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DiskStation DS223j vs DiskStation DS423

Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›

both judged against NAS at a similar price

The DiskStation DS223j scores 5.0/10 overall, ahead of the DiskStation DS423 at 4.8/10.

The DiskStation DS223j leads on networking and software and ecosystem.

The DiskStation DS423 leads on storage capacity (bays, M.2).

They score the same on CPU and transcoding, memory ceiling and openness.

DiskStation DS223j

DiskStation DS223j

5.0/10verdict: skip

The DS223j is for people who want a simple two-bay NAS for file storage and backup. It suits anyone who values easy DSM setup, quiet running and low power draw over raw performance. It is a poor fit for memory-hungry workloads or anyone who needs more than a single 1GbE connection.

Typically about £167 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

DiskStation DS423

DiskStation DS423

4.8/10verdict: skip

The DS423 is for people who want a four-bay Synology NAS for file storage, shared folders and backups. It suits those who value DSM and Btrfs more than raw hardware power. It is less suited to anyone planning containers, virtual machines or video transcoding.

Typically about £351 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Scores, criterion by criterion

CriterionWeightDiskStation DS223jDiskStation DS423
Storage capacity (bays, M.2)20%5/106/10
CPU and transcoding20%4/104/10
Networking20%5/104/10
Memory ceiling15%3/103/10
Software and ecosystem15%8/107/10
Openness10%5/105/10
Overall5.0/104.8/10

Specifications

SpecDiskStation DS223jDiskStation DS423
Drive bays2 x 3.5" SATA HDD or 2.5" SATA SSD (2.5" drives need optional Type C drive holder)4 x 3.5-inch SATA HDD or 2.5-inch SATA SSD, hot-swappable
CPURealtek RTD1619B, 1 CPU, 4 cores, 4 threads, 64-bit, 1.7 GHz, with hardware encryption engineRealtek RTD1619B, 4 cores, 4 threads, 64-bit, 1.7 GHz, with hardware encryption engine
Memory1 GB DDR4 non-ECC2 GB DDR4 non-ECC
Networking1 x 1GbE RJ-45 LAN port, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports2 x RJ-45 1GbE LAN ports
Expansionnot listed2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports
Operating systemDiskStation Manager (DSM)Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM), Btrfs file system

Strengths and weaknesses

DiskStation DS223j

  • + DSM software is easy to set up
  • + Quiet with low listed power figures
  • + Reliable for backup duty according to owners
  • − Single 1GbE port, criticised by owners
  • − 1 GB fixed RAM with no published maximum
  • − 2.5in drives need an optional holder

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need more than a single 1GbE connection
  • Anyone planning containers, VMs or other memory-heavy workloads
  • People who want M.2 cache slots or any expansion options
Read the full DiskStation DS223j review ›

DiskStation DS423

  • + Four hot-swappable bays for 3.5-inch HDDs or 2.5-inch SSDs
  • + Runs DSM with the Btrfs file system
  • + Lists 4.97 W power draw with drives hibernating
  • − Only 2 GB of RAM, and no maximum listed
  • − 1GbE ports only, with nothing faster listed
  • − No M.2 slot or hardware transcoding listed

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who want hardware video transcoding for a media server
  • Anyone planning several containers or virtual machines on limited RAM
  • Users who need faster-than-1GbE networking or M.2 cache slots
Read the full DiskStation DS423 review ›

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