Key findings
- More and more data is being generated at home and in the office. Network Attached Storage (NAS) is the key to storing everything in a single place.
- When choosing a NAS, you need to consider drive bays, CPU, RAM, network ports, operating system, power requirements and size.
- NAS enclosures get more expensive with better features. The price depends on the intended use, so consider your needs and budget.
Homes and offices are generating more data than ever before, and network-attached storage (NAS) has emerged as a reliable way to store everything in a single location. These are essentially high-capacity storage servers without all the technical hassle. If you're not familiar with server management, a NAS enclosure can be an entry point to storing large amounts of data without getting your hands dirty. Almost any device can connect to and transfer data to the NAS, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktop PCs, and other storage services. But how do you choose a NAS? Here are some practical tips to keep in mind when buying.
1 Drive bays and capacity
One of the most important specifications of a NAS is the number of drive bays. This determines how much data can be stored on the device. A 3.5-inch drive bay can accommodate a standard mechanical drive, available in capacities of up to 24 TB per drive. A NAS with five drive bays could accommodate five hard drives, with a maximum raw capacity of 120 TB, not counting a redundant array of independent/low-cost disks (RAID). The more drive bays your NAS has, the more you can store on it.
Not all of the bays need to be filled, either. You can buy a 10-bay enclosure and plan to fill it with drives over time, but start with just two hard drives installed. Even with RAID configured, new drives can be added without breaking everything. Like with a GPU, where it's recommended to spend as much as possible to avoid upgrading early, the same goes for a NAS and its drive bays. I recommend buying an enclosure that has more bays than you need to leave room for expansion. You don't want to run out of space.
2 CPU and RAM
The processor largely determines what can run on the NAS. System memory (or RAM) follows closely behind. The more powerful the chip, the more apps and services the server can run. If you're just storing a few files on the NAS and uploading backups from various devices, a low-power ARM processor will be fine. Intel and AMD chips are only necessary if you want to run services and store data.
Hardware transcoding and virtualization can be resource intensive and require sufficient RAM and processing power to avoid slowing down the system. Most NAS enclosures from brands like TerraMaster, Synology and Asustor have at least 1GB of RAM. This is enough to run the operating system and allow a few devices to connect and move data to and from the storage pool. Everything else will require 2GB or more. It's also worth checking whether the NAS allows for RAM expansion or upgrades.
3 Price
If price is a major factor in your decision, NAS enclosures generally get more expensive the better the features and specs. A NAS with a single 1GbE network connection, two drive bays, and an ARM processor will be considerably cheaper than an Intel-powered NAS with 4GB of expandable RAM, four drive bays, two 2.5GbE network ports, and a couple of M.2 SSD slots. Again, the price of the NAS will depend on what you plan to use the enclosure for. Basic file storage will allow you to save the most.
NAS enclosures typically come without drives installed, so the enclosure price does not include the additional cost of data storage.
4 Network ports
A single 1GbE network connection is sufficient for transfer rates of up to 100 MB/s. A typical hard disk drive (HDD) supports speeds of up to about 500 MB/s, and a solid-state drive (SSD) can reach 15,000 MB/s, provided the system has enough resources to accommodate such transfers. If you are moving larger files over the network, a NAS with two 1GbE or 2.5GbE ports may be better suited to your needs. 10GbE SFP+ ports are ideal for users with a more advanced network infrastructure.
5 Operating system
The operating system is the heart and soul of a NAS. It allows you to store files, run apps and services, and more. If you choose a NAS from Synology or another brand, it will likely come with a proprietary operating system. This is great if you want to enjoy first-party support and guaranteed performance with the enclosure. However, you risk reaching end of life if the company offers limited security updates. An operating system developed outside of the company, such as Unraid or TrueNAS, does not have this problem.
An operating system like Unraid should work on most enclosures that support OS sideloading, but performance may vary, especially if it's one of the cheaper models. Some pre-built NAS enclosures, including the LincPlus LincStation N1, come with aftermarket operating systems, but most work similarly. We've rounded up some of the best operating systems to use on a NAS, and you'll find some ideas in this guide.
6 Power supply
A NAS typically uses little power compared to a desktop system, but the NAS stays online (hopefully), which can put a strain on your power budget. As long as you use less than 50 watts, you're in a good position. The Synology DiskStation DS923+ is a powerful AMD NAS, but it only uses 35 watts when running at full load. Unless you're putting your storage server under heavy use all day long, you shouldn't notice much of an impact on your annual power bill.
The less power a NAS offers, the smaller it is. This is due to the fewer number of drive bays, fewer fans to keep everything cool, and smaller circuit board. A Synology DiskStation DS223j with two drive bays can be installed almost anywhere in the house as long as there is easy access to the LAN. The Synology DiskStation DS3622xs+, with its 12 drive bays and 10 kg weight, requires careful consideration. Rackmount NAS servers can be a great way to save space, but they require a server cabinet.