Synology DiskStation DS124 review

The DS124 is a single-bay NAS that runs Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM). It takes one 3.5" SATA hard drive or one 2.5" SATA SSD. The 2.5" option needs an optional holder, which is sold separately. Owners point to the low price combined with the full DSM software as its main appeal. They also point to the single drive as its main drawback.

With one internal drive, there is no RAID and no redundancy. Owners raise this as a recurring complaint. The manufacturer lists one internal volume and Basic RAID only, with a maximum single volume of 108 TB. The research lists no expansion slot, so the one drive is the whole capacity story. If the drive fails, the data on it depends on a copy held somewhere else. Anyone storing files they cannot replace needs a separate backup plan.

The DS124 has two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports. The research does not say what Synology supports over them, so check that before you plan around external storage.

The processor is a Realtek RTD1619B with four cores and four threads. It is 64-bit, runs at 1.7 GHz and includes a hardware encryption engine. That makes it a sensible match for encrypted file storage and background tasks such as snapshots.

The specifications list no hardware transcoding, so media conversion is not a stated strength. Memory is 1 GB of DDR4 non-ECC. The research gives no maximum and no upgrade slot. With 1 GB and no listed upgrade path, the DS124 suits file serving and a few light services more than several containers or virtual machines.

There is one RJ-45 1GbE port. That is the only network connection listed. For file access and backups on a home or small office network, a single gigabit link is a plain fit for a single-drive box. It offers no faster option or second port in the specifications, so it will not suit anyone wanting multi-gigabit transfers.

Software is the main reason to look at the DS124. It runs full DSM, and owners specifically praise Btrfs snapshots and Surveillance Station at this price point. The research does not cover update history, the full app catalogue, or any camera count or licence limit for Surveillance Station, so those are not judged here.

The product page says the NAS works best with Synology drives. The research does not say whether other drives are restricted, so check the compatibility list for your drive before buying. It also lists no support for installing another operating system. DSM is the intended software.

The manufacturer lists 3.44 W in HDD hibernation and 10.69 W in access mode. Those two figures give you a basis for estimating the running cost of an always-on box with one drive. The hardware warranty is two years, extendable to four years in Europe and North America.

The DS124 is a narrow product. It gives you full Synology DSM with one bay, 1 GB of RAM and a 1GbE port. If you want shared storage, Btrfs snapshots and Surveillance Station, the software side covers the job. If you want RAID, room to grow or serious container work, the single bay and 1 GB of memory rule it out.