Best NAS Servers

We’ve been using the Synology DS1522+ for a while now, and it’s been a game-changer for our data storage needs. This 5-bay NAS is a powerhouse, with read/write speeds that make file transfers a breeze. We noticed how quickly we could move large video files and photo collections.

The DS1522+ isn’t just about speed. We love the built-in apps for file management, data protection, and even surveillance. It’s like having a mini-server that can do it all. We set up a personal cloud and now access our files from anywhere.

One thing that stood out to us was the ability to add more drive bays. We started with three drives, but knowing we can expand up to 15 drives gives us peace of mind for future storage needs. The four network ports also came in handy for our home office setup.

We’ve spent a lot of time with the Synology DS223j, and it’s clear why it’s a popular choice for home users. The setup process is a breeze – we had it up and running in about 15 minutes. The DiskStation Manager software is easy to navigate, even for first-time NAS users.

The device runs quietly, which is great if you plan to keep it in a living area. We barely noticed it was on. File sharing worked smoothly across our devices, and we liked how easy it was to set up automatic backups.

While the DS223j is great for basic home use, it has some limits. With only two drive bays, you can’t expand storage as much as with larger NAS units. The 1GB of RAM is enough for file sharing and backups, but it might struggle with more demanding tasks. If you want to use it as a Plex server, keep in mind it can’t transcode video.

We’ve been using the Synology DS223 for a while now, and it’s clear why it’s a popular entry-level NAS. The setup process is a breeze – we just popped in a hard drive, scanned a QR code, and we were up and running in no time.

The DS223’s interface is clean and easy to navigate. We found ourselves quickly getting the hang of file sharing and syncing across our devices. It’s great for keeping our photos, videos, and documents organized and accessible from anywhere.

One thing we really like is the built-in backup feature. It’s simple to set up and gives us peace of mind knowing our data is safe. The surveillance capabilities are a nice bonus too, though we didn’t dive too deep into that.

While the 2-bay limit might be a drawback for some, we think it’s plenty for most home users. The 2GB of RAM isn’t expandable, but we didn’t notice any performance issues in our day-to-day use.

All in all, we’re impressed with the Synology DS223. It’s a user-friendly NAS that packs a lot of features into a compact package. If you’re new to NAS or just need a reliable home storage solution, this could be the right fit for you.

The QNAP TS-453E impressed us with its snappy performance. We found the Intel Celeron J6412 processor handled multiple tasks with ease. File transfers were quick, and we could stream 4K videos without a hitch.

We liked the dual 2.5GbE ports. They made a big difference when moving large files across our network. The ability to add NVMe SSDs for caching was a nice touch. It sped up access to our most-used files.

Setting up the TS-453E took some time. The interface has lots of options, which can be overwhelming at first. But once we got the hang of it, we found it flexible and powerful. We could easily set up backups, create shared folders, and manage our media library.

The built-in apps were useful. We tested the surveillance features and found them solid for basic camera setups. The ability to run virtual machines was neat, though we didn’t push it too hard.

One drawback we noticed was the fixed 8GB of RAM. For most users, this is plenty. But power users might wish for more. The price is also on the higher side, but we feel the performance justifies it for those who need a robust NAS.

We’ve been using the QNAP TS-464 for a few weeks now, and it’s really impressed us with its speed and features. The quad-core Intel Celeron processor makes file operations snappy, and the 8GB of RAM keeps things running smoothly even with multiple users connected.

One thing we love is the dual 2.5GbE ports. We connected both to our network switch, and the file transfer speeds are amazing. It’s great for moving large video files or backing up our computers quickly. The ability to add NVMe SSDs for caching is a nice touch too, though we haven’t tried that yet.

Setting up the TS-464 was pretty straightforward, but new NAS users might find it a bit daunting. The web interface is packed with features, which is great for power users but can be overwhelming at first. We found the mobile app handy for basic tasks and remote access. Overall, we think this NAS hits a sweet spot between power and ease of use for most home users.

We’ve been testing the Synology RS422+ in our lab, and it’s clear this NAS means business. The 4-bay rackmount design fits nicely in a standard rack, taking up minimal space. We love how it’s just 327.5 mm deep with the handles on – perfect for tight spots.

Speed is the name of the game here. In our tests, we saw read speeds over 600 MB/s and write speeds above 500 MB/s. That’s plenty fast for most small business needs. The dual 1GbE ports worked well for our network setup, giving us some nice redundancy.

One thing to note – this NAS can get noisy. The fans aren’t whisper-quiet, so you might not want it in your living room. But in a server room or basement, it’s not a big deal. We also wish it came with 10GbE out of the box, but the upgrade option is there if you need it.

We’ve been testing the Asustor Flashstor 6, and it’s impressed us with its speed. The six M.2 NVMe slots let us set up a blazing fast RAID array. We noticed file transfers were much quicker than on our old HDD-based NAS.

The dual 2.5GbE ports are a nice touch. We hooked it up to our network switch and saw a big jump in transfer speeds. It’s great for streaming 4K videos or backing up lots of data quickly.

We like the compact size too. It fits nicely on our desk without taking up too much space. The quad-core Intel Celeron chip handled our tasks well, from running Plex to hosting a few docker containers. But we do wish it had more than 4GB of RAM for heavier workloads.

The Asustor Drivestor 2 Lite impressed us with its simplicity. We plugged it in, and it showed up on our network right away. The web interface was clear and easy to use, even for NAS beginners.

We liked the 4K transcoding ability, which let us stream high-quality videos to our devices without a hitch. The quad-core processor handled basic tasks well, but we noticed some slowdowns with more demanding apps.

The tool-free design made swapping drives a breeze. We just popped the front panel off and slid our hard drives in. No screws or tools needed. It’s perfect for users who want a fuss-free setup.

We found the 1GB of RAM a bit limiting for running lots of apps at once. The single gigabit Ethernet port was fine for most home uses, but power users might want more speed options.

In our tests, the NAS worked great as a file server and backup solution. We set up automatic backups from our computers and phones with no problems. The Btrfs file system let us take snapshots, which gave us peace of mind against data loss.

For the price, we think the Asustor Drivestor 2 Lite offers good value. It’s a solid choice for home users who need basic network storage and media streaming without breaking the bank.

The Asustor AS5402T packs a punch in a compact package. We were impressed by its Intel Celeron N5105 CPU, which gave us snappy performance for file transfers and running apps. The 4GB of DDR4 RAM kept things smooth, even with multiple tasks going at once.

One standout feature is the four M.2 NVMe SSD slots. We installed a couple of SSDs and saw blazing fast speeds for frequently accessed files. The dual 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports also came in handy, letting us set up link aggregation for even faster network transfers.

We found the Asustor software easy to use, with lots of apps available. Setting up backups, media streaming, and remote access was a breeze. The three USB 3.2 ports made it simple to connect external drives. While it only has two bays for 3.5″ drives, the M.2 slots add great flexibility. For home users wanting speed and features, this NAS is worth a look.

The CS382 packs a lot into a small space. We fit 8 full-size hard drives in the hot-swap bays with room to spare. The front door locks, which we liked for keeping our data safe. We also added a slim optical drive for old backups.

Cooling was a breeze. We installed a 240mm radiator for the CPU with no trouble. The case stayed cool even under heavy use. But the stock hard drive fans were loud. We swapped them out for quieter ones.

We appreciated the flexibility of this case. It took our Micro-ATX board and ATX power supply with no fuss. The four PCIe slots let us add a beefy graphics card and a RAID card. With some clever packing, we squeezed in 13 drives total. It’s not cheap, but we think it’s worth it for a solid NAS build.