FAQ
TL;DR: USB 2.0 caps real-world transfers at ~40 MB/s [Elektroda, badboy84, post #19009255]; "This is a rather bad idea." [Elektroda, sosarek, post #19009237] Choose hardware with native SATA or USB 3.0 and ≥4 GB RAM. Raspberry Pi 4 handles NAS + audio if cooled. Passive heatsink keeps it below 70 °C in light loads [Botland Blog].
Why it matters: Picking the right thin client or SBC avoids slow backups, heat-related throttling, and wasted power.
Quick Facts
• Dell Zx0: AMD T48E 2×1.4 GHz, 4 GB RAM, 2×USB 3.0, GbE, ~PLN 95 [Elektroda, Crossbow, post #19008222]
• HP t510: VIA Nano U4300 1.5 GHz, 2 GB RAM, USB 2.0, Fast Ethernet, ~PLN 82 [Elektroda, Crossbow, post #19008222]
• RPi 4 idle draw: approx. 3 W, peak 6–7 W [Raspberry Pi Foundation, 2020].
• HP Thin T550 peak power: <30 W with two drives [Elektroda, xury, post #19009295]
• Gigabit Ethernet ceiling: 125 MB/s payload, typical 110 MB/s [IEEE 802.3].
Which budget thin client is better for a one-drive NAS: Dell Zx0 or HP t510?
Choose the Dell Zx0. It has USB 3.0 and native SATA, so an internal or external SSD runs near GbE limits. The HP t510 lacks USB 3.0 and uses Fast Ethernet, so file copies stall below 12 MB/s [Elektroda, Crossbow, post #19008222]
Is connecting an SSD over USB 2.0 worth it?
No. USB 2.0 tops out near 40 MB/s sequential transfer, wasting most SSD speed [Elektroda, badboy84, post #19009255] Even 5400 rpm hard drives can saturate that link, so spend on USB 3.0 or SATA.
Can I power a 2.5-inch SATA drive inside the Dell Zx0?
Yes. Dell sells rails+cable kits that tap the board’s 5 V header; users confirm working builds [Elektroda, badboy84, post #19009503]
How much RAM should a home NAS have?
Allocate at least 2 GB for a single-user share and 4 GB when multiple PCs stream concurrently; RAM acts as read cache [Elektroda, rapper3d, post #19009266]
What throughput can I expect from a gigabit-equipped thin client NAS?
With USB 3.0 or SATA, expect 80–110 MB/s reads and 60–90 MB/s writes, limited by GbE overhead [IEEE 802.3]. Fast Ethernet devices cap at 12 MB/s."
Does Raspberry Pi 4 overheat when used as a passive-cooled NAS?
A stick-on heatsink keeps CPU below 70 °C during light NAS duty [Botland Blog]. Without cooling, heavy writes push temperatures above 80 °C and trigger 50 % clock throttling—an edge-case to avoid.
Can one Raspberry Pi 4 act as both NAS and audio streamer?
Yes. A Pi 4 can run Samba and a HiFiBerry DAC+ simultaneously; users report stable playback and 50 MB/s file copies [Elektroda, Crossbow, post #19013165]
Which SBC offers native SATA for under PLN 300?
Banana Pi M2U includes a SATA 2.0 port and costs ~PLN 260 [Banana-Pi Project, 2020]. Odroid HC2 adds a SATA backplane and gigabit NIC for similar price [Hardkernel, 2020].
How much energy does a thin client NAS consume compared with an SBC?
HP T550 peaks below 30 W with two drives [Elektroda, xury, post #19009295] Raspberry Pi 4 peaks near 7 W, so annual energy cost is roughly one-quarter at similar uptime [Raspberry Pi Foundation, 2020].
How do I add a second drive to a Dell Zx0?
- Remove case and locate empty SATA header.
- Install rail kit with power+data cable [Elektroda, badboy84, post #19009503]
- Secure 2.5-inch drive, close case, enable in BIOS. Total time: 10 minutes.