Synology knows how to make a great home NAS server, and the brand has significantly diversified its product portfolio over the past 12 months. The brand’s strategy is similar to that of phone manufacturers such as Xiaomi, launching multiple devices at similar prices with unique features that differentiate the phones from their peers.
That’s the best way to look at the DiskStation DS423+. This 4-bay NAS server sits in the middle of the brand’s Plus portfolio, but unlike the DiskStation DS723+ or DS923+, it doesn’t run AMD Ryzen R1600, but instead uses Intel’s Celeron J4125. This chipset is the same one used in the DiskStation DS920+ and other models in the DSx20 series, so the quantities are known.
Using Intel hardware, Synology offers a NAS server with an integrated GPU, making it an excellent choice for Plex media streaming. If anything, the DS423+ is nearly identical to the DS920+, except it doesn’t have an eSATA port, has just 2GB of RAM out of the box, and doesn’t get multi-gigabit connectivity.
I use my NAS with a DS723+ and DS923+, and if you’re thinking of buying a new NAS server, here’s what you need to know about the DiskStation DS423+.
Synology DiskStation DS423+: Pricing and release date
Synology launched the DiskStation DS423+ in early 2023, and the NAS is now available globally. It sells for $514 on Amazon, but you can also find it at B&H and Newegg for $499. The NAS comes with a standard three-year warranty.
| category | Synology DiskStation DS423+ |
|---|---|
| Internal drive bay | Four (18TB per bay), 3.5-inch HDD, 2.5-inch SSD |
| Network Interface | 2 Gigabit Ethernet |
| USB port | 2 USB 3.1 Gen1 |
| eSATA port | ❌ |
| PCIe | ❌ |
| CPU | 64-bit quad-core Intel Celeron J4125 |
| Compound transcoding | Yes |
| Memory | 2GB DDR4 non-ECC, soldered, SODIMM socket, up to 4GB |
| M.2 slot | two |
| File system | EXT4, Btrfs |
| cool down | 2 x 92mm fans, 19.8dBA |
| Scalability | ❌ |
| aspect | 166 x 199 x 223 mm |
| weight | 4.8 lbs, 2.18 kg |
Synology DiskStation DS423+: Design and features
I won’t talk too much about the design, as the DiskStation DS423+ is almost identical to the DS923+. Synology has an established design language that the brand doesn’t like to change. That said, the design is easy to blend in and well-ventilated thanks to grilles on the sides that provide passive airflow and dual 92mm fans on the back that run quietly.
The fan is only audible when the NAS is under heavy load, and even then, the fan is not very loud. There are four hard drive slots on the front, and 3.5-inch hard drives can be inserted without any tools. There are LED indicators for the HDD and an overall status indicator on the right, with the DS423+ branding and power button on the bottom.
The unit itself doesn’t take up much space, and like every NAS server, you’ll need to clean it regularly to ensure dust doesn’t get inside the case. I simply power off the NAS and use a handheld vacuum to clean the vents on the sides and back.
While the design isn’t going to win any awards, it provides a reliable enclosure for the hard drive, which is basically what a NAS needs to do, so I don’t have any negatives here.
Synology DiskStation DS423+: Connect
The DiskStation DS423+ has two Gigabit Ethernet ports on the back, which can be connected together via link aggregation. Most NAS manufacturers have switched to 2.5GbE ports as standard in this segment, but Synology doesn’t see the value in offering multi-gigabit connectivity, so you’re limited to Gigabit Ethernet.
With multi-gigabit internet connections now a reality, Synology would be short-sighted not to offer at least 2.5GbE as standard on its Plus models. Even more egregious is the fact that the DS423+ misses out on PCIe connectivity, so if you wish to add a 2.5GbE or 10GbE network card in the future, you can’t – you’ll need to buy a DS923+ to be able to switch if you want to.
The DS423+ has dual USB-A ports and not much else. I would have liked to see an eSATA port here as it would make the NAS more expandable, but again, that feature is missing.
Synology DiskStation DS423+: Performance
A lot of what I wrote in my DiskStation DS920+ review is relevant here, since the DS423+ is actually the same model, but with less RAM and no expandability. If you own a DS920+, there’s really no reason to consider the DS423+ — if anything, you have a better server.
That said, the DS423+ is equally reliable, and even though it only has 2GB of RAM, it runs the web-based DiskStation Manager (DSM) operating system without any issues. You’ll need to add another RAM module if you plan to run memory-intensive containers, but the memory is more than enough when regularly using installed utilities like Plex and other utilities.
Let’s start with the basics: the DS423+ is powered by Intel’s 64-bit quad-core Celeron J4125, clocked at up to 2.0GHz. You get 2GB of RAM soldered to the motherboard, and there are SO-DIMM slots if you need to add more memory. This will take up an additional 4GB, so the total memory on the NAS will be 6GB.
There are two M.2 slots on the bottom, and unlike the DS920+, you can actually use these drives to store data. The DS423+ can accommodate up to 18TB drives in its drive bays, and if you’re eyeing this NAS, I’d recommend getting a 6TB IronWolf drive or higher. I’ve been using a dozen IronWolf drives for the better part of a decade, and they’ve been extremely reliable. They also appear on official hard drive lists alongside the best NAS drives from WD and Toshiba.
In daily use, the DS423+ presented no issues. The NAS runs DSM 7.2 effortlessly, and Synology’s software is the reason its NAS servers are so popular. You get an extensive set of features, and since this is the Plus model, you don’t miss out on any software offerings – you can run containers, virtual machines, and just about everything the brand has to offer in this segment.
The best use case for this particular NAS is as a Plex media server. While all NAS servers offer native Plex clients, the DS923+ gets hardware-assisted transcoding thanks to the integrated GPU, which is a big deal. You’ll need Plex Pass to take advantage of this feature, and the DS423+ is the default choice if you have an older media library and must transcode your content before sending it to client devices.
NAS excels in other areas as well, making it a good choice if you want to back up photos and videos from your phone and documents from your Windows and macOS computers. The software suite is among the best in the industry, and while the hardware obviously has limitations, the robustness of the software makes the DS423+ an excellent product.
Synology DiskStation DS423+: Competition
If you don’t need some of the advanced features and just want a 4-bay home server for data storage and streaming, the regular DiskStation DS423 is a good choice. The DS423 is priced at just $369, which is a better deal considering you still get all the software features. It also has 2GB of RAM, and while the Realtek hardware doesn’t have Plex transcoding capabilities, it does an excellent job of streaming high bitrate media content. If you don’t need transcoding, DS423 is a better choice.
But if you need the expandability of eSATA and want to add a 10GbE network card later, you’ll want to consider the DiskStation DS923+. It costs $599, but you get 4GB of RAM, and the Ryzen R1600 arguably has better hardware. The downside is that you miss out on Plex transcoding; this is limited to Intel hardware, so if this is a requirement, the DS423+ is the best choice. If you don’t need this feature, I highly recommend buying the DS923+ – it’s my first choice for a 4-bay NAS.
Synology DiskStation DS423+: Should you buy it?
You should purchase this product if:
- You want hardware-assisted transcoding in Plex
- You need a reliable 4-bay NAS
- You want the best software features
You should not purchase this product if:
- You need a multi-gigabit connection
- You want to add the drive later
Ultimately, the DiskStation DS423+ aims to fill that gap. By using the older Intel Celeron J4125 instead of the Ryzen R1600, Synology is catering to those who need hardware-based transcoding. While it performs quite well for that utility, it’s not as good as the DS923+ or DS723+ in other areas. You miss the ability to add additional drives via eSATA, memory is limited, and there’s no way to switch to a 10GbE network card.
If you are using an older NAS server and have a large Plex library that requires hardware transcoding, then you should buy the DiskStation DS423+. If you don’t need that feature, you’d be better off looking at other models in the brand’s portfolio – the DiskStation DS423 is a better value, while the DS923+ gives you more features for an extra $100.
Synology DiskStation DS423+
The DiskStation DS423+ is essentially a DS920+ with limited memory, but it’s still a good choice if you need a Plex server with hardware transcoding.