NAS for Gaming

[Enquiries]

Hello dear Team,
I want to ask, if you ever tried to store games on a network storage.
I'm currently thinking about building a new network in my house and want to invest a bit in the future, so I don't need to update everything again in some years.
My idea was to install cables with at least 10G or more (CAT 8 or Fiber, as they are already costs the same). Then I just need to update the hardware like router and switches/ network storages, when there are faster solutions.
But for now, I was thinking about the UGREEN DXP4800 Plus to store my games, images ect. on it. It has a 10G port, so my plan is to connect it to a TP-Link BE800 via a 10G connection.
Now the question is:
Is it possible to use the NAS as an "external" storage and store the games there, to play them directly via WIFI or LAN on a handheld device or a laptop. The NAS should not do the CPU or GPU tasks. It should just store the files.
Can WIFI-7 / 10G handle this or am I'm thinking wrong?

[ed]

Storing games on a NAS for playing directly via Wi-Fi or LAN can definitely be a viable solution, but there are a few things to keep in mind for the best performance, especially when using high-speed connections like 10G and Wi-Fi 7. Let's break this down:

Key Points to Consider:
NAS as Storage (Not Handling CPU/GPU Tasks):

The NAS you're considering, like the UGREEN DXP4800 Plus, is essentially a storage device. The NAS will only store your games and serve the files to the device you're using (laptop, handheld, etc.). It won't be doing any of the heavy lifting (CPU or GPU tasks) that are required to run the game. This is how traditional game storage on a NAS works.
10G LAN and Wi-Fi 7 Performance:

10G Ethernet: A 10Gbps connection is fast enough to handle the transfer of large game files, even high-resolution textures and assets, at blazing speeds. Games with large assets should load without issue if your network is consistently running at these speeds.
Wi-Fi 7: With Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), you can achieve multi-gigabit speeds (up to 30Gbps in ideal conditions), which is more than enough to stream games or transfer large game files over the air. However, real-world conditions can affect performance, and Wi-Fi 7 is still rolling out, so the actual speeds you get will depend on the router and client devices you’re using.
Wi-Fi 6 or 6E is a more mature technology, and it’s already good enough for streaming games or accessing large files. If you're upgrading your network for future-proofing, Wi-Fi 7 is an excellent investment, but for now, Wi-Fi 6E might offer slightly more stable speeds.
Game Streaming Over LAN/Wi-Fi:

Playing Games from NAS: You can definitely store the games on the NAS and play them directly on your handheld or laptop via a 10G connection or Wi-Fi 7. However, keep in mind that while file access is fine, game performance (like loading times and in-game smoothness) depends heavily on:
How fast the game data is being read from the NAS.
The hardware specs of your gaming device (laptop, handheld, etc.).
Latency: If you’re playing directly from the NAS over Wi-Fi, latency could impact gameplay, particularly with fast-paced or online games. 10G Ethernet should minimize this, but Wi-Fi might introduce some variability.
Use Case Scenarios:

Games Installed Locally on Device: It might be more common to have the games installed directly on the device (laptop, handheld, etc.) for best performance. The NAS would just serve as a backup or library storage.
Remote Play or Streaming: If you plan to stream games from a PC or console to a device via the NAS, that adds complexity. You would need specific streaming software (like Steam Remote Play, NVIDIA GameStream, or Xbox Streaming) to run games from a local PC to another device. The NAS itself wouldn’t run the game, but it could store the data or even act as a bridge in some cases (e.g., by hosting large game libraries).
Recommendations:
For high-speed gaming, 10G Ethernet will work perfectly fine to handle the file transfers from the NAS to the device.
If you’re considering playing games directly off the NAS (e.g., running the game from there rather than installing it locally), you might run into some issues with latency, especially over Wi-Fi. Using Ethernet is preferred for gaming performance.
If you’re concerned about future-proofing your setup and you already have a Wi-Fi 7 router and compatible devices, it’s a great investment for high-speed access. Just ensure that your devices (laptop, handheld) have Wi-Fi 7 support to benefit fully from these speeds.
Conclusion:
Yes, you can use a NAS (UGREEN DXP4800 Plus) as storage for your games and play them directly via LAN or Wi-Fi, but ensure you have the appropriate network setup. The 10G connection will work great for fast file access, and Wi-Fi 7 will support high-speed transfers as long as your devices are compatible. For optimal gaming performance, Ethernet (preferably 10G) will always be the better choice over Wi-Fi.

[johnhsmith]

Hey @Kingbiker,

Cool setup idea! I’ve been tinkering with NAS gaming for a while, and while the 10G LAN and Wi-Fi 7 combo sounds promising, I’ve got a slightly different take to throw into the mix.

One thing I haven’t seen mentioned yet: how do you plan to handle game updates? If you’re storing games on the NAS and running them from there, some launchers (like Steam or Epic) might get finicky about patching. I’ve had cases where Steam insisted on downloading updates to a local drive first, then I had to manually move files back to the NAS—kind of a hassle. Ever thought about scripting something to automate that, or are you fine with a bit of manual juggling?

Also, a bit of a curveball: have you considered the heat/noise factor with the UGREEN DXP4800 Plus? I don’t have that exact model, but my 10G NAS gets toasty when it’s serving big files non-stop (like 100GB game installs). If it’s going in a living space, might be worth checking reviews on how it behaves under load—especially if you’re planning to keep it running 24/7 as a game hub.

For your handheld, I’m curious—what device are you using? Something like a Steam Deck or ROG Ally? I’ve found that some handhelds choke a bit when pulling game data over Wi-Fi (even fast Wi-Fi) due to their weaker network chips. A 10G Ethernet dock could be a game-changer there if you’re open to wired play sometimes.

Last thought: if you’re wiring up with CAT 8 or fiber, have you looked into multi-gig switches with PoE? Could be handy if you ever want to add IP cameras or other gear to your network later. Just spitballing ideas to stretch that future-proofing even further!

What’s your endgame with this setup—pure gaming, or are you eyeing it for other stuff like a media server too? Excited to hear how it turns out!