Legacy DiskStation decision guide
DS224+ is the odd member of this “legacy” batch because it is not truly legacy yet. Synology currently lists it as Generally Available with Full DSM updates and Full technical support. Its J4125 platform, two bays and dual 1GbE ports make it a compact Intel NAS that still competes on media capability, but the two-bay ceiling and absence of expansion are the boundaries that matter most for long-term ownership.
Quick answer
The DS224+ can still make sense when its limits match your workload
Choose or keep DS224+ when two drives are enough and you value an Intel platform for a small photo, backup or media server. Move toward DS225+ when native 2.5GbE matters, or DS725+/larger models when storage growth is already pushing beyond two bays. Because DS224+ remains supported and generally available, there is little reason to treat it as obsolete.
Current Amazon listings
Previous-generation Synology models and current upgrade destinations
A listing is not evidence that a discontinued NAS is still officially supported, and marketplace price alone does not make an older model a good buy.
Technical decision
Do not replace DS224+ just because a newer suffix exists
The DS224+ question is mostly about scale. CPU and DSM support remain useful; capacity architecture is fixed at two bays. If you can live comfortably inside that boundary, replacement can wait. If you are already planning elaborate USB workarounds or repeated drive-size jumps, a larger bay count can be the more economical next step.
Interactive ownership tool
Keep, Buy Used or Upgrade Planner
Use this as a planning aid, not as a replacement for Synology's live support database. Product status and DSM availability can change, so recheck the exact model before a purchase, migration or major DSM upgrade.
Ownership checklist
Four checks before keeping, buying or replacing an older Synology
Check support separately from availability
Discontinued does not automatically mean unsupported. Compare Product Availability, DSM Update status and Technical Support as separate fields.
Verify the exact DSM path
Use the Download Center and current release notes for the exact model. Do not infer DSM 7.4 support from a similar model number.
Upgrade for a real bottleneck
Bay pressure, network speed, memory, hardware condition and workload requirements are stronger reasons to replace a NAS than age alone.
Protect data before migration
Keep an independent verified backup before drive swaps, migrations, DSM upgrades or retiring an older DiskStation.
A current support profile changes the premise
Synology currently marks DS224+ Generally Available, with Full DSM updates and Full technical support. That is a very different lifecycle position from the discontinued 2020 models in this Sprint. Owners should focus on workload fit rather than retirement. Buyers can compare it directly with newer two-bay systems on features, price and network needs without adding an artificial “old model” penalty.
J4125 keeps the compact NAS practical
The Intel Celeron J4125 gives DS224+ four cores and integrated graphics in a small two-bay chassis. Its 2 GB starting memory is conservative, with an official 6 GB maximum, so the machine works best when DSM, file services and a modest application stack remain the priority. The Intel media path gives it a particular advantage for some home streaming setups that is not captured by raw CPU benchmark comparisons.
DSM 7.4 support is not the limiting factor
DS224+ belongs to the current DSM 7.4 generation, so software age should not drive an upgrade decision. The normal precautions still apply: keep independent backups, review release notes and check package compatibility before major updates. Because the model is still generally available, owners can reasonably expect its current software position to be stronger than older discontinued boxes, though every future release should still be checked by exact model.
Two 1GbE ports fit modest homes better than creators
Dual gigabit Ethernet is adequate for backups, photo libraries, document sharing and several ordinary clients. It becomes less satisfying when one workstation regularly moves hundreds of gigabytes. Link aggregation can improve aggregate service across clients in suitable networks, but the individual transfer ceiling remains. A user buying new into a 2.5GbE home network should compare DS225+ rather than assuming the DS224+ ports will somehow scale later.
The media case is stronger than the bay count suggests
For a two-drive Plex or Jellyfin library, DS224+ can be a smart compact choice because the Intel platform may support hardware-assisted media conversion in appropriate applications. That matters most when remote playback or client incompatibility forces transcoding. If every television and streamer Direct Plays the source files, the advantage shrinks and storage capacity, network speed and price become more important than the iGPU.
Small container stacks are the sensible target
A few lightweight containers, network services or photo applications can fit well on DS224+, but the 6 GB official memory ceiling should shape expectations. This is not the chassis for an ever-growing laboratory of databases and memory-hungry services. If self-hosting is becoming the main hobby, a higher-memory Ryzen DiskStation or separate mini PC can make the environment easier to manage while DS224+ remains dedicated storage.
No M.2 means every flash plan consumes a main bay
Unlike some four-bay Plus models, DS224+ has no internal M.2 slots. That simplifies the product but removes one route for cache or flash storage experiments. In a two-bay appliance, occupying a main bay with SSD can change redundancy and capacity economics significantly. Buyers who know they want NVMe or more storage tiers should include that requirement before selecting the chassis.
The real expansion limit is two internal disks
There is no DX expansion route for DS224+. Capacity growth therefore comes from replacing drives with larger ones, changing redundancy strategy or moving to a NAS with more bays. Large drives can stretch the life of a two-bay mirror for a long time, but the economics change when both disks must be replaced repeatedly. Project the next several years of data growth instead of sizing only for today.
Drive choice should favor predictable NAS behavior
For mirrored two-drive storage, CMR NAS drives are an easy baseline. Noise and vibration can matter more in a small home enclosure than they do in a rack, so the highest-capacity enterprise disk is not automatically the nicest household choice. Verify current compatibility guidance, consider workload rating and warranty, and buy enough headroom that normal growth does not force another pair of replacements immediately.
Reliability planning is straightforward on a newer unit
Because DS224+ is a newer, generally available model, aging chassis components are less central to the decision than on a DS220+. Still, RAID is not backup. Keep a copy outside the NAS, test restore procedures and avoid treating two mirrored disks as protection from accidental deletion, ransomware or enclosure failure. Good lifecycle management begins while hardware is healthy, not after the first warning.
DS224+ pricing has to beat the DS225+ feature delta
A shopper should compare street prices rather than model years. DS224+ can remain attractive if discounted and Intel media behavior matters. DS225+ adds native 2.5GbE alongside 1GbE, which may be worth paying for if the network is already upgraded. The right premium depends on how often large transfers occur; a lightly used household backup NAS may never exploit the faster port.
Move up when two bays, not CPU, become uncomfortable
The cleanest upgrade trigger is storage architecture. If you need more than a mirrored pair, want to mix capacity tiers, expect significant growth or want expansion options, step to a four-bay or expandable system. If two bays remain comfortable, DS224+ can continue doing its job without apology. Buying more hardware does not improve a workload that is already well served.
Questions people ask
DS224+ ownership and upgrade questions
Is DS224+ still current in 2026?
Synology currently lists DS224+ as Generally Available, with Full DSM updates and Full technical support. That makes it a current supported option rather than a retired product.
Does DS224+ run DSM 7.4?
Yes, DS224+ is on the DSM 7.4 path. Check the exact release note shown to your unit and confirm backups before any major DSM change.
Should I buy DS224+ or DS225+?
DS224+ can be attractive for Intel media workloads and a lower price. DS225+ is easier to justify when native 2.5GbE matters to your network.
Is two bays enough for a home NAS?
Two bays are enough for many mirrored backup, photo and media libraries. They become restrictive when capacity growth requires more independent drives or more flexible redundancy.
Can DS224+ expand with DX517?
No. Plan DS224+ as a two-bay appliance. If external Synology bay expansion is part of your roadmap, choose a model designed for it.
How much RAM does DS224+ support?
It ships with 2 GB and has an official maximum of 6 GB. That is fine for modest services but should temper expectations for a large container stack.
Does DS224+ have NVMe slots?
No internal M.2 NVMe slots are part of this chassis. Flash storage therefore uses the main drive bays or an external architecture.
Is DS224+ good for Plex?
Its J4125 Intel platform is useful when Plex needs supported hardware-assisted conversion. Direct Play libraries place much less emphasis on that advantage.
What is the biggest limitation of DS224+?
The fixed two-bay storage architecture is the long-term constraint. Networking is the other consideration for users already invested in 2.5GbE.
When should I replace DS224+?
Replace it when capacity architecture, networking or service memory becomes a real constraint. Current support status alone does not create an urgency to upgrade.
Official references and methodology
Verify the exact model, DSM build, package versions and support state
For DS224+, Cloudzat verifies current sales/support state separately from hardware specifications and DSM compatibility. The buying conclusion is built around a fixed two-bay design, J4125 media behavior and the value of 2.5GbE on newer alternatives, rather than treating model age as a reason to replace it.
- DS224+ Product Support Status
- DS224+ DSM release notes
- DS224+ official hardware documentation
- DS224+ Download Center
As an Amazon Associate, Cloudzat may earn from qualifying purchases. Prices, availability, Product Support Status, DSM builds and compatibility can change. Verify the exact model in Synology's current Product Support Status and Download Center before purchasing used hardware, replacing a NAS or changing a production system.