Network storage devices with a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port are now so cheap that they are recommended for use in the home network.
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These are currently the best NAS systems for the future.
© slawomir.gawryluk / Shutterstock.com
Network storage (NAS) is an investment that should last for several years. You should be skeptical when it comes to supposedly cheap bundle solutions consisting of NAS and hard disk, because you won’t always get branded goods here. Although these NAS systems are ready for immediate operation, the origin of the hard drives often remains unclear. It is better to opt for an empty housing in which you install the HDD (s) yourself. This is not rocket science and easy to master even for beginners. A decent empty NAS case with a bay like that
Synology DS120j
you get from 100 euros. For the right NAS hard drive with 4 TB capacity such as the
WD Red Plus 4TB
currently invest another 100 euros.
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Particularly with fully assembled single-bay NAS such as the Synology DS120j, caution is currently required, as there is sometimes an HDD inside, which may not come from a brand manufacturer.
© Synology
Since NAS systems are small computers, the CPU and memory determine the performance. If, in addition to pure backups, tasks such as multimedia streaming or synchronization tasks from mobile devices are to be taken over by the NAS, it is worth investing in more powerful components. You shouldn’t go below 1 GB of RAM even when you’re starting out. Often there are Marvell or Annapurna Labs CPUs with two and four cores. This NAS configuration comes in the two-bay variant as an empty housing such as the
Qnap TS-231K
to a good 200 euros. You can often decide in advance how much RAM your NAS server should have: The series
Qnap TS-251D
you get for example with 2 GB RAM from 260 euros and with four GB from 300 euros.
Price-performance tip: Qnap TS251D
Price:
300 Euro
With many NAS series, such as the Qnap TS251D, you can choose between two and four GB of RAM in the memory configuration. In this way you invest more money in the beginning, but save yourself a later upgrade.
To offer:
Qnap TS251D
The article “Test: Network storage (NAS) in comparison” gives you an overview of how NAS with 1 Gigabit Ethernet LAN interfaces perform in practice.
2.5GbE NAS: Entry from 160 euros
It is no longer true that a NAS system for home use is limited to the one gigabit speed limit. This is proven by the pioneer Asustor with the Drivestor series, which is available with two and four bays. The network storage devices each offer a 2.5GbE port. To get the most out of the increased speed, however, you must already have a multi-gigabit infrastructure – in other words: an appropriate switch, router and LAN connections on the client computers. If that is the case, the two-bay housing of the series will not cost you more than a Gigabit LAN NAS at a good 160 euros.
PC-WELT-Tempo-Tip: Asustor Drivestor 2 (AS1102T)
Price:
200 euros
Furnishing:
Housing with two bays / Realtek CPU RTD1296 Quad-Core 1.4 GHz / 1 GB DDR4 RAM / not expandable / for SATA HDD with 3.5 inches / Raid 0, 1, JBOD / 1x 2.5- Gigabit Ethernet, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1
To offer:
Asustor Drivestor 2
The first representatives have already passed the PC-WELT test – read “The best 2.5GbE NAS in comparison – network storage with two bays”.
