The SZBOX N150 NAS motherboard is designed for high-speed data management, featuring a 10G LAN port, DDR5 4800MHz RAM support, 6 SATA ports, and extensive connectivity. Optimized for NAS setups, it balances power efficiency and scalability, making it ideal for home labs, small businesses, and media servers requiring robust storage solutions.
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 |
How Does the 10G LAN Port Enhance NAS Performance?
The 10G LAN port on the SZBOX N150 supports ultra-fast data transfers up to 10 gigabits per second, reducing bottlenecks in multi-user environments. This is critical for tasks like 4K video editing, real-time backups, and large file sharing, ensuring minimal latency and seamless network storage operations.
For businesses handling large datasets, the 10G Ethernet capability allows simultaneous access to centralized storage without compromising speed. When paired with SSDs in RAID configurations, users can achieve sequential read/write speeds exceeding 800MB/s, fully utilizing the bandwidth. The built-in i226-V controller also reduces CPU overhead through hardware-accelerated packet processing, freeing resources for encryption or compression tasks.
What Storage Configurations Does the SZBOX N150 Support?
With 6 SATA ports and USB 3.0/2.0 connectivity, the motherboard accommodates HDDs, SSDs, and external drives. It supports RAID 0/1/5/10 for redundancy and performance, making it adaptable for JBOD setups, hybrid storage pools, or scalable enterprise-grade NAS systems.
| RAID Level | Minimum Drives | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| RAID 0 | 2 | Maximum performance for video editing |
| RAID 1 | 2 | Data mirroring for backups |
| RAID 5 | 3 | Balanced speed + redundancy |
| RAID 10 | 4 | High-demand databases |
The board’s PCIe 3.0 x4 slot enables adding NVMe caching drives, which can accelerate metadata operations by 40% in ZFS-based systems. For cold storage expansion, users can daisy-chain up to 8 external drives via USB 3.0 without saturating the bandwidth.
Can You Upgrade Existing NAS Systems with the SZBOX N150?
The mini-ITX form factor (17x17cm) allows easy integration into compact NAS cases. Its 12V DC input and 6W idle power consumption make it suitable for upgrading older systems needing modern I/O like USB 3.0 or 10G Ethernet without overhauling infrastructure.
| Component | Legacy System | N150 Upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| Power Draw (Idle) | 18W | 6W |
| SATA Ports | 4 | 6 |
| Network Speed | 1Gbps | 10Gbps |
When replacing Atom-based systems, users report 3x faster parity calculations in RAID 5 arrays due to the N100’s AES-NI acceleration. The DC power input works with most NAS PSUs, and the board’s low 25W TDP eliminates the need for active cooling in well-ventilated enclosures.
Intel Core i5-8250U for Gaming
“The SZBOX N150 bridges consumer and enterprise NAS needs with its 10G Ethernet and DDR5 support. The i226-V controller’s hardware-accelerated AES encryption is a game-changer for secure, high-throughput storage at this price point.” – NAS Solutions Architect
FAQ
- Does the SZBOX N150 support ECC RAM?
- No, the Intel N100 processor doesn’t support ECC memory. For error-critical applications, consider Xeon-based NAS platforms.
- Can I use this motherboard for a gaming PC?
- While possible, the N100’s 4-core CPU and lack of PCIe x16 slot limit gaming performance. It’s optimized for storage, not graphics-intensive tasks.
- What OS works best with the SZBOX N150?
- TrueNAS Core and UnRAID are top choices for ZFS and virtualization support. For lightweight setups, OpenMediaVault offers Debian-based stability.