Side-by-side specifications of the Synology DS1812+ and DS1813+, from official datasheets. Differences are highlighted.
| DS1812+ | DS1813+ | |
| CPU | Dual Core 2.13GHz | Intel Atom D2700 |
| Cores / threads | 2 | 2C/4T |
| RAM (base) | 1 GB | 1GB |
| RAM (max) | 3 GB | 4GB |
| Drive bays | 8 | 8 |
| Expandable to | 18 | 10 |
| M.2 slots | 0 | 0 |
| Network | 2x Gigabit | 4x GbE |
| 10GbE | no | no |
| Max raw capacity | 54 TB | 72TB |
| Hot-swap | yes | yes |
| Form factor | desktop | desktop |
| Released | 2012 | 2013 |
Choose the DS1813+ if you want the better platform: it uses a faster CPU and supports more RAM, which matters more for multitasking and heavier apps. Both are 8-bay NAS units with expansion support, but neither has built-in 10GbE or M.2 slots, so those aren’t deciding factors here. If you’re just storing files and backups, the DS1812+ is fine; if you want more headroom, pick the DS1813+.