Buffalo LinkStation 710 4TB
Score: 63/100
Synology DS223 2-bay
Score: 76/100Rankings
The DS223 offers 36 TB of raw capacity, 2 GB RAM and a familiar DSM experience in a compact 2-bay chassis. It's a solid, budget-friendly choice for backups and file sharing, though network speed and lack of SSD cache keep it from high-performance scenarios.
The Buffalo LinkStation 710 is a 1-bay, 4 TB NAS that brings 2.5 GbE networking, an Intel Hexa-core CPU and USB 3.2 ports to the entry-level market. It's great for basic home backup and media streaming but lacks encryption, RAID and advanced connectivity features.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
4 TB | 36 TBbest | |
1 | 2best | |
2.5 Gbpsbest | 1 Gbps | |
6best | 4 | |
2 GBbest | 2 GBbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 46 W | 16.31 Wbest |
| ↓ lower better | — | 18.2 dBbest |
2 yearsbest | 2 yearsbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Security(2) | ||
Hardware Encryption | false | true |
OS Compatibility | Windows 11/10/8.1, Server 2019/2016/2012 R2, macOS 10.12+ | DSM 7.x |
Performance(4) | ||
CPU Model | Intel Hexa-core | Realtek RTD1619B |
CPU Cores | 6 | 4 |
Ethernet Speed (Gbps) | 2.5 Gbps | 1 Gbps |
Power Consumption (Active) (W) | 46 W | 16.31 W |
Build & Design(2) | ||
Weight (kg) | 1.361 kg | 0.88 kg |
Power Supply Type | External AC adapter | 60W AC adapter |
Connectivity(1) | ||
Supported Network Protocols | TCP/IP, CIFS/SMB, FTP, FTPS, SFTP, NFS | SMB,NFS,AFP,FTP,WebDAV,iSCSI,HTTP/HTTPS,LDAP,CalDAV,SNMP,Kerberos |
Storage & Capacity(4) | ||
Maximum Raw Capacity (TB) | 4 TB | 36 TB |
Drive Bays | 1 | 2 |
RAID Support | JBOD | RAID 0,RAID 1,Basic,SHR |
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 praise its fast 2.5 GbE, user-friendly setup and quiet operation, while noting the absence of encryption, RAID and mobile app as drawbacks for power users.
Users like the plug-and-play experience, quick Time Machine backups and low noise, but miss SSH, a mobile app and any form of data redundancy.
“Users highlight ease of setup, reliability, and suitability for Time Machine backups.”
Professional reviewers praise the DS223 as an excellent entry-level NAS that delivers the core Synology experience at a competitive price, but note the single 1 GbE port, lack of SSD caching, and insufficient hardware for transcoding or virtualization.
Everyday users consistently commend the straightforward setup, dependable operation, and quiet fan, while complaints focus on limited network speed, absence of SSD caching, and the cap on maximum drive capacity.
