UGREEN DXP4800 Plus vs Synology DS925+

Quick Summary (TL;DR):
The UGREEN NASync DXP4800 Plus and Synology DS925+ are both four-bay NAS systems, but they optimise for very different buyers. The UGREEN is the stronger hardware and home-server platform: Intel Pentium Gold 8505, 8GB DDR5 expandable to 64GB, Intel Quick Sync graphics, two M.2 slots, a 128GB system SSD, one 2.5GbE port and one 10GbE port, plus Docker and virtual-machine support in UGOS Pro. The Synology is the stronger storage appliance and software ecosystem: AMD Ryzen V1500B, 4GB ECC DDR4 expandable to 32GB, two 2.5GbE ports, two M.2 slots, Btrfs, SHR, Hyper Backup, Snapshot Replication, Synology Drive, Synology Photos, Container Manager and Virtual Machine Manager. It can also expand from four to nine drives with the DX525. Choose the DXP4800 Plus when Docker, 10GbE, Intel media acceleration and RAM headroom matter most. Choose the DS925+ when backups, snapshots, ECC memory, long-term storage administration and DSM’s mature ecosystem matter more than raw specifications.

UGREEN DXP4800 Plus vs Synology DS925+ at a Glance

Feature	UGREEN DXP4800 Plus	Synology DS925+
CPU	Intel Pentium Gold 8505	AMD Ryzen V1500B
CPU cores / threads	5 / 6	4 / 8
CPU frequency	Up to 4.4GHz	2.2GHz
Integrated media graphics	Intel UHD Graphics / Quick Sync	No Intel Quick Sync path
RAM included	8GB DDR5	4GB ECC DDR4
Maximum RAM	64GB	32GB
SATA bays	4	4
M.2 slots	2	2
System storage	128GB SSD	DSM installed across internal drives
Networking	1 × 10GbE + 1 × 2.5GbE	2 × 2.5GbE
Filesystem focus	UGOS Pro storage pools	Btrfs + DSM storage stack
Flexible RAID	Standard RAID layouts	SHR + standard RAID
Containers	Docker	Container Manager
Virtual machines	Yes	Virtual Machine Manager
Bay expansion	No dedicated SATA expansion chassis	DX525: up to 9 drives total
Best fit	Docker, media, 10GbE, home server	Backup, snapshots, family/business storage

These NAS Systems Solve Different Problems

The specification table makes UGREEN look dramatically stronger in some areas, but that does not automatically make it the better NAS.

A NAS purchase combines two products:

NAS hardware
+
NAS operating system / storage ecosystem
=
actual ownership experience

UGREEN puts more of the value into CPU, RAM and networking. Synology puts more of the value into storage software, backup tooling, snapshots, support workflows and an established DSM ecosystem.

For the broader brand comparison, see Synology vs QNAP vs UGREEN vs TerraMaster: Which NAS Should You Buy?.

CPU: Intel 8505 vs Ryzen V1500B

The DXP4800 Plus uses Intel’s Pentium Gold 8505.

• 5 cores.
• 1 performance core + 4 efficiency cores.
• 6 threads.
• Up to 4.4GHz.
• 8MB Smart Cache.
• Intel UHD Graphics.
• Intel Quick Sync Video.

The DS925+ uses AMD’s Ryzen V1500B.

• 4 cores.
• 8 threads.
• 2.2GHz.
• 64-bit x86 architecture.
• Hardware encryption support.

Do not turn those specifications into a fabricated benchmark result. The important practical difference is workload type.

The Intel chip is especially attractive for media and mixed home-server work because it includes Quick Sync Video. The Ryzen V1500B is a proven storage/server processor and gives Synology eight CPU threads, but the DS925+ is not positioned as an Intel Quick Sync media-transcoding appliance.

Plex and Jellyfin: UGREEN Has the Better Hardware Foundation

If your media clients Direct Play everything, either NAS can store and serve the files.

The difference appears when the NAS must transcode video.

The 8505 provides Intel Quick Sync Video and a 48-execution-unit integrated GPU. That gives the DXP4800 Plus a more appropriate hardware foundation for supported Plex/Jellyfin acceleration.

Actual media performance still depends on:

• Codec.
• Bitrate.
• HDR tone mapping.
• Subtitle handling.
• Container/device configuration.
• Plex/Jellyfin version.
• Software licensing where required.

Use the dedicated workload guide before buying primarily for transcoding: Best NAS for Plex and Jellyfin Hardware Transcoding.

RAM: UGREEN Has More Capacity, Synology Has ECC

This is a more interesting trade-off than simply comparing gigabytes.

UGREEN provides:

• 8GB DDR5 installed.
• Up to 64GB supported memory.
• More immediate capacity for Docker and VMs.

Synology provides:

• 4GB DDR4 ECC installed.
• Two SO-DIMM slots.
• Up to 32GB officially supported memory.
• Error-correcting memory.

ECC is attractive in a storage appliance because it can detect and correct certain memory errors before corrupted data is passed further through the system.

If the workload is mostly file storage, backups and snapshots, 32GB is already generous. If you intend to run many containers and VMs, the DXP4800 Plus’s 64GB ceiling gives it more room.

Networking: 10GbE Is UGREEN’s Biggest Hardware Advantage

The DXP4800 Plus includes:

• 1 × 10GbE RJ45.
• 1 × 2.5GbE RJ45.

The DS925+ includes:

• 2 × 2.5GbE RJ45.

For normal household backups, 2.5GbE is already fast. For workstation editing, very large backups, SSD pools or several high-speed users, UGREEN’s built-in 10GbE port is a major advantage.

The DS925+ has no conventional PCIe expansion slot, so it does not offer the straightforward 10GbE card upgrade path found on some larger Synology/QNAP systems.

Dual 2.5GbE Is Still Useful

Do not dismiss Synology’s two network ports simply because neither is 10GbE.

Dual interfaces can be useful for:

• Network redundancy.
• Serving separate networks.
• Link aggregation where the network design supports it.
• More aggregate bandwidth across multiple clients.

But link aggregation does not automatically turn two 2.5GbE ports into one 5Gbps connection for a single ordinary SMB transfer.

Storage Bays and RAID Options

Both NAS systems have four SATA bays and two M.2 NVMe positions.

UGREEN supports the familiar layouts:

• Basic.
• JBOD.
• RAID 0.
• RAID 1.
• RAID 5.
• RAID 6.
• RAID 10.

Synology supports standard RAID plus Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR) on the DS925+.

SHR can simplify capacity expansion and mixed-size drive planning compared with conventional RAID, particularly for home users who expect to replace drives gradually over time.

Synology Has the Stronger Bay-Expansion Story

The DS925+ can connect to the DX525 expansion unit and scale from four internal drives to nine total bays.

Synology currently quotes up to 180TB raw capacity for the original DS925+ + DX525 configuration using the drive capacities assumed in its product materials.

The DXP4800 Plus does not have a dedicated UGREEN SATA expansion enclosure path equivalent to the DX525.

If four bays may become the limiting factor rather than CPU performance, Synology’s expansion architecture is a genuine advantage.

DSM vs UGOS Pro Is the Bigger Difference Than CPU

For many buyers, software should decide this comparison.

Synology DSM has a long-established first-party ecosystem including:

• Storage Manager.
• Hyper Backup.
• Snapshot Replication.
• Synology Drive.
• Synology Photos.
• Active Backup tools.
• Container Manager.
• Virtual Machine Manager.
• Surveillance Station.
• C2 integration.

UGOS Pro provides the core NAS functions plus:

• SMB/NFS file services.
• RAID and storage management.
• Automatic backup functions.
• Photo and media applications.
• Docker.
• Compose-style project management.
• Virtual machines on supported DXP models.
• Remote-access features.

UGOS Pro is now far more capable than at NASync launch, but DSM still has the advantage in ecosystem maturity, documentation depth and first-party storage-management tooling.

Backup and Recovery: Synology Has the Edge

For a NAS whose first job is protecting important data, Synology’s software stack is difficult to ignore.

• Hyper Backup can send versioned backups to local, remote and supported cloud destinations.
• Snapshot Replication provides fast point-in-time recovery on Btrfs.
• Synology Drive provides file sync and versioning.
• Active Backup can protect supported computers, servers and services.

UGREEN can back up files and external systems and its software continues to mature, but buyers comparing the two specifically for business/family backup should evaluate the actual restore workflow—not simply whether both interfaces contain a “Backup” button.

Btrfs and Data Integrity

Synology’s Btrfs implementation is central to DSM’s snapshot and integrity features.

DSM supports data checksums on appropriately configured shared folders and integrates Btrfs with Snapshot Replication, Hyper Backup and Synology Drive.

This is one reason the DS925+ can be the stronger storage appliance even though its network and memory specifications look weaker.

Docker: UGREEN Has More Hardware Headroom

Both systems support containers.

Synology uses Container Manager. UGREEN exposes Docker through UGOS Pro and also supports project/Compose-style deployments.

For a light stack such as:

Pi-hole
+ Vaultwarden
+ MQTT
+ small database
+ monitoring

either platform is capable.

For a much heavier stack with Immich, Nextcloud, databases, media servers and other services running simultaneously, UGREEN’s 8GB starting point, 64GB ceiling and stronger media hardware become more attractive.

Virtual Machines: Both Can Do It

UGREEN’s current DXP platform supports virtual machines through its Virtual Machine application.

The DS925+ supports Synology Virtual Machine Manager. Synology currently lists a recommended maximum of up to eight VM instances on a 32GB configuration, subject to workload and system resources.

That does not mean eight demanding VMs will all run well at once. It means the DS925+ is a legitimate virtualisation platform rather than merely a file server.

If VMs become the primary workload, also compare a separate Proxmox mini PC plus NAS. Dedicated compute can be cheaper and easier to upgrade than buying a NAS mainly for CPU power.

ECC vs Non-ECC Memory

The DS925+’s ECC memory is a meaningful engineering advantage for storage-focused use.

ECC can detect and correct certain single-bit memory errors. That does not make the NAS immune to corruption, but it removes one class of silent memory fault from the data path.

The Intel 8505 itself does not officially support ECC memory, so the DXP4800 Plus’s higher memory ceiling comes without the DS925+’s ECC protection.

For a home Docker server, many buyers will prefer more RAM. For a storage appliance holding irreplaceable business/family data, ECC may matter more.

Drive Compatibility: Synology’s Policy Changed with DSM 7.3

The DS925+ launched during Synology’s stricter 2025 drive-policy period, so many reviews still repeat outdated advice.

Under DSM 7.3, 2025 DS Plus models can create storage pools using third-party HDDs and 2.5-inch SATA SSDs that are not on Synology’s compatibility list, provided the drives are not explicitly incompatible.

Synology still recommends verified drives and support can be limited where an unverified drive itself is responsible for the issue.

M.2 NVMe remains more restricted: creating new M.2 storage pools or cache on affected DS Plus systems still requires listed/verified SSDs.

UGREEN takes a more conventional enthusiast approach and explicitly supports third-party SATA drives from major brands subject to its compatibility guidance.

Our dedicated compatibility guide goes deeper: NAS Drive Compatibility: What to Check on Synology, UGREEN and QNAP.

M.2 SSDs: Same Slot Count, Different Policies

Both models have two M.2 NVMe slots, but counting slots is not enough.

UGREEN positions its M.2 slots for SSD caching and fast storage/application workloads, subject to UGOS Pro support and compatibility.

Synology supports M.2 caching and, on supported configurations, M.2 storage pools—but new pools/cache on 2025 DS Plus hardware require compatible SSDs under the current DSM policy.

If your plan depends on inexpensive third-party NVMe drives as application storage, verify the exact current policy before choosing Synology.

Power Consumption Is Surprisingly Similar

Manufacturer figures under their own test conditions are:

• UGREEN DXP4800 Plus: 42.36W during drive access and 18.12W during drive hibernation.
• Synology DS925+: 37.91W during access and 12.33W during HDD hibernation.

These results were produced with different vendor test methods and drive configurations, so they are not an apples-to-apples efficiency benchmark.

The practical point is that both remain normal four-drive desktop NAS appliances. Real wall power will depend heavily on the installed drives, SSDs, RAM, network activity and workloads.

Noise and Physical Size

Synology lists the DS925+ at 166 × 199 × 223mm and 20.5dB(A) under its specified idle noise test.

UGREEN lists the DXP4800 Plus at approximately 257 × 178 × 178mm and markets a quiet cooling mode around 29–34dB under its own conditions.

Do not compare those dB numbers directly because the methodologies differ.

In a real home, the installed hard drives often dominate perceived NAS noise anyway.

Home Assistant: Either Is More Than Enough

Both platforms are far beyond what a normal Home Assistant backup target needs.

You can use either NAS for:

• Home Assistant network backups.
• SMB/NFS storage.
• Docker-based supporting services.
• MQTT.
• Databases.

If Home Assistant itself is critical, our preferred architecture remains separate compute plus NAS backups rather than making the storage appliance the single failure domain for the entire smart home.

Which Is Better for Family Photos?

If you want the vendor’s own photo workflow rather than Docker-based Immich, Synology Photos is one of the strongest reasons to choose DSM.

UGREEN also provides local photo management and AI organisation, but Synology has the longer-established family-photo and backup ecosystem.

If you plan to run Immich regardless of vendor, the DXP4800 Plus’s CPU/RAM headroom and Intel hardware are more relevant than either native photo application.

Which Is Better for a Small Business?

The DS925+ has several characteristics that matter more in a business context:

• ECC memory.
• Mature snapshot/replication tools.
• Active Backup ecosystem.
• Synology Drive.
• Established administration documentation.
• Expansion to nine bays.

UGREEN may still be more attractive to a technically managed small office that needs 10GbE, Docker and strong compute for the money.

Which Is Better for a Home Lab?

The DXP4800 Plus is easier to justify for a home lab because the hardware is more generous:

• Twice the included RAM.
• Double the maximum RAM ceiling.
• 10GbE built in.
• Intel Quick Sync.
• Docker-oriented hardware headroom.

But if the NAS is really becoming a compute server, consider whether a separate mini PC is a better long-term architecture. NAS drives can remain useful for a decade while CPU requirements change much faster.

Complete-System Cost Can Reverse the Decision

Do not compare only the diskless enclosure price.

Include:

• Four HDDs.
• RAM upgrade.
• M.2 SSDs.
• UPS.
• 2.5GbE or 10GbE switch.
• 10GbE client NIC if needed.
• External/off-site backup storage.
• Expansion unit if planning more than four Synology bays.

The UGREEN’s 10GbE port has no value if using it requires replacing an otherwise adequate network for a workload that never exceeds 2.5GbE.

Likewise, paying for Synology’s ecosystem has little value if you will ignore the native applications and run everything in Docker.

A Practical Buying Matrix

Your priority	Better fit	Reason
Family backup and snapshots	DS925+	DSM, Btrfs, Hyper Backup, Snapshot Replication
Docker and self-hosting	DXP4800 Plus	8GB base RAM, 64GB ceiling, stronger hardware value
Plex/Jellyfin hardware acceleration	DXP4800 Plus	Intel Quick Sync hardware
10GbE workstation workflow	DXP4800 Plus	Built-in 10GbE
ECC memory	DS925+	4GB ECC included, up to 32GB
Expand beyond four SATA bays	DS925+	DX525 supports up to nine total drives
Vendor-native photos and file sync	DS925+	Synology Photos and Synology Drive
Heavy home-lab use	DXP4800 Plus	RAM, Intel iGPU and faster network

UGREEN DXP4800 Plus vs Synology DS925+: The Bottom Line

Choose the UGREEN DXP4800 Plus when hardware flexibility is the priority. It gives you substantially more included RAM, a 64GB ceiling, Intel Quick Sync and built-in 10GbE. It is particularly attractive for Docker, media, Immich and home-lab workloads.

Choose the Synology DS925+ when storage software and data-management maturity are the priority. ECC memory, Btrfs, SHR, Hyper Backup, Snapshot Replication, Synology Drive, Synology Photos and the DX525 expansion path form a stronger appliance-style storage ecosystem.

The 2026 DSM 7.3 drive-policy change also means the Synology SATA-drive story is less restrictive than many launch reviews suggest, although M.2 pools/cache remain more tightly controlled.

The most useful distinction is simple: UGREEN sells you more server hardware; Synology sells you more storage ecosystem. Decide which side of that equation you will actually use.

Continue the NAS Buying Series

• Synology vs QNAP vs UGREEN vs TerraMaster: Which NAS Should You Buy?
• Best 4-Bay NAS for Docker, Plex and Family Storage
• NAS Drive Compatibility: What to Check on Synology, UGREEN and QNAP

Datasheets & External Resources

• UGREEN DXP4800 Plus – Official EU specifications
• UGREEN DXP4800 Plus – UGOS Pro, Docker and VM features
• Intel Pentium Gold 8505 – Official specifications
• Synology DS925+ – Official specifications
• Synology DS925+ and DX525 – Official expansion information
• Synology DSM 7.3 – Updated third-party drive policy
• Synology – 2025+ drive compatibility policy details
• Synology DSM 7.3 – Btrfs and storage features