Best RAM for the Synology DiskStation DS224+
By Devin Chua · Data checked by Owen Nakamura · Updated The Synology DiskStation DS224+ ships with 2 GB of DDR4 SO-DIMM, no ECC (2 GB soldered plus 1 slot) and officially takes 6 GB. What benefits from the upgrade is specific to this box: the Intel Celeron J4125 (4 cores) hardware-transcodes and runs containers, and those — not plain file storage — are what more memory feeds. Below are matching modules from Amazon.ca in CAD.
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Compatible memory for the DS224+, live from Amazon.ca
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.
What more memory buys on the DS224+
The DS224+ takes DDR4 SO-DIMM, no ECC (2 GB soldered plus 1 slot) up to an official 6 GB, across 1 slot, starting from 2 GB. Whether that upgrade earns its money is a question about this exact box: the Intel Celeron J4125 (4 cores) transcodes Plex and runs containers, and it is the containers, not the file shares, that ask for more RAM.
The DS224+ uses non-ECC DDR4 SO-DIMM, no ECC (2 GB soldered plus 1 slot), so a flipped bit is not corrected. That is rarely a problem in practice, but it is why DIY TrueNAS builders insist on ECC; on the DS224+ you simply match the SO-DIMM spec and standard sticks are fine. 6 GB official (2 GB fixed plus a 4 GB module). Larger modules run in practice but are not endorsed.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What memory does the DS224+ use?
DDR4 SO-DIMM, no ECC (2 GB soldered plus 1 slot), starting from 2 GB. 6 GB official (2 GB fixed plus a 4 GB module). Larger modules run in practice but are not endorsed. It uses standard non-ECC modules.
Can the DS224+'s memory be upgraded?
Yes. The DS224+ has one slot, officially to 6 GB.
Is more RAM worth it in the DS224+?
Only if you run containers. The DS224+'s Intel Celeron J4125 (4 cores) transcodes and runs Docker well, and it is the containers — not file shares — that ask for more than the stock 2 GB.
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)