You have now installed a new HDD or SSD in your Synology BeeStation. REMEMBER, this is NOT authorized by Synology as use for the BeeStation system and will result in the brand not supporting you in the event of issues encountered as a result of installing non-recommended configurations such as this. The Beestation is a simplified cloud alternative to Synology DSM systems. If you want to experiment with more complex configurations, larger storage and faster systems, you should look at the Synology Rackstation and Diskstation systems.

I hope you enjoyed this guide and found in useful/informative! REMEMBER, I did this to show you what the inside of your BeeStation Personal Cloud looks like, so YOU DON’T HAVE TO! If you have any further questions, you can reach out to me on robbie ( at ) nascompares.com, or use our free advice section located on the right hand side of the page. Alternatively, you can reach us on our Discord HERE, our community forum HERE, or for faster and more personal support over on KoFi Commissions HERE. If you use and/or share the content of this guide online, please help us spread awareness of our platform and the work we do by backlinking us appropriately! Thanks for reading!

Synology BeeStation Personal Cloud Review – Quick Conclusion

READ THE FULL BeeStation Review HERE

Synology has clearly done their homework on the development and presentation of the BeeStation private cloud. They are targeting a whole new audience with this system, and therefore, criticisms based on experiences with their other hardware are likely to fall on deaf ears. The BeeStation is probably one of the best middle grounds I have ever seen between an easy-to-use and exceptionally easy-to-set-up private cloud system, while still managing to provide smooth and seamless features for accessing and sharing your private cloud’s storage securely. Looking at this system with a more network-savvy microscope kind of defeats the point, and I’ve tried to be fair in my assessment. The lack of LAN access by default seems a little odd, and launching the BeeStation series in this single-bay, 4TB-only fashion may be a bit of a marketing misstep, but overall, what you’re seeing here is an effectively priced and scaled private cloud system. It’s a fantastic alternative to third-party clouds and existing simplified NAS systems. With many users keeping an eye on their budgets and tightening costs, Synology, known for its premium position in the market, had a challenge scaling down to this kind of user. However, I have to applaud Synology’s R&D for creating a simple and easy-to-use personal cloud solution that still carries a lot of their charm and great software reputation. It may not be as feature-rich as DSM, but BSM does exactly what it says it will do, and I think the target audience it’s designed for will enjoy the BeeStation a great deal!

SOFTWARE - 7/10

HARDWARE - 8/10

PERFORMANCE - 7/10

PRICE - 10/10

VALUE - 10/10

8.4

PROS

User-friendly setup, ideal for beginners or those seeking a simple cloud solution.

Secure data handling with encrypted data transmission.

Comes with 4TB of storage included, offering good value.

Compact and lightweight design, enhancing portability.

Quiet operation, suitable for home or office environments.

Integrates seamlessly with popular cloud services like Google Drive and OneDrive.

Affordable pricing at $199, a cost-effective alternative to third-party cloud services.

Supports remote access, allowing data management from anywhere and across client devices/OS

Synologys reputation for quality and reliability is still clear on this smaller scale.

Several client tools (BeeFiles, BeePhotos and Desktop sync tool) for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android available for tailored access

System configuration backup option to USB/C2 (Often absent in budget cloud solutions)

AI Photo Recognition in BeePhotos for faces, Objects and geo data scraping + Advanced filter/search

CONS

Lacks the extensive app support and customization found in Synology\'s DSM platform.

Only available in a single-bay, 4TB configuration at launch, limiting expandability.

Single 5400RPM HDD running everything leads to slowdown more than you think!

LAN access is disabled by default, which may not suit all users.

Designed for a specific user base, may not meet the needs of more advanced users.

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Need Help? Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry. [contact-form-7]

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

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Alternatively, why not ask me on the ASK NASCompares forum, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in the ASK NASCompares section below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.

Jonsbo N4 NAS Enclosure Released

NAS Compares

Par : Rob Andrews

5 mars 2024 à 17:00

The Jonsbo N4 6/8-Bay NAS Enclosure has been Revealed

The Jonsbo N4 NAS Enclosure marks an addition to the brand’s lineup, featuring cube-shaped Micro-ATX cases designed specifically for DIY NAS server builds. These enclosures are available in two colours: black and white, each incorporating a distinctive design that includes a classy wood embellishment on the front side of the upper compartment.

UPDATE – The Jonsbo N4 NAS Case is Now Available to Buy on AliExpress HERE

UPDATE 2 – The Jonsbo N4 NAS Case REVIEW is NOW LIVE – HERE on YouTube, or HERE as a written article on NASCompares

Model: N4 (Black / White)

Dimensions: 286mm (W) x 300mm (D) x 228mm (H) / Material: 0.7mm Steel + Wood, Weight: 3.75kg

Storage: 6x 3.5″ HDD slots + 2x 2.5″ SSD slots

Motherboard: ITX / Micro-ATX

Ports: 1x Type-C USB, 1x USB 3.0 Type-A

PSU: SFX (up to 125mm in length) / Maximum CPU Cooler Height: ≤70mm

PCI Expansion: x4 , Maximum Graphics Card Length: ≤230mm

Cooling: 1x 120mm fan (built-in)

Check AliExpress HERE – Check Amazon HERE

Jonsbo N4 NAS Case Design

The case supports a Micro-ATX motherboard tray, low-profile expansion cards, and offers compatibility for CPU coolers up to 70 mm in height. The inclusion of eight drive caddies, with six designated for 3.5-inch drives and two for 2.5-inch drives, all equipped with SATA 6 Gbps backplanes for hot-plugging, underlines its focus on storage flexibility.

One of the key features of the N4 series is its storage capacity, which includes eight drive bays in total. This comprises six 3.5-inch bays and two 2.5-inch bays, all equipped with SATA 6 Gbps backplanes for hot-plugging capabilities. This configuration allows for a versatile setup of storage drives, meeting the demands for high storage capacity in NAS applications. The design ensures that these drive bays are easily accessible and maintained, promoting a user-friendly experience for installing and upgrading storage devices.

Cooling is managed within the enclosure by a single, built-in 120mm fan located at the rear, aimed at providing sufficient airflow to maintain optimal operating temperatures for the drives and other internal components. The enclosure’s cooling system is further supported by its design, which includes a perforated front panel for the lower compartment housing the drive bays and additional perforations along the sides and top of the upper compartment. This design choice aids in effective cooling, crucial for the reliability and longevity of the NAS server built within.

Jonsbo N4 NAS Case Connections

For connectivity and external interfaces, the N4 NAS Enclosure is equipped with a type-A USB 3.2 port and a USB 3.2 type-C port, conveniently located on the classy wood embellishment at the front side of the upper compartment. This choice of materials and placement not only adds to the aesthetic appeal of the case but also ensures easy access to the ports for quick connections. The inclusion of these modern USB standards caters to the need for high-speed data transfer, a significant aspect for NAS systems that handle large volumes of data.

In terms of compatibility, the N4 series supports MicroATX and Mini-ITX motherboard form factors, with accommodation for up to four low-profile expansion slots. It allows for the installation of graphics cards up to 230 mm in length and CPU coolers up to 70 mm in height, as well as SFX power supplies with a maximum depth of 125 mm. While these specifications may limit some options for high-end components, they are adequate for building a compact and efficient NAS system.

The Jonsbo N4 NAS Enclosure provides a balanced solution for users looking to assemble a NAS server with a focus on storage capacity, cooling efficiency, and a compact footprint.

When Will the Jonsbo N4 NAS Case Be Released and the Price?

Regarding price and availability, the cost of the Jonsbo N4 NAS Enclosure is yet to be confirmed (TBC), but potential buyers can anticipate a price point similar to the previously released Jonsbo N3 model. The initial release is expected to be available through popular online platforms such as Aliexpress and Amazon, which are often the first to stock new products from Jonsbo. This approach allows for wider availability and accessibility to a global audience eagerly awaiting new NAS solutions. The full release and widespread availability of the Jonsbo N4 NAS Enclosure are projected for Spring 2024, aligning with the company’s strategy to introduce innovative products in a timely manner. As anticipation builds, NASCompares plans to conduct a thorough review of the enclosure, offering insights and evaluations to potential users. This forthcoming review will provide valuable information on the N4’s performance, build quality, and overall value, assisting in informed decision-making for those considering this enclosure for their NAS server builds.



(White) Check AliExpress $75.36 Check Amazon HERE	(Black) Check AliExpress $79.99 Check Amazon HERE

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Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

Finally, for free advice about your setup, just leave a message in the comments below here at NASCompares.com and we will get back to you.

Need Help? Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry. [contact-form-7]

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

Or support us by using our affiliate links on Amazon UK and Amazon US

Alternatively, why not ask me on the ASK NASCompares forum, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in the ASK NASCompares section below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.

NAS Compares
A UPS Buyers Guide for NAS (Synology / QNAP / Asustor / Terramaster NAS)
4 mars 2024 à 18:00

A UPS Buyers Guide for NAS (Synology / QNAP / Asustor / Terramaster NAS)

NAS Compares

Par : Rob Andrews

4 mars 2024 à 18:00

An Easy Guide to Buying the Right UPS for your NAS System

The popularity of uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) has risen significantly in recent years. Not just for businesses, but for home users as well, who often have limited power setups such as houseboats, pop-up offices, and mobile homes. The value of having a safety net for your power-consuming devices is undeniable. Additionally, for those whose data is critical and whose business or personal life relies on constant access and read/write operations, a UPS can provide peace of mind. In the past, power failure solutions were only accessible to large enterprises and high-level businesses, with prices starting in the five figures. However, with the rise of network-attached storage (NAS) in homes and the increased efficiency of mass production techniques, owning a UPS device to protect data in both homes and businesses has become more affordable. However, choosing the right UPS for your NAS device, such as a QNAP or Synology, and finding one that fits within your budget can be challenging. In this guide, we will address the three commonly asked questions by users considering a UPS but unsure of which device to choose: 1) How does a UPS work and how will I benefit? 2) How do I determine the right Watts, Volts, and Amps to choose the best UPS? 3) How much will a UPS cost? We hope this guide is helpful for NAS buyers looking at brands such as Synology, QNAP, Asustor, Terramaster, and others, and also for anyone looking to choose the right UPS for other devices.

Click HERE to Skip ahead to the Recommended UPS for different NAS drives

What Are the Factors I need to consider when buying a UPS for my NAS?

Choosing the right UPS (uninterruptible power supply) for your Synology or QNAP NAS (network-attached storage) can be a complex task, as there are many factors to consider. However, by following a few key guidelines, you can ensure that your NAS is protected against power outages and other issues that could cause data loss or corruption. The first thing to consider when choosing a UPS for your NAS is the amount of power that your NAS requires. Desktop NAS devices with external PSUs typically have a power consumption of around 60-120 watts and rackmounts generally 250W and above, although this can vary depending on the specific model and the number of hard drives that are installed. It is important to choose a UPS that can provide at least this much power, as well as a bit extra to account for any other devices that may be connected to the NAS. Another important factor to consider is the runtime of the UPS. This is the amount of time that the UPS can keep your NAS running in the event of a power outage. The runtime of a UPS is typically measured in minutes, and you should choose a UPS that has a runtime that is long enough to allow you to properly shut down your NAS in the event of a power outage.

Another important feature to look for when choosing a UPS is the ability to communicate with the NAS. Some UPS’ have built-in USB or serial ports that allow them to communicate with the NAS and provide status information. This can be very useful in case of power outage, as it can allow you to monitor the status of the UPS and take appropriate action. Finally, you should also consider the size and weight of the UPS, as well as its overall design. A UPS that is smaller and lighter may be more convenient to deploy, but you should also make sure that it is well-designed and built to last. When choosing a UPS for your NAS, it is important to consider the amount of power that your NAS requires, the runtime of the UPS, the ability to communicate with the NAS, compatibility and the size and weight of the UPS. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your NAS is protected against power outages and other issues that could cause data loss or corruption.

What is a UPS and Why Should I Buy One for my NAS?

The most frequently asked question about UPS is typically “What exactly is a UPS and what does it do?” UPS stands for Uninterruptible Power Supply and many users believe that purchasing a UPS means they can run their devices and access data from their NAS, DAS, or SAN for hours after a power failure. While this is technically true, it would require a significant financial investment in the form of a 5-figure sum. In reality, most users do not require hours of protection for their read/write data operations on HDD media. Instead, what is often needed is enough time to safely shut down the server or RAID storage. This can be achieved by spending only hundreds of pounds, not thousands, as it depends on the number of devices drawing power, their specific needs, and the efficiency of the chosen UPS. For more information on UPS and how to choose one, please watch the video below.

How Does a UPS Draw Power and How Do I Connect My Devices?

This topic can be challenging for some, so we will break it down and explain it in a simple way. Before delving into technical terms like Watts, Volts, and Power, let’s use an analogy that’s easy to understand. Imagine receiving electricity to your device as drawing water from a tap.

To understand this concept, we can use an analogy of a tap and water. Just like a tap needs water and pressure to deliver it through the pipe, an electrical circuit needs electrons and voltage to deliver electricity to a device. The water represents the electrons that carry electricity from the power source to the destination device, like a NAS, DAS, or PC. The tap represents the destination device and the water/electrons are going around in a circuit back to the water/power source, which is mostly unseen in the cables.

The pressure in the analogy represents the VOLTAGE, which is the strength of the electricity being pushed by the electrons in the circuit. It’s important to measure this as some devices are designed to only accept a specific amount of voltage. If the voltage is too high or too low, the device will not function correctly.

AMPS represent the amount of electrical charge that passes a given point in a second, similar to how much water passes through the pipe per second.

So, now we need to know the WATTS of the device. This is compiled with the following equation:

AMPS x VOLTS = WATTS

or

Water Volume x Water Pressure = Water Power

If you’ve ever experienced weak water pressure in a shower while living in an apartment on a higher floor, this is likely due to the water pressure not being strong enough to deliver the water to the destination device. Similarly, a smaller battery pack is often measured in milliampere-hours (mAh), which represents the amount of charge available, rather than time. Using the analogy of water, this would be like a large drum of water. The amount of water and how fast it travels from the drum is not as important as the available water that can be carried over to the tap. The output and result is heavily affected by the AMPS and VOLTS, similar to the pressure of water and the maximum or minimum amount of water the tap can receive.

Choosing the right UPS Battery for your Home or Office

The majority of UPS devices have a similar setup. You connect one end to your main power outlet (3 Pin, 2 Pin, etc) and the UPS has multiple ports for connecting your destination devices (PC, NAS, etc). Inside the UPS chassis, there is one or more batteries that are charged from the wall plug, while your devices are powered directly from the wall and not drawing from the batteries unless there is a power failure. In the event of a power failure in your home or business, the destination devices will switch to drawing power from the batteries, giving you time to save your data and shut down your devices safely, protecting your digital storage from corruption or loss. It’s worth noting that when buying a UPS, there are many figures to consider, but the power drawn by computing equipment is typically measured in Watts or Volt-Amps(VA).

BUT

The power in Watts is the real power drawn by the equipment.Volt-Amps are called the “apparent power” and are the product of the voltage applied to the equipment times the current drawn by the equipment.

Inexpensive UPS devices typically have a shorter running time because they don’t provide as much charge. Mid-range UPS devices, on the other hand, offer longer charge times, more features, and additional functionality such as network alerts, internet alerts via SMS or email, an LCD display, USB connectivity for maintenance, and the ability to automatically save or shut down certain NAS or PC machines in the event of a power failure, eliminating the need for manual intervention.

There is more to choosing the right UPS than matching the WATTS of your destination device and that of the UPS

UPS capacities are giving in VOLT-AMPS , not WATTS

Remember again,

VOLTS x AMPS = WATTS

Well, Resistance present in electrical load means that the WATTS cannot be matched Like for Like. So:

How do I Choose the Correct VA for the Watts on my NAS, PC and more?

You will need to consider a UPS with a VOLT-AMP 50-70% higher than the WATTS present on your destination device. Don’t forget to factor into your consumption any other devices that are drawing from the UPS, as this consumption is not per device, but TOTAL.

What is Line Interaction on a UPS?

Some UPS devices have a “Line Interactive” feature that can strengthen a weak or inconsistent power supply, particularly useful for those in remote areas where maintenance may be less frequent. When it comes to sizing a UPS, it’s important to note that equipment nameplate ratings are often in VA which can make it difficult to determine the Watt rating. To avoid oversizing the UPS, it’s recommended to configure the system such that the VA rating of the load is no greater than 60% of the UPS VA rating. This will prevent exceeding the Watt rating of the UPS. However, this approach may result in an oversized UPS and a longer run time than expected.

– Battery Packs, Listed in VOLTS and can be added to an existing UPS

– Replacement Battery Cartridges, an Internal Upgrade, RANGE specific

– Available in Desktop or Rack mount

What Are the most popular brands in the UPS Market?

There are many brands that provide UPS (uninterruptible power supply) devices in the market, but some of the most popular ones include:

APC (American Power Conversion) – APC is a well-known brand that has been providing UPS devices for many years. They offer a wide range of UPS devices, including standalone units, rack-mount units, and network-grade units. They also offer a variety of software and accessories to help manage and monitor their UPS devices.
Tripp Lite – Tripp Lite is another well-known brand that provides UPS devices. They offer a wide range of UPS devices, including standalone units, rack-mount units, and network-grade units. They also offer a variety of software and accessories to help manage and monitor their UPS devices.
Eaton – Eaton is a well-established brand that provides UPS devices. They offer a wide range of UPS devices, including standalone units, rack-mount units, and network-grade units. They also offer a variety of software and accessories to help manage and monitor their UPS devices.
CyberPower – CyberPower is a brand that provides a wide range of UPS devices, including standalone units, rack-mount units, and network-grade units. They also offer a variety of software and accessories to help manage and monitor their UPS devices.
Schneider Electric – Schneider Electric is a brand that provides a wide range of UPS devices, including standalone units, rack-mount units, and network-grade units. They also offer a variety of software and accessories to help manage and monitor their UPS devices.
Liebert – Liebert is a brand that provides a wide range of UPS devices, including standalone units, rack-mount units, and network-grade units. They also offer a variety of software and accessories to help manage and monitor their UPS devices.

These are just a few examples of the many brands that provide UPS devices in the market. There are many other brands available, each with their own set of features, specifications, and pricing options, so it is worth researching different options to find the one that best suits your needs.

How Do Synology, QNAP, Asustor and Terramaster NAS work with a UPS?

Almost all NAS drive brands support the use of a smart UPS, connected via USB for monitoring or via the network. That said, how each NAS system reacts to a power cut and switching to the UPS battery does differ. I recently tested the CyberPower 1500 system with a selection of 4-Bay UPS systems to see how each NAS brand’s hardware and software react. Below is the video for each brand. Just click the video, or you can open them up in a separate tab by clicking the title.

Synology NAS UPS Test

QNAP NAS UPS Test

Asustor NAS UPS Test

Terramaster NAS UPS Test

Recommended UPS for Different NAS Drives from Synology, QNAP, Asustor or Terramaster

Below are a number of tiered UPS systems for your individual power needs and budget. These are based on the Watts you need to cover and based on a single NAS of different size each. This, of course, is just the tip of the iceberg and for more precise advice based on a whole office or server room of hardware, we recommend getting in touch with us directly using the Free Advice section (no commitment and the advice is totally impartial) so we can save you money as well as provide you with a solution that will help you sleep at night! All solutions that I recommend below have to arrive with at least 2 Years of Manufacturers’ Warranty, 2 Years of Battery Warranty/Replacement Coverage, USB and/or Network Support, NAS compatibility, provides at least 10-20mins of continued client operation in a power-cut, support of line interaction and AT LEAST 6x mains power points for devices

Budget/Basic UPS (No Frills!) for Value and/or ARM-Based NAS

For much more modest Synology or QNAP NAS setups, as well as factoring in additional home/office equipment I would recommend the following UPS Device.

1-4 HDD NAS Drive with 90-120w PSU
1x Desktop PC with 250W PSU and Laptops/tablets
1x Router 30W internal PSU
+ Misc Other Office Equipment (50W avg)
Floor or Tower Versions
No LCD available

Option – The Amazon Basics UPS, Available in different versions that cover 400VA to 1500VA, 6-8 Ports – Starts at $49

Find it on Amazon HERE

Best UPS for a 1-2-Bay NAS Drive for Home or Home Office Use

For much more modest Synology or QNAP NAS setups, as well as factoring in additional home/office equipment I would recommend the following UPS Device.

1-2 HDD NAS Drive with 60-90w PSU
1x Desktop PC with 250W PSU
1x Router 30W internal PSU
+ Misc Other Office Equipment (50W avg)

Option – The APC BE600M1 , Available in different versions that cover 550VA to 850VA, 7 Ports – Starts at $99

Find it on Amazon HERE

Best UPS for a 1-2-Bay NAS Drive for Business

For much more modest Synology or QNAP NAS setups, as well as factoring in additional home/office equipment I would recommend the following UPS Device.

1-2 HDD NAS Drive with 60-90w PSU
1x Desktop PC with 250W PSU
1x Router 30W internal PSU
+ Misc Other Office Equipment (50W avg)

Option – The APC BE650G2, Available in different versions that cover 185W to 520W, 8 Ports – Starts at $169

Find it on Amazon HERE

Best UPS for a 4-8-Bay NAS Drive for Prosumers

For much more modest Synology or QNAP NAS setups, as well as factoring in additional home/office equipment I would recommend the following UPS Device.

4-8 HDD NAS Drive with 100-250W PSU
2x Desktop PC with 250W PSU
1x Router 30W internal PSU + Switch with 25W PSU
+ Misc Other Office Equipment (100W avg)
Battery/Coverage Insurance ($500,000 Connected Equipment Guarantee)
Tower Style

Option – The CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD PFC Sinewave UPS System, Available in different versions that cover 850-1500VA (1000W), 10-12 Ports – Starts at $389

Find it on Amazon HERE

Best UPS for an 8-12-Bay NAS Drive for Medium Large Business and Video/Photo Editors

For much more modest Synology or QNAP NAS setups, as well as factoring in additional home/office equipment I would recommend the following UPS Device.

8-12 HDD NAS Drive with 250-350W PSU
Rackmount entry point (factor in dual/Redundant PSUs)
3x Desktop PC with 250W PSU
1x Router 30W internal PSU + 10GbE Switch with 90W PSU
+ Misc Other Office Equipment (400W avg)
Rackmount Style (Desktop alternatives available, but cap at 2000VA)

Option – The Tripp Lite SU3000RTXL3U Sinewave UPS System, Available in different versions that cover 750-3000VA (2400W), 7-9 Ports – Starts at $799

Find it on Amazon HERE

How Long do UPS Batteries Last?

The lifespan of a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) battery can vary depending on several factors, including the type of battery, the quality of the battery, the usage, and the environment in which the UPS is used. However, on average, a UPS battery should last between 3-5 years with proper usage and maintenance. Lead-acid batteries, which are commonly used in UPS systems, have a typical lifespan of 3-5 years. However, this lifespan can be shortened or extended depending on the usage and maintenance of the battery. For example, if the battery is frequently discharged to a low level, this can shorten its lifespan, whereas proper charging and maintenance can prolong it.

It’s important to note that the lifespan of UPS batteries can also be affected by environmental factors such as temperature, humidity and the amount of use. High temperatures and humidity can shorten the battery life, while keeping the UPS in a cool and dry environment can extend it. It’s also worth noting that most of the UPS batteries have an end-of-life indicator, which will alert you when the battery is no longer performing as well as it should. This will give you an idea of when the battery needs to be replaced.

In conclusion, the lifespan of a UPS battery can vary depending on several factors, including the type of battery, the quality of the battery, the usage, and the environment in which the UPS is used. On average, a UPS battery should last between 3-5 years with proper usage and maintenance. Keeping an eye on the end-of-life indicator and maintaining the battery in a cool and dry environment can help to extend the battery’s lifespan.

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

Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

Finally, for free advice about your setup, just leave a message in the comments below here at NASCompares.com and we will get back to you.

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