AOOSTAR R1 Mini PC: A DIY NAS with N100 Processor & Dual 3.5" Drive Bays

The AOOSTAR R1 is a small and affordable computer with a 6-watt N100 quad-core processor. It stands out from other mini PCs with its support for up to two 3.5 inch hard drives and two 2.5 GbE Ethernet ports, making it an ideal choice for building a network-attached-storage (NAS) device or media server. The AOOSTAR R1 is available for purchase from the AOOSTAR website for $319, and it will soon be available on Amazon as well.

The base model of the AOOSTAR R1 comes with 16GB of DDR4-3200 memory and a 512GB PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD. However, users have the option to add their own memory and storage as well. The system has two M.2 2280 slots for solid state storage and two SODIMM slots for memory. The top cover of the computer can be removed to access the two 3.5 inch drive bays, allowing for easy installation of high-capacity hard drives or SSDs.

In terms of other features, the AOOSTAR R1 includes dual fans for cooling, support for up to three 4K displays through HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB Type-C ports, a 3.5mm audio jack, and two USB 3.x ports, two USB 2.0 ports, and a microSD card reader. The system also features dual 2.5 GbE Ethernet ports with I226-V controllers and supports WiFi 6.

The AOOSTAR R1 is powered by an Alder Lake-N processor, which offers improved performance compared to previous-generation Celeron and Pentium chips based on Atom architecture. However, considering the price difference between the AOOSTAR R1 with an N100 processor and the AOOSTAR R7 with a Ryzen 7 5700U processor, some users may find the AMD Ryzen model to offer better value for their money.

While the design of the AOOSTAR R1 is not entirely new, as similar systems have been released in the past, this model stands out for its use of an Alder Lake-N processor. Overall, the AOOSTAR R1 offers a compact and energy-efficient solution for those looking to build a DIY NAS or media server.

Source: Liliputing.