Synology SAT5200 SSD review: Rapid NAS storage with a premium price tag

Synology SAT5200 Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central

Synology makes some of the best-selling network-attached storage (NAS) enclosures on the market, so it makes sense the company would similar to tap into other areas, including concrete storage. The dream would be for Synology NAS owners to utilize Synology-branded storage and that'south precisely what the SAT5200 series of enterprise-grade SSDs are meant to deliver.

This range of SSD storage makes employ of the 6GB/south SATA interface for read and write speeds of 530MB/s and 500MB/south, respectively. On newspaper, these drives audio similar a worthwhile consideration for NAS owners who wish to bump upwardly the transfer rate of stored data. Starting at $180 for 480GB of space is a steep mount to climb, merely Synology believes information technology to exist worth every penny.

We took a wait at the 960GB model, sent to us by Synology, to see if these drives are the best SSDs for NAS and worth the asking price.

King of NAS SSD

Synology SAT5200 SSD

Bottom line: While priced high, the SAT5200 series has enough to offer. The read and write speeds are in line with what should be expected from ii.5-inch SSDs with a SATA III interface. As an added bonus, Synology uses a solid controller, modules, and includes some capacitors for power-loss protection. The 5-year warranty and high TBW are likewise great for server owners.

Pros

Solid performance
Good warranty
Works with Synology NAS
Reliable components
Power-loss protection

Cons

Pricey
Caps out at 4TB

Synology SAT5200 SSD specifications

Category	SAT5200-480G	SAT5200-960G	SAT5200-1920G	SAT5200-3840G
Format	two.5-inch SSD	2.5-inch SSD	2.v-inch SSD	2.five-inch SSD
Capacity	480 GB	960 GB	one,920 GB	three,840 GB
Read speed	530 MB/s	530 MB/south	530 MB/s	530 MB/s
Write speed	500 MB/south	500 MB/s	500 MB/s	500 MB/s
TBW	1,145 TB	2,290 TB	4,581 TB	ix,162 TB
Ability	~4.ii West	~4.six Westward	~5.1 Westward	~half-dozen.2 W
Warranty	five years	5 years	v years	5 years
Price	$180	$347	$591	$one,246

Synology SAT5200 SSD what I similar

Synology SAT5200 Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central

The SAT5200 is certainly marketed every bit a premium option for NAS (and enterprise) customers. The smallest chapters comes in at 480GB, so it's clear this is meant to be used in high-capacity solutions, like a NAS enclosure. Other options in the family unit include 960GB, one,920GB, and 3,840GB. Prices start from $180 for the 480GB model.

Synology's SAT5200 SSD range is perfect for your NAS enclosure.

The PCB is a serious work of art too. Synology certainly didn't desire to cut any corners with its initial SSD offering, specially if it plans to marketplace these drives equally the perfect flash solution for continuous use. There'southward a Phison controller, matched by a few embedded flash modules, alongside some capacitors for ability-loss prevention.

It's this sort of approach that provides Synology with the leg-upwardly against the competition. On paper, we've got loftier read and write speeds. There are premium components inside the metallic casing, and at that place are even some enterprise-class features like power-loss protection. If you plan on using these inside your NAS, you'll want to make sure you won't lose any data.

Category	Read	Write
Synology SAT5200	516 MB/due south	500 MB/s
Seagate IronWolf 110	504 MB/s	437 MB/s

So how fast are these drives? Fast. Actually, Synology gets its marketing spot on regarding speeds. I saw upward of 520MB/s for read and 500MB/s on the dot for write. That's inside a PC running criterion software. Inside a Synology NAS, information technology'south a similar story. Transferring files beyond the network was a seamless process and one that took no longer than other NAS in the market.

Synology SAT5200 SSD What I didn't like

Synology SAT5200 Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central

SSDs remain considerably more expensive than mechanical HDDs and that'southward even more than so with the SAT5200, which is far more pricey than normal 2.5-inch SSDs. While prices begin at $180 for 480GB, you can apace spend more than $1,000 for less than 4TB. The same money on NAS-class HDDs would meet you quadruple the capacity to 16TB.

Should you buy the Synology SAT5200 SSD?

Synology SAT5200 Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Primal

Who information technology's for

If y'all desire faster storage for your NAS
If you have a Synology NAS
If you lot want an SSD with power-loss protection

Who information technology isn't for

If you want the best blindside for your buck
If you demand massive amounts of space

Synology essentially knocked information technology out of the park with its initial SSD offering. The visitor only had to match what was already available on the market, but it somehow succeeded some of the more established SSD solutions. The SAT5200 isn't for anyone who requires some serious space. You'd be far meliorate off with HDDs, but if you lot need the faster read and write rates, this is a adept mode to get.

Like other 2.5-inch SATA SSDs on the market, y'all'll be able to hitting effectually 500MB/s and slightly above for read and write access, just it's the additional features that actually sets the SAT5200 family unit apart. The available capacitors for power-loss protection, high TBW rating, and a high-quality controller makes for quite the NAS-friendly storage package.

Rex of NAS SSD

Synology SAT5200 SSD

Rapid information storage

While an SSD all the same cannot compete against mechanical HDDs for value and capacity, Synology'southward initial SSD offer with the SAT5200 is a step in the right management. It'south a must-have for your NAS if you want wink storage.

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