Synology DS223 RED 8TB (2x 4TB) 2-Bay Desktop NAS

The Synology DS223 RED 8TB (2x 4TB) is a high-performance 2-bay desktop NAS designed for home and small office users. Powered by a Realtek RTD1619B quad-core 1.7 GHz processor and 2 GB DDR4 memory, it delivers reliable data storage, sharing, and backup. Pre-loaded with two 4TB WD Red Plus NAS-grade hard drives, it offers 8TB of raw capacity out of the box, with expandability up to 36TB. The DS223 runs on Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM), providing an intuitive operating system for file management, multimedia streaming, and surveillance.

Advantages

Ready-to-use with pre-installed 8TB storage (2x 4TB). Energy-efficient design with low power consumption (16.31W active, 4.08W hibernation). Quiet operation at only 14.6 dB(A). Supports SHR, RAID 0, RAID 1, JBOD, and Basic for flexible data protection. Built-in video transcoding for 4K media playback.

Suitable for

• Home users needing centralized file storage and backup
• Small businesses requiring reliable data sharing and remote access
• Media enthusiasts streaming 4K content
• Surveillance recording with Synology Surveillance Station

Key specifications

• CPU: Realtek RTD1619B 4-core 1.7 GHz
• Memory: 2 GB DDR4 non-ECC
• Drive Bays: 2 (3.5"/2.5" SATA HDD/SSD)
• Included Drives: 2x 4TB SATA HDD (WD Red Plus)
• Total Raw Capacity: 8 TB
• Max Raw Capacity: 36 TB (2x 18TB)
• LAN: 1x Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45)
• USB: 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 2x USB 2.0 Type-A
• RAID: SHR, Basic, JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1
• File System: Btrfs, EXT4 (internal); Btrfs, EXT4, EXT3, FAT32, NTFS, HFS+, exFAT (external)
• Power Consumption: 16.31 W (access), 4.08 W (hibernation)
• Noise: 14.6 dB(A)
• Video Transcoding: H.264/H.265/MPEG-2/VC-1, 4K @ 30 FPS

Recommendations

The DS223 RED is an excellent choice for users seeking a pre-configured, plug-and-play NAS solution. Its compact desktop form factor, low noise, and energy efficiency make it ideal for always-on operation. For enhanced performance, consider upgrading to SSD cache or adding a second Gigabit Ethernet adapter via USB.