Hardware Configuration
The LincPlus LincStation N2 is equipped with a powerful Intel N100 processor, which is part of the Alder Lake-N series. This chip features 4 cores and 4 threads, operating at a maximum frequency of 3.4 GHz with a TDP of 6W. It also includes integrated Intel UHD Graphics with 24 EU units running at 750 MHz. The system comes with 16GB of LPDDR5 memory running at 4800MT/s, which is a single-channel configuration.
For internal storage, there is a 128GB Samsung 5.0 eMMC drive. The device supports multiple storage interfaces, including 2x SATA 3.0 ports for 2.5-inch HDDs and 4x M.2 2280 NVMe slots that support PCIe 3.0 X1. The network capabilities are enhanced with a single 10GbE RJ45 port powered by the Aquantia AQC113C chip.
In terms of connectivity, the front panel includes a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C port (5Gbps), while the rear offers a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port (10Gbps) and two USB 2.0 Type-A ports (480Mbps). Audio and video output options include a 3.5mm audio port and an HDMI 2.0b port that supports 4K 60Hz resolution. The dimensions of the device are 3.98 x 21.0 x 15.1cm, and it uses an external power supply of 12V 5A 60W.
Design and Build Quality
The front panel of the LincStation N2 features 7 LEDs that indicate the status of the hard drives and network activity. These LEDs blink simultaneously if there is an issue with the drive or network connection. The top cover is made of frosted plastic, which has a pleasant touch but tends to show fingerprints easily. The bottom half consists of an aluminum alloy panel with four M.2 slots equipped with thermal spacers to help dissipate heat effectively.
Inside, there is one SATA slot on each side of the front cover, and installation requires the use of included screws and a screwdriver. These two 2.5-inch SATA slots can accommodate 15 mm-thick disks, such as high-capacity HDDs.
System Experience and Performance
The LincStation N2 comes with a one-year UNRAID subscription, offering flexibility in array formation. Users can create data-protected arrays using HDDs of different capacities. Configuring Docker is straightforward, allowing for easy deployment of applications like LAN speed testing tools. Setting up a DACINVI collaborative database with PostgreSQL is also simple, thanks to the rich application store that offers over 3,600 apps in the Downloaders category.
Performance tests showed that the system can handle 10Gb network transfers efficiently. Two Intel Solid-State Drive DC S3500 Series 800 GB SSDs were used in the 2.5-inch disk space, with one set as a checksum disk and the other as a data disk. The unRAID system synchronized checksums to simulate 784 GB writes. The SATA SSD temperature peaked at 68°C and stabilized at 44°C after standby, indicating good thermal management.
A Toshiba GX7 NVME SSD installed in the M.2 slot reached a maximum temperature of 48°C after writing 2TB of data continuously, with an operating power of 8.35W. This performance was better than that of the SATA disk.
Using IPerf3 to test the NIC performance, the uplink and downlink speeds reached 9.5Gbps, ready to run at 10,000Mbps. Enabling SMB sharing and adjusting the MTU of the PC and N2 NIC to 9000 allowed for full 10Gbps read speeds due to caching, while write speeds were limited to 1000MB/s due to the Gen3 X1 bandwidth. Testing 3 SSD RAID-Z1 arrays showed that ZFS arrays performed slightly worse than direct read/write operations, but still approached the 10Gbps transmission limit, likely due to the internal bus bandwidth of the Alder Lake-N processors.
Summary
The LincPlus LincStation N2 delivers strong performance for an all-flash NAS system. It is one of the few entry-level NAS products with a 10Gb RJ45 port, offering an excellent power consumption ratio. The N100 processor is powerful enough to support 10Gb network transfers, and the device is quiet, with the fan barely audible except during boot-up. The NVMe NAS also has excellent heat dissipation, making it ideal for noise-sensitive environments like desktops or bedrooms.
However, there are some concerns regarding the SATA slots. If an SSD is inserted, it may overheat during long-term use, and if an HDD is used, there is little advantage in terms of speed and capacity compared to an SSD. Future iterations of the LincStation could benefit from replacing the SATA drive with a U.2 drive for improved performance.
Overall, the LincStation N2 is a solid choice for those looking for an all-flash NAS system. It will be used extensively, and further evaluation of similar products is planned.