Group test: what's the best NAS device?

The Top 5 NAS drives you can buy

By | PC Advisor |

PC Advisor picks out the best five home-entertainment, media-streaming devices available in the UK right now. 

5. Buffalo LinkStation Pro LS-VL

Buffalo LinkStation Pro LS-VL
  • Reviewed on: 30 January 12
  • RRP: £150 inc VAT
  • Rating: Rated 7 out of 10

While the Buffalo Link Station Pro comes with some pro features, we feel the modest size, low power consumption, price tag and styled looks make this more attractive as a home product. As NAS devices go, this is a reasonably simple device to setup and use, although its file read/write performance lags the best available at this price.

 

4. QNAP TS-659 Pro II

QNAP TS-659 Pro II
  • Reviewed on: 23 January 12
  • RRP: £1000 inc VAT
  • Rating: Rated 8 out of 10

The QNAP TS-659 Pro II is a consummately professional piece of network storage hardware, with bay capacity, processing power and memory expandability to accomodate your requirements. Extra USB 3.0 ports aid its integration with modern external storage. The Pro+ version is still in production at around £775, but if you need the extra bells now or just some proofing for the future, the QNAP TS-659 Pro II warrants the extra outlay.

 

3. Synology DiskStation DS211

Synology DiskStation DS211
  • Reviewed on: 25 February 11
  • RRP: £215 inc VAT
  • Rating: Rated 9 out of 10

Neatly finished hardware and a very attractive and powerful software system make the Synology DiskStation DS211 an easy recommendation. It is well-suited to home users needing unobtrusive storage for media or backups, or small business applications.

2. Netgear ReadyNAS Duo v2

Netgear ReadyNAS Duo v2
  • Reviewed on: 14 December 11
  • RRP: £150 inc VAT (diskless)
  • Rating: Rated 9 out of 10

We were very impressed with the design and performance of this versatile two-bay NAS drive. It has an approachable interface, a key feature, even if storage veterans may have to learn a little Netgearspeak to translate familiar RAID terms. Topping the package is a very competitive price for the diskless unit.

 

1. Zxyel NSA325

Zxyel NSA325
  • Reviewed on: 9 February 12
  • RRP: £145 inc. VAT
  • Rating: Rated 0 out of 10

If you need a NAS drive for storing and sharing files on a network, you have two choices: buy a unit prestuffed with hard drives that's simple to set up and use, or get a diskless enclosure to which you must add your own storage. If you're willing to sacrifice the simplicity of a pre-built unit in return for greater configuration control, and demand strong performance and useful functions, you're exactly the type of user Zyxel had in mind when it designed the NSA325.

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Comments

David Clark said: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-...I own one of these, with a 16GB microSD card in a USB memory card reader.  All my music is accessable across the network and to my SONOS system.  They are all over Ebay for between £22 and £30.  They can be used to make a network printer or by using a flash drive make a NAS.  They are much quieter and consume considerably less power than hard drive based units.  Probably the same as No 4 except a quarter of the price.If I did not buy that, I would have bought a Linksys WRT160NL router with built in storage link.

anton_f said: What sort of review does not feature the inexpensive but well respected Netgear ReadyNas Duo?  In 4TB form it costs around £230 and mine has been rock solid for over 2 years.

Worldofsteve said: anyone any experience of setting up a NAS as a RAID array ? I'd be paranoid about having all my music on one potentially fragile drive, I have the CDs just don't fancy have to rip them all again...

nas said: you might also want to check out http://www.davidtan.org/top-20...

Jim said: Well, I was reading carefully all the articles until I reached Thomas and Martin comment! And I agree and double checked! This article is completely RUBBISH!

martin said: hang on ... isn't this a review of the best NAS drives ... yet your number 1 choice is by your own admission slow and really just adequate as an entry level device, and your number 2 choice isn't actually a storage device ...NAS ...no storage .... spot the missing link??your number 2 choice is just a hamburger sized switch box for connection USB2 devices ... Thanks for the advice (not) I can't begin to imagine what basis you rank your reviewed products on! Rubbish reviews and advice.

Thomas said: You have got to be kidding me? Have you read about the issues with Wester Digital NAS? Google anything and you'll find thousands of people cursing over the bad products and the support.Don't buy a Wester Digital NAS if you want to use it for backups. Or, if you do, buy two so you can backup your backups...

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