Ugreen NASync DXP4800 Plus 4-Bay NAS
The Ugreen NASync DXP4800 Plus is a $700 4-bay NAS built on the Intel Pentium Gold 8505 (5-core hybrid Alder Lake-N), 8GB DDR5 expandable to 64GB, two M.2 NVMe slots, and both 10GbE and 2.5GbE ports built in. The hardware spec sheet beats every other prosumer NAS at this price — UGOS Pro is the question mark.
Best modern hardware in a 4-bay NAS — DDR5, hybrid Intel cores, Quick Sync, and built-in 10GbE. The risk is UGOS Pro's young software ecosystem.
Where to Buy
Pros
- Intel Pentium Gold 8505 hybrid (1P + 4E cores) with Quick Sync and AV1 decode
- DDR5-4800 expandable to 64GB — most modern memory in a sub-$1000 NAS
- Built-in 10GbE plus 2.5GbE — no expansion card required for 10GbE
- Two M.2 NVMe slots accept any brand of M.2 2280 SSD
- On-device facial recognition in UGOS Pro Photo (no cloud uploads)
Cons
- UGOS Pro is new — fewer apps and a smaller community than Synology DSM or QNAP QTS
- Some early units shipped with BIOS/firmware bugs — largely fixed in 2025 firmware updates but check serial number
- Ugreen is a NEW player in NAS — long-term firmware support is unproven
- On-device facial recognition only works with UGOS Pro Photo, not Immich/PhotoStructure
- HDMI output is less polished for direct media playback than QNAP's HD Player
Hardware — The Spec Sheet That Beats Everyone
The Intel Pentium Gold 8505 is a 10nm Alder Lake-N hybrid with one Performance core (P-core, up to 4.4GHz) and four Efficient cores (E-cores, up to 3.3GHz), totaling five cores and six threads, with a 15W TDP. The P-core handles single-threaded tasks (web UI responsiveness, container startups) while the E-cores handle parallel workloads (file transfers, container background work). Single-thread performance is roughly 2x the Intel J4125 in the Synology DS224+ and 1.5x the AMD R1600 in the DS923+. Multi-thread is similar to the R1600 but with the GPU advantage Synology lacks.
The Intel UHD Graphics in the 8505 is 32-EU Xe-LP, with full Quick Sync support including AV1 decode, 12-bit HEVC encode, and H.264 hardware encode. Plex transcoding is the best in this class — the GPU handles 3-4 simultaneous 4K HEVC transcodes without breaking 50% utilization. AV1 decode matters for future-proofing as more content shifts to AV1 (YouTube, Netflix HDR).
8GB DDR5-4800 ships in a single SO-DIMM slot, with one open slot for expansion. The DXP4800 Plus officially supports up to 64GB DDR5 (2x32GB), and Ugreen does not enforce a vendor whitelist — generic Crucial, Kingston, or Corsair DDR5 SO-DIMMs work. DDR5 is a generational leap over the DDR4 in Synology and QNAP units: roughly 50% more memory bandwidth and lower power per bit. For workloads that benefit from RAM bandwidth (databases, ML inference, ZFS ARC), DDR5 is meaningful.
Networking — Both 10GbE and 2.5GbE Built In
Built-in 10GBASE-T plus 2.5GBASE-T is the DXP4800 Plus's biggest competitive moat. The Synology DS923+ requires a $200 add-in card to get 10GbE, the QNAP TS-264 maxes out at 2.5GbE, and the TerraMaster F2-424 has dual 2.5GbE but no 10GbE. The Ugreen ships with both for free.
Real-world impact: with 10GbE and a 4-bay RAID 5 of 7200rpm HDDs (~400-500MB/s sequential reads), the network ceiling moves to the network. A 50GB video file copies in roughly 100 seconds over 10GbE versus 7-8 minutes over gigabit. For households that occasionally move large media files (4K camera footage, Plex backups, photo libraries), 10GbE at the NAS plus a $250 8-port multi-gig switch transforms what is possible.
The 2.5GbE port is useful for failover or for connecting devices that do not have 10GbE. Configure them on different subnets, or use one for management and the other for data, or bond them with the 10GbE for link aggregation if your switch supports LACP. The flexibility is rare at this price point. The catch is that you need actual 10GbE infrastructure to use the 10GbE port — most home networks are still gigabit. Budget for a multi-gig switch (TP-Link TL-SX1008 8-port or similar, ~$300) if you do not already have one.
UGOS Pro — Promising But Young
UGOS Pro is Ugreen's NAS operating system, launched in 2024 with the original DXP series and refined throughout 2025. Functionally it covers the basics: SMB/NFS file shares, RAID configuration (basic RAID 0/1/5/6 plus Ugreen's own SHR equivalent), Docker via Container Manager, snapshot management, photo library with on-device facial recognition, file browser apps for iOS/Android. The UI is cleaner than QTS and visually closer to DSM, with a left-rail navigation and consistent panel layouts.
The limitations are real. The app catalog is roughly 50 apps versus Synology's ~150 and QNAP's hundreds. Active community is small — the Ugreen NAS subreddit has under 10K members compared to r/synology's 130K. Documentation is improving but still lags translated tutorials and YouTube content. Third-party packages (Sonarr, Radarr, Tdarr, etc.) typically need to run in Docker because UGOS Pro lacks Synology's SynoCommunity-equivalent ecosystem.
Ugreen has been responsive to feedback. The 2025 firmware updates fixed early bugs around hibernation, SMB performance, and Docker networking. They have a public roadmap and regular release cadence. Whether they sustain this for 5-10 years is the unknown — Ugreen is a USB hub and charger company that pivoted into NAS, and there is no track record yet for long-term firmware support. If software longevity is critical, Synology or QNAP are safer despite weaker hardware.
Common Gotchas
UGOS Pro is new and the app ecosystem is small. Most household needs (file sharing, photo backup, Plex) work fine, but more advanced setups (Sonarr/Radarr, Tdarr transcoding, Bitwarden, Nextcloud) require running everything in Docker because there is no native package. This is fine if you are comfortable with Docker but a steeper learning curve than DSM's package center.
Early DXP units (2024 production runs) shipped with several BIOS/firmware bugs around sleep, fan control, and 10GbE link negotiation. Most are resolved in firmware released through 2025 — but if you buy a unit with old firmware, update immediately. Check the firmware version on first boot and apply UGOS Pro updates before doing any data migration.
Ugreen's photo facial recognition runs ON-DEVICE (no cloud), which is great for privacy, but it ONLY works with the UGOS Pro Photo app. If you run Immich or PhotoStructure in Docker, you get those apps' face recognition instead — Ugreen's database does not transfer. Pick one ecosystem and commit, or you will end up with two parallel photo libraries.
Long-term firmware support is unproven. Synology has 20 years of DSM updates behind it; QNAP has 15+ years of QTS. Ugreen launched UGOS Pro in 2024. If you are buying a NAS expecting weekly security patches and major OS updates through 2031, Synology and QNAP have more credible track records. Ugreen's responsiveness through 2025 is encouraging but not yet proof of long-term commitment.
HDMI output is less polished than QNAP's HD Player. The DXP4800 Plus has an HDMI 2.0 port for direct media playback, but the included player app handles fewer codecs and has rougher subtitle support than QNAP's equivalent. For media playback, run Plex or Jellyfin in Docker and stream to a Chromecast, Apple TV, or Roku rather than relying on the HDMI port.
Full Specifications
Processor
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Architecture | x86-64 Intel Hybrid (Alder Lake-N) [1] |
| CPU Cores | 5 [1] |
| Clock Speed | 1200 MHz [1] |
Memory
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| ram_gb | 8 (DDR5 SO-DIMM) GB [1] |
| ram_max_gb | 64 (DDR5 SO-DIMM expansion) GB [1] |
| storage | 4x 3.5" SATA bays + 2x M.2 2280 NVMe slots [1] |
| m2_nvme_slots | 2 (M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 3 — for caching or storage pool) [1] |
I/O & Interfaces
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| ethernet_ports | 1 x 10GbE + 1 x 2.5GbE [2] |
| usb_ports | 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) + 1 x USB 2.0 [2] |
| hdmi_output | 1 x HDMI 2.0 (4K @ 60Hz) [2] |
Power
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Input Voltage | 100-240V AC [1] |
| power_consumption | 42W active, 12W idle (with 4 drives) [1] |
Physical
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 178 x 178 x 257 mm [2] |
| weight_g | 3000 g [2] |
Who Should Buy This
Built-in 10GBASE-T plus 2.5GbE means no PCIe card to buy and no port limitations. The Synology DS923+ requires a $200 add-in card just to get 10GbE, and even then has only one port. The DXP4800 Plus is the cheapest NAS with both 10GbE and 2.5GbE out of the box.
The Pentium Gold 8505 has Intel UHD Graphics with Quick Sync, supporting AV1 decode, 12-bit HEVC, and H.264 encoding. Easily handles 3-4 simultaneous 4K transcodes. The 10GbE port keeps multiple direct-play 4K HDR streams from saturating the network.
Ugreen is new to NAS and UGOS Pro is in its first generation. Synology has 20 years of DSM updates behind it; Ugreen has roughly 18 months of UGOS Pro. If you want a NAS you trust to receive firmware updates in 2031, Synology and QNAP are safer bets.
Better alternative: Synology DS923+ 4-Bay NAS
UGOS Pro includes Docker (Container Manager equivalent), and the Pentium Gold 8505 with 8GB DDR5 (upgradeable to 64GB) handles Immich's machine learning containers comfortably. Note: UGOS Pro's built-in facial recognition does NOT work with Immich — they are separate ecosystems.
$700 is steep for a first NAS. The Synology DS224+ at $300 covers most household needs with the most polished software. Move to the DXP4800 Plus when you outgrow 2 bays or need 10GbE.
Better alternative: Synology DS224+ 2-Bay NAS
The DXP4800 Plus hardware is excellent for TrueNAS Scale, but you would be paying $700 for hardware then wiping the included UGOS Pro license. The TerraMaster F2-424 is the more honest TrueNAS hardware buy at $440. The Beelink ME mini is the more honest all-flash TrueNAS buy at $300.
Better alternative: TerraMaster F2-424 2-Bay NAS
Ecosystem & Community
UGOS Pro launched in 2024 and is improving rapidly. The hardware competes with Synology and QNAP at higher tiers; the software is in its first generation with a smaller community and fewer native apps. Docker fills most gaps.
Compatible Software
What to Build First
Configure four 12TB IronWolf drives in RAID 5 (36TB usable), add two 1TB NVMe SSDs as read cache, install Plex Media Server in Container Manager, and serve 4K HDR Plex to multiple devices over the built-in 10GbE port. The DXP4800 Plus is the cheapest 4-bay NAS that can saturate 10GbE with read cache.
View tutorial →Must-Have Accessories
Tutorials & Resources
- Ugreen NASync DXP4800 Plus Product PageOfficial spec sheet, UGOS Pro feature list, and firmware downloaddocs
- r/UgreenNASync SubredditGrowing community for UGOS Pro setup, firmware troubleshooting, and Docker app recipestutorial
- Ugreen DXP4800 Plus ReviewServeTheHome's deep dive on the Pentium Gold 8505 platform and 10GbE performancereview
- Ugreen DXP4800 Plus Hands-OnRobbie's full review with comparisons to Synology DS923+ and QNAP TS-464review
Frequently Asked Questions
Is UGOS Pro as good as Synology DSM?
Not yet. UGOS Pro covers the basics (file sharing, snapshots, Docker, photo backup) competently and the UI is clean, but it lacks DSM's ecosystem maturity. Synology has 20 years of refinement, ~150 first-party apps, and a 130K-member subreddit. UGOS Pro launched in 2024 with ~50 apps and a smaller community. The hardware is better; the software is younger.
Does the DXP4800 Plus support 4K Plex transcoding?
Yes, exceptionally well. The Pentium Gold 8505's Intel UHD Graphics has full Quick Sync support including AV1 decode and 12-bit HEVC. It handles 3-4 simultaneous 4K HEVC transcodes without breaking 50% GPU utilization. The 10GbE port keeps multiple 4K HDR direct-play streams from bottlenecking the network.
Can I use any DDR5 RAM in the DXP4800 Plus?
Yes. Ugreen does not enforce a vendor whitelist for RAM. Any standard DDR5-4800 SO-DIMM from Crucial, Kingston, Corsair, or Samsung works. Maximum supported is 64GB total (2x32GB modules). This is a meaningful contrast with Synology, which requires Synology-brand modules on Plus-series units.
How does the DXP4800 Plus compare to the Synology DS923+?
Hardware: Ugreen wins. Pentium Gold 8505 with Quick Sync, DDR5, built-in 10GbE plus 2.5GbE versus the DS923+'s AMD R1600 (no Quick Sync), DDR4 ECC (Synology-brand only), and 1GbE stock. Software: Synology wins. DSM is more polished, has more apps, and a much larger community. Buy DXP4800 Plus for hardware, DS923+ for the software ecosystem.
Is the Ugreen DXP4800 Plus reliable?
2025 firmware updates have fixed most early issues. Hardware is solid (no widespread reports of component failures). The unknown is long-term firmware support — Ugreen has only been in NAS for ~18 months. Update firmware on first boot, monitor the Ugreen subreddit for ongoing issues, and keep good backups regardless of NAS brand.
Can I install TrueNAS Scale on the DXP4800 Plus?
Technically yes — the BIOS allows boot from USB. But you would pay $700 for hardware then wipe the included UGOS Pro license, which defeats the value. The TerraMaster F2-424 ($440) or Beelink ME mini ($300) are more honest TrueNAS hardware purchases since they are commonly used that way.
Does the DXP4800 Plus have ECC RAM?
No. The Pentium Gold 8505 supports DDR5 but not ECC. If ECC matters (small business workloads, long-term archival), the Synology DS923+ with ECC DDR4 is the right choice. For household and prosumer use, non-ECC DDR5 is fine — Btrfs/ZFS checksums catch on-disk corruption.