Synology DS423+ Diskstation NAS Revealed
Synology is having a remarkably busy start to 2023, with several high-profile NAS solutions being introduced to the market and today we want to discuss one that many have been waiting to hear about for quite a while – The Synology DS423+ NAS. With some much of Synology’s hardware output in the last year or so feeling that they were erring more and more in the direction of business users, it is quite a breath of fresh air to hear that Synology is releasing a new desktop 4-Bay that is arguably more multimedia friendly. Serving as the followup to the summer 20202 released DS420+, this new 4-Bay is an Intel Celeron-powered compact system that (although not exactly reinventing the wheel – more on that later) is a slight shake-up of what we have come to expect from this dual-core equipped tier of the brand’s portfolio. Let’s discuss the Synology DS423+ Diskstation.
Synology DS423+ NAS Hardware Specifications
The hardware specifications of the Synology DS423+ NAS, although not exactly going to challenge beefier systems like the recently released DS1823xs+, are still a slight step up from those found in the DS420+ NAS. Synology has been in the habit in recent years of choosing processors that lacked integrated graphics and gearing towards ECC memory, however, the DS423+ is noticeably more domestic. The CPU inside the Synology DS423+ NAS CPU is the Intel Celeron J4125, a processor already featured on the DS920+ and DS720+ NAS released in 2020. Now, this is not the first time that Synology has used the CPU of a higher tier previous release and years later switched it down to a lower tier (eg the Realtek RTD1296 in the Value Tiers and the J3455 a while back) and it is definitely good news that a much more multimedia friendly Synology NAS system has arrived on the market – but there is definitely going to be some users who are disappointed that the CPU previously featured in the DS920+ has reemerged in 2023 (as opposed to the N5105 and J6412 that competitors are rolling out in comparable devices). Here is a breakdown of the initial specifications:
 |
|
| Model ID | Synology DS423+ NAS |
| # of Bays | 4x SATA 3.5″ or 2.5″ |
| RAID Support | RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, Synology Hybrid RAID |
| File System | EXT4 or BTRFS |
| CPU ID | Intel Celeron J4125 x86 64bit |
| CPU Architecture | Quad Core – 4 Thread – 2.0Ghz-2,7Ghz (at burst) |
| Integrated Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 600 – 250-750MHz |
| Memory | 2GB DDR4 SODIMM non-ECC |
| Upgradable Memory? | 6GB (2GB + 4GB) |
| Expandable Storage? | No |
| M.2 NVMe Bays | Yes, 2x PCIe Gen 2 M.2 2280 |
| PSU | 90W, External PSU |
| Size | 166 mm x 199 mm x 223 mm |
| Warranty | 3 Years |
One question that some might have is regarding the M.2 NVMe SSD bays on the DS423+ NAS – Are they for caching only OR do they also support storage pools? Arguably, as this system lacks any 10GbE and/or scalable network connectivity over USB, you would have little ability to transfer any m.2 NVMe SSD performance benefits to external transfer rates. Additionally, in previous instances of Synology utilizing this hardware setup, they did not support M.2 NVMe SSD storage Pools and as this processor is Gen2 architecture, it is quite unlikely that Synology will keep these bays as caching only. That said, never say never!
Now, there is ALOT we already know about this processor, as we have tested it for well over 2 years in the DS920+. It’s performance in DSM is fantastic (with full access to all the applications and services that you would expect), Plex Media Server performs very well in both 1080p and 4K (supporting client-side HEVC conversions and more), upto 40 cameras in the Synology Surveillance station applications (though you will need more than that base 2GB memory) and if the price point is comparable/lower than the DS420+ is at launch – the DS423+ an absolute bargain. However, there are going to be alot of comparisons to the DS920+, which was recently refreshed in the Synology portfolio to the DS923+, but is still available to buy in several e’Tailers.
As mentioned in previous videos/articles, there have definitely been moves by Synology to change the boundaries in their portfolio. Since the DS923+ NAS was shifted towards business/SMB users (the embedded Ryzen processor, optional 10GbE and ECC memory), the prosumer 4-Bay Synology tier has shifted towards what was formally the dual-core non-expandable 4-bay tier (previously DS420+, DS418play, DS416+, etc). That said, because of this, there are several ports that previous Synology diskstations with this architecture featured, which are absent in this more affordable package. Here are the ports and connections of the DS423+ NAS:
 |
|
| Default Network Ports | 2x 1GbE RJ45 |
| Upgradeable Network Ports? | No |
| USB Ports | 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gb/s), Type-A |
| eSATA | 0 |
What we have here, although quite pedestrian when compared to the scalable solutions in the most recent plus series devices, is pretty much what we would have expected for a device in this series from Synology. A lack of expandability and support of the DX517 is not a surprise. Nor is the DS423+ arriving with 2x 1GbE ports (as opposed to 2.5GbE or an option to scale up), as Synology has been pretty clear on their support of network upgrades on this tier, as well as how upgrades are delivered at this scale (i.e. the E10G22-T1-Mini micro upgrade module). Finally, the inclusion of USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gb/s) ports is pretty much what we would expect too. In short, the ports and connections on the DS423+ are quite ‘safe’ and unlike back in 2020 when the margin of difference between the DS420+ and DS920+ was small – the difference between the DS423+ and the DS923+ is pretty vast and as long as Synology nail down a good price point for the DS423+ to keep it competitive, the standard of connectivity on this device might reasonable value.
Synology DS423+ NAS Release Date & Price
Given that the Synology DS423+ NAS has appeared on several European eShops in the last day or so, this indicates that the DS423+ will be arriving very soon, likely in early March. Pricing on the other hand is far less easy to confirm. Although several prices have appeared online (as such the €456.58 ex.Tax on the site shown above – which would be comparable to the DS420+ launch price in 2020), there isn’t a huge degree of consistency to these prices. Additionally, this is going to differ pretty wildly based on your region (just look at the average pricing of the DS923+ listing on line) and hardware shortages are realistically going to continue to be a factor in 2023 and 2024. We will update you more as soon as further information on the Synology DS423+ NAS appears from official sources and overall how this new system compares and/or completes the existing Synology Plus series portfolio. You can check Amazon and other retailers to see if the Synology DS223 NAS is available now using the links to them below (it supports us, costs you nothing extra and me and Eddie who run NASCompares will get a commission that goes directly back into the YouTube channel and blog). Have a great week!
Where to Buy a Product
VISIT RETAILER ➤
VISIT RETAILER ➤
VISIT RETAILER ➤
VISIT RETAILER ➤
Amazon 
Amazon 
Amazon
🔒 Join Inner Circle
Get an alert every time something gets added to this specific article!
This description contains links to Amazon. These links will take you to some of the products mentioned in today's content. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Visit the NASCompares Deal Finder to find the best place to buy this device in your region, based on Service, Support and Reputation - Just Search for your NAS Drive in the Box Below
Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?
Finally, for free advice about your setup, just leave a message in the comments below here at NASCompares.com and we will get back to you.
 |
 |
