Buffalo LinkStation LS210
Score: 39/100
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 210 is a compact, single-bay NAS that offers 6 TB of pre-installed storage and basic media streaming for home users. Its simplicity and low noise are offset by outdated hardware, lack of RAID, and limited connectivity, making it suitable for light backup tasks but not for power users.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
6 TB | 36 TBbest | |
1 | 2best | |
1 Gbpsbest | 1 Gbpsbest | |
— | 4best | |
0.256 GB | 2 GBbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 24 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(1) | ||
OS Compatibility | Windows, macOS 10.10 | DSM 7.x |
Performance(3) | ||
CPU Model | ARM | Realtek RTD1619B |
System Memory (GB) | 0.256 GB | 2 GB |
Power Consumption (Active) (W) | 24 W | 16.31 W |
Build & Design(2) | ||
Weight (kg) | 1.102 kg | 0.88 kg |
Power Supply Type | External AC adapter | 60W AC adapter |
Connectivity(2) | ||
Supported Network Protocols | TCP/IP, UPnP, DLNA, FTP, HTTPS, HTTP, AFP, CIFS/SMB | SMB,NFS,AFP,FTP,WebDAV,iSCSI,HTTP/HTTPS,LDAP,CalDAV,SNMP,Kerberos |
USB Ports | 1 | 3 |
Storage & Capacity(4) | ||
Maximum Raw Capacity (TB) | 6 TB | 36 TB |
Drive Bays | 1 | 2 |
RAID Support | None | RAID 0,RAID 1,Basic,SHR |
Supported Drive Types | SATA 3 Gbps | 3.5" SATA HDD,2.5" SATA SSD/HDD |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers noted that the LinkStation 210 was a solid, easy-to-use entry-level NAS at the time of release, thanks to its straightforward software and reliable basic performance. However, they criticized its underpowered hardware, lack of expandability, and absence of modern interfaces.
Everyday users appreciate the device's simplicity, quiet operation, and ability to stream media via DLNA, often rating it highly for basic backup and file-sharing needs. Recurring complaints focus on hardware aging, incompatibility with newer macOS versions, occasional slowness of the WebAccess service, and the absence of RAID or USB 3.0.
“Set it up in 15 minutes-works perfectly for family photo backups.”
“Great for streaming music and videos to my smart TV via DLNA.”
“Crashed after 3 years-lost all data with no warning.”
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.
