Budget Low Power NAS Build Under $300 (2025 N100 Edition)

Introduction

Building a capable Network Attached Storage (NAS) device doesn't have to break the bank. In 2025, the Intel N100 platform allows us to build a high-performance, 2.5GbE-capable NAS for under $300. This guide will show you exactly how to do it.

The $300 Parts List

Prices are based on average 2025 street prices (AliExpress/Amazon).

1. Motherboard & CPU Combo ($130)

Target: CWWK / Topton N100 NAS Board (Standard Version)

• Why: Integrated N100 CPU, 6x SATA ports, 4x 2.5GbE ports.
• Alternative: ASRock N100DC-ITX ($120) if you only need 2 drives (or use a PCIe SATA card).

2. RAM ($35)

Target: 16GB DDR5-4800 (Crucial/Samsung)

• Why: 16GB is plenty for a NAS + Docker containers. Single stick is fine (N100 is single channel).

3. Boot Drive ($25)

Target: 256GB NVMe SSD (Kingston/Patriot)

• Why: Fast boot times and responsive UI. Don't waste a SATA port on the OS.

4. Case ($60-80)

Target: Jonsbo N2 (often on sale) or Node 304 (Used)

• Budget Option: DIY 3D Printed Case or a generic ITX case ($40).
• Note: The case is often the hardest part to fit in a strict budget. Look for deals!

5. Power Supply ($30)

Target: 150W PicoPSU + 12V 10A Brick or FlexATX PSU

• Why: High efficiency at low loads.

Total Core Cost: ~$280 - $300 (excluding storage drives)

Build Guide

Step 1: Assembly

1. Install the N100 motherboard into the case.
2. Populate the single RAM slot.
3. Install the NVMe drive for the OS.
4. Connect your SATA data cables to the backplane/drives.

Step 2: BIOS Settings for Efficiency

• Restore on AC Power Loss: Power On (Crucial for a server).
• C-States: Enabled.
• Fan Profile: Silent/Standard (N100 runs cool).

Step 3: OS Selection

For a budget build, free and open-source software is key:

• TrueNAS Scale: Enterprise-grade ZFS. Requires 16GB RAM.
• OpenMediaVault (OMV): Runs on Debian. Extremely lightweight.
• Unraid: Paid, but excellent for mixing drive sizes. (Adds cost).

Performance Expectations

• Transfer Speed: ~280MB/s (Saturates 2.5GbE).
• Transcoding: Handles 4K Plex streams easily via QuickSync.
• Power: ~15-20W idle (disk spin-down), ~40W load.

Conclusion

You don't need a $1000 Synology to have a powerful home NAS. This N100 build offers 4x the networking speed and better transcoding performance for a fraction of the price.

Resources

• AliExpress N100 NAS Boards
• PCPartPicker