Convince Me Not to Buy The DS918+

P.Sherman on 19/06/2018 - 07:15
Last edited 19/06/2018 - 10:24 by 1 other user

The box will serve as a backup and DLNA server. I was initially considering the following two boxes:

DS418: Quadcore (RealTek RTD1296 1.4 GHz), 2GB = $604 (eBay)
DS918: Quadcore (Celeron J3455 1.5Ghz), 4GB = $782 (eBay)

As I understand it both the DS918 and DS418 are capable of real time 10bit 4k x265 transcoding. This is done natively and the engine is propitiatory? I don't think Plex be able to handle 10bit 4k h265 on a RTD1296/J3455. Having said that the odd 4k drone footage can wait.

The reason I'm veering towards the DS918 is because of btrfs and possible future scalability. The users in the household are not computer literate. They just want something that's 'easy' and works, and frankly I don't have the time to build/setup a server.

Please help :D Is there any other factors to consider? Both boxes seem relatively similar considering the price tags.

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  Fergy1987 on 19/06/2018 - 08:37

  +1

  dont buy it - there will be something newer in 6 months.

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  CyberMurning on 19/06/2018 - 09:16

  Yeah buy it.

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  CyberMurning on 19/06/2018 - 09:16

  +1

  Or wait for eBay discount codes

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  iforgotmysocks on 19/06/2018 - 09:26

  Why? Whether you buy it or not has no effect on me.

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  hawkeye on 19/06/2018 - 10:27

  +1

  I'd buy a Qnap and have already more bangs for same bucks

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  stratbargain on 19/06/2018 - 10:32

  +1

  I love my 918+. Combined with Docker it's completely replaced my main PC as Server and storage. So much more than a NAS. Plex/Deluge/Sonarr/Radarr/ etc etc.

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    O O on 19/06/2018 - 12:09

    I think this is the main reason to get a DS918+.

    otherwise, DS418 or even DS418j will suffice.

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  dogboy on 19/06/2018 - 11:33

  +1

  Just buy a HP Microserver..

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  jace88 on 21/09/2019 - 00:21

  Which model did you end up settling for as I'm literally debating between upgrading from my trusty DS216j with 2x3TB drives to a four bay DS418j or DS918+. This way I can reuse the old drives if I migrate them over (or maybe I'll give it to my parents).

  Current pricing has the DS918+ somewhere between $620 and $670 depending on eBay coupons (currently $666.40 through Futu_Online and 20% off coupon) whereas DS418j is hovering around the $380 mark now from pclan_online with 10% off coupon).

  Multiple uses for me - mainly secure/encrypted local copies of OneDrive/Dropbox (we have about 1.5TB of data mainly family photos) and a place to download and then stream TV shows/movies to my Apple TV (4K) on the same network (as well as other wireless devices of varying capabilities in the house).