The catch
QNAP TS-264-8G-US
The faster network card is an optional extra that takes up the single PCIe slot.
Side by side
QNAP TS-264 vs Synology DS225+ Compared: A two-drive mirror on QNAP still leaves room for SSD and card upgrades
Quick verdict
Two NVMe slots, more installed memory and a supported PCIe network-upgrade route point to the TS-264-8G. If Synology Photos and DSM backups are the priority, pick the DS225+. A two-drive mirror fits in both, but QNAP leaves more hardware options around that mirror without replacing the enclosure.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Four times the RAM comes in the box with the selected QNAP
TS-264-8G comes with 8 GB, against 2 GB in DS225+. That is 6 GB more installed memory for the operating system and apps to share. The starting-capacity difference is real, though it does not prove four times the performance.
Where this comes from
8 / 2 = 4, and 8 - 2 = 6 GB. Both figures are installed-memory capacities on the selected product variants.
The catch
Synology DiskStation DS225+
Without NVMe or PCIe slots.
QNAP TS-264-8G-US
- Why pick it
- Keep two SATA drives and add NVMe storage or cache
- Keep a documented PCIe route open to compatible faster networking
- The catch
- The faster network card is an optional extra that takes up the single PCIe slot.
Synology DiskStation DS225+
- Why pick it
- Work with Synology Photos, Drive and DSM backup tools
- Stay with a plain two-drive NAS and one 2.5GbE connection
- The catch
- Without NVMe or PCIe slots.
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What this page compares
QNAP TS-264-8G and Synology DS225+ compared on two-drive storage, apps and future networking, including which upgrades leave the hard-drive mirror intact.
Two NVMe slots, more installed memory and a supported PCIe network-upgrade route point to the TS-264-8G. If Synology Photos and DSM backups are the priority, pick the DS225+. A two-drive mirror fits in both, but QNAP leaves more hardware options around that mirror without replacing the enclosure.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
I plan on two HDDs and two NVMe devices
Separate M.2 positions are on QNAP and not on Synology.
- QNAP TS-264-8G-US
- Better fit
- Synology DiskStation DS225+
- Not suitable
Later on I might add a compatible 10GbE card
A PCIe route is documented by QNAP, and card, client and network compatibility still apply.
- QNAP TS-264-8G-US
- Depends
- Synology DiskStation DS225+
- Not suitable
The DSM photo and backup workflow is my priority
Synology's software environment runs on DS225+.
- QNAP TS-264-8G-US
- Depends
- Synology DiskStation DS225+
- Better fit
Today my only switch is 1GbE
Until it is upgraded, that network segment limits the path.
- QNAP TS-264-8G-US
- Similar
- Synology DiskStation DS225+
- Similar
In practice
Differences you will notice
Four times the RAM comes in the box with the selected QNAP
TS-264-8G comes with 8 GB, against 2 GB in DS225+. That is 6 GB more installed memory for the operating system and apps to share. The starting-capacity difference is real, though it does not prove four times the performance.
How we worked this out
8 / 2 = 4, and 8 - 2 = 6 GB. Both figures are installed-memory capacities on the selected product variants.
SSDs can be added while the hard-drive mirror stays intact
Once both SATA bays are filled, DS225+ has no internal SSD slot, but TS-264 still has two NVMe positions. QNAP can therefore take a two-SSD plan without giving up either hard drive, depending on compatible drives and the chosen storage mode.
How we worked this out
Each has 2 SATA bays. QNAP also has 2 independent M.2 positions and Synology has 0. Filling the SATA pair uses none of QNAP's M.2 positions.
One expansion slot is shared by the network-upgrade route
The optional faster network card for QNAP takes up its single PCIe slot. If a PCIe storage card is also on your list, do not assume both separate cards fit together. Work out which expansion is essential before counting every advertised option into one future system.
How we worked this out
There is 1 PCIe Gen 3 x2 slot on TS-264, and two separate PCIe cards need 2 slots. A supported combination card would need a compatibility check of its own.
Option A
QNAP, TS-264-8G-US
QNAP TS-264-8G-US
This two-bay NAS has two built-in NVMe slots, dual 2.5GbE and a PCIe slot that takes supported SSD or network expansion. The current 8G configuration selected here comes with 8 GB RAM.
- Best for
- Keep two SATA drives and add NVMe storage or cache
Facts we checked
- SATA bays: 2
- Built-in M.2 slots: Two NVMe 2280, PCIe Gen 3 x1 each
- Installed RAM: 8 GB on the selected 8G model
- Official RAM ceiling: 16 GB on the current SODIMM revision
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, Drive and DSM backup tools
Facts we checked
- SATA bays: 2
- Built-in M.2 slots: None
- Installed RAM: 2 GB
- Official RAM ceiling: 6 GB
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | QNAP TS-264-8G-US | Synology DiskStation DS225+ | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| SATA bays | 2 | 2 | With equal drives, basic mirrored hard-drive capacity comes out the same. |
| Built-in M.2 slots | Two NVMe 2280, PCIe Gen 3 x1 each | None | Compatible SSDs can go into QNAP without taking a SATA bay. |
| Installed RAM | 8 GB on the selected 8G model | 2 GB | Supplied memory is 6 GB apart. That does not guarantee how many applications run. |
| Official RAM ceiling | 16 GB on the current SODIMM revision | 6 GB | Before planning a memory upgrade, confirm the QNAP hardware revision. |
| Built-in Ethernet | Two 2.5GbE | One 2.5GbE and one 1GbE | A 2.5GbE path is available on both, but the second port differs in capability. |
| Internal PCIe expansion | One Gen 3 x2 slot, compatible network-card options | None | Optional 5GbE and 10GbE cards are documented by QNAP, and both the cards and the matching network cost extra. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With QNAP TS-264-8G-US
- The hardware revision needs checking when you plan a memory upgrade.
With Synology DiskStation DS225+
- Memory headroom is smaller with the supplied 2 GB and the official 6 GB ceiling.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
I want SSDs next to a two-hard-drive mirror
Go with QNAP TS-264-8G-US. Two built-in NVMe positions come with TS-264.
For daily management I prefer DSM over QTS
Go with Synology DiskStation DS225+. The Synology software environment comes with DS225+.
I require four internal SATA bays
Neither model fits. Two apiece in the enclosures compared.
Decision guide
How to decide
Look at the exact 8G offer
The TS-264-8G-US listing is what this page is based on. From January 2024 onward, QNAP's current specification documents SODIMM memory, and older revisions can differ. The included 8 GB is clear in the selected model. If a later RAM upgrade matters to you, ask the seller to confirm the revision before relying on the current 16 GB ceiling.
An upgrade path is not an included feature
10GbE is not included with the TS-264, which instead offers a PCIe path for a compatible card. A faster client adapter, switch and suitable storage may be needed as well. If that route motivates the purchase, price all of it instead of treating a diskless 2.5GbE NAS as a ready-made 10GbE system.
Remember the two-drive limit
QNAP gains flexibility from NVMe slots and expansion cards, yet the chassis still has just two SATA bays. A four-bay enclosure may be the better starting point if the long-term plan is a large hard-drive array with several disks. Important data needs a separate backup on both models.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| QNAP TS-264-8G-US |
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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.
QNAP TS-264-8G-US
Keep two SATA drives and add NVMe storage or cache
See price & reviews on AmazonSynology DiskStation DS225+
Work with Synology Photos, Drive and DSM backup tools
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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