Best Synology DS419slim Compatible Hard Drives in 2024

Synology DS419slim and Seagate IronWolf SSD
Synology DS419slim and Seagate IronWolf SSD (Image credit: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central)

The DS419slim from Synology only supports 2.5-inch drives, which rules out the 3-inch NAS hard drives you'd usually purchase. Laptop drives are an option, but they're slow and aren't designed to run 24/7. Seagate and Western Digital do have NAS solid-state drives (SSD) available, but you can expect to pay a fair amount compared to mechanical counterparts.

Seagate IronWolf NAS SSD

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Speedy Storage

Seagate's IronWolf NAS SSD is what you'd expect from flash storage in a server environment. You've got 560MB/s data rates, enhanced firmware for continuous operation, DuraWrite tech for better reliability and performance, as well as a five-year limited warranty.

Western Digital Red

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More Affordable

Mechanical drives aren't quite as fast as SATA SSDs and 2.5-inch mechanical drives are even slower with a motor that spins at 5400 RPM, like this Western Digital Red NAS drive. The plus side is it'll fit inside the DS419slim, comes with a five-year warranty, and can handle a workload of 180TB per year.

Choosing the best 2.5-inch storage drive

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There's no best solution when it comes to 2.5-inch drives for your NAS. This all depends on your available budget since SSDs can get really expensive for higher capacity options. If you have the funds available and want something that'll perform better than a 2.5-inch mechanical drive, the Seagate IronWolf NAS SSD is a fantastic drive for the Synology DS419slim.

If you can't quite afford an SSD, you'll need to pick up a 2.5-inch mechanical drive, which comes with a slower 5400RPM motor than what's found inside larger 3-inch drives. Still, they'll perform well enough for most scenarios and come with advanced features and tech that consumer drives don't sport in case of power loss, etc.

Rich Edmonds
Senior Editor, PC Build

Rich Edmonds was formerly a Senior Editor of PC hardware at Windows Central, covering everything related to PC components and NAS. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a PC chassis. You can follow him on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.