What NAS should I get?

[Enquiries]

I am wanting a NAS mostly for photo and other file storage. I would also like to potentially be able to stream Plex from it. Also want to host my own website and other stuff. I've figured Synology is the best, but I don't know which specific one to get. I am thinking most likely 4 bay. Which should I get?

[ed]

For your use case and budget, I would recommend either the Synology DS423+ or the Synology DS923+, depending on your needs:

1. Synology DS423+
4-Bay NAS
CPU: Quad-Core, Intel Celeron J4125
RAM: 2GB (expandable to 6GB)
Storage: Supports up to 20TB with 2x 10TB drives (RAID1 for redundancy)
Features: Ideal for photo storage, file management, and running Plex for 1080p streaming. The DS423+ can handle light 4K transcoding for a single stream.
Software: Synology DSM offers excellent management and supports website hosting, Plex server, and various apps.
2. Synology DS923+
4-Bay NAS
CPU: Quad-Core, AMD Ryzen R1600
RAM: 4GB (expandable to 32GB)
Storage: More powerful for future-proofing with better Plex transcoding, including 4K for multiple streams.
Features: Suitable for more demanding Plex use cases and better long-term scalability. The additional power of the AMD Ryzen CPU makes it a great option if you need more performance for applications like virtual machines or more intensive data handling.
Both options support expansion and redundancy, and you can start with 2x 10TB drives (RAID1) and expand as needed. The DS423+ is great for a budget-conscious choice, while the DS923+ provides extra power and future-proofing if you plan to scale up or need more intensive performance.