Synology’s long awaited 4-bay performance NAS model is here for 2020 – the DS920+. Is it a true successor to the DS918+?
Product on Review: DiskStation DS920+
Manufacturer & Sponsor: Synology
Street Price: £550 GBP | $559 USD | $930 AUD
Synology are a major player in the NAS arena – some would argue they are the market leaders in such a segment and it isn’t hard to see why. They offer solid hardware specifications, are easy to set up and configuration and the software suite is all-encompassing.
In fact, Synology has built-up a strong reputation by having one of the most flexible and intuitive operating systems available. Their DSM OS receives regular updates and it’s clear that the company places particular emphasis on software development.
Today we are to look at a model which countless storage advocates have been eagerly awaiting – the DS920+. This unit is the companies 4-bay performance model for 2020 – marked out as one of the most popular models in the portfolio.
Synology on their DS920+
Synology DS920+ is an ideal network-attached storage solution to streamline data management and productivity. Two built-in M.2 SSD slots and Synology SSD Cache technology allow you to boost system I/O and application performance. Scalable storage design lets you start small and expand storage capacity with Synology DX517 as your data grows.
Hardware Specifications
Below are the hardware specifications regarding DS920+ provided by Synology:
CPU
CPU Model: Intel Celeron
CPU Frequency: 4-Core 2GHz – 2.7GHz Turbo Boost
Hardware Encryption Engine: Yes
Memory
System Memory: 4GB DDR4
Max Capacity: 8GB (4GB+4GB)
Storage
Drive Bay(s): 4
Maximum Drive Bays with Expansion Unit 9 (DX517 x 1)
M.2 Drive Slots 2 (NVMe)
Compatible Drive Type* (See all supported drives)
3.5″ SATA HDD
2.5″ SATA HDD
2.5″ SATA SSD
M.2 2280 NVMe SSD
Maximum Internal Raw Capacity 64 TB (16 TB drive x 4) (Capacity may vary by RAID types)
Maximum Raw Capacity with Expansion Units 144 TB (64 TB + 16 TB drive x 5) (Capacity may vary by RAID types)
Maximum Single Volume Size* 108 TB
External Ports
eSATA Port: 1
USB 3.0 Port: 2
File System
Internal Drives: EXT4, btrfs
External Drives: Btrfs, EXT4, EXT3, FAT, NTFS, HFS+, exFAT
Appearance
Size (Height X Width X Depth): 166 mm x 199 mm x 223 mm
Weight: 2.24 kg
Others
RJ-45 1GbE LAN Port: 2
Wake on LAN/WAN: Yes
System Fan: 92 mm X 92 mm X 2 pcs
Noise Level: 19.8 dB(A)
Power Recovery: Yes
Scheduled Power On/Off: Yes
Power Supply Unit / Adapter: 100W
AC Input Power Voltage: 100V to 240V AC
Power Frequency: 50/60 HZ, Single Phase
Power Consumption: 32.17W (Access) 9.69W (HDD Hibernation)
Temperature
Operating Temperature: 0°C to 40°C (40°F to 104°F)
Storage Temperature: -20°C to 60°C (-5°F to 140°F)
Relative Humidity: 5% to 95% RH
Certification
EAC
VCCI
CCC
RCM
KC
FCC
CE
BSMI
Warranty
3 Years
CPU Model: Intel Celeron
CPU Frequency: 4-Core 2GHz – 2.7GHz Turbo Boost
Hardware Encryption Engine: Yes
Memory
System Memory: 4GB DDR4
Max Capacity: 8GB (4GB+4GB)
Storage
Drive Bay(s): 4
Maximum Drive Bays with Expansion Unit 9 (DX517 x 1)
M.2 Drive Slots 2 (NVMe)
Compatible Drive Type* (See all supported drives)
3.5″ SATA HDD
2.5″ SATA HDD
2.5″ SATA SSD
M.2 2280 NVMe SSD
Maximum Internal Raw Capacity 64 TB (16 TB drive x 4) (Capacity may vary by RAID types)
Maximum Raw Capacity with Expansion Units 144 TB (64 TB + 16 TB drive x 5) (Capacity may vary by RAID types)
Maximum Single Volume Size* 108 TB
External Ports
eSATA Port: 1
USB 3.0 Port: 2
File System
Internal Drives: EXT4, btrfs
External Drives: Btrfs, EXT4, EXT3, FAT, NTFS, HFS+, exFAT
Appearance
Size (Height X Width X Depth): 166 mm x 199 mm x 223 mm
Weight: 2.24 kg
Others
RJ-45 1GbE LAN Port: 2
Wake on LAN/WAN: Yes
System Fan: 92 mm X 92 mm X 2 pcs
Noise Level: 19.8 dB(A)
Power Recovery: Yes
Scheduled Power On/Off: Yes
Power Supply Unit / Adapter: 100W
AC Input Power Voltage: 100V to 240V AC
Power Frequency: 50/60 HZ, Single Phase
Power Consumption: 32.17W (Access) 9.69W (HDD Hibernation)
Temperature
Operating Temperature: 0°C to 40°C (40°F to 104°F)
Storage Temperature: -20°C to 60°C (-5°F to 140°F)
Relative Humidity: 5% to 95% RH
Certification
EAC
VCCI
CCC
RCM
KC
FCC
CE
BSMI
Warranty
3 Years
Packaging & Bundle
The DS920+ arrives in an eco-friendly box which features a carry handle. Some of the key features are listed on the box as well as the serial number. Opening the box up, inside the NAS is well-protected with a soft foam cover and cardboard reinforcement.
Synology also include an additional box which contains all of the bundled accessories. These parts include:
• Main Unit X 1
• Welcome Note/Guide X 1
• Installation Screws x 16
• AC Power Adapter X 1
• Regional AC Power Cord X 1
• RJ-45 LAN Cable (CAT6) X 2
Closer Look
Removing the DS920+ from its packaging, we are met by a rather sleek looking NAS unit. Both sides utilise a stencil cut-out of the Synology logo which also doubles up to offer some minor ventilation for the internal components and storage drives.
At the front we have a series of four vertical HDD trays, each with a locking mechanism for security – the provided key will unlock to allow access. As is customary for Synology units, the right-edge bears a number of LED indicators for: STATUS, DISK 1, 2, 3, 4. Synology also include a single USB 3.0 port for quick storage access and there is a power button.
Around the back there are two integrated fan grills for the 90mm exhaust fans – this flushes unwanted heat away from the NAS and out through the back.
Below this we have a factory reset button, a single USB 3.0 port, as well as an eSATA port, two Gigabit LAN ports, Kensington lock allocation and the AC power port to work in conjunction with the supplied power pack.
Both Gigabit ethernet connections do take advantage of Link Aggregation which is especially useful for networking performance enhancement but we are somewhat disappointed at the lack of ethernet beyond 1GB. Many network devices (including motherboards produced in 2020 support 2.5Gbe – on a plus model we do expect to see 2.5, 5 or 10 GBe.
To maximise performance, quite a few of Synology’s NAS models support SSD cache and the DS920+ is one of them. On the underside there are two spots for installing two M.2 SSDs which will manage the read/write cache for this unit – greatly improving performance for certain tasks which involve random access. The capacity of the SSDs isn’t of primary concern, smaller capacity such as 128-250GB are more than ample.
The HDD trays can host 2.5” and 3.5” drives and DS920+ can accommodate up to 64TB of storage. Installing storage into the NAS is simple, the drive just drops into the provided tray in a tool-free manner with the SATA connection ports facing the rear.
Once the drive is secure, the tray can be slid back into the chassis to have the SATA connectors marry up with the ports inside the NAS.
We would usually take a look at the internal design and components within the NAS but since there is no clear way of getting inside the unit we must refer to the technical specifications instead. These are as follows:
• CPU Frequency: Quad-Core 2.0 GHz (Turbo 2.7 GHz)
• Hardware Encrypted Engine + Floating Point
• Memory: 4GB DDR4
• Internal HDD/SSD: 3.5″ or 2.5″ SATA-III 4x
• Max Internal Capacity: 64TB (4x 16TB HDD)
The most obvious comparison for the DS920+ is the model which it replaces – the DS918+. Many have been patiently waiting for the release of the DS920+ and in terms of the hardware configuration, this new unit offers quite a bump up in performance. The CPU frequency is up from 1.5GHz to 2.0GHz and the memory standard moves from DDR3 to DDR4 – providing faster frequency and bandwidth, which will come in handy for networking tasks.
DSM Feature: Synology Drive
Over the years Synology’s inhouse OS has undergone numerous updates to include new and exciting features which enhance the user experience. One popular feature which can completely transform and streamline workflow is Synology Drive.
Synology Drive allows administrators to synchronise data from a NAS to any number of users. There are many online services that provide similar tools like this, such as Dropbox, but subscriptions to such services can soon mount up. The great benefit of having a NAS is the ability to take proper control of file management without the need to spend additional money and outsource for data storage and Synology Drive takes this to the take level by offering a Dropbox-like experience.
Below is a demonstration of Synology Drive – briefly taking you through the basic framework in how to configure this feature and how a desktop client can utilise it. You can also view this video externally by clicking here.
DSM Feature: USB Copy
USB Copy has been a long-standing feature for Synology but it has been refined to make it even more efficient at transferring data.
The concept behind USB Copy is that you can quickly back up or transfer data to/from an external USB drive. If such a process is performed regularly, this type of task can be assigned to a task which will automate the procedure entirely. The NAS will detect the brand/model of USB drive, understand which task it needs to perform and follow through with the instructions.
Below is a demonstration of this feature in action – showcasing how useful it is. We use this one on a regular basis ourselves. You can also view this video externally by clicking here.
Conclusion
For at least 2 years there has been much anticipation surrounding the release of a new 4-bay performance model NAS and it’s finally here. Is it worth your consideration? Definitely.
Compared to its predecessor (DS918+), the DS920+ may bear only subtle tweaks but they should make a world of difference. The Intel Celeron CPU provides faster clock speeds and we now have the inclusion of DDR4 rather than DDR3 – hinting at a brand new chipset/platform. Both elements offer a boost in performance, which is what we want to see from a performance unit.
When examining the building blocks to success, to some extent the hardware spec takes place. It is the software which predominately takes centre-stage. Acquiring hardware isn’t difficult, but designing an intuitive, all-encompassing software suite is where many fall by the wayside, but not so for Synology. Not only is the OS seamless, easy to configure and navigate but it offers a multitude of advanced tools for administrators. The “Package Center” which allows you to browse available apps/tools has in excess of 50 Synology developed applications and there are a plethora of third party solutions too.
We’ve seen DSM change over the years and the latest version reveals a consistently strong software suite which translate to a very positive NAS experience. Regardless of whether you’re a home or business user there are an abundance of tools and options available which will cover a vast range of uses/activities. In this review we’ve showcased two packages which most users are likely to install and use – we’ve only really scratched the surface, but this should highlight some of the capabilities that such a unit has to offer.
The only slight disappointment with this particular model is the omission of 10 Gigabit Ethernet. Rival models utilise it and routers/motherboards and other devices are now supporting faster networking interfaces, so it would be a shame to have the central file server create a bottleneck. We expect a performance model to have faster networking ports!
DS920+ can be purchased for £550 GBP | $559 USD | $930 AUD – populating it with storage drives will need to be factored in, and will ultimately take the figure over the $£1000 USD/GBP mark. Synology offers a 3 year warranty with this model which should provide consumers with a good degree of confidence.
DS920+ is a solid 4-bay NAS which pairs up very well with Synology’s DSM software to offer the very best NAS experience.
Pros
+ Elegant design
+ Great build quality
+ Quad-core support
+ Can house up to 64TB raw data
+ 2.5” and 3.5” drive support
+ USB 3.0 port on the front
+ Excellent performance
+ Low fan noise
+ Feature rich operating system
Cons
– Still using 1GB Ethernet ports
+ Elegant design
+ Great build quality
+ Quad-core support
+ Can house up to 64TB raw data
+ 2.5” and 3.5” drive support
+ USB 3.0 port on the front
+ Excellent performance
+ Low fan noise
+ Feature rich operating system
Cons
– Still using 1GB Ethernet ports
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