Synology DiskStation DS220+ review: The new best value NAS for your home

Synology DiskStation DS220+ Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Cardinal

A network-fastened storage (NAS) enclosure is a small server that lets y'all do many cool things from storing files and bankroll upwardly your PCs to running a media server for streaming and even storing surveillance footage. They range in price, adequacy and connectivity and the new Synology DiskStation DS220+ is replacing the older Synology DiskStation DS218+, which was our favorite budget-friendly enclosure.

What sets the DS220+ autonomously from the older DS218+ is revised internals. The design, dimensions, and the number of drive bays have all been kept the same. Y'all can call up of the DS220+ as the verbal aforementioned as the DiskStation DS420+ just with 2 fewer drive bays, simply how does information technology fare on its own to competitive hardware in the lower price range? Is this the all-time NAS for abode?

Affordable Enclosure

Synology DS220+

Synology DiskStation DS220+

Bottom line: The Synology DiskStation DS220+ is a brilliant NAS enclosure for those looking to purchase their first NAS server or to save some coin. The Intel Celeron processor is powerful enough for 4K media transcoding and the OS is versatile enough to let you choose from plenty of available apps.

Pros

Intel Celeron J4025 processor
The same fantabulous DSM OS
Two drive trophy
4K media transcoding
Excellent value

Cons

No two.five or ten Gb LAN ports
No M.2 SSD slots for enshroud

Synology DS220+ tech specs

Category	Synology DiskStation DS220+
CPU	Intel Celeron J4025
RAM	2GB DDR4 (max 6GB)
Drive bays	2x (SSD/HDD)
Chapters	32TB
Cooling	1x 92mm fan
Ports	2x 1Gb LAN 1x Rear USB 3.0 1x Forepart USB 3.0
Power depict	Upward to 14.69W
Dimensions	165 x 108 ten 232.2 mm (6.5 x four.25 ten nine.thirteen inches)
Weight	1.30 kg (two.86 lbs)

Synology DiskStation DS220+ is the best value NAS

Synology DiskStation DS220+ Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central

The Synology DiskStation DS220+ looks identical to the DS218+. The only style you lot'll exist able to tell the difference is by looking at the model SKU printed on the front both enclosures. You've got the same front plastic embrace, the same layout of LED status lights, even the same USB port configuration.

Upgraded internals make the Synology DiskStation DS220+ the all-time value NAS for the home.

Where things accept improved are the inclusion of an boosted 1Gb LAN port, as well equally an upgrade to both the processor and RAM. Before we bear upon the operation heave, let's take a quick look at the blueprint, just in example you're unfamiliar with the older model this enclosure replaces.

On the front of the DiskStation DS220+, yous'll notice the accessible drive bays, same LED lights, power button, and a single USB iii.0 port. The sides are completely clear, every bit is the height of the enclosure. On the rear, yous'll find the single 92mm fan to proceed everything running cool, two 1Gb LAN ports, the other USB 3.0 port, Kensington lock, and power input.

Information technology'south a clean design that fits in with Synbllogy'southward other NAS enclosures. I'grand glad the visitor didn't brand any drastic changes.

Synology DiskStation DS220+ Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Fundamental

The inside of the NAS is where things get really interesting. This is all the same a $300 NAS enclosure, but for 2022 Synology chose to bump the processor of old to the newer Intel Celeron J4205, which brings with it Hard disk Graphics 600. There'south also the example of the new CPU running at 2.0GHz with a burst speed of two.9GHz, compared to 2.0GHz and 2.5GHz with the DS218+ Celeron J3355.

This comeback to the processor will play a role in video transcoding likewise if you plan on setting up your own Plex Media Server. Every bit well as the CPU, Synology also made sure the RAM is current by replacing DDR3 with DDR4, allowing yous to install an additional 4GB yourself to bring the total retentivity bachelor to 6GB.

Picking the best drives for your NAS

Synology DiskStation DS220+ Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Key

It'southward easy to choose the right difficult drive for your NAS. All you demand to make sure is that it'due south specifically designed for continuous utilize inside such an enclosure. A drive you can pull out of your old desktop PC but won't practice. This is why nosotros rounded upwardly some of the all-time storage drives you lot can buy for NAS to help you brand the right decision.

How to cull the right drive for your NAS

To test the Synology DiskStation DS220+, I installed two 4TB Seagate IronWolf HDDs and connected it to my 2.5Gb dwelling house network, using two CAT5 cables to actuate link assemblage.

Synology DiskStation DS220+ is a powerful NAS

Synology DiskStation DS220+ Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central

Pre-built NAS enclosures aren't the most powerful systems bachelor. If yous truly want the best operation possible, it's always best to do it yourself. Nosotros put together a handy guide on everything you demand to know to build your ain NAS. Yet, enclosures like the DiskStation 220+ from Synology have their identify and the Os is nothing short of astonishing.

The Intel Celeron J4205 is a great little processor. Sure, we're not talking Core series here, but for how much this enclosure costs, you're getting quite the deal. It'll be more than capable of handling simultaneous connections for file storage, too as running Plex Media Server. Yep, it'll even do some 4K transcoding as well.

The CPU comes equipped with 2 concrete cores and threads (no hyperthreading), with the aforementioned base and boost clock speeds of two.0GHz and 2.9GHz, respectively. The addition of the DDR4 RAM also helps matters, assuasive the DS220+ to punch well in a higher place its weight.

Setting up the NAS is incredibly simple. Synology has the initial configuration process nailed down and you lot can get everything up and running in less than 10 minutes. Afterwards installing two of your favorite NAS hard drives, boot up the NAS and you're greeted by an piece of cake-to-follow setup wizard. There's even a handy locator tool from Synology if you're unable to locate the server in your network.

The Synology DiskStation DS220+ is a brilliant starter NAS for Plex.

Once connected, yous'll be asked a few questions, provided the means to gear up a Synology account (I recommend you practice so), and install DSM OS onto your hard drives. SHR is recommended for data redundancy, meaning you'll lose one bulldoze worth of capacity, but this does shield you from whatever data loss should a bulldoze fail.

I recommend setting up a Synology Business relationship every bit this provides you with the company's external NAS locator service. Not anybody has a static external IP address. The one you use for the outside world often changes and this causes problems if you have a service that points to an IP that no longer points to your home. This is where Synology tin come in, allowing the NAS to communicate to its servers with updated IP details.

The DSM OS has a package manager, which you can think of similar an app store of sorts. This allows 1 to install a host of applications, including third-party offerings like Plex. At that place'south and so much yous could exercise with an enclosure such as the DS220+.

What y'all might dislike about the Synology DS220+

Synology DiskStation DS220+ Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central

Like the DiskStation DS420+ there aren't any ii.5Gb or 10Gb LAN ports here, which is a shame. Compared to the DS218+, at to the lowest degree we've got an additional 1Gb port for link assemblage, but it would be expert to see a ii.5Gb port added. Other manufacturers are bringing two.5Gb and 10Gb to NAS models with lesser specs, and I'd like to see Synology follow suit.

There are also no M.ii slots for installing NVMe drives. This isn't a huge issue simply does rule out calculation any form of cache to the DS220+. If you want such a feature, you'll need to fork out some more money for the DS920+.

Should you purchase the Synology DS220+?

Synology DiskStation DS220+ Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central

The Synology DiskStation DS220+ should exist shortlisted if you're looking to buy your first NAS for your home or minor function. It has two bulldoze trophy for enough of storage space, should you utilise 16TB drives, and the upgraded internals further expand capabilities. Synology's DSM OS is also very practiced, among the best in the business organisation.

As an added bonus, you could fifty-fifty run Plex Media Server o the DS220+. Information technology'southward not as adept as Intel Cadre serial processor-rocking NAS enclosures, only you will be able to transcode some 4K media. Information technology'south just a shame Synology couldn't add together 2.5Gb LAN or M.2 slots for caching. If these aren't a deal-billow (and they shouldn't at this price) so this is the best NAS for your cadet.

Affordable Enclosure

Synology DS420+

Synology DS220+

The best affordable NAS for the dwelling

Synology got mostly everything right with the DiskStation DS220+. It has a actually skillful processor, upgraded DDR4 RAM, two bulldoze trophy, and dual 1Gb LAN ports, merely it's simply a shame about the lack of 2.5Gb LAN or Thousand.two slots.

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