16GB max RAM · 2 bays · 2.5GbE
AINAS Score 28
No verified UK price
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Can the Synology DS925+ run local AI?
Only lightly. Expect models up to the 14B class, with 32B class models a tight fit (Estimated) on the Synology DS925+: AMD Ryzen V1500B does the work with up to 32GB of memory, which is fine for experiments rather than a daily assistant.
Without any GPU option, the processor carries the whole inference load.
Local LLM support is confirmed by community reports.
What is the DS925+ like?
The DS925+ is Synology's four-bay mainstream model for 2025 and the one many UK buyers will be considering. It runs DSM, Hyper Backup, Synology Photos and Drive well. It is weak for local AI. The Ryzen V1500B has no integrated graphics and no NPU, there is no PCIe slot, and it ships with 4GB of memory.
Community guides show Ollama and Open WebUI running in Container Manager, so you can try small models once you upgrade the memory towards the 32GB maximum. Do not expect a responsive chat assistant. Synology Photos does on-device face and object recognition well on the CPU, and AI Console can bridge to cloud models or a self-hosted server.
It also lacks a 10GbE upgrade path, which its predecessor the DS923+ had. If you want a Synology for local AI work, this is not it; buy it for storage and pair it with a mini PC or GPU machine for inference.
Current UK offers
Amazon UK
DS925+ 4GB ECC
£659.28
£695Verified
In stock
View deal
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Key specifications
- Docker
- Yes
- VM support
- Yes
- Released
- 2025
Can the DS925+ run local LLMs?
Each capability shows how it was confirmed: Verified by AINAS, Vendor confirmed, Community confirmed or Unverified.
| Capability | Supported | Evidence | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local LLM | Limited | Community confirmed | CPU-only Ollama via Container Manager; guides show small models (about 1B to 3B, 7B quantised slowly) on V1500B units. Needs RAM upgrade beyond base. |
| Ollama | Yes | Community confirmed | Not in Package Center; ollama/ollama container runs in Container Manager on DSM (CPU only). |
| Open WebUI | Yes | Community confirmed | Open WebUI container documented on Synology DSM pointing at Ollama on port 11434. |
| RAG | Limited | Unverified | No Synology local RAG for this model; Open WebUI document chat plausible via Docker but not verified on this unit. AI Console only bridges to cloud or OpenAI-compatible APIs. |
| AI search | No | Vendor confirmed | Synology AI Search in Drive uses GPU-powered embedding/OCR models only on supported systems with a GPU (FS/26-series list); this model is not listed. |
| GPU expansion | No | Vendor confirmed | No PCIe slot usable for a GPU; no OCuLink or USB4. |
| Hardware acceleration | No | Community confirmed | Ryzen V1500B has no integrated GPU and no NPU; no hardware transcoding or AI acceleration. |
| AI photos | Yes | Vendor confirmed | Synology Photos facial recognition and object recognition listed in product spec (on-device, CPU). |
| AI video | Limited | Community confirmed | No on-NAS deep video analytics (DVA models only); Surveillance Station can use edge AI from Synology BC500/TC500 cameras. |
| Surveillance AI | Yes | Vendor confirmed | Surveillance Station supported, up to 40 IP cameras (1080p H.264); 2 free licences, more require purchase. |
How much RAM does the DS925+ support?
Plan on upgrading. 4GB is fitted as standard, while the DS925+ accepts 32GB of DDR4 ECC SODIMM, ECC included, which is the difference between only very small models of around 1B to 3B parameters and models up to the 14B class, with 32B class models a tight fit (Estimated).
Our estimate for the biggest model that fits in 32GB is about 40B parameters at 4-bit, after setting aside 8GB for the system. Long context windows reduce that figure (Estimated).
ECC support protects against silent memory errors on a box that runs around the clock.
Can you add a GPU to the DS925+?
A graphics card is not an option on the DS925+, which has neither a PCIe slot nor OCuLink. Inference runs on the CPU, so keep to small models.
Is the DS925+ suitable for RAG?
As the storage half of a RAG setup it works well; as the model host it is limited. Small embedding models run fine on the DS925+, while the answering model needs more compute than it has.
For network access it has 2 x 2.5GbE. Enough for light use; large imports will take a while.
Which DS925+ configurations are sold?
| Configuration | RAM | SSD | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DS925+ 4GB ECC | 4GB | None | 4 GB DDR4 ECC SODIMM (1x 4 GB), 2 slots, max 32 GB |
| DS925neo+ 4GB non-ECC | 4GB | None | Variant on same spec page with 4 GB DDR4 non-ECC SODIMM |
How is the DS925+ different from the DS1525+?
The closest Synology model by AINAS Score. Only the specifications that differ are listed.
- Memory fitted: 4GB on the DS925+, 8GB on the DS1525+
- Drive bays: 4 on the DS925+, 5 on the DS1525+
- Power supply: 100W on the DS925+, 120W on the DS1525+
- AINAS Score: 29 on the DS925+, 30 on the DS1525+
Who should buy the DS925+?
Best fit: home lab owners who want one box for storage, containers, media and a few AI services. That is where the DS925+ scores highest (Home Lab 33/100), followed by Business (33/100).
Less suited to buyers who expect to add a graphics card later and teams moving large files over the network every day.
What are the alternatives to the DS925+?
Other AI Capable systems closest in price.
DS925+ questions
Does Ollama work on the DS925+?
Yes. Ollama support is confirmed by community reports. See the capability table above for the source.
Can you install Open WebUI on the DS925+?
Yes. Open WebUI support is confirmed by community reports. See the capability table above for the source.
Can the DS925+ sort photos by faces and objects?
Yes. AI photos support is documented by the manufacturer. See the capability table above for the source.
Is the DS925+ good for AI camera recording?
Yes. Surveillance AI support is documented by the manufacturer. See the capability table above for the source.
Is there hardware acceleration for AI on the DS925+?
No. Hardware acceleration support is confirmed by community reports. See the capability table above for the source.
What networking does the DS925+ have?
It has 2 x 2.5GbE built in. The fastest port is 2 x 2.5GbE.
Where do these specifications come from?
Every field records its source. Specifications were last checked on . Spot an error? Send a correction with a manufacturer link.