For the final two years, the DiskStation DS920+ dominated the NAS gross sales charts. There’s an excellent cause for that; the DS923+ supplied the perfect mixture of {hardware} within the type of an Intel Celeron J4125, 4 drive bays, twin Gigabit ports, and the most effective set of software program options in its class. It’s no surprise, then, that the NAS was the clear favourite for many house customers seeking to get the greatest NAS for Plex.
Synology isn’t often identified for making drastic adjustments to its NAS servers — significantly its best-selling fashions — however that’s what it did with the DiskStation DS923+. The NAS nonetheless has the identical set of ports as its predecessor, but it surely provides a option to change to 10GbE networking through an improve.
The largest change is that the M.2 drives on the DS923+ can be utilized for storage, making it that rather more versatile. And as we have seen over the course of the final 15 months with different DiskStation fashions, there’s Ryzen {hardware} underneath the hood.
Whereas the {hardware} adjustments are nice for probably the most half, the transfer to Ryzen signifies that the DS923+ loses out on native Plex transcoding — similar to the 2-bay DiskStation DS723+. Mainly, there’s no option to transcode through the {hardware}, and that’s now pushed by the software program, which is noticeably slower.
Nevertheless, I discovered that this omission doesn’t actually make a distinction in every day use. I obtained began with the DS923+ six months in the past, and used it as my Plex server, streaming dozens of TV exhibits and excessive bitrate films to a slew of TVs and linked gadgets in my house.
Right here’s why I feel the DS923+ remains to be the most effective 4-bay NAS for Plex, and why you must think about it for those who’re planning an improve.
Synology DiskStation DS923+: Pricing and availability
The DiskStation DS923+ was unveiled again in January 2023, and it went on sale shortly thereafter. The NAS is now accessible within the U.S. for $598 from Amazon, and it’s bought in all areas the place the model has an official presence. As is commonplace with all DiskStation fashions, you get a three-year guarantee right here.
Aside from switching to AMD, the feature-set is basically equivalent to the DS920+; you get the identical 4GB of RAM out of the field, similar 4 drive bays, two M.2 NVMe SSD drive bays, twin Gigabit Ethernet ports on the again and an eSATA port that permits you to connect an exterior drive housing. This is a short rundown of the {hardware}:
| Class | Synology DiskStation DS923+ |
|---|---|
| Inside drive bays | 4 (18TB every bay), 3.5-inch HDD, 2.5-inch HDD/SSD, M.2 storage |
| Community interface | 2 x Gigabit Ethernet, Hyperlink Aggregation |
| USB ports | 2 x USB 3.1 Gen1 |
| eSATA ports | 1 |
| PCIe | 1 x Gen3 x2 community slot |
| CPU | Twin-core 2.6GHz AMD Ryzen R1600, 64-bit |
| Plex transcoding | No |
| RAM | 4GB DDR4 ECC, two SODIMM slots, as much as 32GB whole |
| M.2 slots | Storage and SSD caching |
| File system | Btrfs, EXT4 |
| Cooling | 2 x 92mm, 20.7dB(A) |
| Extensibility | 1 x eSATA port, 5 extra drive bays |
| Dimensions | 166 x 199 x 223mm |
| Weight | 4.9lb (2.24 kg) |
Synology DiskStation DS923+: Design and options
The design of the DS923+ is just about equivalent to its predecessor; cowl up the identify and also you received’t be capable of differentiate the 2. This can be a good factor because it maintains design consistency, and the general aesthetic ensures the NAS doesn’t draw an excessive amount of consideration to itself.
The design additionally permits for good airflow; the edges are vented, and the identical twin 92mm followers are positioned on the again, guaranteeing the drives inside the NAS don’t overheat when working underneath load. The chassis itself is made out of aluminum, with the drive bays made out of plastic — similar to earlier generations.
Picture 1 of 5
You get 4 drive bays on the NAS, and like all different DiskStation fashions, putting in a 3.5-inch HDD is about as easy because it will get because of the tool-less design. If you wish to use 2.5-inch SSDs as an alternative, you’ll want to make use of the bundled screws and mount the drive.
What’s significantly attention-grabbing with this era is which you could lastly use M.2 NVMe SSDs for storage; this was beforehand restricted to SSD caching. The transfer means you may slot in an M.2 SSD and use it as a storage drive, similar to a normal 3.5-inch HDD or 2.5-inch SSD. With SSD costs nosediving in recent times, the transfer could not have come at a greater time, and it makes the DS923+ that rather more helpful — significantly if you wish to fill the drive bays with quick SSDs.
There’s just one caveat right here — you may’t simply use the M.2 drive bays on their very own. You have to to put in a mechanical onerous drive or SSD in one of many 4 drive bays, after which you may slot in M.2 SSDs.
Synology DiskStation DS923+: Ports
The ports on the again are just about equivalent to that of the DS920+, with the DS923+ that includes two Gigabit Ethernet ports that may be bridged through Hyperlink Aggregation, one USB 3.1 Gen 1 port, and an eSATA port for attaching an exterior drive unit just like the DX517.
Apparently, there’s additionally a PCIe Gen 3 x2 slot on the again this time, and that can be utilized for slotting in a 10GbE networking card must you want to improve the connectivity of the NAS down the road. You should use the $110 E10G22-T1-Mini community card to unlock 10GbE networking on the DS923+, and whereas I’d have most well-liked multi-Gigabit networking out of the field, this can be a good various.
Synology ought to have used the DS923+ to introduce 2.5GbE ports on the again, as most different manufacturers on this class now supply these ports as commonplace. Most house customers could be greater than comfy with Gigabit ports, however for those who’re considering of utilizing the M.2 ports and slotting in a number of SATA SSDs, you must consider switching over to 10GbE networking.
Synology DiskStation DS923+: Efficiency
An enormous speaking level during the last 18 months is how Synology is limiting using third-party onerous drives on its DiskStation fashions. The transfer comes on the heels of the model launching its personal sequence of HDDs, and whereas they’re aimed toward enterprise customers, it has affected what NAS HDDs might be formally utilized by DiskStation fashions focused at house customers and fans.
The clearest indicator is the official HDD/SSD charts maintained by the model; the HDD listing for the DiskStation DS1019+ options a whole bunch of fashions, together with the likes of Seagate Exos, IronWolf Professional, WD Crimson Professional, and Toshiba’s high-end NAS drives. The similar HDD chart for the DS923+ has considerably fewer choices, and there isn’t any IronWolf Professional or Crimson Professional drives highlighted anymore.
I get that Synology is making an attempt to spin up its personal HDD portfolio, and the model has each proper to implement what HDDs can be utilized with its merchandise. That mentioned, the truth that you may’t slot in among the greatest NAS HDDs and newer choices just like the 20TB Seagate Exos with the DS923+ is a little bit of a letdown, and whereas most mainstream consumers will not be keen on such a lot of storage, this nonetheless looks like a step backwards.
Having mentioned that, the DS923+ nonetheless works with most consumer-focused 16TB and 14TB drives from Western Digital and Seagate, and you should use commonplace Crimson Plus and IronWolf drives — I used 6TB IronWolf drives right here with none points in any way.
Fortunately, the DS923+ does all the correct issues in relation to efficiency; though it has fewer cores than its predecessor, it’s noticeably sooner in most every day use eventualities, whether or not that is working Docker containers, backing up machines through Lively Backup, and utilizing Photographs or Drive to handle pictures, movies, paperwork, and different information.
However the DS923+ is at its greatest in relation to media streaming. There are native shoppers for Plex and Emby, and it’s also possible to arrange Jellyfin and an entire suite of different utilities that make the NAS that rather more versatile. Whereas there isn’t any means to make use of {hardware} transcoding with the Ryzen fashions, that is not an enormous subject in 2023 — most consumer gadgets have already got the requisite codecs.
Within the six months I used the DS923+ as my Plex server, I did not see any cause to transcode media on any of my goal gadgets, together with the most effective Android TVs, projectors just like the XGIMI Aura, a bunch of telephones together with the Galaxy S23 Extremely, Pixel 7 Professional, Xiaomi 13 Extremely, and so forth. Whereas there have been some points on this space with my iPad Air beforehand, it hasn’t confirmed to be an issue of late. In brief, except you are sharing your Plex library with a whole lot of associates and completely want hardware-level transcode, the DS923+ is the perfect media server for you.
Synology DiskStation DS923+: Software program
Software program is an space the place Synology remains to be in a dominant place, and whereas different manufacturers are making headway on this space, If you wish to avoid wasting money and do not see your self needing 4 drive bays, the DiskStation DS723+ is a strong various. It is practically equivalent to the DS923+, and also you get the identical set of {hardware} and software program options. It is at the moment promoting for $441 on Amazon, so it can save you $150 and use that towards a 10GbE networking improve or NAS HDDs offered you are comfy with simply two drive bays.
For those who’re searching for the most effective {hardware} that this section has to supply, you must think about TerraMaster’s F5-422. The NAS has 5 drive bays, options Intel {hardware} with built-in transcoding, 4GB of RAM, and twin Gigabit Ethernet connectivity on the again together with a 10GbE port. TerraMaster’s software program, TOS, has gotten an overhaul and appears trendy, and whereas it does not have fairly as many options, it’s a viable various. on the DS923+ units the usual. The benefit of use mixed with the intensive feature-set offers DSM a definite edge, and the fashionable design seems to be polished.
What makes DSM significantly nice is that it really works simply as effectively for novice customers and fans alike. The interface is straightforward to grasp, and for those who simply desire a NAS for media streaming and backing up pictures and movies, you may arrange Plex and the built-in Photographs consumer and simply go away it at that. However for those who’re seeking to take advantage of out of the NAS, there’s Docker integration and a collection of highly effective utilities — together with a VM supervisor, mail server, customized VPN server, and a lot extra — that provides you way more versatility.
On the finish of the day, that is what offers the DS923+ the sting; the {hardware} is way from the most effective you may discover on this class, however the NAS continues to be a best-seller solely due to how straightforward it’s to make use of the software program and the sheer variety of options accessible. There is not one other NAS producer that provides you an identical refined cell shoppers that allow you to entry your media and music assortment on the go, and that is simply the largest promoting level of the DS923+.
Synology DiskStation DS923+: The competitors
If you wish to avoid wasting money and do not see your self needing 4 drive bays, the DiskStation DS723+ is a strong various. It is practically equivalent to the DS923+, and also you get the identical set of {hardware} and software program options. It is at the moment promoting for $441 on Amazon, so it can save you $150 and use that towards a 10GbE networking improve or NAS HDDs offered you are comfy with simply two drive bays.
For those who’re searching for the most effective {hardware} that this section has to supply, you must think about TerraMaster’s F5-422. The NAS has 5 drive bays, options Intel {hardware} with built-in transcoding, 4GB of RAM, and twin Gigabit Ethernet connectivity on the again together with a 10GbE port. TerraMaster’s software program, TOS, has gotten an overhaul and appears trendy, and whereas it does not have fairly as many options, it’s a viable various.
Synology DiskStation DS923+: Do you have to purchase it?
You can purchase this if:
- You want a NAS with highly effective {hardware} for Plex streaming
- You are searching for dependable connectivity choices
- You need the most effective set of software program options in a NAS
- You are searching for a media server for long-term use
- You need to use M.2 drives for storage
You should not purchase this if:
- You want 2.5GbE ports out of the field
- You need the power to transcode Plex content material
The DiskStation DS923+ builds on the heritage of its predecessor, and whereas the basics have not modified, I just like the upgrades on supply: the power to make use of M.2 drives for storage is an enormous deal, and whereas there isn’t any multi-Gigabit networking out of the field, it is easy sufficient to fit in a 10GbE card must you want to take action.
Finally, Synology did not have to make too many adjustments to retain the crown on this class, and just like the DS920+, the DS923+ has been persistently promoting effectively following its introduction six months in the past. The one draw back I see is the shortage of Plex {hardware} transcodes, however like I mentioned earlier than, that basically hasn’t been a limitation in my use; the DS923+ is an exceptional Plex server despite that omission.
Synology DiskStation DS923+
The DiskStation DS923+ is the perfect selection in order for you a strong 4-bay NAS primarily for media streaming. Certain, it does not have Plex transcodes, however that does not make a distinction in 2023, and the NAS is a powerhouse in every day use.
