Which NAS?

[boomhower]

I'm going to be getting a NAS to serve media, I'm finally cutting the cord. Worse case scenario it'll be serving four streams at once. I've pretty much decided on Synology as I've tried QNAP in the past and was not happy with it. Question is which one? I'm looking at a two bay which leaves 213se, 213j, 214, 214+ and 214air. I'm eyeing the 213j due to the price point but am certainly open to suggestions. Thoughts?

edit
Also see there is a 214se.

I'm open to other options as well but it seems their OS is very very sorted at this point.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

If you're using it to serve media, are you doing encoding on the NAS or on the client device?

Anyway, I would want to avoid the low-end units like the 214se. Not enough CPU for my preferences. (Although I did just recommend a 214se to somebody else, but they're just using it for system backups.)

 

[boomhower]

Don't plan on any transcoding. Plan to encode everything in MPEG4 which should play on everything. I'm using xbox 360, xbox one and a ps3. Likely be adding an XBMC or Fire as well.

Will also be used for time machine backups and photo storage as well.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

If you're really just pulling data off of it and only from four clients... well, then the less expensive models like the 214se would probably be alright.

If you think you might get "into it" and use more features in the future once you're comfortable with the device, then you might want to over-buy with a 214+ or something.

 

[boomhower]

Would the 13j be a good middle ground? I'd really like to stay under $200 but will spend more if it means a better experience.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

The 213j is basically the same as the 214se except with 50% more CPU speed and double the RAM.

Strictly for file-serving (CIFS/SMB/NFS/iSCSI) I would say not to bother.

If you want to use the box for anything else (firewall, torrent client, print server, etc.) then I would say the 213j would be the better choice if it's within your price range.

 

[boomhower]

The 213j is basically the same as the 214se except with 50% more CPU speed and double the RAM.

Strictly for file-serving (CIFS/SMB/NFS/iSCSI) I would say not to bother.

If you want to use the box for anything else (firewall, torrent client, print server, etc.) then I would say the 213j would be the better choice if it's within your price range.

I'll be certianly setting up couchpotatoe so torrents yes and may very well use other features down the road. For $50 it seems like cheap future proofing. I was look at a max of $200 so it fits the budget.

 

[JoeMcJoe]

I just installed a Qnap TS-421 with the new Firmware version 4.1 at a location, I was really impressed with the new software.

That QNAP is very fast and the software is very nice now. I'm thinking about getting an Intel based one for myself now. I have two ARM ones currently.

 

[WelshBloke]

Thought about building your own freenas box?
Just done one myself and even though I have no Linux/freebsd knowledge it was all pretty much full proof.

 

[boomhower]

Thought about building your own freenas box?
Just done one myself and even though I have no Linux/freebsd knowledge it was all pretty much full proof.

Been down that road and wasn't a fan, I want a commercial box this time.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Thought about building your own freenas box?
Just done one myself and even though I have no Linux/freebsd knowledge it was all pretty much full proof.

See sig.

It'd be tough to do that within a $200 budget. You could pull it off if you started with an integrated motherboard/CPU like an Atom or Celeron.

This is the one powering my FreeNAS box.

I guess if I had to do it over, I'd probably use a mATX case with a lot of 3.5" drive bays and a SATA controller for more ports, rather than an eSATA card and external enlosure. (I have the latter. It's pretty neat, very compact, but a tad slower and more expensive.)

Of course, then there's the inevitable FreeNAS/ZFS/ECC crapstorm that emerges if you DARE to ask a question on the FreeNAS support forum without $5k worth of hardware in your rack. iXSystems really should give that community an enema, it doesn't reflect well on their brand.

 

[fastman]

I have an older j model but only stream one feed, works great and luv it. Finding out which one will work with four feeds is the issue for you. GL.

 

[boomhower]

I could go an home built, done one before and it bit the dust. Never really got into deeply though. Best guess is the video on the motherboard went out. I guess I've been to Applefied over the years, I don't want to tinker as much as I used to when I was younger. I just want it to work. I've got the case, CPU, various HD's etc. Probably just needs a new motherboard. But at this point I'd rather just get a new NAS and a couple rock solid WD Red drives and call it a day.

I've got a couple weeks to make the decision so it's not a real time critical factor. I'm really leaning towards the 213j but will move up to the 214 if it's really needed.

 

[wasabiman123]

Get a Synology 214play

 

[boomhower]

Get a Synology 214play

I've yet to read a positive review of it. Pretty much everyone I've read is the same story, the transcoding chip is underpowered for the job. Have you had a different experience?

 

[boomhower]

How about the Asustor AS-302T?

 

[wasabiman123]

I've yet to read a positive review of it. Pretty much everyone I've read is the same story, the transcoding chip is underpowered for the job. Have you had a different experience?

Well if you're serious about the transcoding power, you need to shell out like 500$ for the two bay QNAP TS 251, it has the new Celeron with the Silvermont cores.

 

[boomhower]

Well if you're serious about the transcoding power, you need to shell out like 500$ for the two bay QNAP TS 251, it has the new Celeron with the Silvermont cores.

Not really, I was planning on letting the receiving boxes do the decoding. (Apple TV, Xbox, XBMC, etc. )

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Not really, I was planning on letting the receiving boxes do the decoding. (Apple TV, Xbox, XBMC, etc. )

Well... if you're using DLNA streaming and decoding/transcoding on the client devices if necessary, then it doesn't particularly matter if the 214play has an underpowered transcoding chip - you wouldn't ever have to use it.

*shrug*

 

[boomhower]

Well... if you're using DLNA streaming and decoding/transcoding on the client devices if necessary, then it doesn't particularly matter if the 214play has an underpowered transcoding chip - you wouldn't ever have to use it.

*shrug*

Exactly, so why pay for it? Seems the 213j or 214 would be better for me. The ASUSTOR box is also intriguing me.

 

[wasabiman123]

Exactly, so why pay for it? Seems the 213j or 214 would be better for me. The ASUSTOR box is also intriguing me.

Synology and QNAP over all imo.
Synology with a slight edge.
Just get the 214 then, should be more than fine if ur client devices are decoding.

 

[boomhower]

Synology and QNAP over all imo.
Synology with a slight edge.
Just get the 214 then, should be more than fine if ur client devices are decoding.

Is it worth the $100 premium over the 213j?

 

[wasabiman123]

Is it worth the $100 premium over the 213j?

yes yes yes, if u can afford it get the 214+ though, faster hardware.

 

[boomhower]

yes yes yes, if u can afford it get the 214+ though, faster hardware.

That's stretching the budget farther than I'd like, think I'll go with the plain DS214.

 

[wasabiman123]

That's stretching the budget farther than I'd like, think I'll go with the plain DS214.

Cool, it should do the trick just fine.