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NAS Advice - Enquiries - 02-07-2025
Hi there,
I want to build a NAS, I'm a complete beginner but have been been looking for years. Primarily it will be used at home as a plex server and I can direct connect. I mainly use large size 4k videos, plus maybe some backup of photos and files. I would like remote access but this isn't a deal breaker and id be happy to leave that as a future upgrade if there a cheap way to get started with something local an then upgrade it for remote latter. Or is it just better to buy a fully functional system right away?
Thank you
RE: NAS Advice - ed - 02-14-2025
It sounds like you're looking for a solid home NAS setup for Plex and backups, with the option to expand later. Given your needs, I'd recommend looking at either the Synology DS423+ or the DS224+.
DS423+ – A 4-bay NAS, great if you want more storage flexibility and future expansion. It has better performance for Plex, especially if you plan to transcode occasionally.
DS224+ – A 2-bay NAS, more budget-friendly, but with less room for expansion. Works well if you’re mainly direct-streaming your 4K files without transcoding.
Both models run Synology DSM, which makes backups and remote access easy to set up if you decide to enable it later. If you’re leaning toward long-term use, the DS423+ is the better investment, but if you’re just testing the waters, the DS224+ is a solid choice.
For storage, 10TB is a good starting point, but I’d recommend at least two drives in RAID 1 for redundancy (e.g., 2×10TB). That way, you won’t lose everything if a drive fails.
Let me know if you need help deciding!
RE: NAS Advice - ed - 02-14-2025
It sounds like you're looking for a solid home NAS setup for Plex and backups, with the option to expand later. Given your needs, I'd recommend looking at either the Synology DS423+ or the DS224+.
DS423+ – A 4-bay NAS, great if you want more storage flexibility and future expansion. It has better performance for Plex, especially if you plan to transcode occasionally.
DS224+ – A 2-bay NAS, more budget-friendly, but with less room for expansion. Works well if you’re mainly direct-streaming your 4K files without transcoding.
Both models run Synology DSM, which makes backups and remote access easy to set up if you decide to enable it later. If you’re leaning toward long-term use, the DS423+ is the better investment, but if you’re just testing the waters, the DS224+ is a solid choice.
For storage, 10TB is a good starting point, but I’d recommend at least two drives in RAID 1 for redundancy (e.g., 2×10TB). That way, you won’t lose everything if a drive fails.