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| Radxa Taco: Board turns Raspberry Pi into a NAS |
The wait is over for home lab enthusiasts and self-hosting fans: the Radxa Taco V1.61 is now available for preorder. This update to the popular carrier board is specifically designed for the new Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 (CM5), turning it into a powerful and incredibly versatile DIY NAS (Network Attached Storage) and router.
The new Taco V1.61 retains the feature that made its predecessor a hit: five SATA ports for connecting a mix of 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch hard drives or SSDs. This allows you to build a compact, multi-drive storage server, all powered by the efficient CM5 module. For just $65 (plus the cost of a CM5), this board offers a level of flexibility and connectivity that is rare at this price point.
Why the Upgrade to Compute Module 5 Matters
The shift from the previous Compute Module 4 is a significant one. The Radxa Taco V1.61 is built to leverage the superior I/O capabilities of the CM5. The most immediate benefit for users will be in networking and overall system responsiveness, making this board a compelling choice for a wide range of self-hosted projects.
Networking and Connectivity: A Major Leap Forward
One of the standout features of the Radxa Taco is its dual Ethernet ports. While many DIY NAS boards are stuck with a single 1 Gbps connection, the Taco features one 2.5 Gbps port alongside a standard 1 Gbps port. This is a practical upgrade, as even traditional spinning hard drives can easily saturate a standard Gigabit connection. For those building a high-performance home server, the 2.5 GbE port ensures you’re getting the most out of your storage.
To learn more about the board and its full specifications, you can visit the official product page here: Radxa Taco.
Detailed Hardware Features
The Radxa Taco is designed as a complete solution for the CM5. Here is a breakdown of its key hardware features:
- Storage: Five SATA ports supporting both 3.5-inch HDDs and 2.5-inch HDDs/SSDs, an M.2 2230 slot for NVMe drives or wireless cards, and a microSD card slot for the operating system.
- Networking: Dual Ethernet with one 2.5 GbE (Realtek 8125b) and one GbE port, plus the M.2 slot for adding Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
- Connectivity: Two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports for external drives, GPIO headers for tinkering, and a PCIe Gen 2 switch (ASM1806) for efficient data management.
- Data Protection: Hardware support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10, allowing you to configure your drives for speed, redundancy, or a balance of both.
What This Means for Your Homelab
This board isn't just a NAS; it’s a Swiss Army knife for networking and storage. The dual Ethernet ports allow you to use the device as a powerful DIY router with pfSense or OpenWrt, while still having dedicated bandwidth for your storage drives.
You can preorder the Radxa Taco from official distributors like Arace Tech, with a current price of approximately $65 / €58. As the CM5 continues to roll out to the market, the Radxa Taco V1.61 is positioning itself as the go-to carrier board for anyone looking to build a high-speed, custom home server without breaking the bank.
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| Up to five drives can be installed |