6 Best Alternatives to the Synology 12-Bay Quad-Core NAS (2026)

How alternatives compare to Synology 12-Bay

QNAP TS-673-4G 8-Bay NAS

The QNAP TS-673-4G offers eight drive bays and a quad-core processor with 4GB of RAM, matching the Synology’s core processing power but with fewer slots. It lacks the Synology’s 10/25GbE networking, relying instead on standard 1GbE connectivity. However, it includes a PCIe slot for GPU expansion, which benefits users needing hardware transcoding for media servers. This unit is smaller and lighter, measuring 10.4 inches wide compared to the Synology’s 17-inch chassis. You should choose this alternative if you prioritize GPU acceleration and PCIe upgradability over high-speed networking and maximum drive capacity. It is a strong fit for media-centric workflows where native 10GbE is less critical than transcoding performance.

Asustor Lockerstor 4-Bay Quad-Core NAS

The Asustor Lockerstor AS6604T provides four drive bays, a quad-core processor, and 4GB of RAM, significantly reducing storage density compared to the Synology’s 12-bay layout. It features 2.5GbE networking, which offers faster local network speeds than the Synology’s standard 1GbE ports, though it lacks the 10/25GbE options available for expansion on the Synology. This model supports M.2 NVMe drives for caching or volume expansion. It is much more compact, measuring just 6.69 inches wide. You should pick this alternative if you need faster Ethernet connectivity and NVMe support but do not require twelve drive slots. It is ideal for users who value speed and expandability over raw storage volume.

Synology 8-Bay Short-Depth Rackmount NAS

The Synology RS1221+ is an 8-bay rackmount NAS with a quad-core processor and 4GB of RAM, offering the same brand ecosystem but in a different form factor. It provides eight drive bays instead of twelve, reducing total capacity potential. The unit is designed for rack mounting, measuring 16.5 inches wide and 8.5 inches high, making it suitable for server rooms. It shares the Synology DiskStation OS, ensuring software compatibility with the original model. You should choose this alternative if you need a compact, rack-mountable solution with high-speed data access without pre-loaded drives. It is best for users who prioritize space efficiency and standard rack integration over the maximum 12-bay capacity of the DS2422+.

The Asustor AS6512RD is a 12-bay rackmount NAS with a quad-core processor and 8GB of RAM, doubling the memory capacity of the Synology DS2422+. It matches the drive bay count but is designed specifically for rack installation, measuring 17.3 inches wide and 3.46 inches high. It features 2.5GbE and 5GbE networking, offering faster connectivity options than the Synology’s base configuration. This unit is heavier, weighing 25.8 pounds compared to the Synology’s 20.9 pounds. You should pick this alternative if you need higher RAM capacity for virtualization workloads and faster native networking in a rackmount chassis. It suits server environments where memory and network speed are prioritized over the Synology’s expansion capabilities.

The Synology DS223j is a 2-bay NAS with a quad-core processor and 1GbE networking, offering significantly less storage capacity and drive bays than the 12-bay DS2422+. It is a diskless unit, unlike some pre-configured alternatives, but provides a much smaller footprint. This model is designed for light home office or personal media storage rather than high-volume enterprise use. It lacks the expansion options and high-speed networking features of the DS2422+. You should choose this alternative if you need a compact, affordable solution for basic file backup and media access. It is ideal for users who prioritize simplicity and included capacity over the high performance and scalability of the 12-bay system.

The TERRAMASTER T12-500 Pro is a 12-bay NAS featuring an Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB of RAM, offering significantly more processing power and memory than the Synology’s quad-core CPU and 4GB RAM. It matches the 12-bay drive capacity but uses a different operating system ecosystem. The unit is designed for high-performance backup and virtualization workloads, leveraging its 10-core processor for intensive tasks. It is compact for its capacity, measuring 6.42 inches wide. You should pick this alternative if you prioritize raw processing power and high RAM capacity over the Synology ecosystem. It is best for users running virtualization or heavy data processing who need maximum hardware specs rather than specific software features.

Quick picks

Our 7 picks

1 Best overall

Synology 12-Bay Quad-Core NAS

Best for: large-scale expandable multi-bay network storage

Drive Bays

12-Bay

Processor

Quad Core

RAM Capacity

4GB DDR4

Included Storage

Diskless

Dimensions

18.5 × 17 × 16.5 inches

Weight

20.9 pounds

View on Amazon: Synology 12-Bay Quad-Core NAS Affiliate link

The Synology 12-Bay Quad-Core NAS is a high-capacity desktop enclosure designed for large data workloads. It comes equipped with a quad-core processor and 4GB of DDR4 memory, delivering up to 2,201 MB/s sequential read and 1,383 MB/s write performance. You can double its capacity to 24 drives using a DX1222 expansion unit, or upgrade memory to 32 GB. This setup suits you if you require extensive local storage capacity.

Pros

• 12 drive bays expandable to 24 bays with DX1222 expansion unit
• Up to 2,201 MB/s read and 1,383 MB/s sequential write performance
• Supports memory expansion up to 32 GB
• Comes with a 3-year warranty

Cons

• Ships with base 4GB DDR4 memory
• Diskless enclosure requires separate drive purchases
• 10/25GbE networking and NVMe SSD cache require add-on upgrades

Good fit if

• You need 12 drive bays with the ability to expand to 24 bays.
• You plan to leverage optional 10/25GbE networking or NVMe caching.
• You require sequential read throughput up to 2,201 MB/s.

Skip if

• You want pre-installed drives right out of the box.
• You require more than 4GB of factory-installed system memory.

Verdict: Synology 12-Bay Quad-Core NAS delivers scalable multi-bay storage with support for up to 24 bays and sequential read speeds reaching 2,201 MB/s. It provides a solid foundation if you need high-volume capacity backed by a 3-year warranty.

2 Best budget

Asustor Flashstor 12-Bay NVMe NAS

Best for: all-flash storage for content creators

Drive Bays

12-Bay

Network Connectivity

10GbE, 2.5GbE

Processor

Intel Celeron N5105

RAM Capacity

4GB DDR4-2933

M.2 NVMe Slots

12 slots

Included Storage

Diskless

View on Amazon: Asustor Flashstor 12-Bay NVMe NAS Affiliate link

The Asustor Flashstor 12 Pro is a 12-bay NAS designed for all-flash storage using M.2 NVMe drives. It features a Quad-Core Intel Celeron N5105 CPU and 4GB of DDR4-2933 RAM. You get 10GbE and 2.5GbE network ports for high-speed data transfer. This unit is diskless and targets content creators who need fast, reliable storage for large media files.

Pros

• 12 dedicated M.2 NVMe slots for all-flash storage
• Intel Celeron N5105 Quad-Core processor
• 4GB DDR4-2933 RAM for efficient performance
• 10GbE and 2.5GbE network connectivity

Cons

• Only 4GB of RAM compared to higher capacities in other list items
• Diskless design requires you to purchase M.2 drives separately
• Heavier at 3.02 pounds than typical 12-bay HDD NAS units

Good fit if

• You need an all-flash NAS for high-speed media editing
• You want 10GbE connectivity for fast network transfers
• You prefer M.2 NVMe drives over traditional hard drives

Skip if

• You need pre-installed storage drives for immediate use
• You require more than 4GB of system RAM
• You are looking for a budget-friendly option with included drives

Verdict: Asustor Flashstor 12 Pro 12-Bay All-Flash NAS is a specialized storage solution for content creators who prioritize speed and flash storage. It suits professionals who already own M.2 NVMe drives and need robust network performance for large files.

3 Best 2-bay

Asustor AS6702T v2 2-Bay NAS

Best for: NVMe caching and dual 5GbE connectivity

Drive Bays

2 Bay

Network Connectivity

Dual 5GbE

Processor

Intel Celeron N5105

RAM Capacity

4 GB DDR4-2933

M.2 NVMe Slots

4x M.2 slots

Included Storage

3 x 4TB SSD

View on Amazon: Asustor AS6702T v2 2-Bay NAS Affiliate link

The Asustor AS6702T v2 is a 2-bay NAS featuring an Intel Quad-Core 2.0 GHz processor and 4 GB of RAM. It includes dual 5-Gigabit Ethernet ports and four M.2 NVMe slots for high-speed caching. This bundle comes with three 4TB SSDs. It suits users needing fast local storage expansion and robust network connectivity for small offices or creative workflows.

Pros

• Quad-Core 2.0 GHz Intel Celeron N5105 CPU
• Dual 5-Gigabit Ethernet ports
• 4 GB DDR4-2933 RAM
• Four M.2 NVMe SSD slots
• Includes three 4TB SSDs

Cons

• Only two drive bays compared to 12-bay alternatives
• 4 GB RAM is lower than 4 GB in some competitors
• Heavier at 8.9 pounds than typical 2-bay units

Good fit if

• You need fast NVMe caching for existing HDDs
• You require dual 5GbE network ports
• You want pre-installed SSDs for immediate use

Skip if

• You need more than two drive bays
• You require 10GbE or higher network speeds
• You want a rackmount form factor

Verdict: The Asustor AS6702T v2 2-Bay NAS fits users who prioritize NVMe caching and dual 5GbE connectivity over raw drive capacity. It is ideal for small teams needing fast local storage expansion without the bulk of a 12-bay system.

4 Best premium

QNAP TS-673-4G 8-Bay NAS

Best for: Users needing GPU transcoding and PCIe expansion

Drive Bays

6 Bay

Network Connectivity

4x GbE LAN

RAM Capacity

4GB DDR4

M.2 NVMe Slots

2 slots

Number of Bays

8-Bay

Processor Cores

Quad-Core

View on Amazon: QNAP TS-673-4G 8-Bay NAS Affiliate link

The QNAP TS-673-4G is an 8-bay NAS featuring an AMD R-Series quad-core processor at 2.1GHz and 4GB of DDR4 RAM. It includes four 1GbE ports and two M.2 slots for SSD caching or storage pools. The unit supports NVIDIA GeForce GT1030 graphics for 4K transcoding. It suits users needing expandable storage with hardware acceleration for media tasks.

Pros

• AMD R-Series quad-core 2.1GHz processor
• Four 1GbE LAN ports
• Supports NVIDIA GeForce GT1030 for 4K transcoding
• Dual M.2 slots for SSD caching

Cons

• Limited to 1GbE network speeds
• Only 4GB RAM included
• No 10GbE ports built-in

Good fit if

• You need 8 drive bays for bulk storage
• You want hardware-accelerated 4K video transcoding
• You plan to add 10GbE via PCIe expansion

Skip if

• You require built-in 10GbE networking
• You need more than 8 drive bays
• You want more than 4GB of RAM

Verdict: QNAP 8-Bay NAS with 1GbE and GPU offers solid media processing and expandable storage, making it a strong fit for users who prioritize GPU transcoding and PCIe upgradability over native high-speed networking.

5 Best 4-bay

Asustor Lockerstor 4-Bay Quad-Core NAS

Best for: compact storage with 2.5GbE networking

Drive Bays

4-Bay

Network Connectivity

2x 2.5GbE

Processor

Quad-Core 2.0GHz

RAM Capacity

4GB DDR4

M.2 NVMe Slots

2 slots

Included Storage

Diskless

View on Amazon: Asustor Lockerstor 4-Bay Quad-Core NAS Affiliate link

The Asustor Lockerstor 4 is a 4-bay NAS featuring a 2.0GHz quad-core processor and 4GB of DDR4 RAM. It includes two M.2 NVMe slots for cache expansion and dual 2.5GbE ports for faster network throughput. This diskless unit suits users needing moderate storage capacity with solid processing power for home or small business tasks.

Pros

• Quad-core 2.0GHz processor handles virtualization and multimedia tasks
• Two built-in 2.5GbE network ports for improved bandwidth
• Two M.2 NVMe slots for SSD caching or storage
• 4GB DDR4 RAM supports multiple concurrent applications

Cons

• Only 4 drive bays, significantly less than the 12-bay competitors
• Diskless design requires you to purchase drives separately
• No mention of included storage capacity in specifications

Good fit if

• You need a compact NAS with fewer than 12 bays
• You want 2.5GbE networking for faster local transfers
• You plan to use M.2 NVMe SSDs for caching

Skip if

• You require 12 drive bays for large-scale storage
• You need a pre-installed drive configuration
• You prioritize higher core counts than quad-core

Verdict: Asustor Lockerstor 4 4-Bay NAS fits users who need 2.5GbE networking and NVMe support without requiring 12 bays.

6 Best rackmount

QNAP 12-Bay Rackmount NAS

Best for: 12-bay rackmount storage setups

Drive Bays

12-Bay

Processor

Quad-core 1.7 GHz

Form Factor

Rackmount

Dimensions

21 × 19 × 3.5 inches

Weight

27 pounds

View on Amazon: QNAP 12-Bay Rackmount NAS Affiliate link

The QNAP TS-1232PXU-RP-4G is a 12-bay rackmount NAS with a quad-core 1.7 GHz processor. It measures 19 inches wide and weighs 27 pounds. This unit suits users needing high capacity in a standard rack format. The quad-core CPU handles multiple tasks. The 12 bays allow for significant storage expansion.

Pros

• 12 drive bays for large storage arrays
• Quad-core 1.7 GHz processor
• Standard 19-inch rackmount form factor

Cons

• Heavier at 27 pounds compared to desktop units
• Lower 1.7 GHz clock speed than some competitors

Good fit if

• You need 12 drive bays in a rack
• You prefer a rackmount form factor
• You require a quad-core processor

Skip if

• You need a desktop tower design
• You require a higher clock speed CPU
• You prefer a lighter unit

Verdict: QNAP 12-Bay Rackmount NAS fits users who need 12 bays in a rack. It suits those prioritizing capacity and standard rack mounting over weight or raw clock speed.

7 Also great

Synology 8-Bay Short-Depth Rackmount NAS

Best for: compact 8-bay rack-mount storage

Drive Bays

8 Bay

Included Storage

Diskless

RAM Capacity

4GB RAM

Dimensions

23 × 16.5 × 8.5 inches

View on Amazon: Synology 8-Bay Short-Depth Rackmount NAS Affiliate link

The Synology 8-Bay RackStation RS1221+ offers 4GB of RAM and a compact depth of 298 mm. It delivers up to 2,315 MB/s read and 1,147 MB/s write speeds for multi-user environments. You can expand network performance by adding a PCIe SFP+ or RJ-45 card. This diskless unit supports Synology High Availability clusters for service uptime. It suits users needing dense storage in a small footprint.

Pros

• 8 drive bays for high capacity
• 4GB RAM for multitasking
• Up to 2,315 MB/s read speed
• Compact 298 mm depth
• Supports High Availability clustering

Cons

• Sold diskless with no included storage
• Limited to 4GB RAM capacity
• Requires separate purchase for PCIe network cards

Good fit if

• You need 8 drive bays in a rack-mountable form factor
• You want high read and write speeds for multi-user access
• You require a compact depth to fit in tight spaces

Skip if

• You need pre-installed storage drives
• You require more than 8 drive bays
• You need more than 4GB of RAM

Verdict: Synology 8-Bay RackStation RS1221+ NAS fits users who need high-speed data access and a compact rack-mount design without the cost of pre-loaded drives.

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Frequently asked questions

See also

• keystone 12 alternatives
• jet jwdp 12 alternatives