The catch
ASUSTOR Nimbustor 2 Gen2
DSM and ADM are different software environments.
Side by side
ASUSTOR AS5402T vs Synology DS225+ Compared: With ASUSTOR you get SSD storage and still keep the two-drive mirror
Quick verdict
The AS5402T fits if you want mirrored hard drives plus separate NVMe storage, more memory headroom or two 2.5GbE ports. The DS225+ fits when Synology Photos and DSM backups are the reason for buying. Two SATA bays come on both, but Synology has no M.2 slots and ships with less memory.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
SSD options differ once two mirrored hard drives are in place
With two hard drives installed, DS225+ has no internal drive position left for an SSD, whereas AS5402T still has four NVMe slots. The gap matters if you want a separate SSD app volume and the full hard-drive mirror too.
Where this comes from
For DS225+, 2 SATA positions - 2 hard drives = 0 free positions, and there is no M.2. AS5402T keeps its 4 separate M.2 positions after 2 SATA bays are filled.
The catch
Synology DiskStation DS225+
Lacks M.2 slots and officially tops out at 6 GB of memory.
ASUSTOR Nimbustor 2 Gen2
- Why pick it
- Hold on to two hard drives with separate NVMe storage alongside
- Leave room for more memory across several home-server applications
- The catch
- DSM and ADM are different software environments.
Synology DiskStation DS225+
- Why pick it
- Work with Synology Photos and DSM backup tools
- Run a two-drive storage plan that stays simple, in a narrower case
- The catch
- Lacks M.2 slots and officially tops out at 6 GB of memory.
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What this page compares
ASUSTOR AS5402T and Synology DS225+ compared for family photos, mirrored hard drives and SSD apps, including the storage and memory costs behind each choice.
The AS5402T fits if you want mirrored hard drives plus separate NVMe storage, more memory headroom or two 2.5GbE ports. The DS225+ fits when Synology Photos and DSM backups are the reason for buying. Two SATA bays come on both, but Synology has no M.2 slots and ships with less memory.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
I plan on a hard-drive mirror and a separate NVMe volume
Dedicated NVMe slots are on ASUSTOR, and DS225+ has none.
- ASUSTOR Nimbustor 2 Gen2
- Better fit
- Synology DiskStation DS225+
- Not suitable
I prefer Synology Photos for my photo workflow
DSM and Photos run on DS225+, and object recognition calls for a budget for extra RAM.
- ASUSTOR Nimbustor 2 Gen2
- Depends
- Synology DiskStation DS225+
- Better fit
The apps I picked need 8 GB of memory
A suitable upgrade is supported by ASUSTOR, while Synology officially stops at 6 GB.
- ASUSTOR Nimbustor 2 Gen2
- Depends
- Synology DiskStation DS225+
- Not suitable
My main network requirement is a single 2.5GbE client
A 2.5GbE port comes on each. The rest of the path has to support that rate.
- ASUSTOR Nimbustor 2 Gen2
- Good
- Synology DiskStation DS225+
- Good
In practice
Differences you will notice
SSD options differ once two mirrored hard drives are in place
With two hard drives installed, DS225+ has no internal drive position left for an SSD, whereas AS5402T still has four NVMe slots. The gap matters if you want a separate SSD app volume and the full hard-drive mirror too.
How we worked this out
For DS225+, 2 SATA positions - 2 hard drives = 0 free positions, and there is no M.2. AS5402T keeps its 4 separate M.2 positions after 2 SATA bays are filled.
On Synology, Photos object recognition means buying more memory
Photos object recognition needs at least 4 GB according to Synology, and DS225+ ships with 2 GB. When that feature is part of why you choose DSM, put a supported memory upgrade into the price comparison.
How we worked this out
Object recognition has a 4 GB minimum in the current DS225+ software notes. The installed 2 GB falls below that threshold.
The official Synology ceiling is ruled out by an 8 GB memory requirement
Say the combined requirements of your selected applications do call for 8 GB of RAM. DS225+ cannot reach that inside its documented 6 GB maximum, but AS5402T can after a compatible upgrade. Extra RAM by itself does not guarantee the CPU can run the workload.
How we worked this out
8 GB is above the official DS225+ maximum of 6 GB. AS5402T supports up to 16 GB. Both ship with less than 8 GB.
Option A
ASUSTOR, AS5402T
ASUSTOR Nimbustor 2 Gen2
A 2-bay chassis whose fastest documented network path is 2.5 Gbps.
- Best for
- Hold on to two hard drives with separate NVMe storage alongside
Facts we checked
- SATA drive bays: 2
- NVMe positions in M.2: 4
- Installed memory: 4 GB
- Official maximum memory: 16 GB
Option B
Synology, DS225+
Synology DiskStation DS225+
A 2-bay chassis whose fastest documented network path is 2.5 Gbps.
- Best for
- Work with Synology Photos and DSM backup tools
Facts we checked
- SATA drive bays: 2
- M.2 NVMe positions: None
- Installed memory: 2 GB
- Official maximum memory: 6 GB
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | ASUSTOR Nimbustor 2 Gen2 | Synology DiskStation DS225+ | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| SATA drive bays | 2 | 2 | A two-drive mirror works on both, and usable capacity follows the smaller drive. |
| M.2 NVMe positions | 4 | None | Compatible NVMe devices can be added on ASUSTOR with no SATA bay taken. |
| Installed memory | 4 GB | 2 GB | Twice the RAM comes with ASUSTOR at the start, and that is capacity and not a performance guarantee. |
| Official maximum memory | 16 GB | 6 GB | For memory-heavy applications, the upgrade ceilings are not the same. |
| Built-in network ports | Two 2.5GbE | One 2.5GbE and one 1GbE | One 2.5GbE connection works on either. The second port is where they differ. |
| Software environment | ASUSTOR ADM | Synology DSM with Photos and backup packages | Decide which applications and administration workflow you plan to use. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With ASUSTOR Nimbustor 2 Gen2
- Extra slots and RAM support help only when the workload makes use of them.
With Synology DiskStation DS225+
- The supplied 2 GB is less RAM than Photos object recognition needs.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
I want NVMe storage and need to keep both hard drives
Go with ASUSTOR Nimbustor 2 Gen2. Four dedicated NVMe positions come with AS5402T.
The Synology Photos and backup workflow comes first for me
Go with Synology DiskStation DS225+. DSM comes with DS225+, along with the documented memory requirement for object recognition.
An internal array of four hard drives is what I need
Neither model fits. Two SATA bays is all either one has.
Decision guide
How to decide
Be specific about the software you prefer
DSM is easier to justify once you know which Photos, Drive or backup feature you want. When the plan is mostly file sharing plus a few self-hosted services, compare those services' hardware requirements instead. A familiar interface and spare hardware capacity address different problems.
Do not use a SATA SSD to fix the wrong limit
Compatible SATA SSDs fit the main bays of the DS225+, but those are the same two positions a hard-drive mirror needs. Swapping a hard drive for an SSD changes the storage layout. ASUSTOR's separate NVMe slots let you leave both hard drives in place while you plan an SSD workload.
Budget for a second copy as well
With a two-drive mirror, the NAS can keep running through one drive failure. Accidental deletion, theft and other destructive events are not all covered. Include a separate backup destination and test recovery. Spending on extra RAM or SSDs should not eat into the budget needed to protect irreplaceable files.
What this page can’t tell you
- Storage figures assume compatible drives of equal capacity and decimal TB, counted before formatting, system space and metadata. RAID covers the drive failures it is specified for, but it does not replace a separate backup.
- Treat network figures as link rates. They are not measured file-transfer speeds. For the exact model you buy, check software support, memory revision, drive compatibility and the rest of the network.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the NAS devices we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASUSTOR Nimbustor 2 Gen2 |
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| Synology DiskStation DS225+ |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
ASUSTOR Nimbustor 2 Gen2
Hold on to two hard drives with separate NVMe storage alongside
See price & reviews on AmazonSynology DiskStation DS225+
Work with Synology Photos and DSM backup tools
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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