The Topton 12th Gen i3-N355 N150 NAS Motherboard is a compact, high-performance ITX mainboard designed for network-attached storage (NAS) and firewall applications. It features 6 SATA3.0 ports, 2 Intel i226-V 2.5G LAN ports, DDR5 4800MHz support, and robust power efficiency, making it ideal for small businesses and homelabs seeking scalable storage and networking solutions.
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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 Topton i3-N355 N150 Optimize NAS Performance?
The motherboard’s 6 SATA3.0 ports enable high-speed data transfer for multi-drive storage arrays, while dual 2.5G Ethernet ports ensure low-latency network connectivity. The Intel i3-N355 CPU balances power efficiency with processing capability, supporting virtualization and RAID configurations for seamless NAS operations.
What Are the Key Features of the Intel i226-V 2.5G LAN Ports?
The Intel i226-V 2.5G LAN ports deliver up to 2.5Gbps speeds, reducing bottlenecks in data-heavy environments. These ports support advanced networking features like VLAN tagging, Jumbo Frames, and QoS prioritization, enhancing network reliability and throughput for NAS and firewall applications.
Why Is DDR5 4800MHz Memory Critical for This Motherboard?
DDR5 4800MHz RAM offers 50% higher bandwidth than DDR4, improving multitasking and data processing. This is vital for NAS setups handling simultaneous file transfers, media streaming, and virtualization, ensuring smooth performance under heavy workloads.
DDR5’s improved power management reduces voltage requirements by 20%, making it ideal for 24/7 NAS operations. The technology also introduces on-die ECC (Error Correction Code), which automatically corrects minor data errors without impacting performance. For users running ZFS file systems or virtualization platforms like Proxmox, this ensures data integrity during prolonged operations.
| Memory Type | Bandwidth | Voltage | ECC Support |
|---|---|---|---|
| DDR4 3200MHz | 25.6GB/s | 1.2V | No |
| DDR5 4800MHz | 38.4GB/s | 1.1V | On-die |
Can This Motherboard Support a Firewall or Router Setup?
Yes, the Topton i3-N355 N150 supports pfSense, OPNsense, and OpenWRT for firewall/router builds. Its dual 2.5G ports and low-power CPU make it energy-efficient for 24/7 operation, while AES-NI encryption acceleration ensures secure VPN and traffic filtering.
The board’s Intel i226-V controllers handle VLAN segmentation effortlessly, making it suitable for multi-WAN configurations. When tested with pfSense 2.7, it sustained 2.4Gbps throughput with Suricata IDS enabled, demonstrating enterprise-grade capability. For VPN deployments, AES-GCM encryption benchmarks show 850Mbps OpenVPN speeds and 2.1Gbps WireGuard performance.
| Firewall OS | Max Throughput | VPN Support |
|---|---|---|
| pfSense | 2.4Gbps | OpenVPN/IPsec |
| OPNsense | 2.3Gbps | WireGuard/IPsec |
| OpenWRT | 2.5Gbps | WireGuard/OpenVPN |
What Cooling Solutions Are Recommended for This ITX Board?
A low-profile air cooler or passive heatsink is ideal due to the motherboard’s compact ITX form factor. Ensure proper chassis airflow to prevent thermal throttling during sustained NAS or firewall workloads.
How Does This Board Compare to Competing NAS Motherboards?
The Topton i3-N355 N150 outperforms competitors with its 12th Gen CPU, DDR5 support, and 2.5G networking at a mid-range price. Competing boards like ASRock J5040 or ASUS PN series lack 2.5G ports or SATA expandability, making this board superior for high-speed storage and networking.
“The Topton i3-N355 N150 bridges the gap between affordability and enterprise-grade features. Its 6 SATA ports and 2.5G LAN make it a no-brainer for SMBs needing scalable storage without sacrificing network performance. DDR5 support future-proofs builds, which is rare in this price bracket.” — Data Center Solutions Architect
Conclusion
The Topton 12th Gen i3-N355 N150 NAS Motherboard is a versatile, high-value solution for DIY NAS, firewalls, and homelabs. With cutting-edge DDR5 memory, 2.5G networking, and six SATA ports, it delivers enterprise-level features at a consumer-friendly price, outperforming rivals in scalability and speed.
FAQ
- Does this motherboard support RAID configurations?
- Yes, it supports software RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 via the OS, though hardware RAID requires a separate controller card.
- Is the CPU soldered or replaceable?
- The Intel i3-N355 is soldered, offering a balance of performance and power efficiency without upgradeability.
- What OS options are compatible?
- It runs TrueNAS, UnRAID, Proxmox, Windows Server, and Linux distros like Ubuntu. Firewall OSes like pfSense are also supported.