We make three hardware lines, each built for a different kind of user. This page will help you figure out which one you have — or which one you need.
Compare Devices
| ZimaCube 2 | ZimaBoard 2 | ZimaBlade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Professional NAS, media production, local AI | Home server, networking, tinkering | Entry-level NAS, first DIY build |
| CPU | Intel i3-1215U / i5-1235U (Pro) | Intel N150 (quad-core, up to 3.6 GHz) | Intel Celeron N3350 (3760) / quad-core (7700) |
| RAM | 8 GB DDR5 (up to 64 GB) | 8 GB / 16 GB LPDDR5 (soldered) | 1 × SODIMM DDR3L, up to 16 GB |
| Drive bays | 6 SATA + 4 M.2 NVMe | 2 SATA 3.0 + eMMC 32/64 GB | 2 SATA 3.0 |
| Networking | 2.5 GbE × 2 (Pro adds 10 GbE) | 2.5 GbE × 2 | 1 GbE × 1 |
| Thunderbolt | 2 × TB4 (all models) | No | No |
| PCIe | PCIe 4.0 x16 + PCIe 3.0 x8 | PCIe 3.0 x2 | 1 × PCIe 2.0 x4 |
Set Up Your Device
If your device is fresh out of the box, start with one of these.
- ZimaCube Quick Start — unbox, plug in, and access ZimaOS
- ZimaBoard Power On — first boot and initial configuration
- ZimaBlade Power On — set up your ZimaBlade with the HDD stand
Hardware Details
Once you are up and running, these pages cover the specifics — ports, expansion slots, and internal layouts.
- ZimaCube Hardware Details — every port and interface on the Cube
- ZimaBoard Hardware Interface — pinouts and connectors
- ZimaCube PC Direct Connection — plug your Cube straight into your computer
- ZimaCube GPU Expansion — add a dedicated graphics card
- ZimaCube RAID SSD Expansion — add SSDs for caching or fast storage
- DIY Fan Guide — replace or upgrade the cooling fan
Compatibility
What works with what. We have tested these ourselves.
- UPS Compatibility List — which uninterruptible power supplies are confirmed to work
- Supported Disk Formats — file systems your device can read and write
- Compatible Network Adapters — NICs tested with ZimaCube
- Intel AX210 WiFi — enable the AX210 module on ZimaOS
- AX210 WiFi Module — install the AX210 on ZimaBoard
- BIOS Configuration — access and navigate the BIOS settings
- Enable Wake-on-LAN — power on your ZimaCube remotely
- Wake-on-LAN for ZimaBoard — remote wake for ZimaBoard
Third-Party Operating Systems
ZimaOS comes pre-installed, but the hardware is not locked down. Our community runs everything from Unraid to OpenWrt on these machines.
- Run Unraid — Unraid installation on ZimaCube
- Run TrueNAS — TrueNAS setup on ZimaCube
- Run Unraid on ZimaBoard — Unraid on the Board
- Run OpenWrt — turn your ZimaBoard into a router
- OpenWrt via USB — boot OpenWrt from a USB drive
- OpenWrt eMMC Boot — install OpenWrt to internal storage
- Install OMV — OpenMediaVault for NAS-focused setups
- OMV Configuration — first steps after installing OMV
- Arch Linux Installation — Arch on ZimaBoard 2
- Ubuntu Server Setup — minimal Ubuntu for server use
- Third-Party OS Guide — how to install any OS on Zima hardware
Next
Once you know your hardware, everything else gets easier.
- Set up ZimaOS: ZimaOS Overview — installation, storage, and system settings
- Run apps: App Store Overview — media servers, self-hosted apps, and AI agents