Low power but fast NAS

[Enquiries]

Currently have a DS215J with 10Y+ old 2x WD 3TB RED WD30EFRX's. It gets very slow when browsing or backing up pictures.

Looking for a low (idle) power and a very responsive and long term acceptable platform, so was thinking of going all flash as that will earn itself back at least partially.

Also 2.5GbE would be nice.

So far have been looking into the Odroid H4 with the M.2 4x1 expansion board or an HP Elite Mini 600 or 800G9 with 13100T or 13500T.

For the storage the Lexar NM790 4TB seems to be a good option as the lack of a DRAM cache appears to make it relatively low power.

[ed]

It sounds like you're ready for an upgrade from your DS215J, especially considering its age and the slowdown you’re experiencing. Transitioning to an all-flash setup is a great idea for achieving lower idle power consumption and improved responsiveness.

Both the Odroid H4 with the M.2 4x1 expansion board and the HP Elite Mini 600 or 800 G9 with the Intel 13100T or 13500T are solid choices. The Odroid H4 is quite energy-efficient and can be a great platform for a DIY NAS, while the HP Mini models offer more power and versatility, especially if you want to run additional applications alongside your NAS functionalities.

As an alternative pre-built solution, you might want to consider the Synology DS223. It offers performance comparable to the Odroid while being user-friendly and energy-efficient. The DS223 supports 2.5GbE with the addition of an expansion card, making it a viable option for your needs.

For storage, the Lexar NM790 4TB is indeed a good option. Its lack of a DRAM cache helps keep the power consumption low while still providing solid performance for tasks like photo backup and browsing.