Best M.2 NVMe for the Synology DiskStation DS224+
By Devin Chua · Data checked by Owen Nakamura · Updated The Synology DiskStation DS224+ has no M.2 slots, so an NVMe cache is not possible on this model — no m.2 slots Over its 2 × 1GbE, that is barely a loss: a single CMR drive already saturates the link, and a cache only helps data you read repeatedly. If cache or a fast NVMe pool matters to you, choose a model with M.2 slots.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases on Amazon.ca.
Want to know whether the DS224+ fits your actual storage plan? Open the NAS Builder with this model weighted.
Do you actually need NVMe on the DS224+?
An NVMe cache accelerates random I/O — the many small, scattered reads and writes you get when lots of users, a database or virtual machines all hit the array at once. It does almost nothing for the workload the DS224+ is built for: sequential file transfers, device backups and everyday storage. On this model the 2 × 1GbE connection is the real ceiling, so a cache sitting in front of the drives would have no headroom to give — the network fills up long before the disks become the bottleneck.
Put the money where it moves the needle instead. A RAM upgrade helps this box more than any cache would (see RAM for the DS224+ and how much RAM a NAS needs), and larger CMR drives with the best CA$/TB, sized in the drive-count calculator. If you genuinely need a cache — a busy multi-user array, 10-gigabit networking, or a database/VM workload — that is simply a different class of NAS: an Intel model with M.2 slots and faster networking. Our SSD cache guide explains when a cache earns its place and when it does nothing, and drives by model lists the boxes that have the slots.
What sets the DS224+ apart
The best-selling two-bay DiskStation and enough for most homes. With two bays, RAID effectively means RAID 1: you pay half the capacity for fault tolerance, and SHR changes nothing with two equal-size drives.
The Synology drive policy on the DS224+
unrestrictedOpen. The 2025 restriction does not apply retroactively; every NAS drive works.
The DS224+ at a glance
| Bays | 2 × 3.5-inch SATA and 2.5-inch SATA SSD |
|---|---|
| Maximum raw capacity | 48 TB 2 × 24 TB: the largest drive on Synology's list for this model. |
| Processor | Intel Celeron J4125 (4 cores) |
| Memory | 2 GB, DDR4 SO-DIMM, no ECC (2 GB soldered plus 1 slot) 6 GB official (2 GB fixed plus a 4 GB module). Larger modules run in practice but are not endorsed. |
| M.2 NVMe | none No M.2 slots |
| Network | 2 × 1GbE |
| Operating system | DSM 7.x |
| RAID types | SHR, Basic, JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1 SHR also makes use of mixed drive sizes. |
Keep calculating
To see how much capacity is left after parity, the DS224+ capacity calculator is preset to its 2 bays and RAID types. For the DS224+, the wider basics of choosing a drive are in the buying guides, where we also explain why CMR rather than SMR is mandatory in any RAID array. Wondering what the DS224+ can actually do — Plex, Immich, Docker, VMs? See what the DS224+ can run.
Frequently asked questions
How many M.2 slots does the DS224+ have?
None. No M.2 slots
Is an NVMe cache worth it in the DS224+?
Not possible — the DS224+ has no M.2 slots. Over its 2 × 1GbE a cache would add little anyway, since a single drive already saturates the link.
Can I put any NVMe in the DS224+?
No. On the DS224+, Synology still requires an SNV3400 or SNV5400 for both cache and an NVMe pool — the DSM 7.3 drive-policy relaxation of 8 October 2025 covered hard drives and SATA SSDs, not M.2.
Can I put third-party drives in the DS224+?
Yes, without restriction. The 2025 Synology drive lock covers only the 2025 models, so the DS224+ takes any NAS drive and has always done so.
Devin Chua works out which drives, RAM and NVMe cache fit which NAS model at nasdrives.ca, and what the RAID choice means for usable capacity, checked against what is in stock on Amazon.ca.
Data checked by Owen Nakamura, Technical editor (data checking)