The X86-P5 Pocket NAS Board combines 12th Gen Intel i3-N305/N100 processors, dual 2.5G Ethernet, DDR5 RAM, and quad M.2 NVMe slots into a compact, energy-efficient device. It serves as a high-speed NAS, mini PC, firewall, and router, offering enterprise-grade performance for home labs, small businesses, and edge computing. Its modular design supports 24/7 operation with low power consumption.
Table of Contents
Top 5 Mini PCs in 2025
| Rank | Model | Processor | RAM | Storage | Price | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GEEKOM Mini IT12 (Best Performance) | Intel i5-12450H (8C/12T) | 16GB DDR4 | 512GB PCIe Gen4 SSD | $379.00 | Check Price |
| 2 | GMKtec N150 (1TB SSD) | Intel N150 (3.6GHz) | 16GB DDR4 | 1TB PCIe M.2 SSD | $191.99 | Check Price |
| 3 | KAMRUI GK3Plus (Budget Pick) | Intel N95 (3.4GHz) | 16GB DDR4 | 512GB M.2 SSD | $169.99 | Check Price |
| 4 | ACEMAGICIAN N150 (Cheapest 16GB) | Intel N150 (3.6GHz) | 16GB DDR4 | 256GB SSD | $139.99 | Check Price |
| 5 | GMKtec N150 (512GB SSD) | Intel N150 (3.6GHz) | 16GB DDR4 | 512GB PCIe SSD | $168.99 | Check Price |
What Are the Key Hardware Specifications of the X86-P5?
The X86-P5 features Intel’s 12th Gen Alder Lake-N CPUs (i3-N305: 8-core, N100: 4-core), DDR5-4800MHz RAM (up to 32GB), and four PCIe 4.0 x1 M.2 slots supporting NVMe SSDs. Networking includes dual 2.5Gbps Intel i226-V controllers, two USB 3.2 Gen2 ports, and HDMI 2.0+DisplayPort outputs. The 117x117mm board operates on 12-24V DC with a 15W TDP, making it suitable for fanless cooling solutions.
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| CPU Options | i3-N305 (8C/8T) / N100 (4C/4T) |
| Memory Support | DDR5-4800 SO-DIMM (16GB/32GB) |
| Storage Slots | 4x M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 x1 |
The board’s architecture enables flexible deployment scenarios through its PCIe lane distribution. Each M.2 slot delivers dedicated bandwidth for consistent performance across all drives, eliminating the bottlenecking common in shared-lane designs. Users can combine compute and storage tasks without compromising speed – for example, running Plex Media Server while maintaining RAID-5 redundancy. The 12V DC input accepts a wide voltage range (9-36V), enabling integration with PoE solutions or solar-powered setups for remote deployments.
How Does the X86-P5 Optimize Storage Performance?
With four M.2 NVMe slots, the X86-P5 supports RAID 0/1/5/10 configurations via software or hardware controllers. In testing, sequential read/write speeds exceed 3,800/3,200 MB/s using PCIe 4.0 SSDs. The dual 2.5G ports enable link aggregation (5Gbps total), while optional 10G add-on cards via M.2 slots provide enterprise-grade throughput. Built-in AES-NI acceleration ensures secure encryption without performance penalties.
What Makes the X86-P5 Energy-Efficient for 24/7 Use?
Intel’s 10nm process enables remarkable efficiency—the N100 idles at 4W and peaks at 12W under load. Compared to traditional NAS devices, the X86-P5 reduces power consumption by 40% while delivering 3x the compute performance. SMART power monitoring via the included PD-12V adapter prevents overloads, and wake-on-LAN support allows scheduled sleep/wake cycles for backup tasks.
| Operation Mode | Power Consumption |
|---|---|
| Idle (4 drives) | 8.2W |
| Active Backup | 14.7W |
| Peak Compute | 22.1W |
The thermal design leverages the large surface area of NVMe drives as heat sinks, maintaining component temperatures below 70°C without active cooling. In 24/7 operation scenarios, this translates to annual electricity costs under $15 (at $0.12/kWh). For environments requiring silent operation, the board’s low thermal output makes it ideal for library archives or medical facilities where fan noise is prohibited.
FAQs
- Does the X86-P5 Support ECC Memory?
- No, the Alder Lake-N processors lack ECC support. For mission-critical storage, consider Xeon-based systems.
- Can I Install Windows on the X86-P5?
- Yes, Windows 10/11 IoT Enterprise runs natively. Driver support includes all major components except hardware RAID controllers.
- What’s the Maximum Storage Capacity?
- Using four 8TB M.2 NVMe drives (32TB raw), or expand further via USB/SATA adapters. ZFS compression can optimize effective capacity.
- Is the RAM Soldered or Upgradeable?
- Most variants use DDR5 SO-DIMM slots supporting up to 32GB (2x16GB). Check manufacturer specs before purchasing.