Synology DS420+ review: Revised internals make this one compelling mid-tier NAS

Synology DS420+ Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central

Network-fastened storage (NAS) isn't the almost exciting product category, and, every bit such, we don't usually witness substantial changes between product cycles, and that's certainly the case with the new Synology DS420+. It'due south a mid-tier NAS, rocking quite the capable Intel processor, 4 bays for enough of storage, and an bonny price.

Finer replacing the DS418, y'all can retrieve of the DS420+ as a slightly more affordable and less equipped version to the older DS918+ with upgraded internals. Is it a vast improvement and worth your money for the dwelling or small office? We took one for a spin.

Synology NAS enclosures often receive considerable discounts for promotions like Blackness Fri, so if y'all somehow manage to spot a DS420+ list for less than $500, you should consider adding this NAS to your home.

Four-bay NAS

Synology DS420+

$500

Bottom line: An amazing mid-tier NAS for the home or small function.

Pros

Intel Celeron J4025 is great
M.two SSD slots for cache
The same excellent DSM OS
Four drive bays
Tin can handle Plex

Cons

No 2.5 or ten Gb LAN ports

Synology DS420+ tech specs

Category	ASUSTOR AS7110T
CPU	Intel Celeron J4025
RAM	2GB DDR4 (max 6GB)
Bulldoze bays	4x (SSD/HDD) 2x M.2 PCIe (NVMe) cache
Capacity	64TB
Cooling	2x 92mm fan
Ports	2x 1Gb LAN 1x Rear USB three.0 1x Front end USB 3.0
Power describe	Up to 28.30W
Dimensions	166 x 199 x 223 mm (vi.54 x 7.83 x 8.78 inches)
Weight	2.18 kg (4.8 lbs)

Synology DS420+ is an evolutionary upgrade

Synology DS420+ Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central

Not much has been altered regarding the blueprint of the DS420+. It looks like a modern Synology NAS, though all the upgrades accept occurred within. From the front end, we've got the usual LED indicators and power push button on the right, alongside one of two USB 3 ports. This NAS comes with four drive bays, allowing for upwards to 64TB of storage capacity.

Both sides and the top of the NAS are blank, aside from the perforated Synology logos that double equally intake vents. On the rear, there are two 92mm fans to proceed the system running cool, two 1Gb LAN ports and a single USB 3 port. This NAS does not have an internal power supply, and and then an external brick is required.

Synology DS420+ Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Fundamental

If you're unfamiliar with Synology'south line-up of NAS, the drive trophy are all-plastic and accept a locking machinery that requires a key to unlatch. This helps prevent anyone from accidentally hot-swapping drives. Once all drives are removed, it'south easy to access the inner workings of the DS420+, including the unmarried RAM upgrade slot — the preinstalled 2GB is fastened to the main PCB.

With four bulldoze trophy, y'all tin can store a lot of stuff on the DS420+.

Speaking of RAM, this NAS tin support up to 6GB max, allowing you lot to throw in a 4GB module. The processor is an upgraded Intel Celeron J4025, the same ane institute inside the DS220+. It'southward quite the comeback over the Intel Celeron J3455, even though the SKUs would suggest otherwise.

Picking the best drives for your NAS

Seagate IronWolf NAS SSD Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central

Sure, it's possible to take an quondam hard bulldoze out of your desktop and employ it inside a NAS, but you won't get many of the benefits that come with a drive specifically designed for NAS employ. We rounded up the best NAS drives available to kit out the ASUSTOR AS5304T.

How to choose the right bulldoze for your NAS

Packing the DS420+ with 4 4TB Seagate IronWolf NAS drives in Synology's Hybrid RAID (SHR), we were ready to embark the installation process to go DiskStation Manager (DSM) upward and running. While running, you lot can merely just hear the drives spin. The two fans on the rear barely move when the NAS isn't doing as well much, merely even at full speed, they're not too audible at effectually 22dBA.

Synology DS420+'s Intel processor is Plex-friendly

Synology DS420+ Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Cardinal

Modern pre-built NAS servers aren't the most powerful systems around. Unless you're prepared to part with some serious cash (and I'g talking at to the lowest degree $i,000), you won't exist getting anything like an Intel Core processor. Nearly entry and mid-tier NAS models come rocking Intel Celeron processors, which aren't terrible but are barely able to keep up with 4K transcoding should you wish to use Plex.

Celeron processors have come a long way for Intel, and the J4025 is a keen CPU. Released in 2022, this CPU comes equipped with two physical cores and threads (no hyperthreading), with base of operations and boost clock speeds of two.0GHz and ii.9GHz, respectively. It's no slouch, and this is evident when trying to stream 4K content through Plex.

You can easily run a Plex server on the DS420+.

The initial setup procedure for a Synology NAS is as about as uncomplicated equally it gets. You just install at least one difficult drive into the bachelor trophy, plug everything in, and turn on the unit. The aforementioned goes for the DS420+, making full use of the easy-to-follow setup wizard. If you're unable to locate the IP address of the server on your network, fearfulness not as Synology has a handy locator tool.

In one case you're continued, information technology'll ask you a few questions, allow you to set upward a Synology account, and install DSM onto your hard drives. It's all-time to utilize SHR for data redundancy unless you accept a preferred RAID configuration in mind. One time the OS is installed, yous'll be greeted by the DSM Os. This is where the fun begins.

DSM has a package manager that can exist used to install a host of apps and services, including third-party offerings like Plex. If y'all accept Plex in mind for the DS420+, it tin can handle upward to 4K transcoding reasonably well, and then long as you lot're non hammering the NAS with multiple simultaneous connections.

What you lot might dislike about the Synology DS420+

Synology DS420+ Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Cardinal

I desire to encounter ii.5Gb or 10Gb ports on NAS models that aren't part of a value series. The new DS420+ just comes with two 1Gb ports, which can be used as a single connection through link aggregation, but it's nonetheless leagues behind the faster LAN ports. Other manufacturers are bringing 2.5Gb and 10Gb to NAS models with lesser specs, and I'd similar to see Synology follow conform.

I can understand why this unit doesn't accept them since the more pricey DS918+ is due a refresh, which would come with higher-stop features, but information technology would accept been prissy to encounter the advancement in network capabilities. Still, this shouldn't bear on nigh people who purchase the DS420+ with 2Gb worth of throughput, providing ample bandwidth.

Should you lot purchase the Synology DS420+?

Synology DS420+ Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central

You should purchase the Synology DS420+ if you're looking for a new NAS for your home or small office or would similar to upgrade from an older model with fewer bays. Information technology'due south one of the latest NAS models from Synology correct at present, rocking avant-garde hardware, including the impressive Intel Celeron J4025 CPU, besides equally other handy features similar M.2 SSD cache.

Information technology's the full packet for a storage device or Plex Media Server. You've got four trophy that can hold upwardly to 64TB, depending on the RAID configuration, two 1Gb LAN ports with link assemblage — though it would take been dainty to see at least 2.5Gb ports here — and a few USB 3 ports to kick. This is one of the best NAS for home.

Iv-bay NAS

Synology DS420+

The same great four-bay NAS

Synology kept DS420+ similar to the older DS918+, aside from a few internal upgrades, and everything yet works as expected. It's a sound mid-tier NAS.

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