<ul data-eligibleForWebStory="true">Choosing the right motherboard is crucial for a DIY NAS, impacting performance and compatibility.Key factors include CPU compatibility, RAM support, storage interfaces, network connectivity, and expansion slots.For CPU, consider lower power like Intel Celeron for light tasks or higher-end CPUs for virtualization and transcoding.NAS benefits from at least 8GB of RAM, with ECC support for data integrity on server-grade chipsets.SATA ports for hard drives, M.2 slots for NVMe drives, and Gigabit Ethernet are essential features.Expansion slots like PCIe support future upgrades such as RAID cards or GPUs.Popular motherboard choices range from budget ASRock J4125B-ITX to high-end Supermicro X11SCH-LN4F.Match motherboard size with NAS case, typically Mini-ITX or Micro-ATX.Ensure OS compatibility with chosen motherboard.Best motherboard balances current needs with future scalability.FAQ addresses using desktop motherboards, SATA ports, ECC memory, dual LAN, and form factors for NAS setups.