7. What hardware to get – CPU – GPU

7. What hardware to get – CPU – GPU

In the last post, we explored the basics of NAS hardware and yes—it can feel overwhelming, especially if you’ve never built a computer before. But like anything, once you understand the fundamentals, the process becomes much easier.

A great way to simplify the build is to start by writing a list of what you want, then narrow down what you actually need. And if you’re anything like me, you’ll probably worry that you’re missing out on something (trust me—you always will). In the end, most of us end up buying the hardware we genuinely want, not just the minimum required.

Here’s what I’m looking for:

• Low power consumption, which means choosing a CPU with a low TDP (reduced heat and electricity usage).
• Redundancy for the operating system, so I prefer two NVMe M.2 slots to configure a RAID 1 mirror for the OS.
• At least 4 HDDs for storage, so the case and motherboard must support multiple drives.
• Dual LAN/WAN ports, especially if I decide to run a firewall like pfSense or OPNsense on the same system.
• A small form factor, ideally Mini-ITX, so the NAS can be tucked away neatly.
• Standard USB ports, which are a given on most motherboards.

Now comes the big question:
What hardware gives me low power usage, strong performance, and compatibility with the NAS software I want to run?

This is often the hardest part. It requires a good amount of research—but the good news is that I’ve already done that research, and here is the simplified version.

Use Turn-Key NAS Devices as a Baseline

A great way to set expectations is to look at what popular prebuilt NAS systems use. These devices are engineered for efficiency, reliability, and low heat—so their CPUs make excellent benchmarks for DIY builders.

Here are a few examples:

• UGREEN NASync DXP4800 – Intel Pentium Gold 8505 (5-core, up to 4.4 GHz)
• TerraMaster F4-425 – Intel Celeron N5095 (4-core, 2.0–2.9 GHz)
• Synology DS423+ – Intel Celeron J4125 (4-core, 2.0–2.7 GHz)

These CPUs give you a realistic baseline for everyday NAS workloads, including:

• File sharing
• Media streaming (Plex/Jellyfin)
• Light Docker apps
• Backups and snapshots
• Basic VM hosting (though limited)

If you want stronger performance—especially for virtual machines, containers, or heavy multitasking—you’ll need a more capable CPU than what turn-key NAS units typically offer.

Intel Pentium Gold 8505 vs Celeron N5095 vs Celeron J4125:

CPU Comparison Table

Now diving deeper into popular choices for CPUs here is another list:

Entry-Level / Low-Power / Budget NAS CPUs

Good for simple file-storage, backups, light media serving, low power draw, small form-factor / always-on builds.

1. Intel Celeron J4125 — classic low-power NAS / small server CPU.
2. Intel Celeron N5095 — newer Jasper-Lake-era Celeron, used in devices like mass-market 4-bay NAS.
3. Intel Pentium N6005 (or similar Jasper-Lake-N / Pentium “N-series”) — common in mini-ITX NAS builds for home users.
4. Intel Pentium Silver J5040 — entry-level budget CPU sometimes used for simple NAS / home-server builds.
5. AMD Athlon 3000G — basic AM4 APU, occasionally used for very low-cost NAS / home-server builds when iGPU is enough.
6. AMD Athlon Silver 3050GE — low-cost APU alternative for basic server duties.

Mid-Range / Balanced NAS — Media Server, Docker, Light VMs, More Storage, Some Transcoding

Good “sweet-spot” CPUs for many DIY NAS/homelab users — offering a balance of performance, power usage, iGPU (for transcoding), and flexibility.

7. Intel Core i3-13100 — often cited as a top “value” CPU for home servers with multiple services (media server, containers, light VMs).
8. Intel Core i3-12100 — another popular choice for NAS builds needing more performance than Celeron/Pentium but not bulky overhead.
9. Intel Core i5-12600K — for those wanting more headroom: enough for multiple services + some heavier tasks, with iGPU for media duties.
10. AMD Ryzen 3 3200G — a budget-to-mid AM4 APU; decent for file sharing + light media + Docker / small VMs.
11. AMD Ryzen 3 4300G — modern-ish APU with reasonable multi-core performance + graphics — good mid-range choice if you prefer AMD.
12. AMD Ryzen 3 5300G — newer APU with decent balance of performance and power efficiency for a mid-range NAS / home server.
13. AMD Ryzen Embedded V3000 Series V2516 (embedded/compact-server CPUs) — popular for compact or low-power NAS/home-lab builds needing ECC support and server-class stability.

Higher-Performance / Future-Proof / Heavy-Use NAS & Home-Lab CPUs

For those running many VMs or containers, doing media transcoding (4K+), virtualization (e.g. Proxmox / TrueNAS + Docker / VM), heavy file throughput or future-proofing.

14. AMD Ryzen 5 5600 — often recommended as a “budget-server champion”: good core count, solid throughput, efficient enough for 24/7 use.
15. AMD Ryzen 5 7600X — modern CPU offering strong performance per watt, balanced for NAS + media + virtualization tasks.
16. AMD Ryzen 7 5700X — if you want more cores/threads for VMs, containers, many concurrent users, heavier workloads.
17. Intel Core i7-13700K — “power-user” CPU: great for virtualization, many services, heavy media transcoding, or future-proof NAS/server.
18. AMD Ryzen 9 7950X — if you need maximum multithreaded performance (many VMs, containers, heavy workloads).
19. Intel Xeon E-2278G — server-class CPU that trades “desktop flair” for stability, ECC support, and solid multi-core performance for home servers or small business storage servers.

Other Niche / Special-Purpose / Embedded / Compact CPUs

Used mostly for small-form-factor servers, low-power always-on builds, or as part of DIY NAS kits.

20. Intel Core i3-N305 — used on some mini-ITX NAS boards; offers efficiency + decent performance in a compact package.
21. Intel Atom C-Series (low-power Celeron / Atom) — very low-power, minimal-performance CPUs for ultra-basic NAS or embedded storage boxes.
22. Intel Pentium G6400 — older desktop-class budget CPU sometimes used in entry-level NAS builds when paired with a cheaper LGA board.
23. Intel Pentium G6400T — low-power T variant of Pentium series, used for energy-efficient NAS / home server builds.
24. Intel Celeron G5900T — budget-class, low-power CPU that can be used for minimal NAS / file server builds.

“Wildcard / Mixed Use” CPUs (somewhat older or niche, but occasionally used)

These are sometimes used if you already have them, or want to build a minimal / custom / repurposed NAS / server.

25. Intel Pentium G3220 — older dual-core CPU; fine for very basic file-serving NAS without many services.
26. Intel Pentium G5900T — older entry CPU with low power usage; sometimes used for simple NAS setups.
27. Intel Xeon E3‑1220L V2 — older low-power Xeon often repurposed for home servers / NAS, if available cheap.

Quick guidance on how to pick from the list

If you prefer compact form-factor / low noise / low power / small builds, consider embedded / Atom / low-power Pentium / i3-N305 / Atom-series.
If you just want a low-power always-on NAS for backups / file-storage / light streaming → pick from entry-level / budget list (e.g. Celeron J4125, N5095, Pentium N6005, etc.).

If you want balanced performance for media server + Docker / small VMs / multi-user use → mid-range CPUs (Core i3, Ryzen 3/5 APUs, etc.) are usually the sweet spot.

If you plan heavy workloads: many users, virtualization, transcoding, multiple services → go for higher-performance / future-proof CPUs (Ryzen 5/7/9, Core i5/i7, Xeon, etc.).

It can feel like a lot, but once you start comparing different CPUs, you’ll begin to notice patterns. That’s experience talking, and if you’re starting to recognise these patterns already, that’s a great sign.

One of the first things you’ll notice is that the NAS world uses a mix of Intel and AMD processors. So what’s the difference?
Well, it depends entirely on what you plan to do with your NAS.

Integrated GPU vs. No GPU — Do You Need One?

Some CPUs come with an integrated GPU (iGPU) while others don’t.
So do you need one?

For most NAS setups, the answer is yes—at least during initial installation.

You will need video output from one of the following sources:

• A CPU with an integrated GPU
• A motherboard with onboard graphics (some AMD boards offer this via ASPEED chips)
• A discrete GPU installed in a PCIe slot

Any of these options work, but you must have at least one to install your OS.

GPU Performance: Gaming? Rendering? Transcoding?

If you need GPU performance for tasks like:

• Media transcoding (Plex, Jellyfin, Emby)
• Rendering
• GPU-assisted workloads
• Light gaming on a VM

…then you must choose your hardware carefully.

Because I want hardware transcoding without adding a separate GPU, Intel is the strongest choice.
Intel’s integrated GPUs (especially Quick Sync Video) are extremely efficient for media transcoding, and their low-power CPUs handle it brilliantly.

Why the Intel N305 Stands Out

Looking back at the earlier list (specifically the “Other Niche / Special-Purpose / Embedded / Compact CPUs” section), you’ll find entry #20 — Intel Core i3-N305.

Despite the confusing naming, the N305 is not a traditional Core i3, but Intel markets it similarly because of its performance level. It’s part of the Alder Lake-N family, designed for:

• Low power use
• Cool and quiet operation
• Small-form-factor systems
• NAS, firewall, low-power server, and home-lab builds

The previous “quick guidance” section noted:

• Low-power builds: Intel N305
• Balanced performance builds: Core i3, i5, etc.

Because the N305 performs like a modern low-end i3, it fits both categories—efficient and surprisingly capable for multitasking, Docker, and lightweight VMs.

When you start seeing CPU names like i5, i7, and i9, those refer to higher performance classes with more cores, more power draw, and significantly more heat.

ECC Memory — Do You Need It?

Another important consideration is ECC (Error Correcting Code) memory, which adds protection by detecting and correcting data corruption on the fly. For some NAS users, ECC is non-negotiable, especially when storing critical data.

To use ECC:

• Your RAM must support ECC
• Your CPU must support ECC
• Your motherboard must support ECC

Unfortunately, many low-power NAS-friendly CPUs—including the Intel N305—do not support ECC.
I originally wanted ECC too, but after weighing the pros and cons, I decided my setup is secure enough, especially when following the 3-2-1 backup rule.

Next: Comparing the N305 and Its Family to Turn-Key NAS CPUs

Before we move on, let’s take a closer look at the Intel N305 and other Alder Lake-N CPUs, and compare them to the CPUs used in high-end turn-key NAS devices.

TDP (Lower runs cooler) and CPU Mark Rating (Higher is faster)

https://www.cpubenchmark.net/compare/5157vs6304vs5213vs6430vs4775/Intel-N100-vs-Intel-N150-vs-Intel-i3-N305-vs-Intel-3-N355-vs-Intel-Pentium-Gold-8505

The Intel N100 and N305 are slightly older than the newer N150 and N355 processors. I ultimately chose the N355, even though its performance is only slightly higher, because I plan to keep this NAS for the long term and wanted the extra headroom for future workloads.

That said, an N100 or N150 CPU would still handle my use case—just at slightly lower speeds. Initially, I had considered starting with an N100 build.

In fact, a combination of N100 or N150 with quieter HDDs could make for an excellent low-power, cool, and whisper-quiet NAS, which is perfect if your priority is energy efficiency and minimal noise rather than maximum performance.