Synology NAS Died – What to Replace It with?

After shutting down my 2-bay DS218+ for a week, it won’t power on anymore. I’ve gone through troubleshooting and tried a few fixes, but nothing worked. Time to replace it.

I’m thinking about sticking with Synology since I know the software and everything is already synced with other devices at home. The DS224+ seems like the obvious choice, but this failure has made me question how reliable Synology really is.

Has anyone here moved from Synology to another brand? When I first bought mine, it was basically between Synology and QNAP. Not sure if there are any solid new options now.

I’ve also seen some build-your-own NAS setups on sale, but I don’t have much technical knowledge, so I’m not sure that’s a smart move.

For reference, I use it to back up photos and documents, download from Usenet, and run Plex—including 4K streams.

Tagged: NAS

NAS data recovery

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Jace Elric

Participant

June 17, 2025 at 9:31 am

Your DS218+ has failed, and if you’re looking for a replacement, the DS224+ is the most straightforward option. It’s compact, runs the familiar DSM interface, and handles basic tasks like backups, Usenet downloads, and Plex. However, it lacks hardware for 4K Plex transcoding unless you rely on direct play or have a Plex Pass.

If Plex 4K support is important, QNAP might be the better choice. Models like the TS-464 come with better CPUs and built-in GPUs, making them more capable for media streaming. The interface isn’t as polished as Synology’s, but the hardware offers more flexibility and performance.

DIY NAS builds using Unraid or TrueNAS are also an option. These setups give you the most control and expandability but require technical knowledge to configure and maintain.

If you want something simple and reliable, stick with Synology or consider QNAP for better media support. If you’re ready to manage your own system, a custom build can be the most powerful option.

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