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How to speed up and tune up a slow NAS
Short answer: the biggest improvements for a slow NAS are adding more RAM, installing fast M.2 SSDs as a cache in front of the mechanical hard drives, and moving the network to 10 gigabit with a faster network card and switch. Before you buy any part, check your NAS maker's compatibility list, otherwise it may not work or your data can get corrupted. In the video I open my own NAS and show each upgrade.
Why a NAS feels slow
Mechanical hard drives give you a lot of capacity, but they are slow. On top of that, a slow network link (100 megabit or even 1 gigabit) becomes a bottleneck when you move big files. In my case I record all my videos in 4K and every file is something like 5, 10 or 20 gigs, so on a slow connection a copy can take half an hour or more. These are the same things I check when a customer tells me the NAS is slow, whether it is a QNAP, a Synology or another brand.
Step 1: Add more RAM
With the cover off you have access to the motherboard, and the main thing I recommend is to add more RAM. You simply replace or add the memory module and that is it. The only thing you have to do first is go to the manufacturer's website and check the compatibility list to make sure the memory is compatible with your model; otherwise it may not work.
Step 2: Use M.2 SSDs as a cache
Newer models have M.2 slots. In my NAS I installed two M.2 SSDs that work as a cache: when you copy your files they go first to these very fast drives (around 7,000 megabytes per second on mine) instead of waiting for the mechanical drives. Again, make sure the SSDs are on the compatibility list. With the ones I bought I have no issues, but if you use a brand or model that is not supported, the data may get corrupted.
Keep in mind that a regular SATA SSD tops out at around 500 to 600 megabytes per second, while M.2 drives are way faster. They cost a little more; for me 2 terabytes is the sweet spot, not very expensive and enough storage to use as cache.
Step 3: Upgrade the network card to 10 gigabit
My NAS has a 2.5 gigabit port. Some models have a slot where you can install an adapter, and other models give you access inside to add an Ethernet card (NIC), so you can run the network at 10 gigabit. On the manufacturer's site, the same compatibility list shows which network cards you can install; the ones I saw were about $100, $140 or $150 each, sometimes a little more or less.
Step 4: How to use the compatibility list
- Go to your NAS brand's website (QNAP if you have a QNAP, and so on) and open the compatibility list.
- Select NAS and then your exact model.
- Choose the category: M.2 SSD, HDD for regular drives, or network cards.
- Pick a part from the list, then search for that exact model to buy it.
Step 5: Upgrade the switch and use your full internet speed
A NAS with 10 gigabit is only fast if the switch is too, so another upgrade is a 10 gigabit switch. I like Ubiquiti; they are kind of pricey but very good, and mine runs very well. One more tip from my own experience: I have a 3 gig up and 3 gig down internet connection, and when uploading to YouTube I have seen that each browser only lets me use about one gig at a time. So I open different browsers, like Chrome, Firefox and Safari, to upload several videos and use all my speed. YouTube could not tell me why; that is just my experience.
Frequently asked questions
What is the first upgrade to make a NAS faster?
Add more RAM, making sure the memory is on your NAS maker's compatibility list.
What does an M.2 SSD cache do on a NAS?
Files are copied first to the very fast M.2 drives instead of the slow mechanical drives, so transfers feel much faster.
Can I use any SSD or network card?
Use only parts listed on the manufacturer's compatibility list. Otherwise it may not work, or data may get corrupted.
Do I need a new switch for 10 gigabit?
Yes. To get 10 gigabit speeds the switch has to support it too, for example a 10 gigabit Ubiquiti switch.