When choosing the right Synology NAS, one of the biggest questions is whether you should invest in the latest model or stick with an older generation. Synology’s Plus series has long been a popular choice for both home users and businesses, offering a balance of strong CPU performance, flexible RAM upgrades, and reliable LAN connectivity.

 

Over the years, Synology has steadily improved its hardware with faster processors, more memory capacity, and higher-speed network ports. For example, many of the earlier models were limited to 1GbE networking, while the latest generations now include 2.5GbE or multiple LAN ports for link aggregation. Similarly, RAM limits have increased significantly, making newer units much better suited for virtualization, media streaming, or running multiple Docker containers.

 

This article provides a side-by-side comparison of Synology NAS Plus series models, including their predecessors, so you can clearly see how the CPU, RAM, and LAN specifications have evolved. Whether you’re considering an upgrade from a DS220+ to a DS225+, or evaluating the differences between rackmount RS series models, these tables will help you make an informed decision.

 

Synology DS22x+ Line Comparison

Model CPU RAM (Base / Max) LAN Ports Expandable
DS225+ Intel Celeron J4125 (Quad Core, 2.0–2.7 GHz) 2 GB DDR4 / 6 GB 1 × 2.5GbE + 1 × 1GbE No
DS224+ Intel Celeron J4125 (Quad Core, 2.0–2.7 GHz) 2 GB DDR4 / 6 GB 2 × 1GbE No
DS220+ Intel Celeron J4025 (Dual Core, 2.0–2.9 GHz) 2 GB DDR4 / 6 GB 2 × 1GbE No
DS218+ Intel Celeron J3355 (Dual Core, 2.0–2.5 GHz) 2 GB DDR3L / 6 GB 1 × 1GbE up to 7 drives with DX517
DS216+ II Intel Celeron N3060 (Dual Core, 1.6–2.48 GHz) 1 GB DDR3 / 8 GB 1 × 1GbE up to 7 drives with DX517
DS216+ Intel Celeron N3050 (Dual Core, 1.6–2.16 GHz) 1 GB DDR3 / 8 GB 1 × 1GbE up to 7 drives with DX517
DS214+ Marvell Armada XP (Dual Core, 1.33 GHz) 1 GB / Fixed 1 × 1GbE up to 7 drives with DX513 (EOL)

 

Synology DS72x+ Line Comparison

Model CPU RAM (Base / Max) LAN Ports Expandable
DS725+ AMD Ryzen R1600 (Dual Core, 2.6–3.1 GHz) 4 GB DDR4 / 32 GB 1 × 2.5GbE + 1 × 1GbE up to 7 drives with DX525
DS723+ AMD Ryzen R1600 (Dual Core, 2.6–3.1 GHz) 2 GB DDR4 / 32 GB 2 × 1GbE up to 7 drives with DX517
DS720+ Intel Celeron J4125 (Quad Core, 2.0–2.7 GHz) 2 GB DDR4 / 6 GB 2 × 1GbE up to 7 drives with DX517
DS718+ Intel Celeron J3455 (Quad Core, 1.5–2.3 GHz) 2 GB DDR3 / 6 GB 2 × 1GbE up to 7 drives with DX517
DS716+ II Intel Celeron N3160 (Quad Core, 1.6–2.24 GHz) 2 GB DDR3 / 8 GB 2 × 1GbE up to 7 drives with DX517
DS716+ Intel Celeron N3150 (Quad Core, 1.6–2.08 GHz) 2 GB DDR3 / 8 GB 2 × 1GbE up to 7 drives with DX517
DS713+ Intel Atom D2700 (Dual Core, 2.13 GHz) 1 GB DDR3 / 2 GB 1 × 1GbE up to 7 drives with DX513 (EOL)

 

Synology DS42x+ Line Comparison

Model CPU RAM (Base / Max) LAN Ports Expandable
DS425+ Intel Celeron J4125 (Quad Core, 2.0–2.7 GHz) 2 GB DDR4 / 6 GB 1 × 2.5GbE + 1 × 1GbE No
DS423+ Intel Celeron J4125 (Quad Core, 2.0–2.7 GHz) 2 GB DDR4 / 6 GB 2 × 1GbE No
DS420+ Intel Celeron J4025 (Dual Core, 2.0–2.9 GHz) 2 GB DDR4 / 6 GB 2 × 1GbE No
DS415+ Intel Atom C2538 (Quad Core, 2.4 GHz) 2 GB DDR3 / 8 GB 2 × 1GbE up to 9 drives with DX517
DS412+ Intel Atom D2700 (Dual Core, 2.13 GHz) 1 GB DDR3 / 4 GB 2 × 1GbE up to 9 drives with DX513 (EOL)