ASK NC

Currently running xpenology dsm6.1.3 on a HP N40L microserver, with 3 x 4TB in raid5 and 2x8tb as standalone drives.
I use the 8TB raid5 for my files and documents and the 2 x 8TB for storage of my video files.
NAS is mainly used for torrents and video streaming using ds video to my iphone on the go and apple tv4k at home
As it's not a synology nas, transcoding does not work, neither does shr.
Thinking of changing to either a 4 or 5 bay synology nas but the DS923+ & DS1522 do not integrated graphics, which I'm worried about as my main use case is video streaming. Would like to have 2.5G support as well as I have a single 2.5G port on my router. That said, my internet connection is 1gbps and so technically I can't really make use of 2.5G.
Would DS423+ be a better fit? Concerned about synology requiring synology ssd and compatible hdds as well. Will QNAP instead be better as their hardware seems to be a better fit and more flexible in terms of compatibility.

Certainly, upgrading to the DS423+ would be a suitable choice for your needs, especially considering its multimedia-friendly hardware. While the DS923+ and DS1522 don't have integrated graphics, the DS423+ offers a more appropriate fit for your video streaming requirements. Although your internet connection is currently 1Gbps, adding a 2.5G or 5G port via a USB adapter can provide faster internal network speeds. Regarding compatibility concerns, Synology does work with third-party drives, and any warnings can be removed through SSH. Alternatively, QNAP offers more flexible hardware, but they have no future plans to restrict users. Ultimately, the DS423+ with its added port and multimedia capabilities makes it a compelling choice for your upgrade, and it should work well for your video streaming, torrenting, and file storage needs within your budget range of 500-600 USD (excluding HDDs).