Best M.2 NVMe for the Synology DiskStation DS925+
By Devin Chua · Data checked by Owen Nakamura · Updated The Synology DiskStation DS925+ has 2 M.2 slots. The catch most guides miss: for NVMe, Synology still requires a drive from its own list (SNV3400 or SNV5400), and the DSM 7.3 relaxation did not change that — it covered hard drives and SATA SSDs only. So on the DS925+, a Samsung 990 will not do. Whether a cache pays off depends on the 2 × 2.5GbE link and on whether you re-read the same data — for a media library streamed once, it does not.
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M.2 NVMe for the DS925+, live from Amazon.ca
What sets the DS925+ apart
The model the whole drive debate revolves around. Since DSM 7.3 you can fit ordinary NAS drives again, and with SHR the DS925+ makes good use of mixed drive sizes. Do not overlook: unlike the DS923+ it has no slot for a 10-gigabit card, but it ships with two 2.5-gigabit ports.
Cache or a fast pool on the DS925+?
The DS925+'s 2 M.2 slots (2 × m.2 nvme. note: for both an nvme cache and an nvme storage pool, synology still requires a drive from its own compatibility list. that is the remaining lock.) can serve as a read cache or, depending on the OS, as their own fast storage pool. A cache only speeds up data you read more than once: on the DS925+, a media library streamed through once gains nothing, while repeated project files, photo libraries or container images show the difference immediately. Weigh that against its 2 × 2.5GbE link, which is often the real limit.
On the DS925+ an NVMe storage pool is possible, but only with Synology's own SNV3400 or SNV5400 — the DSM 7.3 relaxation did not reach M.2, so this is the one place the DS925+ still enforces a drive list. Budget for that when you plan a cache.
The Synology drive policy on the DS925+
with a caveatPartly open, and this is the key news. On 16 April 2025 Synology announced that the 2025 Plus models would only create a storage pool with listed drives. With DSM 7.3 (version 7.3-81180, released 8 October 2025) Synology reversed that lock for hard drives and 2.5-inch SATA SSDs: Seagate IronWolf and WD Red Plus now install, initialize, pool and monitor normally. Only M.2 NVMe still requires a listed drive.
The DS925+ at a glance
| Bays | 4 × 3.5-inch SATA and 2.5-inch SATA SSD |
|---|---|
| Maximum raw capacity | 96 TB 4 × 24 TB, per the manufacturer |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen V1500B (4 cores, 8 threads) |
| Memory | 4 GB, DDR4 ECC SO-DIMM (2 slots) 32 GB official, ECC |
| M.2 NVMe | 2 slots 2 × M.2 NVMe. Note: for BOTH an NVMe cache and an NVMe storage pool, Synology still requires a drive from its own compatibility list. That is the remaining lock. |
| Network | 2 × 2.5GbE |
| Operating system | DSM 7.3 or newer |
| RAID types | SHR, SHR-2, Basic, JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, RAID 10 SHR also makes use of mixed drive sizes. |
Keep calculating
To see how much capacity is left after parity, the DS925+ capacity calculator is preset to its 4 bays and RAID types. For the DS925+, 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.
Frequently asked questions
How many M.2 slots does the DS925+ have?
2. 2 × M.2 NVMe. Note: for BOTH an NVMe cache and an NVMe storage pool, Synology still requires a drive from its own compatibility list. That is the remaining lock.
Is an NVMe cache worth it in the DS925+?
Only if you re-read the same data on the DS925+: project files, photos, container images. A media library streamed once gains nothing, and with 2 × 2.5GbE the link is often the limit before the drive is.
Can I put any NVMe in the DS925+?
No. On the DS925+, 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 DS925+?
Yes. Since DSM 7.3 (8 October 2025) the DS925+ accepts third-party hard drives and 2.5-inch SATA SSDs again — Seagate IronWolf, WD Red Plus and the like install and pool normally. Only M.2 NVMe still needs a drive from Synology's list.
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)