01-17-2025, 12:02 PM
Thank you for your message! The QNAP TS-233 is a great entry-level NAS, but for handling large-scale photo backups and ensuring smoother local viewing, upgrading to a more powerful NAS within your budget would make a significant difference. Here are some recommendations and advice:
Challenges with TS-233:
Clunky Workflow with MARS and HBS3:
MARS folders are hidden but still occupy space on OneDrive. A more powerful NAS can handle more efficient sync options or run Docker containers for cloud integration tools like Rclone.
Slow Viewing with QMagie:
The TS-233's hardware struggles with photo indexing and AI features. A NAS with a better CPU and more RAM would speed up these tasks significantly.
Recommended NAS Upgrades
1. Synology DS423 (Best All-Around Option)
Price: ~£430
Why Choose It?
DSM’s Synology Photos offers smooth photo management, indexing, and local viewing.
Supports Docker for custom cloud-sync solutions.
4-bay design for future storage scalability.
2. QNAP TS-464 (Powerful and Flexible)
Price: ~£500
Why Choose It?
Intel Celeron processor with hardware acceleration for AI photo indexing.
Supports Docker and VM functionality for more flexible photo-sync workflows.
QNAP’s AI-powered QuMagie app works faster on this NAS.
3. Asustor Lockerstor 2 Gen 2 (Budget-Friendly with Docker)
Price: ~£390
Why Choose It?
Supports Docker for running tools like Rclone for Google Photos/iCloud sync.
ADM OS includes solid file management tools, though less refined than Synology DSM.
Suggested Workflow for Photo Backup
Google Photos and iCloud Backup:
Use Docker to run Rclone for efficient syncing of Google Photos and iCloud Photos directly to the NAS.
For iCloud Photos, tools like icloudpd (iCloud Photos Downloader) can be set up in Docker.
Photo Management and Local Viewing:
Synology Photos: Great for intuitive browsing, face recognition, and object AI tagging.
QMagie on QNAP: Use hardware acceleration for faster AI indexing.
Cloud Sync (OneDrive):
Use native NAS apps like HBS3 (QNAP) or Cloud Sync (Synology) to avoid hidden folder issues.
Final Recommendation
For a budget of £400–500, the Synology DS423 or QNAP TS-464 offers the best balance of power, features, and expandability. These devices will handle your current needs (90k+ Google Photos, 5k iCloud Photos) and provide smoother local viewing while allowing future growth.
Challenges with TS-233:
Clunky Workflow with MARS and HBS3:
MARS folders are hidden but still occupy space on OneDrive. A more powerful NAS can handle more efficient sync options or run Docker containers for cloud integration tools like Rclone.
Slow Viewing with QMagie:
The TS-233's hardware struggles with photo indexing and AI features. A NAS with a better CPU and more RAM would speed up these tasks significantly.
Recommended NAS Upgrades
1. Synology DS423 (Best All-Around Option)
Price: ~£430
Why Choose It?
DSM’s Synology Photos offers smooth photo management, indexing, and local viewing.
Supports Docker for custom cloud-sync solutions.
4-bay design for future storage scalability.
2. QNAP TS-464 (Powerful and Flexible)
Price: ~£500
Why Choose It?
Intel Celeron processor with hardware acceleration for AI photo indexing.
Supports Docker and VM functionality for more flexible photo-sync workflows.
QNAP’s AI-powered QuMagie app works faster on this NAS.
3. Asustor Lockerstor 2 Gen 2 (Budget-Friendly with Docker)
Price: ~£390
Why Choose It?
Supports Docker for running tools like Rclone for Google Photos/iCloud sync.
ADM OS includes solid file management tools, though less refined than Synology DSM.
Suggested Workflow for Photo Backup
Google Photos and iCloud Backup:
Use Docker to run Rclone for efficient syncing of Google Photos and iCloud Photos directly to the NAS.
For iCloud Photos, tools like icloudpd (iCloud Photos Downloader) can be set up in Docker.
Photo Management and Local Viewing:
Synology Photos: Great for intuitive browsing, face recognition, and object AI tagging.
QMagie on QNAP: Use hardware acceleration for faster AI indexing.
Cloud Sync (OneDrive):
Use native NAS apps like HBS3 (QNAP) or Cloud Sync (Synology) to avoid hidden folder issues.
Final Recommendation
For a budget of £400–500, the Synology DS423 or QNAP TS-464 offers the best balance of power, features, and expandability. These devices will handle your current needs (90k+ Google Photos, 5k iCloud Photos) and provide smoother local viewing while allowing future growth.