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

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

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

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

The Plex Terminology Used in this Article

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

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

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

Choosing the Best Synology NAS for a Plex Media Server

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What is Software Transcoding on a Synology Plex Media Server?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Guide for the Chart Below

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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Synology DS224+ vs DS423+ NAS – Which Should You Buy?

The sheer scope of how much Network Attached Storage (NAS) has evolved in recent years is genuinely incredible! I remember a decade ago when the range of choices that a home user had when purchasing their own private cloud solution was actually pretty limited. Not only was the scope of hardware available to you only marginally better than leaving your PC on for days at a time, but also what you could get for your money wasn’t particularly impressive either. Fast forward to 2023, and things are so, so much different. With big brands like Synology out there, with a portfolio of solutions that allow you to spend your budget appropriately towards power, value, scalability, or all of the above, there is tremendous flexibility in their portfolio. Which brings us to the two NAS solutions of today’s comparison, the DS423+ and the DS224+, two incredibly similar Synology systems that nevertheless arrive at around $100 to $150 difference in price. With clear advantages and disadvantages in each system, the big question is, is it worth spending more on the Synology DS423+, or saving that money (perhaps adding a couple of terabytes to your storage plans) and opting for the DS224+ NAS? There is more to the differences than one being bigger than the other! Before we go any further, though, it is worth highlighting that these two systems, although differently priced and differently scaled, do have a considerable amount in common, so let’s please highlight (regardless of which one you opt for) what you are guaranteed to get when purchasing either the DS224+ or DS423+.

• 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 DS224+ 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 DS224+ 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 DS224+ 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 – but the DS423+ allows you to use this to great effect immediately, whilst the DS224+ will only see the benefits of SHR/RAID5/RAID6/RAID10 later down the line when migrating towards a new larger system)
• 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 DS224+ 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 of course, you did not come here to find out what they have in common! You want to know what sets them apart and ultimately what will help you decide which one best deserves your money and your data!

Synology DS224+ vs DS423+ NAS – Price and Value

As I’ve already touched upon, the DS224+ is the cheaper of the two. Arriving in summer 2023, the Synology DS224+ is the refresh of the three-year-old DS220+. Nevertheless, it manages to maintain a remarkably similar price point and arrives in the market at (pending on your region, currency, tax, and shipping!) For around $330 to $360. For an Intel-powered NAS, this is mostly reasonable, though I will touch on later that more of this budget goes towards the software than it does the hardware. The Synology DS423+, released in spring 2023, arrives at around the $450 to $500 mark. Now, aside from the fact that these newer generation devices arrived at a lower price point (because of its storage scale), it is also worth highlighting that the Synology DS423+ has been in the market a wee bit longer than the newer DS224+, and this means that not only is it more available to buy reasonably but also occasionally benefits from promotions and special offers more readily than you might find in the newly launched (at least at the time of writing) DS224+. The DS423+ has only been around in the market for the better part of three to four months, yet nevertheless has already appeared in several prominent promotion events, including Amazon Prime Day. As both of these systems are mostly targeted at home users and small business users, this is a trend that we will likely see continue at most big seasonal sales events and likely the DS224+ will also follow suit. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that although the Synology DS224+ is the better-priced device, The DS423+ opens the door towards being better value, bugs in terms of the price that you can pick this device up for currently and also what’s included with the device for your money. It is fairly common when a new device arrives (not just in the world of NAS) that its predecessor sees sudden and attractive price drops in order for retailers to get rid of older generation technology. This has been exceedingly true of the newer DS224+, as right now, we are already starting to see the previous generation DS220+ arrive on special offer at numerous outlets and with a price tag as low as $250 in some places. The similarities between the DS220+ and DS224+ are pretty glaring, and both systems run the Synology DSM software remarkably well, so therefore, if you really, REALLY for looking for a good deal, keep an eye open for the DS220+ or DS920+ on offer when they appear.

Synology DS224+ vs DS423+ NAS – Hardware and Connections

Despite these two systems being remarkably similar, there is something worthy of discussing here when comparing their hardware, as Synology has clearly made decisions in their respective system architecture to reflect their position in the larger portfolio from the brand. Synology provides a wide range of solutions, and the solutions tend to be designed not to overlap one another, often positioned them 100 to $150 apart and providing extra hardware advantages in each further tier of the portfolio as you scale up. This is definitely true when comparing the Synology DS224+ and DS423+, as although the internal architecture of both of these systems is remarkably similar, the more expensive DS423 does gain two rather useful advantages that you pay more for now but result in a longer long-term storage capability down the line. So first up, let’s look at the internal hardware side by side:

Synology DS423+ vs DS923+ NAS Hardware Comparison
Synology NAS
Amazon Price:	$479 (Amazon 21/07/23)	$349 (est – Check Amazon)
Processor model	Intel Celeron J4125 (2019 Gen)	Intel Celeron J4125 (2019 Gen)
processor architecture	64-bit	64-bit
processor clock	4-core 2.0 (base frequency) / 2.7 (burst frequency) GHz	4-core 2.0 (base frequency) / 2.7 (burst frequency) GHz
Integrated Graphics	Yes (250-750Mhz)	Yes (250-750Mhz)
Hardware encryption engine (AES-NI)	Yes	Yes
system memory	2 GB DDR4 non-ECC	2 GB DDR4 non-ECC
Pre-installed memory modules	Yes	Yes
Total number of memory slots	1	1
Maximum memory capacity	6 GB (2 GB + 4 GB)	6 GB (2 GB + 4 GB)
The maximum number of disk slots for an expansion unit	N/A	N/A
M.2 drive bay	Yes x2	N/A
Compatible Disk Type	3.5″ SATA HDD 2.5″ SATA SSD	3.5″ SATA HDD 2.5″ SATA SSD
Disk hot-plug support*	Yes	Yes

The first big area of note is, of course, those extra two bays of storage afforded to the Synology DS423+. Now, there are not just advantages in total storage capacity when comparing a 4-bay NAS device against a 2-bay NAS device. Yes, you can have more hard drives and more space to play with, but there are a few certain overlooked advantages that a 4-bay NAS brings to the table. Such as:

Scalability – any Synology NAS system can be operated with as little as a single hard drive or SSD inside. However (depending on the RAID configuration you choose), you can also add drives gradually to a RAID and increase storage gradually over time. A 4-bay device allows you to install just one or two hard drives inside the available bays, and then as the years go on and your storage use increases, you can add further hard drives to allow you to spread the cost of your storage over the years, rather than a single day one spend. Thanks to innovations in hybrid RAID systems like SHR (supported on both the DS224+ and DS423+), you can even mix and match drives to take advantage of larger hard drives that get released later or to buy larger hard drives years from now that decrease in price.

Performance – this is often overlooked, but when NAS systems take advantage of RAID in order to provide a safety net in the event of a disc failing, it also opens the door to multiple drives being read and written to simultaneously. Ultimately, in the right RAID, the more drives you have, the higher performance you will get in terms of write activity (more disks being written across multiple discs at once, rather than one at a time) and read activity (pulling the data from multiple drives at once). The more bays you have, the largest performance potential you have.

Potential for lower price per terabyte depending on your RAID – this is massively overlooked, mostly because it’s not really a bulletproof rule, but having more bays in your NAS can also result in having the same amount of capacity as you find in a 2-bay NAS at a lower cost. A 2-bay NAS, if you want to have at least one disc of drive failure protection, will result in you having to effectively halve your storage. By that, I mean that if you buy 2x 10 TB drives inside a 2-bay in RAID 1, you will only have 10 TB total storage. However, in the 4-bay NAS, you can buy 4x 4TB hard drives (which are regularly on special offer and are also considerably lower in price than a 10TB), and in a RAID 5 / SHR, you will still have one drive of data failure protection but also a total 12 TB storage to play with. More storage, lower price, same protection.

So as you can see, you are definitely paying more for the DS423+ with 4 bays, versus that of the DS224+ with two bays. However, the advantages that it brings in terms of gradual scalability, performance, and savings on your price per terabyte are fantastic and for some users will single-handedly justify this price difference.

 

Model ID	Synology DS423+	Synology DS224+
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	0
USB Copy	Yes (inc. Physical Button)	Yes (inc. Physical Button)
PCIe expansion	N/A	N/A
system fan	92 mm x 92 mm x 2 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*	19.8dB(A)	22dB(A)
wake on lan	Yes	Yes
Power Supply / Transformer	90W	60W
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)	14.69 W (access) 4.41 W (disk hibernation)

Next, we need to discuss the CPU and memory inside the DS423+ and DS224+. Now. This will not be hard, as it is absolutely 100% identical! Both systems arrive with the 2019 generation Intel J4125, a quad-core integrated graphics processor with a 2.0 GHz clock speed that can be burst to 2.7 gigahertz when needed. Synology has extensive experience with this CPU, as they have been using it in a number of their devices in the last few years, and this has allowed them to keep their software fantastically efficient and allow you to get as much done as possible with as lower resource utilization needed as possible. The same goes for the memory in both of these devices, with both systems arriving with 2GB of DDR4 memory. This initial 2GB is soldered to the main internal controller board for reasons of cost and efficiency. Doubt, but there is also an additional SODIMM upgrade slot that allows you to install an additional 4GB of memory and scale up the total storage on both devices to 6GB. Moving aside from the fact that it’s a bit weird that the system is capped at 6 GB when the CPU inside can achieve 8GB (because of the way Synology has approached the initial memory being soldered), this is still a reasonably decent amount of memory to be getting on with and identical across both of these systems.

Once again, when we talk about the ports and connections on these devices on the rear of the chassis, things are pretty much identical. Both systems arrive with two network ports on the rear, and both systems use 1Gb/Gigabit Ethernet architecture. These ports can be combined via the use of port trunking/link aggregation/SMB multi-channel (depending on your own network hardware setup requirements and OS), but it’s still a shame that Synology has not opted to scale up towards 2.5Gb on the system in the same way their competitors have at a similar price point to both of these systems. Both systems also arrive with USB 5G Type-A connectivity and although they support external storage devices, UPS devices, and can be assigned to a virtual machine if needed, that is really it. Neither system supports network upgrades via USB network adapters, and therefore it does result in this system having a much lower glass ceiling in terms of network connectivity long-term. You will only partially feel this in the DS224+, but in the case of the DS423+, that is a substantial loss of external bandwidth potential long-term.

However, things are still different in one rather important area – M.2 NVMe SSD Support. Despite the incredible similarities in their hardware internally, Synology has provided 2x M.2 NVMe SSD bays on the base of the (already 4x SATA bay) DS423+, but NOT on the DS224+ NAS. Alongside these M.2 bays being usable as caching to benefit the larger (but slower) SATA HDD pool, there is also the recently implemented support of NVMe drives as storage pools! Because this is a supported feature of the DS423+, that means that not only have you now got a large arrangement of hard drives for a big storage area, but now you can also create a smaller and faster area of storage comprising NVMe SSDs. This additional storage feature is not perfect, though, as the DS423+ is a Gen 2 PCI architecture system, AND the system has also limited the bandwidth speed afforded to these bays for reasons of system temperature and available system PCI lanes. This results in a noticeable bottleneck on the performance potential of these NVMe SSD pools. Additionally, Synology has seen fit to limit the range of SSDs that can be used for this feature in the DS423+ to only be possible with their own SSD drives (currently, the SNV-3400 range), and if you try to create M.2 storage pools with non-Synology SSDs, the system will not allow you to do so as these are non-verified drives. You can still use third-party SSDs for creating areas of SSD caching, but not the M.2 storage pools. Nevertheless, despite these limitations imposed by the brand, the inclusion of the M.2 NVMe pools on the DS423+ is an absolute game-changer, especially when you factor in the additional two hard drive SATA bays that it also has compared with the DS224+. These two factors alone will likely justify the additional costs for many. However, we should highlight that this extra hardware scalability does arrive at a different kind of cost.

This is a minor point for many, and also admittedly the margins we are discussing are quite small, but we do need to at least highlight that the power consumption of the Synology DS224+ is going to be lower than that of the DS423+. Factors such as powering two additional hard drive bays, additional NVMe drives drawing a small amount of power, and the system requiring additional cooling to maintain an optimum 24×7 operation temperature are all going to add up to small increases in power consumption. This is made clearer when you see that the external PSU that both systems arrive with is slightly different, with the four-bay device arriving with a larger PSU. These are all hypothetical maximums, of course, and if you don’t use the M.2 bays or scale up your storage too much over time, power consumption will be largely identical on both systems – a larger PSU does not automatically mean more power use, simply the potential and capability to draw more power if it is needed. Nevertheless, there are going to be some users that might want to keep a special eye on the electric bills over time, given the increased cost of energy in most of the world right now.

Overall, it is almost arguable that the Synology DS423+ is the better NAS choice overall in terms of hardware and connectivity. Even if you don’t intend to fully populate the additional SATA bays or M.2 bays on day one, they bring a level of storage and scalability down the line that is simply not available on the DS224+. Need more storage? Support the official DX517 expansion device from Synology, so at least on the 4-bay device, you have the means to scale up your storage over time and in a way that will be more limited on the 2-bay device. Then, of course, there are the performance benefits of larger RAID arrays and the potential for a lower price per terabyte by utilizing smaller hard drives in a bigger RAID configuration. Even if you wanted to play devil’s advocate and state the increased potential for power consumption in the DS423+, most of the increased consumption will only be used if you choose to scale up your device in the first place, and that is something that wasn’t even possible in the DS224+ NAS anyway.

Synology DS224+ vs DS423+ NAS – Software and Services

To say that these systems run DSM 7.2 to the same degree cannot really be understated! As both of these systems arrive with a near-identical hardware architecture in terms of CPU and memory, this results in both systems supporting the same scope of software and services provided in Synology’s premiere NAS software. Both the DS423+ and DS224+ support the entirety of the Synology DSM apps and tools. You name it, you can do it! Multimedia streaming, multi-site backups, surveillance, virtual machines, shared team drives, office applications, and collaboration tools, immutable backups, encryption, VPN support… seriously, they can do EVERYTHING.

Synology NAS	Synology DS423+	Synology DS224+
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
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	1500
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	256
Maximum Shared Folder Sync Tasks	8	8
VMware vSphere with VAAI	N/A	N/A
Windows Server 2022	N/A	N/A
Citrix Ready	N/A	N/A
OpenStack	N/A	N/A
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	25 (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)	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)
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)	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)
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)	2 (see more)
Recommended number of Virtual DSMs (licensing required)	2 (including 1 set of free licenses)	2 (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

Things only start to be different between these two devices once you factor in the benefits of those additional storage drives. We already touched on that the larger DS423+ has the additional M.2 bays that allow pools and caching, as well as more SATA storage bays that provide better RAID options and the potential for larger performance overall. These things are reflected in DSM in small but noticeable ways, once you start scaling up the number of people and processes accessing your NAS at any given time. If you are a single user or even a small group of users, you will likely not really feel the benefit difference compared with the DS224+ and DS423+. But as soon as you start increasing the demands on the system, DSM or natively start to utilize the additional hardware resources and performance benefits that the DS423+ provides, in this area, the DS224+ will be left behind in terms of overall capabilities. Think of it in terms of the difference between acceleration and top speed. Both systems out of the box have nearly identical acceleration, but over time and gradually if you want to upgrade that way, the DS423+ will inevitably have a better top speed thanks to having greater storage resources to access throughout its lifespan.

Click to view slideshow.

You can find out more about the full range of applications, services, and features of Synology DSM, utilizing my video review below that goes into more detail and reviews the entirety of the Synology NAS software platform:

Ultimately, both systems are near enough identical in terms of what you can do in DSM 7.2, but the DS423+ just allows you to scale things up to a larger capacity of storage and services in its lifetime.

Synology DS224+ vs DS423+ NAS – Verdict and Conclusion

If you have read this comparison up to this point, then the conclusion is not going to be much of a surprise. When it comes to someone trying to choose whether to buy the new Synology DS224+ or the ever so slightly older DS423+, it is an absolute no-brainer to me – Go for the DS423+! The obvious benefits that it brings in terms of storage scalability over time, the opportunity to buy smaller hard drives in an improved RAID array for a better price per terabyte, the performance benefits that those larger RAID configurations provide, and of course, those two M.2 NVMe bays that are not available on the DS224+, swing things exceedingly heavily in favor of the DS423+. The DS224+, although a little safe/middling, given the relative closeness in their price and the fact that a lot of this extra cost can be recouped by shaving one or two TB off your total storage capacity, to me, it is unquestionable that if you are considering these two NAS devices, go for the DS423+.

 

Synology NAS
Amazon Price:	Synology DS423+ NAS $479 (Amazon 21/07/23)	Synology DS224+ NAS $349 (est)

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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+, 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:

Click to view slideshow.

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 21/07/23)	$599 (Amazon 21/07/23)
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.

Click to view slideshow.

 

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:

Click to view slideshow.

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 $479 (Amazon 21/07/23)	Synology DS923+ NAS $599 (Amazon 21/07/23)

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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 (est)	$449 (Amazon 21/07/23)
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:

Click to view slideshow.

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 (est)	$449 (Amazon 21/07/23)

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Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

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

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Synology DS220+ vs DS224+ NAS – Worth an Upgrade?

Why would you consider upgrading your existing older-generation Synology now, or take your first steps away from public cloud subscription services and towards your own private NAS server? There are plenty of reasons why you might be considering buying either the Synology DS220+ NAS, released in summer 2020, or the Synology DS224+ NAS, due to be released in summer 2023. Synology has had over two decades of an increasingly positive reputation in the world of network-attached storage. As time has worn on, their portfolio has diversified considerably to the point where even these relatively modest 2-bay systems are surprisingly capable and fully featured. Despite both systems being able to run Synology’s DiskStation Manager (DSM) software in its latest 7.2 version, and both are built incredibly similarly on a hardware architecture with significant overlap, there are a few key differences between these two devices that may influence your decision. So, let’s compare these NAS devices and help you decide whether the DS224+ refresh deserves your data in 2023/2024.

Note – If you want a breakdown on the whole Synology 2-Bay NAS range, you can watch my complete YouTube video HERE

Synology DS220+ vs DS224+ NAS – Price and Value?

The prices of the Synology DS224+ and DS220+, if you’re looking at the original launch price, are pretty darn similar. Synology is launching the new DS224+ at largely the same price that the three-year-old DS220+ arrived at, around $300 to $350 (Don’t forget your local tax and shipping!). Given the improvements in the base CPU that the system arrives with between these two versions of the same product series, even if you factor in depreciation of how individual components are valued, it’s still quite impressive for Synology to maintain this price point. However, the reality is much more nuanced. For a start, because the DS224+ has been on the market as long as it has, stock and availability are considerably larger, at least at the time of writing.

Click to view slideshow.

The DS220+ has seen numerous special offers, Black Friday sales, and Prime Day sales in which it has appeared at between $230 and $240. Given that both these systems run exactly the same software, as well as running exactly the same applications (though to a different extent, more on that later), there are definite savings to be made by buying the older generation device. Equally, there are users who are considering, or have already, upgraded their existing Synology NAS to a more powerful system during the last three years (perhaps to stay within the 2-3 Year warranty that these systems come with, or just because they needed to expand), so the scope to pick up a second-hand Synology DS220+ on Facebook Marketplace, eBay or Craigslist is going to rise all the time.

This increases the potential to pick up the DS220+ at a bargain price, and given the main difference between these two systems is genuinely just the CPU, and the systems come with an effective lifetime software support warranty, those looking for a bargain price when buying their first NAS are definitely more likely to be attracted by the older generation device. Equally, the Synology DS224+ arrives with a CPU that is already showing its age a little bit, which somewhat undermines the value for money here compared with the more scalable and impressive DS723+, which arrived with a brand new CPU with higher clock speed and capabilities, ECC memory support that went much higher, and optional 10 GBE connectivity down the line.

The Synology DS224+, on the other hand, is quite a small upgrade over its 3-year-old predecessor and most certainly undermines the return to the original RRP for some users. Needless to say, in 3 to 6 months from now, this comparison will be largely moot as availability for the DS220+ will diminish rapidly as Synology switches gears to the newer model, but if you see a DS220+ in good condition and at a decent price drop, overall, I’d still recommend the predecessor in terms of price point.

Synology DS220+ vs DS224+ NAS – Hardware and Connections

This might well be one of the shortest comparisons that I have ever made comparing one NAS against its predecessor in terms of hardware! Normally, a refresh of a previous generation NAS tends to include a few areas of note that can range from improvement in network connectivity, scalability, supported memory, and of course a newer generation CPU! However, in the case of the DS224 Plus, genuinely the only meaningful difference I could find between it and the DS220 Plus, released three years prior, is the CPU. It arrives with the same memory speed, quality, and quantity.

It arrives with exactly the same ports and connections as the predecessor. It arrives with the same chassis as the predecessor. Heck, I’m pretty certain that if I took this device apart, I would find the exact same motherboard inside too! The only meaningful difference between these two devices, aside from longer term hardware support and DSM support (again, more on that later) is the switch from the j4025 CPU to the j4125 CPU.

Both CPUs are Intel Celeron architecture, from the same product family and released by Intel for their 2019 series of processors. Normally in these comparisons, and in particular, when I discuss these two CPUs, I would talk about the difference in clock speed (the J4125 having a higher maximum frequency at 2.7 GHz compared to the J4025’s 2.5 GHz), or perhaps the embedded graphics (both have Intel UHD Graphics 600 series, but the J4125 has a slightly better performance), but really, the difference between these two CPUs is very, very marginal.

The Synology DS224+ arrives with the J4125, a 4-core 2.0 base/2.7 burst GHz processor that supports 4K media transcoding, AES-NI encryption, and 8GB of DDR4 memory. The older Synology DS220+ also arrives with 4K transcoding, AES-NI, and 8GB support but features a slightly less powerful 2-core 2.0 base/2.5 burst GHz J4025 processor. In real-world terms, you are not going to see a significant difference in performance from that small increase in processor capability, especially in a two-bay NAS device where your storage will be the biggest bottleneck for most high-performance applications.

In terms of ports and connectivity, both models have two 1GbE LAN ports that support Link Aggregation and Failover, three USB 3.0 ports, and an eSATA port for expansion. They also both support the Btrfs file system, which provides advanced data protection features such as file self-healing and snapshot technology.

Hardware Specifications

Storage
Drive Bays	2	2
M.2 Drive Slots	No	No
Hot Swappable Drive*	Yes	Yes
External Ports
Ports
RJ-45 1GbE LAN Port*	2 (with Link Aggregation / Failover support)	2 (with Link Aggregation / Failover support)
USB 3.2 Gen 1 Port*	2	2
USB Copy	Yes	Yes
File System
Internal Drives	Btrfs EXT4	Btrfs EXT4
Appearance
Size (Height x Width x Depth)	165 mm x 108 mm x 232.2 mm	165 mm x 108 mm x 232.2 mm
Weight	1.30 kg	1.31kg
Others
System Fan	92 mm x 92 mm x 1 pcs	92 mm x 92 mm x 1 pcs
Power Supply Unit / Adapter	60 W	60 W
Warranty	2-year hardware warranty, extendable to 4 years with Extended Warranty+	2-year hardware warranty, extendable to 4 years with Extended Warranty+

So, in terms of hardware, the two devices are remarkably similar. If you’re choosing between the two purely based on hardware specs, the DS224+ does have a slightly more powerful CPU, but the difference is likely to be negligible in most typical use scenarios. Therefore, unless the DS224+ comes with a significant improvement in software capabilities, the DS220+ may be a more cost-effective choice for many users.

Synology DS220+ vs DS224+ NAS – Software and Support

When it comes to software, both the DS224+ and DS220+ run on DiskStation Manager (DSM), Synology’s proprietary operating system. DSM is recognized for its intuitive, user-friendly interface and comprehensive suite of applications and features. From file sharing and syncing with Cloud Station to data backup solutions, multimedia management with Photo Station, Video Station, and Audio Station, to robust surveillance solutions with Surveillance Station, both the DS224+ and DS220+ deliver a versatile range of functions. The DS224+ and DS220+ support the same range of add-on packages, including Synology’s suite of collaboration tools such as Synology Office, MailPlus, Chat, Calendar, and more. They also both support third-party applications available in the Package Center. In terms of future-proofing, it is worth noting that Synology generally provides longer software support for newer models. This means the DS224+ will likely receive DSM updates and new features for a longer period than the DS220+. However, as of now, both models support the latest version of DSM.

Synology DS220+ vs DS224+ NAS – Conclusion and Verdict

So, is it worth buying the Synology DS224+ over the DS220+? Honestly, it depends on your specific needs. If you require a NAS with a slightly more powerful CPU and potentially longer software support, then the DS224+ could be a good choice for you. However, the overall differences between the DS224+ and the DS220+ are quite marginal. Considering that the DS220+ may be available at a lower price point due to it being an older model, it may offer a better value for money for most users, especially those who don’t need the slight bump in CPU performance that the DS224+ offers. Moreover, the DS220+ has already proven its reliability and performance in real-world use. Ultimately, the choice between the DS224+ and the DS220+ should come down to your specific requirements, budget, and preference. But, in a nutshell, if you’re not particularly concerned about having the latest model and the minor CPU upgrade, the DS220+ is likely to be the more cost-effective choice.

Hardware Specifications

Synology Model	Synology DS220+ NAS	Synology DS224+ NAS
Diskstation Chassis
Check Amazon	$349 (Amazon 14/07/23)	$359 (est)

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

Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

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

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Brand New Synology DS124 Value Series NAS Revealed

Do you remember when owning your own private server was an incredibly complex, expensive, and intimidating proposition? Yeah, me too. However, the acceleration in how this kind of technology has become considerably more user-friendly and considerably smaller has been extraordinary, and few areas of the private server ownership market have seen that level of transition more than one-bay NAS devices. For a long time, one HDD servers were considered something of a joke, thought of more as Billy-Basic “hard drives connected to the internet”, with most brands rarely affording them anything more than the most inexpensive processors and barely featured services. Fast forward to 2023/2024 and things are considerably more nuanced! Thanks to a more uniform and cost-effective approach to the hardware inside each tier of a manufacturer’s portfolio, we are more and more seeing the hardware, features and support that you typically find in larger two and four-bay devices being made available to these rather modest one-bay systems. This brings us to the subject of today’s article, the new Synology DS124 NAS, the follow-up to the five years older DS118 released in 2017/2018. Arriving with a nearly identical hardware architecture to the rest of the value series in Synology’s 23/24 range, this is possibly the lowest priced current generation Synology you can buy, but still supports the majority of Synology’s DSM platform. So, let’s find out if this fantastically modest yet capable NAS deserves your data.

What Are the Hardware Specifications of the Synology DS124 NAS

As previously mentioned, the DS124 is the latest entry into Synology’s current 2023/2024 value series and features hardware very similar to the two-bay and four-bay devices in that range. Although we have seen tremendous innovation within one-bay NAS devices in recent years, we are still yet to see this brand roll out a one-bay NAS with anything higher than an ARM processor. Give them credit though, this is quite a capable ARM processor, and it would have been very easy for them to cut corners and opt for a lower-class Marvel or Annapurna AL processor in order to keep costs low. The Synology DS124 arrives with the Realtek RTD1619B quad-core ARM processor, which has a 1.7Ghz clock speed and even has a smidgen of integrated graphic support too. This processor certainly will not rival even the most modest Intel Celeron in capabilities, but Synology has been doing great things in ensuring its latest software, DSM 7.2, runs on this platform exceptionally well. The extent to which DSM runs will be discussed later on, as ARM processors have a very unique architecture that also has an inherent difficulty when it comes to more complex processes, but fair play to Synology for including this CPU on such a value series device and after already testing this CPU in the likes of the DS223J, DS223, and DS423 here on the channel, I can comfortably say this is the best value series CPU the brand has ever used and definitely runs the bulk of Synology’s mainline home and light business backup applications.

Synology NAS	Synology DS124 NAS
Chassis
Check Amazon	Check Amazon
CPU Model	Realtek RTD1619B
CPU Type	ARM
CPU Architecture	64-bit
CPU Frequency	4-core 1.7 GHz
Hardware Encryption Engine	Yes
System Memory	1 GB DDR4 non-ECC
Drive Bays	1
Hot Swappable Drive*	No
External Ports
RJ-45 1GbE LAN Port*	1
USB 3.2 Gen 1 Port*	2
Size (Height x Width x Depth)	166 mm x 71 mm x 224 mm
Weight	0.71 kg
System Fan	60 mm x 60 mm x 1 pcs
Fan Speed Mode	Full-Speed Mode Cool Mode Quiet Mode Low-power Mode
Brightness Adjustable Front LED Indicators	Yes
Power Recovery	Yes
Scheduled Power On / Off	Yes
Wake on LAN / WAN	Yes
Power Supply Unit / Adapter	36 W
Warranty	2-year hardware warranty, extendable to 4 years with Extended Warranty Plus

The Synology DS124 also arrives with 1GB of DDR4 memory, soldered to the board and cannot be upgraded. On the one hand, not being able to upgrade this memory is something of a pain as even moderate use of Synology DSM 7.2 is going to push this allocated memory quantity quite hard. However, this is still a pretty decent baseline memory to have once you factor in the total cost of the device. And, as mentioned, we have already tested the system services on the nearly identical two-bay DS223J which arrives with the same CPU and 1GB memory and ran DSM very well.

In terms of expandability however, the Synology DS124 lacks a considerable amount of scalability both in terms of its internal storage and its long-term expandability. As this is a one-bay NAS, you will be unsurprised to hear that any kind of RAID support is massively off the table and indeed hot-swapping is simply not feasible on a device that is going to be running its entire storage system services from a single drive. Likewise, once you reach full capacity on this drive, even after getting over the fact you will have zero RAID safety nets in place, there is no means to attach an expansion device to the DS124. So despite innovations in one-bay NAS architecture in recent years, there is still a tremendously low glass ceiling here in terms of your long-term storage scalability. And I will not even touch on the lack of M.2 NVMe bays, which no one would have assumed Synology would have included at this storage tier.

In terms of ports and connectivity, everything is pretty familiar and nearly identical to that of its predecessor. Arriving with a single LAN port on the rear, at 1GbE/Gigabit architecture, this is okay I suppose and possibly a limitation of the CPU’s supported network adapters to exceed this speed, but it is worth highlighting that even modest grade hard drives these days can easily exceed 160 to 200 MB/s transfer rates, and if you are going to go above 10 TB (which let’s face it if you are only running a single drive inside the system, is pretty likely) then this performance number goes even higher. Therefore, that single external Gigabit Ethernet port will serve as a slight bottleneck and although the rest of the system architecture may struggle to saturate the likes of a 2.5GbE port here, it might well have been appreciated. Given the relatively low-cost difference at the production level between 1GbE and 2.5GbE. This would not be so bad if the system supported USB network adapter upgrades that these days can be purchased for as little as $20 for a 2.5G USB upgrade. However, Synology has substantially downgraded USB support on their devices and DSM. It’s stated that the low frequency of users utilizing these ports did not justify the potential security risks posed to the system with more open-ended USB compatibility of peripherals and devices beyond storage drives.

The USB ports on the DS124 are all USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, 5Gbps, and I am not going to give Synology too much of a hard time on this as 1) They have very rarely engaged with larger 10G Gen 2 USB on any other device already, and 2) I’m not wholly convinced that this CPU supports USB Gen 2 architecture. The fact that compatibility of USB on this device is rather restricted is definitely going to annoy some, especially that lack of network adapter support, but all in all the ports and connections on the DS124 are not too bad and perfectly adequate for the price point.

What Are the Software Specifications of the Synology DS124 NAS

Although it is very easy for us to spend a lot of time critiquing Synology for the level of hardware that their systems arrive with, it cannot be denied that in the software department, Synology still largely rules the whole of the NAS industry. Although alternatives from the likes of QNAP and their QTS platform are edging closer, Synology DSM 7.2 is a fantastically well-featured, hugely capable, and tremendously user-friendly platform for network attached storage users. That is why when weighing up the price tag of any Synology NAS, including the DS124, you need to factor in the cost of DSM as part of that investment. I’m pleased to confirm, thanks to previous testing of other NASdevices built on this architecture, that DSM 7.2 runs very well on the DS124 and although certain key premium applications are not available due to this ARM architecture, you still have access to the bulk of Synology applications.

Some of you may wonder why big premium applications such as Synology Virtual Machine Manager, Active Backup Suite, Write Once Read Many (WORM) support, volume encryption, and SHR are not available on the DS124 NAS. This is simply down to that ARM-based processor and the way in which it handles instructions to the rest of the system. All processes made by a CPU are delivered via strings of binary instruction to and from the processor, and the more complex the process, the more detailed and lengthy the command. ARM-based processors are more typically used in more power-efficient devices such as mobile devices and those designed to run for days, weeks, months, or years at a time. ARM processors are able to run at much better power efficiency than x86 CPUs from Intel and AMD thanks to their ability to compress these instructions significantly internally and therefore use fewer system resources in order to get the average task actioned. This combined with recent innovations in 64-bit ARM processors is how the DS124 can do so much more with its ARM processor in 2023 than other ARM processors in older generation Synology NAS. However, some commands are simply too complex or nuanced to be easily compressed, especially those of a highly graphical nature, and therefore, these larger AAA+ services from Synology are simply not possible on an ARM-based NAS like the DS124. Nevertheless, it is still impressive that this system can run the bulk of Synology’s Surveillance Station camera operations with multiple cameras, AI facial recognition in Synology Photos, the full multimedia suite, Office collaboration suite of applications that include Mail, Office, Chat, and Drive. And of course, there is Synology Hyper Backup and USB Copy that allows you to mitigate some of the redundancy limitations of a one-bay NAS and factor in local and remote backups to other servers, USB, and the cloud. If you are looking for access to the baseline applications from Synology and have lower frequency demands, there is a lot to love in the more modest but effective range of services open to the DS124 in DSM. Alternatively, you can watch our Synology DS223 NAS Review video below and watch the software section of the review (it will skip directly to that part in the video below, just click play, or click HERE)

Next, let’s discuss how much improvement/difference we have in the DS124 against the DS118 NAS that it is seemingly refreshing for 2023.

How Does the Synology DS124 compare with the DS118 NAS?

On the face of it, the DS124 and the DS118 NAS are incredibly similar and upon closer inspection, it seems the only difference between them comes down to the CPU. The older generation DS118 arrives with the Realtek RTD1296 processor and the newer DS124 arrives with the Realtek RTD1619b. Both are 64-bit ARM processors, in quad-core architecture, and with limited integrated graphics for handling HEVC and 4K multimedia to a greater or lesser degree. So, how does the DS124 serve as an upgrade or refresh? Well, it is simply that the newest CPU benefits from years of additional development by Realtek and is even more efficient in how it handles processes compared to its predecessor. It also benefits from a higher clock speed that, although only marginal, is still an increase from 1.4 GHz to 1.7 GHz per core, with a slight tweak in improving the ARM-based integrated graphics too.

Note: GREEN = Better

When Will the Synology DS124 NAS Drive Be Released and What is the Price?

Although a formal release of the Synology DS124 and availability is still yet to be fully confirmed, we can make some pretty educated guesses. Thanks to multiple listings of the Synology DS124 already having appeared online on multiple European websites, we can largely predict that the DS124 will be available to buy around late July or early August 2023. Additionally, Synology will almost certainly be maintaining a similar price point to its predecessor, the DS118, as this has been Synology’s strategy in many of the more recent refreshes of their portfolio this year. You can fully expect the DS124 to be priced more affordably than many of their plus series range, in keeping with the system’s more modest hardware, stature, and reflective of the comparatively fewer expandability options that it has. If you’re interested in checking availability, use the provided links below to verify with your local retailer. Any purchase made using these links will result in a small commission for us here at NAS Compares, which helps support me (Robbie) and Eddie to continue doing what we love. Thank you and have a great week.

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