MINISFORUM Introduces Hybrid NAS Solutions N5 and N5 Pro with Ryzen Processors

MINISFORUM has announced the launch of its latest hybrid NAS solutions, the N5 and N5 Pro. The two models bring notable hardware upgrades and expanded storage capabilities aimed at users seeking high-performance network-attached storage systems.

The MINISFORUM N5 is powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 255 processor and is equipped with support for DDR5 memory, though it does not support ECC (Error-Correcting Code) memory. In contrast, the N5 Pro features the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX Pro 370 processor and includes ECC memory support, which is beneficial for environments requiring higher data integrity.

Both models feature five SATA III 6Gbps ports for conventional hard drives or SSDs. For NVMe storage, they offer multiple M.2 slots: one M.2 22110/2280/2230 PCIe 4.0 x1 slot, another M.2 22110/2280 PCIe 4.0 x1 slot, and a third M.2 22110/2280 PCIe 4.0 x2 slot. The last two M.2 slots can also be converted for U.2 drives, providing additional flexibility for enterprise-grade storage options.

The N5 and N5 Pro are designed with a dual-compartment layout, separating the storage and processing components for better organization and thermal management. The lower compartment, which houses the processor, two DDR5 SO-DIMM memory slots, three M.2 SSD slots, and a USB-A 10Gbps flash drive slot for a secondary system, can slide out for easier access during upgrades or maintenance.

In terms of physical dimensions, both NAS units measure 199×202×252 mm. They also feature a full-length PCIe 4.0 x4 slot to accommodate additional expansion cards. The front panel includes full-function USB4 ports and USB-A 10Gbps ports, while the rear panel provides another set of full-function USB4, HDMI 2.0, OCuLink, USB-A 10Gbps, 5GbE RJ45, 10GbE RJ45, and USB-A 480Mbps ports.

Operating system support includes Windows 11 Pro and Linux distributions. Out of the box, both models ship with MINISFORUM’s MinisCloud OS pre-installed on a 64GB M.2 2230 drive. This configuration allows users to quickly set up their NAS for cloud storage and other server functions.

The barebone N5 is currently listed at a discounted price of $583.20, while the N5 Pro is priced at $1,039.20 during the promotional period. These prices reflect a 20% discount from the standard retail pricing.

With the release of the N5 and N5 Pro, MINISFORUM aims to position itself in the hybrid NAS market segment, combining compact hardware design with robust performance options suitable for both personal and professional use.