Source: Synology
What you need to know
- Synology's latest entry-level NAS is the 4-bay DS420j, now available for $299.
- The NAS comes with a quad-core Realtek chipset, delivering a decent boost in performance from its predecessor.
- You can slot in a total of 64TB of storage, making the DS420j the ideal NAS for streaming media across your home network.
We're previously looked at Synology's enthusiast DS1019+, but if you're just looking for a NAS to store photos and videos and stream content on your home network, the value-focused J series models are a better bet. Synology has introduced a new 4-bay model in the series, the $300 DiskStation DS420j.
The DS420j shares the same design as the DS418j, but there are a few internal upgrades. The NAS is now powered by a quad-core Realtek RTD1296 chipset that goes up to 1.4GHz, making it that much more versatile when it comes to handling multimedia tasks. The NAS also has 1GB of DDR4 RAM, four drive bays that can each accommodate a 16TB hard drive, one Gigabit Ethernet port, two USB 3.0 ports, and two 80mm fans.
The NAS is the ideal entry point for those looking to get started with Synology's Surveillance Station, which lets users easily set up security cameras on their home network without having to rely on a cloud-based system. Like all Synology products, the DS420j is powered by DiskStation Manager, a web-based OS that is highly configurable. You get the ability to seamlessly back up your data from your phones and other devices, sync files across platforms, and stream media to all devices on your home network over DLNA.
Now that Synology has introduced a 4-bay model in the J series, a 2-bay option shouldn't be too far behind.
Synology DiskStation DS420j
The DS420j is a great way to get started with a home server, with the four-bay NAS facilitating 64TB of storage. You get robust tools for backing up data from all devices on your home network, media streaming, and there's also a cross-platform file syncing service.
We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.
Here's why Samsung should have launched a Galaxy S21 mini
The era of the small phone may never come again, but there's still plenty of money to be had if Samsung is willing to give us another diamond in the rough like the Samsung Galaxy S10e. We just have to look behind the annual cycle and broaden our horizons.
VoLTE: How to use it and why you should care
VoLTE — or Voice over LTE — is the new standard for calling throughout the U.S., Canada, and parts of Europe. Not only does it facilitate much higher call quality between cell phones, but it allows devices to stay connected to LTE while on a call, improving data speeds for everyone.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888: Everything you need to know
The Snapdragon 888 is here, and we have all the details. The chipset is set to power 2021 flagships, and delivers an incredible 25% increase in performance over the last generation. Here's everything you need to know about the Snapdragon 888.
Turbocharge your NAS enclosure with these great SSDs
Looking to upgrade the storage on your NAS? Then you should consider picking up an SSD to gain a massive boost in performance. You can use an SSD for storing your files or as a caching drive if you rely on intensive workloads.