ZimaBoard 2 review

The ZimaBoard 2 is an x86 single-board server from IceWhale. It uses an Intel N150 with four cores and four threads, boosting up to 3.6GHz. The official store lists two configurations: the 832 with 8GB RAM and 32GB eMMC, and the 1664 with 16GB RAM and 64GB eMMC. Owner reports centre on RAID 1 NAS builds and Docker homelabs. That matches the hardware: two SATA ports, dual 2.5GbE and a PCIe lane.

Geekbench scored 1,235 single-core and 2,980 multi-core. Memory is LPDDR5 at 4800 MHz, soldered to the board. With four cores and a 16GB ceiling, it suits a set of containers and light services better than a stack of virtual machines.

Heat is the recurring caution. Owners report throttling under sustained load, with package temperatures in the 90s C in passive tests. CNX Software's wall measurements put a stress test at 10.3 to 25.1 W. If you plan to run it hard for long periods, the cooling arrangement matters.

Onboard storage is 32GB or 64GB of eMMC. At that size, bulk data would sit on the two SATA 6Gbps ports. The board also has a PCIe 3.0 x2 lane and one PCIe slot. NVMe is not onboard: a PCIe to Dual NVMe M.2 SSD Adapter is sold separately as part of the Zima kit.

The RAM and eMMC are soldered and cannot be upgraded. Owners flag this as a limit. Pick the configuration you need on day one.

The board has dual 2.5GbE. Owners report real-world transfers of 275 to 280 MB/s over the 2.5GbE link, which suits NAS use and a two-port network setup. There are two USB 3.1 ports and one Mini DisplayPort 1.4 output, up to 4K at 60Hz. Power comes from a 12V DC barrel input with a 60W adapter.

No GPIO header appears in the listed specifications. If your project depends on Raspberry Pi-style GPIO, the research gives you nothing to go on.

CNX Software measured idle draw at the wall of 8.1 to 8.3 W in mini PC mode and 6.8 to 6.9 W in NAS mode. Reviewers describe the board as quiet, and silent without the fan. Given those idle figures and the reports of silence without the fan, it suits an always-on box.

The research does not detail official OS images, kernel support or a support policy. What it does show is owners running Docker and RAID 1 NAS setups on the Intel N150. Check what Zima provides for your intended OS before you buy.

Owners say UK buyers can only pay in US dollars on Zima's own store, and that prices fluctuate. Amazon UK carries listings for both the 832 and 1664 configurations. The fixed RAM also affects value: you pay for the memory tier you will have for the life of the board.

The ZimaBoard 2 is a capable small server for a quiet NAS or a Docker homelab. Its strengths are dual 2.5GbE, two SATA ports, a PCIe lane and low idle power. Its limits are soldered memory and storage, heat under sustained load, and a payment setup that is awkward for UK buyers on the official store. Buyers who can live with those limits get a compact, quiet x86 board.