IceWhale has launched the ZimaCube 2, a network-attached storage device that builds on its predecessor with a more powerful processor, improved cooling, and broader hardware compatibility. The cube-shaped NAS supports up to six SATA drives and four NVMe SSDs, now powered by Intel's 12th-gen Core processors starting with the Core i3-1215U.
The base model at $800 (€736) features an Intel Core i3-1215U with 6 cores, 8GB of DDR5-4800 RAM, and a 256GB SSD. That's a significant upgrade from the original ZimaCube's Intel N100 chip, bringing 20 PCIe 4.0 lanes (up from 9 PCIe 3.0 lanes), support for up to 64GB of memory (versus 32GB), and two Thunderbolt 4 ports. Higher-end configurations use the Intel Core i5-1235U with 10 cores and 12 threads, with the ZimaCube Pro 2 starting at $1,300 (€1,196) and a Creator Pack with an NVIDIA RTX PRO 2000 GPU priced at $2,500 (€2,300).
All second-generation models feature an upgraded cooling system with quieter, temperature-responsive fans and a new SATA controller with improved shielding for better compatibility with a wider range of drives. The 24 cm x 22.1 cm x 22 cm (9.45 x 8.7 x 8.7 inch) device includes three Ethernet ports (two 2.5 GbE and one 10 GbE), multiple USB 3.0 ports, HDMI 2.0, and DisplayPort 1.4 outputs.
The ZimaCube 2 ships with zimaOS, an open-source NAS operating system built on a Debian Linux architecture that supports x86-64 hardware with UEFI. The platform evolved from CasaOS and runs on Linux kernel 6.12.25, with an active community of over 43,000 members contributing installation guides, driver compatibility testing, and feature development. Beyond the default zimaOS, the device can run alternative NAS operating systems like TrueNAS, Unraid, or OpenMediaVault, with installation guides available for both TrueNAS and Unraid.
Pre-orders are available now with a discount code ZC2EARLY50 bringing the starting price to $750 (€690), with shipments expected to begin later in March 2026.
