I have a mini pc I'll use as a Plex server, and now I need a storage layer of some sort. So, I decided to go for a NAS. Quicksync is not a must, since I already have that in my mini pc. I also want to store personal files, like photos and videos. I prioritize low power usage and easiness of use at the lowest possible price. 10GBE (or 2.5GBE) is a nice to have, and could be added later. I've been looking at Synology DS923+ and QNAP TS-464. Of the two, Synology seems more suited, due to its software. I'm wondering if I can get something cheaper at the expense of processing power, or other. I don't mind the DIY route, although I'd skip countless hours of configuration, and appreciate what Synology (or QNAP) provide out of the box. Thanks!

Hello.

I have been researching external thunderbolt RAID enclosures to manage through a "stripped" Macbook pro that is now in a server capacity on our home network. I would like to archive all of my music and photos as well as have a second location for Time Machine backups.

In my reading there are active debates regarding HW RAID and SW RAID. There also seems to be a varied set of opinions when it comes to solid state, or enterprise grade spinning media.

Lastly, noise... I have read that OWC and others are VERY noisy and I do not want that issue to come along for the ride when I pull the proverbial trigger on a storage solution.

At the end of the day, I am in search of a reliable RAID enclosure that offers reliability, value and relative quiet. I don't think I need RAID 5, but defer to your expertise on whether RAID 1 is enough for my application. I would also like to be able to monitor the health of the drives. The MB P is a 2013 13" w/ Intel i7, 500 MB & 16 GB.

Hi , Appreciate the help. I need to get a nas. I need backup and to edit from home and office on premiere pro. 2 days a week I will be accessing the files from work, 3 days I'll be at home.

Generally editing 4k video.

I have a Thecus n2520 that has been sitting in a closet, unused for years. Just pulled it out and factory reset everything. The original OS doesn't appear to be loading fully when trying to access different areas of the UI. What does load is super slow, probably due to the intel atom inside. It appears there is no manufacturer support due to age (which is to be expected at ~10 years old) .
Is it better to scrap it and build/buy new or is there an alternate solution that can be loaded on to it?

Thanks in advance

I recently purchased a Synology DS 423+ along with 2 x Seagate IronWolf 4TB ST4000VN006.
This was all I could afford at the time.
I have them in a Synology Hybrid RAID
I now wish to populate the 2 empty bays in my NAS.
I want to add 1 to the SHR Volume 1 and 1 to a 2nd volume for Surveillance.
The ST4000VN006 are still available or there are ST4000VNZ006 drives for a similar price.
(4TB are between £95 and £110 each)
Which of these - or even some other drive - would you recommend please?
TIA.

Hello, my current NAS is connected to an Nvidia Shield with a LAN cable. From there I go via HDMI cable to a Denon AVR-2400h. From there the picture goes to a Samsung OLED TV. I watch a lot of 4K Movies and also 265 HEVC with Atmos and Dolby True HD. Transcoding to a mobile phone or other device is not necessary. I only watch via TV. I need a NAS with about 90 TB of space (5 or 6 bay). Which NAS (if possible from Synology) would you recommend? Thank you very much for your answer.

I have 7 Seagate Ironwolf pro 14tb drives.
I tried to add an 8th 14tb drive but the nas refused to accept it.
There seems to be a firmware change from SN03 to SNA3.

can you help?

Hello,

I've discovered your youtube channel back in 2021 when i was looking for a NAS to store my media library. I saw you recommended a DS920 and that is the one i bought, loaded it up with seagate exos 16TB drives. after a year or so i bought the expansion unit because i was running out of storage. Placed the same drives in the expansion unit. But now i have the same issue once more.

Now i am not sure what to do, build a standalone that is upgradable, throw the 920 and the expansion unit out and replace it with something else or add another nas as a network drive to the ds920.

The only use i have for the server is to run plex. The media files are max 1080p remux, i do not have a lot of streams at the same time because i have a limited upload speed 5MB/s. This will probably change in the future, but i'm not planning on more than 5 streams at the same time.

I would prefer a quiet nas, not to a noisy server psu.

My budget is flexibel.

Thanks for your time.

Best regards
Niels

Hi NAS compares,

I am planning to buy Synology NAS DS723+ and i am having some doubts in that

1. Can i use M.2 SSD for storage without using any SATA SSD or HDD.(buying Only m.2 SSD for everything like OS installation multimedia storage)
2. Can i use regular SSD instead of using NAS SSD.
3. Can i use other brand SSD.

Would prefer USB 3.2 Gen 2 or Gen 2x2 but Thunderbolt is an option. Hardware RAID 5 with 4-8 bays