Convince Me Not to Buy The DS918+

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.

Comments

  • +1

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

  • Yeah buy it.

  • +1

    Or wait for eBay discount codes

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

  • +1

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

  • +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.

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

      otherwise, DS418 or even DS418j will suffice.

  • +1

    Just buy a HP Microserver..

  • 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).

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