The Intel 4x i226-V NAS motherboard supports 6-bay storage, 2.5G LANs, DDR5 RAM, and multiple CPUs (N100 to i3-N305). It features 6 SATA3.0 ports, dual NVMe slots, PCIe x1 expansion, and USB-C connectivity, making it ideal for high-speed data transfer, NAS/server builds, and scalable storage solutions. Its Mini-ITX design optimizes space without sacrificing performance.
How Does the Intel i226-V 2.5G LAN Enhance Network Performance?
The quad Intel i226-V 2.5G Ethernet controllers provide 10Gbps total bandwidth, enabling faster data transfers between NAS devices and networks. This reduces bottlenecks in multi-user environments, supports virtualization, and improves redundancy through link aggregation (LACP). Ideal for 4K media streaming, backups, and enterprise-grade applications.
In practical scenarios, the 2.5G LAN ports enable sequential read/write speeds exceeding 280MB/s per port when paired with RAID-configured NVMe drives. For creative teams working with 8K video files, this means transferring 100GB project files in under 6 minutes versus 25+ minutes via standard Gigabit Ethernet. The controller’s support for Jumbo Frames (up to 9KB) further optimizes large data packet transfers common in video editing workflows. Network administrators can implement failover configurations where traffic automatically shifts to active ports if a connection drops – critical for always-on backup servers.
What Storage Configurations Does the 6-Bay Design Support?
With 6 SATA3.0 ports and 2 NVMe slots, this motherboard supports RAID 0/1/5/10 configurations. Users can combine HDDs for bulk storage and NVMe drives for caching or metadata acceleration. The PCIe x1 slot allows adding SAS controllers for expanded storage pools exceeding 100TB with modern 22TB HDDs.
| RAID Level | Minimum Drives | Fault Tolerance | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAID 5 | 3 | 1 drive failure | Balanced capacity/safety |
| RAID 10 | 4 | Multiple failures | High I/O databases |
| JBOD | 1 | None | Media archives |
Advanced users can implement ZFS zpool configurations using the NVMe slots for Special VDEV devices – dedicating fast flash storage to handle metadata and small-block I/O. This setup accelerates directory traversals in large photo libraries by 3-5x compared to traditional HDD-only arrays. The board’s PCIe lane allocation allows simultaneous use of all SATA ports and both M.2 slots without bandwidth contention, a common limitation in competing Mini-ITX solutions.
Which Processors Are Compatible with This NAS Motherboard?
The motherboard supports Intel’s N100, N150, i3-N305, and N355 processors. These 12th-gen Alder Lake-N CPUs balance power efficiency (7-15W TDP) and performance, with up to 8 threads (i3-N305). They handle ZFS compression, Plex transcoding, and lightweight virtualization while minimizing heat output in compact NAS setups.
Can This Motherboard Handle 4K Media Transcoding?
Yes. The i3-N305’s integrated UHD Graphics (32 EUs) supports Quick Sync Video, enabling hardware-accelerated 4K H.265/HEVC transcoding. This allows smooth Plex/Jellyfin streaming to multiple devices simultaneously without overloading the CPU.
Does DDR5 Memory Improve NAS Performance?
DDR5’s 4800MHz+ speeds and improved bandwidth (38.4GB/s) reduce latency in metadata-heavy tasks like file indexing and database operations. Error correction (ECC-like via on-die ECC) enhances data integrity for 24/7 NAS reliability.
What Cooling Solutions Are Recommended for This Build?
Passive cooling works for N100/N150 CPUs under 12W TDP. For i3-N305, a low-profile heatsink (Noctua NH-L9i) paired with 40mm case fans ensures thermal headroom during sustained loads. Ensure chassis airflow aligns with drive bay orientation to prevent HDD overheating.
“This board bridges prosumer and enterprise needs. The i226-V’s 2.5GBase-T ports future-proof deployments, while PCIe x1 and USB-C allow 10G NIC or SAS expansions. Its CPU support range lets users balance cost and power—N100 for basic NAS, i3-N305 for transcoding. DDR5 is a game-changer for metadata-heavy workloads like photo libraries.”
— Data Center Solutions Architect, StorIT Labs
FAQ
- Does it support ECC RAM?
- No, but DDR5’s on-die ECC mitigates single-bit errors.
- Can I use it for a gaming PC?
- Not recommended—limited PCIe lanes and no x16 slot.
- Is the BIOS unlocked for undervolting?
- Yes, on select vendors (e.g., ASRock Industrial).