# My DIY low-power 6 SSD NAS based on the Quartz64 ARM board

DevFeed: [My DIY low-power 6 SSD NAS based on the Quartz64 ARM board](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/my-diy-low-power-6-ssd-nas-based-on-the-quartz64-arm-board-34865.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://pine64.org/2022/06/03/my-diy-low-power-6-ssd-nas-based-on-the-quartz64-arm-board/>)

Published: 2022-06-03T00:00:00Z

Content type: article

Language: en

Sources: [Community blog on PINE64](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/community-blog-on-pine64.md>)

Topics: [Server](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/server.md>), [Arm](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/arm.md>), [pcie](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/pcie.md>), [.NET 11](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/net-11.md>)

Tags: [diy](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/diy.md>), [gigabit-ethernet](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/gigabit-ethernet.md>), [low-power](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/low-power.md>), [nas](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/nas.md>), [pcie](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/pcie.md>), [pine64](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/pine64.md>), [quartz64](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/quartz64.md>), [rk3566](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/rk3566.md>), [ssd](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ssd.md>)

## AI overview

A project report describes building a DIY low-power NAS around a Pine64 Quartz64 Model A, using its PCIe interface with a six-port SATA controller and an enclosure for six 2.5-inch SATA drives. The author reports that the tested SATA controller and Intel 4x GbE PCIe board worked out of the box, while raising power-supply considerations for operating six drives.

## Source excerpt

ARM SBCs have been around for a few years now. They were made popular and accessible mostly by the RaspberryPi released in 2012. I've been enjoying building countless projects around these boards : web servers, home-automation, camera recording, IM bots,... A new trend has recently appeared in the SBC world : the PCIe slot! The RaspberryPi 4 Compute Module exposes it via the IO board, and the Pine64 RockPro64 is equipped with a PCIe 4x open-ended slot directly on the board. I haven't had the opportunity to get hold of one of these boards, but I'm lucky enough to have a Quartz64 model A on hands. The Quartz64 is based on the Rockchip RK3566 running @1.8Ghz. My board is equipped with 8GB of RAM. It also has Gigabit ethernet, 1 SATA connector, USB3, and of course, the PCIe port. I experimented a bit with the PCIe interface by testing a couple of PCIe boards I had on hands at that time : the SATA controller board from Pine64 and an Intel 4x GBe board : they worked out of the box! Awesome, isn't it? 4xGbe PCIe card installed on the Quartz64 2 SSDs connected to the Quartz64 via the SATA controller boad I had an idea in the back of my mind : create a DIY low-power NAS based on a cheap SBC that can handle more than 2 drives (up to 6, preferably) without using USB. And it looks like this project is now completely possible! So... Let's do it! The prototype The first prototype was very rough : everything was laying on my desk, with all the wires dangling around. It was a bit messy, but it allowed me to check that the drives were working correctly. When I ensured that everything was working as expected, I bought a few more items : the SATA controller with 6 ports and an enclosure for 6 2.5" SATA drives. How to properly power an SBC and 6 drives? This question haunted me for some time. For now, the SBC is powered by a 12V power brick via a barrel connector. And the disks are powered by the board using those specific power cables by Pine64. If I understand correctly, this cable is co