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DiskStation DS223j vs Synology DiskStation DS124

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

both judged against NAS at a similar price

The DiskStation DS223j and Synology DiskStation DS124 both score 5.0/10 overall.

The DiskStation DS223j leads on storage capacity (bays, M.2).

The Synology DiskStation DS124 leads on CPU and transcoding and networking.

They score the same on memory ceiling, software and ecosystem 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

Synology DiskStation DS124

Synology DiskStation DS124

5.0/10verdict: skip

The DS124 is for people who want a very simple, single-drive NAS running full Synology DSM. It suits a home or small office that needs network file storage, Btrfs snapshots or Surveillance Station. It does not suit anyone who needs RAID, redundancy or heavy workloads.

Typically about £140 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 DS223jSynology DiskStation DS124
Storage capacity (bays, M.2)20%5/103/10
CPU and transcoding20%4/105/10
Networking20%5/106/10
Memory ceiling15%3/103/10
Software and ecosystem15%8/108/10
Openness10%5/105/10
Overall5.0/105.0/10

Specifications

SpecDiskStation DS223jSynology DiskStation DS124
Drive bays2 x 3.5" SATA HDD or 2.5" SATA SSD (2.5" drives need optional Type C drive holder)1 x 3.5" SATA HDD or 2.5" SATA SSD (2.5" needs an optional holder sold separately)
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-ECC1 GB DDR4 non-ECC
Networking1 x 1GbE RJ-45 LAN port, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports1 x RJ-45 1GbE LAN port
Expansionnot listedNo expansion slot listed; 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports
Operating systemDiskStation Manager (DSM)Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM)

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 ›

Synology DiskStation DS124

  • + Full DSM with Btrfs snapshots and Surveillance Station
  • + Four-core CPU with hardware encryption engine
  • + Manufacturer lists 3.44 W in HDD hibernation
  • − Single bay means no RAID and no redundancy
  • − Only 1 GB of RAM, with no upgrade listed
  • − One 1GbE port and no expansion slot listed

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need RAID or drive redundancy in the NAS itself
  • Anyone planning to run several containers or virtual machines
  • Users who want multi-gigabit networking or hardware transcoding
Read the full Synology DiskStation DS124 review ›

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