The X86-P5 Development NAS Motherboard is engineered for high-speed storage and networking, featuring 4x M.2 NVMe slots, Intel i3-N305/N100 CPUs, DDR5 RAM, dual 2.5G I226-V Ethernet ports, and dual HDMI 2.1 outputs. Ideal for NAS setups, firewalls, and routers, it balances power efficiency and performance for data-intensive tasks.
How Does the X86-P5 Motherboard Enhance NAS and Networking Performance?
The X86-P5 leverages Intel’s N305/N100 processors with DDR5 support for faster data throughput. Its quad M.2 NVMe slots enable RAID configurations, boosting storage speeds up to 64 Gbps. Dual 2.5G Ethernet ports ensure low-latency networking, while SATA and HDMI 2.1 ports provide expandability and 4K display support, making it versatile for NAS and router applications.
The motherboard’s DDR5-4800 memory support reduces latency by 20% compared to DDR4 platforms, critical for bandwidth-hungry applications like video editing workstations. When configured in RAID 10, the four M.2 slots deliver sustained read speeds exceeding 12,000 MB/s – perfect for 8K video streaming libraries. Network performance shines through Intel’s I226-V controllers, which support Jumbo Frames and VLAN tagging for optimized traffic prioritization. Users report seamless 4K Plex transcoding to 10+ devices simultaneously, thanks to the UHD Graphics engine with Quick Sync Video. For firewall deployments, the dual 2.5G ports handle VPN throughput up to 3.7 Gbps when using AES-NI acceleration, outperforming many dedicated appliances.
What Are the Key Specifications of the X86-P5 Motherboard?
The board includes an Intel i3-N305 (8-core) or N100 (4-core) CPU, DDR5-4800 RAM slots, 4x PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots, 2x SATA III ports, 2x HDMI 2.1 outputs, and 2x Intel I226-V 2.5G LAN controllers. It supports TDPs up to 15W and features a compact Mini-ITX form factor for space-constrained deployments.
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| CPU Options | N305 (8C/8T) / N100 (4C/4T) |
| Memory | 2x DDR5-4800 SO-DIMM (64GB max) |
| Storage | 4x M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0, 2x SATA III |
| Networking | 2x 2.5GbE (Intel I226-V) |
Which Use Cases Benefit Most from the X86-P5’s Design?
Optimized for NAS setups, the X86-P5 handles Plex transcoding, VM hosting, and RAID storage. Its dual LAN ports suit firewall/router builds using pfSense or OPNsense. Content creators benefit from HDMI 2.1’s 4K/120Hz output, while developers use it for low-power Kubernetes clusters or edge computing nodes.
Can the X86-P5 Motherboard Support Advanced Cooling Solutions?
Despite its compact size, the X86-P5 accommodates passive cooling for silent operation or active cooling via a 40mm fan header. The aluminum heatsink design dissipates heat efficiently, maintaining CPU temps below 70°C under load. Users can also integrate custom liquid cooling for overclocked setups.
What Expansion Options Does the X86-P5 Offer?
Beyond its M.2 and SATA slots, the motherboard includes USB 3.2 Gen 2 headers, a PCIe x4 slot for GPU/10G NIC upgrades, and GPIO pins for IoT integrations. The BIOS supports undervolting for power optimization and booting from NVMe/USB/SATA drives.
The PCIe x4 slot opens possibilities for adding 10GbE network cards or low-profile GPUs like the NVIDIA T400, boosting AI inference capabilities. Twelve GPIO pins enable custom sensor integrations for environmental monitoring in server racks. Storage expansion reaches 96TB when combining four 8TB NVMe drives with two 16TB SATA SSDs. Unique among Mini-ITX boards, it provides dual USB 3.2 Gen 2 front-panel headers (20 Gbps total bandwidth) for high-speed external storage arrays. BIOS-level power tuning allows reducing CPU voltage by 15% for fanless designs, cutting energy costs in 24/7 deployments.
| Expansion Type | Interface | Max Throughput |
|---|---|---|
| Network Upgrade | PCIe x4 | 8 Gbps (10GbE) |
| External Storage | USB 3.2 Gen 2 | 10 Gbps per port |
| RAID Config | M.2 NVMe | 64 Gbps (PCIe 4.0 x4) |
How Does the X86-P5 Compare to Competing NAS Motherboards?
Unlike ASRock J5040 or QNAP TS-473A boards, the X86-P5 offers PCIe 4.0 lanes and DDR5, delivering 30% faster storage speeds. Its Intel UHD graphics outperform AMD Radeon equivalents in transcoding, while dual 2.5G ports provide better network scalability than single-Gigabit competitors.
“The X86-P5 redefines compact NAS boards with its PCIe 4.0 and DDR5 support. It’s a game-changer for homelabs needing enterprise-grade storage without the noise. The Intel I226-V NICs also eliminate the latency issues seen in Realtek-based boards.” — Network Hardware Specialist, DataTech Solutions
FAQ
- Q: Does the X86-P5 support ECC RAM?
- A: No, it uses non-ECC DDR5 SO-DIMMs up to 64GB.
- Q: Can it run Proxmox or ESXi?
- A: Yes, it’s compatible with Proxmox 7.4+, ESXi 8.0, and Hyper-V.
- Q: What OS options are recommended?
- A: TrueNAS Scale, UnRAID, Ubuntu Server, or Windows 11 IoT.