I'm looking at upgrading from a QNAP TS-251D to something with a better processor and ability to add a gpu. I'm tired of buffering video and running out of processor speed. I'm looking at both the TVS-472XT-i3 and the TVS-H474. I also want something that can handle running a Windows 10/11 Virtual machine. Is one of these options better than another? What's a good GPU for less than $300? Is ther another model I should look at?

Hi, big fan of the channels and blog. Thank you for your guidance! I've been using Synology for 5+ years to host files and (most importantly) Plex Media Server. My DS218+ has a failed motherboard. It won't start up or get recognized on the network. Based on your reviews, I don't think any of the newest 2-bay Synology devices are a good investment right now because I want hardware transcoding for PlexMS. So based on your article, I purchased a QNAP HS-264. I'm not a big fan of QNAP's software but it'll get the job done. Except I'm trying to move my files from Synology drives to QNAP. I understand I can't swap the drives so I bought new drives for the QNAP and am trying to copy files using SATA to USB3 adapter but the disk is not showing up in File Manager on QNAP. How can I get the files transferred (or is there a comparable 2-bay Synology NAS) so I can get my content back? Thanks!

Hi

I'm looking to purchase a QNAP TS-464.
I'm going to be using it as a plex or jellyfin media server, and a fileserver, I use Sonarr/Radarr and qbittorrent.

In the future I'm looking to add CCTV was looking at using 2x Reolink RLC-812A 4K cameras
I already have 4 4TB HDDs, they are on ext4 file system and have data on them.
I have a budget of £700-£800

I will be at max streaming 4 files at 1080p, it will either be 3 local and 1 outside the network
or 2 local and 2 outside.

My questions are as follows

Will this NAS do it

If it won't, will it do it if I upgrade the ram to say 32GB

Can I drop my drives in and have them work

Are there any other NAS devices that fit my requirements? Ideally, QNAP or Synology as I know they will work with Radarr and Sonarr, but if other will work I'm ok with that

Thank you
David

Please update me on the DS223+, to update the DS212+, DS218+ series.

Need advice for a NAS that can run PLEX media server and "serve" media which is a mixture of 4K HDR and 1080P movies and TV shows over a home network to an Nvidia Shield TV (hardwired) and 4 No. 4K Firesticks (Wifi). Only the Nvidia Shield would require 4K HDR as the Firesticks are connected to 1080P Televisions.
Currently running WDMyclould Mirror 2 bay with 4TB spanned over 2 x 2TB hard drives as storage only with the Nvidia Shield running the PLEX server side of things. I have also got on order 2 x 4TB WD RED PLUS hard drives which I'm going to use to expand my current NAS's storage as I'm starting to run low on space.
Would like something with 4 No. Bays minimum so I can expand as the media library grows. I would like to re-use the current 2 TB drives if possible as well as the 2 x 4TB on order.
Movie and TV show file formats are a mixture of H.264 and HEVC.

Hope this makes sense!?
Thanks in advance.

WD Myhome Duo not supporting Sonos on MAC system.
Netgear Nighthawk Router on Metronet.
1 old MAC, 1 New MAC, MacBook.
3T Myhomeduo 90% free

Hi, Thank you for providing this service. Looking for quick advice, I have tried Plex and found it frustrating either converting or having to transcode a lot of media, so I'm not sure if you're aware of Infuse, it's an apple only software, and got myself a Apple TV and I'm using a 2TB HD, and using a macbook to host the drive. Incase you're not aware, infuse will play most files, doesn't need to transcode and any upscaling etc takes place on the Apple TV. That being the case I wanted to know your reccomendation for a NAS, I was looking at the Terramaster F2-423 but considering most graphic intensive stuff like transcoding won't be done on the NAS I wans't sure if it was needed so I was looking at the QNAP TS-251D, older but cheaper and I still think it could handle most of my needs. Just looking for opinons or other reccomendations if possible, also curious if you're familiar with Infuse, might be an interesting test for cheap NAS's? Thank you in advance, Chris

Hi.

I've just cancelled an order for a DS923+ (600€ on amazon.de) and I am not sure whether it was a smart move.

I'm new to NAS and want one to do the following things:
- Take strain off the PC that's currently a media server and main work computer
- Replace my reliance on GAFA photo/file solutions after a Google "bug" resulted in me receiving lots of other people's videos
- Act as a secure hub for all our work files - as two self-employed work-from-home types
- Backup files across laptops, PC, mobile..
The Synology software seems the best but there seems to be a lot of reaction to their 923+ release. I will use the NAS for media serving - but our PC is powerful and has a good graphics card, such that I could transcode an alternative file on there before adding to was (in fact, tips on how to automated this would be appreciated).
So I am kind of in a horrible position - I feel ready to buy, but paralysed by the lack of clear indication towards what to buy.
Help!

Thanks in advance. The three main uses for our NAS would be: Backup, serving media and synchronising email (so we can see the same emails in Outlook on different laptops).

Hi thank you so much for all the information you have put out. I’ve learned a lot and consequently am planning on buying an Asustor Lockerstor 4 gen 2… I want to upgrade the memory and wanted to know if the N5105 Celeron Processor will support using “Corsair Vengeance Performance SODIMM Memory 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 2933MHz CL19”? I noticed this stick had a lower latency than the equivalent Crucial 2933MHz memory (22CL). They’re about the same price but I didn’t see Celeron on Corsair’s supported processors list. Thoughts?