Technical reference
Zima ZimaCube 2 Standard specifications
ZCP011 · Intel Core i3-1215U · 8 GB DDR5 · 256 GB OS SSD · 6 × SATA + 4 × M.2 (manufacturer bandwidth claim disputed) · 2 × 2.5GbE · 2 × Thunderbolt 4
Complete specifications with requirements, upgrade limits and sources. For our buying judgment, reviews and prices, return to the buying guide.
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Identity
Compute and memory
Specifications and support boundaries for this configuration.
| Processor | Intel Core i3-1215U[1] |
|---|---|
| Factory memory | 8GB DDR5[1] Factory memory is kept separate from maximum supported capacity and from seller-installed upgrades. |
| Physical CPU cores | 6[22] |
| Factory memory | 8 GB[22] |
| Host memory ECC | ECC is not advertised for this platform; the reviewed Pro uses non-ECC DDR5 SODIMMs. No ECC benefit is assumed for DDR5 or for the Creator GPU.[3][12] |
| Official memory upgrade path | Yes[22] |
| Official memory limit | 64 GB[22] |
Storage and expansion
Specifications and support boundaries for this configuration.
| Cataloged drive-bay count | 6[1] M.2 positions are listed separately and are not silently added to SATA bay count. |
|---|---|
| Supported drive layout | 6 × SATA HDD/SSD + 4 × M.2 SSD expansion[1] |
| Replaceable storage drives | Yes[22] |
| M.2 expansion | Yes[22] |
| Official external drive enclosure expansion | No IceWhale-branded expansion chassis found. Thunderbolt 4 and USB can attach DAS; Backup app supports USB targets. That is not an official multi-bay shelf.[1][7][12] |
| Physical M.2 slots | Four user-data positions in the seventh-bay tray, separate from the OS SSD. Pro review identifies a motherboard M.2 position occupied by the 10GbE adapter; do not count it as another free storage slot.[1][12] |
| SATA without a mandatory model whitelist | No mandatory software lock established. The official compatibility table contains conditional entries and generation-specific recommendations: some IronWolf capacities are recommended only for Cube 2; some Ultrastar/PWDIS drives require pin-3 handling. Capacity/family rows without exact MPNs cannot guarantee a particular purchase. Check the exact drive and power interface before ordering.[25] |
| M.2 without a mandatory model whitelist | No published mandatory M.2 whitelist. STH Pro 7th-bay tray has 2280/2242/2230 holes; four slots share one upstream PCIe Gen3 x4. Bandwidth, not a model lock, is the practical limit.[1][12] |
| Factory system SSD | 256 GB NVMe reserved for the OS (shop edition title Standard i3-1215U/8GB/256GB)[1][2] |
| PCIe expansion slots | 1 × PCIe 4.0 x4 electrical in x16 physical + 1 × PCIe 3.0 x2 electrical in x8 physical (IceWhale/STH Pro teardown; Notebookcheck Standard table matches the same slot pair) Low-profile, slot-powered GPU below 75 W; a dual-slot card can occupy the space of both expansion positions. Creator includes a card in the Gen4 slot; do not assume two free slots.[3][12] |
| 7th-bay M.2 shared bandwidth (manufacturer) | Official shop FAQ states about 800 MB/s shared, but hardware blog/TechRadar describe per-drive limits and NASCompares reports 1,600 MB/s aggregate reads. These accounts conflict; the manufacturer number is not a measured universal array ceiling.[1][20][14] |
| GPU installation and cooling | Official Cube 2 guidance requires low-profile slot-powered graphics below 75 W. STH warns passive accelerator cards need airflow the case does not supply adequately. Exact Creator GPU VRAM/architecture is not established by the shop naming alone; do not substitute RTX 2000 Ada.[1][3][12] |
Network
Specifications and support boundaries for this configuration.
| Installed Ethernet | 2 × 2.5GbE[1] Multiple ports do not guarantee one client the sum of their link rates. |
|---|---|
| Fastest installed single network port | 2.5 Gbps[22] |
| Official network upgrade path | Yes[22] |
| Thunderbolt / USB4 | 2 × Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C, 40 Gbps) on the rear for direct Mac/PC attach[1][3] |
Software and data protection
Specifications and support boundaries for this configuration.
| Factory operating system | ZimaOS Plus preinstalled on this Cube 2 family; IceWhale also documents installing Linux, Windows, TrueNAS, Unraid, Proxmox, OpenMediaVault, pfSense and others on the same x86 hardware.[1][3] |
|---|---|
| RAID support | Yes in current ZimaOS docs: RAID 0/1/5/6 and JBOD via Settings > Storage > Combine. ServeTheHome saw RAID 5/6 in the ZimaOS Plus GUI on a ZimaCube 2 Pro, with Btrfs default and ZFS CLI-only. Android Central's 3 Jun 2026 Standard sample did not offer JBOD then — treat JBOD as firmware-dated, not a permanent absence.[1][3][6][12] |
| Backup through the graphical interface | Yes — ZimaOS Backup app (from Cloud/LAN/USB/Zima to local disk, another Zima, USB, or cloud), plus ZimaClient computer/phone backup and a Time Machine SMB target.[1][3][7][9][10] |
| Backup to an independent target | Yes — official Backup app destinations include USB, another Zima device, LAN, and cloud. RAID is explicitly not a backup.[1][3][7] |
| Documented restore path | Partial: Time Machine restore on Mac; folder restore from ZimaOS storage in Finder/Explorer; OS rescue via dual Slot A/B GRUB partitions (user data on a separate /data volume). No opened first-class GUI for rolling back a user pool from snapshots.[1][3][10][9][11] |
| Scheduled backup | Official Backup documentation supports scheduled tasks. No general promise of immediate sync-on-every-change is established for every source/destination.[7] |
| Restore from snapshots | The opened ZFS guide demonstrates pool/filesystem creation through the command line; it does not document an actual snapshot/rollback procedure. STH saw Btrfs by default and no ZFS GUI. A user-data GUI snapshot restore remains unverified.[8][12] |
| Version retention | Official 3-2-1 and computer-backup guides explicitly claim retained versions/restore points. Retention duration, configuration controls and an end-to-end version restore test are not established by those pages. Time Machine has a separately documented Mac restore path.[7][9][10] |
| Immutable protection | Not documented in the opened ZimaOS Backup/RAID/ZFS pages.[1][3][7] |
| Remote snapshot replication | No ZFS-send GUI found. Backup app can target another Zima device as one ring of 3-2-1, which is file backup not snapshot replication.[1][3][7] |
| Native endpoint restore | Partial — ZimaClient/Finder restore of backed-up folders and Time Machine native Mac restore. Not a documented bare-metal image restore of the storage pool.[1][3][9][10] |
| Official system update path | ZimaOS uses a dual-partition A/B layout with GRUB slot switch for rescue. App/OS update-channel details for this SKU's factory image were not mapped beyond that recovery path and the dashboard.[1][3][11][12] |
| System status interface | Yes — ZimaOS dashboard shows system/status and settings (ServeTheHome Pro walkthrough; family OS also used on Standard).[1][3][12] |
| System log interface | Not confirmed as a dedicated log viewer in the opened docs or reviews.[1][3] |
| OS rescue versus user-data backup | The documented A/B GRUB procedure boots the alternate 6 GB OS slot using a display and keyboard. It is OS rescue, not a backup or rollback of user files. Keep an independent backup destination.[11][7] |
Warranty and support
Specifications and support boundaries for this configuration.
| Standard warranty | Official-store purchases: one year outside the EU; EU two years per shop FAQ/policy. Accessories one year. Policy excludes third-party-channel purchases from this official-store coverage. Damage from modification is excluded; this is not a blanket assertion that opening the case voids all coverage. Defect return freight may require upfront payment and reimbursement after confirmation; replacements retain remaining coverage. Shop states 14-day returns after delivery.[5][1] |
|---|
Physical, power and acoustics
Specifications and support boundaries for this configuration.
| Dimensions | 240 × 221 × 220 mm. Official Cube 2 announcement, Pro unboxing, ServeTheHome Pro table, and Notebookcheck Standard table agree. Same chassis as gen-1 per Notebookcheck.[3][4][12][13] |
|---|---|
| Weight | Exact net weight not verified. Shopify variant weights are shipping metadata (8.5 kg Standard/Pro; 13 kg Creator), while the Pro unboxing describes a 5.5 kg shipment. These conflicting package figures do not establish unit-only weight.[2][4] |
| Power supply and consumption | External KPTEC 19 V 13 A 247 W brick (Pro unboxing; STH Pro; Notebookcheck table for Standard and Pro). Notebookcheck Standard, no extra drives: idle 20–28 W, ~65 W at ~65% CPU, ~2 W when off. STH Pro: idle 25–27 W with no drives, 29–30 W with SSDs in the tray; load burst 76 W then 61–63 W steady. Gen-1 docs still listing 19 V 11.58 A 220 W are not this generation's brick.[4][12][13] |
| Acoustic conditions | Notebookcheck Standard original ARTA figures: A-weighted Slow LAS 26.30 dB(A) idle and 31.14 dB(A) under Jellyfin + Pop!_OS VM load, measured at 1 m; ambient floor/calibration unspecified. STH Pro: 36–38 dB(A) idle and 41–43 dB(A) load in a 34 dB(A) room, distance unspecified. Different conditions prevent a direct SKU ranking. Neither measures the factory Creator GPU bundle.[13][12] |
Exact product identity & open questions
- Product ID
- zima-zimacube-2-standard[1]
- Exact MPN or manufacturer configuration ID
- ZCP011[2]
- Model
- ZimaCube 2 Standard[1]
- Factory compute and memory
- Intel Core i3-1215U; 8GB DDR5; 256 GB OS SSD[2]
- Storage layout
- 6 × SATA HDD/SSD + 4 × M.2 SSD expansion (~800 MB/s shared)[1]
- GTIN-14
- 06974755831193[2]
- NASCompares images and conflicting bandwidth: Full written article recovered; original test images blocked. Shared-800 manufacturer wording conflicts with reported 1,600 MB/s array reads and per-drive descriptions.
- Amazon / third-party US PDP: Amazon candidate blocked; Newegg 0 hits. Only factory shop is a verified live new PDP.
- Unit-only weight: Shop table omits weight; 5.5 kg is Pro shipped package.
- Video ASR/frames: Lempa and Klements Standard videos: description only. No captions/frames.
- GUI snapshots / immutable backup: Still not a documented ZimaOS user-data snapshot product.
- Host ECC: Not advertised; not tested.
Sources
Research updated Sep 11, 2026. Individual source check dates are listed below. Measurements belong to the named reviewers; tested configurations and software versions may differ from the product you buy.
- [1] ZimaCube 2 Personal Cloud Home NAS (shared shop PDP) ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Title, description, Edition selector, FAQ accordion (model choice, OS, 7th-bay MB/s, ~30 dB, warranty/shipping)
- [2] Shopify product.js variants (SKU, price, availability) ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · variants[].sku/title/price/available/barcode/id
- [3] ZimaCube 2: Open NAS for AI & Self-Hosting ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Standard/Pro/Creator sections; 240×221×220 mm; Pro 3,200 MB/s 7th bay; Creator RTX PRO 2000
- [4] ZimaCube 2 Pro Unboxing: 5 Key Specs ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · KPTEC 19V 13A 247W; 5.5 kg shipped; 240×221×220 mm; comparison table Standard/Pro/Creator
- [5] Zima Warranty Policy ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Coverage table: ZimaCube 1 year global / EU up to 2 years; accessories 1 year
- [6] ZimaOS RAID Configuration Reference ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · RAID 0/1/5/6 and JBOD; Settings > Storage > Combine; RAID 5 steps
- [7] ZimaOS 3-2-1 Backup ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · RAID is not a backup; Backup app from/to Cloud LAN USB Zima; schedule
- [8] ZFS on ZimaOS (CLI) ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · zpool/zfs CLI; last updated 2026-09-07
- [9] ZimaOS computer backup (ZimaClient) ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · ZimaClient folders; restore via Finder/Explorer; Wi-Fi vs wired vs Thunderbolt caveats
- [10] Time Machine on ZimaOS ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Samba share with Configure for Time Machine; macOS restore
- [11] ZimaOS Slot A/B recovery ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · GRUB Slot A/B; user data on separate volume
- [12] ServeTheHome ZimaCube 2 Pro review ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Pages 1–5: specs, ASM2824/1166, ZimaOS RAID, Geekbench note, 247 W / dB(A)
- [13] Notebookcheck ZimaCube 2 review ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Standard sample; 1 m noise; wall power; 70 W GPU; spec table
- [14] TechRadar ZimaCube 2 review ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Standard performance/software; ignore conflicting LPDDR5/220 W/7.4 kg cells
- [15] It's FOSS ZimaCube 2 Pro month-long notes ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Manufacturer-offered Pro; added RTX 2000 Ada; noise; RAID GUI; Jellyfin GPU caveat
- [16] Zima first-party variant data for ZCP011 ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · variants[id=52317031792932] sku=ZCP011 available=true price
- [17] Zima selected PDP variant 52317031792932 ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Selected Edition JSON-LD Offer InStock NewCondition
- [18] Zima historical exact new-product PDP ↗
Checked Sep 2, 2026 · Retained historical price/availability; not refreshed as a live offer
- [19] Newegg search ZimaCube 2 / MPN ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · 0 items matching ZimaCube 2
- [20] NASCompares ZimaCube 2 Standard original review ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Full original written body recovered; original test images blocked; publication/header date conflict
- [21] Android Central ZimaCube 2 Standard hands-on ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Harish Jonnalagadda 3 Jun 2026; IronWolf; 800MB/s; ZimaOS 1.6.1; affiliate
- [22] zima2-announcement (legacy source id) ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Same URL as official-announcement; reread 2026-09-11
- [23] zima-zimacube-2-standard (legacy source id) ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Shared PDP reread
- [24] zima-zimacube-2-standard-variants (legacy source id) ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Variant JSON reread
- [25] ZimaCube disk installation and compatibility notes ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Installation and complete compatibility table; model/generation caveats
Research and review record
- Research: Grok 4.6 · Source research and data update
- Self-check: Grok 4.6 · Researcher self-check
- Independent review: GPT-6 (Codex) · Independent exact-model primary/original-written-source review; six STH and four Notebookcheck figures visually inspected. Creator exact-bundle performance remains unknown; videos and blocked images excluded.
- Editorial integration: GPT-6 (Codex) · Editorial integration and validation
Independent review completed for the scope recorded in the audit.
Source evidence and review history (JSON)