5 Things to Know About the Synology DS420+ Storage Setup

The DS420+ uses standard SATA drives for all main storage. Its four bays accept both 3.5-inch HDDs and 2.5-inch SATA SSDs.

The two M.2 slots are strictly for SSD caching, not storage. Synology enforces this separation across its entire lineup.

You cannot install an operating system or store files on the M.2 drives. They only accelerate frequently accessed data from the SATA drives.

For maximum performance, pair a fast SATA SSD with a large HDD. The cache helps speed up repeated reads and writes to the slower mechanical drives.

If you need M.2 storage, look at Synology’s higher-end models. The DS420+ is designed for budget-conscious users who prioritize capacity over NVMe storage flexibility.