NAS Comparison
QNAP TS-464 vs Synology DS923+: Ports, ECC Memory and Real Workloads
A practical four-bay NAS comparison covering default 2.5GbE, ECC memory, optional 10GbE, usable capacity and recovery, with genuine front and rear product views.
Choose the QNAP TS-464 for its dual 2.5GbE ports and flexible expansion; choose the Synology DS923+ when ECC memory and the DSM workflow fit the job. Both can serve a capable four-bay file store. Compare the complete network and recovery plan before deciding from processor specifications.
A photographer copying a large shoot, an accounts team opening small documents and a business running several backup jobs do not need the same thing from a NAS. A headline speed can hide the cost of a network upgrade, a missing recovery copy or a storage pool that is already too full.
The Hardware Differences That Matter
| Decision | QNAP TS-464 | Synology DS923+ |
|---|---|---|
| Main drive bays | Four SATA bays | Four SATA bays |
| Processor | Intel Celeron N5095, four cores | AMD Ryzen R1600, two cores / four threads |
| Default networking | Two 2.5GbE ports | Two 1GbE ports |
| Memory | Current 8G revision: 8 GB, up to 16 GB; check older revisions | 4 GB ECC DDR4, up to 32 GB |
| Faster networking | Compatible PCIe network card option | Optional E10G22-T1-Mini 10GbE module |
| NVMe | Two M.2 slots; PCIe Gen 3 ×1 per slot | Two M.2 slots; supported uses depend on DSM and drive compatibility |
| Local video output | HDMI available; application support matters | No HDMI |
| Software | QTS; QuTS hero on supported configurations | DSM |
Neither processor specification is a substitute for a workload test. More cores may help concurrent jobs; application design, memory pressure and disk access can still determine the result. ECC is a valuable data-integrity feature, but it does not make the DS923+ immune to every corruption or configuration problem.
Will 2.5GbE or 10GbE Change Your Working Day?
A Fast NAS Needs a Complete Fast Path
- Workstation
- Multi-Gigabit Switch
- NAS Network Port
- Drives / Shared Files
A faster NAS port helps only when the client, switch, storage and workload can use it. Two Ethernet sockets do not automatically double one file copy.
One Gigabit link carries at most 125 MB/s before protocol overhead. The equivalent raw ceilings are 312.5 MB/s for 2.5GbE and 1,250 MB/s for 10GbE. These are unit conversions, not promised file-copy results.
The TS-464 makes an accessible starting point for a 2.5GbE workstation and switch. The DS923+ can move beyond Gigabit with its network module, but include that module, the workstation adapter and suitable switch ports in the comparison. A 10GbE NAS connected to a Gigabit laptop will still meet a Gigabit bottleneck.
For a creative studio, begin with a large project copy while other people work normally. Record the actual copy rate, network utilisation, disk activity and responsiveness. If the Ethernet port is busy but disks are comfortable, a network upgrade is promising. If the disks are already struggling with many small requests, changing the port may leave the main problem untouched. Use the slow NAS transfer guide to isolate the busy stage.
Four Bays Give You Choices, Not Four Drives of Free Space
RAID 5: Parity Is Spread Across the Drives
Every row has three data blocks and one parity block. With four equal 8 TB drives, 32 TB raw gives 24 TB nominal data capacity before overhead.
Suppose a studio has 6 TB of active projects and adds 2 TB each year. After three more years, that is 12 TB of working data before versions, backups stored locally or spare operating room. Four 8 TB drives in RAID 5 offer 24 TB nominal data capacity; RAID 6 offers 16 TB with a different failure-tolerance trade-off. Both totals shrink after formatting and reserved space.
That example is more useful than a theoretical maximum that adds expansion shelves and software limits together. Expansion hardware, supported drive lists and pool rules are separate checks. Estimate the main enclosure first, then use the RAID calculator for alternative drive sizes and layouts.
Look at the Rear Panel Before Buying Accessories
The rear views make the different upgrade paths clear. Check which sockets will be occupied by the network, USB backup and power before deciding where the NAS will sit. Leave ventilation and service access; a compact box still needs room for cables and drive maintenance.
On QNAP, confirm the exact memory revision and compatible expansion card. On Synology, specify the dedicated network module rather than asking for an arbitrary PCIe card. Treat NVMe storage pools and cache as deliberate designs with supported drives, endurance and protection requirements.
Choose the Daily Workflow and the Recovery Route
For shared work, try the jobs people will actually perform: create a restricted project folder, recover yesterday's file, upload photos from a phone and restore a backup to another location. Familiarity with DSM or QTS can save more administration time than a small difference in a benchmark.
The TS-464's current software choices include QuTS hero on supported configurations. Switching operating systems is a rebuild and migration decision, not a harmless toggle over an existing pool. Verify the required memory, applications and backup before planning it. The NAS operating-system comparison explains the different storage foundations.
Make the Recovery Copy Independent
- Working NAS
- Versioned Backup
- Separate Location
- Restore a File
RAID can keep a system available after a drive failure. A separate, tested backup is the way back after deletion, damage or loss of the NAS.
Schedule backups so that they do not compete unnecessarily with busy working hours. Keep a recovery copy that is not exposed to the same everyday credentials and mistakes, and check that someone knows how to restore it.
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose the TS-464 for a straightforward 2.5GbE start, supported PCIe expansion or a workload that benefits from its Intel platform and HDMI options. Choose the DS923+ for its ECC memory, greater supported RAM ceiling and a DSM application plan, with the optional network module when faster transfers are justified.
For either model, price the complete system: drives, network upgrades, independent backup and power protection. Check current supply and support for these established models alongside newer alternatives. Buy the configuration that removes your measured bottleneck and leaves a credible recovery path.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the TS-464 always faster than the DS923+?
No. CPU clock speed and core count do not establish an overall winner. Large-file copies, small-file access, photo indexing and concurrent applications stress different resources. The TS-464 has faster default Ethernet ports; the DS923+ offers an optional 10GbE upgrade.
Does the DS923+ include 10GbE?
No. Its two built-in Ethernet ports are Gigabit. The optional E10G22-T1-Mini module adds a supported 10GbE connection. This is a dedicated network-upgrade slot, not a general-purpose PCIe card slot.
Can two 2.5GbE ports make one computer run at 5Gbps?
Not automatically. Link aggregation and SMB Multichannel have different requirements. The NAS, client, network configuration and application must support the intended method; two connected cables alone prove nothing about a single transfer.
How much space do four 8 TB drives provide?
The raw total is 32 TB. With equal drives, RAID 5 gives 24 TB nominal data capacity and RAID 6 or RAID 10 gives 16 TB, before file-system overhead and reserved space. Snapshots and applications consume additional capacity.
Do SSDs make every file copy faster?
No. An SSD pool, read cache and write cache serve different jobs. A cache may help repeated or random access but may not improve a first large sequential copy, particularly over a saturated network. Choose from observed workload evidence.
Is QNAP TS-464 memory upgradeable?
Current TS-464-8G hardware is listed with SO-DIMM memory, but earlier 8 GB revisions differ. Confirm the physical memory arrangement of the supplied unit before ordering RAM. The current published maximum is 16 GB.
Does ECC memory replace backup?
No. ECC addresses certain memory errors. It cannot recover a deleted folder, a stolen NAS or every application-level mistake. Keep versioned backups with an independent recovery copy and test a restore.
