Main trade-off
QNAP TS-264-8G-US
The faster network card is optional and occupies the single PCIe slot.
Head-to-head
QNAP TS-264 vs Synology DS225+: QNAP leaves SSD and card upgrades around a two-drive mirror
The short answer
Choose TS-264-8G for two NVMe slots, more installed memory and a supported PCIe network-upgrade route. Choose DS225+ if Synology Photos and DSM backups are the priority. Both can hold a two-drive mirror, but QNAP leaves more hardware options around that mirror without replacing the enclosure.
Before you choose
The reasoning and the trade-offs
The selected QNAP ships with four times the RAM
TS-264-8G supplies 8 GB versus 2 GB in DS225+. That gives 6 GB more installed memory for the operating system and apps to share. It is a real starting-capacity difference, without proving four times the performance.
What this is based on
8 / 2 = 4. 8 - 2 = 6 GB. These are installed-memory capacities on the selected product variants.
Main trade-off
Synology DiskStation DS225+
No NVMe or PCIe slots.
QNAP TS-264-8G-US
- Choose it for
- Add NVMe storage or cache while retaining two SATA drives
- Keep a documented PCIe path to compatible faster networking
- Main trade-off
- The faster network card is optional and occupies the single PCIe slot.
Synology DiskStation DS225+
- Choose it for
- Use Synology Photos, Drive and DSM backup tools
- Keep a straightforward two-drive NAS with one 2.5GbE connection
- Main trade-off
- No NVMe or PCIe slots.
About this comparison
Compare QNAP TS-264-8G and Synology DS225+ for two-drive storage, apps and future networking. See which upgrades keep the hard-drive mirror intact.
Choose TS-264-8G for two NVMe slots, more installed memory and a supported PCIe network-upgrade route. Choose DS225+ if Synology Photos and DSM backups are the priority. Both can hold a two-drive mirror, but QNAP leaves more hardware options around that mirror without replacing the enclosure.
Winner by situation
Start with what you need it to do
I want two HDDs plus two NVMe devices
QNAP provides separate M.2 positions. Synology does not.
- QNAP TS-264-8G-US
- Better fit
- Synology DiskStation DS225+
- Not suitable
I may add a compatible 10GbE card later
QNAP documents a PCIe route. Card, client and network compatibility still apply.
- QNAP TS-264-8G-US
- Depends
- Synology DiskStation DS225+
- Not suitable
My priority is the DSM photo and backup workflow
DS225+ runs Synology's software environment.
- QNAP TS-264-8G-US
- Depends
- Synology DiskStation DS225+
- Better fit
I only have a 1GbE switch today
That network segment limits the path until it is upgraded.
- QNAP TS-264-8G-US
- Similar
- Synology DiskStation DS225+
- Similar
What matters in practice
The differences that matter
The selected QNAP ships with four times the RAM
TS-264-8G supplies 8 GB versus 2 GB in DS225+. That gives 6 GB more installed memory for the operating system and apps to share. It is a real starting-capacity difference, without proving four times the performance.
How we reached this conclusion
8 / 2 = 4. 8 - 2 = 6 GB. These are installed-memory capacities on the selected product variants.
A hard-drive mirror can stay intact while adding SSDs
Filling both SATA bays leaves DS225+ with no internal SSD slot. TS-264 still has two NVMe positions. QNAP can therefore accommodate a two-SSD plan without removing either hard drive, subject to compatible drives and the chosen storage mode.
How we reached this conclusion
Both have 2 SATA bays. QNAP adds 2 independent M.2 positions and Synology has 0. Filling the SATA pair does not consume QNAP's M.2 positions.
The network-upgrade route shares one expansion slot
QNAP's optional faster network card uses its single PCIe slot. If you also planned a PCIe storage card, you cannot assume both separate cards fit together. Decide which expansion is essential before counting every advertised option in one future system.
How we reached this conclusion
TS-264 has 1 PCIe Gen 3 x2 slot. Two separate PCIe cards need 2 slots. A supported combination card would need its own compatibility check.
Choice A
QNAP, TS-264-8G-US
QNAP TS-264-8G-US
A two-bay NAS with two built-in NVMe slots, dual 2.5GbE and a PCIe slot for supported SSD or network expansion. The selected current 8G configuration supplies 8 GB RAM.
- Best matched use
- Add NVMe storage or cache while retaining two SATA drives
Checked facts
- 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
Choice B
Synology, DS225+
Synology DiskStation DS225+
The chassis has 2-bay storage. Its fastest documented network path is 2.5 Gbps.
- Best matched use
- Use Synology Photos, Drive and DSM backup tools
Checked facts
- SATA bays: 2
- Built-in M.2 slots: None
- Installed RAM: 2 GB
- Official RAM ceiling: 6 GB
Meaningful differences
What changes the fit
| What changes | QNAP TS-264-8G-US | Synology DiskStation DS225+ | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| SATA bays | 2 | 2 | The basic mirrored hard-drive capacity is the same for equal drives. |
| Built-in M.2 slots | Two NVMe 2280, PCIe Gen 3 x1 each | None | QNAP can add compatible SSDs without using a SATA bay. |
| Installed RAM | 8 GB on the selected 8G model | 2 GB | The supplied memory differs by 6 GB. It does not establish an application-count guarantee. |
| Official RAM ceiling | 16 GB on the current SODIMM revision | 6 GB | Confirm the QNAP hardware revision before planning a memory upgrade. |
| Built-in Ethernet | Two 2.5GbE | One 2.5GbE and one 1GbE | Both have a 2.5GbE path, with different second-port capabilities. |
| Internal PCIe expansion | One Gen 3 x2 slot, compatible network-card options | None | QNAP documents optional 5GbE and 10GbE cards. Those cards and the matching network cost extra. |
What you give up
Every choice has a cost
If you choose QNAP TS-264-8G-US
- Memory-upgrade planning requires checking the hardware revision.
If you choose Synology DiskStation DS225+
- The supplied 2 GB and official 6 GB ceiling leave less memory headroom.
Recommendation switch
The decision flips if...
I need SSDs alongside a two-hard-drive mirror
Choose QNAP TS-264-8G-US. TS-264 has two built-in NVMe positions.
I want DSM rather than QTS for daily management
Choose Synology DiskStation DS225+. DS225+ provides the Synology software environment.
I need four internal SATA bays
Choose neither. Both compared enclosures have two.
What matters in practice
How to make the call
Compare the exact 8G offer
This page uses the TS-264-8G-US listing. QNAP's current specification documents SODIMM memory from January 2024 onward, while older revisions can differ. The included 8 GB is clear in the selected model. If a later RAM upgrade is important, ask the seller to confirm the revision before relying on the current 16 GB ceiling.
Separate an upgrade path from an included feature
TS-264 does not include 10GbE. It provides a PCIe path for a compatible card. A faster client adapter, switch and suitable storage may also be needed. Price that whole route if it motivates the purchase, rather than treating a diskless 2.5GbE NAS as a ready-made 10GbE system.
Keep the two-drive limit in view
NVMe slots and expansion cards make QNAP more flexible, but the chassis still has only two SATA bays. If the long-term plan is a large hard-drive array with several disks, a four-bay enclosure may be the better starting point. Both models still need a separate backup for important data.
What this comparison cannot tell you
- Storage calculations use equal-capacity compatible drives and decimal TB before formatting, system space and metadata. RAID protects against specified drive failures but does not replace a separate backup.
- Network figures are link rates rather than measured file-transfer speeds. Software support, memory revision, drive compatibility and the rest of the network must be checked for the exact purchase.
What the facts say
What the comparison shows
Useful conclusions from the current NAS devices comparison, followed by the checked facts used to reach them.
See the checked facts and calculation notes
| Product | Needs matched | Checked facts | Source records |
|---|---|---|---|
| QNAP TS-264-8G-US |
|
|
|
| Synology DiskStation DS225+ |
|
|
|
Ready to choose?
Check the price. Read the owner reviews.
Open either model on Amazon to check the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
QNAP TS-264-8G-US
Add NVMe storage or cache while retaining two SATA drives
See price & reviews on AmazonSynology DiskStation DS225+
Use Synology Photos, Drive and DSM backup tools
See price & reviews on AmazonLinks open in a new tab.