Have you been using a Plex media server to access streaming content or live air television? If yes, then you know using a server like this often faces lags. So, the one thing that provides Plex a solid server is network-attached storage .
NAS is a storage space over the internet that allows you to access files over the local area network as well as outside it. Further, a NAS for Plex allows you to stream your media content easily all across the home network. Not just stream online content but NAS also enables you to transcode and watch 4K content because of its powerful internals.
The market has tons of options such as Synology, QNAP, and Asustor, but choosing one for your Plex server can be a bit confusing as each of the models are quite different from one another. Hence, we have tried and tested some of the top-rated network-attached storage available on the market and narrowed down the 5 best one.
So, let’s check out the 5 best network-attached storage for Plex.
If you’re looking for a powerful NAS enclosure with great functionality, then we suggest the QNAP TVS-672N-i3 for you. What makes this NAS powerful is its processor! Built with an impressive Intel Core i3-8100T processor that is far better than the Intel Celeron CPUs, this network-attached storage enclosure has a high bandwidth of 5GBASE-T. With this bandwidth, it is capable of delivering 5 times more speed than any regular Gigabit Ethernet. And at such a speed, you can easily stream 4K videos without facing any lag.
We also like that the 4GB of DDR4 RAM can be further upgraded to 32 GB along with 8 drive bays, which altogether provides enough storage for all media files up to 96TB capacity. Further, its four 5GB LAN ports are enough for high-speed networks that can potentially handle 500 MB/s. This can be also linked together via a router to create a connection for exceptional bandwidth.
On the whole, QNAP TVS-672N-i3 is undoubtedly our top choice NAS for the PLEX capable of delivering quite serious and efficient performance.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Intel Core i3-8100T powerful processor Bandwidth 5GBASE-T 5 times more speed 4GB of DDR4 RAM 5GB LAN ports | Expensive Draws high power |
Built with powerful Intel quad-core Xeon E3-1225 v5 CPU and a RAM of 8GB, PowerEdge T30 by Dell is one of our top picks for a Plex server. It allows you to store and share information alongside improves access and simplifies the process.
With Dell PowerEdge T30, you can easily overcome the data and application complexities and organize them on a central T30 server. Further, this NAS enclosure can pack large internal storage capacity, delivering efficient, hassle-free performance. Also, the data and applications from various PCs, phones, and other devices can be easily consolidated onto a single server and this improves collaboration and productivity. However, the only limitation of this NAS is that it is not a compact and pre-built set up. But being a completely DIY enclosure, it offers flexibility more than other NAS models. Above all, this NAS has an excellent PassMark of 7820 that makes it ideal for video transcoding.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Powerful Intel quad-core Xeon E3-1225 v5 CPU 8GB RAM 7820 PassMark Efficient and hassle-free performance | Large footprint Complete DIY set up |
3. Synology DiskStation DS220+
Designed to streamline the data and manage multimedia, Synology DS220+ is undoubtedly one of the best NAS for Plex. Featuring uninterrupted data sharing without any lags, video sharing, and photo indexing, this compact NAS solution is efficient in performance. Moreover, it also provides data protection and recovery options as well.
Besides, it is powered by an Intel Celeron J4025 chipset with a storage capacity of 2GB RAM, which is expandable up to 4GB. While the RAM storage is quite sufficient, the NAS enclosure has two drive bays, which is also capable of storing up to 32TB data – both combined.
Since Synology is known for its exceptional software, this NAS solution is capable of transcoding 1080p videos easily. It even backs up your data automatically and allows you to run audio, video, and mail straight from NAS. Well, on the downside, Synology DS220+ doesn’t have an eSATA port and SSD caching. However, its durable hardware and Gigabit Ethernet ports make it the ideal choice of NAS of PLEX.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Provides data protection and recovery options Intel Celeron J4025 chipset 2GB RAM and expandable up to 4GB Two drive bays | No eSATA port No SSD caching |
4. ASUSTOR NIMBUSTOR 4 AS5304T
The ASUSTOR NIMBUSTOR 4 AS5304T is considered one of the fastest NAS devices due to its power-packed quad-core processor. It uses the Intel Gemini Lake Celeron J4105 Quad-Core CPU and it is loaded with 4GB of DDR4 RAM, which can be upgraded up to 8GB. It provides you with better performance than the DDR3 RAM while reducing energy consumption by 40%.
The AS5304T is equipped with two 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports, which allows you up to 150% faster performance than the normal Gigabit Ethernet ports. Using Link Aggregation, the speed can reach up to 5Gbps.
The Snapshot Centre built in this NAS device helps in keeping up to 250 pictures and it can be done every 5 minutes, allowing you to create a backup. Later you can restore these files if the data is damaged or lost.
One of its most important features is its cross-platform and multi-user access. You can be working on Windows, Mac OS X, or Unix like Operating Systems and can still access your NAS from any device, uninterrupted.
If you are an avid gamer, you should go for this NAS device. Its gaming-inspired theme for ADM allows you to live stream and record in 4K HDR onto the NAS device, while the iSCSI offered by ADM allows gamers to play games on multiple devices hassle-free.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Intel Gemini Lake Celeron J4105 Quad-Core CPU 4GB of DDR4 RAM Upgraded up to 8GB Two 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports Cross-platform and multi-user access | Pricey No 10Gb Lan Flimsy Bay Locks |
If you are a brand person and want to go for a NAS device of a reliable brand, then the TerraMaster F2-221 is the go-to device. It is a 16-year-old company, which concentrates on developing and making storage devices. Its outstanding hardware and brilliant software development ability make it a trustworthy brand.
The NAS device comes with Intel Apollo J3355 dual-core processor with a frequency reaching up to 2.0 GHz. Besides, the F2-221 has a great speed of 200 MB/s and 190 MB/s respectively. Also, it has a 2GB DDR3 memory, which can be expanded up to 4GB.
Its superior storage technology and enhanced snapshot technology are the mainstays of the F2-221 NAS device. It helps in efficient data protection and prevents data from being corrupted or lost. The snapshot feature stores 1,024 pictures for every shared folder and up to 71,680 pictures can be stored in the system.
The live transcoding feature available on this NAS device allows seamless 4K Ultra HD entertainment over multiple devices, without having to install any third-party application. Personal information uploaded can be stored privately on your cloud drive and you can access it later. It supports multiple backup methods like Apple Time Machine, Rsync, and Remote Backup support.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Outstanding hardware Brilliant software developing Intel Apollo J3355 dual-core processor 2GB DDR3 memory | Under average OS No 10 Gb LAN |
With this compilation of the best NAS for Plex, we hope you did find some clarity on the kind of products you should be opting for. However, we recommend the QNAP TVS-672N-i3 as it is one of the best NAS for Plex on the market today. Built with a powerful processor, this NAS enclosure has a high bandwidth of 5GBASE-T, good speed, and great storage. Despite its hefty price, it can easily stream 4K videos and deliver excellent performance. Overall, it is a NAS worth buying.
We hope our review will help make your choice easier.
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