Synology DiskStation DS923+ NAS Review (Long-Term): Ideal NAS for Individuals and Small Businesses

Synology, the leader in network-attached storage, has refreshed its lineup of NAS devices for the coming year. Synology launched the successor to the DiskStation DS920+ last year, namely the Synology DiskStation DS923+. The newest NAS comes with M.2 SSD storage support and is powered by AMD with DSM 7.1 OS and better specifications. The NAS can install up to 32 GB of DDR4 RAM and has been designed for intensive use at home or in the office. The NAS is easy to use and takes almost no time to start. However, let's find out whether it is suitable for daily use or not.

Synology DiskStation DS923+ NAS Review: Design and construction

In terms of design, the DiskStation DS923+ is very similar to its predecessor. Synology hasn't changed much and therefore, from the outside, anyone can confuse it with the old model if the model number DS923+ was not printed on the front. The overall design is stylish and can fit anywhere in your home or office.

The front panel of the NAS has the model number and some LED indicators that show the status of disk and network activity. There's also a USB-A port and power button, as well as four 3.5-inch drive bays that allow installation of up to 80TB without any expansion units. The sides and top are left vacant, apart from marking and ventilation. The underside has two M.2 slots behind removable trays.

The rear side of the NAS has a DC input from an external power port, two 1GbE ports and a USB-A port, as well as an E-SATA port. Synology hasn't provided any HDMI ports, meaning it's not possible to run Plex or pass video signals to a display. There is an option to use a 10GbE adapter on the back that supports Synology's proprietary cards. We used the same one and it offered excellent online editing speeds with the SATA SSD. However, if you don't want to spend any more, then you will have to make do with two 1GbE ports offering limited speeds.

The build quality is good and the overall look is such that you don't need to hide it in a corner. Access to the discs is easy thanks to the levers on the front.

ALSO READ: Samsung officially unveils the Exynos 1480 SoC: improvements, benchmark scores, competition

Synology DiskStation DS923+ NAS Review: Software

The DS923+, just like other Synology NAS, runs on this self-developed operating system called DSM, which is like Windows but for your NAS. It's very user-friendly with these handy desktop icons that make setting up your NAS easy. When you launch it, you will see icons such as Control Panel, File Station, Package Center, and DSM Help appear on your desktop.

Plus, as you download more apps, more icons magically appear. And hey, on the right side of the screen you have these nice windows that show you information like how long your system has been up, how much CPU and RAM you're using, and the IP address of your NAS.
Now, in the upper left corner, there's this main menu icon that gives you access to a whole bunch of other useful tools.

There is Storage Manager to create volumes and change RAID settings, Active Insight to transfer data to Synology when you need technical help, Log Center to view logs and system notifications, and Security Advisor to protect your NAS from malware, thereby strengthening your passwords and making sure your software is up to date.

There is a package center, similar to the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, where you will find all apps from Synology and third-party developers. These apps turn your NAS into whatever you want: a cloud server, a media hub, a backup assistant, or even an IP camera surveillance recorder. To change your network settings, you need to go to Control Panel. And if you need to organize your files or give web access to your folders, the File Station icon has you covered. Finally, if you ever get stuck or need guidance, go to DSM's Help icon for tutorials, which walk you through.

Also Read: Kia K4 Sedan Launching Tomorrow: Design, Features and Everything You Need to Know

Synology DiskStation DS923+ NAS review: Performance

The Synology DS923+ NAS is powered by an AMD Ryzen R1600 processor with two cores and four threads, as well as 5 MB cache and a boost capacity of up to 3.1 GHz. The processor is fast and efficient, leaving many of its competitors behind. What a 25W TDP SoC misses is not having an integrated GPU. Although AMD allows an integrated GPU, Synology has not opted for it for reasons best known to the brand. The lack of an integrated GPU hurts content transcoding performance, but does not drastically affect performance.

We paired our unit with two 4TB Synology HAT3300-4T drives and two 400GB SNV3400G M.2 NVMe caches. The NAS offered read and write speeds of 200MB/s and 185MB/s, respectively. There is an optional expansion unit with an E-SATA port, making this a device capable of storing a good amount of data.

One of the best features is the ability to hot swap drives, which means we don't need to turn off the entire device to add or swap a drive. When the operating system is working normally, one can remove a drive and then add one immediately without any problem.

As part of my review process, we ran a Plex server on DS923; In those three months, we didn't need to transcode any media for any of my devices. Files stored on the NAS can be accessed on our network via a companion application or via other networks. Syncing it with Google or Microsoft Workspaces can provide an excellent active backup, saving the cost of a virtual backup. Whether you're running Docker containers, backing up machines via Active Backup, or managing your photos, videos, and documents with Synology apps like Photos or Drive, the DS923+ handles it like a champ.

Once you start using the Synology Photos app, you will abandon Google Photos or Apple iCloud, because with these apps, your data stays with you and can be accessed from anywhere and at any time.

Review Verdict: Should You Buy Synology DiskStation DS923+ NAS?

The Synology DiskStation DS923+ NAS is a very impressive digital storage option for small businesses, startups, freelancers, and any home office. It can run Plex and enjoy streaming 4K content, making it a good choice for almost anyone who needs local storage. Its DSM interface is one of the best on the market. Although there is no integrated GPU, most users won't feel any difference because of this slight exclusion. The NAS is not a budget device, but if you own a small business or have a job that requires a good amount of storage, it will prove to be a good value for money offering.