Welcome to this week’s tech news roundup! We’re diving into the latest developments, from blazing-fast mobile hotspots to data-storing diamonds and everything in between. Let’s unpack the highlights.

Netgear Nighthawk M3: Portable 5G Speeds Like Never Before

Netgear’s latest release, the Nighthawk M3 mobile hotspot router, is redefining portable connectivity. With 5G speeds of up to 2.5 Gbps and Wi-Fi 6 support for 32 devices, it’s perfect for lag-free gaming, high-quality video calls, and even VR on the go. Its 13-hour battery life ensures uninterrupted productivity, whether you’re working remotely or streaming Netflix during a road trip. Equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon SDX62 chipset, the M3 delivers power efficiency alongside unmatched performance.

Legacy Lives On: Synology and QNAP Double Down on Older Systems

While the tech world rushes forward, Synology and QNAP are demonstrating that there’s still value in looking back. Synology is continuing to release patches for its DSM 6.2 operating system, despite it reaching its end-of-life milestone in October 2024. Similarly, QNAP has released updates for its QTS 4.5.4 OS, originally launched in 2014.

This commitment not only addresses security vulnerabilities but also ensures that users don’t have to prematurely replace costly NAS systems, striking a balance between innovation and sustainability.

Synology’s Ambitious Expansion into the Enterprise Market

Synology is setting its sights on the enterprise market with a bold new strategy under its U.S. CEO, James Chen. The company aims to go head-to-head with giants like Dell by offering robust data protection solutions tailored for large businesses. Its latest Active Protect Line provides comprehensive data security across devices, servers, and even cloud services like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace.

With a focus on new products, expanded sales channels, and better customer service, Synology is determined to become a major player in the enterprise world.

Windows Server 2012: A Zero-Day Vulnerability Emerges

A critical zero-day vulnerability has been discovered in Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2, allowing attackers to bypass the Mark of the Web security feature. This leaves even systems with extended security updates vulnerable.

While Microsoft has yet to release an official patch, third-party security firm 0patch has stepped in with an unofficial fix. Users are encouraged to apply this patch while reinforcing their systems with firewalls and intrusion detection to minimize risk.

Diamonds: The New Frontier in Data Storage

Researchers have made a breakthrough in data storage technology, using diamonds to store an incredible 1.85 terabytes of data per cubic centimeter. By encoding information into nitrogen vacancy centers within a diamond chip, data can be preserved for centuries, even under extreme conditions.

In a remarkable proof of concept, the world’s first time-lapse photograph—Eadweard Muybridge’s famous galloping horses from 1878—was encoded onto a diamond chip, with each frame stored in a space smaller than a human hair. While the technology is still in its infancy, the potential for durable, long-term data storage is undeniable.

Raspberry Pi Gets a Performance Boost

The Raspberry Pi Foundation continues to amaze with its commitment to squeezing every ounce of power from its affordable hardware. Recent software optimizations have improved RAM timing and implemented fake NUMA for parallel memory access, resulting in a 32% boost in multi-core performance.

This upgrade, which particularly benefits the 8GB model of the Raspberry Pi 5, allows users to tackle more demanding projects without needing new hardware. It’s a testament to how software innovation can extend the life of existing tech.

The Environmental Cost of Progress

As exciting as these advancements are, they come with an environmental cost. E-waste is a growing problem, and both manufacturers and consumers must take responsibility. Companies like Synology and QNAP, which support legacy systems, are setting an example by emphasizing durability and long-term usability.

For consumers, the key lies in making mindful upgrade decisions and recycling old devices responsibly. Together, we can embrace innovation without compromising our planet’s future.

Wrapping Up

From the cutting-edge Nighthawk M3 to the futuristic promise of diamond-based storage, this week’s news highlights the dynamic nature of technology. As we navigate this ever-changing landscape, it’s crucial to balance innovation with sustainability.

What are your thoughts on these developments? Share your insights in the comments or on our social media channels. Let’s keep the conversation going!

Stay tuned for more tech updates, and don’t forget to check out our guides and reviews on NAS systems and beyond. See you next week!

Where to Buy a Product
			VISIT RETAILER ➤
			VISIT RETAILER ➤
			VISIT RETAILER ➤
			VISIT RETAILER ➤
			VISIT RETAILER ➤

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

WE LOVE COFFEE

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

     

The Topton MW-N100-NAS motherboard is a budget-friendly ITX solution aimed at users seeking a compact and low-power network-attached storage (NAS) setup. Priced at around $139 for the motherboard and CPU alone, or $183.88 with an 8GB DDR5 SODIMM and a 128GB SSD, this board is built around the Intel Alder Lake-N N100 CPU. This processor, part of Intel’s low-power N-series lineup, features a 4-core, 4-thread architecture with a 3.4 GHz turbo frequency, 6W TDP, and integrated Intel UHD Graphics.

NOTE 1 – A version of this motherboard has appeared that features a x4 PCIe slot, but it is shared with the 2nd M.2 slot. You can learn more about it HERE on the Amazon listing

NOTE 2 – The review of the N100 version of this motherboard is now live and HERE on YouTube and HERE on the blog

While the CPU is not designed for high-performance processing tasks, it is suitable for general NAS functions such as file storage, backup, and moderate media streaming. Its low power requirements and passive cooling capability make it an energy-efficient choice for users who prioritize minimal power consumption in a home NAS environment, as well as a compact form factor that allows for versatile placement options.

UPDATE – There is a new N305 i3 8 Core version of this motherboard now available HERE for $284.77 (Inlcudes 8GB DDR5 RAM and 128GB OS SSD)

Topton MW-N100-NAS ITX DiY NAS Review – Quick Conclusion

The Topton MW-N100-NAS motherboard is an affordable ITX option for basic NAS setups, featuring a low-power Intel N100 CPU, dual 2.5GbE ports, and a rare built-in 10GbE port for faster data transfer. With six SATA ports and two M.2 slots, it offers versatile storage options, although the M.2 slots are limited to PCIe Gen 3 x1, restricting maximum speeds. While the lack of a PCIe slot and ECC support may limit its appeal for advanced users, the MW-N100-NAS performs reliably for general NAS tasks like file storage, backups, and moderate streaming. It’s best suited for budget-conscious users who need a compact and low-power NAS with decent networking options, though not for those requiring extensive expandability or high-speed processing.

BUILD QUALITY - 8/10

HARDWARE - 8/10

PERFORMANCE - 7/10

PRICE - 10/10

VALUE - 9/10

8.4

PROS

Affordable price for an ITX motherboard with 10GbE networking capabilities.
Built-in 10GbE port (Marvell AQC113C) and dual 2.5GbE ports (Intel i226-V) for versatile networking options.
Low power consumption (6W TDP for CPU), suitable for continuous 24/7 operation.
Six SATA 3.0 ports and two M.2 NVMe slots, providing flexible storage configuration options.
Compact form factor, making it ideal for small NAS builds and limited-space installations.
Supports up to 32GB of DDR5 memory, which is adequate for general NAS use.
Low heat output with stable thermal performance, reducing the need for extensive cooling.
User-friendly BIOS with customization options for PCI and USB settings.

CONS

No PCIe slot, limiting expansion options for additional hardware like GPUs or other high-speed components.
Lacks ECC memory support, which is often preferred in NAS setups for data integrity.
M.2 slots are limited to PCIe Gen 3 x1 lanes, restricting maximum speed for high-performance applications.
Requires a 300W power supply despite low power demands, adding potential extra cost and size requirements.

Where to Buy a Product
			VISIT RETAILER ➤
			VISIT RETAILER ➤
			VISIT RETAILER ➤
			VISIT RETAILER ➤
			VISIT RETAILER ➤

Topton MW-N100-NAS ITX DiY NAS Review – Hardware Design

One of the most notable aspects of the MW-N100-NAS is its networking features, which include a 10GbE port, powered by the Marvell AQC113C chipset, alongside two 2.5GbE ports using Intel’s i226-V chipset. This array of network options offers considerable flexibility for users who may need fast data transfer rates across multiple networked devices or even redundancy configurations.

The 10GbE port is rare for a budget NAS board in the ITX form factor, adding significant appeal to this motherboard. However, the board’s lack of a PCIe slot is a potential drawback for users who may wish to add high-speed components, such as dedicated graphics or additional networking cards.

For NAS applications, this limitation may affect performance expansion, as it restricts the motherboard’s capacity for future upgrades. For users needing extra customization, the lack of PCIe could be a significant constraint, especially for those interested in expanding their setup beyond standard NAS functions.

In terms of storage options, the MW-N100-NAS offers an array of SATA and NVMe configurations. It includes six SATA 3.0 ports and two M.2 slots for NVMe storage, which should be sufficient for users with diverse storage requirements. However, the M.2 slots are limited to PCIe Gen 3 x1 lanes, resulting in a maximum throughput of roughly 1,000 MB/s per slot.

This bandwidth limitation is adequate for general NAS storage tasks, such as storing and accessing personal files or streaming media files over a network, but may be restrictive for more demanding applications that require sustained high-speed data access.

Below is a table summarizing the board’s hardware specifications, offering a clear view of its components and supported configurations:

One feature some users may miss is ECC (Error-Correcting Code) memory support, often desired in NAS environments for data integrity. Instead, the board provides a single SO-DIMM slot that supports up to 32GB of non-ECC DDR5 memory. While this capacity is adequate for most home NAS applications, it may be limiting for advanced setups involving heavier workloads or virtualization, where additional memory or ECC support could enhance performance and data reliability.

The BIOS offers various options for customization, allowing users to adjust settings such as PCI and USB controls, which is beneficial for users looking to optimize the motherboard’s performance based on specific NAS use cases or stability requirements. The lack of ECC support, however, may limit its appeal for users who prioritize maximum data integrity, especially in a NAS configuration where consistent data transfer and storage reliability are critical.

Power efficiency is another key feature of the MW-N100-NAS. During testing, idle power consumption was recorded at around 28.2W with drives connected, and the motherboard’s power draw under load conditions reached a peak of 55W.

These low power consumption figures are advantageous for a NAS system expected to run continuously, reducing electricity costs and lowering heat output, which is essential in confined spaces. This efficiency is further supported by the Intel Alder Lake-N N100 CPU’s low 6W TDP, which enables it to operate reliably without requiring intensive cooling.

However, the board’s power requirements specify a 300W power supply, which may seem excessive for a board designed for modest performance. This is likely to ensure stable power delivery, particularly with the 10GbE network port under load.

Additionally, the board is shipped without a CMOS battery, so users will need to source one separately to maintain BIOS settings over time. These requirements add minor extra costs and may necessitate careful planning, especially for users unfamiliar with NAS builds.

Performance testing showed that the MW-N100-NAS delivered reliable but moderate results. When transferring files through the 10GbE connection, speeds peaked at around 750 MB/s, with average speeds of about 305–320 MB/s. These results, while not close to full 10GbE bandwidth, are within expectations for a budget NAS motherboard equipped with a low-power CPU and are suitable for typical NAS uses, such as file sharing and moderate streaming.

For internal data transfers, such as moving files between SSDs, read speeds reached approximately 795 MB/s, while write speeds topped out around 688 MB/s. Though these speeds are acceptable for standard NAS usage, they do fall short of full-speed potential, likely due to the board’s limited PCIe lane allocation and modest CPU capabilities.

Thermal performance was stable during testing, with temperatures peaking at around 49°C after prolonged operation under load. The MW-N100-NAS uses a low-profile fan that provides adequate cooling without generating excessive noise.

However, for users who intend to utilize all six SATA ports or both M.2 slots with continuous, high-demand workloads, additional cooling solutions may be worth considering. The board’s efficient thermal management makes it suitable for users seeking a system that can run continuously without extensive cooling modifications, although configurations involving numerous high-speed drives may benefit from enhanced cooling.

Overall, the Topton MW-N100-NAS is a solid choice for those seeking a straightforward NAS setup without extensive customization needs. Its key strengths are its networking capabilities, including the rare addition of a 10GbE port alongside dual 2.5GbE ports, providing flexible network options for data sharing, backup, and streaming tasks.

However, limitations such as the absence of a PCIe slot, limited M.2 slot speeds, and lack of ECC memory support may deter users seeking a more advanced NAS configuration or those with specific performance or data integrity requirements. These factors indicate that this board is best suited for users who primarily need reliable file storage and moderate transfer speeds rather than high-end processing or customization.

Topton MW-N100-NAS Motherboard Review – Conclusion

The MW-N100-NAS motherboard from Topton is a practical option for NAS users who prioritize cost-effectiveness, compact form factor, and low power usage over advanced performance features. This board is positioned well for users who need a simple, dedicated NAS with solid networking options, allowing for versatile configurations that don’t require high-powered components or extensive customizability. The inclusion of 10GbE is a significant advantage, providing a notable boost in transfer speeds over standard Ethernet, which is beneficial for small offices or households with moderate data-sharing needs. However, potential buyers should consider its limitations in terms of expandability and memory capabilities, as these may impact its long-term viability for more advanced NAS applications. For those focused on basic file storage and network sharing, the MW-N100-NAS is an appealing choice with a balanced mix of essential features and cost-efficiency. Nevertheless, for users anticipating heavier workloads, or those looking to future-proof their NAS setup, it may be worth exploring more advanced options that offer better expandability, ECC support, or higher sustained performance capabilities.

PROS	CONs
Affordable price for an ITX motherboard with 10GbE networking capabilities. Built-in 10GbE port (Marvell AQC113C) and dual 2.5GbE ports (Intel i226-V) for versatile networking options. Low power consumption (6W TDP for CPU), suitable for continuous 24/7 operation. Six SATA 3.0 ports and two M.2 NVMe slots, providing flexible storage configuration options. Compact form factor, making it ideal for small NAS builds and limited-space installations. Supports up to 32GB of DDR5 memory, which is adequate for general NAS use. Low heat output with stable thermal performance, reducing the need for extensive cooling. User-friendly BIOS with customization options for PCI and USB settings.	No PCIe slot, limiting expansion options for additional hardware like GPUs or other high-speed components. Lacks ECC memory support, which is often preferred in NAS setups for data integrity. M.2 slots are limited to PCIe Gen 3 x1 lanes, restricting maximum speed for high-performance applications. Requires a 300W power supply despite low power demands, adding potential extra cost and size requirements.

Join Inner Circle

Want to follow specific category? Also Read...Week 51 Tech Round-Up – QNAPLocal AI and NAS Drives - IS TFAQ for DIY NAS Builds: EverytRecommended ATX Motherboards fRecommended ATX Motherboards fN305 6-Bay 10GbE NAS MotherboaCWWK Q670 8-Bay Gen5 NAS vPro Flashstor Gen 2 NAS ReviewHexOS NAS Software - Review ofN305 6-Bay 10GbE NAS Motherboa Subscribe

You can also follow specific search terms:

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?

TRY CHAT

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

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

    

 

WE LOVE COFFEE

HexOS is a NAS operating system in its infancy, introduced as a beta product with the aim of revolutionizing how home users, small businesses, and creative professionals manage data storage and applications. Unlike established solutions such as TrueNAS Core or Unraid, HexOS prioritizes simplicity and accessibility, targeting users who find traditional NAS setups too complex or time-consuming. While it is built on the reliable foundation of TrueNAS Core, HexOS diverges significantly in its approach by emphasizing automation and guided workflows. This overview explores HexOS Beta 1, analyzing its current features, usability, and areas for improvement. We will evaluate the feedback it has received from the community, compare it with competing solutions, and provide insights into its potential as a mainstream NAS option.

TL;DR: HexOS Beta Overview (2/12/24)

What’s in the Beta:

• Setup Wizard: Streamlined configuration for home servers, including automatic storage pool setup and system health analysis.
• Storage Management: Basic tools for managing storage devices, replacing failed drives, and expanding pools incrementally.
• Apps: One-click installation of Plex and Immich, with automatic folder and permission setup.
• Dashboard: Web-based Command Deck for monitoring CPU, memory, network, and storage usage, designed for mobile and desktop.

What’s Missing:

• Advanced Features: No custom RAID setups, snapshots, or replication yet.
• App Ecosystem: Limited to two curated apps (Plex and Immich); no Docker or third-party app catalog.
• Local UI: Currently relies on a cloud-based interface, with no offline management options.
• Additional Tools: Lacks SMART testing, email/SMS alerts, and advanced data import/export tools.

Planned for the Future (2025):

• Snapshots and Replication: Data protection features, including innovative “Buddy Backups” for encrypted peer-to-peer storage.
• Virtual Machines: Simplified hybrid VM setup for Windows desktops or media players.
• Expanded Apps: Larger catalog via partnerships with developers and container creators.
• Local UI: Full offline management for system configurations, even during cloud outages.
• Cloud Backups: Integration with StorJ/TrueNAS for enhanced remote data protection.

What Is HexOS?

HexOS is built on TrueNAS Core, a well-known and robust open-source storage operating system designed for enterprise and advanced home use. However, where TrueNAS Core excels in power and flexibility, it also requires technical know-how, creating a barrier for casual users. HexOS seeks to bridge this gap by offering an intuitive and simplified interface tailored to individuals who want the benefits of a NAS without a steep learning curve. For example, HexOS automates the creation of storage pools based on best practices. If a user connects two hard drives, the system automatically configures them in a mirrored layout, providing redundancy without requiring the user to understand RAID or ZFS. Similarly, its Command Deck interface consolidates system health, resource monitoring, and storage management into a unified dashboard accessible via web browsers or mobile devices.

While the beta release of HexOS shows promise, it lacks some advanced features that TrueNAS Core users might expect. For instance, custom RAID configurations are not yet supported, and the app ecosystem is currently limited to two curated applications. These trade-offs reflect HexOS’s focus on accessibility at the expense of flexibility, positioning it as an entry-level NAS solution.

Feedback on Initialization of a TrueNAS Scale server with HexOS?

One of HexOS’s standout features is its guided setup process. The system’s initialization wizard walks users through the configuration of their NAS, automating tasks such as hardware detection, storage pool setup, and network configuration. For many users, this is a welcome change from the often intimidating, multi-step setup processes of traditional NAS software.

For instance, a Reddit user who transitioned from TrueNAS Core to HexOS highlighted how the initialization process “took under 10 minutes, and I didn’t even need to Google anything.” This simplicity is particularly beneficial for individuals who are new to NAS systems or who have limited technical knowledge. The software also alerts users to potential hardware issues, such as SMR drives, ensuring that they are aware of potential performance bottlenecks before proceeding.

However, some users have noted the lack of customization during initialization. Advanced users who require specific RAID configurations or filesystem layouts may find HexOS’s automation limiting. For these users, the inability to manually override the default settings can be frustrating, though the development team has promised greater flexibility in future updates.

App Installation in HexOS?

HexOS currently supports one-click installation for Plex and Immich, a personal photo library application. These apps are designed to integrate seamlessly with the system, with HexOS automatically creating storage folders and assigning appropriate permissions. This streamlined process is ideal for users who want their NAS to “just work” without having to navigate the complexities of manual app setup.

For example, installing Plex on HexOS involves selecting the app from the Command Deck and clicking “Install.” Within minutes, the app is ready to use, and users can begin uploading and streaming media. Similarly, Immich allows users to back up photos from their smartphones to their NAS with minimal configuration. A Reddit user praised this simplicity, stating, “I uploaded my entire photo album to Immich within an hour of setting up HexOS. It just works.”

Despite these advantages, the limited app catalog has drawn criticism. Competing platforms like TrueNAS Core and Unraid offer extensive app ecosystems, supporting everything from Docker containers to virtual machines. While HexOS does allow users to manually install apps via the TrueNAS interface, this process undermines its goal of accessibility. Expanding the app catalog will be crucial for HexOS to compete with established NAS solutions.

Web GUI at the Moment and Long Term Access?

The HexOS Command Deck is a web-based interface that serves as the control center for the NAS. It is designed to be user-friendly and mobile-responsive, allowing users to manage their system from a variety of devices. Key features include real-time monitoring of CPU, memory, and network usage, as well as tools for managing storage pools and connected devices.

While the interface is visually appealing and intuitive, it is currently cloud-dependent, requiring an internet connection for access. This reliance has raised privacy and reliability concerns among some users. One Reddit thread criticized the cloud-based design, with a user stating, “What happens if the server goes down? I need a local option for peace of mind.” In response, HexOS has committed to introducing a local UI/UX in its 2025 release, ensuring that users can manage their systems even during Command Deck maintenance windows.

For now, the Command Deck provides a solid foundation but lacks some advanced features, such as detailed SMART testing or granular network configuration. These omissions are expected to be addressed in future updates.

Access issues during the HexOS beta have become a significant pain point for some users, as highlighted in threads like the HexOS community post. A frequent problem revolves around servers getting “Stuck on Connecting” during the initial claim process, preventing users from completing their setup. While some users have suggested network misconfigurations or hardware compatibility issues as potential causes, a larger consensus points to HexOS’s cloud servers struggling to scale with the sudden surge of early adopters.

It appears that the system wasn’t adequately prepared to handle the level of interest generated by the Black Friday promotion, leaving some users unable to connect their devices to the Command Deck. Although a few have found workarounds, like reassigning static IPs or power cycling their network, many remain stuck without clear guidance from HexOS. The issue has led to frustration, especially since the beta depends entirely on remote server access. This situation underscores the challenges of scaling a cloud-based platform to meet demand and raises questions about HexOS’s readiness to handle a wider audience as the beta progresses.

Costs, Early Access Pricing and Value?

HexOS adopts a tiered pricing model, starting at $99 for a lifetime license during the early access phase. This price will rise to $199 and eventually $299 as the software approaches full release. The company also plans to introduce subscription options for features like integrated remote access, which will be optional. Compared to other NAS software, HexOS’s pricing is competitive. For example, Synology’s solutions often require significant hardware investment, while TrueNAS Core is free but demands more time and expertise. HexOS strikes a balance by offering an affordable entry point with minimal setup effort. However, some users have questioned whether the limited features of the beta justify even the discounted pricing. For budget-conscious users, the current pricing represents good value, especially if the promised features materialize. However, those seeking a more comprehensive solution may prefer to wait for the 1.0 release.

The $99 Black Friday deal for lifetime access to HexOS has elicited a variety of responses from the community, particularly due to its requirement for participation in the beta program. Discussions on platforms like Reddit reveal a divided opinion. Some users view the pricing as an appealing entry point for a NAS solution that aims to simplify server management, especially with promises of future feature expansions. However, others express reservations about paying for a beta-stage product, emphasizing the current limitations, such as a lack of advanced RAID options, a minimal app catalog, and the absence of a local user interface. Proponents highlight the potential long-term value of securing lifetime updates at a reduced cost before prices increase to $199 or $299. Nonetheless, skeptics question the practicality of paying upfront for software that is still maturing. The discourse reflects broader concerns about the trade-offs between early adoption and investing in a software solution that may not yet fulfill the expectations of more experienced users.

What’s Missing

As a beta product, HexOS is far from feature-complete. The app catalog is one of its most glaring shortcomings, with only Plex and Immich available for one-click installation. Additionally, the software lacks support for custom RAID configurations, making it unsuitable for users with specific storage needs.

The absence of a local interface is another drawback. While the Command Deck simplifies remote management, it does not cater to users with unreliable internet connections or those who prioritize local control for privacy reasons. Advanced features like snapshots, replication, and detailed SMART testing are also missing, though these are planned for future updates.

These limitations mean that HexOS currently appeals more to casual users than to enthusiasts or professionals. As the development team continues to refine the software, addressing these gaps will be crucial for broader adoption.

Feedback from Reddit Users

Reddit discussions about HexOS reveal a polarized community. Supporters praise its simplicity, with one user summarizing, “HexOS is for when you don’t have time for TrueNAS and just need the NAS to work.” This sentiment resonates with users who value convenience over customization. However, critics have been vocal about the software’s shortcomings. Threads often highlight the limited app catalog and the reliance on cloud-based management as major drawbacks. Some users have also expressed skepticism about HexOS’s pricing, questioning whether it offers enough value compared to free alternatives like TrueNAS Core. These mixed reactions underscore the challenge HexOS faces in satisfying diverse user needs. While it appeals to beginners, its limitations may alienate more advanced users.

What Is Planned on the Roadmap Later

HexOS’s roadmap for 2025 includes several significant updates. The introduction of a Virtual Machine Manager will enable users to run hybrid setups, combining physical and virtual hardware for applications like media servers or dedicated workstations. This feature could make HexOS more appealing to tech-savvy users. Snapshots and replication are also on the horizon, providing advanced data protection and synchronization options. The planned “Buddy Backups” feature, which allows encrypted data sharing with trusted peers, reflects HexOS’s focus on community-driven solutions. Other planned updates include an expanded app catalog, local UI support, and integrated cloud backups. These features aim to address current shortcomings and position HexOS as a versatile NAS solution.

Read HERE for the latest post from HexOS on their ‘Road to 1.0’ Roadmap article.

Verdict of the Beta So Far

HexOS Beta 1 delivers on its promise of simplicity but is not without its flaws. While it excels in accessibility and ease of use, its limited features and reliance on cloud-based management highlight its beta status. For now, HexOS is best viewed as a foundational product with significant room for growth. HexOS is ideal for home users, small businesses, and creative professionals who prioritize ease of use over advanced customization. Its guided setup process and intuitive interface make it an excellent choice for beginners. However, advanced users may find its current limitations restrictive. For families and hobbyists, HexOS provides a straightforward way to manage data and applications. Its focus on accessibility makes it a valuable option for users who want a hassle-free NAS experience. As the software evolves, its planned features could make it a strong contender in the NAS market. For users willing to experiment with a beta product, HexOS offers a glimpse of a promising future. However, those seeking a complete solution may prefer to wait for the 1.0 release.

Join Inner Circle

Want to follow specific category? Also Read...UniFI UNAS Pro NAS Software DeHexOS AMA - User Questions AnsHexOS AMA - User Questions AnsWhat Is The Most User-FriendlyThe Best User-Friendly NAS SofWhat is HexOS? A Truly User-FrUGREEN NAS Software - The UGOSTerramaster TOS 6 NAS SoftwareUGREEN NAS Software - The UGOSLinus Investing in a New NAS S Subscribe

You can also follow specific search terms:

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?

TRY CHAT

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

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

    

 

WE LOVE COFFEE

The Topton MW-N100-NAS motherboard is a budget-friendly ITX solution aimed at users seeking a compact and low-power network-attached storage (NAS) setup. Priced at around $139 for the motherboard and CPU alone, or $183.88 with an 8GB DDR5 SODIMM and a 128GB SSD, this board is built around the Intel Alder Lake-N N100 CPU. This processor, part of Intel’s low-power N-series lineup, features a 4-core, 4-thread architecture with a 3.4 GHz turbo frequency, 6W TDP, and integrated Intel UHD Graphics.

NOTE 1 – A version of this motherboard has appeared that features a x4 PCIe slot, but it is shared with the 2nd M.2 slot. You can learn more about it HERE on the Amazon listing

NOTE 2 – The review of the N100 version of this motherboard is now live and HERE on YouTube and HERE on the blog

While the CPU is not designed for high-performance processing tasks, it is suitable for general NAS functions such as file storage, backup, and moderate media streaming. Its low power requirements and passive cooling capability make it an energy-efficient choice for users who prioritize minimal power consumption in a home NAS environment, as well as a compact form factor that allows for versatile placement options.

UPDATE – There is a new N305 i3 8 Core version of this motherboard now available HERE for $284.77 (Inlcudes 8GB DDR5 RAM and 128GB OS SSD)

Topton MW-N100-NAS ITX DiY NAS Review – Quick Conclusion

The Topton MW-N100-NAS motherboard is an affordable ITX option for basic NAS setups, featuring a low-power Intel N100 CPU, dual 2.5GbE ports, and a rare built-in 10GbE port for faster data transfer. With six SATA ports and two M.2 slots, it offers versatile storage options, although the M.2 slots are limited to PCIe Gen 3 x1, restricting maximum speeds. While the lack of a PCIe slot and ECC support may limit its appeal for advanced users, the MW-N100-NAS performs reliably for general NAS tasks like file storage, backups, and moderate streaming. It’s best suited for budget-conscious users who need a compact and low-power NAS with decent networking options, though not for those requiring extensive expandability or high-speed processing.

BUILD QUALITY - 8/10

HARDWARE - 8/10

PERFORMANCE - 7/10

PRICE - 10/10

VALUE - 9/10

8.4

PROS

Affordable price for an ITX motherboard with 10GbE networking capabilities.
Built-in 10GbE port (Marvell AQC113C) and dual 2.5GbE ports (Intel i226-V) for versatile networking options.
Low power consumption (6W TDP for CPU), suitable for continuous 24/7 operation.
Six SATA 3.0 ports and two M.2 NVMe slots, providing flexible storage configuration options.
Compact form factor, making it ideal for small NAS builds and limited-space installations.
Supports up to 32GB of DDR5 memory, which is adequate for general NAS use.
Low heat output with stable thermal performance, reducing the need for extensive cooling.
User-friendly BIOS with customization options for PCI and USB settings.

CONS

No PCIe slot, limiting expansion options for additional hardware like GPUs or other high-speed components.
Lacks ECC memory support, which is often preferred in NAS setups for data integrity.
M.2 slots are limited to PCIe Gen 3 x1 lanes, restricting maximum speed for high-performance applications.
Requires a 300W power supply despite low power demands, adding potential extra cost and size requirements.

Where to Buy a Product
			VISIT RETAILER ➤
			VISIT RETAILER ➤
			VISIT RETAILER ➤
			VISIT RETAILER ➤
			VISIT RETAILER ➤

Topton MW-N100-NAS ITX DiY NAS Review – Hardware Design

One of the most notable aspects of the MW-N100-NAS is its networking features, which include a 10GbE port, powered by the Marvell AQC113C chipset, alongside two 2.5GbE ports using Intel’s i226-V chipset. This array of network options offers considerable flexibility for users who may need fast data transfer rates across multiple networked devices or even redundancy configurations.

The 10GbE port is rare for a budget NAS board in the ITX form factor, adding significant appeal to this motherboard. However, the board’s lack of a PCIe slot is a potential drawback for users who may wish to add high-speed components, such as dedicated graphics or additional networking cards.

For NAS applications, this limitation may affect performance expansion, as it restricts the motherboard’s capacity for future upgrades. For users needing extra customization, the lack of PCIe could be a significant constraint, especially for those interested in expanding their setup beyond standard NAS functions.

In terms of storage options, the MW-N100-NAS offers an array of SATA and NVMe configurations. It includes six SATA 3.0 ports and two M.2 slots for NVMe storage, which should be sufficient for users with diverse storage requirements. However, the M.2 slots are limited to PCIe Gen 3 x1 lanes, resulting in a maximum throughput of roughly 1,000 MB/s per slot.

This bandwidth limitation is adequate for general NAS storage tasks, such as storing and accessing personal files or streaming media files over a network, but may be restrictive for more demanding applications that require sustained high-speed data access.

Below is a table summarizing the board’s hardware specifications, offering a clear view of its components and supported configurations:

One feature some users may miss is ECC (Error-Correcting Code) memory support, often desired in NAS environments for data integrity. Instead, the board provides a single SO-DIMM slot that supports up to 32GB of non-ECC DDR5 memory. While this capacity is adequate for most home NAS applications, it may be limiting for advanced setups involving heavier workloads or virtualization, where additional memory or ECC support could enhance performance and data reliability.

The BIOS offers various options for customization, allowing users to adjust settings such as PCI and USB controls, which is beneficial for users looking to optimize the motherboard’s performance based on specific NAS use cases or stability requirements. The lack of ECC support, however, may limit its appeal for users who prioritize maximum data integrity, especially in a NAS configuration where consistent data transfer and storage reliability are critical.

Power efficiency is another key feature of the MW-N100-NAS. During testing, idle power consumption was recorded at around 28.2W with drives connected, and the motherboard’s power draw under load conditions reached a peak of 55W.

These low power consumption figures are advantageous for a NAS system expected to run continuously, reducing electricity costs and lowering heat output, which is essential in confined spaces. This efficiency is further supported by the Intel Alder Lake-N N100 CPU’s low 6W TDP, which enables it to operate reliably without requiring intensive cooling.

However, the board’s power requirements specify a 300W power supply, which may seem excessive for a board designed for modest performance. This is likely to ensure stable power delivery, particularly with the 10GbE network port under load.

Additionally, the board is shipped without a CMOS battery, so users will need to source one separately to maintain BIOS settings over time. These requirements add minor extra costs and may necessitate careful planning, especially for users unfamiliar with NAS builds.

Performance testing showed that the MW-N100-NAS delivered reliable but moderate results. When transferring files through the 10GbE connection, speeds peaked at around 750 MB/s, with average speeds of about 305–320 MB/s. These results, while not close to full 10GbE bandwidth, are within expectations for a budget NAS motherboard equipped with a low-power CPU and are suitable for typical NAS uses, such as file sharing and moderate streaming.

For internal data transfers, such as moving files between SSDs, read speeds reached approximately 795 MB/s, while write speeds topped out around 688 MB/s. Though these speeds are acceptable for standard NAS usage, they do fall short of full-speed potential, likely due to the board’s limited PCIe lane allocation and modest CPU capabilities.

Thermal performance was stable during testing, with temperatures peaking at around 49°C after prolonged operation under load. The MW-N100-NAS uses a low-profile fan that provides adequate cooling without generating excessive noise.

However, for users who intend to utilize all six SATA ports or both M.2 slots with continuous, high-demand workloads, additional cooling solutions may be worth considering. The board’s efficient thermal management makes it suitable for users seeking a system that can run continuously without extensive cooling modifications, although configurations involving numerous high-speed drives may benefit from enhanced cooling.

Overall, the Topton MW-N100-NAS is a solid choice for those seeking a straightforward NAS setup without extensive customization needs. Its key strengths are its networking capabilities, including the rare addition of a 10GbE port alongside dual 2.5GbE ports, providing flexible network options for data sharing, backup, and streaming tasks.

However, limitations such as the absence of a PCIe slot, limited M.2 slot speeds, and lack of ECC memory support may deter users seeking a more advanced NAS configuration or those with specific performance or data integrity requirements. These factors indicate that this board is best suited for users who primarily need reliable file storage and moderate transfer speeds rather than high-end processing or customization.

Topton MW-N100-NAS Motherboard Review – Conclusion

The MW-N100-NAS motherboard from Topton is a practical option for NAS users who prioritize cost-effectiveness, compact form factor, and low power usage over advanced performance features. This board is positioned well for users who need a simple, dedicated NAS with solid networking options, allowing for versatile configurations that don’t require high-powered components or extensive customizability. The inclusion of 10GbE is a significant advantage, providing a notable boost in transfer speeds over standard Ethernet, which is beneficial for small offices or households with moderate data-sharing needs. However, potential buyers should consider its limitations in terms of expandability and memory capabilities, as these may impact its long-term viability for more advanced NAS applications. For those focused on basic file storage and network sharing, the MW-N100-NAS is an appealing choice with a balanced mix of essential features and cost-efficiency. Nevertheless, for users anticipating heavier workloads, or those looking to future-proof their NAS setup, it may be worth exploring more advanced options that offer better expandability, ECC support, or higher sustained performance capabilities.

PROS	CONs
Affordable price for an ITX motherboard with 10GbE networking capabilities. Built-in 10GbE port (Marvell AQC113C) and dual 2.5GbE ports (Intel i226-V) for versatile networking options. Low power consumption (6W TDP for CPU), suitable for continuous 24/7 operation. Six SATA 3.0 ports and two M.2 NVMe slots, providing flexible storage configuration options. Compact form factor, making it ideal for small NAS builds and limited-space installations. Supports up to 32GB of DDR5 memory, which is adequate for general NAS use. Low heat output with stable thermal performance, reducing the need for extensive cooling. User-friendly BIOS with customization options for PCI and USB settings.	No PCIe slot, limiting expansion options for additional hardware like GPUs or other high-speed components. Lacks ECC memory support, which is often preferred in NAS setups for data integrity. M.2 slots are limited to PCIe Gen 3 x1 lanes, restricting maximum speed for high-performance applications. Requires a 300W power supply despite low power demands, adding potential extra cost and size requirements.

Join Inner Circle

Want to follow specific category? Also Read...Week 51 Tech Round-Up – QNAPLocal AI and NAS Drives - IS TMinisforum MGA1 Docking StatioFAQ for DIY NAS Builds: EverytRecommended ATX Motherboards fRecommended ATX Motherboards fN305 6-Bay 10GbE NAS MotherboaCWWK Q670 8-Bay Gen5 NAS vPro Flashstor Gen 2 NAS ReviewHexOS NAS Software - Review of Subscribe

You can also follow specific search terms:

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?

TRY CHAT

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

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

    

 

WE LOVE COFFEE

When exploring NAS solutions for business in 2024, 8-Bay NAS drives stand out as a significant upgrade in both capability and professionalism. While NAS devices are commonly used in homes and small businesses for basic storage, the 8-Bay models represent a major advancement. These systems, supporting both hard drives and SSDs, highlight the cutting-edge features offered by NAS brands today. Historically, 8-Bay NAS units have played a crucial role in bridging the gap between desktop and rackmount servers, providing superior storage, performance, and redundancy. With features like 10-gigabit ethernet, Xeon processors, and expanded memory, they cater to a more demanding range of users and applications. NAS manufacturers have long recognized the need for powerful desktop alternatives to traditional rackmount systems, and 8-Bay NAS servers have filled that gap. With a variety of models offering similar price points but diverse hardware and software capabilities, the selection process can be overwhelming. In this updated guide, I’ll highlight the top three 8-Bay NAS systems to consider at the tail end of 2024 and into 2025, focusing on value, scalability, and performance. Let’s get started.

Best NAS of the Year (Honourable Mention) The Lockerstor 8 Gen 3 NAS $1799 (Nov/Dec) – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H Terramaster F8 SSD PLUS NAS $799 – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H (Best Software) Synology DS1821+ $1099 – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H UGREEN DXP8800 PLUS NAS $1499 – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H

What Have the Best 8-Bay NAS Drives Have in Common?

While there are plenty of 8-Bay NAS drives available, not all offer the same level of quality and features. Many budget brands may seem appealing but often compromise on durability and reliability. Whether you’re considering my top recommendations or looking at other options, the best 8-Bay NAS systems should always include the following key features:

• Combined Hardware & Software: The NAS should come with a full software suite, including a web GUI, mobile apps, and desktop clients for backup, media, streaming, surveillance, and file management.
• Cross-Platform Compatibility: Works seamlessly with Windows, Mac, Android, and Linux.
• Warranty: A 2-3 year warranty, with the option to extend up to 5 years.
• Local and Remote Access: Provides secure local and remote access at no extra cost.
• Support for Large Drives: Compatible with the latest 22TB NAS hard drives (e.g., Seagate Ironwolf or WD Red).
• RAID Configurations: Supports multiple RAID options for data protection and performance.
• Regular Updates: Ensures ongoing security and feature enhancements.
• Cloud Sync: Integrates with services like Google Drive, Dropbox, AWS, and Azure.
• Shared Drive Hosting: Syncs with your PC’s native file manager for easy access.
• Direct Ethernet Access: Allows fast direct connection via Ethernet for 100MB/s or higher speeds.
• Backup and Sync Tools: Includes software for regular backups and synchronization with your devices.

Make sure any 8-Bay NAS you consider includes these features to avoid ending up with an inferior product.

The UGREEN DXP8800 PLUS NAS

0-192TB, Intel i5-1235u 10 Core, 12 Thread CPU, 8-64GB DDR5, 8x SATA, 2x PCIe Gen 4 m.2, PCIe x4 Slot, 2x 10GbE, 2x USB4/TB4, SD Card Slot, 3x 10GbE

Current Price/Availability on Amazon – $1499 – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H

Hardware Review – HERE

YouTube Video Review – HERE

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

When it comes to software and performance, however, things are a little more complicated. The UGREEN NAS software (UGOS) is still very much in beta, and it feels likes it. The system (at time of writing) has still yet to complete initial crowdfunding and development of the software is still on-going (so we are still judging a software OS that hasn’t finished). But nevertheless, the absence of services such as 2 factor authentication, WORM, a comprehensive security monitor, volume encryption, a virtual machine hypervisor, broader 3rd party cloud sync and backup tools, etc – the absence of these (as well as inconsistencies in the software and performance, that arguably are possibly related to it’s beta status) lead to it being hard to recommend the DXP8800 PLUS on a software level. However, this system will not see physical fulfilment to backers till at least June/July at the very earliest, which is still a decent amount of time to polish the software and roll out beta’s of individual services that are promised on the UGREEN roadmap.

Perhaps you are looking at the DXP8800 PLUS series for TrueNAS/UnRAID/OMV etc, or simply to set it up for local SMB storage for your backups and then use the docker app to run Plex. For those users, the DXP8800 is an absolute bargain. Overall, I am hugely impressed and look forward to seeing where this system, UGOS and UGREEN go in the exciting world of NAS in the next year or two. The DXP8800 PLUS is a BEAST of a NAS in terms of hardware, but the software is still WiP.

SOFTWARE - 6/10

HARDWARE - 10/10

PERFORMANCE - 7/10

PRICE - 10/10

VALUE - 9/10

8.4

PROS

PCIe Expandability
8 HDDs + 2x Gen 4 M.2 in 1 box under $999
Good Balanced CPU choice
10GbE Dual Ports!
An SD Card Slot (wierdly rare!)
10/10 Build Quality
Great Scalability
Fantastic Mobile Application (even vs Synology and QNAP etc)
Desktop/Browser GUI shows promise
Established Brand entering the NAS Market
Not too noisy (comparatively)
Very Appealing retail package+accessories

CONS

10GbE Performance was less than expected
Crowdfunding choice is confusing
Software (still in Beta) is still far from ready 18/4/24

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? UGREEN DXP4800 PLUS £629.99 B&H USA £629.99 ($70 off) [LINK] UGREEN DXP4800 PLUS 4-Bay (BF) Amazon USA $20% off – $559.99 (was $699) [LINK] UGREEN DXP2800 2-Bay NAS (BF) Amazon USA $20% off – $319.99 (was $399) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

Best All Round 8-Bay NAS Drive – Synology DS1821+ NAS

0-176TB, 8-Bays, 2x NVMe Cache Bays, Quad-Core Ryzen V1500B 2.2Ghz CPU, 4-32GB DDR4 ECC Memory, 4x 1Gbe Port, 1x PCIe 3×8 Upgrade Slot, 5yr Warranty

Current Price/Availability on Amazon – $1099

Hardware Review – LINK

YouTube Video Review – Watch

What I said in my review Dec ’20:

What you have here is a solid piece of hardware that very much lives up to everything Synology promises, even if some of those promises aren’t to everyone’s taste. With a hardware architecture that we have already tested to notable success in the DS1621+ previously, we already knew that this NAS would be able to do everything it promised. Many users looking to spend their annual business budgets on an improved or extended data storage solution will find the balanced position of hardware vs software found by the Synology DS1821+ to be quite desirable, as well as the scaled potential to upgrade external performance via PCIe and storage via eSATA. However, there is no ignoring that despite the fact this 2020 release excels in many things, it also arrives with a little bottlenecking in a number of others. The continued default utilisation of 1Gbe on the newest generation by Synology is somewhat perplexing and although I have continued admiration for Synology’s engagement with intelligent M2 NVMe cache utilisation and providing a solution that allows more flexible upgrade paths, I know that there are still users who just wish they could use that super fast NAND for raw storage pools and have better than gigabit connections out by default.

It has never been a secret that buying a Synology NAS solution was always a largely ‘software over hardware’ purchase, and the DS1821+ is still a fine example of that balance. However, with other brands closing the gap in what they can offer the SMB (Small/Medium Business) user, while still providing superior hardware and similar warranty coverage, there is the tiniest feeling that the DS1821+ is a NAS that sits on its laurels a bit. Hugely upgradable and still with that award-winning and fantastically intuative DSM software, the DS1821+ is about buying a solution you can adapt within its lifespan and not one that will knock your socks off on day one. A solid and dependable data storage solution, if a little safe, at the end of 2020.

SOFTWARE - 8/10

HARDWARE - 8/10

PERFORMANCE - 8/10

PRICE - 8/10

VALUE - 8/10

8.0

PROS

Desktop Ryzen Powered Solution
Dual NVMe M.2 cache
PCIe Gen 3 x8 PCIe Equipped
Great RAID Options (inc SHR)
Excellent choice of Apps
DDR4 ECC Memory up to 32GB
Numerous Backup Software Options
Huge Virtualization Support
3yr Warranty and Extendable to 5yrs

CONS

1Gbe Ports seem a bit limited now
Shame it does not support 1/2 x DX1215
NVMe SSDs cannot be used for RAW storage

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? Synology DS1821+8bay NAS V1500B Quad-Core 2.2 GHz,Black Amazon UK 43.78 OFF (WAS 1091) [LINK] Synology DS1821+/128TB HAT5300 8 Bay Amazon UK 15.47 OFF (WAS 6657) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

The Terramaster F8 SSD PLUS Flash NAS

0-64TB, 8x M.2 NVMe Gen 3×1 SSD Bays, 16-32GB DDR5, 10GbE x1, USB 3.2 10G x3, HDMI 4k 60fps, 2 Year Warranty

Current Price/Availability on Amazon – $799 – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H

Hardware Review – HERE

YouTube Video Review – HERE

You really have to give Terramaster credit here for this system. With so many brands trying to enter the world of dedicated flash SSD storage in the last year or so, the F8 SSD Plus is hands down one of the most impressively designed options out there. Somehow arriving with more storage than most options out there, whilst also being the smallest. Long-time storage veterans are definitely going to ponder temperatures and operational heat when the system has been up and running for long periods of time, but Terramaster has clearly factored this in too with a vast amount of tactical heatsink placement, angled airflow, and painfully necessary SSD performance reductions in order to stop the cart before the horse bolts in terms of heat! The Terramaster F8 SSD Plus is by no means a perfect SSD NAS! Not by a long shot in fact! As long as you keep it realistic in terms of what you expect an eight-bay SSD system of this scale and price point to be able to do, I do not think you will be disappointed! Just make sure to remember that this is not an enterprise piece of kit, and is geared far more towards the prosumer, the enthusiast, and perhaps the small/medium business user.

Content creators, photographers, videographers, and those that want to manage a fast-moving database in a small group of users are definitely going to feel the benefits of the F8 SSD Plus. But the absence of higher-tier business features in terms of hardware, such as ECC memory and no network failover out of the box, are going to be a pain for those bigger users that have bigger demands. The TOS 6 software is, on the whole, better than it’s ever been in terms of feature set, functionality, and responsiveness. I am still not really in love with the “Windows 11” aesthetic, and definitely miss the TOS 5 desktop style that has become something of a staple of the NAS software industry, but I’m sure I’ll get used to it. At this point, there really are very few things available in the NAS market in terms of software that are not available here. A flexible RAID system in T-Raid, support of BTRFS, a multi-tiered backup software, multiple client tools, support of Write Once Read Many, volume encryption, two-factor authentication, isolation mode, the list goes on and on. It would be easy to critique the system in saying that it lacks ZFS (with numerous inline features that really benefit SSD use), but then you also remember that Terramaster allows users to use third-party operating systems like UnRAID and TrueNAS, which means that these are not completely off the table anyway!

Overall, I’ve got to say that the Terramaster F8 SSD Plus is a fantastically capable, affordable, and impressive desktop flash NAS system, and in a growing competitive marketplace for these kinds of devices, Terramaster has done a phenomenal job in their introduction of a new SSD-targeted solution in their portfolio. It may lack some of the software pizzazz of a Synology or aggressive hardware of a QNAP, but it manages to do its own thing very well, and as long as you keep your expectations realistic, this is a phenomenal NAS for 2024/2025.

SOFTWARE - 8/10

HARDWARE - 8/10

PERFORMANCE - 7/10

PRICE - 9/10

VALUE - 10/10

8.4

PROS

Compact Size with High Storage Capacity: Despite its small footprint, the F8 SSD Plus can accommodate up to 8 M.2 SSDs, providing significant storage in a compact form factor.
Effective Heat Management: The system features strategic heatsink placement, angled airflow, and SSD performance adjustments to manage heat efficiently.
Affordable Price Point: Offers a cost-effective solution for a flash NAS system, making it accessible to a wide range of users.
Versatile Use: Suitable for prosumers, enthusiasts, small to medium businesses, content creators, photographers, videographers, and those managing fast-moving databases.
Improved TOS 6 Software: The latest TOS 6 software version includes a broad range of features such as RAID support, BTRFS, multi-tiered backup, and more.
Support for Third-Party Operating Systems: Users can install third-party NAS software like UnRAID and TrueNAS, offering flexibility and customization options.
Low Power Consumption: Utilizes an efficient Intel N305 i3 processor, which keeps power usage low while still delivering adequate performance.
Quiet Operation: Despite being a pure SSD system, the fan noise is minimal, making it suitable for quieter environments.
Good Connectivity Options: Includes a 10 GbE port and multiple USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, allowing for a range of external connections and expansions.
Environmentally Conscious Design: The packaging is mostly recyclable, and the use of external PSUs can help reduce heat and potential e-waste.

CONS

Lacks High-End Business Features: Missing enterprise-level features such as ECC memory and network failover, which are important for more demanding business environments.
Single 10 GbE Port: Only one network port limits redundancy and failover options, potentially creating a bottleneck for data transfer.
Aesthetic and UI Concerns: The new “Windows 11” aesthetic of TOS 6 may not appeal to all users, and the lack of the familiar TOS 5 desktop style might be a drawback for some.
No Native ZFS Support: Although there are alternative file systems available, the absence of native ZFS support, which benefits SSD use with features like data integrity and snapshot capabilities, may be seen as a limitation.

Where to Buy a Product
			VISIT RETAILER ➤
			VISIT RETAILER ➤
			VISIT RETAILER ➤
			VISIT RETAILER ➤
			VISIT RETAILER ➤

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? TERRAMASTER F8 SSD PLUS Amazon USA $499.99 ($100 off) [LINK]

Honourable Mention 1: The ZimaCube Pro NAS

0-144TB HDD, 0-32TB M.2, Intel 10 Core i5-1235u, 16-64GB DDR5, 6x SATA Slots, 4+6 NVMe, 1x 10GbE, 2x 2.5GbE, 2x TB4/USB4, 2x PCIe Slot, 2 Year Warranty

Current Price/Availability on Amazon – $TBC

Hardware Review – HERE

YouTube Video Review – HERE

The ZimaCube Pro is a well-rounded NAS solution that combines robust hardware with extensive connectivity options, making it a viable choice for users with demanding storage and processing needs. The device’s solid construction and comprehensive storage capabilities make it a reliable option for professionals involved in content creation, data management, and media processing. The dual Thunderbolt 4 ports and multiple Ethernet interfaces enhance its versatility, allowing it to adapt to various use cases and environments. However, the ZimaCube Pro also presents some challenges that potential users should consider. The device’s high noise levels, particularly under load, could be a concern for those who prioritize a quiet operating environment. The aggressive cooling profile, while effective in managing heat, contributes to this noise issue and may detract from the overall user experience. Additionally, the device’s write performance is less consistent than its read performance, which could impact users who require reliable and fast data transfer for write-intensive tasks.

The software functionality, while adequate, may require further refinement to fully leverage the device’s hardware potential. Firmware updates and enhancements could address these limitations, improving the device’s performance and user experience over time. In summary, the ZimaCube Pro shows significant potential as a high-performance NAS solution, particularly for specific user groups like content creators and data professionals. However, users should weigh the pros and cons carefully, considering their specific needs and environments, before investing in this NAS solution. While the device offers a solid foundation, further optimization and refinement could enhance its appeal, making it a more competitive choice in the NAS market.

Honourable Mention 2: The Lockerstor 8 Gen 3 NAS (AS6808T)

0-192TB, AMD Emb.Ryzen V3000, 16-64GB DDR5 ECC, 8x SATA, 4x M.2 Gen4x1 Slots, 2x 10GbE, 2x 5GbE, 2x USB4/TB4, 3 Year Warranty

Current Price/Availability on Amazon – $1799 (Nov/Dec) – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H

Hardware Review – HERE

YouTube Video Review – HERE

The Asustor Lockerstor Gen 3 is a significant leap forward, showcasing enhanced hardware and connectivity tailored to high-performance storage needs. Built with an AMD Ryzen V3000 Embedded processor, this NAS balances power and efficiency for various data-intensive tasks. Its ECC DDR5 memory ensures data integrity, making it reliable for professional users handling large data volumes. Equipped with dual 10GbE and dual 5GbE ports alongside USB4, the Lockerstor Gen 3 achieves up to 30 Gbps in total network connectivity and offers PCIe Gen 4 M.2 NVMe support, maximizing throughput across multiple high-speed connections. Real-world testing confirmed its capability to reach transfer speeds over 3 GB/s with combined network and USB4 connections. Performance tests on standard HDDs in RAID 5 mode over 10GbE averaged 500–600 MB/s, while NVMe drives in RAID 0 fully utilized dual 10GbE with around 2.5 GB/s speeds.

When directly connected over USB4/Thunderbolt 4 for IP networking, it maintained stable speeds of 1.4–1.6 GB/s per USB4 link, a valuable setup for users in need of direct high-speed connections like video editors. With enhanced heat dissipation—thanks to a copper-finned heat pipe and airflow redesign—this NAS efficiently manages thermal output even with these high-performance components, ensuring a durable, high-speed performance setup in a compact form.

The Lockerstor Gen 3’s software, ADM 5, covers essential data management and security, though it lacks the advanced multimedia and AI features seen in competitors. Its lack of integrated graphics means transcoding support may be limited, but ADM 5 still enables smooth, secure file management, automatic backups, snapshots, and remote access. Asustor has improved default security settings, and ADM’s flexibility also allows for third-party OS installation, making it compatible with solutions like TrueNAS and Unraid for custom storage configurations. With network management features like Wake-on-LAN and Wake-on-WAN, and support for SMB Multichannel, the NAS provides robust options for deployments needing remote access and high-performance file sharing.

In terms of build quality, the Lockerstor Gen 3 combines a sturdy metal frame with low noise levels, even under heavy loads, and maintains efficient power consumption, peaking at 50 watts during active workloads—a notable feat given its power and compact size. The built-in LCD panel for direct monitoring and configuration adds convenience, and the unit’s comprehensive array of connections means it is equipped to handle multi-user, high-bandwidth environments. Overall, with a focus on performance, network flexibility, and reliable design, the Lockerstor Gen 3 is a standout choice for professionals who require scalable, high-speed storage without compromising on build quality or power efficiency.

SOFTWARE - 6/10

HARDWARE - 10/10

PERFORMANCE - 9/10

PRICE - 8/10

VALUE - 8/10

8.2

PROS

High-Performance CPU: Equipped with the AMD Ryzen V3000 Embedded processor, delivering efficient, server-grade performance for demanding tasks.
ECC DDR5 Memory: Includes 16GB of ECC DDR5 memory (expandable to 64GB), ensuring data integrity and reliability.
Comprehensive Connectivity: Dual 10GbE and dual 5GbE ports, along with two USB4 ports, provide a combined bandwidth of up to 30 Gbps for versatile network setups.
Advanced Data Protection: Offers RAID 5 and RAID 6 options for HDDs and NVMe drives, with hot-swappable capabilities and Btrfs support for snapshots.
USB4/Thunderbolt 4 Over IP: Supports direct connection to Mac and Windows systems via USB4 for fast data transfers and point-to-point editing.
Robust Build Quality: Sturdy metal chassis with minimal noise, even during heavy operations, and excellent heat dissipation with a copper heat pipe.
ADM 5 Software: Reliable, secure OS with essential features like snapshots, remote access, and simplified setup; supports third-party OS installations.
Efficient Power Consumption: Peaks at around 50W under heavy load, efficient for the system’s performance class.
Front LCD Display: The configurable LCD panel allows direct monitoring and setup, a handy feature for easy system management.
Excellent for Multi-User Environments: Multi-channel network support and high bandwidth make it ideal for collaborative, multi-client setups.

CONS

High Price Point: At around $1,799, it’s a premium option, potentially limiting appeal for home users and hobbyists.
No Integrated Graphics: Lacks GPU support, limiting multimedia transcoding and high-end streaming capabilities.
Software Limitations: ADM 5 is solid but doesn’t match the multimedia and AI features found in competitors like Synology and QNAP.
M.2 NVMe Slots Limited to PCIe x1: Each NVMe slot is limited to x1 speed, slightly capping potential performance for SSDs.

Where to Buy a Product
			VISIT RETAILER ➤
			VISIT RETAILER ➤
			VISIT RETAILER ➤
			VISIT RETAILER ➤
			VISIT RETAILER ➤

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? These Offers are Checked Daily

Need More Help Choosing the right NAS?

Choosing the right data storage solution for your needs can be very intimidating and it’s never too late to ask for help. With options ranging from NAS to DAS, Thunderbolt to SAS and connecting everything up so you can access all your lovely data at the touch of a button can be a lot simpler than you think. If you want some tips, guidance or help with everything from compatibility to suitability of a solution for you, why not drop me a message below and I will get back to you as soon as possible with what you should go for, its suitability and the best place to get it. This service is designed without profit in mind and in order to help you with your data storage needs, so I will try to answer your questions as soon as possible. Just enter in a few details of your setup, storage requirements and (in the case of buying a new solution) your budget – then me and Eddie the Web guy can help you with your question. This is a completely free service, is NOT provided with profit in mind and is manned by two humans (no bots, no automated replies, etc). Assistance might take an extra day or two (the service gets a lot of visitors) but we do try to answer every message. If you want to support this service, you can find out how to donate HERE. Otherwise, you can still just message us for free advice anyway!

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
[contact-form-7]
Join Inner Circle

Want to follow specific category? Also Read...The Best 8-Bay NAS to Buy - 20The Best NAS for $500 / £500 The Best NAS Hard Drive BuyersRecommended 8-Bay NAS to Buy -The Best 8-Bay NAS of 2023/202The BEST NAS Enclosures on AliThe Best NAS Enclosure Cases oThe Best NAS for Just $100-150The Best NAS for Just $100-150Best NAS for Under $250 of 202 Subscribe

You can also follow specific search terms:

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?

TRY CHAT

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

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

    

 

WE LOVE COFFEE

For professionals moving from cloud storage to private servers, 4-Bay NAS devices have become the go-to choice in 2024. Offering large storage capacities of up to 24TB per drive and enhanced redundancy for data protection, these systems stand out for their reliable hardware and ample space. As NAS technology has advanced, the quality of 4-Bay NAS systems designed for prosumers and small businesses has improved significantly, all while maintaining competitive pricing. After years of reviewing NAS devices, it’s clear that 2024 is a particularly competitive year, with significant innovations shaping the market. Key developments include the integration of M.2 NVMe SSDs for both caching and primary storage, the widespread adoption of 2.5GbE networking, and the introduction of newer, more powerful processors to enhance internal bandwidth. NAS software has also seen continuous upgrades, making these systems more flexible and feature-rich. As we head into 2024, let’s explore the best 4-Bay NAS drives available.

Best 4-Bay NAS of the Year (Best Software) Synology DS923+ NAS $550+ – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H Terramaster F4-424 Max NAS $899– Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H Lockerstor 4 Gen 3 NAS $1299– Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H (Best Hardware) QNAP TS-464 NAS $550 – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H

What Have All the Best 4-Bay NAS Drives Have in Common?

As we move into 2025, the market offers a wide variety of 4-Bay NAS drives, but not all are created equal. Many budget options fall short in durability and performance compared to premium brands. When choosing a 4-Bay NAS, whether from my top picks or others, ensure it includes these essential features:

• Support for SATA and M.2 NVMe: A must-have feature for modern NAS systems in 2024.
• Support for Large Drives: Should accommodate up to 24TB drives like Seagate Ironwolf or WD Red.
• RAID Configurations: Ensures better performance and data protection.
• Integrated Hardware & Software: Includes both the NAS device and a software suite with apps for backup, media streaming, surveillance, and file management.
• Cross-Platform Compatibility: Should work seamlessly with Windows, Mac, Android, and Linux.
• Local and Secure Remote Access: Supports both local and secure remote access at no additional cost.
• Direct Ethernet Access: Allows fast, direct access via Ethernet.
• Backup and Sync Tools: Includes tools for regular file and system backups.
• Cloud and Business Sync: Compatible with Google Drive, Dropbox, AWS, and more. As well as SaaS platforms, such as Google Workspace and 365
• Shared Drive Hosting: Easily syncs shared drives with native file managers.
• 2-3 Year Warranty, Extendable to 5 Years: Standard warranty with an option to extend.
• Regular Updates: Keeps the system secure and up-to-date.

Ensure any 4-Bay NAS you consider has these features for the best experience in 2024. Now, let’s look at the top 4-Bay NAS drives to invest at the tail end of 2024.

The Lockerstor 4 Gen 3 – Powerhouse NAS (at a price!)

0-96TB, 4-Bays, AMD V3000 CPU 4-Core/8-Thread, 16-64GB DDR5 ECC, 4xSATA, 4x Gen4 M.2 4×1, 2x 10GbE, 2x 5GbE, 2x USB4 USB-C, 3x USB 10G, 3 Year Warranty

Current Price/Availability on Amazon – $1299

Hardware Review – LINK

YouTube Video Review – Watch

What I said in my review OCT ’24:

The Asustor Lockerstor Gen 3 is a significant leap forward, showcasing enhanced hardware and connectivity tailored to high-performance storage needs. Built with an AMD Ryzen V3000 Embedded processor, this NAS balances power and efficiency for various data-intensive tasks. Its ECC DDR5 memory ensures data integrity, making it reliable for professional users handling large data volumes. Equipped with dual 10GbE and dual 5GbE ports alongside USB4, the Lockerstor Gen 3 achieves up to 30 Gbps in total network connectivity and offers PCIe Gen 4 M.2 NVMe support, maximizing throughput across multiple high-speed connections. Real-world testing confirmed its capability to reach transfer speeds over 3 GB/s with combined network and USB4 connections. Performance tests on standard HDDs in RAID 5 mode over 10GbE averaged 500–600 MB/s, while NVMe drives in RAID 0 fully utilized dual 10GbE with around 2.5 GB/s speeds. When directly connected over USB4/Thunderbolt 4 for IP networking, it maintained stable speeds of 1.4–1.6 GB/s per USB4 link, a valuable setup for users in need of direct high-speed connections like video editors. With enhanced heat dissipation—thanks to a copper-finned heat pipe and airflow redesign—this NAS efficiently manages thermal output even with these high-performance components, ensuring a durable, high-speed performance setup in a compact form.

The Lockerstor Gen 3’s software, ADM 5, covers essential data management and security, though it lacks the advanced multimedia and AI features seen in competitors. Its lack of integrated graphics means transcoding support may be limited, but ADM 5 still enables smooth, secure file management, automatic backups, snapshots, and remote access. Asustor has improved default security settings, and ADM’s flexibility also allows for third-party OS installation, making it compatible with solutions like TrueNAS and Unraid for custom storage configurations. With network management features like Wake-on-LAN and Wake-on-WAN, and support for SMB Multichannel, the NAS provides robust options for deployments needing remote access and high-performance file sharing.

In terms of build quality, the Lockerstor Gen 3 combines a sturdy metal frame with low noise levels, even under heavy loads, and maintains efficient power consumption, peaking at 50 watts during active workloads—a notable feat given its power and compact size. The built-in LCD panel for direct monitoring and configuration adds convenience, and the unit’s comprehensive array of connections means it is equipped to handle multi-user, high-bandwidth environments. Overall, with a focus on performance, network flexibility, and reliable design, the Lockerstor Gen 3 is a standout choice for professionals who require scalable, high-speed storage without compromising on build quality or power efficiency.

SOFTWARE - 7/10

HARDWARE - 10/10

PERFORMANCE - 10/10

PRICE - 7/10

VALUE - 7/10

8.2

PROS

High-Performance CPU: Equipped with the AMD Ryzen V3000 Embedded processor, delivering efficient, server-grade performance for demanding tasks.
ECC DDR5 Memory: Includes 16GB of ECC DDR5 memory (expandable to 64GB), ensuring data integrity and reliability.
Comprehensive Connectivity: Dual 10GbE and dual 5GbE ports, along with two USB4 ports, provide a combined bandwidth of up to 30 Gbps for versatile network setups.
Advanced Data Protection: Offers RAID 5 and RAID 6 options for HDDs and NVMe drives, with hot-swappable capabilities and Btrfs support for snapshots.
USB4/Thunderbolt 4 Over IP: Supports direct connection to Mac and Windows systems via USB4 for fast data transfers and point-to-point editing.
Robust Build Quality: Sturdy metal chassis with minimal noise, even during heavy operations, and excellent heat dissipation with a copper heat pipe.
ADM 5 Software: Reliable, secure OS with essential features like snapshots, remote access, and simplified setup; supports third-party OS installations.
Efficient Power Consumption: Peaks at around 50W under heavy load, efficient for the system’s performance class.
Front LCD Display: The configurable LCD panel allows direct monitoring and setup, a handy feature for easy system management.
Excellent for Multi-User Environments: Multi-channel network support and high bandwidth make it ideal for collaborative, multi-client setups.

CONS

High Price Point: At around $1,299, it’s a premium option, potentially limiting appeal for home users and hobbyists.
No Integrated Graphics: Lacks GPU support, limiting multimedia transcoding and high-end streaming capabilities.
Software Limitations: ADM 5 is solid but doesn’t match the multimedia and AI features found in competitors like Synology and QNAP.
M.2 NVMe Slots Limited to PCIe x1: Each NVMe slot is limited to x1 speed, slightly capping potential performance for SSDs.

Where to Buy a Product
			VISIT RETAILER ➤
			VISIT RETAILER ➤
			VISIT RETAILER ➤
			VISIT RETAILER ➤
			VISIT RETAILER ➤

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? Asustor Lockerstor 2 Gen2 AS6702T - 2 Bay NAS, Quad-Core 2.0 GHz CPU, 4X M.2 Amazon USA 23.81 OFF (WAS 459) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

Best Software 4-Bay NAS Drive – Synology DS923+ NAS

0-96TB, 4-Bays, 2x PCIe Gen 3 M.2 NVMe 2280, Dual Core AMD Emb.Ryzen R1600 CPU, 4-32GB DDR4 ECC Memory, 2x 1Gbe Port, 10GbE Optional Upgrade Slot, 3-5yr Warranty

Current Price/Availability on Amazon – $550+

Hardware Review – LINK

YouTube Video Review – Watch

What I said in my review Nov’22:

Synology has clearly made something of a gamble in the release of the Synology DS923+ NAS. There is no avoiding that making the switch from the Intel Celeron that has historically been the build choice of this product family and opting for the AMD Emb.Ryzen has ruffled some feathers! On the face of it, the R1600 here has a heck of alot of going for it over the previous generation! Higher clock speed, greater PCIe Gen 3 Support throughout, that 4-32GB of DDR4 memory in such a compact system and just generally giving you a lot more horsepower to play with, as well as better bandwidth potential inside and out! But at what cost? The 1GbE standard connectivity in the base model leaves alot to be desired, the proprietary 10Gb upgrade (though incredibly handy) limits the upgradability a tad and the lack of an integrated graphics processor is likely going to result in many long-term Synology advocates to skip this generation. Synology Diskstation Manager (DSM 7.1 at the time of writing) still continues to impress and although the brand still continues to heavily push their 1st party priorities, they have left a little more wriggle room in DSM 7.1 than DSM 7 before it in terms of media compatibility.

In terms of design, I cannot fault Synology on this as the DS923+ chassis still arrives as one of the best-looking and still exceptionally well-structured devices at this physical scale and storage level. As always, a Synology NAS is more about the software than the hardware (and the DS923+ delivers in spades on the software side!) and with DSM 7.2 around the corner improving things. Just always keep in mind that the Synology DS923+ NAS is a system that arrives with the slight emphasis on having to do many things ‘their way’. If you are less technically versed, then you will definitely appreciate this level of user-friendly design and assistance, but more technically minded admins’ main strain a pinch! In short, the DS923+ IS a good NAS drive, but its focus has certainly ebbed more towards the business user this generation than the home.

SOFTWARE - 10/10

HARDWARE - 7/10

PERFORMANCE - 9/10

PRICE - 8/10

VALUE - 9/10

8.6

PROS

DSM 7/7.1 (and DSM7.2 Around the corner) still continues to be an absolute tour-de-force of NAS Software
This latest generation expandable 4-Bay arriving with a 10G Upgrade Option is fantastic
ECC Memory Support and scalability to 32GB is completely unparallel at this price point
The design of the DS923+ NAS still continues to be market-leading
The New CPU architecture allows great PCIe3 bandwidth to be afforded to the rest of the hardware, inside and out
Low Noise, Low Physical Impact and Intelligent Automatic Power Use Adjustment Settings
Increased Support for macOS in Synology Drive and Active Backup Suite (DSM 7.2)
Synology C2 Cloud Services, 1st Party Backup/Sync Tools and Collaboration Suite App = Complete 1st Party Eco-system that can rival Office365 and Google Workspace
PCIe Gen 3 M.2 NVMe SSD Support as Storage Pools!!! FINALLY!
Tremendously User-Friendly!!!

CONS

The AMD Emb.Ryzen instead of a Intel Celeron (with Integrated Graphics) will be a dealbreaker for alot of users
The default 1GbE ports that the system arrives with are tremendously dated
The USB ports on the system are older gen USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gb/s) and their support/usability have been quite pared back in recent DSM releases
The continued moves by Synology to prioritize 1st party hardware and software services may put some users off
Plex Support on the Synology DS923+ is still great for native playback, client-side handling and client devices with relevant multimedia licenses in place, but if server-side media conversions are needed - this system will struggle in comparison with the DS920+ before it

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? Synology DS923+ 4-Bay Diskstation NAS (AMD Ryzen 4 Threads R1600 Dual-Core 4G Amazon USA 6.9 OFF (WAS 632) [LINK] Synology DiskStation DS923+ 4-Bay NAS Enclosure Server | AMD Ryzen R1600 Dual-Co Amazon USA 150.99 OFF (WAS 850) [LINK] Synology 4-Bay DiskStation DS923+ (Diskless) Amazon UK 34.99 OFF (WAS 575) [LINK] Synology DS923+ 4 Bay NAS enclosure Amazon UK 34.99 OFF (WAS 575) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

Best All Round 4-Bay NAS Drive – QNAP TS-464 NAS

0-96TB, 4-Bays, 2x PCIe Gen 3×1 M.2 NVMe 2280, Intel Celeron N5105 CPU, 4-16GB Memory, 2x 2.5Gbe Port, 1x PCIe Gen 3×2 Slot, 1 HDMI 2.0 4K 6-FPS, 3-5yr Warranty

Current Price/Availability on Amazon – $550

Hardware Review – LINK

YouTube Video Review – Watch

What I said in my review April ’22:

The TS-464 comfortably arrives with the best hardware in its tier of the NAS market and that is something that QNAP has always been quite good at. Even if you rewind just 5 years, the level of hardware scalability and ease of upgradability that the TS-464 provides is frankly incredible and, fast forward to 2022, is still pretty unmatched. A Desktop 4-Bay NAS (eg Prosumer RAID 5 storage) has always been the next confident step for users who are tired of their hands being tied by subscription cloud services from Google, OneDrive and DropBox, who are looking for their own competent, flexible and fully-featured private server. In the TS-464 NAS, you find a system that is unquestionable the best hardware for your money you can possibly get right now. In software, things are a little less straightforward. QTS 5, although massively software and service-rich, arrives as a complete operating system in your web browser with multiple mobile/desktop clients and hundreds of applications and apps that can be installed at the touch of a button – which can all too often be something of a steep learning curve for many.

Lacking the slightly chewable, user-friendly nature of many of their rivals, QNAP and its software/service still have a tendency to be a bit of an information overload that can quickly intimidate the novice. However, for those that are looking for a system that is completely customizable in how/when/where you want data presented to you, as well as a wide degree of 3rd party support, QNAP and QTS 5 still manages to provide a huge degree of brand-unique service that are simply not available elsewhere. Just be prepared to invest your time wisely in its setup and more time ensuring the system is perfect for your needs.

SOFTWARE - 8/10

HARDWARE - 10/10

PERFORMANCE - 9/10

PRICE - 8/10

VALUE - 9/10

8.8

PROS

Very compact chassis design, despite large storage potential
A BIG jump in hardware and scale from the TS-453Be and TS-453D, but with a largely identical RRP at launch
Easily one of the most hardware packed SMB/Mid-range 4-Bay on the market
Up to 16GB of Memory is fantastic
m.2 NVMe SSD Bays AND a PCIe Upgrade Slot (no need to choose one upgrade path)
8x Included Camera Licenses
Includes Anti-virus, Firewall Tool, VPN client tools, Malware Remover, network manager and Security Councilor Tool
3 Different Container/VM tools that also feature image download centers
10Gb/s (1,000MB/s) USB Ports will be incredibly useful
Large range of expansion options in the TR/TL series in 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 Bays

CONS

The PCIe Slot is PCIe 3×2 and the M.2 SSD Bays are PCIe 3×1 (likely limitations of all this H/W on a Celeron+chipset
QNAP Has had 3 ransomware hits in 2019-2021 (Qlocker, Qsnatch and Deadbolt). Lots of Security app/changes since, but people remember and QNAP needs to win back that trust in 2022/2023

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? QNAP TS-464 NAS $550 Amazon USA $550 (13% off) [LINK] EARLY DEAL - QNAP TS-464-8G-US Amazon USA $560 - 5% OFF [LINK] QNAP TS-464 (8GB) (BF) Amazon UK $469 (was $589) HERE [LINK] QNAP TS-464 NAS (BF) B&H USA $120 OFF – $471.20 (was $591.20) HERE [LINK] Serwer NAS TS-464eU-8G 4x0HDD 1U Intel Celeron N5105/N5095 8G Amazon USA 45.9 OFF (WAS 1371) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

Honourable Mention: Terramaster F4-424 Max NAS

0-96TB, 4-Bays, Intel i5-1235u 10 Core / 12 Thread,  8-64GB DDR5, 4x SATA, 2x Gen 4×4 M.2 NVMe SSD, 2x 10GbE, 3x USB 10G A/C, 2 Year Warranty

Current Price/Availability on Amazon – $899

Hardware Review – LINK

YouTube Video Review – Watch

What I said in my review OCT ’24:

The TerraMaster F4-424 Max is a standout NAS system in TerraMaster’s lineup, offering impressive hardware specifications and solid performance at a price point of $899.99. For users who need high-speed data transfers, intensive compute power, and flexibility in storage configurations, the F4-424 Max is an excellent option. The combination of the Intel i5-1235U CPU, dual 10GbE ports, and PCIe Gen 4 NVMe support ensures that the NAS can handle even the most demanding tasks, whether it’s virtualization, media transcoding, or large-scale backups.

That said, when compared to the F4-424 Pro, which is priced at $699.99, the Max model offers significantly more networking power and potential for speed. However, the Pro model still provides fantastic performance for most home and small office users, making it a more budget-friendly alternative for those who don’t require 10GbE or advanced NVMe functionality.

In terms of software, Synology DSM and QNAP QTS are still more evolved, offering richer multimedia experiences and better integration for business applications. However, TOS 6 continues to improve with every iteration, closing the gap between TerraMaster and these larger players. With new features like TRAID, cloud sync, and improved snapshot management, TOS is becoming more user-friendly and robust. For users prioritizing performance, flexibility, and future-proofing, the F4-424 Max is a strong contender and offers excellent value for money. While there are areas where TerraMaster could improve, such as the lack of PCIe expansion and front-facing USB ports, the F4-424 Max delivers on its promise of high performance and scalable storage solutions.

SOFTWARE - 6/10

HARDWARE - 9/10

PERFORMANCE - 9/10

PRICE - 9/10

VALUE - 8/10

8.2

PROS

Powerful Hardware: Intel i5-1235U with 10 cores and 12 threads for resource-heavy tasks.
Dual 10GbE Ports: High-speed networking capabilities with link aggregation for up to 20Gbps, ideal for large file transfers.
PCIe Gen 4 NVMe Support: Two M.2 NVMe slots offering exceptional performance for caching or additional high-speed storage.
Efficient Cooling: The large 120mm fan ensures quiet and effective cooling, making it suitable for home and office environments.
Improved TOS 6 Software: Enhancements in GUI, backup tools, and overall security bring TOS closer to its competitors.

CONS

Higher Price Tag: At $899.99, it’s more expensive than TerraMaster’s other models, which may deter budget-conscious buyers.
No PCIe Expansion: Lack of a PCIe slot limits potential for future upgrades, such as adding 10GbE cards or more M.2 drives.
Presentation: The software has improved a lot, but still feels inconsistent in places compared with alternatives from brands such as Synology and QNAP.

Where to Buy a Product
			VISIT RETAILER ➤
			VISIT RETAILER ➤
			VISIT RETAILER ➤
			VISIT RETAILER ➤
			VISIT RETAILER ➤

Need More Help Choosing the right NAS?

Choosing the right data storage solution for your needs can be very intimidating and it’s never too late to ask for help. With options ranging from NAS to DAS, Thunderbolt to SAS and connecting everything up so you can access all your lovely data at the touch of a button can be a lot simpler than you think. If you want some tips, guidance or help with everything from compatibility to suitability of a solution for you, why not drop me a message below and I will get back to you as soon as possible with what you should go for, its suitability and the best place to get it. This service is designed without profit in mind and in order to help you with your data storage needs, so I will try to answer your questions as soon as possible. Just enter in a few details of your setup, storage requirements and (in the case of buying a new solution) your budget – then me and Eddie the Web guy can help you with your question. This is a completely free service, is NOT provided with profit in mind and is manned by two humans (no bots, no automated replies, etc). Assistance might take an extra day or two (the service gets a lot of visitors) but we do try to answer every message. If you want to support this service, you can find out how to donate HERE. Otherwise, you can still just message us for free advice anyway!

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
[contact-form-7]
Join Inner Circle

Want to follow specific category? Also Read...Week 51 Tech Round-Up – QNAPLocal AI and NAS Drives - IS TFAQ for DIY NAS Builds: EverytRecommended ATX Motherboards fRecommended ATX Motherboards fN305 6-Bay 10GbE NAS MotherboaCWWK Q670 8-Bay Gen5 NAS vPro Flashstor Gen 2 NAS ReviewHexOS NAS Software - Review ofN305 6-Bay 10GbE NAS Motherboa Subscribe

You can also follow specific search terms:

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?

TRY CHAT

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

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

    

 

WE LOVE COFFEE

Black Friday is here again and for many of you, this is the final decider on whether you are going to finally buy your very own Synology NAS or upgrade that old DS411+ or DS216+ that is starting to show its age. Synology has been focusing considerably more on rackmount NAS solutions in 2024 and the few desktop (Diskstation) NAS solutions that have arrived on the market have been either fantastically enterprise or currently regional exclusives at this time. This means that the majority of their desktop NAS solutions have been on the market now for more than a year each (some in the 18+ series have been around for quite a while longer!) and therefore there is considerable scope for the current range to have a number of great discounts available in the Black Friday 2024 sale. We predict that the likes of the DS423+ and DS923+ all-rounder NAS’ will likely be the star of the show in terms of deals, but more so on the already value focused devices such as the BeeStation series or the DS423 and DS223.  With so many different Synology devices in the Diskstation and Rackstation series that are in/entering their 3rd year of circulation, this would be a good chance for Synology to run out the ‘soon to be’ legacy devices and hit the reset button on some new solutions for the new year! Below I have detailed the best Synology NAS for backups, plex, business, surveillance and value – with links to check if they are on offer at Amzazon. Alongside this, I will also be updating this page regularly during Black Friday adding links to deals as they go live throughout the week of Black Friday.

BLACK FRIDAY WEEK DEALS (so far) – (WILL REDIRECT TO YOUR AMAZON REGION AUTOMATICALLY)

Synology DS923+ NAS – $90 OFF, Now $509.99

Synology DS223j NAS Drive – Just $161.99 (15% OFF, was $189.99)

Synology DS723+ NAS – 20% OFF, Now $359.99

Synology 4TB Beestation NAS 11% OFF – £221.37 (was £249.89)

Synology DS1821+ Diskstation NAS – $100 OFF, Now $899.99

Synology DS124 1-Bay NAS, 28% OFF – £132.97 (was £183.44)

Synology DS1621+ NAS, 10% OFF – £854.36 (was £949.99)

Synology WRX560 WiFi 6 Mesh Router and SRM, 15% OFF – £196.50 (was £229.99)

EARLY SYNOLOGY BLACK FRIDAY DEALS SPOTTED IN THE WILD

The following promotions have appeared right from the start of November. Synology APPEARS to be considerably more overt in their promotions this year (compared with previous years at least). Links below will redirect to the store in your own region, so although in some cases (see DS423 deal below for example) the offer is a U.S based promotion in dollars, IF the offer is also a global deal, it will be visible in your region. Remember to factor taxes and shipping!!!

EARLY Black Friday 2024 Deal #1 – Synology DS423 NAS £332 (15% off) HERE

Early Black Friday Deal – Synology DS224+ NAS £299 (4% Off) HERE

Early Black Friday Deal – Synology DS223J NAS £179.48 (6% Off) HERE

Early Black Friday Deal #1 – Synology DS124 NAS £134.97 (26% Off) HERE

Recommended Synology NAS 2024 Best All Round = Synology DS923+ NAS $550+ – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H Best Budget Choice = Synology BeeStation 4TB $199 – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H Best Budget Fully Featured NAS = Synology DS223j $179 – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H Best Synology Plex NAS = Synology DS423+ NAS $450-500+ – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H Best Photo/Video Editing (Small) = Synology DS1522+ $699 – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H Photo/Video (Medium) =  Synology DS1821+ $1099 – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H

————–  Useful Links  —————

US Amazon – Amazon USA Black Friday Official Page – Amazon UK Black Friday Official Page

Amazon Warehouse (20% Off Everything on Black Friday)

USA – UK – Germany

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

TOP Synology NAS Deals to Watch Out For on Black Friday 2024

Below are the three Synology entries that are almost certain to be on sale this Black Friday at your normal online shop (not just Amazon).

• ​Synology DS923+ NAS Drive – Released at the tail end of 2022, the Synology DS923+ is pretty much the tipping point NAS for users looking at the Synology NAS platform that want scalability, upgradability and performance BUT do not want to go nuts on the price, physical size and impact in their home or office. The follow-up to the remarkably popular DS920+, the DS923+ is a NAS that focuses more on performance inside and out, as well as supporting the FULL rang of DSM 7.2 services!. Find it HERE.
• Synology DS220+ NAS – Originally released in summer 2020, the Synology DS220+ was one of the stand-out popular NAS choices of that series, as it presented affordable access to the Synology DSM Platform, Plex 4K performance and in a compact/low-impact design, whilst still doing so without the compromise that is generally associated with more affordable solutions. However, in the years that have passed, Synology have refreshed this model with the newer DS224+  and this will almost certainly result in stock of the DS220+ being reduced in price, with Black Friday 2024 being a great time to do so! Find it HERE.

Synology DS923+ NAS Drive NORMALLY $550-600	Synology DS224+ NAS NORMALLY $299-329	Synology DS423 NORMALLY $369-389

Black Friday 2024 – Synology NAS Drives for PLEX

One of the big appeals of a Synology NAS drive is to use it as a Plex Media Server. Plex (if you didn’t know) is just as slick, fast and beautiful in design as Netflix, Prime Video and HBO Now, but instead of streaming/renting your content, you play the movies, tv shows and music that you own! Having your own Plex Media Server Synology NAS is fantastically appealing and a much more financially appealing choice than paying monthly for content you do not get to own. Below are the best 3 Synology NAS deals this Black Friday for a Plex Media Server in 2024.

Synology DS423+ 4-Bay NAS There are two ways we need to look at the Synology DS423+ NAS. In one way, the Synology DS423+ DOES support all of the features and services that users demanded in a fully-featured home/prosumer solution. It features an Intel Quad Core processor with embedded graphics, DDR4 memory, multiple gigabit ports, wide HDD/SSD compatibility and m.2 NVMe SSD support. These are all things popular and most certainly what users would want/expect in a fully featured home/prosumer solution (aka SOHO). Then, when you roll in DSM 7 and it’s enormous range of software and services, the DS423+ is an excellent NAS solution that counters a broad range of criticisms that were leveled at the DS923+ at launch. However, there is, of course, the unavoidable way that most long-term Synology users and those looking to upgrade an existing 2016/2018 Diskstation are going to look at the DS423+ – a Synology DS920+ with less memory and no expandability! For those that skipped the DSx20+ generation, the DS423+ is going to feel decidedly underwhelming at best and hugely disappointing at worst! Synology has made no bones that they prioritize their software and services, with hardware being an important but nevertheless secondary concern. The main criticism is that CPU being the same processor used in the 3 years previous generation. Intel has moved production away from the J4125 themselves several times (with most other NAS brands using the N5105 or J6412 right now) and although Synology has been known to move CPU architecture down through the generations previously, this is a particularly egregious example. Overall, this si still the best affordable option right now for users looking at an all-encompassing Plex Media Server NAS solution from Synology in a compact form.

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? Synology DS423+ 4 Bay Desktop NAS Storage Server Amazon USA 30.82 OFF (WAS 550) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

Synology DS1821+ 8-Bay NAS I have always been a long-term fan of the Synology brand as a whole, applauding their recent moves towards Ryzen processors and range-wide adoption of dedicated M2 NVMe cache bays. However, the Synology DS1821+, much like the DS1621+, is a giant leap in many ways and the smallest of stumbles in others. The switch from Atom to Ryzen embedded processor needs to be recognised for both the big jump it is from a brand that typically errs on the side of caution in hardware. Likewise, the inclusion of ECC memory, massive potential-filled PCIe expandability at PCIe 3 x8 and support of popular services like Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR) are certainly a plus. But many buyers will be put off by the continued adoption of 1Gbe as standard and the limitation of those NVMe bays to caching ONLY and not raw storage pools. With a price tag without storage media at around £1,000 (give or take), this is a big ask to pay for something that has lucrative software potential but arguably lesser hardware potential. In short, I do really like the Synology DS1821+ NAS, I just don’t know how long I could be in love with it long-term, as the rest of my network hardware environment embraces faster connectivity.

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? Synology DS1821+8bay NAS V1500B Quad-Core 2.2 GHz,Black Amazon UK 43.78 OFF (WAS 1091) [LINK] Synology DS1821+/128TB HAT5300 8 Bay Amazon UK 15.47 OFF (WAS 6657) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

Synology DS1621xs+ 6-Bay NAS Whatever way you look at it, you cannot what question the sheer level of hardware value present in the DS1621xs+, especially compared with other similarly priced Synology NAS. In the DS1621xs+, you find one of the best performing internal and external NAS systems in the entire Synology portfolio, as well as providing you with an enterprise rackmount grade solution in a desktop form. I know it seems like a big statement, but this could genuinely be one of the best examples of what Synology provide to business users and certainly reorganises the portfolio for small and medium business users for the better in 2024. Is it perfect, of course not, few things ever can be. But if your budget can extend to it, the Synology DS1621xs+ easily represents the very best of everything that Synology has to offer, while still maintaining a fantastic high standard to third-party software users worldwide.

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? These Offers are Checked Daily

Black Friday 2024 – Lowest Priced Synology NAS Drives

If you are new to Synology NAS and don’t want to spend much this Black Friday, then that’s ok. Synology has a great selection of fantastically low price NAS available to buy this Black Friday in 1 hard drive, 2 hard drive and 4 hard drive sizes. Below is the best 3 Budget NAS that Synology features this Black Friday 2024:

Synology DS120J 1-Bay NAS With the release of the new DS120j NAS, when it comes to buying your first network-attached storage device there are several reasons why the Synology range appeals to many. With a diverse range of hardware and storage options across a wide series of uses, as well as an impressive range of first-party applications, Synology has fast become one of the biggest names in the NAS. However, so many users have one tiny problem with most Synology devices, namely the price tag. In terms of overall price, you will find that a Synology NAS typically is around 15 to 20% more expensive than most other brands with the same hardware (we will leave software out of the equation for a bit). Added to this is the fact that most buyers looking to buy their first unit are nervous in spending large sums of money on a largely unexplored area of technology. Luckily Synology has already addressed this problem before with the inclusion of a budget range of devices that serves as a fantastic introduction point to network-attached storage and the Synology Diskstation Manager (DSM) system software.

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? These Offers are Checked Daily

Synology DS223J 2-Bay NAS The Synology DS223j NAS is not the most powerful NAS drive, or the most fully-featured NAS drive – but the point is that it is not trying to be! Synology has held an exceptionally good reputation in the world of network-attached storage for a decade and if a new NAS buyer wanted to cautiously invest in a new piece of equipment in this area, then despite their modest budget, they will want to get the best they can for their money, from a brand with an established pedigree – THAT is what the Synology DS223j NAS is trying to achieve and for the most part, it completely succeeds! Aside from the memory being a touch light on the ground and the white chassis not being to everyone’s taste, in almost every other regard the DS223j is a great little NAS drive that any first time NAS users, or those making the jump from subscription cloud services like Google Drive and DropBox, are going to enjoy. Just keep an eye on the number of active users and tasks at any given time and you will be on to a winner here. Bonus, this system arrives with twice the amount of memory than previous releases in the 2 Bay J family (more than a decade long!).

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? Synology DS223J NAS Amazon UK £179.48 (6% Off) [LINK] Synology DS223j NAS Drive (BF) Amazon USA $161.99 (15% OFF, was $189.99) [LINK] Synology DiskStation DS223J Network Storage Drive (White) Amazon UK 33.94 OFF (WAS 211) [LINK] Synology DS223j 2-Bay Diskstation NAS (Realtek RTD1619B 4-Core 1.7 GHz 1GB DDR4 Amazon UK 299.74 OFF (WAS 779) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

Synology DS420J 4-Bay NAS Although this device will only cost you around £465 ex.VAT with 4x 2TB hard drives (Seagate Ironwolf NAS Drives) included, it can still perform the bulk of the standard tasks that are available in modern NAS and if you are looking for a universally supported DLNA or backup device, this is the one for you. Though definitely not aimed at the NAS experienced or 2nd-time buyers, or those looking for a solid foundation to build a business around where the customer data is critical. If you are looking for a network-attached storage device to act as a network backup or just want a simple NAS to do basic tasks such as media and protecting the data on your other devices, I recommend the Synology DS420j NAS

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? These Offers are Checked Daily

Black Friday 2024 – Synology NAS Drives for Photo and Video Editing

Storing your photography or Video Editing archive for post-production on a Synology NAS is something taht has grown in popularity in the last few years. Now in 2024, not only can a Synology NAS be used to store your photos/video, but with upgraded connections to 10Gbe, Thunderbolt 3 to 10Gbe Adapters and link aggregation becoming more affordable, buying a Synology NAS this Black Friday 2024 for your post-production and live editing is easier than ever before Below are three great options for editors looking for a Synology NAS Deal from Amazon today.

Synology DS1522+ 5-Bay NAS The Synology DS1522+ is a good NAS drive and most business-focused users are going to appreciate what this newer configuration of hardware is able to provide. There was never any doubt in the extent to which this new NAS would support DSM7, and given its architecture, there is virtually nothing in the popular NAS software that this system cannot do. Likewise, having the option of 10GbE on a Diskstation of this scale will be hugely attractive to some, though the proprietary means with which you need to upgrade is arguably less desirable. The R1600 CPU is a good choice of processor for file handling and simultaneous tasks, as is the 8GB of memory that this system arrives with, plus the potential to ramp it up to 32GB. After that though, the desirability of this system to home users and multimedia users is a little less compelling and with such a large audience of users who look at NAS for their media streaming, the DS1522+ not featuring a more graphically enabled chip will leave them somewhat underwhelmed. Bottom line, the DS1522+ is a solid and full DSM7 supporting system here and you cannot fault the design, internal/external performance and ease of use of this Synology NAS. However, there will always be users wondering why this NAS never arrived with an Intel chip.

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? Synology DiskStation DS1522+ 5-Bay NAS Enclosure - 5 x 3.5 or 2.5" SATA HDD/SSD, Amazon USA 20.6 OFF (WAS 358) [LINK] Synology DS1522+ 5-Bay Desktop NAS Solution 5x3,5/2,5" SATA HDD/SSD, 2X M.2 2280 Amazon USA 40.78 OFF (WAS 759) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

Synology DS1621+ 6-Bay NAS The Synology ‘Plus’ series of devices has long held a reputation for providing mid-range hardware to mid-range business customers. Because of this, the DS1621+ needs to balance a fine line between providing fast and reliable hardware, whilst still maintaining a price point that won’t intimidate the average small-medium business user. In this regard, I think the Synology DS1621+ NAS gets it right, finding an impressive halfway point between these two factors. However, it is important for buyers to understand what they are buying and where the price point for the Synology DS1621+ is being aimed. Although it seemingly lacks some of the multimedia and prosumer features of ‘cheaper’ NAS devices in the Synology portfolio, it doubles down on more business and enterprise-level features in efforts to support that core audience. It’s about getting the right tool for the job and in that area, Synology almost completely succeed. The lack of above gigabit connectivity afforded to a NAS unit at this price point, compared with their competitors, may put some users off, but on the whole, you are getting good performance and excellent value on this combined hardware and software solution with some excellent scalability.

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? Synology DS1621+ NAS (BF) Amazon USA 10% OFF – £854.36 (was £949.99) [LINK] Synology Diskstation DS1621+ DiskStation DS1621+, NAS, W125846548 (DiskStation D Amazon USA 243.8 OFF (WAS 1197) [LINK] Synology DiskStation DS1621+ serveur de stockage NAS Bureau Ethernet/LAN Noir V1 Amazon UK 17.64 OFF (WAS 1042) [LINK] Synology DS1621+ 24TB 6 Bay Desktop NAS Solution installed with 6 x 4TB HAT3300 Amazon UK 63.02 OFF (WAS 1662) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

Black Friday 2024 – Synology NAS Drives for 4K Video Streaming

4K TVs and High Definition media production have now reached a point that buying the right Synology NAS for storing, watching and adapting 4K Ulta High definition media in 2024 can be alot of work. True 4K media arrives in HUGE file sizes and you will need a more powerful Synology NAS drive to handle this kind of media all the way from the hard drives inside, to pumping it out to your 4K Display. Luckily a few of the more powerful Synology NAS solutions are on offer this Black Friday and if you are lucky enough to get a deal on one of these three, you will have a great NAS to enjoy 4K in your home or business environment.

Synology DS923+ 4-Bay NAS Synology has clearly made something of a gamble in the release of the Synology DS923+ NAS. There is no avoiding that making the switch from the Intel Celeron that has historically been the build choice of this product family and opting for the AMD Emb.Ryzen has ruffled some feathers! On the face of it, the R1600 here has a heck of alot of going for it over the previous generation! Higher clock speed, greater PCIe Gen 3 Support throughout, that 4-32GB of DDR4 memory in such a compact system and just generally giving you a lot more horsepower to play with, as well as better bandwidth potential inside and out! But at what cost? The 1GbE standard connectivity in the base model leaves alot to be desired, the proprietary 10Gb upgrade (though incredibly handy) limits the upgradability a tad and the lack of an integrated graphics processor is likely going to result in many long-term Synology advocates to skip this generation. Synology Diskstation Manager (DSM 7.1 at the time of writing) still continues to impress and although the brand still continues to heavily push their 1st party priorities, they have left a little more wriggle room in DSM 7.1 than DSM 7 before it in terms of media compatibility. In terms of design, I cannot fault Synology on this as the DS923+ chassis still arrives as one of the best-looking and still exceptionally well-structured devices at this physical scale and storage level. As always, a Synology NAS is more about the software than the hardware (and the DS923+ delivers in spades on the software side!) and with DSM 7.2 around the corner improving things. Just always keep in mind that the Synology DS923+ NAS is a system that arrives with the slight emphasis on having to do many things ‘their way’. If you are less technically versed, then you will definitely appreciate this level of user-friendly design and assistance, but more technically minded admins’ main strain a pinch! In short, the DS923+ IS a good NAS drive, but its focus has certainly ebbed more towards the business user this generation than the home.

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? Synology DS923+ 4-Bay Diskstation NAS (AMD Ryzen 4 Threads R1600 Dual-Core 4G Amazon USA 6.9 OFF (WAS 632) [LINK] Synology DiskStation DS923+ 4-Bay NAS Enclosure Server | AMD Ryzen R1600 Dual-Co Amazon USA 150.99 OFF (WAS 850) [LINK] Synology 4-Bay DiskStation DS923+ (Diskless) Amazon UK 34.99 OFF (WAS 575) [LINK] Synology DS923+ 4 Bay NAS enclosure Amazon UK 34.99 OFF (WAS 575) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

Synology DS423+ 4-Bay NAS There are two ways we need to look at the Synology DS423+ NAS. In one way, the Synology DS423+ DOES support all of the features and services that users demanded in a fully-featured home/prosumer solution. It features an Intel Quad Core processor with embedded graphics, DDR4 memory, multiple gigabit ports, wide HDD/SSD compatibility and m.2 NVMe SSD support. These are all things popular and most certainly what users would want/expect in a fully featured home/prosumer solution (aka SOHO). Then, when you roll in DSM 7 and it’s enormous range of software and services, the DS423+ is an excellent NAS solution that counters a broad range of criticisms that were leveled at the DS923+ at launch. However, there is, of course, the unavoidable way that most long-term Synology users and those looking to upgrade an existing 2016/2018 Diskstation are going to look at the DS423+ – a Synology DS920+ with less memory and no expandability! For those that skipped the DSx20+ generation, the DS423+ is going to feel decidedly underwhelming at best and hugely disappointing at worst! Synology has made no bones that they prioritize their software and services, with hardware being an important but nevertheless secondary concern. The main criticism is that CPU being the same processor used in the 3 years previous generation. Intel has moved production away from the J4125 themselves several times (with most other NAS brands using the N5105 or J6412 right now) and although Synology has been known to move CPU architecture down through the generations previously, this is a particularly egregious example. Overall, this si still the best affordable option right now for users looking at an all-encompassing Plex Media Server NAS solution from Synology in a compact form.

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? Synology DS423+ 4 Bay Desktop NAS Storage Server Amazon USA 30.82 OFF (WAS 550) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

Black Friday 2024 – Synology NAS Drives for Business

Businesses in 2024 are producing so, SO MUCH DATA! Customer information, Web site images, legal documents, online marketing, internal communication, surveillance and security – it all adds up! With the majority of this data being highly confidential, copywrite or both, it is imperative that a business has a secure place to keep this data. Synology NAS drives have been used in business for a number of years and Diskstation Manager (DSM) arrives with every NAS, packed with applications and licenses for those enterprise applications (Synology Active Backup, Surveillance, Virtual Machine Manager, Drive, Office, Chat, Calendar, mail and more). Below are the best Synology NAS drive deals this Black Friday for those who want to invest in a business class server to protect their data and ensure high productivity in 2024.

Synology DS3622xs+ 12-Bay NAS Unsurprisingly, the Synology DS3622xs+ is by FAR the most powerful and capable desktop NAS solution that the brand has ever produced – and that is not even a close-run thing. But we are still talking about a £2,500 box here (unpopulated) and you are going to expect that there is some serious horsepower here – So are you getting the most for your money here? Almost completely, yes. There are a few lingering things that some buyers will still not be in love with, such as the lack of M.2 caching bays, the lack of SAS support or the reduced support of 3rd party drive and network upgrade compatibility, but they do not undercut that this is a genuinely groundbreaking solution from Synology that provides the ultimate base to enjoy and make the most of the Synology DSM 7 platform in 2022 onwards. Once you breakdown everything included in this package, from DSMs software and services, to the tremendous bandwidth available here internally and externally, this compact tank-like NAS server is an absolute beast and a must for those that are keen on fully integrating a private cloud network and subscription-free SaaS-level setup across their company.

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? Synology Disk Station DS3622XS+ - NAS Server - 12 Bays - SATA 6Gb/s - RAID RAID Amazon USA 2421.35 OFF (WAS 7031) [LINK] Synology DiskStation DS3622XS+ 12 Bay Desktop NAS Solution, Installed with 12 x Amazon UK 212.46 OFF (WAS 7266) [LINK] Synology DiskStation DS3622XS+ 12 Bay Desktop NAS Solution, Installed with 12 x Amazon UK 63.63 OFF (WAS 11161) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

Synology DS1821+ 8-Bay NAS DS1821+ is an 8-bay desktop NAS providing superior performance with great expandability, allowing for seamless expansion and upgradability to satisfy your growing business needs. DS1819+ comes with four Gigabit Ethernet ports and one PCIe expansion slot, providing great configuration flexibility, thereby satisfying your intensive workload demands. Synology Office is a collaboration package combining the convenience and usability of public clouds with the data privacy and security guaranteed by private clouds. It allows you to work seamlessly together on documents and spreadsheets in a protected environment

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? Synology DS1821+8bay NAS V1500B Quad-Core 2.2 GHz,Black Amazon UK 43.78 OFF (WAS 1091) [LINK] Synology DS1821+/128TB HAT5300 8 Bay Amazon UK 15.47 OFF (WAS 6657) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

Synology RS1619xs 4-Bay NAS RS1619xs+ is a high-performance and scalable 1U rackmount NAS designed with upgradable memory and M.2 SSD cache configuration to meet the needs of modern businesses that require a flexible, reliable, and efficient storage solution. Synology’s 5-year limited warranty provides hardware replacement and technical support via email and telephone services, maximizing your enterprises’ return on investment.  Synology iSCSI storage supports most virtualization solutions including VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, Citrix Xen Server, and OpenStack Cinder, to enhance work efficiency. Create and manage virtual machines running multiple operating systems such as Windows, Linux, and DSM using Virtual Machine Manager.

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? Synology RackStation RS1619xs+ - NAS server - 4 bays - rack-mountable - SATA 6Gb Amazon UK 203.83 OFF (WAS 2259) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

Synology RS2423RP+ 10GbE 12-Bay NAS It is reasonable to say that when it comes to having a huge storage array, competent hardware and business class software, that the Synology RS2421RP+ does deliver on a number of its promises. Indeed, despite the huge similarity in internal hardware between the RS2421RP+ and other RELATIVELY recent rackmount releases in 2024, the RS2423RP+ manages to still stand out with its unparalleled level of storage against the majority of solutions in the Synology portfolio. The price tag, edging closer to a number of Xeon powered solutions, may seem a touch high for some and given the difference between this 16-bay and the £1200+ 12-bay being relatively small – that price tag does seem a tad overly ambitious. That said, much like other rackstation NAS solutions of late, the jump from Intel Atom C3538 to embedded Ryzen V1780B was long overdue and although may seem fairly predictable and pedestrian now in, still remains a firm favourite. If the software and services of Synology Diskstation Manager appeal to you, you need storage in the hundreds of terabytes and you need a solution that is both scalable and centralised, you would be hard pushed to find a better solution from Synology right now without spending £5,000-10,000 without drives. Then, of course, there is the fact that the latest 2024 generation of rackmount NAS in the Plus series seem to arrive with 10GbE as standard (from this system upwards!) – whilst still also providing the PCIe Gen 3×8 slot for further upgrades.

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? These Offers are Checked Daily

Hot Tips when you Buy a NAS this Black Friday 2024

In order for you to get the very best NAS deals this Black Friday, here are some hot tips that I have personally used for the last few years to get the very best deals.

Amazon Warehouse Deals are 20% lower

For those that aren’t aware, Amazon has a whole section of their website that is dedicated to pre-owned and opened items. This includes both NAS, hard drives, SSD and more for your storage. During Amazon Black Friday 2024, the discount on these broken-seal items will be increased by an additional 20% and for those looking for an insane bargain, this will be irresistible.

Another tip when buying NAS or Hard Drives from Amazon Warehouse is that although (as they are broken seal/used/returned items) they have a shorter warranty from Amazon, you will almost certainly be able to claim the FULL warranty coverage from Synology, QNAP, WD or Seagate. They just want your serial number and a receipt of purchase – this will not state the amazon reduced warranty.

Amazon Warehouse for different countries can be found below:

Amazon Warehouse USA

Amazon Warehouse UK

Amazon Warehouse Germany

Latest Deals Update and Notifications

If you want to make sure you see the LATEST Black Friday deals for NAS (as new ones are added every hour) then I would recommend checking the official Amazon Prime page regularly. It will also include the very latest Lightning Deals too

US Amazon – Amazon Deals Page

UK Amazon – Amazon Deals Page

Amazon Prime for FREE

The prices listed on Amazon for NAS during the Black Friday event are only available to Prime members. If you are not a member, don’t worry, as you can use the 30-Day free trial to sign up for a Prime, or just pay for 1 month of Prime as a student and get it at 50% off. Then after you finish your purchase, you can cancel your subscription. The other bonus of this is that you will qualify for fast, next day delivery for free. I would recommend however that you do not cancel your subscription until you have received your order and tested your item.

As then you will still be able to take advantage of the fast and free return policy extended to Prime members. This is especially useful when buying NAS Hard Drives and you are worried about broken drives!

Improved Delivery on your NAS Black Friday Deal

It is a well-known fact that Amazon Prime membership includes free next day delivery and Amazon has even upped the stakes by stating that they will be providing the fastest-ever Black Friday delivery of just 14 minutes between the cart and the courier, last year we saw and heard numerous examples of delivery issues with Black Friday deals, adding 2-3 days on supposed next-day shipping.

If any of your Amazon Prime delivery dates are not the 24 hours turn around that they promise, then definitely complain to Amazon after you receive your goods (not before) as they will almost certainly have a deluge of customer enquiries after Black Friday 2024 and  in an effort to conclude the matter, you might get an additional discount, a gift vouchers or more. Currently, the trending ‘gesture of goodwill’ gift is a free month of Prime membership.

Join Inner Circle

Want to follow specific category? Also Read...Week 49 Tech Round-Up - SynolNAS Hard Drive Black Friday 20Hard Drive Black Friday 2024 (ALL the Ubiquiti / UniFi BlackUGREEN NAS Black Friday 2024 DBlack Friday 2024 - Data StoraTerramaster Black Friday 2024 Stellar Toolkit for Data RecovSynology Black Friday 2024 DeaSynology NAS Zero-Day Vulnerab Subscribe

You can also follow specific search terms:

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?

TRY CHAT

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

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

    

 

WE LOVE COFFEE

This description contains links to Amazon. These links will take you to some of the products mentioned in today’s video. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

When searching for a new data storage solution, a 2-bay NAS often strikes the perfect balance between affordability and capacity, especially for beginners or first-time server owners. While the initial drawback of a 50% storage loss with RAID 1 (mirroring across two drives) remains, recent advancements have made 2-bay NAS systems much more appealing. Previously undervalued until about 2017-2018 due to their limited capacity and performance, these systems have come a long way. The latest models, including those released in 2024, now feature cutting-edge options like 10GbE connectivity. Plus, with NAS-specific drives such as Seagate Ironwolf and WD Red reaching up to 24-26TB, these compact systems offer both power and substantial storage. This guide will help you explore the best 2-Bay NAS options for 2024, highlighting top models in terms of software, hardware, and overall value to find the right fit for your home or business.

Best 2-Bay NAS of the Year UnifyDrive UT2 NAS $399 – Back HERE on Kickstarter QNAP TS-253E NAS $499– Buy Here on Amazon  – Buy HERE on B&H Terramaster F2-424 NAS $379 – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H (Best Software) Synology DVA1622 NAS $550-559 – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H

Important – The Minimum Requirements for a 2-Bay NAS

Despite the variety of 2-Bay NAS drives available, not all are created equal. Many budget options may seem appealing but often compromise on quality and reliability. Here are the key features that set the best NAS systems apart, whether you’re looking at our top picks or exploring other options in 2024:

• Integrated Hardware and Software: Comes with a full suite of apps for web, mobile, and desktop, including backup, media, and file management tools.
• Cross-Platform Compatibility: Works seamlessly with Windows, Mac, Android, and Linux.
• Warranty: Offers 2-3 years of coverage, with an option to extend to 5 years.
• Local and Remote Access: Supports both secure local and remote access with no extra fees.
• Support for Large Drives: Compatible with the latest 24TB-26TB NAS hard drives.
• RAID Support: Multiple RAID configurations for performance and data protection.
• Regular Updates: Ensures up-to-date security and features.
• Cloud Sync: Integrates with cloud services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and business platforms like AWS and Azure.
• Shared Drive Hosting: Syncs with your PC’s native file manager for easy access.
• Direct Ethernet Access: Allows for fast direct connections to your computer via Ethernet.
• Backup Tools: Includes software for regular backups and data sync.

These features ensure you’re getting a reliable and future-proof NAS for 2024.

The QNAP TS-253E NAS – Best 2-Bay NAS for ZFS!

0-28TBTB, 2-Bays, QTS or QuTS Software, Intel J6412 4-Core CPU, 8GB Memory, 2x 2.5GbE, 2x M.2 Gen 3×2 NVMe, HDMI 4K 60FPS, USB 3.2 10G x3, 3 Year Warranty

Current Price/Availability on Amazon – $499 on Amazon

Hardware Review – LINK

YouTube Video Review – Watch

What I said in my review Nov ’22 of the TS-453E:

The QNAP TS-253E is featured in my Best 2-Bay NAS of 2024 list due to its impressive balance of performance, features, and value – but MOST of all because of the recent change by QNAP on their software support. Powered by the Intel Celeron J6412 processor and 8GB of DDR4 RAM, this NAS delivers a solid performance for small businesses and home offices. It includes dual 2.5GbE LAN ports, M.2 NVMe PCIe slots, and ZFS support via the QuTS hero OS, offering advanced data management features such as inline deduplication, compression, and enhanced RAID configurations. Additionally, its dual HDMI outputs and Intel OpenVINO AI acceleration make it ideal for multimedia applications and AI-powered surveillance, distinguishing it as a versatile and future-proof solution for users looking for both high-performance storage and advanced functionality in a compact package.

What sets the TS-253E apart is its support for a wide array of applications, including Docker containers and multimedia management, making it more than just a traditional file server. Its long-term availability until 2029 makes it a reliable investment for businesses needing continuity in their IT infrastructure. The ability to handle demanding workflows like AI image recognition, surveillance tasks, and 4K video transcoding, along with robust backup and security solutions, further enhances its appeal. While the hardware is not the most exciting on its own, the integration of QNAP’s powerful ZFS-based QuTS hero platform solidifies the TS-253E’s position as one of the best 2-bay NAS options for both business and personal use in 2024.

SOFTWARE - 8/10

HARDWARE - 10/10

PERFORMANCE - 9/10

PRICE - 8/10

VALUE - 9/10

8.8

PROS

Exceptional CPU choice for the Scale/Tier
8GB of DDR4 Memory
2.5GbE (x2) Ports on Day 1
Two USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gb/s) Ports!
2x M.2 NVMe Slots alongside those 4x SATA Bays for Storage (Caching, Tiered Storage or standalone Pools)
Includes VM, Surveillance (8 licenses and upto 32 Cams), Backup, Sync, Multimedia, SaaS sync/migration and office tools (some with added AI services)
3-Year Warranty (Can be extended)
VERY Compact, low-impact design
Supports 1-2x Expansions
20TB and 22TB Confirmed Compatibility

CONS

Memory Cannot be Upgraded
M.2 NVMe SSD Slots are Gen 3 x2
Chassis is still a little dated looking

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? QNAP TS-253E-8G 2-Bay Intel Quad-core CPU Multimedia NAS with Dual 2.5GbE, 8GB R Amazon UK 51.01 OFF (WAS 549) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

The Terramaster F2-424 NAS – Good, Budget Modern NAS Drive

0-48TB, 2-Bays, Intel N95 CPU, 8-32GB DDR5 Memory, 2x 2.5GbE, HDMI 4K 60FPS, 2x M.2 NVMe SSD Gen 3, 2 Year Warranty, BTRFS Software

Current Price/Availability on Amazon – $379

Hardware Review – LINK

YouTube Video Review – Watch

What I said in my review of the F4-424 Pro on Jan ’24:

The TerraMaster F2-424 earned its place in my top 2-Bay NAS drives of 2024 due to its impressive balance of modern features and ease of deployment, making it an ideal choice for SOHO users and tech enthusiasts. It is equipped with dual 2.5GbE LAN ports and two M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 slots, which allow for SSD caching and significantly enhance its performance capabilities. These features, combined with 8GB of DDR5 memory and Intel’s N95 processor, offer enough power for high-performance tasks, such as virtualization and heavy database operations. The F2-424 is particularly suitable for users seeking a balance between affordability and functionality, offering a streamlined option for those not requiring excessive storage capacity.

Despite its robust feature set, the F2-424 has some limitations. It lacks the build quality and premium design elements seen in competitors like the Ugreen DXP2800, such as metal construction and lockable drive trays. The enclosure is plastic, and the absence of locks on the trays could pose a risk for users relying on RAID 0 or JBOD configurations. Still, TerraMaster delivers dual USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports and impressive data transfer speeds with link aggregation, which allows up to 5Gbps network bandwidth, making it suitable for multiple concurrent users and a wide range of workloads.

One of the F2-424’s biggest strengths is its compatibility with Docker containers and third-party NAS operating systems like TrueNAS and unRAID, offering a high level of flexibility for developers or users with specific requirements. However, the price of $380 makes it a bit less competitive than some alternatives, especially given that newer NAS models from brands like Asustor and Ugreen offer comparable or better specs at slightly lower prices. Overall, the TerraMaster F2-424 is a solid option for those seeking a dual-bay NAS with excellent networking features and SSD cache support, despite its slightly higher price point and basic design.

SOFTWARE - 7/10

HARDWARE - 8/10

PERFORMANCE - 9/10

PRICE - 10/10

VALUE - 10/10

8.8

PROS

Powerful Hardware:** Equipped with an Intel i3 N300 CPU and 32GB DDR5 memory, delivering robust performance.
Redesigned Chassis:** Improved design for better cooling, hot-swapping, and internal accessibility.
TOS 5 Software:** TerraMaster\'s TOS 5 software offers a clear GUI, enhanced backup tools, expanded storage options, and improved security features.
Affordable Price:** Competitive pricing under $699 makes it an attractive option for its hardware and software capabilities.
Flexible RAID Support:** Supports various RAID configurations, including TRAID for flexible disk array setup.
Multiple Client Sync:** TerraSync tool efficiently synchronizes data across multiple users and devices.
CCTV Surveillance:** Surveillance Manager offers video recording and monitoring features for added security.
AI Photo Recognition:** Terra Photos uses AI algorithms to classify and manage photos effectively.

CONS

No 10GbE Support:** Lacks 10GbE support, potentially limiting network speed for some users.
Memory Over-specification:** The inclusion of 32GB memory may raise concerns, given the CPU\'s maximum support of 16GB.
Limited Packaging Quality:** Packaging and presentation are basic and may not match the standards of competitors.

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? TERRAMASTER F8 SSD PLUS Amazon USA $499.99 ($100 off) [LINK] Terramaster U4-423 1U Rack NAS Amazon USA $499 (17% off) [LINK] TERRAMASTER F4-424 Amazon USA $399.99 (-20%) [LINK] TERRAMASTER F4-424 Pro AliExpress USA 505.99 [LINK] TERRAMASTER F4-424 Pro AliExpress USA 505.99 [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

Synology DVA1622 NAS – Best 2-Bay for NAS Software

0-44TB, 2-Bays, Dedicated NVR HDMI/KVM Output, 8 Camera Licenses, Intel J4125 CPU, 6GB Memory, 1x 1Gbe Port, DSM & Surveillance Station 9, AI Surveillance Tasks and Analysis,  3yr Warranty

Current Price/Availability on Amazon – $550-559

Hardware Review – LINK

YouTube Video Review – Watch

What I said in my review June ’23:

In conclusion, the Synology DVA1622 makes a compelling case for being the best 2-Bay NAS from Synology, despite its price increase over the DS720+ and DS723+. Its ability to run DSM 7.2 on par with its counterparts, while also executing Surveillance Station exceptionally well, sets it apart from the crowd. The added benefits of AI recognition, live AI analysis of recordings, people counting, and intelligent intrusion guidelines are features that can be invaluable to businesses and home users who prioritize their security. Along with these perks, the 8 included surveillance licenses, a significant bump from the 2 that come with other Synology NAS devices, provide excellent value, considering they would cost around $200-250 on their own. The integrated graphics within its CPU offers enhanced multimedia playback capabilities, not only in DSM but also in HEVC recordings in Surveillance Station 9.1. Additionally, the local HDMI/KVM support grants standalone surveillance access, a feature rarely found in other Synology NAS devices. The DVA1622 outclasses the DS720+ by coming with 6GB of memory in its default model, compared to their 2GB. This robust offering, combined with the excellence of Surveillance Station 9.1, one of the world’s best surveillance software, enables the DVA1622 to deliver one of the best experiences of this software. Access to both DSM and Surveillance Station on the DVA1622 equips you with a full suite of NVR/CCTV services, as well as the backup, syncing, sharing, and security capabilities of DSM 7.2.

However, the device isn’t without its limitations. It has only two USB ports, which may limit your flexibility for KVM setup with the HDMI and other USB-dependent tasks. Its single 1GbE port could potentially bottleneck your network, especially when running extensive camera setups and other network-heavy tasks. Additionally, the maximum memory of 6GB could hit a ceiling if you are running several services in DSM 7.2, operating 16 cameras, and managing 2 AI tasks simultaneously, considering the CPU supports up to 8GB. The lack of expandability with the Synology DX517 expansion chassis also limits storage potential, with a 2-Bay NAS typically implying a RAID 1 setup and halving the possible maximum storage. Despite these limitations, the DVA1622 stands as an excellent choice for a 2-Bay NAS. It is highly recommended for both surveillance and standard Synology DSM usage. However, it is essential to remember its lack of local connectivity and scalability when compared to the DS723+, which offers 32GB maximum.

SOFTWARE - 10/10

HARDWARE - 8/10

PERFORMANCE - 8/10

PRICE - 9/10

VALUE - 9/10

8.8

PROS

Runs BOTH Surveillance Station + DSM
All the DVA Task for fraction of DVA3221 Price
Supports Local KVM Standalone Access
8 Camera Licenses Included
No HDD Compatibility Limits
Run VERY Quietly
MASSIVE IP Camera Support List
Easily the \'BEST\' Synology 2-Bay
Surveillance Station 9.1 Is Still BRILLIANT

CONS

Cannot be Expanded
6GB Default/Max Memory is Weird
CPU is a little old
No M.2 NVMe SSD Support
Only 2x AI Tasks at once
Only 1x Network Port (no failover)

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? Synology 16 Channel NVR Deep Learning Video Analytics DVA1622 with HDMI Video Ou Amazon USA 145 OFF (WAS 745) [LINK] Synology 16 Channel NVR Deep Learning Video Analytics DVA1622 with HDMI Video Ou Amazon UK 139.76 OFF (WAS 731) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

Honourable Mention: The UnifyDrive UT2 Mobile NAS

0-16TB, 2-Bay m.2 NVMe 3×1, 2x ARM CPU (Cortex A76 and A55), 8GB LPDDR4X Memory, Internal 2200MAh Battery, 2.5GbE, HDMI 4K 60FPS, 2x SD Card Slots, 2x USB 3.2, 306gram

Current Price/Availability on Amazon – $399 (Important, Crowdfunding Stages)

Hardware Review – LINK

YouTube Video Review – Watch

What I said in my review 25th Sept ’24:

The UnifyDrive UT2 Portable NAS offers a compact, portable storage solution designed for users who need on-the-go data management. Its features include a built-in battery, Wi-Fi 6, 2.5Gb Ethernet, HDMI output, and dual M.2 NVMe SSD slots, which together make it capable of handling media playback, file storage, and real-time collaboration. The UT2 also includes UDR selective RAID, one-touch SD card backups, and an AI-powered photo recognition system, all controlled through a user-friendly mobile app. These features position the UT2 as a versatile device for professionals such as photographers and content creators, who need portable, high-speed data storage and secure file management.

As a crowdfunded product, the UT2 is set to launch on Kickstarter, meaning there are some inherent risks associated with its development. While the hardware and software shown in the review appear polished and near completion, the final product may vary from the reviewed unit, and there is no guarantee of timely delivery or final quality. The early-bird price of $399 may appeal to those looking for a portable NAS, though the full retail price of $599 could place it in competition with larger, full-featured NAS systems. Potential backers should consider these factors when deciding whether to support the project.

You Can See the UnifyDrive UT2 over on Kickstarter to keep track of it’s development – HERE

BUILD QUALITY - 10/10

HARDWARE - 9/10

PERFORMANCE - 8/10

PRICE - 8/10

VALUE - 8/10

8.6

PROS

Compact and Portable: Small, lightweight design makes it easy to carry, ideal for on-the-go professionals.
Built-in Battery: The 2200mAh battery provides up to an hour of runtime without external power, offering flexibility in mobile environments.
Wi-Fi 6 and 2.5Gb Ethernet: High-speed network options ensure fast file transfers and smooth data access.
Dual M.2 NVMe SSD Slots: Supports up to two NVMe SSDs, offering high-speed storage options.
HDMI Output: Enables media playback and control via remote, supporting up to 8K video for a versatile media experience.
One-Touch Backup: Simple SD and CFe card backup with a single button, ideal for photographers and videographers.
User-Friendly Mobile App: Intuitive control via iOS and Android, with detailed system monitoring and management features.
UDR Selective RAID: Offers flexible RAID-like redundancy on a folder level, allowing selective data protection without using the full capacity.
AI-Powered Photo Recognition: Includes facial and object recognition, enhancing media organization.
Multiple Connectivity Options: USB, Ethernet, and wireless options provide flexibility for different use cases.

CONS

Heavily Dependent on Software Support: Long-term functionality and feature enhancements will rely on continuous software updates, which are not guaranteed.
Crowdfunding Risks: As a crowdfunded product, there\\\'s uncertainty about delivery timelines and the final product quality.
Non-Upgradable RAM: The 8GB of RAM is soldered, limiting future scalability as storage or performance needs grow.
Price at Full Retail: At $599, it approaches the cost of larger, more powerful NAS systems, making it less competitive for budget-conscious buyers.

Important disclaimer!

The Unify UT2 is a new product that is currently being listed on the crowdfunding website Kickstarter. As a solution, users can support it via crowdfunding. The UT2 is not a traditional over-the-counter retail purchase, so some discretion is advised when purchasing the device. If it sounds like something you could use, your support is highly encouraged! However, there is no guarantee that a product will be provided to all users who back a project, and although there have been numerous success stories of network-attached storage (NAS) solutions from brands such as YouGreen, ZimaCube, and LincPlus with their own crowdfunded solutions in 2024, there are also numerous examples of failed crowdfunded NAS solutions, such as the infamous Storaxa. So although this review is completely honest and neutral, do remember that it was conducted using a UT2 unit supplied by the brand prior to the start of the crowdfunding campaign, and therefore may not fully represent the final product that will/should be sent to backers when crowdfunding concludes on Kickstarter. Be aware of the risks of crowdfunding on any product you buy, not just this one!

Need More Help Choosing the right NAS?

Choosing the right data storage solution for your needs can be very intimidating and it’s never too late to ask for help. With options ranging from NAS to DAS, Thunderbolt to SAS and connecting everything up so you can access all your lovely data at the touch of a button can be a lot simpler than you think. If you want some tips, guidance or help with everything from compatibility to suitability of a solution for you, why not drop me a message below and I will get back to you as soon as possible with what you should go for, its suitability and the best place to get it. This service is designed without profit in mind and in order to help you with your data storage needs, so I will try to answer your questions as soon as possible. Just enter in a few details of your setup, storage requirements and (in the case of buying a new solution) your budget – then me and Eddie the Web guy can help you with your question. This is a completely free service, is NOT provided with profit in mind and is manned by two humans (no bots, no automated replies, etc). Assistance might take an extra day or two (the service gets a lot of visitors) but we do try to answer every message. If you want to support this service, you can find out how to donate HERE. Otherwise, you can still just message us for free advice anyway!

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
[contact-form-7]
Join Inner Circle

Want to follow specific category? Also Read...Week 51 Tech Round-Up – QNAPLocal AI and NAS Drives - IS TFAQ for DIY NAS Builds: EverytRecommended ATX Motherboards fRecommended ATX Motherboards fN305 6-Bay 10GbE NAS MotherboaCWWK Q670 8-Bay Gen5 NAS vPro Flashstor Gen 2 NAS ReviewHexOS NAS Software - Review ofN305 6-Bay 10GbE NAS Motherboa Subscribe

You can also follow specific search terms:

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?

TRY CHAT

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

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

    

 

WE LOVE COFFEE

Note – this is the 2024 update of the rolling ‘best HDD for your NAS’ article (Cheers Clayton!)

When choosing a NAS server for your home or business, selecting the right hard drive is essential. Just like every tool in a toolbox has its role, NAS-specific drives are engineered to meet the particular needs of network storage environments. Using the wrong type of drive in a NAS can lead to decreased performance and potential issues with reliability. In recent years, manufacturers have developed specialized NAS hard drives (including SSDs) that are designed for 24/7 use, high durability, and optimized read/write cycles to suit NAS workloads. As we enter 2025, the storage landscape has evolved significantly, with hard drives now reaching capacities of 24TB and 26TB, and innovations in platter technology leading to 11-platter designs. This breakthrough could soon push capacities beyond 30TB, addressing the growing need for massive data storage in both personal and professional settings. With such a wide range of drive sizes and types available, from 2TB to 26TB and beyond, it can be difficult to navigate the choices. To help, I’ve compiled a guide that highlights eight different NAS/Server setups and the most compatible hard drive options for each, taking into account the latest developments in technology and market trends for 2024/2025

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

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

Important – What You Need to Consider in a NAS HDD?

When selecting a NAS hard drive, understanding key terms can help you make the right choice. Here’s a quick guide to essential terms for 2024:

RAID – Redundant Array of Independent Disks enhances storage, speed, and data safety by using multiple drives. RAID 0 offers no protection but maximizes space. RAID 1, 5, and 6 provide varying levels of redundancy for safer storage.

SATA – Still the main connection type for NAS mechanical drives in 2024, SATA offers 6Gbps speeds, but mechanical drives generally top out at 280MB/s. Newer connections like NVMe and SAS are more prominent in enterprise SSDs.

Saturation – Refers to data flow through a connection. Although SATA allows up to 600MB/s, most mechanical NAS drives perform in the 180-280MB/s range.

Platters – Disks inside the drive that store data. Drives in 2024 now feature up to 11 platters, supporting capacities of up to 30TB.

Rotation Speed – Faster spinning platters improve read/write speeds, critical for performance.

Cache – A temporary memory buffer on the drive. Larger NAS drives often include bigger caches for smoother data handling, especially in SMR drives.

Terabytes Written (TBW) – Also known as “Workload Rating,” TBW measures how much data a NAS hard drive can handle in a year while maintaining performance. This metric accounts for regular use, such as filling and emptying the drive repeatedly, which is common in data centers. Standard NAS drives usually support around 180TBW, Pro models around 300TBW, and Enterprise-class drives 550TBW or more.

Magnetic Recording – This refers to the technology used to store data on the drive’s platters. In 2024, the main types are SMR (Shingled Magnetic Recording), PMR/CMR (Perpendicular/Conventional Magnetic Recording), EAMR (Energy Assisted Magnetic Recording), and HAMR (Heat Assisted Magnetic Recording). PMR/CMR remains the most widely used for NAS hard drives due to its balance of reliability and performance.

Warranty Length – This is the manufacturer’s commitment to repair or replace a hard drive if it fails due to manufacturing defects. NAS drive warranties typically last between 3 and 5 years.

These terms are key to understanding how to select the best NAS hard drive in 2024. Next, we’ll explore different NAS environments and recommend the best drives for each.

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

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

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

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

+ Excellent Price Point

+ Rescue Data Recovery Services

+ Seagate Ironwolf Health Management

+ ONLY CMR/PMR Drives in their NAS Range

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

– Noisier General Operation than WD Red Drives

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? Seagate Ironwolf (non-Pro) 8TB NAS HDD (BF) Amazon USA $149.99 (17% OFF, was $179.99) [LINK] QNAP 1 Bay Home NAS with 4TB Storage Capacity, Preconfigured Seagate IronWolf Dr Amazon USA 13.19 OFF (WAS 155) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

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

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

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

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

+ Affordable Price Tag

+ Low Noise and Power Consumption in 24×7 Use

+ Good base level of Capacities Available

– Some Drive feature Shingled Magnetic Recording (SMR)

– Performance is fairly average in the smaller capacities

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? WD Red Plus Internal NAS HDD 3.5\" - 12TB WesternDigital USA 2 HDD for $399 [LINK] WD 8TB WD RED PLUS HDD B&H USA £159.99 ($49 off) [LINK] WD Red Plus 4TB NAS Hard Drive (BF) Amazon USA 29% OFF, Now $84.99 (was $119.99) [LINK] Western Digital 6TB WD Red Plus HDD (BF) Amazon USA $99.99 (33% OFF) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

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

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

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

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

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

+ Error Recovery Control

– Will Generate More Noise at 7200RPM

– Not As Widely Available

– Not as well regarded as Seagate or WD

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

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? These Offers are Checked Daily

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

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

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

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

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

+ Top Tier NAS Drive Performance

+ 300TB/Y Workload

+ Build for up to 24-Bay Servers

– Certainly Noiser than non-Pro equivalents

– More Expensive than the Seagate Pro Option

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? These Offers are Checked Daily

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

4-24TB, 7200RPM, 256MB Cache, 300 TBW (Newer NT version rates at 550TBW), 5yr Warranty, Rescue Data Recovery Services Included $79-399 

When it comes to the move into Rackmount storage for businesses (novices stop here) then not only do you have to only consider Pro/Enterprise-class drives only, but you can also start to look at drives that include certain business level advantages in terms of coverage and service. Much like the non-PRO series of hard drives mentioned earlier, the Seagate Ironwolf Pro series of HDDs include the Rescue+ data recovery services but also includes an impressive 5 years of the manufacturers warranty. However, it is in terms of performance, capacity and durability that the difference between these two ranges become apparent. For a start, the Ironwolf Pro HDD range arrives in capacities of up to 18TB (26-30TB promised for later in 2024/2025 thanks to Energy Assisted Magnetic Recording – with 50TB slated by end of the decade), with ALL drives in the PRO range arriving with 7200RPM and 256/512MB of cache. The result is that these drives will hit up to an impressive 260MB/s, which even in smaller RAID 5 groups will easily saturate a 10Gb connection with just 4-5 drives.I performed te sts on 64MB, 256MB, 1GB and 4GB test files, as well as mixed 70/30% R/W. The results were consistent and largely lived up to Seagate’s claims here.

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

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

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

+ Rescue Data Recovery Services

+ New NT Version Available with 550 TB Annual Workload

+ Seagate Ironwolf Health Management

+ ONLY CMR/PMR Drives in their NAS Range

– Smallest Drive Capacity is 4TB

– Noticeable Boot Up Noise

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? Seagate 24TB Ironwolf Pro $439 B&H USA $439.99 ($210 off) [LINK] Seagate 24TB Ironwolf PRO HDD (BF) Amazon USA 38% OFF - Now $399 [LINK] Seagate Ironwolf (non-Pro) 8TB NAS HDD (BF) Amazon USA $149.99 (17% OFF, was $179.99) [LINK] QNAP 1 Bay Home NAS with 4TB Storage Capacity, Preconfigured Seagate IronWolf Dr Amazon USA 13.19 OFF (WAS 155) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

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

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

Now we finally move into the class of hard drive that is more classically defined at ‘Data Center’ and/or Hyperscale environments. Often choosing between a PRO class and Enterprise-class drive can be ticky at a glance. However, Pro class drives generally arrive with a much longer terabytes written rating per year (ie the amount of data that can be written to the drive throughout its lifespan per annum), arrive in numerous interfaces (so both SAS and SATA generally) and typically arrive with numerous format and encryption standard versions available. These are available because some industries and organizations insist on drive media that features in-built protection and secure erase on the drive itself. Of all the enterprise and data centre-class media in the market, I generally recommend the Seagate EXOS series for any hyper scale system environment. They are very, VERY closely followed by the Western Digital UltraStar class of drives, but the Seagate EXOS series is a little clearer to understand, has larger capacity options available earlier, with several variations of their Mach.2 available (dual actuator/arm SATA drives at 400MB/s+ and even triactuator drives in development) and generally arrive a pinch lower in price too in like-for-like comparisons against the Ultrastar.

Sound Test Video Live Soon (Below)

Changes by Synology in their 2021/2022 series of rackmounts systems onwards to ONLY support their own range of HDD media has led to their own drives featuring on their own respective hardware, so make sure to check that your intended NAS rackmount system supports Seagate EXOS drives before you head to checkout, as this is a trend that has continued right up to the most recent releases this year, as well as reduced HDD compatibility listings for home/SMB solutions such as the DS224+ and DS423+.

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

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

+ Comparatively Lower in Price vs Ultrastar

+ New 24TB Model (X24) Version Available

– Range Can Be Confusing

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

– Noisy!

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? Seagate EXOS Enterprise Server 24TB Hard Drive (BF) Amazon USA 20% off – $479.99 (was $599.99) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

Best Hard Drives for a Business Synology NAS – Synology HAT5300

8-20TB, 7200RPM, 256/512MB Cache, 550TBW, 5yr Warranty, Synology System ONLY, Firmware Control on Synology DSM $199-599 

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

You cannot really question the quality of the hardware architecture featured on the Synology HAT5300 range of hard drives. We clearly find here a range of drives that have been designed by Toshiba (an HDD vendor with decades of experience and Synology are not being coy about highlighting the partnership on this media), combined with one of the biggest providers of modern NAS in Synology, with media that is tweaked for use within their NAS systems and despite arriving at a Pro series price tag, arrive with hardware far more comparable to that of Seagate EXOS and Western digital Ultrastar hard drives. With a terrifically impressive annual workload, an approach to drive firmware and upgrades relatively unseen from any other drive for NAS’ and remarkable transparency from Synology in the marketing of these drives on day one certainly needs to be acknowledged. Moreover, Synology is not the first brand to champion the use of locked hard drive media in their service systems and they certainly won’t be the last. Overall, I am happy with the new Synology hard drives and despite possible reservations about where the logic of locked drives and exclusivity on this product and range will be extended to in the future (standard class versions?), I still happily recommend the Synology HAT5300 media series alongside other champions of NAS hard drive in 2024/2025

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

+ Enterprise Drives at a PRO class Price

+ 550TBW on ALL Capacities

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

– Using them in not Synology NAS Hardware is not Supported

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

– Noisy Operation

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? Synology DS1821+/128TB HAT5300 8 Bay Amazon UK 15.47 OFF (WAS 6657) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

Best Hard Drives for a Business QNAP NAS – WD Ultrastar

1-26TB, 7200RPM, 256-512MB Cache, 550TBW, 5yr Warranty, FIPS and SED Options, SATA, SAS and U.2 NVMe SSD Options $70-550  

Finally, we move onto possibly the most well known of the enterprise-class of Hard Drives on the market. When it comes to data center and hyper-scale storage environments, Western Digital’s UltraStar range has the same reputation and long-running recognition as IBM has in the computer industry. They have been the go-to drive media of choice in the huge storage environment’s for years, thanks in large part to the fact they have been designed, developed and improved at the same time as the systems they were going into. In recent years, competitors have taken chunks of the market from them (as they are a larger and slightly slower behemoth to suddenly change tactic) and feature larger product runs that have to last extensive lengths of time to facilitate data center replacement media as needed. Nevertheless, in recent years the Ultrastar brand under WD has diversified hugely and alongside the popular WD Gold label has branched into a vast array of interface types, form factors, media variants and scales. Typically the first drive series to crack into a new capacity tier (the first to crack 20TB too – as well as rolling out the 24TB and 26TB HDD media to data centers before everyone else).

Sound Test Video Live Soon (Below)

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

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

+ Consistently High Performance

+ Well-established HDD Drive and Brand

+ Numerous Interfaces, in-Drive Encryption Systems and Choices

– DEFINITELY one of the most confusing product ranges

– Noticeably Noisy at boot

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? These Offers are Checked Daily

Best Hard Drives for a Home or Small Business x23/x24 Gen Synology NAS – Synology HAT3300 Plus Series

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

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

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

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

+ Much more affordable than the HAT5300 Series

+ Better range off smaller capacities than HAT5300

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

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

– Lacks Data Recovery Service of Seagate Ironwolf HDDs

– 12TB Maximum Capacity (at time of writing)

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? Synology DS224+ 8TB 2 Bay NAS Solution installed with 2 x 4TB HAT3300 Drives Amazon UK 113.7 OFF (WAS 747) [LINK] Synology DS224+ 32TB 2 Bay NAS Solution installed with 2 x 16 HAT3300 Drives Amazon UK 318.35 OFF (WAS 1224) [LINK] Synology DS1621+ 24TB 6 Bay Desktop NAS Solution installed with 6 x 4TB HAT3300 Amazon UK 63.02 OFF (WAS 1662) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

IMPORTANT! Compatibility of Hard Drives with Synology NAS Systems

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

This change in policy is significant for users needing specific storage solutions or those accustomed to a broader choice of drives. It contrasts with other NAS brands, which continue to support a variety of third-party drives, including the latest high-capacity models. When choosing a NAS hard drive in 2024/2025, it’s crucial to consider not just the drive’s specifications but also its compatibility with your NAS system. This ensures that you can take full advantage of the NAS’s features and avoid potential compatibility issues.

Join Inner Circle

Want to follow specific category? Also Read...Week 51 Tech Round-Up – QNAPLocal AI and NAS Drives - IS TFAQ for DIY NAS Builds: EverytRecommended ATX Motherboards fRecommended ATX Motherboards fN305 6-Bay 10GbE NAS MotherboaCWWK Q670 8-Bay Gen5 NAS vPro Flashstor Gen 2 NAS ReviewHexOS NAS Software - Review ofN305 6-Bay 10GbE NAS Motherboa Subscribe

You can also follow specific search terms:

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?

TRY CHAT

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

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

    

 

WE LOVE COFFEE

This description contains links to Amazon. These links will take you to some of the products mentioned in today’s video. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

Note – this is the 2024 update of the rolling ‘best HDD for your NAS’ article (Cheers Clayton!)

When choosing a NAS server for your home or business, selecting the right hard drive is essential. Just like every tool in a toolbox has its role, NAS-specific drives are engineered to meet the particular needs of network storage environments. Using the wrong type of drive in a NAS can lead to decreased performance and potential issues with reliability. In recent years, manufacturers have developed specialized NAS hard drives (including SSDs) that are designed for 24/7 use, high durability, and optimized read/write cycles to suit NAS workloads. As we enter 2025, the storage landscape has evolved significantly, with hard drives now reaching capacities of 24TB and 26TB, and innovations in platter technology leading to 11-platter designs. This breakthrough could soon push capacities beyond 30TB, addressing the growing need for massive data storage in both personal and professional settings. With such a wide range of drive sizes and types available, from 2TB to 26TB and beyond, it can be difficult to navigate the choices. To help, I’ve compiled a guide that highlights eight different NAS/Server setups and the most compatible hard drive options for each, taking into account the latest developments in technology and market trends for 2024/2025

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

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

Important – What You Need to Consider in a NAS HDD?

When selecting a NAS hard drive, understanding key terms can help you make the right choice. Here’s a quick guide to essential terms for 2024:

RAID – Redundant Array of Independent Disks enhances storage, speed, and data safety by using multiple drives. RAID 0 offers no protection but maximizes space. RAID 1, 5, and 6 provide varying levels of redundancy for safer storage.

SATA – Still the main connection type for NAS mechanical drives in 2024, SATA offers 6Gbps speeds, but mechanical drives generally top out at 280MB/s. Newer connections like NVMe and SAS are more prominent in enterprise SSDs.

Saturation – Refers to data flow through a connection. Although SATA allows up to 600MB/s, most mechanical NAS drives perform in the 180-280MB/s range.

Platters – Disks inside the drive that store data. Drives in 2024 now feature up to 11 platters, supporting capacities of up to 30TB.

Rotation Speed – Faster spinning platters improve read/write speeds, critical for performance.

Cache – A temporary memory buffer on the drive. Larger NAS drives often include bigger caches for smoother data handling, especially in SMR drives.

Terabytes Written (TBW) – Also known as “Workload Rating,” TBW measures how much data a NAS hard drive can handle in a year while maintaining performance. This metric accounts for regular use, such as filling and emptying the drive repeatedly, which is common in data centers. Standard NAS drives usually support around 180TBW, Pro models around 300TBW, and Enterprise-class drives 550TBW or more.

Magnetic Recording – This refers to the technology used to store data on the drive’s platters. In 2024, the main types are SMR (Shingled Magnetic Recording), PMR/CMR (Perpendicular/Conventional Magnetic Recording), EAMR (Energy Assisted Magnetic Recording), and HAMR (Heat Assisted Magnetic Recording). PMR/CMR remains the most widely used for NAS hard drives due to its balance of reliability and performance.

Warranty Length – This is the manufacturer’s commitment to repair or replace a hard drive if it fails due to manufacturing defects. NAS drive warranties typically last between 3 and 5 years.

These terms are key to understanding how to select the best NAS hard drive in 2024. Next, we’ll explore different NAS environments and recommend the best drives for each.

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

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

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

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

+ Excellent Price Point

+ Rescue Data Recovery Services

+ Seagate Ironwolf Health Management

+ ONLY CMR/PMR Drives in their NAS Range

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

– Noisier General Operation than WD Red Drives

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? Seagate Ironwolf (non-Pro) 8TB NAS HDD (BF) Amazon USA $149.99 (17% OFF, was $179.99) [LINK] QNAP 1 Bay Home NAS with 4TB Storage Capacity, Preconfigured Seagate IronWolf Dr Amazon USA 13.19 OFF (WAS 155) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

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

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

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

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

+ Affordable Price Tag

+ Low Noise and Power Consumption in 24×7 Use

+ Good base level of Capacities Available

– Some Drive feature Shingled Magnetic Recording (SMR)

– Performance is fairly average in the smaller capacities

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? WD Red Plus Internal NAS HDD 3.5\" - 12TB WesternDigital USA 2 HDD for $399 [LINK] WD 8TB WD RED PLUS HDD B&H USA £159.99 ($49 off) [LINK] WD Red Plus 4TB NAS Hard Drive (BF) Amazon USA 29% OFF, Now $84.99 (was $119.99) [LINK] Western Digital 6TB WD Red Plus HDD (BF) Amazon USA $99.99 (33% OFF) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

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

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

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

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

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

+ Error Recovery Control

– Will Generate More Noise at 7200RPM

– Not As Widely Available

– Not as well regarded as Seagate or WD

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

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? These Offers are Checked Daily

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

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

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

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

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

+ Top Tier NAS Drive Performance

+ 300TB/Y Workload

+ Build for up to 24-Bay Servers

– Certainly Noiser than non-Pro equivalents

– More Expensive than the Seagate Pro Option

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? These Offers are Checked Daily

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

4-24TB, 7200RPM, 256MB Cache, 300 TBW (Newer NT version rates at 550TBW), 5yr Warranty, Rescue Data Recovery Services Included $79-399 

When it comes to the move into Rackmount storage for businesses (novices stop here) then not only do you have to only consider Pro/Enterprise-class drives only, but you can also start to look at drives that include certain business level advantages in terms of coverage and service. Much like the non-PRO series of hard drives mentioned earlier, the Seagate Ironwolf Pro series of HDDs include the Rescue+ data recovery services but also includes an impressive 5 years of the manufacturers warranty. However, it is in terms of performance, capacity and durability that the difference between these two ranges become apparent. For a start, the Ironwolf Pro HDD range arrives in capacities of up to 18TB (26-30TB promised for later in 2024/2025 thanks to Energy Assisted Magnetic Recording – with 50TB slated by end of the decade), with ALL drives in the PRO range arriving with 7200RPM and 256/512MB of cache. The result is that these drives will hit up to an impressive 260MB/s, which even in smaller RAID 5 groups will easily saturate a 10Gb connection with just 4-5 drives.I performed te sts on 64MB, 256MB, 1GB and 4GB test files, as well as mixed 70/30% R/W. The results were consistent and largely lived up to Seagate’s claims here.

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

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

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

+ Rescue Data Recovery Services

+ New NT Version Available with 550 TB Annual Workload

+ Seagate Ironwolf Health Management

+ ONLY CMR/PMR Drives in their NAS Range

– Smallest Drive Capacity is 4TB

– Noticeable Boot Up Noise

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? Seagate 24TB Ironwolf Pro $439 B&H USA $439.99 ($210 off) [LINK] Seagate 24TB Ironwolf PRO HDD (BF) Amazon USA 38% OFF - Now $399 [LINK] Seagate Ironwolf (non-Pro) 8TB NAS HDD (BF) Amazon USA $149.99 (17% OFF, was $179.99) [LINK] QNAP 1 Bay Home NAS with 4TB Storage Capacity, Preconfigured Seagate IronWolf Dr Amazon USA 13.19 OFF (WAS 155) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

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

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

Now we finally move into the class of hard drive that is more classically defined at ‘Data Center’ and/or Hyperscale environments. Often choosing between a PRO class and Enterprise-class drive can be ticky at a glance. However, Pro class drives generally arrive with a much longer terabytes written rating per year (ie the amount of data that can be written to the drive throughout its lifespan per annum), arrive in numerous interfaces (so both SAS and SATA generally) and typically arrive with numerous format and encryption standard versions available. These are available because some industries and organizations insist on drive media that features in-built protection and secure erase on the drive itself. Of all the enterprise and data centre-class media in the market, I generally recommend the Seagate EXOS series for any hyper scale system environment. They are very, VERY closely followed by the Western Digital UltraStar class of drives, but the Seagate EXOS series is a little clearer to understand, has larger capacity options available earlier, with several variations of their Mach.2 available (dual actuator/arm SATA drives at 400MB/s+ and even triactuator drives in development) and generally arrive a pinch lower in price too in like-for-like comparisons against the Ultrastar.

Sound Test Video Live Soon (Below)

Changes by Synology in their 2021/2022 series of rackmounts systems onwards to ONLY support their own range of HDD media has led to their own drives featuring on their own respective hardware, so make sure to check that your intended NAS rackmount system supports Seagate EXOS drives before you head to checkout, as this is a trend that has continued right up to the most recent releases this year, as well as reduced HDD compatibility listings for home/SMB solutions such as the DS224+ and DS423+.

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

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

+ Comparatively Lower in Price vs Ultrastar

+ New 24TB Model (X24) Version Available

– Range Can Be Confusing

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

– Noisy!

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? Seagate EXOS Enterprise Server 24TB Hard Drive (BF) Amazon USA 20% off – $479.99 (was $599.99) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

Best Hard Drives for a Business Synology NAS – Synology HAT5300

8-20TB, 7200RPM, 256/512MB Cache, 550TBW, 5yr Warranty, Synology System ONLY, Firmware Control on Synology DSM $199-599 

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

You cannot really question the quality of the hardware architecture featured on the Synology HAT5300 range of hard drives. We clearly find here a range of drives that have been designed by Toshiba (an HDD vendor with decades of experience and Synology are not being coy about highlighting the partnership on this media), combined with one of the biggest providers of modern NAS in Synology, with media that is tweaked for use within their NAS systems and despite arriving at a Pro series price tag, arrive with hardware far more comparable to that of Seagate EXOS and Western digital Ultrastar hard drives. With a terrifically impressive annual workload, an approach to drive firmware and upgrades relatively unseen from any other drive for NAS’ and remarkable transparency from Synology in the marketing of these drives on day one certainly needs to be acknowledged. Moreover, Synology is not the first brand to champion the use of locked hard drive media in their service systems and they certainly won’t be the last. Overall, I am happy with the new Synology hard drives and despite possible reservations about where the logic of locked drives and exclusivity on this product and range will be extended to in the future (standard class versions?), I still happily recommend the Synology HAT5300 media series alongside other champions of NAS hard drive in 2024/2025

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

+ Enterprise Drives at a PRO class Price

+ 550TBW on ALL Capacities

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