NAS (network-attached storage) device is an external enclosure for storing large amounts of data, taking advantage of the performance and failover advantages of RAID, and can be used for real-time access and backup. The NAS device is connected to the local area network and is used to share data among different users connected to the local area network.
NAS system has its file system, which is set up through the correct NAS configuration and does not depend on the operating system of the computer to which it is connected. This type of network requires a medium to connect multiple computers. File-sharing protocols such as NFS, AFP, or CIFS provide access to files on the network.
There are many NAS brands such as QNAP, Synology, FreeNAS, etc. Synology is one of the most famous NAS devices. In our previous post, we discussed Synology DS220+ vs DS720+. Today, our topic is Synology DS220+ vs DS220j.
Overview of DS220+ and DS220j
DS220+
If you want to find a NAS device as a media server, the DiskStation DS220+ is an excellent choice. The NAS has powerful hardware, 2GB of RAM, and can handle 4K transcoding, ensuring seamless media playback across all devices on your home network. The following is the basic information about DS220+.
- DS220+ delivers over 225 MB/s sequential read and 192 MB/s sequential write throughput. Data can be further protected against sudden drive failure using RAID 1 disk mirroring.
- Intel dual-core processor with AES-NI hardware encryption engine; 2 GB DDR4 memory (expandable to 6 GB).
- Easily access, share and sync your data across different operating systems and devices.
- An average 15% improvement in performance for photo indexing and other compute-intensive operations, as well as database response times.
- By default, two camera licenses are installed; additional licenses can be purchased (CLP1, CLP4 or CLP8).
DS220j
While DS220j might not be as good at transcoding 4K files, it’s just as good at streaming locally stored media DS220j on your home network. If you want a budget option for Plex or backing up your data, the DS220j has a lot to offer. Here are the details about DS220j.
- 24/7 file server for your home storage sharing and backup of personal data.
- Award-winning DiskStation Manager (DSM) brings an intuitive operation process and reduces the learning curve.
- It is compatible with Windows, macOS and Linux computer or mobile device.
- An integrated media server that supports the streaming of multimedia content. Freely access private cloud files and back up phone photos anytime, anywhere with iOS and Android apps.
- Compatible drive types – 3.5″ SATA HDD, 2.5″ SATA HDD (with optional 2.5″ disk bay), 2.5″ SATA SSD (with optional 2.5″ disk bay).
DS220+ vs DS220j
The DS220j is aimed at home users who need a central storage location to consolidate data, back up photos, watch videos, and provide private cloud services. The DS220+ is a more powerful option for demanding home users and small offices, offering many extra features that the DS220j doesn’t have. Then, let’s see more details.
DS220+ vs DS220j: Design
Design is an important factor for you to choose a NAS device. Here is about DS220+ vs DS220j: design.
Housed in the same sleek white chassis, the DS220j also offers a Gigabit port and two USB 3 ports. The front of the Synology DS220+ has two removable hard drive bays, a power button, and LED lights. It has a 92mm fan on the back, a Kensington lock, a USB 3.0 port and power input, and a completely transparent side. Also, it has 2GB of RAM, but the Synology DS220+ allows you to install 4GB by itself, bringing the total memory to 6GB.
The front of the Synology ds220j has a power button, a status light, a LAN activity light, LED indicators, and two disk activity lights. It is equipped with a Realtek RTD1296 and has 512MB of DDR4 RAM. The back of the Synology ds220j has a fan, LAN port, USB 3.0 port, power connector, and security slot.
DS220+ vs DS220j: Hardware
Here is about DS220+ vs DS220j: hardware.
The DS220+ replaces the DS218+ and replaces the old 2GHz dual-core Celeron J3355 CPU with the same 2GHz dual-core Celeron J4025 as the new DS420+. The charcoal-black chassis has a magnetic front cover and tool-less hot-swap bays behind it, so drive installation is much faster than on the DS220j. You also get twice the Gigabit ports plus the must-have dual USB 3 ports.
The DS220j replaces the DS118j, replacing its predecessor’s 1.3GHz dual-core Marvell Armada CPU with a more powerful 1.4GHz quad-core Realtek RTD1296 model. The base 512MB of embedded non-upgradeable memory hasn’t been increased, but the DS220j benefits from faster DDR4.
DS220+ vs DS220j: Supported Devices
The third aspect of DS220j vs DS220+ is the supported devices.
Synology DS220+ has 2 drive bays, supporting 3.5″ SATA HDD, 2.5″ SATA HDD and SSD. These two drives are used to allow you to share files with multiple user accounts and connections. The Synology DS220j supports a wide variety of hard drives including Seagate Ironwolf, Seagate Ironwolf pro, Seagate Exos (10TB), Western Digital Red Plus, etc.
DS220+ vs DS220j: DSM App
There are many DSM data backup apps, but there are some differences between the two devices that you need to know. Their CPUs may all be 64-bit, but only the DS220+ supports BTRFS volumes as well as Snapshot Replication and Copy Services applications that allow you to run manual and scheduled point-in-time snapshot backups of NAS shares and iSCSI LUNs.
Both will run Synology’s standard Hyper Backup application, but if you want Active Backup Suite, you should choose the DS220+. The star player in the suite is the Active Backup for Business (ABB) application, which provides backup, restore, and disaster recovery services for Windows servers and PCs. Other backup apps missing on the DS220j are those that support third-party cloud providers.
DS220+ vs DS220j: Backup and Share
Synology DS220+ provides various physical and cloud backup solutions. You can back up your cloud data via Cloud Sync, which allows data backup between local NAS and cloud services. You can also back up your servers and PCs by backing up Synology Drive Client for Mac, Linus, and Windows to protect your files.
Finally, you can back up your Synology NAS via Hyper Backup, which offers a plethora of cloud and NAS backup destinations.
Synology 220J features Super Backup, which uses multi-version backup, allows cross-version deduplication, and allows data to be backed up to different destinations, including external hard drives, local shared folders, and more. It also features Synology Drive Client, which allows regular data backup in case of accidental data deletion. It also allows file sharing across Linux and Mac platforms.
DS220+ vs DS220j: Multimedia and Private Backup Cloud
The DS220j is ready for multimedia tasks from the start, as the Video, Audio, and Photo Stations as well as the Media Server and Moments apps are pre-installed in the DSM Setup program. These applications can also be added manually to the DS220+.
DS220+ vs DS220j: Warranty
Both devices come with a 2-year limited warranty, but Synology offers an extended warranty for greater coverage.
Which One to Choose
The biggest difference between the two NAS enclosures is the specifications. Inside the more powerful Synology DiskStation DS220+, you’ll find an Intel processor. The Synology DiskStation DS220j only has a Realtek CPU. The RAM inside the DS220j is also limited at 512MB and cannot be upgraded. DS220+ comes standard with 2GB and has a capacity of 6GB.
More demanding home users and small offices will prefer the DS220+ as it has no restrictions on the applications available and is therefore more flexible than the DS220j. It offers great performance across the board, with a base 2GB of memory that can be upgraded to 6GB for a $299 diskless model.
The DS220j is ideal for home users who need a compact NAS solution to back up their PCs and mobile phones, store photos, and access various multimedia services. Its low memory capacity means a limited number of supported applications, but the diskless model costs around $169.
Tip: As the market and time change, so does the price.
How to Back up Data to DS220+ or DS220j
Whether you choose DS220j or DS220+, your purpose is to back up files to it. To back up files to your NAS, the professional backup software – MiniTool ShadoMaker is recommended. It allows you to back up files, folders, disks, partitions, and the operating system. It is compatible with all editions of Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7.
This backup software offers a Trial Edition that allows a 30-day free trial for all backup features. Now you can download and try MiniTool ShadowMaker to back up your PC.
MiniTool ShadowMaker TrialClick to Download100%Clean & Safe
Now, let’s see how to back up data to DS220+ or DS220j with MiniTool ShadowMaker.
Step 1: Launch MiniTool ShadowMaker and click Keep Trial to continue.
Step 2: Go to the Backup page. Click the SOURCE module to choose the backup source. Choose Folders and Files and choose the files you want to back up and click OK.
Step 3: Click the DESTINATION module to continue. Just go to the Shared tab. Click the Add button. Type the IP address of the NAS device, user name, and password. Then, click OK.
Step 4: Click Back Up Now to start the process or click Back Up Later to delay the backup. And you can restart the delayed backup task in the Manage window.
Bottom Line
Now, do you have a better understanding of DS220+ vs DS220j? If you have different opinions on DS220+ vs DS220j, please don’t hesitate to share them with us.
If you have encountered any issues when using MiniTool ShadowMaker, you can leave a message in the following comment zone and we will reply as soon as possible. If you need any help when using MiniTool software, you may contact us via [email protected].
About The Author
Position: Columnist
Having been an editor at MiniTool since graduating college as an English major, Daisy specializes in writing about data backups, disk cloning, and file syncing as well as general computer knowledge and issues. In her free time, Daisy enjoys running and going with friends to the amusement park.