I'm looking to build a small NAS using some old parts I have, including a B450i motherboard, DDR4 RAM, and a power supply. Currently, I have a Ryzen 3600X CPU, but I want to swap it out for a more power-efficient AM4 CPU that has integrated graphics. I'm trying to see which option would be the best in terms of power efficiency, especially during idle. I'm considering CPUs like the Ryzen 3200G, 3400G, and 5600G, but I'm not sure which one will suit my NAS needs best. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
You might want to look into the GE series like the Ryzen 7 5700GE or Ryzen 3 2200GE. They have a super low TDP of just 35 watts, which is fantastic for a NAS setup. Definitely check them out!
The Ryzen 5700G is actually your best bet for efficiency at idle. It's even more efficient than the 5600G by about 4 watts, which probably comes down to better voltage management. If you're aiming for a cool and quiet NAS, it's worth considering!

Thanks for the tip! I didn’t realize there were GE models available. I'll take a closer look.