I kicked my Synology NAS to the curb and replaced it with a custom-built server running Proxmox
It was time to take back control of my data. When I first started using a Synology NAS years ago, it served as a repository for work image files and media for Plex. It was never meant to become a home lab, yet over time it evolved into one, trying to handle too many tasks and ultimately failing at most of them.
Building my own server had always been part of my plan for home lab experimentation, and now that moment has arrived. The NAS will return to its original purpose—storing archival data—while the new custom-built server powered by Proxmox will take care of demanding workloads.
“The only thing slightly surprising to me is that it took so long to realize that my needs had changed and something had to be done about it.”
Hardware and Contributors
SilverStone, Asus, and Kingston provided hardware used in this project. None of these companies reviewed the content prior to publication or influenced it in any way.
Motivation Behind the Switch
Although the limitations of the Synology NAS accelerated this transition, the move had been coming for some time. My home lab requirements had outgrown both the NAS and the mini PC setup. The mini PC caps at 12GB of RAM, which cannot be upgraded, and while the NAS could theoretically support up to 64GB of RAM, it lacks GPU support for accelerated workloads and has run out of drive bays.
Conclusion
Replacing the NAS with a Proxmox-powered server provided the flexibility, scalability, and performance that my evolving home lab needed.
Author’s summary: Upgrading from Synology NAS to a Proxmox custom server brought freedom, performance, and scalability that perfectly match modern home lab demands.