Can I use an NVMe SSD for storage in a Synology NAS?

Historically Synology's M.2 NVMe slots were cache only. More recent DSM versions added the ability to create storage volumes directly on NVMe on supported models, so "NVMe as storage" is possible, with caveats.

Two things to check

• Does your model support NVMe storage volumes? This is model- and DSM-version-specific. Some models only allow cache on their M.2 slots; others allow full volumes. Synology documents this per model.
• Drive-listing policy: on the 2025 DiskStation Plus models, M.2 NVMe still requires a Synology-listed drive even though DSM 7.3 restored support for unlisted HDDs and 2.5-inch SATA SSDs. Unlisted NVMe is migration-only and shows as "Unverified" in Storage Manager. (RackStation Plus and enterprise-series models also still require listed HDDs for new pools.)

Is it worth it?

NVMe storage volumes are fast and silent, good for VMs, databases or active project files. But capacity is small and cost per terabyte is high compared with hard drives, so most people still keep bulk storage on CMR HDDs and use NVMe for cache or a small fast volume. Confirm your model's support and listing requirements on Synology's site first.

For bulk HDD storage, the table lists CMR NAS drives by price per terabyte.