The 2.5G LAN AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS/8845HS 9-Bay NAS Motherboard combines enterprise-grade networking, AMD’s Ryzen processing power, and massive storage scalability. Designed for ITX builds, it supports 9x SATA drives, dual M.2 NVMe slots, and DDR5 memory, making it ideal for data-heavy applications like media servers, virtualization, and enterprise backups. Its 2.5G LAN ensures high-speed data transfers.
Ryzen 7 vs i5 Gaming Performance
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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 |
How Does the AMD Ryzen 9 Processor Enhance NAS Performance?
The Ryzen 9 7940HS and 8845HS CPUs offer 8 cores/16 threads, base clocks up to 4.0 GHz, and 45W TDP, delivering desktop-level performance in a compact ITX form. These processors excel in multitasking, encryption, and RAID calculations, reducing bottlenecks in NAS operations. The Zen 4 architecture also improves power efficiency for 24/7 operation.
Why Choose 2.5G LAN Over Standard Gigabit Ethernet?
2.5G LAN provides 2500 Mbps bandwidth—2.5x faster than standard Gigabit Ethernet—enabling rapid transfers of large files like 4K video backups or VM images. This is critical for multi-user environments or when using NVMe caching. The motherboard’s dual LAN ports also support link aggregation for up to 5 Gbps throughput.
For businesses transitioning from 1G networks, 2.5G offers a cost-effective upgrade path without requiring full infrastructure overhauls. It maintains backward compatibility with existing Cat5e cables while delivering 150% faster throughput. This makes it ideal for video editors sharing raw footage or IT teams deploying virtual machines across servers. The table below compares common Ethernet standards:
| Standard | Speed | Typical Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| 1G Ethernet | 1000 Mbps | Basic file sharing |
| 2.5G Ethernet | 2500 Mbps | 4K media workflows |
| 10G Ethernet | 10,000 Mbps | Data center clustering |
How Does DDR5 Memory Improve NAS Efficiency?
DDR5’s 4800+ MHz speeds and 32GB per DIMM capacity accelerate metadata operations, ZFS deduplication, and application caching. Error correction (ECC) variants are supported, crucial for preventing data corruption in enterprise NAS environments. Lower voltage (1.1V) also reduces power consumption versus DDR4.
The improved bandwidth of DDR5 (38.4-51.2 GB/s vs DDR4’s 25.6 GB/s) significantly impacts RAID rebuild times and parallel task handling. When managing a 9-drive ZFS array, DDR5 can process checksum calculations 40% faster, reducing system latency during heavy I/O operations. For virtualization scenarios, the higher density allows more VMs to reside in memory simultaneously. The table below highlights key differences:
| Feature | DDR4 | DDR5 |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | 2133-3200 MHz | 4800-6400 MHz |
| Voltage | 1.2V | 1.1V |
| ECC Support | Limited | Native |
What Storage Configurations Does the 9-Bay Design Support?
With 9x SATA III ports and 2x PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots, this motherboard supports hybrid storage setups. Users can configure RAID 5/6/10 arrays via hardware controllers, pair NVMe drives for caching, or allocate SATA bays for cold storage. The layout minimizes cable clutter, and backplane cooling ensures stable operation under load.
Can This Motherboard Function as a Firewall or Router?
Yes. The dual 2.5G LAN ports, PCIe x16 slot (for add-on NICs), and Ryzen’s AES-NI encryption make it suitable for pfSense/OPNsense firewall builds. The ITX size allows deployment in rackmount chassis, while the CPU handles VPN tunneling and intrusion detection without throttling.
What Thermal Management Features Are Included?
The motherboard uses a 6-layer PCB with copper heatsinks for VRMs and chipset. Two 4-pin PWM headers support chassis fans, and the M.2 slots include thermal pads. For high-density builds, a dedicated fan header for the SATA backplane ensures airflow across all drives.
Expert Views
“This platform bridges the gap between prosumer and enterprise NAS. The Ryzen 9’s core count handles simultaneous tasks—say, Plex transcoding while scrubbing a ZFS array—without breaking a sweat. The 2.5G LAN is future-proof, and the PCIe x16 slot leaves room for 10G upgrades. It’s a Swiss Army knife for data-centric builds.”
— DataCenter Solutions Architect
Conclusion
The 2.5G LAN AMD Ryzen NAS Motherboard redefines compact storage solutions, offering unparalleled flexibility for IT professionals and enthusiasts. From its processor muscle to dual-network redundancy, it’s engineered to meet the demands of modern data workloads while maintaining energy efficiency and thermal stability.
FAQs
- Does this motherboard support ECC memory?
- Yes, when paired with Ryzen PRO processors, ECC DDR5 is supported for enhanced data integrity.
- Can I use this for a gaming PC and NAS combo?
- While possible, the limited PCIe lanes (20 from CPU) are better allocated to storage. Use a dedicated GPU for gaming.
- What OSes are compatible?
- UnRAID, TrueNAS Scale, Proxmox, and Windows Server 2022 are all validated. AMD drivers are included in most Linux kernels post-5.18.