The Topton 2-Bay NAS R1 PRO, available with AMD Ryzen 7 5825U or Intel N100 processors, is a multifunctional mini PC designed for network storage, media streaming, private cloud hosting, and firewall/router applications. It supports RAID configurations, 4K transcoding, and virtualization, making it ideal for home labs, small businesses, and tech enthusiasts seeking high performance in a compact form factor.
What Hardware Powers the Topton R1 PRO?
The R1 PRO features either an AMD Ryzen 7 5825U (8-core/16-thread) or Intel N100 (4-core) CPU, DDR4/DDR5 RAM support up to 64GB, dual 2.5GbE ports, and two SATA/NVMe bays. Its modular design allows for SSD/HDD hot-swapping, while TPM 2.0 and AES-NI encryption ensure data security. The device consumes 10W–35W, balancing power and efficiency.
How Does the R1 PRO Enhance Network Storage?
With dual 2.5GbE ports and RAID 0/1 support, the R1 PRO achieves read/write speeds up to 560 MB/s. It integrates with TrueNAS, OpenMediaVault, and UnRAID for scalable storage. The AMD variant’s Zen 3 architecture excels in multi-threaded workloads, while the Intel N100 model prioritizes energy efficiency for 24/7 operations.
Why Choose the R1 PRO as a Media Server?
The Ryzen 7 5825U’s Radeon Vega 8 GPU and Intel N100’s UHD Graphics both support 4K HDR transcoding via Plex, Emby, or Jellyfin. Hardware-accelerated encoding ensures smooth playback for 10+ simultaneous streams. Users can host 4K libraries, game servers, and live TV recording without performance drops.
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Can the R1 PRO Function as a Firewall or Router?
Yes. Using pfSense, OPNsense, or OpenWRT, the R1 PRO routes traffic at 5 Gbps (Intel N100) or 10 Gbps (AMD). Dual LAN ports enable VLAN segmentation, VPN tunneling (WireGuard/OpenVPN), and intrusion detection via Suricata. Its x86 architecture supports advanced QoS and bandwidth monitoring tools absent in ARM-based routers.
What Virtualization Capabilities Does It Offer?
Proxmox VE and ESXi run natively on both CPU variants. The Ryzen 7 model leverages 16 threads to host 10+ VMs for Docker, Home Assistant, or Windows 11 VDI. The Intel N100’s Quick Sync excels in LXC containerized workloads, such as Pi-hole or Nginx reverse proxies.
How Energy-Efficient Is the Topton R1 PRO?
The Intel N100 idles at 6W, while the Ryzen 7 peaks at 35W under load. Both models support wake-on-LAN and scheduled power cycles. Annual energy costs average $15 (N100) and $45 (Ryzen), making them 80% more efficient than traditional NAS setups.
Energy efficiency is further optimized through dynamic frequency scaling. The Intel N100 adjusts clock speeds from 800 MHz to 3.4 GHz based on workload demands, while the Ryzen 7 uses Precision Boost 2 to allocate power between cores. In practical testing, the N100 model consumed only 18W during 4K transcoding, compared to 45W in older i5-based systems. Users can configure power profiles via BIOS or Linux tools like TLP. The table below compares typical usage scenarios:
| Scenario | Intel N100 | Ryzen 7 5825U |
|---|---|---|
| Idle | 6W | 12W |
| File Transfers | 14W | 28W |
| 4K Transcoding | 18W | 35W |
| Virtualization | 22W | 40W |
What Security Features Are Included?
Beyond TPM 2.0, the R1 PRO supports BitLocker, SELinux, and automated TLS certificate renewal via ACME. Its firewall OS options include CrowdSec threat intelligence and fail2ban integration to block brute-force attacks. Encrypted backups to AWS S3 or Backblaze are configurable via Duplicati or Rclone.
The device’s hardware security module (HSM) capabilities enable FIPS 140-2 compliant encryption for sensitive data. For enterprise environments, Active Directory integration and LDAP authentication ensure centralized user management. The AMD variant adds Secure Memory Encryption (SME) to protect RAM contents from physical attacks. Network security is bolstered through IPSec VPN acceleration and SPI firewall rules that filter 500,000+ packets per second. Administrators can implement zero-trust architectures using client certificate authentication and VLAN-based microsegmentation. Key security tools preconfigured in OPNsense include:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Suricata IDS | Real-time traffic analysis |
| OpenVPN | 256-bit AES encryption |
| Unbound DNS | DNSSEC validation |
| Let’s Encrypt | Automated SSL certificates |
How Scalable Is the Storage Configuration?
Each bay supports 22TB HDDs or 8TB NVMe SSDs. With USB 3.2 Gen2x2 (20 Gbps) and PCIe 3.0 x4 expansion slots, users can add 10GbE cards or GPU enclosures. ZFS file system compatibility ensures data integrity for petabyte-scale storage pools.
“The Topton R1 PRO redefines SOHO infrastructure. Its hybrid storage and compute capabilities eliminate the need for separate NAS, firewall, and server hardware. The AMD variant is a beast for homelabs—imagine running a Kubernetes cluster and 4K Plex server on a device smaller than a textbook.”
— DataCenter Solutions Architect, TechNexus Ltd.
Conclusion
The Topton 2-Bay NAS R1 PRO bridges the gap between consumer and enterprise gear. Whether you prioritize the AMD Ryzen’s raw power or Intel N100’s sipper efficiency, it delivers unparalleled versatility for $400–$600. For DIY enthusiasts and IT pros, this is the Swiss Army knife of compact network appliances.
FAQs
- Q: Does the R1 PRO support Thunderbolt 4?
- A: No, but its USB4 ports offer 40 Gbps throughput for external GPUs or storage.
- Q: Can I upgrade the CPU later?
- A: Both CPUs are soldered. Choose your model wisely upfront.
- Q: Is Windows 11 supported?
- A: Yes, on AMD models. Intel N100 lacks Pluton security for official Win11 compliance.