ReadyNAS 214 or 316

Question

I am looking at the 214 or 316 models for home use. &nbsp;My wife is a photographer, so we need a lot of storage. &nbsp;I will be using Raid 1, so 24 TB = 12 useable TB. &nbsp;I will also be using this like DropBox. &nbsp;Besides number of bays (and the fact that I can put 6 TB drives in the 316 model), is there any difference between these two? &nbsp;I am leaning towards the 316, but I want to be sure that it can be used as a media server, and that I can download a desktop app that will allow me to sync folders on my PC with the ReadyNAS (the 214 has a video showing this, but not the 316... that's why I ask).

StephenB · Answer

There are actually more apps available for the RN316. &nbsp;All the ARM apps available for the RN100 and RN200 are also available for x86 products like the RN316. &nbsp;The reverse is not the case.
&nbsp;
The RN316 includes lifetime free software chat support, the RN100 and RN200 do not.
&nbsp;
Current US Amazon pricing has the RN214 at ~$500 and the RN316 at ~$550. &nbsp;At those prices the RN316 is a better deal.
&nbsp;
The wrinkle is that the RN214 is spec'd to provide 1080p on-the-fly transcoding with plex. &nbsp;The RN316 is not.&nbsp;

MathemAddicts · Answer

I actually use a separate HTPC. &nbsp;Will I still need the NAS to transcode?

StephenB · Answer

MathemAddicts wrote:
I actually use a separate HTPC. &nbsp;Will I still need the NAS to transcode?

How are you accessing the media? &nbsp;DLNA, NFS, SMB, ???
&nbsp;
If DLNA, what server are you using now? &nbsp;Plex?

MathemAddicts · Answer

Right now the media is on the SSD in the HTPC. &nbsp;I do not store a ton of media, so I may not use the NAS for media at all; however, if I do, could I map it as a network drive and store videos from, say XBox&nbsp;Video app (in Windows 8) and shows DVR'd from Windows Media Center? &nbsp;Would I still need the NAS to transcode or, since they are being played through the relevant app in Windows 8 on my HTPC, am I okay with transcoding on the NAS?

StephenB · Answer

MathemAddicts wrote:
Right now the media is on the SSD in the HTPC. &nbsp;I do not store a ton of media, so I may not use the NAS for media at all; however, if I do, could I map it as a network drive and store videos from, say XBox&nbsp;Video app (in Windows 8) and shows DVR'd from Windows Media Center? &nbsp;Would I still need the NAS to transcode or, since they are being played through the relevant app in Windows 8 on my HTPC, am I okay with transcoding on the NAS?

If you are access the media via a mapped drive (or directly from the share using NFS or SMB) then you don't transcoding. &nbsp;All the NAS is doing is hosting the file.
&nbsp;
PLEX is more complicated. &nbsp;It streams to browsers, mobile devices, and some players - both locally and over the internet. &nbsp;Transcoding is quite important with Plex - sometimes because the player doesn't support codecs or media container, and sometimes because the network connection isn't fast enough to carry the media w/o transcoding. &nbsp;The RN316 will transcode 720p - not sure about 1080p, but I've heard that might stutter.
&nbsp;
Anyway, I'd say the RN316 is a better choice for you (esp. given the small price gap at the moment). &nbsp;Having unused bays for future expansion is always good (it is most cost effective to expand into an empty bay). &nbsp;

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ReadyNAS 214 or 316

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