Selecting the Best NAS For Home Media Server can be a big deal as people might not be much familiar with it. NAS is a file storage that enables many users and clients to access and share the data from the same disk space. Main benefits of NAS servers include low price, private cloud storage, high storage space and data protection. A few characteristics should be considered before purchasing these kinds of components, so we shall discuss them shortly.
First of all, the processor type and model should be looked at as it is responsible for granting data management and computing power as well. Our suggested recommendation, the QNAP TVS-872XT NAS server has Intel Core i5-8400T processor, that gives fast and efficient performance to its users. If you want a faster CPU, take a look at the QNAP TVS-472XT, which has a CPU speed of 3.1 GHz. Secondly, most of the time embedded Linux is used in the operating system of the NAS servers.
Thirdly, the customer should ponder over the storage capacity of the component as it is the reason most people buy the NAS in the first place. Since we are using the server for home media streaming purposes, a 2GB to 4 GB RAM with at least 8 TB is enough. Highest storage capacity of 112 TB is offered by the QNAP TVS-872XT server while the lowest amount of 8 TB is offered by QNAP TVS-472XT. Consider Synology’s DiskStation DS220+ if you are searching for a NAS server with best value for money.
Moving on, connectivity slots like USB ports, HDMI ports and more are preferable by the customers as they help in linking the server with other gadgets. In the end, the decision to choose a NAS server for home media streaming is upon the user’s preferences and needs. Thus, scroll down to read detailed evaluation of a few products best fitted for home usage.
Our Recommended list of the Best NAS for Home Media Server
- WD 56TB My Cloud Pro Series PR4100 NAS
- QNAP 4 Bay Thunderbolt NAS
- QNAP TVS-872XT-i5-16G-US 8 Bay Thunderbolt 3 NAS
- Synology 4 bay NAS DiskStation DS418
- QNAP TS-453D-8G 4 Bay NAS
- Synology 2 bay NAS DiskStation DS220+
NAS Requirements For Home Media Server
- Minimum Intel Pentium CPU
- CPU speed 1.4 GHz minimally
- At least 2 GB RAM
- Minimal 8 TB storage
- Several ports should be present
1- WD 56TB My Cloud Pro Series PR4100 NAS
Here, we discuss the My Cloud Pro PR4100 NAS server from Western Digital (WD) having dimensions 9.13 x 6.69 x 7.56 inches of length, width and height accordingly. Built using a sleek black color and high quality materials, it occupies less space in the room as it has a compact size. It has Intel Pentium N3710 quad-core processor that achieves the peak CPU speed of 1.6 GHz. A digital screen is present at the front of the server that displays real-time information. My Cloud OS 3 grants the user with a simple and straightforward installation procedure using the Device Manager.
For smooth functioning of the NAS server, RAM of 4 GB DDR3L is provided so that videos and movies can be streamed effortlessly. Compatible with many applications like Plex, DropBox and WordPress, this 4 bay server’s hardware is transcoded to stream a variety of media. Since the data is stored in a single place, the customer can access the data from anywhere at any time. Capacity of 56 TB is provided to the user so that they can store as much data as they like and keep it in a safe cloud environment.
Connectivity ports like 3 USB 3.0 ports, 2 DC-in power supplies and 2 Gigabit Ethernet ports are available in this NAS server. WD My Cloud Pro PR4100 has great value for money property as it costs the average of any NAS server while giving several features. Passwords protection and AES-256 bit encryption give the customer’s data extreme security measures.
Pros:
- Excellent performance
- 56 TB capacity
- 3rd party application support
- Good security measures
Cons
- More capacity can be expensive for some people
2- QNAP 4 Bay Thunderbolt NAS
QNAP is a popular company that offers NAS based solutions to the customers, so we consider their TVS-472XT NAS server that has several attributes. Containing a Intel Core 13-8100T quad-core processor and an embedded Linux OS, it has a CPU speed of 3.1 GHz which is great for a fast processing system. Moreover, the processor has a 64-bit architecture with Intel UHD Graphics 630 which gives great resolution to its users. It gives an appealing look to the customers as it has metal and simple chassis and overall design.
RAM amount of 4 GB (that can be expanded to max 64 GB) with DDR4 type is provided to the user which grants swift function processing. Total capacity of 8 TB is given in the form of 4 Seagate IronWolf drives that are already installed. Furthermore, RAID 5 support is also present in this NAS server that is responsible for providing efficient performance to its users. Connectivity options include 1 10 GBase-T RJ45 port, 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports, 5 USB ports, 1 HDMI port and 2 PCIe slots that makes it easier to link other gadgets with this component.
Moving on, 2 audio IN/OUT jacks are available so that the user can attach headphones to the TVS-472XT server. For damage control purposes, the drives have a Robust 3-year Rescue Data Recovery services plan. Users can easily stream from this NAS to other display screens like TV, livestream on Youtube, host many virtual machines and backup important data. Cost of this NAS server is a bit high for some people, but is a great investment as it has many notable characteristics.
Pros:
- Increased speed
- Excellent performance
- 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports
- Easy drive installation
- Quiet working
Cons:
- Expensive
- Long boot time
3- QNAP TVS-872XT-i5-16G-US 8 Bay Thunderbolt 3 NAS
Another great product from QNAP is the TVS-872XT NAS server that also belongs to the same series as the previous products (QNAP TVS-472XT NAS). Measuring at 11 inches of length, 12.9 inches of width and 7.4 inches of height, it has a compact design that can be fitted anywhere easily. Intel Core i5 8400T processor is integrated in this component that is responsible for granting fast and quick data processing rates with a CPU speed of 1.7 GHz. There is an LCD that has “select” and “enter” buttons, which shows information about the gadget in real time.
For speedy operations and better multitasking, 16 GB RAM with DDR4 type is used in this server that is maxed out at 32 GB. For increased data storage durability, RAID support 0, 1, 5, 10, 50, 60 are offered to the customers. At most 112 TB main storage is allowed in this NAS server which is more than enough for a home media streaming system. PCIe slots of 2 count and 2 2280 NVMe M.2 slots are also present that allow the user to attach many types of expansion cards that will increase the overall performance of the server.
For maintaining links with other devices, this component offers 5 USB ports (including type-C), 1 HDMI 2.0 port, 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports and 2 audio jacks. Networking is made possible and fast by the 2 Gigabit Ethernet ports and 1 10 GbE ethernet port. One of the reasons the TVS-872XT NAS server is a great choice is its media features as it can stream 4K videos effortlessly. Moreover, this component comes at a reasonable pricing resulting in an affordable choice for users.
Pros:
- Excellent performance
- 2 PCIe slots
- Affordable
- Thunderbolt 3 support
- 10 GbE integrated
Cons:
- Only free PCIe slot is x4 speed
4- Synology 4 bay NAS DiskStation DS418
Synology is a popular tech brand that specializes in creating cloud-based solutions for its users. Their DiskStation DS418 NAS server is one of these products having the following measurements: 8.78 inch length, 7.83 inch width and 6.54 inch height. Perfect for small enterprises and home users, this server can make up a great home media streaming device. Consisting of Realtek RTD1296 quad-core processor that has a NAS CPU speed of 1.4 GHz, which results in swift request management and data manipulation.
Read and write rates of this NAS server is 226MB/s and 170 MB/s respectively, that is more than the average rate of this type of gadget. For better performance of the NAS, RAM quantity of 2 GB with DDR4 type is used in this server that fulfills the previously stated purpose. Maximum of 48 TB internal memory capacity is allowed in the DS418 server which is more than enough for a home media system. RAID types 0, 1, 5, 6, 10 and JBOD are supported by this NAS server that makes sure the data storage is done in a reliable way.
Connectivity options offered by this device include 2 USB 3.0 ports and dual 1 GbE LAN ports that give fast processing rates. A bonus point of this component is that it provides 4K video transcoding on the go. Cost might be a bit more for some users in comparison to similar products, however, the investment in this NAS server is worth the features.
Pros:
- Great overall performance
- Easy to install
- Excellent application ecosystem
- Solid hardware
- 2 Ethernet and 2 USB ports
Cons:
- Expensive
5- QNAP TS-453D-8G 4 Bay NAS
Another excellent product from the QNAP creators is the TS-453D NAS server having 10 inches of length, 12.7 inches of width and 12 inches of height accordingly. Intel Celeron J4125 quad-core processor is used in this component that gives the peak CPU speed of 2.7 GHz while the average is 2.0 GHz. Moreover, this also has Intel HD graphics 600 which is a plus point for customers. Built in a tower and compact size, this server can fit anywhere and blend in with the interior nicely.
For fast data handling and better multitasking, 8 GB RAM with DDR4 type is used in this NAs server that gives the user previously stated functions. Drive bays of 4 count with 3.5 inches are available that give the user 72 TB capacity of storage which is enough for a small business and home media system. Network is easily maintained by the 2 2.5 GbE ports and gives 2.5 times more data transfer speeds and quick backups. Following connectivity options are present in this NAS server: 1 PCIe slot, 5 USB ports of different types, 1 HDMI 2.0 port.
Lastly, 4K and 8K performance of the TS-453D NAS server is higher than average servers, which makes it a great choice. This server packs increased data rates and efficient performance at a competitive price, which makes it a great NAS storage for home and business usage.
Pros:
- Excellent performance
- QTS OS
- Simple setup
- Quite functioning
- 2.5 GbE ports
- Competitive pricing
Cons:
- Lacks RAM for virtual machines
6- Synology 2 bay NAS DiskStation DS220+
In the end, we take Synology’s DiskStation DS220+ NAS server since it is a great performing component and is well known in the tech community. Having dimensions of 6.5 x 4.25 x 9.14 inches of length, width and height accordingly, it has the Intel Celeron J4025 2-core processor. It has a CPU speed of 2.0 GHz and can achieve the peak speed of 2.9 GHz which gives fast process rates of the system. Attractive and minimal design technique is implemented in this server that can fit anywhere in the house/office easily.
Read and write sequential throughput of 225 MB/s and 192 MB/s is given by the DS220+ server. RAM of 2 GB with DDR4 type is integrated so that the user gets a quick and swift operating system. Users can share, sync and access their data from anywhere using various OS and gadgets since this is a cloud-based storage. Since it is a diskless server, the total capacity can be set by the user as it has 2 drive bays. Furthermore, this component has 15% better performance in intensive computer functions and higher database response time. this is also compatible with best NAS Driver for Time Machine software.
Data security is provided by RAID 1 disk mirroring that enables prevention of sudden failure of the drives. Connectivity slots like 2 USB 3.0 ports and 2 Gigabit LAN ports are available on this NAS server. Costing less than its opponents, the DiskStation DS220+ is an excellent choice for home media streaming and business purposes.
Pros:
- Excellent performance and software
- Simple setup process
- 4K media transcoding
- Silent operation
- 2 GB DDR4 RAM
Cons:
- Limited RAM expansion
Best NAS for Home Media Server Buying Guide
Storing data and information is one of the main problems faced by users as they need some mechanism that protects their data. NAS server is the best way to store all your files, databases and movies as it protects and manages the information well. Users can fetch the data from a single disk space from anywhere and at any time. We recommend using the QNAP TVS-872XT NAS server since it has notable attributes that are beneficial for the customer. Some traits should be pondered over before buying such components, so we wrote down a brief explanation of these features.
Processor
It is a vital trait in the NAS server as it runs the apps as well as manages the files that can be shared among selected people. Our suggested NAS server has Core i5-8400T, that has a CPU speed of 1.7 GHz and works well for a home media system. Though, if you want a CPU that has better CPU speed, consider the QNAP TVS-472XT NAS server as it has 3.1 GHz speed. For home usage, above 1.5 GHz CPU speed is more than enough so it can stream videos and movies effortlessly.
Storage
Firstly, RAM plays a major part in a NAS server as it determines how many processes can the system handle at a given time. Highest RAM in this article is 16GB that belongs to the QNAP TVS-872XT server, which is also our selected choice. Although, 2 GB to 4 GB RAM is enough for a home media system.
Moving on, the total capacity of our suggested server is 112 TB which is a lot of storage. Users can easily uti;ize this NAS server for a long time as they won’t run out of storage, but will run out of data to store.
Connectivity
Maintaining links with other gadgets is essential for some users, so NAS servers should have some kind of USB, HDMI, and PCIe ports. Thunderbolt 3 ports are present in the QNAP TVS-872XT and TVS-472XT NAS servers, which gives high data transfer rates to the user.
FAQs
Can You Use A NAS As A Media Server?
Absolutely, since it is a storage service, the user can store images, videos,video editing , movies and lots of data on the server.
What Is The Best NAS For Home Use?
Although there are many options to choose from, we suggest the
Is 4 TB Enough For Home NAS?
Yes, 4 TB is more than enough home usage as well as a small business usage.
Also See:
- Best NAS for Mac
- Best Router for NAS
- Best UPS for NAS
- Best Case fo NAS
- Best Motherboard for NAS
- NAS Hard Drive VS Normal Drive
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