The 6-Bay Mini ITX NAS Motherboard i3-N355 N150 combines Intel’s N355 quad-core processor, dual 2.5G LAN ports, six SATA3.0 ports, and dual M.2 NVMe slots in a compact design. Ideal for NAS, firewalls, and routers, it supports DDR5 memory and PCIe x4 expansion, delivering high-speed storage and network performance for home labs and small businesses.
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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 Intel i3-N355 Processor Enhance NAS Performance?
The Intel i3-N355 features four efficiency cores with a 3.5 GHz boost clock, optimizing multitasking and low-power operations. Its 9W TDP reduces heat generation while handling RAID configurations, virtualization, and 4K media transcoding. This makes it 35% faster than previous Celeron-based NAS boards for data-intensive workloads.
Beyond raw processing power, the N355’s integrated Intel UHD Graphics enhances media handling through Quick Sync Video technology. This allows simultaneous 4K HDR transcoding for up to three Plex streams without requiring a discrete GPU. The processor’s support for AVX2 instructions accelerates encryption tasks in TrueNAS Scale or Proxmox VE environments, achieving AES-256 encryption at 15GB/s. For homelab users, the CPU’s 8 PCIe 3.0 lanes enable efficient communication with NVMe drives and network controllers, minimizing bottlenecks in multi-drive setups.
What Networking Advantages Do the Dual Intel i226-V 2.5G Ports Offer?
Dual Intel i226-V 2.5G Ethernet ports provide 2.5x faster throughput than standard Gigabit LAN, enabling 2500 Mbps data transfers. This supports seamless 4K streaming, multi-user access, and link aggregation for failover redundancy. Ideal for Plex servers or backup solutions requiring consistent high-speed connectivity.
The i226-V controllers support advanced networking features like SR-IOV virtualization and Jumbo Frames up to 9014 bytes, reducing CPU overhead in pfSense firewall configurations. When configured with LACP bonding, users achieve 5Gbps aggregate throughput – sufficient for simultaneous backups to two NAS units. For security-focused applications, the PHY layer includes TSN (Time-Sensitive Networking) capabilities, enabling precise QoS prioritization for VoIP traffic or surveillance streams.
| Feature | 2.5G Ports | Standard Gigabit |
|---|---|---|
| Max Throughput | 2500 Mbps | 1000 Mbps |
| Latency | 1.2μs | 2.8μs |
| Power Consumption | 1.8W | 1.3W |
“This motherboard bridges the gap between consumer and enterprise NAS solutions. The i3-N355’s balance of power efficiency and quad-core processing, paired with 2.5G networking, makes it a future-proof choice for homelabs. However, users should pair it with a reliable PSU and ECC RAM for 24/7 ZFS deployments.”
— Data Storage Engineer, TechLab Solutions
FAQs
- Does this motherboard support 10G networking?
- Yes, via the PCIe x4 slot. Add a Mellanox ConnectX-3 or Intel X550-T2 card for 10G SFP+ or 10GBASE-T connectivity.
- Can I use it as a pfSense/OPNsense firewall?
- Absolutely. The dual i226-V 2.5G ports and AES-NI encryption acceleration make it suitable for gigabit VPN/firewall setups.
- Is the BIOS customizable for undervolting/overclocking?
- Limited. The BIOS allows adjusting TDP up to 12W and RAM timings, but CPU multipliers are locked due to the N355’s embedded design.