DIY NAS Component Guide

NAS Components Guide

When building your own DIY NAS or home server, selecting the right components for your intended usage is key. That’s why we created our Golden Builds along with a comprehensive list of the best available hardware. While these components aren’t the only options for a home server, they represent the best choices for constructing an energy-efficient yet powerful system, based on our research. Use this list as a starting point to build your own, fully customized DIY NAS, that is perfectly tailored to your needs.

This list is updated regularly to ensure that we always recommend the best components for you. 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!

Table Of Contents

NAS Components Guide
Motherboard
CPU
RAM
Power Supply
Hard Drives & SSDs
Case
NIC (Network Interface Card)
SATA Expansion Cards

Motherboard

Choosing the right motherboard is essential for a stable, efficient, and expandable NAS. Your motherboard determines the number of drives you can connect, expandability for future upgrades, and power efficiency.

SATA Ports

More ports allow for more hard drives. 4-8 recommended for NAS builds.

ECC RAM Support

Ensures data integrity. Important for ZFS-based NAS setups.

NVMe Support

For fast caching with M.2 SSDs. Optional but recommended.

Networking Options

Onboard 2.5G or 10G Ethernet is a plus.

Motherboard	Socket / Chipset	Formfactor	SATA ports	NVMe Slots	Networking	ECC Support	Ideal for	Buy (Affiliate)
GIGABYTE B760M DS3H	LGA1700	mATX	4x SATA	2x NVMe	2.5Gbit	❌ No	Homelab & Virtualization	Amazon* newegg*
ASROCK N100DC-ITX	Intel BGA 1264	mini-ITX	2x SATA	1x NVMe	1Gbit	❌ No	Energy Efficient	Amazon*
GIGABYTE Z790 D	LGA1700	ATX	6x SATA	3x NVMe	2.5Gbit	❌ No	VM & storage	Amazon* newegg*
MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk	LGA1700	ATX	7x SATA	4x NVMe	2.5Gbit	❌ No	Mass storage	Amazon* newegg*
ASUS Pro WS W680-ACE	LGA1700	ATX	4x SATA	3x NVMe	2x 2.5Gbit	✅ Yes	ECC support	Amazon* newegg*

Motherboard	Socket / Chipset	Formfactor	SATA ports	NVMe Slots	Networking	ECC Support	Ideal for	Buy (Affiliate)
Asus Prime B450M-A II	AM4	mATX	6x SATA	1x NVMe	1Gbit	✅ Yes	Storage, Docker, Plex	Amazon* newegg*
ASRock Rack X570D4U	AM4	mATX	8x SATA	2x NVMe	2x 1Gbit	✅ Yes	IPMI, Storage, Professional Use	Amazon* newegg*
GIGABYTE B550I AORUS PRO AX	AM4	mini-ITX	4x SATA	2x NVMe	2.5Gbit	✅ Yes	Compact Size Builds	Amazon* newegg*
ASUS TUF GAMING B650-PLUS WIFI	AM5	mATX	4x SATA	3x NVMe	2.5Gbit	✅ Yes	VM, Docker, Networking	Amazon* newegg*
GIGABYTE B650I AX	AM5	mini-ITX	6x SATA	3x NVMe	2.5Gbit	❌ No	Compact Size Mass Storage	Amazon* newegg*

CPU

The CPU (processor) is the brain of your NAS. It determines how efficiently your system handles file transfers, data encryption, media streaming (Plex, Jellyfin), and virtualization (Docker, VMs). Choosing the right CPU depends on your use case, power consumption, and performance needs.

Hardware Transcoding Support

Essential for Plex, Jellyfin, or Emby media streaming.

ECC RAM Support

Recommended for ZFS-based NAS (e.g., TrueNAS).

Multi-Core Performance

Useful for Plex transcoding, Docker containers, and virtual machines (VMs).

Power Efficiency

A lower TDP (Thermal Design Power) means less energy consumption, ideal for 24/7 operation

💡 Tip

If you plan to use Plex or Jellyfin, choose a CPU with integrated graphics (iGPU) for hardware transcoding, such as Intel Core i3/i5 with UHD Graphics or AMD Ryzen APUs with Vega Graphics (G-series).

CPU	Socket	Cores/ Threads	iGPU	ECC Support	Ideal For	Buy (Affiliate)
Intel N100	BGA 1264	4 / 4	UHD 730	❌ No	Budget NAS, Low Power	Amazon* newegg*
Intel N305	BGA 1264	8 / 8	UHD 770	❌ No	Networking, Storage	Amazon* newegg*
Intel Core i3-14100	LGA1700	4 / 8	UHD 730	✅ Yes	Entry-Level NAS, Plex	Amazon* newegg*
Intel Core i5-12400	LGA1700	6 / 12	UHD 730	❌ No	High-Performance NAS	Amazon* newegg*
Intel Core i9-14900K	LGA1700	24 / 32	UHD 770	✅ Yes	Homelab, Virtualization	Amazon* newegg*
Intel Xeon E-2436	LGA1700	6 / 12	❌ No	✅ Yes	VM, Docker, Storage	Amazon*

CPU	Socket	Cores/ Threads	iGPU	ECC Support	Ideal For	Buy (Affiliate)
Ryzen 3 3200G	AM4	4 / 4	Vega 8	❌ No	Budget NAS, Low Power	Amazon* newegg*
Ryzen 5 3400G	AM4	4 / 8	Vega 11	❌ No	Plex, Media, Photos	Amazon* newegg*
Ryzen 7 5700X3D	AM4	8 / 16	❌ No	✅ Yes	ZFS, Data Integrity	Amazon* newegg*
Ryzen 9 5900X	LGA1700	12 / 24	❌ No	✅ Yes	Virtualization	Amazon* newegg*

RAM

The right amount and type of RAM ensures smooth performance for file storage, caching, and advanced NAS functionalities like Docker containers, virtualization, and ZFS-based systems. Selecting the best RAM depends on your NAS workload and whether you need ECC (Error-Correcting Code) memory.

8GB – 16GB

Basic NAS (File Storage, Backup)

16GB – 32GB

Docker, Media Streaming, Virtualization

32GB+

High-end NAS, ZFS, multiple VMs

RAM Kit	Capacity	Generation	Design	Speed	ECC	Buy (Affiliate)
Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4	8GB – 32GB	DDR4	DIMM	3200 MHz	❌ No	Amazon* newegg*
Corsair VENGEANCE DDR5	32GB – 96GB	DDR5	DIMM	5200 MHz	❌ No	Amazon* newegg*
Crucial DDR4 RAM SODIMM	4GB – 64GB	DDR4	SO-DIMM	3200 MHz	❌ No	Amazon * newegg*
Crucial DDR5 RAM SODIMM	8GB – 128GB	DDR5	SO-DIMM	5600 MHz	❌ No	Amazon* newegg*
Kingston Server Premier DDR4	8GB – 128GB	DDR4	DIMM	2666 MHz	✅ Yes	Amazon* newegg*
Kingston Server Premier DDR5	8GB – 128GB	DDR5	DIMM	5600 MHz	✅ Yes	Amazon*
SuperMicro ECC Registered DDR5	16GB – 64GB	DDR5	DIMM	4800 MHz	✅ Yes	newegg*

Power Supply

The power supply (PSU) is a critical component for your NAS build, ensuring all components receive stable and efficient power 24/7. Whether you’re building a full-featured home server or a minimalist NAS, selecting the right PSU is vital for performance, reliability, and longevity.

Efficiency Rating

Look for an 80 PLUS certification (Bronze, Silver, Gold, or higher) to ensure optimal energy use and lower heat output

Form Factor & Noise

Consider a form factor that fits your case (ATX, SFX) and whether you prefer fanless or low-noise models for silent operation

Wattage

Determine your system’s power needs. A NAS typically requires a lower wattage, but allow for future upgrades or additional drives

Power Supply	Wattage	Efficiency	Form Factor	Buy (Affiliate)
be quiet! Pure Power 11	400W	80+ Gold	ATX	Amazon*
Corsair CX550x	550W	80+ Bronze	ATX	Amazon * newegg*
MSI MAG A650GL	650W	80+ Gold	ATX	Amazon * newegg*
Corsair RM850e	850W	80+ Gold	ATX	Amazon* newegg*
SilverStone SST-ST30SF	300W	80+ Bronze	SFX	Amazon * newegg*
PicoPSU-80	80W	+++	–	Amazon* newegg*
PicoPSU-160-XT	160W	+++	–	Amazon* newegg*

Hard Drives & SSDs

Storage is the heart of any NAS. In this section, you’ll learn how to choose between hard disk drives (HDDs) and solid state drives (SSDs) for your NAS build, along with recommendations for each use case.

Considerations for NAS Storage

When designing your NAS storage, there are three options to organize storage:

HDDs provide large storage capacities at a lower cost, perfect for bulk data but rather slow on read and write.
SSDs deliver high performance, especially when used for caching and system responsiveness. They come at a higher cost per GB.
A hybrid approach (using both HDDs and SSDs) can offer the best balance between capacity and performance.

Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) – Bulk & Reliable Storage

Drive	Capacity	Speed (Read/Write)	NAS Optimized	Ideal For	Buy (Affiliate)
WD Red Plus	2TB – 20TB	150MB/s	✅ Yes	Home NAS, RAID Arrays	Amazon* newegg*
Seagate IronWolf	1TB – 24TB	180MB/s	✅ Yes	High-capacity storage	Amazon* newegg*
Toshiba Enterprise	4TB – 18TB	281MB/s	✅ Yes	High-performance NAS Builds	Amazon* newegg*

Solid State Drives (SSDs) – Speed & Caching

Drive	Type	Capacity	Speed (Read/Write)	Ideal For	Buy (Affiliate)
Crucial P3 Plus	NVMe	0.5TB – 4TB	5000MB/s / 3600MB/s	Caching, System Drive	Amazon* newegg*
WD Blue SN580	NVMe	0.13TB – 4TB	4000MB/s / 2000MB/s	Caching, System Drive	Amazon* newegg*
Intenso SATA SSD	SATA	0.13TB – 2TB	520MB/s / 500MB/s	Boot drive, frequently accessed data	Amazon*
Team Group CX1	SATA	0.24TB – 2TB	520MB/s / 430MB/s	Boot drive, frequently accessed data	newegg*
Crucial BX500	SATA	0.24TB – 4TB	540MB/s / 500MB/s	Mixed usage, improved responsiveness	Amazon* newegg*

Case

The case is more than just a container—it’s a critical component that protects your hardware, ensures proper cooling, and offers room for future expansion. Whether you’re building a minimalist NAS or a robust homelab, the right chassis makes all the difference.

Drive Bays &
Storage Capacity

Ensure the case has enough 3.5″ and/or 2.5″ drive bays to meet your current and future storage needs. Consider cases with hot-swap bays if you plan on swapping drives frequently.

Form Factor & Compatibility

The case must support your motherboard size (Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, or ATX) and have adequate space for expansion cards, power supplies, and additional cooling solutions.

Cooling &
Airflow

Good ventilation is crucial for 24/7 operation. Look for cases that offer multiple fan mounting options, dust filters, and effective cable management to promote airflow.

Case	Form Factor	Drive Bays (3.5″/2.5″)	Rackmount	Key Features	Buy (Affiliate)
Fractal Design Node 304	Mini-ITX	6	❌ No	Compact design, excellent cooling, tool-less drive bays	Amazon* newegg*
Fractal Design Node 804	Micro-ATX	8 / 2	❌ No	Hot-swap drive bays, spacious interior, quiet operation	Amazon* newegg*
Jonsbo N3	Micro-ATX	8 / 1	❌ No	Good Airflow, Easy Accessible	Amazon* newegg*
2U Server Chassis Rackmount Case	Mini-ITX	2 / 2	✅ Yes	Compact Rackmount, Hot-swap drive bays	Amazon* newegg*
4U Server Chassis Rackmount Case	E-ATX	15 / 0	✅ Yes	19″ Rackmount Server Case	Amazon* newegg*
be quiet! Pure Base 600	ATX	5 / 2	❌ No	Lots of space for Harddrives. Very good cooling.	Amazon* newegg*

NIC
(Network Interface Card)

A reliable NIC is essential for any DIY NAS build, ensuring fast and stable network connectivity for file transfers, media streaming, and remote access. The right NIC can enhance overall system performance by reducing latency, supporting advanced features, and providing robust driver support.

Speed

Choose a NIC that meets your network speed requirements—whether it’s Gigabit, 2.5G, or even 10G

Port Count

For advanced network management and routing operations choose a multiport NIC.

Compatibility & Driver Support

Below listed NICs are verified to be supported by all NAS operating systems (TrueNAS, Unraid, Proxmox, OMV).

NIC	Speed	Plug	Ports	Chip	Buy (Affiliate)
10Gtek® Gigabit NIC	1Gbit	RJ45	2	Intel 82576	Amazon* newegg*
I350-T4 E1G44HT NIC	1Gbit	RJ45	4	Intel 82580	Amazon* newegg*
GiGaPlus 2.5Gb PCIe NIC	2.5Gbit	RJ45	1	Realtek RTL8125B	Amazon* newegg*
Dual PCIe 2.5GBase-T NIC	2.5Gbit	RJ45	2	Realtek RTL8125B	Amazon* newegg*
GLOTRENDS LE8445 NIC	2.5Gbit	RJ45	4	Realtek RTL8125BG	Amazon* newegg*
BrosTrend 5Gb NIC	5Gbit	RJ45	1	Realtek RTL8126	Amazon* newegg*
10Gtek 10Gb PCI-E NIC	10Gbit	RJ45	1	Intel X540-T1	Amazon* newegg*
10Gtek 10GbE PCIE	10Gbit	SFP+	1	Intel X520-DA1	Amazon* newegg*
10Gtek Dual 10GbE PCIE	10Gbit	SFP+	2	Intel X520-DA2	Amazon* newegg*

SATA Expansion Cards

Expand your DIY NAS’s storage potential with SATA expansion cards. These cards add extra SATA ports to your system, enabling you to connect more drives for larger RAID arrays and enhanced data redundancy without compromising performance.

Number of Ports

Ensure the card has enough ports to support your planned storage setup. Cards typically range from 2 to 8 ports.

PCIe Lanes

The bandwidth available for a SATA expansion card depends on the PCIe slot it occupies. More drives and higher speed drives need more lanes.

Chipset Stability

Some chipsets have trouble with powertop auto-tune. Choosing a reliable chipset ensures compatibility with your NAS software and long-term stability.

Power Consumption

Low-power builds should prioritize energy-efficient chipsets, especially if you intend to use powertop --auto-tune to optimize consumption.

Chipset	Ports	Interface	Key Features	Buy (Affiliate)
ASMedia ASM1166	6 SATA 6Gbps	PCIe 3.0 x1	Stable with good driver support	Amazon* newegg*
ASMedia ASM1166	6 SATA 6Gbps	NVMe	High Speed NVMe	Amazon* newegg*
JMicron JMB585	5 SATA 6Gbps	NVMe	Works well but has power management issues	Amazon* newegg*
Marvell 88SE9215	4 SATA 6Gbps	PCIe 2.0 x1	Suitable for small builds	Amazon* newegg*
LSI SAS9207-8i	8 SATA/SAS 6Gbps	PCIe 3.0 x8	Enterprise-grade reliability, High speed	Amazon* newegg*

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