SYNONYME NAS UPGRADE

[Enquiries]

Hi there,

I own a Synology 920+ with 4x12tb (SHR setup so 32tb available) for Plex usage.
Since the NAS is almost full (1tb left), I am thinking of an upgrade.
I have 30~40 users but around 5 streams maximum at the same time some days of the week, I always try to upload H264 files so users won’t need transcoding but sometimes for some reasons transcoding is required.
I am thinking futureproof NAS, something around 8 bays so I can move my 4x12tb and add 12tb disks gradually.
What would you recommend ? I heard the DX517 extension is not a good idea here.
Thank you
Sinclair

[ed]

Given your current usage and future-proofing needs, an 8-bay NAS would be a solid upgrade. Since you’re running Plex and occasionally need transcoding, I'd recommend going for a NAS with a powerful processor and good scalability for both storage and streaming.

The Synology DS1821+ could be a great fit for your situation. It has an AMD Ryzen processor, which is efficient for Plex transcoding, especially if you're doing 4K or higher quality streams. The 8-bay setup will give you plenty of room to expand, and the DS1821+ supports both HDD and SSD expansion, so you can move your 4x12TB drives over and gradually add more storage.

If you want to ensure even more future-proofing, the DS1621+ might also be a good option, offering better performance and a longer lifespan with its Intel CPU.

As for the DX517 expansion, you're right to be cautious. While it provides extra bays, the expansion will tap into your NAS’s performance. Since you’re already planning to grow storage gradually, starting with a larger NAS and avoiding the expansion units is a safer approach in the long run.

I would wait till ds1825+ is released.