QNAP TS-464-8G-US vs Synology DS925+: Synology with supported ECC RAM above 16GB, or QNAP with optional 10GbE
Quick verdict
The TS-464-8G-US is the one for optional 10GbE, provided a compatible card you buy separately fits its only PCIe slot and your OS, client, network and workload support it. QNAP’s memory documents contradict each other, so the revision you would receive is unconfirmed. The DS925+ is the one when a DSM-compatible workload needs more than 16GB and up to 32GB of ECC, built from two matching supported Synology 16GB modules, and 2.5GbE is enough. Check drive compatibility either way, remembering that Synology applies stricter M.2 rules. Drives, upgrades and DX525 are extra costs. Neither model offers both supported 10GbE expansion and ECC beyond 16GB, and neither stands in for a separate backup.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Whether the network upgrade pays off depends on the workstation
Keep the files and apps the same in both cases. QNAP’s only PCIe slot can take a compatible optional card that lifts the 2.5GbE cap on the NAS side, but only if the supported OS, a 10GbE client, the cables, the switch and the storage workload can all take advantage of it. A 1GbE client is still the bottleneck even after you buy the card. And if your network stays at 2.5GbE or lower, there is no reason to upgrade. Pay for the card and compatible drives separately, and check the supplied memory revision and your memory needs against QNAP’s documents, which disagree with each other. No transfer gain has been measured.
Where this comes from
What counts is a connection path you can use. The sum of the speeds printed next to two ports does not tell you that. Whether the optional link is worth buying depends on the full path and the workload. No real throughput or time saved has been calculated.
The catch
QNAP TS-464-8G-US
To get 10GbE you have to buy a compatible card separately and have a supported OS, a client and a complete network path to go with it. The card takes the only PCIe slot. No measured transfer rate is promised, and no card is included.
The catch
Synology DiskStation DS925+
The 4GB that ships with it falls short of a requirement above 16GB. Plan on two matching, supported Synology 16GB ECC modules to reach 32GB, and verify app support. ECC is no substitute for separate backups.
TS-464-8G-US
QNAP TS-464-8G-US
Why pick it
The TS-464-8G-US fits if you want optional 10GbE and its only PCIe slot is open for a compatible card bought separately. Verify the card revision, QTS/QuTS hero support, your client, cables, switch and workload. QNAP’s documents disagree, so the memory revision you would get is still unconfirmed. Make sure it covers what you need, and set aside budget for compatible drives. No transfer speed is promised.
The catch
To get 10GbE you have to buy a compatible card separately and have a supported OS, a client and a complete network path to go with it. The card takes the only PCIe slot. No measured transfer rate is promised, and no card is included.
The DS925+ appears here with the optional DX525 expansion unit. Drives and the DX525 are sold separately.
Synology DiskStation DS925+
Why pick it
The DS925+ is the pick when a DSM-compatible workload needs more than 16GB, up to 32GB, of supported ECC memory and 2.5GbE is sufficient. Budget for two matching supported Synology 16GB modules to take the place of the supplied 4GB, and for compatible drives, which face stricter M.2 rules. Neither of QNAP’s conflicting memory specifications meets this need. The DX525 costs extra, and ECC is no substitute for backups.
The catch
The 4GB that ships with it falls short of a requirement above 16GB. Plan on two matching, supported Synology 16GB ECC modules to reach 32GB, and verify app support. ECC is no substitute for separate backups.
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What this page compares
QNAP TS-464-8G-US and Synology DS925+ compared on optional 10GbE, supported ECC memory, drive rules and the extra hardware each route calls for.
Either one can start out as a home-office file server with four SATA drives and a separate backup destination. The choice that matters shows up when the same buyer plans the next step, which is either a faster workstation link or a memory-heavy supported application setup. Those two requirements are independent. A network card adds no app memory, and extra RAM does not upgrade a physical Ethernet port.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
The complete network can use a supported 10GbE NAS connection, and one is required
The optional compatible 10GbE card for QNAP takes its sole PCIe slot and needs supported QTS/QuTS hero, plus a capable client, cabling, switch and workload. Budget for the card and compatible drives. Confirm the supplied memory revision, because QNAP’s documents conflict. Synology has no documented supported 10GbE upgrade slot.
QNAP TS-464-8G-US
Better fit
Synology DiskStation DS925+
Not suitable
An app plan compatible with DSM needs more than 16GB of supported ECC memory
With two separately bought matching supported Synology 16GB modules replacing 4GB, DS925+ supports up to 32GB ECC. The app has to support DSM, 2.5GbE has to be enough and drives have to meet the relevant compatibility rules, especially M.2. QNAP’s conflicting 8GB/16GB documentation cannot cover the requirement. DX525 costs extra, and ECC does not replace backups.
QNAP TS-464-8G-US
Not suitable
Synology DiskStation DS925+
Better fit
The entire plan is met by four SATA drives, base memory and 2.5GbE at most per link
Both stay in the running as long as the exact apps, drives, usable storage layout and separate backup plan fit. Check the selected offer and the supplied package. The optional network and memory differences do not decide this smaller requirement, and a similar fit does not mean equal speed, reliability, noise or cost.
QNAP TS-464-8G-US
Similar
Synology DiskStation DS925+
Similar
Supported 10GbE expansion and supported ECC memory above 16GB are both mandatory
Supported 10GbE expansion and over-16GB ECC are not combined in either. Adding a faster QNAP network card cannot raise its documented memory ceiling, and more Synology memory cannot create a documented network-card slot. Either change a requirement or choose another verified chassis.
QNAP TS-464-8G-US
Not suitable
Synology DiskStation DS925+
Not suitable
An unverified app, codec, license or existing-array migration decides the choice
This comparison does not settle compatibility when the decision hinges on a specific media codec, camera-license count, application version or moving an existing array without reinitializing it. Verify the exact application, operating system, licenses and migration method first. A processor name, spare bay or matching connector does not count as that verification. Before initialization, migration or an operating-system change, keep a separate recoverable backup.
QNAP TS-464-8G-US
Caution
Synology DiskStation DS925+
Caution
You expect the box to include the pictured expansion unit or a populated storage array
Neither selected offer comes with drives. Each is a four-bay chassis, so compatible drives are a separate purchase. The Synology photo shows an optional DX525, but it is not in the box. Memory and network upgrades cost extra too. Check what the package really contains and what the whole purchase will add up to, rather than reading a picture as a bundle.
QNAP TS-464-8G-US
Caution
Synology DiskStation DS925+
Caution
In practice
Differences you will notice
01
Whether the network upgrade pays off depends on the workstation
Keep the files and apps the same in both cases. QNAP’s only PCIe slot can take a compatible optional card that lifts the 2.5GbE cap on the NAS side, but only if the supported OS, a 10GbE client, the cables, the switch and the storage workload can all take advantage of it. A 1GbE client is still the bottleneck even after you buy the card. And if your network stays at 2.5GbE or lower, there is no reason to upgrade. Pay for the card and compatible drives separately, and check the supplied memory revision and your memory needs against QNAP’s documents, which disagree with each other. No transfer gain has been measured.
How we worked this out
What counts is a connection path you can use. The sum of the speeds printed next to two ports does not tell you that. Whether the optional link is worth buying depends on the full path and the workload. No real throughput or time saved has been calculated.
02
With the network unchanged, a real memory budget can flip the choice
Say 2.5GbE is enough for your network and your DSM-compatible memory budget comes to 24GB in total. The DS925+ can meet that if you buy two matching, supported Synology 16GB ECC modules to replace the supplied 4GB. Check that your app works and that your drives are compatible, M.2 especially. QNAP’s documents contradict each other and describe either non-expandable 8GB or a 16GB maximum, so neither reaches 24GB. If 4GB and non-ECC memory are enough for you, this reason to pay for more memory goes away. More RAM does not prove faster CPU performance and does not stand in for backups.
How we worked this out
In this example the network need stays fixed and only the supported memory requirement changes. Thirty-two GB clears the chosen 24GB total, while 16GB and 8GB both come up short. It is a capacity check for illustration only, and it does not say that any unspecified application runs well.
03
In some cases the answer is to look at a different NAS
If you need both a supported 10GbE link and more than 16GB of ECC memory, you need to look at another NAS. QNAP gives you the network-card route. The DS925+ gives you the memory route but has no documented 10GbE slot. Lowering your memory needs brings QNAP back into play, but only once its supplied revision and app support are confirmed. Settling for 2.5GbE does the same for Synology, provided you buy supported memory and compatible drives separately. An app, license or migration method you have not verified is a reason to wait. The lack of verification does not prove it won't work. Keep a separate backup you can restore from before you change storage or the OS.
How we worked this out
If you need both features, you can't fix it by putting a card in the wrong platform or by assuming a memory upgrade that isn't supported. When there is no evidence about your application, check it. Missing evidence does not mean the application can't work.
Option A
TS-464-8G-US
QNAP, TS-464-8G-US
QNAP TS-464-8G-US
The TS-464-8G-US is a diskless four-bay NAS that comes with 8GB DDR4, two 2.5GbE ports and one PCIe slot that can take a compatible optional network card. Check the actual hardware revision before you count on memory upgrades. Going to 10GbE takes extra supported hardware and a suitable client path.
Best for
The TS-464-8G-US fits if you want optional 10GbE and its only PCIe slot is open for a compatible card bought separately. Verify the card revision, QTS/QuTS hero support, your client, cables, switch and workload. QNAP’s documents disagree, so the memory revision you would get is still unconfirmed. Make sure it covers what you need, and set aside budget for compatible drives. No transfer speed is promised.
The DS925+ appears here with the optional DX525 expansion unit. Drives and the DX525 are sold separately.
Synology, DS925+
Synology DiskStation DS925+
The DS925+ is a diskless four-bay DSM NAS that has 4GB ECC memory and two 2.5GbE ports. To reach its supported 32GB configuration, you buy two matching Synology 16GB ECC modules separately. The DX525 in the picture and every drive are also separate purchases. The documentation lists no 10GbE upgrade slot.
Best for
The DS925+ is the pick when a DSM-compatible workload needs more than 16GB, up to 32GB, of supported ECC memory and 2.5GbE is sufficient. Budget for two matching supported Synology 16GB modules to take the place of the supplied 4GB, and for compatible drives, which face stricter M.2 rules. Neither of QNAP’s conflicting memory specifications meets this need. The DX525 costs extra, and ECC is no substitute for backups.
Facts we checked
Adding a faster physical network link: Two built-in 2.5GbE ports, no documented 10GbE upgrade slot
Supported memory for an app plan: 4GB ECC supplied, up to 32GB with two matching 16GB modules
Choosing the operating system before loading data: Synology DSM
Buying SATA drives and M.2 SSDs: DSM 7.3 allows unlisted SATA drives, with separate M.2 restrictions
In practiceIf you own a workstation, QNAP offers a supported way to swap out the 2.5GbE link on the NAS side. The card, the client, the cables and the switch all have to fit the plan. Each unit starts with two 2.5GbE ports, and having two sockets does not turn a single transfer into a 5GbE one.
Supported memory for an app plan
QNAP TS-464-8G-US8GB DDR4 supplied. Confirm revision before planning an upgrade
Synology DiskStation DS925+4GB ECC supplied, up to 32GB with two matching 16GB modules
In practiceSynology can meet a stated need for supported memory above 16GB. For the 8G model, QNAP’s current specification has listed SODIMM since January 2024 with a 16GB maximum, but the family manual still calls 8G memory non-expandable. Which revision the selected physical unit is has not been established here. Neither QNAP document describes a configuration with more than 16GB or ECC.
Choosing the operating system before loading data
QNAP TS-464-8G-USQTS by default, with a supported QuTS hero switch
Synology DiskStation DS925+Synology DSM
In practiceBefore you buy, look at the application you run and which platform it supports. Moving to QNAP’s alternative is not a risk-free switch once the NAS is full. Its instructions call for a backup stored elsewhere and for removing every disk before you change operating systems. If your workflow depends on DSM, that alone can settle the purchase regardless of what a port or memory spec says.
Buying SATA drives and M.2 SSDs
QNAP TS-464-8G-USCheck QNAP’s exact-model and selected-OS compatibility
Synology DiskStation DS925+DSM 7.3 allows unlisted SATA drives, with separate M.2 restrictions
In practiceSynology’s original restriction from launch should not be assumed to cover every SATA purchase today. Under DSM 7.3, DS Plus accepts unlisted HDDs and 2.5-inch SATA SSDs in new storage pools, unless they are listed as incompatible. Unlisted M.2 drives are still kept out of new pools and cache. You still need to check compatibility and support for the specific device and how you plan to use it.
Adding bays later
QNAP TS-464-8G-USSupported USB or PCIe-connected expansion depends on the enclosure
In practiceEither one can expand past four SATA drives. On QNAP, an enclosure adapter and a separate network card both want the single PCIe slot and can't share it, so plan the full expansion before buying. Synology supports volumes that span units but recommends keeping a volume inside one chassis. Expansion hardware and drives cost extra, and an attached enclosure does not count as a separate backup.
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With QNAP TS-464-8G-US
Find out which revision of the 8G you physically have before upgrading any memory. The current specification lists 16GB SODIMM, which conflicts with the family manual’s description of non-expandable 8GB. No configuration above 16GB or with ECC is documented. Drives and expansion hardware cost extra.
With Synology DiskStation DS925+
No 10GbE upgrade slot is documented. DSM 7.3 allows unlisted SATA drives but applies stricter rules to M.2. The DX525 in the picture and every drive are bought separately, and drives for the expansion unit need their own compatibility check.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
Your whole workstation plan depends on a supported optional 10GbE link
Go with QNAP TS-464-8G-US. Set aside QNAP’s only PCIe slot for a compatible card you buy separately, then check its revision, the OS, the client, the cabling, the switch and the workload. Check the supplied memory revision against the documents that contradict each other, and budget for compatible drives. A 10GbE link does not guarantee any particular transfer speed.
Your DSM workload calls for more than 16GB of supported ECC memory
Go with Synology DiskStation DS925+. With matching, supported Synology 16GB ECC modules bought separately to replace the 4GB, the DS925+ reaches up to 32GB. Check DSM app support, make sure 2.5GbE networking is enough, and confirm your drives are compatible, bearing in mind the stricter M.2 rules. Neither of QNAP’s conflicting memory configurations goes past 16GB. The DX525 costs extra, and you still need backups.
You need both the supported 10GbE route and more than 16GB of ECC capacity
Neither model fits. No chassis here documents both. QNAP’s supported card route has no ECC configuration above 16GB, and Synology’s supported memory route has no 10GbE expansion slot.
You haven't yet verified the app or migration method you need
Neither model fits. Before buying, confirm the exact app, the OS, the licenses and the migration procedure. A lack of evidence doesn't prove that both will fail. Before you initialize, migrate or change the OS, keep a separate backup you can restore from.
Decision guide
Before you buy
Start by writing down the network connection and application memory you really need, and then price out the full supported setup.
Check these before you buy
Pin down the exact US diskless offer for the TS-464-8G-US or DS925+, including seller, condition and return terms. Four internal SATA bays come on both. You buy drives, memory upgrades and expansion enclosures separately. The DS925+ photo shows an optional DX525 and is not a nine-bay kit that ships together. Nothing here claims a current price, stock level, delivery time or cheaper option.
Neither the 8G in the name nor the photo tells you which memory revision QNAP ships. The current PDF for the exact model says SODIMM since January 2024 and a 16GB maximum, while the January 2026 family manual still describes non-expandable 8GB. Before paying for an upgrade, ask the seller or QNAP to confirm the revision supplied and the supported memory configuration. This page cannot settle the revision of the physical unit, and it does not approve unsupported modules. Neither document reaches past 16GB.
If you want 10GbE on the QNAP, keep its one PCIe slot free and verify the exact card revision and operating-system support. QNAP lists the QXG-10G1T as an optional TS-464 accessory. The current page for that card requires QTS 5.2.9 or later, or QuTS hero h5.2.9 or later, and specifies Cat 6a cabling for 10GbE RJ45. Those requirements apply to that documented card and not to every older card with similar branding. Before you purchase, go through the model-specific compatibility list again. QNAP also promotes the QXG-10G2TB, but it is marked end of life, so its listing does not promise availability.
Follow the network path from the NAS to the workstation. Each piece has to support the connection you intend, including the client adapter, the negotiated link, the switch ports in between and the cables. Count their cost apart from the diskless NAS. Real transfers can be held back by disk layout, protocol, file sizes and simultaneous work. Link aggregation or SMB Multichannel requires a complete, supported configuration, and it does not make any single ordinary connection a guaranteed 5GbE link. This page promises no measured transfer rate.
Reaching 32GB on the DS925+ means taking out the supplied 4GB module and installing two supported Synology 16GB ECC modules that share the same model number. Pairing the original 4GB module with a 16GB one does not give you the documented 32GB configuration. According to the manual, you shut the unit down and unplug all cables before touching memory, and afterward you confirm the recognized capacity in DSM. Put the modules in your budget and follow the installation instructions exactly. More memory does not show faster file copies or adequate CPU performance.
Match each app you plan to use against DSM or whichever QNAP operating system you pick, covering version, architecture, memory overhead and any license. QNAP ships with QTS by default and allows a switch to QuTS hero starting from QTS 5.2.1. QuTS hero needs at least 8GB, and inline deduplication needs at least 16GB. Because the 8G memory revision is unresolved, you cannot count on that optional feature. A switch calls for a backup on a different storage destination and for removing all disks first, so it is not an in-place conversion that leaves your array installed.
The DS925+ follows the current DSM 7.3 drive policy. Third-party HDDs and 2.5-inch SATA SSDs that are not on the list can still be installed and used for new pools, unless they are explicitly listed as incompatible. Synology continues to recommend validated drives. That permission stops short of unlisted M.2 NVMe drives for a new pool or cache. Check the model, firmware, whether it will serve as pool or cache, and the DSM version installed. Migrated pools you keep come with their own conditions, which give no permission for a new installation.
For the QNAP, also consult its compatibility list for your exact drives, card and operating system. Each NAS has two M.2 slots, yet a socket by itself does not show that pool creation, cache use or any gain for your workload is supported. Neither one allows hot-swapping M.2, so follow the powered-off installation procedure. This comparison does not certify any specific SATA or M.2 drive model.
Think about future bays before a network card takes over QNAP’s PCIe slot. The manual covers USB expansion as well as SATA JBOD units, which need a QXP PCIe adapter. Two expansion cards can’t share one slot, and each enclosure has its own storage-pool rules. On the Synology side, one optional DX525 adds five more bays and needs its own power and a supported connection. Synology recommends volumes that each stay within a chassis over spanning the NAS and the expansion unit. Look up the DX525’s own drive compatibility and don’t apply the DS Plus SATA rule by default.
Maintain your own recoverable backup of important files, and try restoring from it. Extra RAM, ECC, RAID, snapshots and an attached expansion unit each solve different problems, so none of them replaces a backup kept elsewhere. Before you initialize, switch operating systems or move drives, verify the exact supported procedure and keep the source data safe. Moving drives between these two models is not a documented cross-brand migration path.
What this page can’t tell you
The basis here is published specifications, current policy and operating instructions. It does not include matched tests of transfers, app speed, noise, energy use, reliability or recovery.
For the offer in question, the physical memory revision in the QNAP is unverified. Its current specifications and family manual disagree on whether the 8G can be expanded. Neither documented version establishes a supported configuration above 16GB or with ECC.
In the interface layout that was reviewed, the Synology has no documented 10GbE upgrade slot. This limits the supported plan only and does not test every unofficial USB adapter or modification.
A CPU or GPU name says nothing about Plex hardware transcoding, codec support, stream counts or whether a camera license is included. Look up the exact application and license requirements on their own.
What is established is the DSM 7.3 drive policy. The page makes no claim about the latest deployable patch number, the availability of any single accessory or exact compatibility of third-party drives.
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
Models in the comparison
2 models
Sources
9 covering these models
Product data updated
The facts and sources behind each product in this recommendation
Product
Needs it meets
Facts we checked
Sources
QNAP TS-464-8G-US
The TS-464-8G-US fits if you want optional 10GbE and its only PCIe slot is open for a compatible card bought separately. Verify the card revision, QTS/QuTS hero support, your client, cables, switch and workload. QNAP’s documents disagree, so the memory revision you would get is still unconfirmed. Make sure it covers what you need, and set aside budget for compatible drives. No transfer speed is promised.
The DS925+ is the pick when a DSM-compatible workload needs more than 16GB, up to 32GB, of supported ECC memory and 2.5GbE is sufficient. Budget for two matching supported Synology 16GB modules to take the place of the supplied 4GB, and for compatible drives, which face stricter M.2 rules. Neither of QNAP’s conflicting memory specifications meets this need. The DX525 costs extra, and ECC is no substitute for backups.
Adding a faster physical network link: Two built-in 2.5GbE ports, no documented 10GbE upgrade slot
Supported memory for an app plan: 4GB ECC supplied, up to 32GB with two matching 16GB modules
Choosing the operating system before loading data: Synology DSM
Buying SATA drives and M.2 SSDs: DSM 7.3 allows unlisted SATA drives, with separate M.2 restrictions
Adding bays later: One separately purchased five-bay DX525
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
TS-464-8G-US
QNAP TS-464-8G-US
The TS-464-8G-US fits if you want optional 10GbE and its only PCIe slot is open for a compatible card bought separately. Verify the card revision, QTS/QuTS hero support, your client, cables, switch and workload. QNAP’s documents disagree, so the memory revision you would get is still unconfirmed. Make sure it covers what you need, and set aside budget for compatible drives. No transfer speed is promised.
The DS925+ appears here with the optional DX525 expansion unit. Drives and the DX525 are sold separately.
Synology DiskStation DS925+
The DS925+ is the pick when a DSM-compatible workload needs more than 16GB, up to 32GB, of supported ECC memory and 2.5GbE is sufficient. Budget for two matching supported Synology 16GB modules to take the place of the supplied 4GB, and for compatible drives, which face stricter M.2 rules. Neither of QNAP’s conflicting memory specifications meets this need. The DX525 costs extra, and ECC is no substitute for backups.
