Synology DiskStation DS223 2-Bay NAS Enclosure Unit
Explore the Synology DS223 2‑Bay NAS enclosure with Realtek RT1619B quad-core CPU, 2 GB DDR4 RAM, Btrfs support, and easy RAID setup. Perfect for storage, backup, and light media use with a 2-year warranty.
Product Overview
Synology DiskStation DS223 is a home and small office‑focused two-bay NAS unit powered by a Realtek RTD1619B quad-core 1.7 GHz processor and 2 GB DDR4 non‑ECC memory. It supports two hot-swappable storage bays (3.5″ or 2.5″ SATA HDD/SSD), offers gigabit LAN, and three USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports for extended connectivity. Built to deliver Synology’s DSM experience in a compact format, it excels at centralized storage, backups, and personal cloud applications.
Key Features & Benefits
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Robust Hardware for Entry-Level NAS
Powered by a Realtek RTD1619B quad-core 1.7 GHz CPU, the DS223 comes equipped with 2 GB DDR4 RAM, striking a balance between efficiency and performance for data storage and basic multitasking. -
Flexible Dual Drive Bays
Supports 2 × 3.5″ SATA HDD or 2.5″ SATA SSD, hot-swappable with native support for Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR), RAID 0, RAID 1, JBOD, and Basic. Storage capacity can reach up to 108 TB across two drives. - Comprehensive Connectivity
Includes a single 1 GbE LAN port, plus three USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports—one designed for convenient data copying at the front of the unit. - Quiet, Efficient Design
Operates quietly (≈14.6 dB(A)) using a 92 mm cooling fan with selectable modes (Cool, Quiet, Full), consuming just 17.3 W during active use and 4.1 W while idle. - Advanced Software – DSM & Btrfs Filesystem
Utilizes Synology’s operating system (DSM) with support for Btrfs snapshots, version control, encryption, cloud sync, and license-free surveillance systems.
Pros & Cons
Pros
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Intuitive DSM interface for personal or one-user use
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Easy installation with tool-free drive trays
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Quiet and energy-efficient design
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Btrfs support with snapshot protection
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Generous backup and remote access software
Cons
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Limited to single Gigabit Ethernet—no multi-Gig support
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CPU is underpowered for live transcoding or heavy Docker workloads
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Memory is fixed at 2 GB, non-upgradable
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Slower random I/O on small files compared to higher-tier Synology models
FAQs
Q1: Can I upgrade the RAM?
No, the DS223 uses soldered RAM and does not support memory upgrades. It’s fixed at 2 GB non-ECC DDR4.
Q2: Is it suitable for Plex or Docker?
It runs Plex natively but lacks hardware transcoding—performance may be insufficient for high-resolution streams or multiple simultaneous workloads. Docker performance is limited.
Q3: How much storage can it hold?
Supports up to 2 drives with a combined maximum of 108 TB, based on DSM volume limits and drive capacities.
Q4: What file systems are supported?
Internal volumes support Btrfs and EXT4, while external storage supports Btrfs, EXT4, EXT3, FAT, NTFS, HFS+, and exFAT.
Q5: Is it noisy during operation?
Nope—rated at around 14.6 dB(A) in normal operation, thanks to its quiet single fan design.
Q6: Which RAID modes are available?
Supports Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR), RAID 0, RAID 1, JBOD, and Basic configurations.