DIY NAS: 2026 Edition

14 days ago

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The author built a DIY NAS server due to unmet storage needs and hostile community responses.
Key criteria for the DIY NAS include small form factor, at least six drive bays, low power CPU, and homelab potential.
Component prices were rising, making it a challenging time to build a NAS.
The Topton N22 motherboard with Intel Core 3 N355 CPU was chosen for its features and value.
The JONSBO N4 case was selected for its size and price, despite some design quirks.
Noctua NF-A12x25 PWM fan was used to reduce noise and improve cooling efficiency.
32GB DDR5 RAM was chosen for its balance of performance and cost.
Silicon Power SSDs were used for boot drives and NVMe SSDs for apps/VMs.
Burn-in testing was conducted to ensure hardware reliability.
TrueNAS Community Edition was selected for its enterprise-grade features and ease of use.
Benchmarks showed the NAS outperforming typical home network speeds.
Power consumption was monitored, with the NAS averaging 66.49W during use.
The author considered budget-friendly alternatives to reduce costs by over $400.
The DIY NAS: 2026 Edition will be auctioned off on eBay.
Final thoughts highlight the NAS's performance, value, and upgrade potential compared to off-the-shelf alternatives.

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