Thus a j model is sufficient if that's all you're doing. The Synology DS220j is a significant upgrade from the DS218j it replaces and slots in just below the Synology DS218play. Price difference: DS220J = 154€ DS218 = 248€ DS218+ = 302€ DS220+ = 309€, should I settle for DS220+ Or DS218+? It delivers fast data transfer speeds to maximize data backup efficiency while utilizing real-time incremental backup technology to reduce impact on your PC system performance. Quad CPU, SSD caching, supports 5 bay expansion unit - its a little power house that will last a long while. The only way you'll be able to tell the difference is by looking at the model SKU printed on the front both enclosures. I want a NAS that can do these things: Find, download and schedule torrents, deleting at a predetermined upload ratio. I installed Nextcloud so I could host my own calendar and contacts, and files, just like Google Drive. It's the one I have. ... Synology DiskStation DS218+ features a dual-core processor with AES-NI encryption acceleration and a transcoding engine, providing high-speed file transfers and supporting real-time 4K transcoding. Posted by 1 year ago. Subtitles are a must; I've read that this turns the simple task of streaming to the much more intensive one of transcoding. Unpopular opinion, but the 220J or even a 420J might work for you. In terms of cost - its 50 dollars more than the "j" version. CDN$ 352.77 Synology 2 Bay NAS DiskStation DS720+ (Diskless) 4.7 out of 5 stars 1,281. I have a 220+ now for docker containers. Main Usage: Storing files and pictures (maybe with Moments). The Synology DiskStation DS220j is an affordably priced, two-bay NAS device designed for use as a personal cloud solution. For photos you want BTRFs. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The main thing you won't get with the 220j is transcoding. Plan ahead. QNAP TS-228A iSCSI Total Write Time = 262 s Synology DS218play iSCSI Total Write Time = 380 s QNAP TS-228A iSCSI write perform much better than Synology DS21.. NAS: Qnap Ts-228A vs Synology DS218j. Both of the above models are coming to my house Friday and I'm trying to figure out which one to send back. Archived. It has 512MB RAM which is enough for home environments to do very simple tasks. Really not sure about that because I have to get everything new, the NAS, NAS HDDs and an external disk for backup purpose and don’t want so spend 600+€ for a thing that I don’t really need. Don't think now what you don't want it for, keep an open mind and buy the model that will allow you to do more in the future - otherwise I guarantee you'll be upgrading after a short while when you realise the limitations of what you've bought. DS218j arrives with 512MB RAM. it can handle your daily as well as productive tasks. The DS220j same as the DS218j is made by Synology. I just upgraded because I got a nice gift card for my birthday. I think the 218 will be my sweet spot, I will consider spending the extra 60 bucks for the 218+/220+, although I will probably never use things like docker. Both have their two USB 3.0 ports on the rear panel. No items to compare. Our video review is here: Like all Synology NAS solutions, the DS220j runs the powerful and useful DiskStation Manager (DSM) , which allows you to manage your device with ease. Synology DS220j vs Synology DS218j vs Synology DS218play . 5 5. So I should spend 500€ for the DS918+, 200€ for 2 4TB HDD and 100€ for an external Backup Disk = 800€ :/. The plus models are for those that want a computer that does more than just serve files. Streaming to my personal devices remotely (off the home network). If a drive fails you just pull it out, replace it and it will rebuild itself - you can even carry on using it while it sorts itself out. It fits my needs for downloading shows and movies using Plex and DS Video. Sales & Expert advice 800.606.6969 or 212.444.6615. I went 220+ for docker and better cpu then upgraded the ram aswell. The Synology DiskStation DS220j is an affordably priced, two-bay NAS device designed for use as a personal cloud solution. That basically means your media will have to be a format that your player can understand - either it'll be pre-transcoded by you, or your player will need to be capable of transcoding it for you. So, you're saying I can save myself like $130 and the only extra work I should have to do with the 220j is converting some media files? Another key difference between the DS218+ is RAM. Live Chat. I have docker running with Plex, Homebridge etc. And -, It does handle 4K plus can access remotely. Currently I have around 150GB of Data over the Last 10 years, i don’t think I will need more than 4TB before the drives are EOL, Get the + so you have hot swap ability. It is relatively easy to set up and use, and those who are new to Network Attached Storage are advised to go for the Synology. I'm happy with my DS220+ unit, even without any RAM upgrades it handles everything I need with ease. Synology DiskStation DS720+ vs DS220+ vs DS220j. The 220j doesn't have docker. Print Email. I have 2 x 8TB drives and use the Synology raid. Synology DS218 comes with a new 64-bit quad-core processor to deliver excellent data transfer speed and supports rich applications such as multimedia streaming, and file syncing and sharing. Right now, when I want to watch something, I play it on my Mac with subtitles using VLC. If you want it to run apps that actually go out and grab files, rename them, organize them, and otherwise manipulate them (e.g., Plex, Sonarr, Radarr, Jackett), then the plus models are a better choice. I would go for the DS218+. And did the exact same as you do now.. but I have replaced it a current + model. Cookies help us deliver our Services. So, +; j are out of picture. Why does that matter? Follow up question: will the 218 be enough or should I take the step to 218+/220+? About Connections The device you're actually consuming the media on (streaming box, smartphone, tablet) should handle decoding whatever you throw at it. So if you're not looking for a powerful option and want a NAS that handles the basics, the DS220j is the better option. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. In either case, you can add more money for more drives. I personally am using the DS218+ for the last 6 months (upgraded the RAM to 6GB) plus has a good CPU power to atleast for me to stay with the product for a couple of years. Click on Storage Pool 2. and click on “Create” Comparing Synology DS218+ vs Synology DS220j vs Synology DS118 . Models higher up the range such as the DS216 or DS218+ don’t require adapters to fit 2.5-inch disks. The Synology DiskStation DS220+ looks identical to the DS218+. TerraMaster F2-210 vs Synology DS218j Apps. Right now the cost difference is $130 on Newegg. The new DS220j is outfitted with a 4-core Realtek 1.6 GHz CPU with DDR4 DIMM inside (up to 512MB), so you’ll be getting a little more performance out of it. Personal opinion: don’t get a 2-bay NAS. Can the DS220j handle this or do I need to get a D218+? Add at least two items to compare. Live Chat. The j models are great if all you want is a file server. It’s worth the difference when you eventually have to recover/ upgrade drives. Customer Service 800.221.5743 or 212.239.7765. In either case, you can add more money for more drives. I want to streamline all of this. It is worth noting that there are other, better specced Synology options that use the DS218 name, and it is the £196 DS218play that is perhaps the closest competitor as it has the same Realtek RTD1296 chipset. The comparison table makes it easier to choose between the Western Digital My Cloud EX2 Ultra and Synology DiskStation DS216+II devices. Remote streaming is not a problem with Plex - you just have to set it to allow it in the settings. Synology has ditched the dual-core Marvell Armada 385 chipset in favour of the Realtek RTD1296 but the RAM is half what you will find in the DS218play at just 512MB. Always buy more than you expect to use. Just the fact that you sayd "maybe" indicates that you shoud get the most powerful NAS you can. It cost a a bit more but it's better for the future. Either model will do this for you. The DS220+ replaces the DS218+ and elbows out the old 2GHz dual-core Celeron J3355 CPU with the same 2GHz dual-core Celeron J4025 as found in the new DS420+. You also might not want to keep hooking up your laptop just to stream movies forever so if you wanted to run Plex or Video Station or Emby then the DS218+ is better for that. Both NASs will do your required backup tasks and torrent tasks - they come with (nearly) identical software. I have 10GB of RAM in it too. People often choose Synology because of user friendly interface as well as being suited for Mac and Windows based environments. Handled it all without issues. QNAP VS Synology: SHR and RAID Configuration Options. If you are using both bays for data duplication, you can only upgrade your storage by degrading the array and replacing both drives. And since you're watching your media on various devices **on wifi** with various resolutions, you're going to be doing a lot of transcoding. This means that if you want to view your media files in any resolution other than the source resolution, the DS218+ will handle it easily while the DS220j will choke and die. Plex seems like the way to go here, but I'm not sure. RAID can prevent data loss due to hardware failure on the installed hard drive or SSD. Back to Product List. Great unit. Since you're torrenting, it's safe to assume that your media files are going to be in a variety of formats and resolutions. The NAS is a simple, glossy white box. Subtitles are not a problem - you can configure the Plex server to grab subtitles for new media automatically from opensubtitle.org. However, Plex usage is a different story. Hardware decoding for Plex is simple too with an Intel CPU. I had 4 cameras always recording on it. USB 2.0 ports are becoming a thing of the past, and neither the DS218 play nor the DS218j has them. If you haven’t, I recommend you to read my blog post on Storage systems before you read this, to make sure that you understand all the basic concepts for storage systems.…………Are you back now? No items to compare. Synology has limited Docker availability in the package manager to only some select models (models and links updated 12/21/2020) 21 series:DS1821+, DS1621xs+, DS1621+, DVA3221 20 series:FS6400, FS3… I bought it for file storage, then as I began to see the possibilities I was grateful I'd chosen a NAS with upgradeable memory and an Intel CPU. Also, Moments requires resource-intensive indexing, and you'd probably want a better NAS to do the job.Then it depends on the extent of your experiments.If that's mostly limited to simple tasks like occasional photo indexing, AV, automatic backups and other stuff running in the background, I'd go with DS218If you need video transcoding that actually works good enough, only DS218+ and DS220+ will realistically suffice. The Synology DiskStation DS218j is an excellent entry-level two-bay NAS device that's supported by a bevy of management options and third-party apps. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. 4K content won't be a problem with either one - either because it's pre-transcoded with the 220j, or because you've got the 218+ that will transcode on the fly. The DS218j 512MB RAM compared with DS218+ 2GB is clearly weaker. That's not to say it wasn't convenient but if that is the main reason you can think of to get a + over a J at twice the cost I think that's a bit silly. Compact and high performance NAS solution. Before that I ran a 218j for 2 years. I have to delete shows and movies all the time. Performance 85% News, discussion, and community support for Synology devices, Press J to jump to the feed. Synology Drive – File Syncing and Sharing February 17, 2021 Plex Transcoding Find Which NAS Works Best November 23, 2020 So if your media file is in 4K and you want to watch it in 1080p (because 4K is choking your wifi), you'll need a CPU that will transcode the media file from 4K to 1080P before sending it over the network. They always do. The SHR system allows you to introduce new drives of different sizes without causing instability and other problems. I don't agree that j models are crap and slow. Add at least two items to compare. The J models could last you a while and are a good value if I understand your situation right. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, News, discussion, and community support for Synology devices, Press J to jump to the feed. It sounds like you want to play around and get familiar with it, so I wouldn’t recommend such a large investment up front. With regard to transcoding on the NAS itself, the general wisdom seems to be its not great to do. I bought a DS215j and 2 years later upgraded to a DS716+ II. For media performance the DS218+ ($298 without hard drives) is great. Contact Us. Unlike the DS218 this box. Using Docker I host my own password server (Bitwarden) and there are lots of exciting Docker images available to play with. Better hardware vs. 3x USB. I use that have a 215j. You Might Also Like. This means that if you want to view your media files in any resolution other than the source resolution, the DS218+ will handle it easily while the DS220j will choke and die. The '+' means it has an Intel CPU - essential for several services like Docker. For Synology, it's above both the DS218+ that comes in right at $299 and the DS918+ that can be had for $449, positioning this platform somewhere between it and the DS1019+ at $649.99. Running SMB and DLNA server. Totally agree but I’d throw the DS 720+ in for consideration too. No Plex, but maybe I will start to try out some things, not sure if the DS220J can handle this. If it's going to run a torrent client you should use the DS218+ as the hardware is much more capable of handling that. If you have other insights or questions, or a different recommendation, go ahead and let me know. Then it depends on your use case and if you're okay with losing warranty for your device.If you're a hardcore enthusiast and your "some things" include running several VMs or granting the access to a tiny island nation, and you really need a ton of RAM, you can go with DS218+ - in it, you can unofficially upgrade your RAM to crazy volumes like 32gbOtherwise, go with DS220+ - it features better CPU, is just faster and more efficient, but you can only upgrade it to 6gb of RAM (which is normally enough for pretty much everything you can ever think of, and for most people is absolutely not a problem).So that's pretty much it, it's for you to decide. The DS716+ is sooo much better, faster but I still use the DS215j for some dedicated tasks. Unlike the DS218+ this box has the Marvell Armada 385 88F6820 32-bit Dual Core 1.3 GHz processor. It would be good to know if either device can do these, but they aren't required. for responsiveness you want loads of ram. It's faster and I use docker functionality... DS220+ better Cpu is most important,do not by a j model they are painfully slow. In a 4-bay, you can expand by adding drives and you will have more flexibility. Synology DS220+ is a compact network-attached storage solution designed to streamline your data and multimedia management. It's a very versatile little box. Hell, I forgot my NAS even had hot swap as a feature the first time I replaced a drive and it really didn't make that much of a difference. Synology 2 Bay NAS DiskStation DS220j (Diskless), 2-Bay; 512MB DDR4. For backups, I use Synology Hyperbackup to a connected 8TB USB drive, and for irreplaceable data like photos and documents, I also backup to Dropbox. NAS: Qnap Ts-228A vs … The callout chart above shows the front and rear panel layouts for the DS218play; the diagram below shows the DS218j callouts. This question (or a close variant thereof) gets asked approximately every few hours on this subreddit. docker, btrfs) you can decide if you want to upgrade. The UI does not feel any slower. Depends on what you are using it for. Here's the key differences that you need to be aware of: DS218+ Hardware Transcoding Engine - H.264 (AVC), H.265 (HEVC), MPEG-2 and VC-1; maximum resolution: 4K (4096 x 2160); maximum frame rate per second (FPS): 30, DS220j Hardware Transcoding Engine - none. If I want to watch it on my TV I have to plug the laptop in with an HDMI port. The third aspect of QNAP vs Synology is the SHR and RAID configuration options. And if you need something with plenty of storage, performance, and backup options, the DS1019+ ($619 without drives) a 5-bay powerhouse that can meet all the needs. Store files, and serve them up to whatever asks - computer, streaming device, etc. Data can be further protected with RAID 1 disk mirroring support. Personally I find a 2 bay unit enough for my needs. SYNOLOGY 2 Bay NAS DiskStation DS218 (Diskless) 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,132. Thinking about ordering the DS220J for testing because Amazon offers return window until 31.01.21, but if it doesnt fit mit usecase, should I go with 218, 218+ or 220+? For your current needs the J will work, but I will suggest you take a + model. Back to Product List. Cannot decide between the three models, which one would you choose? There's a little sticker shock with the price of the nas and drives (I got 2 Seagate 4TB NAS drives for RAID 1), but overall I think I'm getting a more flexible, versatile and powerful machine with the plus series. I mean, for home use it's not that terrible too turn off the NAS for five minutes to replace a drive. Bhphoto sells it for 400bucks which is ~330 euro. If you want best long term value, quality, bang/per/buck, and reliability: DS1618+. Download Datasheet CPU. DS220+ owner speaking, not an expert, but here's my vision:Okay, so it really depends on your needs.If you feel like you're gonna use your NAS for something more than pure storage, 220j is not an option.