At the heart of this mini PC is the powerful Quad Core N100 CPU based on the 12th Gen Alder Lake N100 Processor. With 4 cores and 4 threads, along with a 6M cache and speeds of up to 3.4GHz at a remarkably low TDP of 6W, the performance improvements over comparable models like the N5105 are impressive—boasting a 26.4% rise in performance. This ensures smooth, lag-free operation even in demanding scenarios, be it for multimedia transcoding, hosting Plex servers, or running TrueNAS, Unraid, and Ubuntu environments.
One of the key features of this mini PC is its hot swapping capability with support for RAID0/1 and Single drive configurations in its 2-bay setup. Whether you choose to use two 2.5-inch HDDs or SSDs, or even a mix involving a 3.5-inch HDD (not included), this flexibility makes it ideal for storing and sharing large collections of movies, photos, and files. Real-life usage reveals that the hot swap capability not only enhances data security but also simplifies maintenance and drive replacement without significant downtime.
Another significant advantage is the inclusion of DDR5 memory and a PCIe 3.0 x2 slot, allowing you to maximize performance with speeds up to 1627MB/s read and 1557MB/s write speeds for the installed M.2 NVMe drive. The device also features dual 2.5GbE i226V LAN ports, complemented by additional ports including HD, DP, two USB3.2, and a TF Card slot, making it a versatile solution for both NAS storage and as a potential firewall router appliance or virtualization platform.
The integrated UHD Graphics enable 4K dual display support, ensuring flawless performance when transcoding high-resolution movies or serving as an efficient media server. The aluminum alloy case featuring a reliable fan contributes to better cooling and overall stability during prolonged usage.
While the OAKNODE mini PC excels in performance and versatility, potential drawbacks include the necessity to purchase storage drives separately and the learning curve associated with configuring RAID setups. However, for tech enthusiasts who need robust, scalable, and efficient network storage with additional multimedia capabilities, these minor issues pale in comparison to its benefits.
In summary, the OAKNODE 2 Bay N100/N305 Mini PC is a great choice for content creators, small business owners, and advanced home users. To get the most out of this product, ensure you use high-quality drives and keep your firmware updated for enhanced performance and security. Thank you for watching, and we hope you found this review informative. Have a great day!
Feature Set
- Powerful Quad Core N100 CPU: 12th Gen Alder Lake N100 Processor, 4 Cores 4 Threads, 6M Cache, up to 3.4GHz, TDP 6W. Compared with N5105, the performance is improved by 26.4%, smooth and lag-free operation. Support Plex, TrueNAS, Unraid, OMV, Ubuntu, etc
- 2 Bay Hot Swap RAID0/1/Single: 2 Bay Mini PC support 40T (2 x 20T), compatible with 2.5" HDD/SSD, 3.5" HDD(Not Included), can store large amounts of movies, pictures, files, etc. Access and share them anytime, anywhere across platforms. Hot Swap with RAID0/1/Single, protect data security
- DDR5 Memory PCIe 3.0 x2 Slot: Desktop NAS with 1 xDDR5 4800MHz SODIMM memory (max 32GB), 50% higher frequency than DDR4, low latency, high performance. 1 xM.2 NVMe(PCIe3.0 x2) Slot, read speed 1627MB/s, write speed 1557MB/s, greatly improve work efficiency
- Dual 2.5GbE i226V LAN: 3 in 1 NAS device with 2 x 2.5GbE i226V LAN, 1 xHD, 1 xDP, 2 xUSB3.2 10Gbps Port, 1 x TF Card Slot, 1 xSPK/MIC. Rich interfaces, can be used as firewall router appliance to install ESXi, OPNsense, PVE-virtualization platform, etc
- UHD Graphics 4K Dual Display: N100 mini pc integrated UHD Graphics, HD DP dual display, support transcoding 4K movies on the fly, can as media server works flawlessly without any hiccups. Aluminum alloy case with fan, better cooling, more stable operation