Cheap 2-bay with 2.5GbE
Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro Gen2 AS3302T v2
2 bays2GB RAM2.5GbE
Backups and light streaming with a faster-than-gigabit port.
about $280on Amazon
Simplest backup box
Synology DS223
Backing up phones and computers and sharing files, with no media server needs.
Our pick: Simplest backup box. The Synology DS223 is a 2-bay NAS powered by the Realtek RTD1619B, 4 cores, with 2GB of RAM and 1GbE networking. It suits backing up phones and computers and sharing files, with no media server needs. The catch: an ARM chip with 1GbE only and no hardware transcoding for Plex. Fine for backup and file sharing, slow for anything heavier.
about $290Amazon shows today's exact price.
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- Bays
- 2
- Processor
- Realtek RTD1619B, 4 cores
- Memory
- 2GB
- Network
- 1GbE
- NVMe slots
- None
- Plex hardware transcoding
- No
- Software
- Synology DSM
Specs are from the Amazon listing or the maker. Prices are for the box without drives unless the listing says otherwise.
Why we pick it
- The full Synology DSM experience for less
- 4.6 stars from 588 ratings
- Quiet: buyers rate its noise 11 to 4
The catch
An ARM chip with 1GbE only and no hardware transcoding for Plex. Fine for backup and file sharing, slow for anything heavier.
1 and 2 bay in one line
Two drives mirrored (RAID 1) is the classic first NAS: if one drive dies, nothing is lost. Fine for photos, backups and a media library up to the size of one drive.
Questions about the Synology DS223
Is the Synology DS223 a good NAS?
Simplest backup box. The full Synology DSM experience for less. 4.6 stars from 588 ratings. The catch: An ARM chip with 1GbE only and no hardware transcoding for Plex. Fine for backup and file sharing, slow for anything heavier.
Can the Synology DS223 run Plex?
It can serve files to Plex players that play them directly, but it has no hardware transcoding, so converting 4K or HEVC on the fly will struggle. For Plex, pick a NAS with an Intel CPU.
Does the Synology DS223 include drives?
No. The price is for the box (diskless) unless the listing you choose says it is a bundle. Add NAS-rated CMR drives such as WD Red Plus or Toshiba N300.
Who is the Synology DS223 for?
Backing up phones and computers and sharing files, with no media server needs.
What Synology says about it
- One Place for All Your Data - Consolidate scattered files from multiple computers, phones and external drives into one accessible hub with 100% ownership
- Professional File Collaboration - Share projects with clients, sync documents across teams and maintain version control without Dropbox fees
- Automated Backup Protection - Set-and-forget backups for Macs, PCs and mobile devices to multiple destinations including cloud and external drives
- DIY Surveillance System - Transform IP cameras into a professional monitoring solution with motion alerts, recording schedules and remote viewing
- 2-Year Warranty - Reliable hardware backed by Synology's expert customer support team and ongoing software updates
From the Amazon listing, in the maker's own words.
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