Jonsbo N10 NAS Case Review – A REAL M-ITX NAS Enclosure?

The Jonsbo N10 is a purpose-built NAS enclosure tailored for Mini-ITX builds that prioritizes a compact footprint, flash-based storage, and low-power operation. Announced at Computex 2025, the N10 represents a significant design departure from Jonsbo’s earlier N5 chassis by reducing overall dimensions to just 205mm in width and depth, and 108mm in height. This change reflects a broader trend in DIY NAS building—especially among users deploying SSD-only arrays or compact motherboards with embedded CPUs—who value minimal space usage without sacrificing component access or build quality. The enclosure supports up to four 2.5-inch SATA SSDs or HDDs mounted along its internal base, along with a FLEX 1U power supply (up to 150mm) and a low-profile CPU cooler not exceeding 38mm in height. Constructed from thick 3.3mm aluminum alloy panels and a 1.0mm steel interior frame, it offers durability alongside a neutral, industrial aesthetic that blends well in home and office environments. Given the increasing popularity of MITX NAS boards from brands like Topton and CWWK, which often include soldered CPUs and compact layouts, the Jonsbo N10 enters the market as a focused option for builders who need efficient thermal performance, portability, and enough internal expansion to support a hybrid SSD/M.2 architecture in a space-conscious package.

Jonsbo N10 NAS Enclosure Review – Quick Conclusion

The Jonsbo N10 is a compact, purpose-built Mini-ITX NAS enclosure designed for users prioritizing SSD-based storage in a low-power, space-efficient build. With a footprint of just 205mm square and 108mm tall, it offers four 2.5-inch drive bays, FLEX PSU support, and a solid aluminum-steel construction that balances durability with minimalism. Its layout is well-suited for embedded CPU boards and hybrid storage configurations, but tight internal spacing, a 38mm CPU cooler height limit, and the lack of PCIe card support require careful component selection. While cooling is handled by two built-in 40mm fans and ventilation across multiple panels, airflow in the upper cavity remains passive and somewhat restricted—posing thermal challenges for high-performance CPUs or 10GbE NICs. Setup is straightforward, though users must manually route all SATA data and power cables, as no backplane is included. The inclusion of helpful accessories such as a Molex-to-SATA adapter and magnetic top panel adds value, and the minimalist I/O—with a single USB Type-C—reinforces its role as a headless NAS unit. Ultimately, the N10 is not a catch-all solution, but for users building SSD-centric NAS systems with efficient MITX boards, it offers a tightly focused and well-executed platform with a strong balance of features and size.

Note – You can see the comparison of the Jonsbo N2, N3, N4 and N5 in this article HERE

Where to Buy? Jonsbo N10 (Aliexpress $82) – HERE Jonsbo NV10 (Aliexpress $109) – HERE Jonsbo N5 (Aliexpress $195) – HERE Jonsbo N5 (Aliexpress $192) – HERE

Jonsbo N10 NAS Enclosure Review – Case Design, Ventilation and Cooling

The exterior design of the Jonsbo N10 emphasizes minimalism and space efficiency. Measuring just 205mm wide, 205mm deep, and 108mm high, the case is almost a perfect cube in footprint, but with a shallow vertical profile that makes it easy to deploy on desks, shelves, or tight AV cabinets. The use of 1mm thick aluminum alloy on the outer panels not only provides a premium feel but also contributes to structural integrity without excessive weight.

Combined with the internal steel chassis, the enclosure remains sturdy under load while keeping its overall weight to just 1.6kg. From a visual standpoint, the clean lines and brushed finish—available in black or silver—are devoid of branding or unnecessary ornamentation, which suits its role as a discrete server or quiet storage box in professional or home setups.

Ventilation is a core part of the external layout, with venting present on nearly every surface of the chassis. Perforations on the side panels, rear, and base allow for passive air movement across internal components, helping to reduce thermal buildup. While the compact size limits the scope of airflow paths, Jonsbo has attempted to compensate by ensuring that each major face includes some form of ventilation.

The top panel, held in place magnetically, can be removed easily for additional airflow during installation or servicing. However, this panel itself includes no fan mounts or perforations, which may limit vertical heat dissipation unless the lid is removed or modded.

Cooling is primarily handled by two built-in 40mm x 20mm exhaust fans mounted on the rear panel, each rated at 5000 RPM. These fans are positioned to draw hot air away from the internal drive bay and motherboard area, effectively pulling air in through the side and base perforations and pushing it out the back.

While the fans are small, their high RPM ensures a reasonable volume of air is cycled through the chassis. During testing, this design produced moderate acoustic output—peaking at around 43-45 dBA at load when measured from the rear—and noise levels were generally acceptable for typical NAS operation, particularly with low-TDP motherboards and embedded CPUs.

That said, airflow through the top cavity of the enclosure is limited. While the base panel and lower chamber benefit from fan-assisted cooling directed over the SSDs and PSU, the upper portion—where the CPU cooler and any on-board NICs are located—relies entirely on passive convection.

This can lead to hot air stagnation around components like 10GbE controllers or active M.2 heatsinks, particularly in long uptime scenarios. In your testing, surface temperatures on the top panel reached 31–33°C after 24 hours of deployment, with internals climbing higher toward 55–56°C, especially around passive heatsinks with limited surrounding airflow.

The absence of additional fan mounting options or top-mounted exhaust fans means users have little room to expand the cooling setup. While some users may consider modding the top panel to add extra fans or mesh inserts, the stock configuration offers no support for such upgrades.

This makes thermal planning crucial, especially for users deploying more powerful CPUs like Intel’s i5-1240P or using motherboards with multiple onboard NVMe drives and high-speed networking. For more passive deployments, like those with low-power N305 or N355 CPUs and minimal drive activity, the default setup should be sufficient—though tight airflow margins should always be considered during build planning.

Jonsbo N10 NAS Enclosure Review – Internal Design

Internally, the Jonsbo N10 is laid out to support only the essentials, reflecting its role as a NAS-first chassis with limited internal expansion. The Mini-ITX motherboard tray sits centrally within the lower half of the enclosure, flanked on one side by the FLEX PSU bracket and on the other by the horizontal drive cage. Despite the symmetrical exterior, internal space is tightly constrained, and components must be carefully selected and installed in a deliberate sequence to avoid obstructing airflow or cabling paths.

The steel frame keeps the motherboard tray stable, but there’s little clearance between installed components, which becomes immediately apparent when routing power and SATA data cables across the system. Most of the case’s internal volume is claimed by either the drive cage or power supply, leaving minimal open airspace.

The four 2.5-inch drive bays are arranged in a single, fixed cage at the base of the unit. This cage does not feature any kind of backplane or hot-swap system—instead, users must manually screw each SSD into place using traditional mounting trays. Drives are accessed from the underside of the top panel after removing the magnetic lid, and their power/data cabling must be routed individually.

In small builds, this can quickly become a challenge. The case includes a Molex-to-SATA power adapter, which is a thoughtful addition for budget FLEX PSUs that lack four dedicated SATA power leads. However, data cable management remains the user’s responsibility. In builds using motherboards without breakout SATA connectors (such as SFF-8643 or SlimSAS), this results in a dense bundle of SATA leads running through an already cramped enclosure.

Clearance around the CPU socket is equally limited. The N10 supports CPU coolers up to 38mm in height, restricting users to ultra-low-profile models. This makes it well-suited for embedded CPU motherboards like the CWWK N150 or N355, which come with passive or ball-bearing heatsinks under 30mm.

However, builders looking to use socketed CPUs like the i5-1240P will need to carefully select compatible coolers and be mindful of airflow choke points. There is no room for PCIe devices internally, and although some MITX boards have slots, they are effectively unusable due to chassis constraints. Any notion of using riser cards or external PCIe breakouts (such as M.2 to OCuLink) is largely impractical within this case’s physical limits.

Connectivity on the Jonsbo N10 is intentionally minimal. The front I/O panel includes a single USB Type-C port positioned on the top-right edge of the chassis, routed internally via a standard front-panel header. There are no additional USB-A ports, audio jacks, or buttons present, in keeping with the case’s clean exterior aesthetic.

While this simplicity reinforces the N10’s focus as a headless or remote-managed NAS system, it does reduce options for users who might want to connect external drives, peripherals, or configure the system locally without reaching behind the unit. Builders relying on initial direct access may need to route peripheral cabling through the rear motherboard I/O or temporarily remove the top lid for setup.

The power supply format supported is strictly FLEX 1U, with units up to 150mm in length permitted. This rear-mounted PSU bracket is placed above the motherboard tray and next to the SSD cage, and the power supply’s fan helps assist with rear airflow in conjunction with the two pre-installed 40mm exhaust fans.

While FLEX PSUs are well-suited to compact enclosures, they can be noisy under load and tend to cost more than SFX or ATX equivalents—especially if aiming for 80+ Gold or higher efficiency ratings. The internal wiring must be routed carefully due to spatial limitations, and although the case does include a Molex-to-SATA power adapter, it does not include any SATA data cables, which users must supply themselves. PSU airflow is indirectly beneficial to nearby components, but cooling requirements should be factored into PSU selection to avoid thermal bottlenecks.

The N10’s primary storage capability comes from its four internal 2.5-inch drive bays. Positioned in a fixed steel cage, the bays are arranged horizontally and mounted via screws without any vibration dampening or tool-less features. As noted earlier, there is no backplane, so each drive requires a dedicated SATA data and power cable, which must be routed manually through tight internal spaces.

While the design clearly targets SSD usage due to thermal and vibration limitations, there is potential for 2.5-inch HDDs as well—though builders should be cautious of heat and noise. Some modders may consider fitting up to two 3.5-inch drives with minor modifications, but this would require bypassing manufacturer recommendations and limits compatibility to 8TB drives or smaller due to physical height constraints.

When paired with modern MITX boards featuring multiple onboard M.2 slots, the N10 can accommodate hybrid storage setups—though again, thermal planning remains crucial.

The Jonsbo N10 delivers on its objective: to offer a compact, purpose-built NAS enclosure for Mini-ITX systems focused on SSD-based storage. It embraces the growing trend of low-power, embedded CPU platforms and caters directly to users building quiet, energy-efficient NAS devices for tasks like media serving, remote backups, or personal cloud storage. Its clean exterior design, robust aluminum-steel construction, and compact footprint make it appealing for constrained environments or unobtrusive desktop deployment. The inclusion of pre-installed fans, a Type-C front I/O, and even minor accessories like a Molex-to-SATA adapter add value to the out-of-box experience. However, its internal layout requires deliberate component choice and build planning due to significant space limitations and tight thermal margins.

While not designed for broad flexibility, the N10 excels in its niche. There is no support for PCIe add-ons or active top-panel cooling, and the absence of hot-swap bays or bundled SATA data cables may frustrate some users expecting turnkey solutions. That said, for those familiar with small form factor NAS building, these limitations are expected trade-offs for a case that prioritizes minimalism and focused utility. As pre-built NAS units continue to integrate soldered CPUs and non-upgradable memory, enclosures like the N10 offer a rare chance for builders to retain full control over their hardware stack—provided they’re willing to work within the tight confines of the design. In short, the N10 is not for everyone, but for those building compact SSD-focused NAS systems, it strikes a well-executed balance between form, function, and footprint.

Where to Buy? Jonsbo N10 (Aliexpress $82) – HERE Jonsbo NV10 (Aliexpress $109) – HERE Jonsbo N5 (Aliexpress $195) – HERE Jonsbo N5 (Aliexpress $192) – HERE

Read the Jonsbo NAS Series Comparison Article on NASCompares Below (click below):

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Jonsbo N10 and NV10 MITX NAS Enclosures

UPDATE – The Jonsbo N10 Case Review is now available. You can READ it HERE, or watch the video HERE.

At Computex 2025, Jonsbo introduced two compact NAS enclosures designed specifically for Mini-ITX systems — the N10 and NV10. These cases mark a departure from the larger, high-capacity N5 chassis revealed at Computex the year before, instead prioritizing a more focused approach for users building flash-based NAS setups or compact home servers.

Both models support FLEX power supplies up to 150mm and include a USB Type-C front I/O, but they diverge in functionality: one favors SSD storage, while the other accommodates low-profile GPUs. With a small footprint of just 205mm x 205mm x 108mm, the N10 and NV10 are part of a broader trend toward highly efficient, minimal-space deployments. As demand grows for quieter, energy-efficient NAS builds and localized AI or media applications, these enclosures reflect Jonsbo’s continued push into purpose-built server chassis for the DIY market.

Hardware Specifications for the N10 and NV10

The Jonsbo N10 enclosure is engineered specifically for users building compact NAS systems that rely on SSD storage. It accommodates a Mini-ITX motherboard and includes four internal 2.5-inch drive bays arranged along the base of the chassis. These drive bays do not feature a backplane or quick-release mechanism; instead, drives are mounted using traditional screw-based trays. Users will need to ensure their motherboard or PCIe expansion cards provide the necessary SATA ports to connect all four drives.

The chassis is constructed from a combination of 3.3mm thick aluminum alloy panels and a 1.0mm steel internal frame, contributing to overall structural rigidity while maintaining a lightweight footprint. Cooling is handled by two built-in 40mm fans mounted on the rear panel, operating at 5000 RPM to provide active airflow across the storage bays. The magnetic top panel allows for quick internal access during installation or servicing.

The NV10, while identical in size and base materials to the N10 (205mm wide, 205mm deep, and 108mm high), is tailored to users who require GPU support within a compact chassis. It features two low-profile PCIe expansion slots and supports dual-slot graphics cards up to 190mm in length. There are no dedicated drive bays in the NV10, leaving internal space available for airflow and graphics card installation.

While it does not include internal case fans like the N10, the enclosure relies on ventilation cutouts across the top, sides, and rear to manage passive airflow. Effective cooling in the NV10 will depend on the power supply’s exhaust fan and any active cooling solution on the GPU. The enclosure’s internal volume is tight, so thermal constraints and airflow direction should be carefully planned during assembly.

Both models support FLEX 1U power supplies up to 150mm in length, which mount at the rear of the case above the motherboard tray. The CPU cooler clearance is limited to 38mm in both the N10 and NV10, necessitating the use of low-profile coolers—such as those from Noctua or Dynatron. Neither model includes support for ATX or SFX power supplies, nor is there native support for 3.5-inch HDDs, reinforcing their focus on SSD or flash-only builds.

A single USB Type-C port is located on the front I/O of both enclosures, though no additional USB or audio connectors are present. There is also no onboard fan control or lighting, making these enclosures minimal by design. Weights are modest, with the N10 at 1.6 kg and the NV10 slightly lighter at 1.5 kg, making them easy to transport or integrate into space-limited deployments.

Why Are Jonsbo Enclosures So Popular?

Jonsbo enclosures have gained popularity among NAS and SFF (small form factor) PC builders due to their consistent focus on minimalist design, high material quality, and purpose-built layouts that cater to niche DIY projects. Their use of thick aluminum panels combined with solid steel internals strikes a balance between aesthetics, durability, and thermal performance. Unlike many generic ITX cases, Jonsbo often designs around specific use cases—such as flash-based storage, GPU acceleration, or low-noise operation—rather than attempting to serve broad mainstream needs. This specialization appeals to enthusiasts who value efficient use of space, passive ventilation potential, and understated external styling. Additionally, the availability of features like magnetic panels, FLEX PSU support, and increasing support for ITX motherboards with NAS features has positioned Jonsbo as a go-to brand for compact, customizable server enclosures.

Where is the Jonsbo N6?

While the N10 and NV10 mark Jonsbo’s continued refinement of compact, purpose-driven NAS and SFF enclosures, attention is already shifting to the next model in development: the Jonsbo N6. Although few details have been officially confirmed, early indications suggest that the N6 may attempt to bridge the gap between the high-capacity N5 and the minimal N10/NV10 by offering more drive bays, improved airflow, or even partial hot-swap capabilities—all while retaining the small footprint and aluminum-steel construction the brand is known for. If Jonsbo continues to respond to user demands for compact yet scalable server chassis, the N6 could potentially appeal to builders seeking more flexibility without committing to full tower or rackmount designs. Its rumored release later in 2025 will likely determine how far Jonsbo is willing to expand its NAS-focused lineup beyond flash-only configurations.

Where to Buy Jonsbo NAS Cases? Jonsbo N5 12-Bay Case – $149-200 Aliexpress Jonsbo N4 6-Bay Case – $100-139 Aliexpress Jonsbo N3 8-Bay Case –  $139-150 Aliexpress Jonsbo N2 5/6-Bay Case –$99-120 Aliexpress

Read the Jonsbo NAS Series Comparison Article on NASCompares Below (click below):

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This description contains links to Amazon. These links will take you to some of the products mentioned in today's content. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Visit the NASCompares Deal Finder to find the best place to buy this device in your region, based on Service, Support and Reputation - Just Search for your NAS Drive in the Box Below

Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

Finally, for free advice about your setup, just leave a message in the comments below here at NASCompares.com and we will get back to you. Need Help? Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry. [contact-form-7] TRY CHAT Terms and Conditions   Alternatively, why not ask me on the ASK NASCompares forum, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in the ASK NASCompares section below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.

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