02-14-2025, 05:29 PM
Sounds like you’ve got a solid NAS history and a great mix of hardware to work with! If you don’t want to wait for the Minisforum N5 Pro, here are some solid DIY alternatives based on your goals:
Option 1: Repurpose Your AM4 Build
Your Ryzen 3600 + AM4 board could work well, especially if you pair it with a cheap HBA card for better SATA expansion.
Downsides: Higher power usage and no ECC RAM support (which TrueNAS benefits from).
Option 2: Compact NAS Build (Jonsbo N2/N3 + ITX Board)
A Jonsbo N2 or N3 with an ITX board would be more power-efficient, quieter, and compact.
Consider Intel 12th/13th Gen (i3/i5) with Quick Sync for media tasks, or a Ryzen 5700G for decent performance.
TrueNAS or Unraid would run well, and you can throw in your SSDs for a fast cache.
Option 3: Go All-In & Future-Proof
If you’re considering high-end AI workloads, a Xeon or Ryzen PRO setup with ECC RAM could be ideal.
A used server-grade board (AsRock Rack or Supermicro) might be a good investment.
You could even drop in a cheap RTX 3060/4060 later for AI acceleration.
Backup Plan for Old QNAPs
If you’re not comfortable exposing them to the internet, selling the TS-509 for ~$300 sounds like a solid move.
Weekly offline backups at the office is a good alternative to avoid remote exposure risks.
If you’re looking for a long-term, silent, and efficient NAS, Option 2 (Jonsbo ITX build) is a great middle ground. But if you want to get your hands dirty and push performance, Option 3 could replace the N5 Pro altogether.
Option 1: Repurpose Your AM4 Build
Your Ryzen 3600 + AM4 board could work well, especially if you pair it with a cheap HBA card for better SATA expansion.
Downsides: Higher power usage and no ECC RAM support (which TrueNAS benefits from).
Option 2: Compact NAS Build (Jonsbo N2/N3 + ITX Board)
A Jonsbo N2 or N3 with an ITX board would be more power-efficient, quieter, and compact.
Consider Intel 12th/13th Gen (i3/i5) with Quick Sync for media tasks, or a Ryzen 5700G for decent performance.
TrueNAS or Unraid would run well, and you can throw in your SSDs for a fast cache.
Option 3: Go All-In & Future-Proof
If you’re considering high-end AI workloads, a Xeon or Ryzen PRO setup with ECC RAM could be ideal.
A used server-grade board (AsRock Rack or Supermicro) might be a good investment.
You could even drop in a cheap RTX 3060/4060 later for AI acceleration.
Backup Plan for Old QNAPs
If you’re not comfortable exposing them to the internet, selling the TS-509 for ~$300 sounds like a solid move.
Weekly offline backups at the office is a good alternative to avoid remote exposure risks.
If you’re looking for a long-term, silent, and efficient NAS, Option 2 (Jonsbo ITX build) is a great middle ground. But if you want to get your hands dirty and push performance, Option 3 could replace the N5 Pro altogether.