The N250M/D5 is a fanless platform, featuring the entry-level Alder Lake N250 processor that comes in a quad core configuration.
ASRock Launches N250M/D5 Motherboard With Pre-Installed and Passively Cooled Alder Lane N250 Processor
Single-slot DIMM motherboards are pretty rare, but it doesn't matter to ASRock, which has launched a single-slot DIMM platform called N250M/D5. It's a CPU-motherboard combo that brings the Intel entry-level Alder Lake N processor pre-installed. As you can guess from the name, the motherboard has an Intel N250 processor pre-installed and features a fanless heatsink for complete passive cooling.
ASRock says the N250M/D5 is ready for "affordable" and "entry-level computing", thanks to the quad-core configuration that brings a turbo frequency of 3.8 GHz. It's an interesting platform at a time when Wildcat Lake has made news for being a cheap alternative for many OEMs in both laptops and mini PCs. Perhaps we could see such Wildcat Lake-based motherboards in the near future.
The N250M/D5 might be one of the handful of motherboards with just a single DIMM slot for memory modules. With a single DIMM made for DDR5, the motherboard supports up to 64 GB of max capacity at 4800 MT/s. The motherboard boasts a 2+1+1 power phase VRM, indicating it's for entry-level desktops where power efficiency and silent operation matter a lot. Through a passive design, users will have a completely silent desktop, and it's best to have the whole desktop passively cooled in that case.
The motherboard boasts a single PCIe 3.0 x16 slot for graphics cards, but it only supports x2 mode. Therefore, it's not an ideal platform for gaming, as it will choke the GPU's performance. One more PCIe 3.0 x1 slot is available for expansion cards, and a single M.2 Key E socket is available to add a WiFi module.
For storage, the platform supports a single M.2 NVMe Gen 3.0 SSD in x2 mode and 2x SATA 6.0 Gb/s ports for SATA drives. Connectivity includes a few USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, including a Type C port, and a total of 8x USB 2.0 ports for peripherals. All in all, it's a pretty basic platform that will get the job done for environments like offices where low power and silent operation are uncompromised.
News Sources: ASRock, @momomo_us
About the author: Sarfraz Khan is a hardware reporter with a focus on PC components and the builder community. With years of experience writing about PC hardware and laptops, his work has been featured on several reputable technology publications. Sarfraz's hands-on experience is demonstrated through his first-person accounts of using and comparing different hardware configurations, providing practical and relatable insights for everyday users. His technical analysis is respected by peers in the enthusiast community and has been cited by specialized hardware sites such as Germany's Igor's Lab.
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