NAS are the best way to have all your data within reach wherever you are, but depending on what you want to spend and your need, you would have to choose one model or another, there are thousands of types, so we are going to review the 3 best depending on your interest.
Best NAS models
We will start from best to worst, which means, from most expensive to cheapest, so if your economy is limited, don’t even look at the first one because it will scare you.
1.QNAP TVS-872XT
We would be talking about one of the most powerful NAS models on the market and adapted to Plex. I would have 16GB RAM (expandable to 32), 4K transcoding and a cpu 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-8400T.
A whole beast for any function we want to perform. It would support multiple users transcoding online on your Plex server without any problem. Of course, its price is not for all audiences, only if you do not care about money and you can afford it. It will be your best choice.
We leave you here the link to Amazon in case you want to take a look.
2.Synology DS220+
If you are looking for an intermediate range like most users, this is yours. The Synology DS220+ features 2GB RAM (which you can expand to 6GB), two drive bays hard drive up to 32TB (more than enough) and is capable of handling two simultaneous video transcodes, although it has a 2.0GHz dual-core J3355 processor Which limits it a bit. With it you can have several users at the same time on your Plex without any problem (as long as there are no more than 2 transcoding).
3.Synology DS118
Finally, and the one that I recommend, even if it is the cheapest, is the Synology DS118, 100% adapted to Plex and with all the needs if you are not looking for something very specific. Has 1GB of DDR4 RAMa 1.4 GHz quad-core processor and H.265 4K 10-bit video transcoding on the fly.
Its weak points would be that it only comes with one bay (although you can buy a 10TB drive and it’s probably more than enough) and that you won’t be able to have several people at the same time if they transcode, however, today most Video and equipment come with compatibility with all versions, so it’s normal that you don’t need it. That is, you could have 4/5 friends watching your Plex with you simultaneously and the NAS would support it without any problem thanks to its four processor cores.
Another of its strong points is consumption (9.4 W/4.22 W in access/hibernation). You will hardly notice that you have it, both due to noise and electrical consumption.
In short, if you want something very powerful and for a lot of people, go for the QNAP, otherwise you may be wasting your money. If, on the other hand, you want something good, but on a family basis, the second option is the best. And finally, this third NAS will give you everything you need if you are not looking for something exceptional and want to spend little.
If you still have any questions, leave a comment and we will try to help you.