Synology DiskStation DS1522+ evaluate: The best five-bay NAS you should buy in 2022

Synology is aware of what it takes a construct a NAS server that doubles up for domestic and small enterprise use, and the emblem’s newest release does an ideal activity catering to each units of customers. The DiskStation DS1522+ is a five-bay server that has a well-recognized design and contours which were usual in this class for some time: you get two M.2 slots for SSD caching, there is 8GB of DDR4 RAM out of the field having the ability to upload as much as a complete of 32GB, and you can set up an extra 10 drives by way of the twin eSATA ports.

Connectivity is equal to the DiskStation DS1520+, with 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports positioned on the again. With numerous NAS servers that includes 2.5 and even 10GbE ports as usual, the DS1522+ is at a drawback right here, however there is a straightforward approach to set up a 10GbE module on the again. What’s modified this 12 months is a shift to AMD Ryzen {hardware}, with the DS1522+ that includes the dual-core R1600. The DS1520+ got here with a quad-core Intel Celeron J4125 as an alternative, however Synology has liked AMD {hardware} in the ultimate two years, in particular in its business-focused fashions just like the DS1621+.

Anyway, it looks as if this pattern will proceed going ahead, and what you wish to know in regards to the R1600 is that it does not take care of Plex transcoding. The DS1520+ is one of the best NAS for Plex as a result of its skill to transcode media at the fly, however having used the DS1522+ broadly, I discovered this not to be as giant a limitation in day by day use. If you want a five-bay server for domestic or place of work use, this will simply be the best selection for you.

Synology DiskStation DS1522+: Price, specifications, and availability

Synology unveiled the DiskStation DS1522+ on the finish of June 2022, and the five-bay server is now to be had in maximum international markets the place the emblem has a presence. The DS1522+ retails for $699, and in North America, you can to find it at Amazon, B&H, Newegg, and different primary shops. As at all times, that is for the disk-less type with none onerous drives, and if you’re in search of garage suggestions, I rounded up the best onerous drives for NAS servers.

The DS1522+ has a couple of equipment which might be sure to return in at hand. First up is the 10GbE networking card that may be put in by means of casting off two screws in the back of the unit. And if the 5 pressure bays are not good enough, you can get the DX517 and upload an extra 5 drives to the NAS by way of the eSATA port. You can connect two of those gadgets to the NAS, so a complete of ten further drives. The DS1522+ comes with a three-year guaranty as usual.

At a primary look, it is simple to peer that now not a lot has modified at the {hardware} entrance, with the DS1522+ being just about just like its predecessor, the DS1520+. The giant distinction this time is the transfer to the Ryzen R1600, and the power so as to add a 10GbE networking card simply. Here’s a {hardware} rundown:

Synology DiskStation DS1522+: Design and contours

I’m now not going to speak an excessive amount of in regards to the design, as a result of there is not the rest new right here. The DS1522+ keeps the similar design aesthetic as its siblings, together with a steel chassis that is sturdy, does not name consideration to itself, and the vented design across the emblem’s trademarks at all sides guarantees just right airflow. You additionally get two 92mm enthusiasts on the again that ship good enough cooling and ensure the drives do not warmth up an excessive amount of, and the enthusiasts are a smidgen quieter right here than the DS1520+.

The DS1522+ is in large part unchanged from the DS1520+ — you’ll discover a acquainted design with lots to love.

Aside from there, there is no noticeable distinction at the design entrance, with the DS1522+ maintaining the similar dimensions as its predecessor. The 5 pressure bays on the entrance make it as simple as conceivable to put in a three.5-inch HDD, and prefer earlier years, you would possibly not want a screwdriver to take action. The person pressure bays are lockable, you get LED signs for every pressure, a USB port on the entrance, and an influence button positioned on the backside.

The underside holds the 2 M.2 slots, and you can use it for SSD caching however now not garage — the limitation is because of the warmth generated by means of M.2 SSDs. If you wish to use an SSD with the NAS, you can simply slot in a 2.5-inch SATA choice as an alternative. Round the again, you’ll to find 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports, two eSATA ports that permit you upload an extra ten drives to the DS1522+, and a 2nd USB 3.1 port.

There’s no multi-Gigabit connectivity out of the field, however you can upload a 10GbE networking card for an extra $149.

That’s all beautiful usual and just like the DS1520+, however what is new this time is a PCIe slot that we could you upload a ten Gigabit networking card. It’s irritating that the DS1522+ does not have any 2.5 or 10 Gigabit ports out of the field — maximum NAS servers in this class supply multi-Gigabit connectivity as usual — but when you wish to, there is now a very easy means so as to add a 10GbE slot.

The emblem has offered a brand new E10G22-T1-Mini (opens in new tab) 10GbE networking card that may be slotted in by means of casting off the 2 screws on the again, and it’s significantly more uncomplicated than opening up the case. The card prices an extra $149, so you’re having a look at a complete of $850 if you’re in the DS1522+ and want 10GbE networking.

For what it is price, the 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports have Link Aggregation and may also be bridged, and that should serve the desires of maximum domestic customers eyeing the DS1522+ for leisure wishes.

Synology DiskStation DS1522+: Performance

The key distinction with the DS1522+ is the transfer to AMD Ryzen, with the NAS powered by means of a dual-core R1600 with 4 threads that is going as much as 2.60GHz and three.1GHz for spice up frequencies. The R1600 does an implausible activity in day by day use, and this can be a just right selection to the Celeron J4125 that has been a mainstay in this class for a very long time.

The transfer to AMD {hardware} brings numerous positives, however you fail to notice Plex transcoding.

The primary problem with the transfer to AMD is that the Ryzen R1600 does not have an built-in GPU, in contrast to the Celeron J4125’s UHD 600. This is a key requirement for Plex transcoding, and the DS1522+ misses out consequently. However, whilst the NAS is not in a position to transcode content material at the fly, it does an ideal activity enjoying a number of 4K streams concurrently. I did not have any problems with Plex’s direct play function, and the DS1522+ did an admirable activity streaming high-bitrate video to the lounge TV.

If you’re the usage of a contemporary TV, phone, or tablet, you would possibly not wish to use transcoding because the needful container will already be put in to your software by means of default. But if you’re the usage of an esoteric codec or working Plex on an older software that lacks the container wanted for playback, you should flip to transcoding. If you want the function, you’re at an advantage going with the DS1520+.

But rather than that, the DS1522+ does a good looking activity in near to each and every domestic use case. It has 8GB of DDR4 ECC reminiscence as usual, and you can upload as much as 32GB of reminiscence. The 8GB RAM takes up a unmarried module, so there is one loose if you intend to make use of the NAS for enterprise use and want extra reminiscence.

DSM remains to be the best NAS tool round.

Coming to the feature-set, the DS1522+ runs DSM 7.1 out of the field, and it remains to be the best NAS tool round. You’ll to find applications for the entire issues you want, together with information garage, multimedia streaming, productiveness tool, and a lot more. You are paying a top rate for the DS1522+, however that is justified by means of the robustness of the tool.

DSM 7.1 additionally has a ton of software for business-focused customers, and you’ll to find personal choices to a mail shopper, place of work suite, helpful VM tool, skill to again up information to the cloud, and an entire lot extra. Surveillance is a huge a part of DSM, and the DS1522+ comes with two digital camera licenses as usual, permitting you to file photos and observe job without delay by way of the NAS.

I slotted in two 12TB HAT5300 drives for checking out the DS1522+, and were given information transfers of smartly over 240MB/s over Gigabit Ethernet. I’m going to do a devoted put up speaking in regards to the 10GbE networking and how much a distinction that makes, however for many domestic or even place of work customers, the Gigabit ports should be good enough for now.

Coming to onerous drives, the reliable listing is a bit of lean, and it’s lacking many of the best-selling NAS onerous drives. The most effective 18TB pressure that is indexed is the emblem’s HAT5300, without a point out of Seagate or Western Digital. While there is a 16TB Seagate pressure indexed, that is the SkyHawk type aimed toward surveillance and now not the IronWolf sequence. Switching right down to 14TB, you’ll to find a couple of Western Digital Red Plus (however no Red Pro) and Toshiba N300 drives at the listing, and the 12TB IronWolf will get a point out.

The onerous pressure listing does not come with any point out of IronWolf Pro or Red Pro drives, a evident omission.

You’ll to find no less than one Red Plus or IronWolf pressure indexed for 10TB, 8TB, 6TB, and 4TB, however the loss of any IronWolf Pro or Red Pro fashions here’s worrisome. There’s no such limitation with the DS1520+ — which lists numerous IronWolf Pro and Red Pro fashions — and despite the fact that Synology has stated that it’s going to now not mandate using its HAT5300 with home-focused DiskStation NAS servers, the paltry compatibility listing suggests differently. If you’re having a look to make use of a 16TB choice or upper with the DS1522+, your best selection is the emblem’s HAT5300 drives.

Now, this does not imply you can not use an IronWolf Pro or Red Pro pressure with the DS1522+; they paintings simply in addition to the drives discussed in the listing, and I have never had any problems thus far. The largest problem is that won’t get technical help should one thing cross awry.

Synology DiskStation DS1522+: The festival

If you’re in search of a five-bay NAS and want Plex transcodes, the DS1520+ remains to be a standout selection. It has a identical feature-set to the DS1522+, and rather than the truth that you can not set up a 10GbE card to it, you’re now not lacking out on the rest right here. The DS1520+ is already unavailable at a couple of shops, and it’s not going to be restocked, so get your fingers on it whilst it is nonetheless on cabinets.

If you want a five-bay NAS with 10GbE networking, TerraMaster’s F5-422 is a stellar selection to believe. The NAS options Intel’s Apollo J3455 platform, has 5 pressure bays, a full-fledged 10 Gigabit port along two Gigabit ports, and coming in at $599, it’s extra reasonably priced. The tool is not as polished and you do not get as many options, nevertheless it does Plex 4K transcodes simply tremendous, and is perfect for domestic customers.

Synology DiskStation DS1522+: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if:

• You need a five-bay NAS having the ability to connect 10 further bays
• You want dependable and protected tool with a number of options
• You need a NAS with 8GB RAM and M.2 slots for SSD caching
• You want 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports

You should not buy this if:

• You want Plex 4K transcoding
• You need to use high-storage IronWolf Pro or Red Pro drives
• You want multi-Gigabit connectivity out of the field

The DS1522+ does not have an excessive amount of to supply over the DS1520+, however that isn’t a foul factor. The transfer to the Ryzen R1600 delivers a noticeable achieve in power potency, and that makes the DS1522+ that a lot more engaging. The problem is that you fail to notice Plex transcodes, however that’s not as giant as omission as I assumed it will be, and for many domestic customers eyeing a NAS for leisure use, the direct play choice should be greater than good enough. And in that situation, the DS1522+ completely shines.

The DS1522+ does not have the best {hardware} bundle; the truth that you need to pay an extra $149 for 10GbE networking appears like a money snatch. In a identical vein, now not having best-selling IronWolf Pro and Red Pro NAS drives at the reliable onerous pressure listing is a letdown taking into consideration the objective target market for this server.

But the largest differentiator for the DS1522+ remains to be DSM 7.1. I used numerous NAS servers this 12 months, and whilst ASUSTOR and TerraMaster are making sure strides at the tool entrance, their efforts are not any place as polished as what you’re getting right here. So if you want a five-bay NAS with a number of garage and a powerful tool feature-set, the DS1522+ remains to be the best selection.