- #BEST NAS FOR HOME MOVIE STREAMING INSTALL#
- #BEST NAS FOR HOME MOVIE STREAMING SOFTWARE#
- #BEST NAS FOR HOME MOVIE STREAMING PC#
- #BEST NAS FOR HOME MOVIE STREAMING TV#
#BEST NAS FOR HOME MOVIE STREAMING TV#
That last feature enables it to output media directly to a TV or monitor, circumventing any streaming issues or network performance. If those features weren’t enough, it also comes with dual 2.5GbE LAN ports, and uniquely in our line-up, it also has dual HDMI out. The QNAP HS-264-8G addresses both those requirements by having the appearance of a cable TV box and passive cooling solution while packing plenty of processing power and a considerable amount of RAM. If you intend to have a NAS next to the TV, it needs to be quiet and appropriately styled. Those with modest requirements might find the F2-210 a good fit.
#BEST NAS FOR HOME MOVIE STREAMING SOFTWARE#
Synology has a slight edge on the software quality, but the TerraMaster F2-210 is considerably cheaper. Other features include a single gigabit LAN port and dual USB 3.0 Type-A ports for external drives or sharing printers.Ĭomparing this to the very similarly specified Synology DS220+, the differences are mostly down to the quality of the installed OS and the number and quality of the applications. Like the Synology machines, the F2-210 can use either EXT4 or BTRFS file systems, and with two drive bays available, it is possible to organize the drives into RAID 0 (striping), RAID 1 (mirror), or JBOD (just a bunch of drives).
#BEST NAS FOR HOME MOVIE STREAMING INSTALL#
That’s sufficient memory to install a few applications and have them perform well. The F2-210 uses the popular Realtek RTD1296 chip that can transcode 4K video and 1GB of DDR3L RAM. Accordingly, the TerraMaster F2-210 has plenty to offer for those wanting a robust home NAS on a budget. All its smaller NAS look practically identical on the outside, and it seems unlikely to revamp this styling any time soon.Īlong with a familiar look, its NAS has an asking price that is substantially lower than some of the better-known NAS brands. TerraMaster doesn’t get embroiled in flashy aesthetics or branding. If Synology launches the DS222+ soon, that might make the DS220+ a little cheaper for those that want one. That last point is based on a two-year replacement cycle, but it seems a good bet. Another is that the DS220+ will be replaced by a new model, possibly this year. There are a few issues that we need to mention, the first being that the pricing of the DS220+ is more than most brands are asking for a dual drive NAS. When you combine this hardware with arguably the best small NAS OS, Synology DSM, and the massive selection of applications available, the DS220+ is really on another level of user experience. This chip has an integrated GPU that can transcode video files smoothly, making it perfect for those using Plex or similar media streaming solutions. Under this hood is an Intel Celeron J4025 processor, making it the equivalent of an entry-level PC. What makes the DS220+ a little different is that, unlike many others, it doesn’t use an ARM-derived processor. Synology revamps its products usually on a two-year cycle, and the DS220+ came along to replace the DS218, another highly successful NAS. No NAS is perfect, but we’ve reviewed each of them to help you choose what could be the right solution for you.
To bring this guide together, we’ve considered these critical requirements and a range of budgets to define five of the best NAS devices for the home. It needs an accessible GUI enabling the owner to easily make changes or add new applications without expert help. The final part of the NAS jigsaw is the mature NAS operating system.
#BEST NAS FOR HOME MOVIE STREAMING PC#
And having the network bandwidth to move files from the host PC to NAS and back quickly is also crucial. The ability to transcode content into formats that network-attached devices, like computers, phones, and tablets, will be vital. To achieve that requires sufficient memory to run multiple applications and enough processing power to multi-task those effectively.īeyond RAM and CPU power, the other essential home requirement is working with audio-visual media. Doing more than one job provides a better return on the investment. Probably the most critical aspect of a NAS is its flexibility. Many cheaper NAS are bought by both businesses and home users, so what makes a NAS more suitable for being in the home than in an office or machine room? It’s the flexibility of the modern NAS that has made them such a huge success, and an investment in the right one can enable the owner to easily reconfigure the NAS as their needs change.įor this guide we’ll be focused entirely on the best NAS for home, breaking down what makes a home solution different from something a business might deploy. A good NAS can record from security cameras, provide a live backup of a running PC, transcribe video for mobile devices, be a web server and provide dozens of other useful functions.