Topton Mini ITX Motherboard for NAS Powered by Intel Twin Lake Chips

January 29, 2025
Topton Mini ITX Motherboard for NAS Powered by Intel Twin Lake Chips

Imagine having a compact and efficient motherboard that caters to various networking and storage needs while being powered by the latest Intel Twin Lake processors, pushing performance boundaries without compromising power consumption. That’s precisely what Topton has achieved with its new mini ITX motherboard, primarily designed for Network Attached Storage (NAS) systems but flexible enough for routers, firewalls, or general-purpose servers.

High-Performance Networking and Storage

Released in late 2023, Topton’s mini ITX motherboard stands out for its networking and storage capabilities, offering multiple inexpensive and energy-efficient processor options. This 170 x 170mm board now includes several processor choices, such as the Intel N150 and Core i3-N355 Twin Lake processors, with pricing starting at $169 through AliExpress.

The motherboard offers six SATA 3.0 connectors for hard drives or SSDs, two M.2 2280 slots supporting PCIe 3.0 x1 storage, a PCIe x1 connector, and a SODIMM slot supporting up to 32GB of DDR5-5200 or DDR5-5600 memory. Networking is a highlight, with four 2.5 Gb Ethernet ports powered by Intel i226-V, ensuring robust connectivity for various applications.

Limitations and Connectivity

One of the key limitations of the Alder Lake N and Twin Lake processors is their support for only nine PCIe lanes. This restriction is felt in the motherboard’s design as both M.2 2280 slots are limited to single-lane PCIe 3.0 speeds. Furthermore, the PCIe slot shares a lane with the second M.2 slot, meaning they cannot be used simultaneously, which could be a drawback for some users.

On the connectivity front, the motherboard includes one HDMI 2.1 port, one DisplayPort 1.4b, three Type-A USB ports (one USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0), and a 3.5mm audio port. These features ensure that users have ample options for connecting peripheral devices.

Processor Options and Pricing

The motherboard is available in several configurations, reflecting the diverse range of processing power needs users might have. The base model, priced at $169, features the 6-watt Intel N100 quad-core processor (Alder Lake-N). For those demanding a bit more power, there is a model with an Intel N150 Twin Lake processor, priced about 10% higher, which offers 200 MHz faster CPU and 250 MHz faster GPU speeds.

For even higher performance, Topton offers models equipped with Intel Core i3-N305 and Core i3-N355 chips. These models, starting at $279 and $289 respectively, feature 15-watt octa-core processors with enhanced graphics capabilities, providing a significant performance boost compared to the N100/N150 options.

Versatility and Future Potential

Imagine owning a compact and efficient motherboard that effortlessly caters to various networking and storage needs while being powered by the latest Intel Twin Lake processors. This setup pushes performance boundaries without sacrificing power consumption. This is exactly what Topton has achieved with its new mini ITX motherboard. Although primarily designed for Network Attached Storage (NAS) systems, its versatility makes it suitable for an array of other applications as well. This motherboard can double as a powerful router, an efficient firewall, or even a general-purpose server, offering flexibility for various uses.

This innovative piece of technology integrates seamlessly into your existing system, offering a breadth of possibilities. Emphasizing energy efficiency without compromising performance, Topton’s mini ITX motherboard is a game-changer for those seeking reliable and multifunctional hardware solutions. Whether you’re looking to enhance your network capabilities or upgrade your overall system performance, this motherboard meets all your requirements, delivering unparalleled efficiency and versatility in a compact form.

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