CWWK X86 P5: New mainboard perfect for NAS thanks to the many slots and ports

CWWK has a new and compact mainboard on offer that can be used in a variety of ways, but is also particularly suitable for creating your own network storage. The board itself measures 90 x 90 mm and is available with three different processors. Specifically, customers can choose between the Intel N100, Intel N200 and Intel Core i3-N305. There is also the option of adding 32 GB of RAM and an SSD, but these can also be modified after. Four SSDs in M.2 2280 format can also be installed above the actual mainboard, meaning that the X86 P5 can be used as the basis for fast flash network storage.

The two Ethernet ports should come in handy for those building an NAS. These both support a data transfer rate of up to 2.5 GBit/s, meaning that the theoretical performance of the SSDs can be utilized at least somewhat better than with a typical gigabit connection. The connected devices must, of course, also be able to handle higher network speeds.

On the other hand, the CWWK X86 P5 can be set up as a more-or-less conventional desktop PC. To this end, two HDMI 2.0 outputs are available, allowing two screens to be connected simultaneously. Accessories or, in principle, external storage media such as hard disks can be connected via the two USB 3.0 ports. Both are type A and are not twist-proof. Energy is supplied via a corresponding round plug.

The model is available directly from the manufacturer at a price starting at $152, which applies to the PC with an N100 processor and without RAM and SSD. The CWWK X86 P5 with an Intel Core i3-N305, 16 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD costs just under $300. Potential buyers should find out more about the shipping process, including import taxes.

A possible alternative: Buy the ASUS Prime B650M mainboard at Amazon.