Synology DS920From real comments

Verdict distilled from 25 mentions across 11 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment64%
PROS 64%
CONS 36%

Rank based on 25 mentions across 11 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want a reliable NAS for Plex, Docker, and general home/office file sharing
  • You need better-than-1Gbps speeds via the 2.5GbE port and SMB Multichannel
  • You value proven long-term durability and easy setup guidance

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You plan to run demanding VMs or heavy virtualization workloads
  • You're sensitive to fan noise and want a whisper-quiet unit out of the box
  • You need an internal SSD boot/OS drive due to limited M.2 slot flexibility

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice
1Mid
Synology DS220
Easy setup and intuitive DSM software
Synology DS220
Easy setup and intuitive DSM software
2Mid
Ugreen DH4300
Easy setup for beginners
Ugreen DH4300
Easy setup for beginners
You are here
3Mid
Synology DS920
Long-term reliabilityNetworking speed beyond 1GbpsPlex and media handling improved by SSD cacheFan noiseCPU thermal and virtualization limitsMixed value of RAM/SSD upgrades for basic use
Synology DS920
Long-term reliability
Networking speed beyond 1Gbps
Plex and media handling improved by SSD cache
Fan noise
CPU thermal and virtualization limits
Mixed value of RAM/SSD upgrades for basic use
4Premium
Synology DS1821
Expandable storage capacityReliability and data recoveryEase of use / DSM interfaceDrive compatibility alerts and vendor lock-inWeak Plex transcodingExpensive proprietary RAM
Synology DS1821
Expandable storage capacity
Reliability and data recovery
Ease of use / DSM interface
Drive compatibility alerts and vendor lock-in
Weak Plex transcoding
Expensive proprietary RAM
5
OWC Mercury Elite Pro Dual
Bus-Powered FlexibilityCompact, Portable DesignDrives Readable If Enclosure FailsNoisy Drive ActivityAbrupt Unmount SoundRAID 1 Doesn't Boost Read Speed
OWC Mercury Elite Pro Dual
Bus-Powered Flexibility
Compact, Portable Design
Drives Readable If Enclosure Fails
Noisy Drive Activity
Abrupt Unmount Sound
RAID 1 Doesn't Boost Read Speed
Best value
6Budget
Synology DS118
Sufficient for backups, streaming, and surveillanceEasy setup for beginnersGood value versus higher-tier modelsNo drive redundancyConfusing entry-level lineup overlapMissing vibration dampers
Synology DS118
Sufficient for backups, streaming, and surveillance
Easy setup for beginners
Good value versus higher-tier models
No drive redundancy
Confusing entry-level lineup overlap
Missing vibration dampers
7Mid
Synology DS923
Great for Time Machine and photo backupLong-term reliabilitySolid upgrade from older/competing NASRAID is not a backupDrive/component lock-in and costNoise and power draw
Synology DS923
Great for Time Machine and photo backup
Long-term reliability
Solid upgrade from older/competing NAS
RAID is not a backup
Drive/component lock-in and cost
Noise and power draw
8Mid
Ugreen DXP6800 Pro
Dual 10GbE and Thunderbolt connectivityStrong hardware for the priceExpandable and third-party OS friendlySoftware stability issuesFan noise at idleNVMe/PCIe lane limitations
Ugreen DXP6800 Pro
Dual 10GbE and Thunderbolt connectivity
Strong hardware for the price
Expandable and third-party OS friendly
Software stability issues
Fan noise at idle
NVMe/PCIe lane limitations
9Premium
Ugreen DXP6800
Flexible RAID and third-party OS supportStrong hardware specs vs competitorsCapable for video editing workflowsInconsistent idle fan noiseUGOS software immaturityReal-world transfer speed issues
Ugreen DXP6800
Flexible RAID and third-party OS support
Strong hardware specs vs competitors
Capable for video editing workflows
Inconsistent idle fan noise
UGOS software immaturity
Real-world transfer speed issues
10Premium
Synology DS1621+
Highly expandable hardwareHigh throughput with 10GbE and cacheStrong VM and app supportNo hardware transcoding for 4KConfusing cache setup guidanceConsumer NVMe cache reliability risk
Synology DS1621+
Highly expandable hardware
High throughput with 10GbE and cache
Strong VM and app support
No hardware transcoding for 4K
Confusing cache setup guidance
Consumer NVMe cache reliability risk

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

Users consistently praise the DS920+'s reliability and everyday versatility. Multiple long-term owners report years of stable operation, including one unit that survived falling out of its case onto a dusty floor and still booted fine after cleaning. Others highlight running Docker containers, GitLab, Portainer, and even a mini Kubernetes cluster with minimal CPU and RAM usage, saving significant cloud costs. Reviewers repeatedly say they're 'extremely happy' or 'couldn't be happier' after weeks or months of ownership, positioning it as a trustworthy all-purpose home and small-business storage solution.

SSD caching and RAM upgrades deliver real but situational benefits. Several users found no noticeable difference from maxing out RAM or adding SSD cache for simple file transfers, calling extra RAM unnecessary for basic use. However, others strongly disagree, noting that Docker, VMs, Synology Photos, and Plex Transcode folders benefit substantially from extra RAM and cache, with one user citing reduced buffering when browsing large media libraries. Some also note SSD cache mainly quiets the system by offloading frequent reads, rather than boosting raw speed.

Fan noise and thermal behavior under load are notable drawbacks. Multiple users report the fans produce an annoying ticking noise even on silent mode, with some resorting to Noctua replacements or wishing for internal sound isolation. Separately, heavy photo-indexing or thumbnail generation is described as making the CPU run very hot, and one reviewer using the same CPU in a related model called virtualization performance underwhelming, with the CPU straining under even a single server VM.

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