Best M.2 NVMe for the UGREEN NASync DXP2800
By Devin Chua · Data checked by Owen Nakamura · Updated The UGREEN NASync DXP2800 has 2 M.2 slots. They are freely populated (2 × m.2 nvme, usable as cache or as their own storage pool), so a Samsung 990 EVO, WD Red SN700 or Crucial P3 all work. Whether a cache pays off depends on the 1 × 2.5GbE link and on whether you re-read the same data — for a media library streamed once, it does not.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases on Amazon.ca.
M.2 NVMe for the DXP2800, live from Amazon.ca
What sets the DXP2800 apart
The entry to the NASync line: two bays, but a full x86 base with two NVMe slots. The N100 transcodes Plex in 4K, and because UGOS Pro has no SHR, the drive choice here is especially binding.
Cache or a fast pool on the DXP2800?
The DXP2800's 2 M.2 slots (2 × m.2 nvme, usable as cache or as their own storage pool) 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 DXP2800, 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 1 × 2.5GbE link, which is often the real limit.
Because the DXP2800 takes any M.2 drive, a Samsung 990 EVO, WD Red SN700 or Crucial P3 all work; for a write cache or VM pool, pick one with a real TBW rating rather than a DRAM-less budget SSD, since a cache wears faster than normal use.
The UGREEN drive policy on the DXP2800
unrestrictedOpen. UGREEN mandates no drive brand: “UGREEN NAS does not require branded drives.” The compatibility list is a recommendation, not a lock. UGREEN itself explicitly advises against SMR drives.
The DXP2800 at a glance
| Bays | 2 × 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch SATA |
|---|---|
| Maximum raw capacity | 80 TB 2 × 32 TB hard drives plus 2 × 8 TB NVMe, per the manufacturer |
| Processor | Intel N100 (4 cores) |
| Memory | 8 GB, DDR5 SO-DIMM (2 slots) 16 GB official. Memory vendors certify 32 GB modules for the platform; UGREEN does not endorse that. Anything above 32 GB is unrealistic on the N100. |
| M.2 NVMe | 2 slots 2 × M.2 NVMe, usable as cache or as their own storage pool |
| Network | 1 × 2.5GbE |
| Operating system | UGOS Pro |
| RAID types | Basic, JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1 |
Keep calculating
To see how much capacity is left after parity, the DXP2800 capacity calculator is preset to its 2 bays and RAID types. For the DXP2800, 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 DXP2800 have?
2. 2 × M.2 NVMe, usable as cache or as their own storage pool
Is an NVMe cache worth it in the DXP2800?
Only if you re-read the same data on the DXP2800: project files, photos, container images. A media library streamed once gains nothing, and with 1 × 2.5GbE the link is often the limit before the drive is.
Can I put third-party drives in the DXP2800?
Yes. UGREEN locks no drive brand on the DXP2800 — its compatibility list is guidance, not a gate — so any CMR NAS drive works.
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)