The WTR PRO Intel N100/N150 and Ryzen 7 5825U Mini PC combines compact design with high-performance storage and networking. With 4 drive bays, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 500GB SSD, and dual 2.5G LAN ports, it’s optimized for NAS setups, gaming, and multitasking. Its support for 2.5/3.5″ HDDs and energy-efficient processors makes it versatile for home labs and small businesses.
How Does the WTR PRO Mini PC Enhance NAS Performance?
The WTR PRO’s 4-bay NAS design allows RAID configurations for data redundancy. Its 2.5G LAN ports enable high-speed file transfers up to 2.5 Gbps, ideal for media servers or backups. The Intel N100/N150 or Ryzen 7 5825U processors ensure smooth data handling, while the 500GB SSD accelerates caching for frequently accessed files.
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 |
For advanced users, the WTR PRO supports hybrid storage configurations. By combining SSD caching with high-capacity HDDs, you can achieve both speed and storage volume. The system’s RAID 5 implementation offers a balanced approach with parity-based redundancy, allowing one drive failure without data loss while maintaining 75% storage efficiency with four drives. The dual 2.5G ports enable bonding through LACP (Link Aggregation Control Protocol), effectively doubling throughput for multi-user environments. This makes it particularly suitable for video editors working with large 4K files or businesses requiring real-time database access.
| RAID Level | Drives Required | Fault Tolerance |
|---|---|---|
| RAID 0 | 2+ | None |
| RAID 1 | 2 | 1 drive |
| RAID 5 | 3+ | 1 drive |
| RAID 10 | 4+ | 1 drive per mirrored pair |
Which Gaming Features Does the WTR PRO Mini PC Offer?
Despite its compact size, the Ryzen 7 5825U variant includes Radeon Vega 8 graphics, supporting 4K output and casual gaming. The DDR4 16GB RAM handles multitasking, while dual LAN ports reduce latency for online games. SSD storage ensures faster game load times compared to traditional HDDs.
Why Choose the WTR PRO for Energy-Efficient Computing?
The Intel N100/N150 CPUs have a 6W TDP, reducing power consumption by up to 40% vs. traditional desktops. The Ryzen 7 5825U balances performance with a 15W TDP, making it suitable for 24/7 NAS operations. Passive cooling in some configurations minimizes noise and energy use.
How to Configure Storage in the WTR PRO 4-Bay Mini PC?
Users can install four 2.5/3.5” HDDs or SSDs, supporting up to 64TB (16TB per drive). RAID 0/1/5/10 configurations are achievable via software or hardware controllers. The pre-installed 500GB SSD serves as a boot drive or cache, while HDDs store bulk data.
What Networking Advantages Does the 2.5G LAN Provide?
Dual 2.5G Ethernet ports enable link aggregation for 5Gbps throughput, perfect for high-bandwidth tasks like video editing or virtualization. VLAN support isolates NAS traffic from gaming/streaming, improving security and performance.
The 2.5GBase-T standard provides 2.5x the bandwidth of standard gigabit Ethernet while maintaining backward compatibility with existing Cat5e cabling. This makes it ideal for transferring large game patches (50GB+), streaming uncompressed audio, or managing security camera footage. When configured with SMB Multichannel on Windows 11, the dual ports can simultaneously handle multiple data streams, reducing bottlenecks during 4K video editing over the network. For home users, this means smoother 8K video streaming to multiple devices while maintaining low ping times for competitive gaming.
| Network Task | 1G LAN Performance | 2.5G LAN Performance |
|---|---|---|
| 4K Video Stream | 1 concurrent stream | 3 concurrent streams |
| Game File Transfer | 113 MB/s | 280 MB/s |
| VM Migration | 4 minutes | 1.5 minutes |
Can the WTR PRO Mini PC Handle Virtualization Tasks?
Yes. The Ryzen 7 5825U’s 8 cores/16 threads and AMD-V virtualization support allow running multiple VMs via Proxmox or VMware. Intel N150 models support Docker containers for lightweight app deployment.
Expert Views
“The WTR PRO bridges the gap between SOHO NAS and compact gaming PCs,” says a server hardware analyst. “Its dual LAN and Ryzen APU let users consolidate NAS, game servers, and media centers into one device. For homelab enthusiasts, it’s a cost-effective alternative to rack-mounted systems.”
FAQs
- Q: Does the WTR PRO support Windows 11?
- A: Yes, both Intel and Ryzen models meet Windows 11’s TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot requirements.
- Q: Can I upgrade the RAM to 32GB?
- A: The DDR4 slot supports up to 32GB, but check compatibility with your CPU variant.
- Q: Is HDMI 2.1 supported for 120Hz gaming?
- A: The Ryzen model’s HDMI 2.0b port supports 4K60Hz. For higher refresh rates, use the DisplayPort 1.4 output.