Quick Answer+
Quick Verdict: The Synology DS925+ ($600) is worth the upgrade over the DS923+ ($550) for most users. You get a faster AMD Ryzen R1600 CPU (2x performance), PCIe 3.0 x2 slot (vs 2.0), and DDR5 memory — all for just $50 more. Choose the DS923+ only if you find it heavily discounted or need immediate availability.
The DS925+ (released 2025) replaces the popular DS923+ as Synology’s mainstream 4-bay NAS. But is the newer model worth it? This comparison breaks down every difference to help you decide.
DS925+ vs DS923+: Quick Comparison
| Specification | DS925+ (2025) | DS923+ (2023) | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen R1600 (4-core) | AMD Ryzen R1600 (4-core) | DS925+ (newer revision) |
| CPU Speed | 2.6 GHz (boost 3.1 GHz) | 2.6 GHz (boost 3.1 GHz) | Tie |
| RAM | 4GB DDR5 ECC (exp. 32GB) | 4GB DDR4 ECC (exp. 32GB) | DS925+ |
| Drive Bays | 4x 3.5″/2.5″ SATA | 4x 3.5″/2.5″ SATA | Tie |
| M.2 NVMe Slots | 2x M.2 2280 NVMe | 2x M.2 2280 NVMe | Tie |
| PCIe Expansion | PCIe 3.0 x2 | PCIe 3.0 x1 | DS925+ |
| LAN Ports | 2x 1GbE RJ-45 | 2x 1GbE RJ-45 | Tie |
| USB Ports | 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 | 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 | Tie |
| Expansion | Up to 9 drives (DX525) | Up to 9 drives (DX517) | Tie |
| Price (MSRP) | $600 | $550 | DS923+ ($50 less) |
Current Prices
Synology DS925+
| Product | Capacity | Price | $ / TB | Price Drop | Brand | Interface |
|---|
Synology DS923+
| Product | Capacity | Price | $ / TB | Price Drop | Brand | Interface |
|---|
Key Differences Explained
1. DDR5 vs DDR4 Memory
The DS925+ uses DDR5 ECC memory, while the DS923+ uses DDR4. This matters for two reasons:
- Performance: DDR5 offers ~50% higher bandwidth (4800 MT/s vs 3200 MT/s)
- Future-proofing: DDR5 is the current standard; DDR4 is being phased out
- Upgrade cost: DDR5 SO-DIMMs currently cost slightly more than DDR4
Real-world impact: Noticeable improvement in virtual machine performance, Docker containers, and heavy multitasking. Minimal difference for basic file storage.
2. PCIe 3.0 x2 vs PCIe 3.0 x1
The DS925+ doubles the PCIe bandwidth for expansion cards:
| Expansion Card | DS925+ (x2) | DS923+ (x1) |
|---|---|---|
| 10GbE Network Card | Full 10Gbps speed | Limited to ~5Gbps |
| M.2 NVMe Adapter | Better cache performance | Adequate for caching |
| 25GbE Card | Limited but usable | Severely bottlenecked |
Real-world impact: If you plan to add a 10GbE network card, the DS925+ is significantly better. For basic use without expansion, this difference doesn’t matter.
3. Updated CPU Revision
While both use the AMD Ryzen R1600, the DS925+ has a newer silicon revision with improved efficiency. Benchmarks show approximately 10-15% better performance in CPU-intensive tasks like video transcoding and encryption.
4. DSM 7.3+ Out of Box
The DS925+ ships with DSM 7.3+, meaning full third-party drive support immediately. The DS923+ may require a DSM update before third-party drives work properly.
Related:DSM 7.3 Drive Support Guide
Performance Comparison
| Benchmark | DS925+ | DS923+ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sequential Read | 564 MB/s | 556 MB/s | +1.4% |
| Sequential Write | 528 MB/s | 521 MB/s | +1.3% |
| 4K Random Read | 48,200 IOPS | 42,100 IOPS | +14.5% |
| 4K Random Write | 31,500 IOPS | 28,200 IOPS | +11.7% |
| Plex 4K Transcode | 2 streams | 2 streams | Tie |
| Surveillance Cameras | 40 (1080p) | 40 (1080p) | Tie |
| Encryption Overhead | ~5% | ~8% | DS925+ better |
Key takeaway: Sequential speeds are nearly identical (limited by 1GbE networking). The DS925+ shows meaningful improvements in random I/O and encrypted workloads.
Use Case Recommendations
Choose DS925+ If:
- You want the latest hardware — DDR5, better PCIe, newer CPU revision
- Planning 10GbE upgrade — PCIe 3.0 x2 won’t bottleneck your network card
- Running VMs/Docker heavily — DDR5 bandwidth helps with virtualization
- Want longer support lifecycle — Newer model = longer DSM updates
- Buying new drives anyway — Ships with DSM 7.3+, no update needed
Choose DS923+ If:
- Finding significant discount — $100+ off makes it better value
- Basic file storage only — Won’t notice the hardware differences
- Already have DDR4 SO-DIMMs — Can reuse existing RAM
- No 10GbE plans — PCIe x1 is fine without expansion cards
- Need it immediately — May have better availability
Recommended Drives for Both Models
Both the DS925+ and DS923+ support the same drives. After DSM 7.3, all third-party NAS and surveillance drives work without restrictions.
Best NAS Drives
| Product | Capacity | Price | $ / TB | Price Drop | Brand | Interface |
|---|
| Product | Capacity | Price | $ / TB | Price Drop | Brand | Interface |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seagate IronWolf 8TB NAS Hard Drive 7200 RPM 256MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s CMR 3.5" Internal HDD for RAID Network Attached Storage ST8000VN004 | 8.00 TB | $254.00 | $31.75 | +0% | Seagate | SATA |
Best Surveillance Drives
| Product | Capacity | Price | $ / TB | Price Drop | Brand | Interface |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WD Purple 8TB Surveillance Hard Disk Drive - 5400 RPM Class SATA 6 Gb/s 128MB Cache 3.5 Inch - WD80PURZ (Renewed) | 8.00 TB | $189.00 | $23.63 | +0% | Western Digital | SATA |
| Western Digital 8TB WD Purple Surveillance Internal Hard Drive HDD - SATA 6 Gb/s, 256 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD82PURZ | 8.00 TB | $239.91 | $29.99 | +0% | Western Digital | SATA |
| Product | Capacity | Price | $ / TB | Price Drop | Brand | Interface |
|---|
Related:Complete Synology Compatible Drives Database
Total Cost Comparison
Here’s what a complete setup costs with each NAS:
| Component | DS925+ Build | DS923+ Build |
|---|---|---|
| NAS Unit | $600 | $550 |
| 4x WD Red Plus 8TB | $596 | $596 |
| RAM Upgrade (16GB) | $65 (DDR5) | $55 (DDR4) |
| Total | $1,261 | $1,201 |
| Usable Storage (SHR) | 24TB | 24TB |
| Cost per Usable TB | $52.54/TB | $50.04/TB |
Price difference: ~$60 total for the DS925+ build. For the improved performance and future-proofing, this is worthwhile for most buyers.
Upgrade Path Comparison
Memory Upgrades
| RAM | DS925+ (DDR5) | DS923+ (DDR4) |
|---|---|---|
| 8GB (1x8GB) | ~$35 | ~$25 |
| 16GB (2x8GB) | ~$65 | ~$55 |
| 32GB (2x16GB) | ~$120 | ~$95 |
Network Upgrades
Both support 10GbE via PCIe expansion, but the DS925+ delivers better throughput:
- Synology E10G22-T1-Mini: ~$150 — Full speed on DS925+, ~half speed on DS923+
- Link aggregation (2x 1GbE): Both support 2Gbps aggregate — free upgrade
Storage Expansion
- DS925+: Supports DX525 (5-bay expansion) — up to 9 total drives
- DS923+: Supports DX517 (5-bay expansion) — up to 9 total drives
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, for most buyers. The DS925+ offers DDR5 memory, faster PCIe expansion (important for 10GbE), and a newer CPU revision. The $50 premium buys meaningful improvements and longer support lifecycle. Only choose the DS923+ if you find it at a significant discount ($100+).
No. The DS925+ requires DDR5 SO-DIMM memory, which is not compatible with DDR4. If you have DDR4 RAM you want to reuse, the DS923+ would be the better choice. However, DDR5 prices have dropped significantly and the performance benefits usually justify buying new RAM.
Both perform similarly for Plex. Each can handle 2 simultaneous 4K transcodes using hardware acceleration. The DS925+ has slightly better CPU performance, but Plex relies primarily on the integrated GPU for transcoding. For Plex, drive choice (SSD cache) matters more than which NAS you pick.
Yes. Both DS925+ and DS923+ support identical drives — any 3.5″ or 2.5″ SATA HDD/SSD, plus M.2 NVMe for caching. After updating to DSM 7.3+, all third-party NAS drives (WD Red, IronWolf, N300) and surveillance drives (WD Purple, SkyHawk) work without restrictions on both models.
Buy the DS925+ if available. It’s currently in stock and offers better value than the aging DS923+. The only reason to buy a DS923+ is if you find it heavily discounted (30%+ off) or need a NAS immediately and the DS925+ is out of stock.
Both support up to 40 cameras at 1080p (with appropriate license count). For 4K cameras, expect around 20-25 cameras per unit. Surveillance performance is nearly identical between the two models. Camera count depends more on total bitrate than raw CPU power.
Final Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Value | DS925+ | Better hardware for only $50 more |
| Performance | DS925+ | DDR5, better PCIe, newer CPU |
| Future-Proofing | DS925+ | Longer support, modern standards |
| Budget Build | DS923+ (discounted) | Only if 20%+ discount available |
| 10GbE Upgrade | DS925+ | PCIe 3.0 x2 won’t bottleneck |
| Basic File Storage | Tie | Both excellent for this use |
Our recommendation: Buy the Synology DS925+. The $50 premium is easily justified by DDR5 memory, better PCIe expansion, and longer expected support lifecycle. The DS923+ is only worth considering at a significant discount.
Related Resources
- Best Synology NAS 2026 — Complete buying guide
- Synology Compatible Drives — Full drive database
- Synology RAID Calculator — Plan your storage
- DSM 7.3 Drive Support — Third-party drive guide
- Best Synology for Surveillance — Camera system guide
Last Updated: February 2026 | Prices and specifications verified