Buffalo LinkStation LS710
Score: 61/100
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.
A compact, single-bay NAS with a built-in 2 TB drive and 2.5 GbE networking, ideal for home users seeking simple backup and media streaming, but limited by lack of encryption, expandability and advanced features.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
2 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, macOS | DSM 7.x |
Performance(4) | ||
CPU Model | Hexa-core 6-core CPU up to 1.3 GHz | 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) | 1.66 kg | 0.88 kg |
Power Supply Type | Internal AC adapter | 60W AC adapter |
Connectivity(1) | ||
Supported Network Protocols | SMB, CIFS, FTP, FTPS, SFTP, NFS, TCP/IP | SMB,NFS,AFP,FTP,WebDAV,iSCSI,HTTP/HTTPS,LDAP,CalDAV,SNMP,Kerberos |
Storage & Capacity(4) | ||
Maximum Raw Capacity (TB) | 2 TB | 36 TB |
Drive Bays | 1 | 2 |
RAID Support | None | RAID 0,RAID 1,Basic,SHR |
Supported Drive Types | 3.5" SATA III | 3.5" SATA HDD,2.5" SATA SSD/HDD |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers view the LinkStation 710 as a no-frills, reliable workhorse that excels at simple backup and media streaming tasks. They commend its 2.5 GbE port and seamless Time Machine support, but criticize the lack of a mobile app, limited expandability, and the closed, non-customizable OS, making it unsuitable for power users.
Everyday users appreciate the quick setup, fast backup speeds, and the peace of mind from the included drive warranty. Common complaints focus on the missing mobile app, inability to SSH, limited storage capacity, and lack of encryption, with many wishing for better documentation and expandability.
“Set up in under 15 minutes - just plug in and go.”
“Backups are much faster than my old Buffalo NAS.”
“Perfect for Time Machine - finally works reliably with macOS.”
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.
