Buffalo LinkStation 210 4TB
Score: 56/100Synology DS124 1-bay
Score: 62/100Rankings
The DS124 is a compact single-bay NAS that runs DSM, offers Btrfs support and low power consumption, targeting home users and small offices needing reliable file storage. Its simplicity comes at the cost of limited RAM, no RAID and no media transcoding capabilities.
The Buffalo LinkStation 210 4 TB offers a ready-to-go 4 TB drive, gigabit networking and basic cloud-like features in a compact, low-power package. It's ideal for home users needing simple backup and media streaming, but lacks RAID, USB 3.0 and modern macOS compatibility.
| Attribute | | Synology DS124 1-bay |
|---|---|---|
6 TBbest | — | |
1best | 1best | |
1 Gbpsbest | 1 Gbpsbest | |
— | 4best | |
0.256 GB | 1 GBbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 24 W | 10.69 Wbest |
| ↓ lower better | — | 19 dBbest |
2 yearsbest | 2 yearsbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | Synology DS124 1-bay |
|---|---|---|
Security(1) | ||
OS Compatibility | Windows XP‑11, macOS up to 10.10, iOS, Android | DSM |
Performance(3) | ||
CPU Model | Marvell ARMADA 370 | Realtek RTD1619B |
System Memory (GB) | 0.256 GB | 1 GB |
Power Consumption (Active) (W) | 24 W | 10.69 W |
Build & Design(2) | ||
Weight (kg) | 1.1 kg | 1.247 kg |
Power Supply Type | External AC adapter | 36W AC adapter |
Connectivity(2) | ||
Supported Network Protocols | TCP/IP, CIFS/SMB, HTTP, HTTPS, AFP, FTP, NTP, BitTorrent | SMB,AFP,NFS,FTP,WebDAV,iSCSI,HTTP,HTTPS,LDAP,CalDAV,SNMP |
USB Ports | 1 | 2 |
Storage & Capacity(2) | ||
RAID Support | None | Basic |
Supported Drive Types | HDD | 3.5" SATA HDD,2.5" SATA SSD/HDD |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Reviewers highlight its plug-and-play nature, media streaming, and energy efficiency, while criticizing the absence of RAID, USB 2.0 limitation, and lack of advanced features.
Users appreciate quick setup, quiet operation and the included 4 TB drive, though some encounter Windows 10 mapping issues and wish for easier HDD upgrades.
Professional reviewers consider the DS124 a solid upgrade over the DS223, highlighting its faster Realtek ARM processor, Btrfs snapshots and ultra-quiet design, while noting the lack of transcoding and internal expandability.
Everyday users praise the plug-and-play setup, quiet operation and dependable backup tools, but criticize the limited 1 GB RAM, single-bay design and inability to handle media transcoding.
“Practically sets itself up - very fast transfer speeds”
“Replaced my old Lenovo NAS - much better and easier to use”
“Could not be mapped as a shared drive from Windows 10”
