Synology DS725+ vs Iron Cow Zero 1 vs Linksys NAS200: Which 2-Bay NAS Fits Your Setup?

Compare the Synology DS725+ diskless 2-bay NAS at $560.99, Iron Cow Zero 1 at $79.95, a for-parts Linksys NAS200 at $30, and a new Linksys NAS200 at $99.91 to match your storage needs and budget.

Last updated Aug 17, 2026

Choosing network storage for your home or small office usually comes down to a tug-of-war between capability and budget. The four options here span a wide price spread, from a used Linksys NAS200 to a Synology DS725+, so you could spend a modest amount on an enclosure or invest in a serious small-business NAS. Understanding which features matter to you will make the decision much easier.

Quick take: If you want configuration flexibility, the Synology DS725+ is the diskless system to choose. If you want an enclosure at a modest price, the Iron Cow Zero 1 is the one. The used Linksys NAS200 covers the low-cost experiment, and the sealed Linksys NAS200 is the same familiar design in a sealed package.

Listed Price Comparison

Product	Listed Price	Best For
Synology DS725+ Diskless System	USD 560.99	Desktop NAS for advanced setups
Iron Cow Zero 1 2-Bay NAS Enclosure	USD 79.95	New enclosure with 2.5GbE LAN
for Parts Linksys NAS200 with Power Adapter	USD 30.00	For-parts unit
Linksys NAS200 with Power Adapter Cable	USD 99.91	Classic Linksys design with power adapter cable

Decision Matrix

Synology DS725+ - choose this when you want RAID 0/1/5/6/10/JBOD, ECC memory expandability, and a long list of supported network protocols.
Iron Cow Zero 1 - choose this when you want a 2-bay enclosure that focuses on multimedia playback and app-based control.
for Parts Linksys NAS200 - choose this when you want the least expensive way into a NAS and are okay with a project.
Linksys NAS200 - choose this when you want the classic Linksys desktop NAS design without the for-parts condition.

Product Notes

Synology DS725+ Diskless System

The Synology DS725+ is a desktop 2-bay NAS with an AMD Ryzen R1600 and 4GB DDR4 ECC SODIMM expandable to 32GB through two slots. It supports RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, and JBOD, plus protocols including SMB, NFS, iSCSI, HTTP, FTP, SNMP, and CalDAV. That makes it a strong candidate for anyone who wants advanced RAID layouts and broad network protocol support. The limiting factor is that it comes as a diskless system, so you need to buy drives separately, and its price is well above the other options. If you want a storage system you can grow into and configure at a deeper level, this is the one to start with.

Iron Cow Zero 1 2-Bay NAS Enclosure

The Iron Cow Zero 1 is a 2-bay NAS enclosure built around an RK3568 quad-core processor, an ARM Mali G52 GPU, and an NPU for multimedia workloads. It has 2.5GbE LAN, HDMI output, and SATA slots that support drives up to 24TB per bay. It's a lower-price route to those features, but its strengths are media playback and app-based control, while the Synology is the one with the broader storage configuration toolkit. If your workflow is video, audio, and straightforward file sharing over a fast network, this enclosure is a good fit.

for Parts Linksys NAS200 with Power Adapter

This Linksys NAS200 is a for-parts unit, and it's the lowest-price path into a NAS enclosure. It comes with a power adapter and Ethernet cable, powers on, and was connected to a PC long ago, but it rattles and shows normal wear. With Ethernet, USB, and SATA connectivity, it can accept drives you already own and connect to your network. The limitation is the as-is condition: you should expect to clean it, inspect it, and accept that it's a project rather than a dependable daily driver. If you want to experiment with network storage and keep the upfront cost minimal, this is the unit to tinker with.

Linksys NAS200 with Power Adapter Cable

This Linksys NAS200 is a sealed 2-bay enclosure that includes a power adapter cable. It offers the same Linksys desktop NAS design as the for-parts unit, but without the as-is risk, making it a cleaner way to get the 2-bay network storage experience. It is built for straightforward data management and access. As an enclosure, it expects you to supply drives, so you'll add your own storage before you can save files. Compared with the Iron Cow Zero 1, this one keeps the familiar Linksys form factor and setup simple, so it's the pick if you want a straightforward, sealed enclosure in a known design.