Upgrade from Synology 720+

[Enquiries]

Hi, thank you for providing this service! I currently run a DS720+ with 8GB RAM. Current uses are:
- Surveillance storage (using Frigate) ~1.8TB, Reolink POE cameras
- Home automation (Home Assistant) - 32GB VM with 2GB RAM
- Dabbling in arr services, but this is not a requirement (not even sure I want to be bothered with this)
- Lightweight video server (Plex or Jellyfin)
- Manual backups of critical historical files (photos, music, movies/videos, old work references)
- File sync server

What I would like:
- All of the above with the following caveats/additions
- Not opposed to doing a dedicated Reolink NVR for recording and playback and using frigate for just detection
- Snappier HA response
- Time Machine backups (2 machines, up to 1TB per machine)
- Ability to run a lightweight local LLM for use with HA, either in memory using the CPU or with a small dedicated GPU

I am open to exploring multiple machines here, perhaps a dedicated machine to run services and a d

[ed]

For your use case and budget, I recommend considering an upgrade to the Synology DS923+, QNAP TS-464, or QNAP TS-474. Here’s how they fit:

Synology DS923+:
Quad-core AMD Ryzen CPU with 4GB RAM (expandable to 32GB), which will provide excellent performance for surveillance, Home Assistant, and lightweight video servers like Plex or Jellyfin.

BTRFS file system for robust data integrity and snapshot management.

Time Machine support for your Mac backups (great for up to 1TB per machine).

Built-in Docker support, which will be helpful for running a lightweight local LLM (using a small dedicated GPU could also work well if you’re exploring future scalability).

Expandable storage (up to 36TB with 4 bays) should cover your needs as you add more data.

QNAP TS-464:
Features a quad-core Intel Celeron processor with 4GB of RAM (expandable to 8GB). It’s known for handling virtual machines and more intensive workloads, so it’s ideal if you want to offload services or experiment with more advanced setups.

M.2 NVMe SSD slots for caching will improve the speed of file transfers and backup operations, offering the snappier response you seek.

QTS software with plenty of apps and features like Time Machine support, Docker, and virtualization capabilities.

QNAP TS-474 (Most Powerful):
Quad-core Intel i5 or i7 processor, which is significantly more powerful than the Celeron options. This would be ideal if you plan on running more intensive workloads like virtual machines, Home Assistant with heavier requirements, and more complex media tasks (like higher-resolution Plex transcoding or multiple 4K streams).

Comes with 8GB RAM (expandable), which will be beneficial for running heavier workloads, and can easily handle LLM tasks with more memory and CPU power.

NVMe caching and dual 2.5GbE ports for faster data transfer speeds and network performance.

This is the most powerful NAS in the QNAP lineup for your needs, but it might be priced higher than the DS923+ or TS-464, so if budget allows, it's a great long-term solution for your tasks.

Summary:
If you're looking for a budget-friendly option while still gaining good performance, the Synology DS923+ or QNAP TS-464 are great choices.

If you want something with more CPU power, faster networking, and more advanced capabilities, the QNAP TS-474 will be the best long-term investment. It’s the most powerful of the bunch, especially if you plan to run more complex tasks or scale up your system.

All three options will comfortably accommodate your current usage (file sync, backups, Plex/Jellyfin server, and Home Assistant), with the TS-474 offering the most headroom for future growth.