Synology is launching new NAS enclosures for 2022, and today we are reviewing the new Synology DiskStation DS1522+. It’s a five-bay case with an AMD Ryzen processor, plenty of DDR4 RAM, and the option to install a Synology 10Gb LAN adapter.
Not all NAS need to be powerful enough to run a Plex Media Server for 4K transcoding, which is precisely where the DS1522+ comes in. It is designed for big data storage, ideal for a busier home and a bustling office. Still, the DS1522+ is more than capable of running more demanding processes. Replacing the DiskStation DS1520+, the new AMD processor and 10Gb network could be just what you need for storage.
Price, specifications and availability
The Synology DiskStation DS1522+ is a high-end home NAS for storing a lot of data, which means you’ll have to pay a pretty penny for the luxury. It’s priced at $699 and doesn’t include hard drives or the optional 10Gb LAN adapter in case you have a fast enough network.
| specs | Synology DiskStation DS1522+ |
|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen R1600 |
| GPU | — |
| RAM | 8GB DDR4 ECC SODIMM |
| (Max: 32GB) | |
| laurels | 5 |
| Ability | 100TB |
| Expansion | Drives: 2x DX517 |
| LAN: Synology Gen3 slot x2 | |
| Cooling | 2x 92mm |
| ports | 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 |
| 2x eSATA | |
| 4x 1Gb LAN | |
| drawing power | 52.06W |
| Dimensions | 166mm x 230mm x 223mm |
| Weight | 2.7kg |
Synology DiskStation DS1522+ specs are impressive for storing data. The processor, RAM, and optional LAN upgrade are great for building a powerful NAS enclosure. Connecting up to two DX517 expansion units enables up to 15 drive bays for a total of 300TB.
Synology DiskStation DS1522+: What I like
Synology DiskStation DS1522+ is packaged like any other recent NAS enclosure from the company. It has all the necessary accessories included, as well as the external power supply. The NAS itself is a relatively large slab of black plastic and metal, with five 3.5-inch drive bays on the front.
Next to the drive bays are some status LED indicators for network and drive activity. The sides have Synology branding that doubles as vents for cooling, and the top is completely bare. Two M.2 drive bays are located under the case, allowing quick and convenient access.
The rear of the DS1522+ has a lot going for it. There are four 1Gb LAN ports, DC input, two eSATA ports, and the optional 10Gb PCI slot for Synology’s proprietary adapter. Two 92mm fans are used to keep everything adequately cool, as is the case with Synology NAS cases of this size.
Everything is normal and it would be hard to tell the difference between the DiskStation DS1522+ and the old DS1520+, except for the model number printed on the front (and if you were aware of the small physical differences).
After Synology DiskStation DS1621+, inside Synology DiskStation DS1522+ you will find an AMD Ryzen R1600 processor and 8GB DDR4 RAM with bug check. If that’s not enough system memory, it can be increased up to 32GB. Better yet, Synology includes the aforementioned M.2 SSD slots for installing up to two drives for SSD caching.
For actual data storage (since Synology does not allow the use of M.2 drives for storage), the five drive bays can reach a total of 100TB with five 20TB 3.5-inch NAS drives. And yes that wasn’t enough, you can use two DX517 expansion units to expand the maximum capacity up to 300TB, before taking RAID into account.
To test the performance of the DS1522+, we used five 4TB Seagate IronWolf NAS hard drives and IronWolf SSDs, leaving 8GB of RAM as standard. The dual-core AMD Ryzen processor runs at 2.6GHz and can go up to 3.1GHz. While it doesn’t have the same video processing capabilities as the Intel Celeron CPUs used in NAS, I think it performs better overall.
The acting was excellent. The four 1Gb LAN ports allow you to combine two channels to improve bandwidth, but opening the floodgates with the optional 10Gb port is where the magic really kicks in. If you use an SSD, you can expect to see over 700MB/s in transfer speed moving files to and from the NAS (I managed around 400MB/s with HDD).
Using 1Gb ports limits the potential of the NAS, especially if you use it for big data. I recommend choosing the optional card or buying a NAS with a 10Gb port and enough drive bays for your storage needs. Overall system performance is in line with expectations compared to similarly powerful NAS.
Synology DiskStation DS1522: what I don’t like
I’m not a fan of the optional LAN adapter. Having four 1Gb ports for networking isn’t too bad, but it would have been nice to see two 2.5Gb ports. Where Synology really dropped the ball is with the 10Gb port, which only works with the E10G22 card itself. T1-Mini of the company. It costs $150.
You won’t want the DS1522+ if your cabinet’s primary use will be running Plex Media Server and transcoding 4K files. The AMD Ryzen R1600 inside this NAS does not have an integrated graphics processor, a requirement for smooth transcoding.
Synology DiskStation DS1522: Competition
There is a lot of competition in every drive bay NAS segment, and the DS1522+ is no exception. There is the excellent TerraMaster F5-422 (opens in a new tab)which has an Intel Celeron processor (with integrated graphics) and an internal 10Gb network port. This holds Synology back with the new DS1522+ as it has to spend even more to unlock this feature.
The worst part for Synology is that the F5-422 costs $100 less. Technically you get more for less, although the TerraMaster OS isn’t as polished as Synology DiskStation Manager. It’s food for thought if you absolutely need the 10Gb network bandwidth.
Synology DiskStation DS1522: Should You Buy It?
You should buy if…
- You need a NAS with five bays
- Do not plan to transcode media
- You need a powerful NAS
- You don’t mind using a proprietary LAN adapter
You shouldn’t buy if…
- You don’t need five drive bays
- You need a NAS primarily for Plex
The Synology DiskStation DS1522+ is a great NAS from the company with its latest DiskStation Manager (DSM) operating system. The performance boost with the AMD Ryzen R1600 processor, up to 32GB RAM, and optional 10Gb LAN adapter make it a powerful case compared to the outgoing DS1520+.
It’s a shame Synology forces one to use the E10G22-T1-Mini card as it costs a whopping $150. Now 10Gb LAN cards aren’t necessarily cheap by any standard, but it’s easy to find PCIe cards from the aftermarket with 10Gb ports for less. It appears that this is the route the company is taking with drives and other components of a NAS as well.
All that said, the venue itself is brilliant. If 10Gb networking isn’t your thing, this is an expansive NAS that can be expanded to support up to 15 drives. Having the ability to build a network storage solution with a capacity of up to 300TB should be a requirement for any growing business.
With a built-in 10Gb network, this would easily become one of the best five-bay NAS to buy.
Synology DiskStation DS1522+
Do you have a lot of data?
Synology DiskStation DS1522+ is a great choice for those who have a lot of data to store. Whether it’s confidential files, backups or media, the DS1522+ with its five drive bays is a solid NAS.