Best 2 or 4 bay to function as an ethernet direct connect

[Enquiries]

I'm moving to a plex server on a Mac mini M4 (not yet purchased) and looking at storage options for it. I have an old DS1813+ that just doesn't have the horse power any more. I considered an 8 bay replacement but that seems too pricey at ~$1200 were the Mac mini can be used for many old tasks. Thoughts?

[ed]

If you're looking for an affordable NAS or DAS solution that can act as direct storage for your Mac mini M4 and replace the aging DS1813+, you have a few good options to consider in the $200 to $600 range.

Synology DS923+ (4-bay) – At the higher end of your budget, the DS923+ would be a solid upgrade. It’s a 4-bay NAS that offers 10GbE upgradeability, making it future-proof if you want faster network speeds later. You can use it as both a NAS and a DAS depending on your setup. It supports Plex and would handle storage demands for 16TB easily.

QNAP TS-464 (4-bay) – Another solid choice in your budget, the TS-464 offers PCIe expansion for adding 10GbE or other upgrades later. It also features robust multimedia support and Plex compatibility.

Synology DS223j (2-bay) – If you're okay with a 2-bay solution, the DS223j is budget-friendly and a great entry-level NAS. It's ideal for personal use and can still serve your Plex needs if you’re not dealing with massive amounts of 4K content.

Asustor AS5304T (4-bay) – This one provides a strong balance of performance, and at around the $600 mark, it gives you a good set of features, including 2.5GbE and Plex support.

For direct connection, you might also look into using a DAS (Direct-Attached Storage) solution if you want simpler performance without needing the network infrastructure of a full NAS. The WD My Book Duo (for example) can be an affordable alternative.

In your price range, I'd lean toward the DS923+ if you want more flexibility and future-proofing, but the DS223j would be a good fit for a budget-conscious 2-bay setup.