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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →There is no single reliable cost figure without two inputs: your Synology NAS’s average wall-power draw while streaming and your electricity tariff. Calculate it as average watts × hours ÷ 1,000 × price per kWh. For a continuous stream, use 24 hours per day; measure the NAS during a representative run rather than treating a manufacturer’s specification as your actual streaming consumption.
Calculate the electricity cost
First convert power into energy, then multiply by the price your utility charges per kilowatt-hour (kWh). Use the same currency and tariff units as your bill.
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- Per day: average watts × 24 ÷ 1,000 = kWh per day.
- Per 30-day month: average watts × 24 × 30 ÷ 1,000 = kWh per month.
- Per 365-day year: average watts × 24 × 365 ÷ 1,000 = kWh per year.
- Cost: kWh for the period × your electricity price per kWh.
For example, if a wall meter shows an assumed average of 40 W and your assumed tariff is 0.20 per kWh in your currency, daily use is 40 × 24 ÷ 1,000 = 0.96 kWh, or 0.192 per day. These are illustrative assumptions, not a measured Synology streaming result; substitute your measured watts and local tariff.
Why your Synology’s actual draw may differ
The relevant number is the wall draw of the whole NAS while it performs the job: streaming, reading drives, networking, and any video processing. Docker does not have a fixed electricity cost of its own. FFmpeg’s CPU demand varies with the input, resolution, frame rate, filters, encoding settings, and whether hardware encoding is usable. No specific NAS model, container build, or workload benchmark is established here.
#1 Best Overall
- Supports drives on the model's official compatibility list
- Up to 522/565 MB/s sequential read/write throughput supports stable data transfers.
- Dual 2.5GbE ports provide fast network transfer speeds and increased redundancy.
- Leverage built-in file and photo management, data protection, virtualization, and surveillance solutions.
- Backed by Synology's 3-year limited hardware warranty.
As a model-specific reference, Synology lists the DS923+ at 35.51 watts (Access) and 11.52 watts (HDD Hibernation) on its product page (accessed October 3, 2026). These are manufacturer figures for those stated conditions—not measured consumption while running Docker and FFmpeg, and not figures for every Synology NAS. Synology also notes specifications can vary with configuration, deployment, and active operations.
The DS923+ specifications PDF, last updated July 7, 2025, lists an AMD Ryzen R1600, two CPU cores, and 4 GB of preinstalled RAM; those details describe that model only, not an unspecified NAS (Synology DS923+ specifications). Drives, workload, and model affect actual draw.
Rank #2
- Team Productivity & Media Hub - Share large files and stream media across your office with 278 MB/s speeds; support concurrent access from 10+ users
- Centralized Repository - Store company documents, client files and media assets with granular access controls and audit logs
- Multi-Layered Data Protection - Combine RAID redundancy, automated backups and snapshot technology to prevent data loss from any cause
- Professional Surveillance System - Monitor home or business with support for 30 IP cameras, motion detection and secure remote access
- 3-Year Warranty & Enterprise Support - Dedicated technical account management is available for business-critical production environments
Measure the workload that matters
- Connect a plug-in electricity usage monitor between the NAS and its power outlet. It measures wall consumption for your setup; it cannot promise a particular stream quality or bill.
- Run the intended Docker container and FFmpeg job with the actual video, resolution, frame rate, filters, and encoding settings you plan to use.
- Measure over a representative period, long enough to include ordinary activity and variation, and use the average watts reported by the meter. Record the period and NAS configuration.
- Insert that average into the daily, monthly, or annual formula above, then multiply by your tariff per kWh. If your tariff varies by time or tier, use the applicable rates rather than assuming one flat price.
Streaming details that affect a 24/7 setup
YouTube’s encoder instructions call for its Live server URL and stream key to be entered in the encoder (YouTube Help: Set up a live stream encoder). Treat the stream key as a secret credential: use the key associated with the intended YouTube stream and do not publish it in a command, screenshot, or log that others can access.
YouTube Help says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. That does not establish that a single uninterrupted 24-hour event will be archived as one recording. If an archive matters, plan for the platform’s stated limit and confirm the current behavior in YouTube Studio rather than assuming a continuous day-long event will be saved automatically.
Rank #3
- Secure private cloud - Safely access and share files and media from anywhere, and keep friends, partners, or collaborators on the same page
- Comprehensive data protection - Back up your media and documents to multiple destinations, and leverage snapshots to protect against malware
- Versatile video surveillance - Protect your home or business with intuitive monitoring, archiving, and analysis tools for up to 30 IP cameras (need to purchase camera license separetly)
- File Server - Replace expensive SharePoint or Dropbox with local file sharing, team folders and permission contro
- Ransomware-Resistant Backup - Protect against malware with immutable snapshots, versioned files and multi-destination backup strategies
FFmpeg can read live inputs and offers benchmarking options; it can use x264 for H.264 when built with that support (FFmpeg documentation). Documentation is not a performance test for your NAS or container. Check the FFmpeg build and test the chosen settings on the exact hardware. SynoCommunity’s FAQ describes granting video-device access per application and service-user or videodriver group permissions; this community packaging guidance does not guarantee hardware encoding on every Synology model (SynoCommunity FAQ).
Or let it run in the cloud
If the reason for using the NAS is simply to keep a pre-recorded YouTube stream running, StreamNeo is an alternative: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It loops uploaded videos from the cloud, so no computer or home connection has to stay on. Each slot streams the uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot; automatic recovery is included if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card required. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo or start the free day.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Your Personal Streaming Server - Build your own Netflix-style media library and stream 4K movies, shows and photos to any device without monthly fees
- Create Your Own Cloud - Store your entire photo, video and music collection; access from anywhere with fast 282 MB/s transfer speeds
- Creator-Grade Backup Solution - Protect your irreplaceable content with automated backups to cloud services, external drives and remote NAS
- Multi-Layered Data Protection - Combine RAID redundancy, automated backups and snapshot technology to prevent data loss from any cause
- Smart Home Surveillance - Support up to 30 IP cameras with AI detection, instant alerts and secure remote monitoring
Rank #4
- Powerful performance: Equipped with an AMD Ryzen V1500B quad-core processor and 4 GB DDR4 ECC memory, expandable up to 32 GB.
- Flexible storage options: Four hot-swappable 2.5"/3.5" drive bays and expansion support for up to nine drives with a DX525 unit.
- High-speed connectivity: Dual 2.5 GbE LAN ports, two M.2 NVMe slots for cache or storage pools, and two USB 3.2 Gen1 ports.
- Versatile business applications: Ideal for data storage, virtualization, backup, and video surveillance in small to medium-sized business environments.
- Successor to the DS923+: Now compatible with third-party hard drives since DSM 7.3.
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 at the time of purchase will apply.
