01-10-2025, 11:29 AM
Based on your requirements and budget, here are a few suggestions:
Synology DS223+
Pros: Reliable OS, solid media and backup features, good long-term support.
Cons: Slightly dated hardware, but sufficient for your use case.
QNAP TS-264
Pros: Better hardware than Synology, familiar OS, supports Plex and future expandability with NVMe slots for caching.
Cons: Slightly pricier but closer to future-proofing.
Terramaster F2-423
Pros: Modern hardware, affordable, and future-proof for light use.
Cons: Growing software still lacks the polish of Synology or QNAP.
Drives:
Keep your WD Gold drives as long as they pass SMART health checks but plan for replacement soon.
For new drives, consider Seagate IronWolf or WD Red Plus for reliability, or NVMe SSDs if speed and caching are critical.
Given your desire for ease of use, QNAP or Synology are your best bets. The QNAP TS-264 offers more hardware flexibility, while Synology excels in simplicity and long-term support.
Synology DS223+
Pros: Reliable OS, solid media and backup features, good long-term support.
Cons: Slightly dated hardware, but sufficient for your use case.
QNAP TS-264
Pros: Better hardware than Synology, familiar OS, supports Plex and future expandability with NVMe slots for caching.
Cons: Slightly pricier but closer to future-proofing.
Terramaster F2-423
Pros: Modern hardware, affordable, and future-proof for light use.
Cons: Growing software still lacks the polish of Synology or QNAP.
Drives:
Keep your WD Gold drives as long as they pass SMART health checks but plan for replacement soon.
For new drives, consider Seagate IronWolf or WD Red Plus for reliability, or NVMe SSDs if speed and caching are critical.
Given your desire for ease of use, QNAP or Synology are your best bets. The QNAP TS-264 offers more hardware flexibility, while Synology excels in simplicity and long-term support.