Synology DiskStation DS223j review

The DS223j is a two-bay Synology NAS released on 4 July 2023. It runs DiskStation Manager (DSM) on a Realtek RTD1619B processor. Owner reports centre on easy setup, quiet running and dependable backup use. The criticisms are just as consistent: one network port and hardware that cannot be upgraded.

The two bays take 3.5" SATA hard drives or 2.5" SATA SSDs. Synology lists a Type C drive holder as an optional extra for 2.5" drives, and owners mention needing that accessory. There is no M.2 slot in the specifications, and the research finds no expansion support listed.

The RAID options are Synology Hybrid RAID, Basic, JBOD, RAID 0 and RAID 1. The maximum single volume is 108 TB, with up to 64 internal volumes. For two drives that is a simple, clear set of choices.

The RTD1619B has four cores and four threads at 1.7 GHz. It is 64-bit and includes a hardware encryption engine. The research does not list hardware transcoding, so anyone planning to rely on it for media should check before buying.

Memory is 1 GB of DDR4 non-ECC. Synology does not publish a maximum supported RAM figure for this model, and owners describe the RAM and hardware as fixed. With 1 GB and no stated ceiling, the DS223j looks better matched to file storage and backup than to workloads that need a lot of memory.

There is one 1GbE RJ-45 LAN port and two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports. Owners criticise the single 1GbE port, and the research lists no NIC upgrade support. One LDLC review reports slow transfers. That is a single review, so treat it as one data point rather than a pattern. For a household or small office with a few users, one gigabit link is the limit to plan around.

Easy setup and DSM software form one of the recurring themes in owner feedback. Btrfs is available from DSM 7.2-64570.

Surveillance Station is included with 2 free camera licences. Synology says it supports over 8,300 IP cameras or ONVIF devices. With two free licences, it covers a small camera setup without extra spend. The research doesn't say what additional licences involve.

The research lists no restrictions on drive brands and no support for installing another operating system. It simply doesn't cover either point, so check Synology's compatibility information before choosing drives.

Synology's spec page gives 16.31 W for access and 4 W for hibernation. Owners describe the unit as quiet with low power draw. Those two points fit a NAS that stays on all day in a living space or a cupboard.

The DS223j suits a simple backup and file-sharing role. Its basis is easy DSM setup, reliable backup reports and the low listed power figures. The limits are equally clear: 1 GB of fixed memory, no published RAM ceiling, one 1GbE port and no expansion slot. Buyers who expect to grow into containers, heavy media work or faster networking will run into those limits sooner than buyers who only need somewhere safe to keep files.