07-10-2025, 04:15 PM
Thanks for reaching out — and well done keeping that Zyxel going for nearly a decade! Sounds like you’re ready for a big step up, and you’re thinking along the right lines: simple, reliable, and easy to manage, with room to grow into four bays.
For your budget and needs, I’d recommend going with the Synology DS423.
DS423 is Synology’s current 4-bay model (based on their Realtek ARM processor). It’s designed for home users who want simplicity without giving up too much performance. DSM (DiskStation Manager) software is still the most polished and user-friendly interface on the market, making it perfect for someone who doesn’t want to tinker too much.
You can slot in your two healthy 2TB drives alongside two new ones, and DSM will help you create a hybrid RAID that balances safety and space — all through a straightforward setup wizard.
You’ll be up and running quickly, with access to files from all your devices and even remotely if you want it. At around $450–550, it fits neatly into your budget too.
No need to complicate things with other brands — the DS423 really is the “easy choice” here for home use.
For your budget and needs, I’d recommend going with the Synology DS423.
DS423 is Synology’s current 4-bay model (based on their Realtek ARM processor). It’s designed for home users who want simplicity without giving up too much performance. DSM (DiskStation Manager) software is still the most polished and user-friendly interface on the market, making it perfect for someone who doesn’t want to tinker too much.
You can slot in your two healthy 2TB drives alongside two new ones, and DSM will help you create a hybrid RAID that balances safety and space — all through a straightforward setup wizard.
You’ll be up and running quickly, with access to files from all your devices and even remotely if you want it. At around $450–550, it fits neatly into your budget too.
No need to complicate things with other brands — the DS423 really is the “easy choice” here for home use.