Aug 31, 2024 09:00 EDT
with 1 comment
The Times They Are A-Changin’ yes.. I say it because this is the second all-SSD NAS I have been sent to check out, and I guess we’ll be seeing a lot more of them now. It makes sense in a home setup if you can afford the initial investment.
Anyway, enough about boring things like cost; let’s get down to the nitty-gritty.
Aiffro sent me the K100 All-SSD NAS; yes, that is what they call it because, well, it is an all-SSD NAS.
Now for the disclaimer, I have some experience with NAS, having owned a QNAP TS-253Be, a Synology DS720+ and currently rocking a Synology DS923+. Still, I only acquired them to do local and cloud backups and run my home theater solution with a gifted Plex Pass (Thanks, Vishal). I am a fan of SSD storage. I even modified a DS720+’s default setup to install all my apps on an SSD volume. Still, all the hoops Synology makes you jump through, including curveballs like random unmounts of said volume, made it not worth the effort for a system that you don’t want to be constantly fiddling with.
All of the aforementioned NAS devices I’ve owned are media-class, meaning they fully support having something like Plex installed on them to stream over my local network. Aside from a few other things, such as setting up some Docker containers (if there is a clear tutorial), that’s about the extent of my expertise in the realm of network-attached storage devices; it’s an ongoing learning process.
Here are the most important specifications:
1x RJ45
1x HDMI 1.4
2x Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps, Data only)
2x Type-A 2.0
1x DC in
14.1oz (399.7g)
This NAS showcases impressive specifications as noted in the table referenced earlier. It is equipped with an Intel Processor N100, launched in the first quarter of 2023. Although it is a lower-tier model in the N-series, it supports 10-bit HEVC and VP9 encoding/decoding and offers hardware-accelerated AV1 decoding. Additionally, this CPU features HDMI 2.1, WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and is compatible with LPDDR5, DDR5, and DDR4, maintaining a highly efficient maximum TDP of 6W.
Surprisingly, the K100 includes an HDMI 1.4 port, despite the processor’s compatibility with HDMI 2.1. The model also lacks a secondary network port and does not offer Wi-Fi capabilities.
The product’s packaging appeared to be somewhat worn but this makes sense considering it was shipped all the way from China. The packaging design is akin to a Russian nesting doll, revealing another layer of K100 packaging once the top is opened.
In the box
Unfortunately, it arrived with a U.S. power adapter. Good thing I had a U.S. to EU adapter handy to start using it right away. Notably missing were the HDMI and LAN cables, which really should have been included.
The device resembles a Mini PC, sporting a sleek all-aluminum alloy body except for the plastic at the bottom. It could easily be mistaken for a Mac Mini, if not for the AIFFRO logo proudly displayed on the center of the top surface of the K100.
The unit is compact. As a reference point, I positioned it vertically and placed a 2.5-inch TEAMGROUP QX 4TB 3D NAND QLC SATA III SSD beside it, and had the native 256GB M.2 SSD laid atop the K100. It barely occupies any space.
The device features a simple frontal design with a solo power button that shines green when activated. This button also turns red to show disk usage or activity, as explained in the instructions. Its design is softened by rounded corners, eliminating any harsh edges.
Turning to the rear, you find the CPU fan’s vent positioned at the top. Positioned below from left to right includes a 2.5 GbE Ethernet port, an HDMI 1.4 port, a pair of USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, USB 2.0 Type-A ports, and a Type C power connector. Notably absent is the Kensington Security Slot, a surprising lack for a data storage unit, an omission that remains consistently disappointing.
The device’s sides, left and right, are equipped with generous grill vents that facilitate heat expulsion.
Beneath the device, the rubber feet are secured with adhesive stickers and tabs. This setup is typical for owners of Mini PCs. Removing the rubber feet uncovers four screws that when removed, provide access to the internals of the K100.
After taking off the lower plastic shield, taking out an additional four screws is necessary to detach the metal protector. This reveals thermal pads on its flip side, used for temperature regulation when the quartet of M.2 slots are utilized. It caught my attention that there was already a 256GB SSD fitted within. A closer examination revealed the absence of a USB flash drive, typically employed in NAS systems for storing the boot loader.
The dismantling continues as the metal shield’s screws are undone, releasing the motherboard, which is not secured by any other means. Once removed and turned over, it’s evident that upgrading or replacing the memory isn’t an option since it’s integrated directly onto the motherboard and lacks additional slots. Three screws secure a fan, akin to those found in laptops or mini PCs, and once these are removed, both the CPU heatsink and the embedded 8GB memory chips are exposed.
Lacking WiFi capabilities, there’s no need to maneuver around any cables during the disassembly process.
BIOS
The K100 Pro features an Aptio BIOS provided by American Megatrends, providing extensive control over various settings, including the boot sequence, a crucial setting that I will discuss later.
Initial Setup
To my surprise, the K100 we received came equipped with a 256GB M.2 drive pre-installed with a fully activated Windows 11 23H2. When inquiring whether this was standard, my contact informed me that it was not, and customers have the option to purchase the unit with or without the 256GB M.2 installed. Typically, the drive would come empty.
This setup permitted me to perform a disk benchmark and examine the unusual internal components using CPU-Z.
As illustrated by the testing, the PCIe 3.0 x2 lane is confirmed to cap at a maximum of 2 GB/s, as verified by CrystalDiskMark and further echoed by CPU-Z. This implies potential savings as opting for older PCIe 3.0 SSDs could be more cost-effective compared to their PCIe 4.0 or the latest generation PCIe 5.0 M.2 SSD counterparts.
Actual Setup
We received four MP44Q 4TB NVMe SSDs from TEAMGROUP. These are PCIe 4.0 x4 drives priced currently at $216.99 available at Amazon or Newegg. Considering our NAS supports only up to PCIe 3.0 x2 speeds, these drives are substantively more advanced than required.
TrueNAS?
Initially, I attempted to set up TrueNAS on an unused WD SN750 500GB following the official tutorial, but encountered multiple errors during the process. The documentation, both official and community-based, advised against installing on a USB flash drive and recommended that TrueNAS be installed on a separate disk without partitioning. This meant losing one of four bays in my K100.
My search for a solution to the “cannot link fstab” error yielded few results, and community advice on installing TrueNAS felt unwelcoming to beginners. These complications led me to reconsider my options and turn to Unraid.
I found a guide on installing Unraid and used the Unraid USB Creator to flash the software onto a 64GB Sandisk Ultra USB flash drive. After configuring my K100 to boot from this drive via the BIOS, I successfully got the system running. Unlike TrueNAS, Unraid supports booting from a USB flash drive.
The four M.2 disks remained adequately cool due to the sufficient ventilation provided by the K100.
Once I signed in to Unraid and designated the four 4TB disks to an Array, which required around 1.5 hours to scan and validate, I was impressed by how it recovered all the shares I previously established, along with two applications (Plex and LuckyBackup) and plugins that were installed on the LincStation N1. Kudos to Unraid for that!
After that, I just had to log in to Plex and activate my server, and everything was operational. Plex seamlessly streamed Dolby Vision content across my network. Nonetheless, it’s important to note that if you intend to use the K100 as a directly connected HTPC, you’ll be restricted by the HDMI 1.4 port’s capability, which only supports streaming up to 4K @30 Hz. Utilizing the K100 over a network as a Plex Server is advisable since the CPU can handle all current media formats.
I noticed a slightly bothersome feature of the K100: a light on its right side that blinks when data is being transferred or accessed. This light is quite intense and can be a distraction at night, so take this into account when deciding where to position the device and if you plan to use it as an HTPC.
A CrystalDiskMark evaluation was conducted on a network drive connected via a 2.5 GbE hub from a Windows 11 23H2 PC, showing results that met expected standards.
While there are aspects of this NAS I appreciate, several production choices are baffling and hard to overlook.
Uniquely, this NAS omits an onboard flash drive, which is typically present as an internal USB thumb drive in other models, freeing up additional storage ports solely for the bootloader. This design choice forces the use of an M.2 slot for installations like Windows or TrueNAS. I resolved this by placing the Unraid bootloader on an external USB stick, which I then connected to a USB 2.0 port.
This leads to another issue: the incorporation of USB 2.0 and HDMI 1.4 ports in a 2024 model. It is perplexing to pair advanced components like the N100 processor and DDR5 memory with outdated standards like HDMI 1.4 and USB 2.0. Additionally, the restriction of the four M.2 ports to PCIe 3.0 x2 is another puzzling decision, creating a device that mixes cutting-edge with dated technology.
Lastly, you have to remove eight screws to manage the M.2 slots. No thought was given here about the need to quickly swap out a defective drive or expand with additional SSDs. The M.2 slots also include screws which are tiny, so the whole process is a bit of a pain. A system like the one used in the LincStation N1 is definitely the better option.
For only around $350 (see below), this certainly won’t break the bank, and for that, it includes the ultra-energy-efficient Intel Processor N100 which only came out last year, 4800MT/s DDR5 memory and four internal M.2 slots.
Although you can get the K100 for $405 (discounted from $449) on the official site, right now, you can score it for just $349 on Amazon (that’s after applying a $100 in-page coupon), which certainly makes it more of an enticing offer, possibly offsetting the few negatives this NAS comes with that I mentioned earlier.
This NAS has a special use case, I think. It’s perfectly okay as a backup cloud, powerful enough to host your media and VMs, manage your cameras and control your home automation if you don’t care about loading it up with tens of terabytes of disk space. Large-capacity SSDs are still very expensive, so you will have to factor that into your purchase decision.
Things that impress me about it are the superb aluminum alloy build quality, the fact it is quiet and uses a modern Intel N100 Processor with DDR5 memory and 2.5GbE connectivity, plus it includes two USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) ports, so you can expand storage even further without losing any performance. Had it included a few more modern internals that truly complement the CPU and DDR5 memory, it could have been truly great, but for now, I’ll say that it’s just good.
As an Amazon Associate when you purchase through links on our site, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Steven Parker · Aug 25, 2024 6 comments
·
Jul 14, 2024
·
Jul 7, 2024
·
Apr 27, 2024
Hudson Valley Host is premier provider of cutting-edge hosting solutions, specializing in delivering a seamless online experience for businesses and individuals. We offer a comprehensive range of hosting services, including Shared Hosting, VPS, Dedicated Servers, and Colocation. With 24/7 technical support, robust security measures, and user-friendly control panels, we empower clients in managing their online presence effortlessly. Hudson Valley Host is your trusted partner in achieving online success.
For Inquiries or to receive a personalized quote, please reach out to us through our contact form here or email us at sales@hudsonvalleyhost.com.
