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The QNAP TVS-h874-i5-32G-US is a robust NAS designed to support heavy multimedia tasks, making it a solid choice for those looking to use Plex for 4K streaming. With a powerful Intel Core i5-12400 processor and 32GB of DDR4 RAM (expandable to 64GB), it offers excellent performance for transcoding media files in real-time, supporting smooth playback of 4K content.
One of the standout features is its dual M.2 PCIe Gen 4 slots, which allow users to add SSDs for enhanced speed and performance, significantly improving file access times and overall responsiveness. The NAS also provides dual 2.5GbE ports, which enable fast network connectivity, making file transfers and streaming seamless even under heavy load.
The HDMI output (4K @30Hz) is a convenient addition for directly connecting to a display, allowing users to access their media library easily. Additionally, the multiple USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports offer flexible options for connecting external drives or additional devices.
The Synology DiskStation DS923+ is a robust NAS solution ideal for home offices and small businesses, aimed at users who want to set up their own cloud storage and manage data efficiently. Equipped with a 2.6 GHz AMD Ryzen R1600 Dual-Core CPU (up to 3.1 GHz) and 16GB DDR4 RAM, it offers considerable processing power and memory, which are beneficial for running multiple applications smoothly, including a Plex server for 4K content.
While it does not include hard drives or SSDs out of the box, the four drive bays support 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch SATA III drives, allowing flexible storage expansion and customization based on user needs. Sequential read and write speeds of up to 625 MB/s and 559 MB/s respectively ensure fast data transfer and access times, which is crucial for media streaming and data-intensive tasks. Additionally, with two M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 slots, users can employ SSD caching to further boost performance.
The DS923+ supports various RAID configurations (RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, Synology Hybrid RAID, and Basic RAID), providing options for data redundancy and performance enhancement. Network connectivity includes multiple USB 3.0 ports, which are useful for connecting external devices. The built-in DiskStation Manager (DSM) software offers a comprehensive suite of tools for data management, backup, synchronization, and surveillance, making the NAS versatile for different applications. A potential drawback is that users need to purchase hard drives separately, which could add to the cost. Despite this, the DS923+ provides a scalable solution with excellent software support and strong hardware capabilities, making it a good choice for those seeking a reliable and flexible NAS for high-demand tasks like Plex and 4K video streaming.
The QNAP TS-464eU-8G-US is a robust option for those looking to use a NAS for Plex and 4K streaming. It features an Intel Celeron N5095 4-core/4-thread processor, which can handle tasks efficiently and burst up to 2.9 GHz, ensuring smooth operation. The 8GB of DDR4 RAM, although non-expandable, should be sufficient for most users who do not require extensive multitasking or heavy applications.
The NAS is diskless, allowing you to customize its storage capacity based on your needs by adding your own drives. It supports dual M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD slots for cache acceleration or SSD storage pools, which can significantly boost performance for media streaming and file transfers. Network connectivity is a strong point with dual 2.5GbE ports, facilitating fast file sharing and large media file transfers. Additionally, the HDMI 1.4b output supports 4K media playback and real-time transcoding, making it a practical choice for displaying multimedia content directly from the NAS.
The device also provides comprehensive backup options and a surveillance solution, adding to its versatility. On the downside, the lack of expandable RAM may be a limitation for users with heavier workload needs. The unit is relatively heavy and requires rack mounting, which might not be suitable for all users. Nonetheless, it’s well-suited for home media enthusiasts and small businesses needing a reliable NAS solution for 4K streaming and Plex compatibility.
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