Not sure what nas i should choose

[Enquiries]

Hi,

I have a Zyxel NAS326 with 2 HDD with 2TB each used in RAID 1 and i wan to upgrade to a 4-bay (not sure why but i kind wish to be 4-bay but if i find a better deal on a good CPU or something else i can settle to 2 bays also). I used it for family photo and light movie streaming.

Thinking about the money versus what you receive i tink of building my own nas but not sure if it is worth the hassle so currently i am looking for the best option between QNAP and Synology (and maybe Terramaster but really is like the last option).

So, not to take much of your time, i have narrowed down my list to QNAP TS-462, TS-264 (2 bay but much cheaper), ASUS DRIVESTOR 4 Pro Gen2 AS3304T v2.

Which one do you think is the best option for me? I know that even myself i dont really know what i need/want but i think it comes down to whats the best value for money.

[ed]

It looks like you're aiming for a 4-bay NAS, but you're open to 2-bay options if they offer better value. Since you're primarily using it for family photos and light movie streaming, here's a breakdown of the options you've mentioned:

QNAP TS-462

Pros: A solid 4-bay NAS with a quad-core CPU and HDMI output for direct media playback, which could be useful if you want to connect it directly to a TV. It's a good choice if you're planning to expand your storage in the future. The price might be on the higher side, but it’s a solid, reliable NAS for both storage and media streaming.
Cons: Might be a bit overkill if you’re only using it for light streaming and photo storage right now.
QNAP TS-264

Pros: 2-bay NAS, much cheaper than the TS-462, with good performance for its price. It supports 4K media streaming, so it could easily handle your light movie streaming needs. It’s compact and ideal if you don’t need to expand beyond 2 drives for a while.
Cons: Limited to 2 bays, so storage expansion could become an issue if your needs grow.
ASUS DRIVESTOR 4 Pro Gen2 AS3304T v2

Pros: Offers a 4-bay configuration with an affordable price tag. Good for storing photos and movies, with the option to expand as your needs grow. ASUS is known for reliable hardware at a good price, so it’s worth considering.
Cons: While it offers decent performance, its software and features might not be as extensive as QNAP or Synology's offerings.
Recommendation:
If you're looking for the best value for money, the QNAP TS-264 seems like a great fit for your needs. It’s cheaper, and its 2-bay configuration is likely all you need for now, especially if you're mainly storing photos and streaming movies lightly. However, if you really want to future-proof your setup and don't mind spending a bit more, the QNAP TS-462 would give you more flexibility with 4 bays.

If you do want to go the DIY route and save some money, building your own NAS could offer more customization options, but it does come with added complexity and might not be worth the effort if you're looking for a hassle-free solution.