What a Pi NAS Kit Is
A Raspberry Pi NAS kit pairs a single-board computer with storage drives and software that shares files over your home network. The Pi runs the software, and external drives hold the data. The software layer decides what the system can do: Samba shares folders, OpenMediaVault adds a web interface and software RAID, Nextcloud adds web and mobile apps with calendar and contacts, and Jellyfin streams media.
Hardware Limits to Consider
Software choice depends on the hardware underneath it. Lightweight file sharing with Samba runs on modest hardware. Nextcloud, Jellyfin and multi-drive RAID need more processing power, memory and storage throughput. A Pi suits simple folder sharing, while larger or heavier workloads benefit from x86 hardware.
| Job | Suitable software | Hardware need |
|---|---|---|
| Folder sharing | Samba | Low |
| Web management and RAID | OpenMediaVault | Moderate |
| Web and mobile file apps | Nextcloud | Moderate to high |
| Media streaming | Jellyfin | High |
TrueNAS requires x86_64 hardware and does not run on a Raspberry Pi.
Thinvent Mini PCs for NAS Workloads
Thinvent mini PCs and industrial PCs use x86 Intel and AMD processors, which suit NAS software that needs more processing power than a single-board computer. The range includes Intel Core i3, i5, i7 and Core 5 processors, an Intel Celeron N5095A, and an AMD Ryzen 5 7430U. Memory options run from 4 GB to 32 GB, and storage options run from 128 GB to 1 TB SSD. Most models include a 12V or 19V adapter. Dual LAN is available on selected Industrial PC IPC5 models, and Dual Band WiFi is available on selected models.
Thinvent Products for Self-Hosted Storage
Thinvent Products Featuring Intel and AMD Processors
Thinvent has Industrial PC IPC5 units with Intel Core i5-1240P and i7-1255U processors, Industrial PC IPC3 with Intel Core i3-1215U, Aero Mini PC units with Intel Core i3-1215U and Core 5 120U, and Treo Mini PC units with Intel Celeron N5095A and AMD Ryzen 5 7430U.
