12gen N-series Nas motherboard (topton, cwwk, ... )
- Thread starter Steffe
- Start date
Notice: Page may contain affiliate links for which we may earn a small commission through services like Amazon Affiliates or Skimlinks.
This is exactly what my testing runs showed. setting speed to 4400 manually in the bios and it works for my setup. endless crashes and memtest errors before that. i assume its still sufficient speed for the machine and runs stable. anyone with more bios insights might find a better solution though.
So I've been trying to figure out what components to use for my first home NAS build. Don't know anything about linux but I'm very tech oriented and not afraid to learn - within reason - and probably going for Unraid for the OS (considering truenas as well, but it seems too complex). Low energy builds are attractive to me.
But here's my question. Do you guys recommend eg. the purple CWWK n305/n100 for a first NAS build, or do you consider it too finicky for a newb like me? I've been reading this thread and it looks like there have been quite a few technical difficulties that could be called esoteric in nature and their solutions likewise. I wouldn't want my first build make me want to quit alltogether. And what about the original green/black n100? Do you think there are stable and trustworthy assemblies of that one out there that you could easily recommend? I'm uncertain the C state problem within the sata controller (JMB582, was it?) is a huge issue, even energy use wise, but that's very hard for me to assess. Can't remember if the original n100/n305 had other kinds of known problems.
I'm even entertaining the possibility of choosing the Asrock N100M motherboard instead, though it would reduce my case options quite a bit, being M-ATX. I assume it would be a solid choice anyway for a first build due to general build quality, though of course that mobo would require utilizing its good enough PCIe x2 to add more SATA space for HDDs. I assume you could even upgrade the network to a 2.5 gbe later. Not sold on the single M.2 slot, but it's what it is.
Almost forgot - I've been thinking of starting with 3 hdds and possibly increasing from there. Thus the DC versions of n100/n305 look unappealing.
Feedback greatly appreciated.
But here's my question. Do you guys recommend eg. the purple CWWK n305/n100 for a first NAS build, or do you consider it too finicky for a newb like me? I've been reading this thread and it looks like there have been quite a few technical difficulties that could be called esoteric in nature and their solutions likewise. I wouldn't want my first build make me want to quit alltogether. And what about the original green/black n100? Do you think there are stable and trustworthy assemblies of that one out there that you could easily recommend? I'm uncertain the C state problem within the sata controller (JMB582, was it?) is a huge issue, even energy use wise, but that's very hard for me to assess. Can't remember if the original n100/n305 had other kinds of known problems.
I'm even entertaining the possibility of choosing the Asrock N100M motherboard instead, though it would reduce my case options quite a bit, being M-ATX. I assume it would be a solid choice anyway for a first build due to general build quality, though of course that mobo would require utilizing its good enough PCIe x2 to add more SATA space for HDDs. I assume you could even upgrade the network to a 2.5 gbe later. Not sold on the single M.2 slot, but it's what it is.
Almost forgot - I've been thinking of starting with 3 hdds and possibly increasing from there. Thus the DC versions of n100/n305 look unappealing.
Feedback greatly appreciated.
Hello Guys, I have an x86 i7-1165G7 and trying to get the mini-PCIe MT796N AW7916-NPD to be listed but no luck. Any idea how to make the mini-PCIe port to work? See my post below if anybody can give me a hand.
https://forums.servethehome.com/index.php?threads/mini-pcie.45413/
https://forums.servethehome.com/index.php?threads/mini-pcie.45413/
Try Arch Linux. :wink: :wink: Very stable and fast even on a $5 flash drive, if you know the right incantations. It can also be made to avoid writing to the poor cheap NAND flash.
But seriously, you may actually have fewer issues on a rolling-release DIY distro like Arch Linux because of the up-to-date kernel version and the simple fact that few of the things-you-don't-need-but-might-actually-cause-problems are not installed.
You're in luck. Most of the glaring pitfalls, issues, and their workarounds have been found by members of the community. I totally recommend the purple CWWK board for your first NAS build. In fact, it's my first NAS build, too. The price is great for what you get.
If you care about C-States and power consumption, stay away from the JMB585 controller, so avoid the black CWWK board. Personally, I have found ASM1166 to be very stable (with the proper firmware, search on the winraid forum). I can confirm that the purple CWWK board fully supports ASPM and can reach package C8 with the proper configuration. The ASPM settings in Chipset -> PCH-IO Configuration -> PCI Express Configuration are reset to Disabled every time you enter UEFI Setup, so you need to set them manually every time, but it works after that.
Thanks for the advice!
I’ve installed an OS to M.2 SSD on my PC and then installed it into NAS. Everything works
--
I got the same board v10 from Brian on ebay. I have Crucial 32GB stick in it, with 2 m.2 drives but no SATA drives attached.
Just some quick ref back to the post I'm trying to quote, but trying to figure out how "several minutes" should be and if there is any known issues using a DisplayPort adapter (currently using a DP to VGA, but got a DP to HDMI coming tomorrow). The screen is blank but all things appear to be working "well" other than video out. I tried an HDMI to VGA adapter as well but no difference (didn't expect it based on this thread though).
Tried to boot after removing CMOS and RAM and then reinserted it to try to get it to clear RAM in case I had accidentally gotten into the BIOS while blank screen and did something blind, however, no such luck.
Hopeful that someone has an opinion?
try: plug the DP2??? adapter and the monitor to the adapter before powering anything.
edit: even not standby power.
Not 100% on it being DP2.1 - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B083P358V6/
no luck still even starting with the monitor powered, computer unplugged, then plugging it back in and turning it back on. the adapter works with other machines I own just seeming to have an issue with this one.
I'll wait and see if the DP to HDMI adapter works. I'm trying to fuss around to see if I can root out some other cables from someone to just test the damn thing.
I used the port closest to the motherboard and have no issues booting unraid with it. I imagine they are both data-enabled, though, as they look to share a controller.
I am wondering about the bios updates and which ones are applicable (several options on CWWK website), but I likely won't do that since I have no issues with mine. Mine was in a box with a different branding on it, but unraid tells me the following information:
| Model: | CWWK N305 NAS Mobo |
| M/B: | Default string Default string Version Default string s/n Default string |
| BIOS: | American Megatrends International, LLC. Version 5.27 Dated 03/04/2024 |
| CPU: | Intel® Core™ i3-N305 @ 2970 MHz |
| HVM: | Enabled |
| IOMMU: | Enabled |
NAS -ADLN -K - Google Drive , yah, fixes some bugs and also has sata/nosata boot variant, that makes boot from NVME take just a few seconds.
Hello everyone, thank you to all who have already contributed there is a wealth of info in this thread.
I have received the purple n100 cwwk board bought directly from them & I have updated the bios from their website which was nice and easy using ventoy usb. I installed a stick of Samsung DDR5 4800 16GB which is recognised the bios posts fine and I have run memtest from a USB drive which ran all 4 passes successfully.
However on each power on the motherboard gives two beeps which according to CWWK indicates a memory problem. I have re seated the ram but the beeps persist. There could well be a problem with the ram as it was bought from aliexpress so is almost certainly used/recycled from a laptop but I am unsure as it has passed memtest. CWWK said that have not tested this ram's compatibility with their board so before I ask the ram vendor to send me another stick I wanted to ask if anyone here has samsung ram working with their n100 board in case perhaps I am better just refunding this ram and buying a different brand
Also I have had no issues with connecting to the monitor with HDMI it was a 4k monitor and it worked straight away & if anyone wants to change the board so it doesn't turn on as soon as power is connected it is the small jumper located behind the audio in jack which you change from 2-3 to 1-2
Thanks
I have received the purple n100 cwwk board bought directly from them & I have updated the bios from their website which was nice and easy using ventoy usb. I installed a stick of Samsung DDR5 4800 16GB which is recognised the bios posts fine and I have run memtest from a USB drive which ran all 4 passes successfully.
However on each power on the motherboard gives two beeps which according to CWWK indicates a memory problem. I have re seated the ram but the beeps persist. There could well be a problem with the ram as it was bought from aliexpress so is almost certainly used/recycled from a laptop but I am unsure as it has passed memtest. CWWK said that have not tested this ram's compatibility with their board so before I ask the ram vendor to send me another stick I wanted to ask if anyone here has samsung ram working with their n100 board in case perhaps I am better just refunding this ram and buying a different brand
Also I have had no issues with connecting to the monitor with HDMI it was a 4k monitor and it worked straight away & if anyone wants to change the board so it doesn't turn on as soon as power is connected it is the small jumper located behind the audio in jack which you change from 2-3 to 1-2
Thanks
power on from no AC or just from standby ?
if all is OK after remove AC and clear CMOS there is a DDR training issue, which may skipped at warm boot.
Okay I reset the CMOS with the JBAT1 jumper and when it powered on it spent a minute or so learning the RAM like it did the very first time and then rebooted however I still get the two beeps before the BIOS posts each time
Anyone noticed, the copper plate that rests on the CPU Die does not actually make contact with it? the gap is ~1mm and too much for thermal paste...
CW-NAS-ADLN-K (CWWK Purple board)
CW-NAS-ADLN-K (CWWK Purple board)
Last edited: