Qnap TS-431k is equipped with a 1 GB RAM, meanwhile Synology DS420+ comes with 2GB RAM in its system. Both of the deceives have the same working temperature and Qnap is more versatile out of the two in terms of compatibility with different operating systems.
Main Differences and Similarities between these 2 devices:
- Synology ds420+ has a better 2 GB DDR-4 RAM, while the Qnap ts-431k has a smaller 1GB DDR-3 RAM, which makes Synology process operations faster.
- Maximum single storage volume of Synology ds420+ is larger than the Qnap ts-431k.
- Synology ds420+ has better transfer rates in terms of both read and write, compared to its contender.
- Both of the NAS have a similar design but Qnap ts-431k has a better interface.
- Ts-431k supports higher number of operating systems than its counterpart.
- Ts-431k generates more noise than ds420+.
- Synology ds420+ has a longer warranty duration than its competitor.
- Qnap ts-431k comes with a lower price tag than ds420+.
QNAP Ts-431k is a four-bay Network Attached Storage (NAS) with a maximum single storage volume of 16 TB. It is equipped with a quad core, 1.7 GHz Alpine processor and 1 GB, DDR3 RAM to ensure smooth processing and avoid bottlenecks.
LAN, WAN, cloud, USB, JBOD and RAID 1 to 60 can be used to retrieve data according to the user’s needs and requirements.
Its FTP protocols include QuFTP, FTP, SFTP and TFTP along with FTP over TLS and FXP.
On the other hand, Synology ds420+ is also a four-bay storage cloud device but with a much higher maximum single storage volume of 108 TB.
It possesses a 2.0 GHz, Dual-Core intel Celeron Processor that can go up to 2.7 GHz in burst mode. 2 GB, DD4 non-ECC RAM is present in this NAS which is not only double the capacity of its contender but also a generation above it.
And its file protocols include SMB, AFP, NFS, FTP, and WebDAV.
Table of Contents
Side By Side Comparison:
Compared to Qnap, Synology DS420+ has the upper hand in terms of transfer rates dues to its higher frequency processor and a more powerful RAM. It also has a larger single storage volume than its counterpart. This makes Synology more expensive than its rival.
| Cloud Storage | Qnap ts-431k | Synology ds420+ |
| Processor | Quad-core 1.7GHz Alpine AL214 | dual-core Intel Celeron J4025 2.0 to 2.9 GHz (base to burst) |
| Installed memory | 1GB DDR3 | 2 GB DDR4 non-ECC |
| Number of bays | 4 bays (Two-bay, four-bay, six-bay, eight-bay) | 4 bays (Two-bay, four-bay, six-bay, eight-bay) |
Speed
The transfer speed of Qnap is slightly lower than its competitor in terms of both read and write.
It is equipped with a lower frequency 1.7 GHz quad-core processor.
It delivers sequential write speed of 223 MB/s and sequential read speed of 212 MB/s.
Even though it has a lower frequency, its four cores help it to manage large sums of data more effectively than its peer.
On the other hand, Synology has a two-core processor but with a higher frequency of 2.0 GHz that can jump to 2.7 GHz in burst mode.
Due to this, it provides marginally higher transfer speed than its contender.
It has a sequential read speed of 226 MB/s and sequential write speed of 225 MB/s.
| Cloud Storage Devices | Qnap ts-431k | Synology ds420+ |
| Read Speed | 223 MB/s | 226 MB/s |
| Write Speed | 212 MB/s | 225 MB/s |
Design
Qnap is a four-bay NAS that exhibits the shape of a rectangular box. Its front panel contains seven LEDs, two buttons, and one USB port.
The topmost LED indicates the overall status of the system and the next two indicate the status of LAN and activity of USB.
Below these, four LEDs are provided for the separate status of each HDD bay in the following order, HDD 1, HDD 2, HDD 3, and HDD 4.
There is also a power button and a copy button along with a single USB 3.2 GEN 1 port in the front panel.
Drive bays can be attached or detached from the front panel without opening the device and they can be locked in placed with the provided lockable drive trays and keys.
On the rear side, it has a big fan in the center, two GbE RJ45 LAN ports, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, a reset button, 12V DC input and a Kensington security slot.
Meanwhile, the Synology portrays a shape of a more rectangular box.
It is also a four bay storage device and contains a lot of features that are similar to its competitor.
It has five LED lights, one USB port, and one button in the front side.
Moreover, it has a USB 3.2 Gen 1 port and a power button in the front.
Just like its peer, the drive bays can be mounted or removed from the front and locked in position.
Moving forward to is back panel, it contains two small system fans, two GbE Rj-45 Lan ports, one USB 3.2 Gen 1 port, a reset button, a power input port and a Kensington security slot.
Overall, the interface of Qnap is somewhat better than Synology due to more ports and LEDs.
| Cloud Storage Devices | Qnap ts-431k | Synology ds420+ |
| Depth (mm) | 219 | 223 |
| Width (mm) | 160 | 199 |
| Height (mm) | 169 | 166 |
| Weight (kg) | 2.01 | 2.18 |
| Ports | 1 x GbE RJ-45 1 x USB 3.2 1 x USB 3.2 1 x USB 3.2 | 1 x GbE RJ-45 1 x USB 3.2 1 x USB 3.2 |
Maximum Volume Storage
Qnap has a significantly lower storage capacity than its competitor.
The maximum single storage volume of Qnap is only 16 TB.
Therefore, it can accommodate less data and should be avoided when large exchange of data is required.
On the flip side. Synology DiskStation comes with a much higher storage capacity than Qnap. It has a maximum single storage volume of 108 TB.
Therefore, it can be used on large workplaces and offices to accommodate large capacities of data.
| Cloud Storage Devices | qnap ts-431k | synology ds420+ |
| Maximum single volume storage | 16 TB | 108 TB |
System Requirements
The operating systems required by Qnap to function properly include Apple Mac OS 10.10 and onwards,
Microsoft windows 7, 8, 10, and 11, and Microsoft windows Server 2008 R2, 2012 R2, 2016 AND 2019.
Moreover, it supports Linux, RHEL 6.6, CenOS 7, Ubuntu 14.04, IMB AIX 7, and UNIX. It uses DLNA, Apple TV and Chromecast to stream videos on various devices by connecting everything to a network.
On the contrary, Synology is compatible with Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11 and macOS 10.12 and onwards.
It does not support versatile operating systems like Linux and Ubuntu like its peer.
It also requires DLNA to streams video to other devices over a network.
Backup and sharing
Qnap offers a conclusive local, offsite, and cloud backup and Snapshot technology that helps it to create a dependable backup plan.
It is equipped with Hybrid Backup Sync (HBS) that consolidates data, backup, and recovery, making it easier to sync data to another Qnap NAS and cloud storages like Dropbox and Google Drive.
Data can also be backed up on Windows or Mac computers through Qnap NetBak Replicator.
Moreover, Qnap has centralized file management that allows its user to view, manage, store, and share files thought social media, emails, or links. Shared folders can also be linked to enhance collaboration.
Photos can be stored on Qnap NAS by installing Qfile and Qphoto mobile apps on mobile devices.
Similarly, Synology NAS can be used to backup data to Windows, Linux, and Mac OS with the help of Synology Drive Client.
Files are automatically backed up when some file is modified or on a custom schedule set up by the user.
Duplicates of every file is saved to ensure safely from ransomware by saving a copy of each file.
Active Backup for Business feature backs up and restores data on Windows PC and Time Machine feature is used to back up data on MAC and Synology NAS.
It has Drive Share Sync to share data from NAS to NAS and makes it easier to share data in branch offices.
While Hybrid Share allows the users to link data to local NAS.
Set up
Both of these NAS can be set up quite easily. Follow the subsequent steps to get your device up and running:
- First of all, connect a power source in the power input port of the device.
- Then press the power button to power up the device.
- Now wait until the power LED turns blue.
- After the device is powered on, download and install the required software from the official websites of the respective devices to complete the installation.
The operating temperatures of both of these NAS is the same, they can operate in temperatures as low as zero degree centigrade and as high as forty degrees centigrade without compromising their performance.
Noise
Qnap comes with a single large system cooling fan (120 x 120 x 120 mm).
Therefore, it produces some noise during its operation, and the noise is even louder if the operating temperature rises.
Contrarily, Synology has two small system cooling fans (92 x 92 x 25 mm) in its construction. This makes it generate less noise than its peer.
Hence, Synology has a lead on Qnap in this section.
Warranty
The warranty period of Qnap is 2 years, while the Synology has a limited warranty of 3 years.
Therefore, Synology has the upper hand in this department with a longer warranty period.
| Cloud Storage Devices | qnap ts-431k | synology ds420+ |
| Warranty period | 2-Year Limited Warranty | Limited 3-Year Warranty |
