Building a Compact and Efficient DIY NAS for 2026

In this article, Brian Moses shares his latest DIY NAS build for 2026, focusing on a compact 8-bay server with modern components like the Intel N355 CPU and 32GB DDR5 RAM. He discusses the criteria for his build, such as a small form factor, low power consumption, and homelab potential. The build includes a Topton N22 motherboard, JONSBO N4 case, and a combination of SSDs for boot and NVMe storage. Despite rising component prices and limited availability, Moses emphasizes the importance of planning and buying parts wisely. He walks through the assembly process, BIOS configuration, and burn-in testing, highlighting the challenges faced during the build. Moses also discusses the software choice, TrueNAS Community Edition, known for its reliability and enterprise-grade features. While the build offers great value for its size, he also notes some frustrations with the case’s design and the importance of careful planning during the assembly process.