Lowest Cost Synology
The DiskStation DS120j offers incredible value, and you get a decent set of features that make it a great choice if you’re looking to pick up a NAS for the first time. It is just as good when it comes to streaming locally-stored media on your home network. If you want a budget option for backing up data, the DS120j has a lot to offer.
Most Powerful Single Bay
The DiskStation DS118 is a standout choice if you’re in the market for a Single Drive NAS enclosure for use as a media server. This the top of the line (1 bay) NAS with the most powerful hardware, 1GB of RAM, and can handle HD transcoding, ensuring seamless media playback across all devices on your home network.
PROS
- Low Cost
- Gigabit Ethernet Port
- Holds up to 16TB of storage
CONS
- Limited Memory (512MB)
- Memory Not Upgradable
- No Transcoding
The DS120j is a great NAS enclosure for a file server, sharing files or a backup device.
UNDER: $100.00
PROS
- HD Transcoding
- Gigabit Ethernet Port
- Holds up to 16TB of storage
- Hardware Encryption
- Hardware Transcoding Engine
CONS
- Not as powerful as the 2/4 bay DiskStations
- Memory Not Upgradeable
The DS118 is the highest-performance 1 bay NAS enclosure for a media server, file server, sharing files or a backup device.
UNDER: $200.00
Advantages and Disadvantages of a 1-Bay NAS?
Advantages
- Much Lower Cost (Not only the NAS Enclosure but the Storage Drive)
- Lower Noise and Power Consumption
- Smaller Footprint Size
- DLNA Support
- Cloud backup service means no RAID isn’t a deal killer.
Disadvantages
- No RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks)
- Harder to Expand Storage
- No Memory Upgrade Options
- Unable to exchange drives without cloning or starting from scratch.
Included Synology Features
Video Station
Video Station (DS Video app) helps you manage all the movies, TV shows, and home videos on your Synology NAS. Moreover, it can stream videos to various devices — computers, smartphones, media players, and TVs — to provide you with non-stop, fun watching experience.
Audio Station
With Audio Station and its mobile app DS audio, you can enjoy high-quality playback, listen to radios, manage your music collection, create personal playlist, and share with friends anywhere.
Moments
Users can instantly upload photos to their private storage and let auto-sort take care of the rest. Moments is the brand new photo solution for personal and home use.
PLEX Media Server
Enjoy Live TV & DVR, a growing catalog of great web shows, news, and podcasts. It's finally possible to enjoy all the media you love in a single app, on any device, no matter where you are. With the Plex server you can stream your video, music, and photo collections any time, anywhere, to whatever you want.
Synology Drive
Online File Syncing, Backup and File Sharing. Across multiple devices mobile phones, laptops, desktops and even other synology nas devices.
Desktop Backup
Simplified backup solution for your Mac, PC, and mobile devices.
Surveillance Station
Protect your business, home, and other environments with reliable, intuitive Surveillance Station, delivering intelligent monitoring and video management tools to safeguard your valuable assets.
File Server / Web Server
Powerful built-in file management and sharing services.
Snapshot Replication
Schedulable and instantaneous data protection for shared folders and iSCSI LUNs for disaster prevention.
Security
Comprehensive built-in security tools are constantly updated to protect your devices against evolving threats.
Download and experience video station now
DS video is available for iOS and Android users, for free. You can download the apps through App Store or Google Play.
Android
iOS
Detailed Look
| DS120j | DS118 | |
|---|---|---|
CPU Model | Marvell Armada 3700 88F3720 Dual-Core 800MHz 64-bit | Realtek RTD1296 Quad-Core 1.4GHz 64-bit |
System Memory | 512 MB DDR3 non-ECC | 1 GB DDR4 non-ECC |
Network interface | 1 x Gigabit Ethernet | 1 x Gigabit Ethernet |
Internal File System | EXT4 | EXT4 |
Internal drive bays | One (maximum 16TB) 3.5-inch HDD 2.5-inch HDD/SSD (via optional mount) | One (maximum 16TB) 3.5-inch HDD 2.5-inch HDD/SSD (via optional mount) |
USB Ports | 2x USB 2.0 | 2x USB 3.0 |
Hardware Encryption Engine | Yes | Yes |
Hardware Transcoding | No | Yes |
Transcoding Engine | 10-bit H.265 (HEVC), MPEG-4 Part 2, MPEG-2, VC-1; maximum resolution: 4K (4096 x 2160); maximum frame rate per second (FPS): 60 |
