Ugreen DXP8800 Ultra vs Synology DS1821+: Which 8-Bay NAS?

Updated 7 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

The Ugreen DXP8800 Ultra and Synology DS1821+ are both 8-bay NAS enclosures, but they serve different primary use cases: the Ugreen offers a more modern, high-performance platform with a user-friendly OS, while the Synology provides a mature, highly extensible ecosystem with a massive app library. Your choice depends on whether you prioritize raw hardware specs and ease of use (Ugreen) or software maturity and long-term support (Synology).

Background: Two Very Different NAS Philosophies

Synology has been a dominant name in consumer and prosumer NAS for over two decades. The DS1821+ is part of their Plus series, designed for power users who need reliable performance, a rich app ecosystem, and a long support lifecycle. It runs DiskStation Manager (DSM), widely considered one of the most polished and feature-complete NAS operating systems available.

Ugreen, better known for chargers and cables, entered the NAS market recently with the DXP series. The DXP8800 Ultra is their flagship 8-bay model, running on UGOS Pro, a newer operating system that is actively developed but still maturing. Ugreen’s pitch is modern hardware at a competitive price, often undercutting Synology on cost while offering specs that appeal to home lab enthusiasts and media hoarders.

Hardware Comparison: The Core Specs

Here’s how the two units stack up on paper:

CPU: Ugreen DXP8800 Ultra uses an Intel Core i5-1235U (2P+8E cores, 12 threads) or an Intel Celeron N100 in the base model. The Synology DS1821+ uses an AMD Ryzen V1500B (4 cores, 8 threads). The i5 is significantly faster in multi-threaded workloads.
RAM: Ugreen comes with 16 GB DDR5 (soldered) in the Ultra model. Synology ships with 4 GB DDR4 ECC (expandable to 32 GB). ECC memory can correct data corruption, a plus for data integrity.
Network: Ugreen has two 10GbE ports (SFP+ and RJ45) in the Ultra, while Synology has four 1GbE ports (link aggregation up to 4 Gbps). The Ugreen wins outright for high-speed networking.
M.2 NVMe Slots: Both have two M.2 slots for caching or storage. Ugreen also offers a PCIe slot for expansion (e.g., adding a 10GbE card or GPU), while the DS1821+ has a single PCIe 3.0 x8 slot (useful for a 10GbE card or M.2 adapter).
Drive Bays: Both have 8 SATA 3.5″/2.5″ bays. Ugreen also supports U.2 NVMe drives in the same bays (with an adapter), which is unusual.
Power: Ugreen uses an external power brick (120W). Synology has an internal PSU (250W).

Software: UGOS Pro vs DSM 7

Synology DSM 7 is a mature OS with hundreds of packages: Synology Photos, Drive, Surveillance Station, Hyper Backup, and a Docker package (Container Manager). The app store is vast, and the system is rock-solid for file sharing, backup, and media serving (Plex, Jellyfin). DSM also supports Btrfs with snapshots, which is excellent for data protection.

UGOS Pro is newer but improving quickly. It includes a decent file manager, a Docker environment (Docker Compose), a built-in virtual machine manager, and a simple backup tool. However, it lacks the depth of Synology’s app ecosystem. For example, there’s no official equivalent to Synology Photos or Surveillance Station. You’ll likely rely on third-party apps (e.g., Plex) for media. UGOS Pro also has a more modern, cleaner UI, which some users prefer.

Which One Fits Your Needs?

Consider the following scenarios to help decide:

You want a fast Plex server: The Ugreen DXP8800 Ultra with its i5 CPU and 10GbE will handle multiple 4K transcodes effortlessly. The Synology DS1821+ can do a few, but the AMD CPU lacks Quick Sync, so hardware transcoding isn’t available (you’d rely on CPU power).
You need a reliable backup target: Synology’s Hyper Backup and Snapshot Replication are industry-standard. The DS1821+ is the safer choice for critical data.
You’re a home lab enthusiast: Ugreen’s 10GbE out of the box is a huge advantage for virtual machines and high-speed file transfers. The PCIe slot also allows for expansion.
You want a set-and-forget appliance: Synology’s DSM is more stable and has a longer support track record. Ugreen is still adding features and fixing bugs.
You’re on a budget: The Ugreen DXP8800 Ultra (with i5) is often priced lower than the DS1821+ (when you factor in the cost of adding a 10GbE card and more RAM to the Synology).

Common Problems and Considerations

Both units have their quirks. The Synology DS1821+ ships with only 4GB RAM, which is low for heavy multitasking; you’ll likely need to upgrade. Its 1GbE ports are a bottleneck unless you add a 10GbE card (which costs extra). The AMD CPU also means no hardware transcoding in Plex, which is a deal-breaker for some.

The Ugreen DXP8800 Ultra has a few caveats: the RAM is soldered, so you can’t upgrade it later (16GB is fine for most, but not if you plan heavy VMs). The external power brick is a minor annoyance for rack installation. UGOS Pro is still missing some advanced features like SMB multichannel and granular snapshot scheduling. Also, Ugreen’s support is less established than Synology’s.

Cost and Value Proposition

Pricing varies by region and promotions, but generally, the Ugreen DXP8800 Ultra (i5 version) is comparable to or slightly less than the Synology DS1821+ (which often sells for around $800-900 without drives). However, to match the Ugreen’s specs, you’d need to add a 10GbE card ($100-200) and more RAM ($50-100) to the Synology, making it more expensive. On the flip side, Synology’s software is arguably worth a premium for its reliability and app selection. Ugreen offers great hardware value, but you’re paying for a younger software ecosystem.

Safety and Data Integrity

Both support RAID (0, 1, 5, 6, 10) and SHR (Synology Hybrid RAID) for Synology, and Ugreen supports RAID 0/1/5/6/10. For data safety, always use at least RAID 5 or 6 with a hot spare. Synology’s Btrfs offers checksumming and snapshot protection, which is more advanced than Ugreen’s ext4. If data integrity is your top priority, Synology has the edge. Also, ensure you have a separate backup (e.g., external drive or cloud), as RAID is not a backup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I run Plex on the Synology DS1821+ with hardware transcoding?

No, the AMD Ryzen V1500B does not support Intel Quick Sync, so Plex hardware transcoding is not available. You can still transcode using the CPU, but it will use more power and may struggle with multiple 4K streams. If hardware transcoding is essential, consider the Ugreen or a Synology model with an Intel CPU.

Is UGOS Pro stable enough for daily use?

Yes, for basic file storage, media serving, and Docker containers, UGOS Pro is stable. It receives regular updates, but it’s not as battle-tested as DSM. For critical production use, many would still prefer Synology.

Can I add a 10GbE network card to the Synology DS1821+?

Yes, the DS1821+ has a PCIe 3.0 x8 slot that can accommodate a 10GbE NIC (e.g., Synology E10G18-T1 or compatible third-party cards). This is a common upgrade path.

Does the Ugreen DXP8800 Ultra support ECC memory?

No, it uses non-ECC DDR5 soldered memory. If ECC is a requirement for your workload, the Synology DS1821+ (with ECC RAM) is the better choice.

Which NAS is better for a home user who wants to store photos and videos?

For a home user, the Synology DS1821+ with Synology Photos is a more polished experience for organizing and sharing media. However, if you also want to run a media server and need fast transfer speeds, the Ugreen’s hardware is more future-proof.

Can I use the Ugreen DXP8800 Ultra as a VMware or Proxmox host?

Yes, the Ugreen supports running virtual machines via its built-in VM manager, and you can also install Proxmox directly on the hardware (though this voids the warranty). The i5 CPU and 10GbE make it a capable host.

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