We compare the Synology DS224+ and TerraMaster F2-223 to help you choose your ideal network storage system.
The Synology DiskStation DS224+ and the TerraMaster F2-223 are two popular two-bay external NAS drives. We've tested both systems to see how effective they are at storing files on a network, streaming (and converting) media, and serving the needs of your home or office. Both feature two hard drive bays, an Intel Celeron processor, DDR4 RAM, and a variety of USB and LAN ports. Both can be a good starter option, although the DS224 is more expensive and the F2-223 provides a slightly more advanced user experience.
The Synology DiskStation DS224+ is a direct replacement for the popular DS220+, another Intel-powered NAS. Synology keeps the same chassis and upgrades the processor to the same one found in the older DS920+. It also has 2GB of DDR4 RAM, with the option to install an additional 4GB, for a maximum capacity of 6GB. Two 1GbE LAN ports are accompanied by two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, with no M.2 SSD slots for caching or data storage. It's one of the most basic Intel-powered Synology NASes
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TerraMaster is trying to deliver as much performance as possible while offering a lower price than its competitors. The F2-223 features a faster processor (with two fewer cores), twice the RAM from the start (with a maximum capacity of 32GB), two M.2 SSD slots for data caching, two 2.5GbE LAN ports, two USB-A 3.1 ports, and an HDMI port. Interestingly, although the TerraMaster includes an HDMI port, it cannot be used to play media through a monitor or TV. It is only used to manage the NAS via the command line (and boot into the BIOS). The TerraMaster manages to outperform the DS224+ in terms of specifications and offers a $40 discount. By choosing the F2-223, one can save money and benefit from better specifications. Although I'm not including the F2-223 in my list of the best external NAS hard drives, it effectively competes with the DS224+.
Design
Both TerraMaster and Synology maintain the design features of these two enclosures. The DiskStation DS224+ has the same look as the previous DS220+, with a plastic and metal casing and a removable front cover that protects the two hard drive bays. The TerraMaster uses an aluminum design, while some more recent NAS releases have featured a similar black style. The F2-223 has a unique look compared to most other external NAS drives, although many would prefer a sleeker design like the DS224+.
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Surprisingly, the DS224+ weighs almost half as much as the F2-223, which shows how much plastic is in the Synology NAS. The F2-223 is more compact, so if space is a concern, the TerraMaster server might be a better choice. Both the DS224+ and F2-223 feature hot-swap drive bays, meaning that you don't need any tools to install 3.5-inch hard drives.
The F2-223 offers two RAM DIMM and an M.2 SSD, but you have to disassemble the entire chassis to access them. In contrast, the Synology only offers one RAM DIMM slot for testing, but it's located internally and accessible after removing the two drive bays.
Software
The operating system that powers the Synology DiskStation DS220+ is the Linux- based DiskStation Manager (DSM) , and it's my favorite. The experience with Synology's DSM is smooth, while the TerraMaster's operating system is similar, but the setup process and web interface operation are not as smooth and responsive as Synology's DSM.
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Both operating systems allow quick access to manage storage, drives, applications, and more. While they are similar in functionality, Synology has better support from first-party programs and more third-party applications. TerraMaster is trying to address this issue by promoting applications from the community, but it still lags behind.
Performance
The Synology DiskStation DS220+ is the weaker NAS of the two, except for its processing power. The DS224+'s Intel Celeron J4125 processor is more powerful, but other specs lag behind the TerraMaster F2-223. The F2-223's Intel Celeron N4505 is dual-core, but both processors are sufficient for 4K transcode streams and heavy home use.
In terms of RAM capacity, the TerraMaster F2-223 has double the capacity with 2GB DDR4 compared to the 1GB DDR4 of the Synology DS220+. This may not be a deal-breaker for lighter usage, but when using heavier applications like Plex Media Server, the DS220+ can quickly reach its limits. As an addition to the F2-223's 32GB maximum capacity, the TerraMaster also provides two M.2 SSD slots for data caching, while the DS220+ only supports 6GB DDR4 RAM.
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1GbE ports are becoming less common on newer NAS enclosures, although Synology hasn't upgraded the DiskStation DS220+'s ports to 2.5GbE connections. The TerraMaster F2-223 has two of them, offering significantly more bandwidth than the DS224+. Since not all home networks can support hardware with 2.5GbE connections, you may not be able to fully utilize the extra performance if your network is limited to 1Gb speeds. The TerraMaster F2-223 offers better flexibility for future network upgrades.
Which NAS is right for you?
The choice between the Synology DiskStation DS220+ and the TerraMaster F2-223 comes down to whether you want to save as much money as possible and opt for a NAS with more features. The F2-223 wins hands down with a faster Intel Celeron processor, more RAM, 2.5GbE networking, and support for SSD caching. Where the DS224+ stands out is with its DSM operating system and app support. Synology also provides more features through its cloud platform, available to DS224+ owners.
It's impressive what the TerraMaster F2-223 offers in theory, especially considering it undercuts the DS224+ by $40. Sure, the operating system is slightly less complex and there aren't as many apps, but it's more capable, and we've found it easy to load our own operating systems onto TerraMaster NASes. This allows for building your own NAS with an aftermarket operating system solution.
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