02-06-2025, 12:54 PM
Your TS-251+ has served you well, and you're right that QNAP’s 2-bay lineup hasn't seen a major refresh in a while. If you're not in a rush, it might be worth waiting to see if QNAP releases something new this year, but there's no guarantee.
For Plex, backups, and a single camera, here are your best options:
Synology DS224+ – Great software (especially for backups), but no hardware transcoding in Plex. If your playback devices support direct play, it's a solid choice.
Asustor AS5402T – More powerful CPU (Intel N5105), 2.5GbE, and Plex hardware transcoding. A better QNAP alternative if you want something modern.
Terramaster F2-424 – Cheaper, but lacks Synology’s polished software. Works well for Plex if you’re comfortable setting things up yourself.
Since you've already got WD Gold 4TB drives, all of these will work fine. If you're happy with QNAP’s interface and features, you could wait, but if you’re ready to move now, the Asustor AS5402T is a great modern alternative.
For Plex, backups, and a single camera, here are your best options:
Synology DS224+ – Great software (especially for backups), but no hardware transcoding in Plex. If your playback devices support direct play, it's a solid choice.
Asustor AS5402T – More powerful CPU (Intel N5105), 2.5GbE, and Plex hardware transcoding. A better QNAP alternative if you want something modern.
Terramaster F2-424 – Cheaper, but lacks Synology’s polished software. Works well for Plex if you’re comfortable setting things up yourself.
Since you've already got WD Gold 4TB drives, all of these will work fine. If you're happy with QNAP’s interface and features, you could wait, but if you’re ready to move now, the Asustor AS5402T is a great modern alternative.