Synology DS213 Review

welshdragon · 9 Sep 2012 at 20:20

Just in case anyone is thinking of getting a 213 any time soon my review of the unit is live and can be found HERE

I've embedded a quick unboxing too. There are also some mini guides on setting up using the new web assistant and also photo station setup if anyones interested.

deuse · 9 Sep 2012 at 20:55

Will have a read...thanks for taking the time to do it mate

welshdragon · 9 Sep 2012 at 21:06

Cheers Deuse. If you are on FB/YouTube then sign up mate. I normally get the jump on new products and they feature there too.

Feedback always welcome too!

Richdog · 1 Oct 2012 at 17:58

Thanks for the review, looks like a fantastic unit. The only problem I am struggling with is whether I need a 2-bay NAS or a 4-bay NAS. I don't have enough data to fill up 3TB as it stands, I guess i'm just (rightly or wrongly) worried about future needs.

Actually as i'm writing this I just realised that i've got around 700GB of data including photos, music and media... so realistically I guess I could easily get away with a Synology 213 and 2x 3TB drives (4TB are way too expensive).

I'll also be using it as a torrent download, and for streaming music and movies accross my house.

Where I live the 213+ only seems to be £50 more than the 213... is the upgraded spec worth the extra over the standard 213 which is £198?

I must admit I also find it bloody annoying that Synology refuse ot make a black version of the DS413j, as white really does always go well in many living rooms.

andymac1966 · 1 Oct 2012 at 19:42

Great review & I like your site :-)

welshdragon · 2 Oct 2012 at 11:56

Richdog said:
Thanks for the review, looks like a fantastic unit. The only problem I am struggling with is whether I need a 2-bay NAS or a 4-bay NAS. I don't have enough data to fill up 3TB as it stands, I guess i'm just (rightly or wrongly) worried about future needs.

Actually as i'm writing this I just realised that i've got around 700GB of data including photos, music and media... so realistically I guess I could easily get away with a Synology 213 and 2x 3TB drives (4TB are way too expensive).

I'll also be using it as a torrent download, and for streaming music and movies accross my house.

Where I live the 213+ only seems to be £50 more than the 213... is the upgraded spec worth the extra over the standard 213 which is £198?

I must admit I also find it bloody annoying that Synology refuse ot make a black version of the DS413j, as white really does always go well in many living rooms.

For the purposes you describe a 213 will be more than sufficient mate. Umless you want to use the plex server and transcode on the fly then you will ahve to get a beefier unit. Yes would be nice to ahve black as I'm not fussed on the white myself either. Two bay should be fine mate. You can always migrate between systems at a later date if need be. SOme of the hgiherspec units have expansion add ons too.

andymac1966 said:
Great review & I like your site

Thanks mate. I worry my site is a bit basic but trying to keep it old school and just about the reviews. Hopefully got a new unit coming form SYnology soon but I can't say whcih ;-)

Also the DS213Air is now out which has built in wifi and can create its own hotspot.

Devious · 3 Oct 2012 at 12:56

Nice review. I've only just started reading about NAS servers yesterday, just before I pulled the trigger on an external USB3 External hardrive unit.

At first I just wanted to back up some important data, but I bought a Nexus 7 tablet last week and statred looking into streaming files to the Nexus 7 as well as backing up. my important PC data I was looking at the WD Mybook live units but then i got worried in case the external drive failed. So I looked into external RAID setups for a bit less risk on loosing my backups which led me onto these Synology NAS's.

Im not sure I can afford to spend too much on this combined with 2 new hard drives so may get an older second hand model like the 210. Are these still ok?

I have also been reading on the Google play app store about the DS file app as on Synology's website it says it does not support the DS210 and some people are saying the app isnt as good as those provided by cheaper alternatives to Synology. Are there any cheaper brands which are ok for what I want?

Thanks

GodAtum · 3 Oct 2012 at 13:51

Thanks for the comprehensive review

I cant wait to compare the speeds of this to my fibre SAN!

welshdragon · 3 Oct 2012 at 16:14

Devious said:
Nice review. I've only just started reading about NAS servers yesterday, just before I pulled the trigger on an external USB3 External hardrive unit.

At first I just wanted to back up some important data, but I bought a Nexus 7 tablet last week and statred looking into streaming files to the Nexus 7 as well as backing up. my important PC data I was looking at the WD Mybook live units but then i got worried in case the external drive failed. So I looked into external RAID setups for a bit less risk on loosing my backups which led me onto these Synology NAS's.

Im not sure I can afford to spend too much on this combined with 2 new hard drives so may get an older second hand model like the 210. Are these still ok?

I have also been reading on the Google play app store about the DS file app as on Synology's website it says it does not support the DS210 and some people are saying the app isnt as good as those provided by cheaper alternatives to Synology. Are there any cheaper brands which are ok for what I want?

Thanks

Well, if you got a single bay such as a DS112j that would do everything and you can hook up an external harddrive and set the DS112j to backup to that. Though for the extra couple of quid the DS212j is ideal. Older models still fetch a premium so I wouldn't go much older unless you had a real bargain. Another idea is one of those microservers. Some routers also have usb allowing you to hook an ext hd up and use it as network space.

GodAtum said:
Thanks for the comprehensive review I cant wait to compare the speeds of this to my fibre SAN!

Glad you like.

Devious · 3 Oct 2012 at 19:13

welshdragon said:
Well, if you got a single bay such as a DS112j that would do everything and you can hook up an external harddrive and set the DS112j to backup to that. Though for the extra couple of quid the DS212j is ideal. Older models still fetch a premium so I wouldn't go much older unless you had a real bargain. Another idea is one of those microservers. Some routers also have usb allowing you to hook an ext hd up and use it as network space.

Like you say the cost of a DS112j + ext harddrive would be much more than a DS212j.

Ill keep my eye out for a DS212j. I had a read up on other makes but reviews always point to Synology.

welshdragon · 3 Oct 2012 at 19:29

It's worth it to be honest mate. Will hold you for a good while and give great performance.