Golden Build

Budget NAS Build

Perfect for entry-level storage and backups with ultra-low power consumption.

Affordable, Energy Efficient DIY NAS.

The Budget NAS Build is designed for beginners and cost-conscious users seeking a simple, efficient DIY NAS solution. Powered by an Intel N100 CPU integrated into the motherboard, this entry-level build not only keeps costs down but also ensures exceptional energy efficiency and low power consumption—perfect for a 24/7 home server setup. Ideal for basic file storage, backups, and light applications, it’s the perfect starting point for those new to custom NAS builds. Below, you’ll find a detailed list of the best components, handpicked to ensure reliability and performance far beyond what proprietary solutions offer. If you purchase through these links, we receive a referral commission at no additional cost or disadvantage to you. With your purchase you’ll be also supporting this site, so thank you in advance!

Cost-Effective Build

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Integrated iGPU for Media Transcoding

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Fanless Design

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Extremely Power Efficient

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<250 $/€

Components

Below you’ll find the carefully curated list of components that make up the Budget NAS Build. Each part has been selected to work harmoniously with the low-power Intel N100, ensuring a reliable, energy-efficient system. Designed with future expandability in mind, this build also features 2x SATA, an M.2 E-Key slot for Wi-Fi/Bluetooth cards, a PCIe 3.0 x4 slot (e.g. for a graphics card or a gigabit Ethernet NIC), and 4x USB 3.2 Gen1 ports for rapid data transfer. These components not only keep the build cost-effective but also deliver the performance needed for everyday storage, media streaming, and basic applications.

Category	Part	Expected Price	Buy (Affiliate)
Mainboard / CPU	ASRock N100DC-ITX (with integrated Intel N100 CPU)	~150$ / ~150€	Buy on Amazon*
RAM	Crucial 16GB DDR4 3200MHz	~25$ / ~25€	Buy on Amazon*
Power Supply	19V Notebook Power Supply	~20$ / ~20€	Buy on Amazon*
Case	Sharkoon QB One	~50$ / ~50€	Buy on Amazon*
		~245$ / ~245€

Storage

For storage of this Budget NAS Build, an NVMe SSD delivers blazing-fast read/write speeds for system responsiveness, while a low-power SATA SSD serves as a TrueNAS boot drive. Together, these components ensure your build remains noiseless and energy-efficient without compromising on speed or reliability. To ensure expandability, the mainboard still has a free SATA port for an optional SSD for future storage capacity needs.

Category	Part	Expected Price	Buy (Affiliate)
NVMe SSD	Crucial P3 Plus SSD 1TB M.2 NVMe	~65$ / ~60€	Buy on Amazon*
SATA SSD (Boot Drive for TrueNAS)		~10$ / ~10€	Buy on Amazon*
		~75$ / ~70€

This Budget NAS build is an ideal home server solution, particularly tailored for TrueNAS with its ultra-low power consumption, fanless noiseless design, and robust Intel N100 processor, yet it’s versatile enough for Unraid, Proxmox, and other NAS operating systems. Explore our software comparison section to see how each OS leverages this build’s efficient hardware, allowing you to choose the platform that best meets your storage, backup, and virtualization needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to commonly asked questions about the Budget NAS build.

Is this build beginner-friendly?

Yes, the Budget NAS Build is designed with cost-effective, easy-to-install components that are perfect for entry-level users looking to create a reliable home NAS solution without breaking the bank.

Which operating systems work best with the Budget NAS Build?

While the hardware is optimized for TrueNAS, it is versatile enough to run other operating systems such as Unraid and Proxmox. Check out our software comparison section to see which OS best fits your needs.

What expansion options does the build offer?

This build includes an M.2 E-Key slot for Wi-Fi/Bluetooth cards, a PCIe 3.0 x1 slot for adding a gigabit Ethernet NIC, and two USB 3.2 Gen2 ports for high-speed peripheral connectivity

How does the fanless design benefit the build?

The fanless, noiseless design ensures completely silent operation, making it ideal for noise-sensitive environments while maintaining efficient, 24/7 performance.

Why Is the Storage Listed in a Separate Table?

Storage requirements vary greatly from one user to another, and while our guide primarily focuses on the core hardware of a robust NAS build, we recognize that storage needs are highly individual. By listing the storage configuration separately, we provide a clear example that demonstrates a balanced approach—using a high-speed NVMe SSD for caching and Docker/VM operations along with high-capacity HDDs for data and redundancy. This separation underscores that while the essential components are standardized for performance, you should customize the storage setup to best suit your specific needs.

Still have a question?

If you have any other queries, feel free to ask below in the comments.

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