QNAP, Synology or a small PC

Petrolhead · 3 Feb 2016 at 18:15

I currently have a WD My Cloud but its getting to the point where I need more space and would like some extra features so looking to replace. I use it only for streaming movies.

From what I can see I see to have 3 choices, QNAP, Synology or a small mini PC.

Do I need a 2 disk drive in a RAID 1 config? Well all my movies are on my PC and a copy on the WD, so backed up.

I would like something that has a user friendly OS. It also must be capable of downloading and storing torrents and preferable that's as fast, at downloading, as my PC is using Bit Torrent.

I would be looking a 4TB.

Have a good streaming app that will allow me to arrange how the file structure looks on my Panasonic TVs.

craig_t · 3 Feb 2016 at 19:50

I would recommend getting a HP Microserver, then using xpenology to install the Synology interface and make it a Synology NAS. Synology is by far the best NAS interface out there but the hardware is priced so high for very little spec. The microserver had gone back up in price, it may have came back down I haven't checked but if not just wait another few weeks to a month and I am sure it will be back way below £200. I paid £150ish for mine after cashback and then it went as low as £109.99 after cashback

It has your needs of:
multiple disks, software raid which is quite clever
expandable for size to add a disk and expand raid
good streaming apps, plex being a prime example as well as it's own built in apps and the spec to run them, transcode etc if required
has torrent client application
newsgroups application

Even at the current price, I wouldn't batter an eyelid over anything else out there tbh.

nicknack35 · 3 Feb 2016 at 19:56

I been looking at the Qnap 251+ with HDMI. I been having a few slight probs streaming over my network so want to play my collection via HDMI rather then over the network. And the 251+ looks great for the money the 2 bay would suit me

Petrolhead · 3 Feb 2016 at 20:38

craig_t said:
I would recommend getting a HP Microserver, then using xpenology to install the Synology interface and make it a Synology NAS. Synology is by far the best NAS interface out there but the hardware is priced so high for very little spec. The microserver had gone back up in price, it may have came back down I haven't checked but if not just wait another few weeks to a month and I am sure it will be back way below £200. I paid £150ish for mine after cashback and then it went as low as £109.99 after cashback

It has your needs of:
multiple disks, software raid which is quite clever
expandable for size to add a disk and expand raid
good streaming apps, plex being a prime example as well as it's own built in apps and the spec to run them, transcode etc if required
has torrent client application
newsgroups application

Even at the current price, I wouldn't batter an eyelid over anything else out there tbh.

Interesting, what would I need processor wise and how much memory

ZeroG · 3 Feb 2016 at 20:47

I looked at the HP Microserver Gen8 previous for this exact reason, wish I had bought one now at the really low price. Maybe get a Gen9 at some point.

craig_t · 3 Feb 2016 at 21:13

cms239 said:
Interesting, what would I need processor wise and how much memory

It comes with 2GB, that's sufficient. As is the CPU.. Just looked, I can't link as it's on a competitor but there is actually a 4GB version cheaper than the 2GB at £165.99 if it is the same spec, might be worth a look at.

I have a: HPE ProLiant Gen8 G1610T 2GB RAM MicroServer

Petrolhead · 3 Feb 2016 at 21:44

Opps

I suspect the one your refering to does not have a processor?

munge · 3 Feb 2016 at 22:39

craig_t said:
I would recommend getting a HP Microserver...

You mean like this one?

Am looking for similar, as in my other post, and it seemed like the QNAP ones were pretty good. Hadn't really thought about HP servers but they seem pretty well featured. Assume they don't have a display out?

What seems nice about ones like the QNAP systems is the software on board. If the HP ones can have similar software put on them then they sound pretty similar.

I take it they're more work/enterprise orientated so would be more reliable?

craig_t · 4 Feb 2016 at 16:13

Yep - That's them.. The HP ones can be made to have Synology software on them and run as if it was a Synology NAS just with better hardware spec. Go to Synology's website, they have a demo of their software but then you can do so much more - google synology community for some more apps then there are even more. things like rutorrent, nzbget, couch potato etc are all on there.
xpenology turns your server into a synology nas essentially. HP server are I guess designed to be a server and on for ever with constant access just like a NAS but for me it isn't questionable as to what to get.

They WILL come back down in price, if the 4gb one has no CPU. the 2GB one has a CPU and it is sufficient.