Zima Member Day Sept 2025: What's in Your Stack?

Every builder has a different reason for starting a homelab or picking up their first server. Some want more control over their data. Some just love tinkering and learning. Others are looking for reliable storage without relying on big cloud companies.

Zima Member Day (Sept 13–15) is our way of celebrating that spirit. Yes, there are discounts (up to 35% off across the store, with orders over $188 unlocking a free Zima Swag Bag). But more importantly, it's about showing you what's possible with the right hardware.

It's a guide for this arcticle: what each Zima product is, what you can do with it, and how the community is already using it.

ZimaBlade 3760 – The $100 Homelab Starter

If you're new to self-hosting, or if you just want a lightweight x86 board to experiment with, the ZimaBlade 3760 is the easiest place to start.

• Requirements: DDR3L RAM (8G or 16G) + 12V/3A or 12V/5A USB-C power adapter

• Pre-installed OS: CasaOS

Why it matters: unlike Raspberry Pi, ZimaBlade runs on x86 architecture, which makes it compatible with a wider range of software and Docker images. For under $100 (including RAM + power), you can spin up a real server.

Popular Use Cases:

• Ad-blocking for the whole house (Pi-hole)

• VPN gateway with WireGuard or OpenVPN

• Lightweight NAS (attach an external drive via SATA or USB)

• Self-hosting apps like Nextcloud, Jellyfin, or Home Assistant

Feel free to explore the online guide: How to Turn Your ZimaBlade 3760 into a NAS?

Community story: A user plugged in their 3760, installed Pi-hole, and now every device in their home, laptops, TVs, even phones, browses faster and without ads. It became the "invisible upgrade" to their Wi-Fi, and their family didn't even notice, except that everything just worked better.

Why it's special: It proves you don't need expensive gear to build something useful.

Feel free to explore what's the different between ZimaBlade 3760 model with 7700 model👇

ZimaBlade 7700 NAS Kit – Plug-and-Play Storage

The 7700 NAS Kit is for people who want the next step up, more CPU power, SATA support, and an easier path to building a home NAS.

• Price: $165 (Grab the Kit → )

• Includes: ZimaBlade 7700 board, rack tray, RAM, cables, power adapter, CasaOS pre-installed, etc

• Why it's different: You don't have to hunt for parts, just add drives and start.

Popular Use Cases:

• Plex/Jellyfin server (stream movies and shows)

• Automated backups for laptops and desktops

• n8n automations for smart homes or workflows

• Docker playground for developers

Community story: A user replaced their entry-level Synology NAS with a ZimaBlade 7700 kit. Out of the box, it runs CasaOS, simple and user-friendly. Later, they switched to ZimaOS for more advanced NAS features and Docker flexibility. That way, they got the best of both worlds: easy setup first, then room to grow when they were ready.

Why it's special: It bridges the gap between DIY and convenience.

Feel free to explore the reviews about ZimaBlade below👇

ZimaCube – Your Private Cloud

If ZimaBlade is the tinkerer's board, the ZimaCube N100 is the homelab hero, a all-in-one NAS solution. It's for people who want serious storage, collaboration, and media, all without a steep learning curve.

• Model: ZimaCube N100, ZimaCube Pro, ZimaCube Pro Creator Pack

• Comes with: ZimaOS pre-installed, ready to run

Popular Use Cases:

• All-in-one private cloud (ZimaOS pre-installed → Nextcloud, file sync, remote access)

• Family media hub (hardware-accelerated Plex/Jellyfin streaming)

• Backup solution (ZimaOS snapshot tools + external SSD/HDD expandability - not included)

• Collaboration server for small teams (apps like OnlyOffice, file shares, Docker apps)

Community story: A user runs ZimaCube as the heart of his digital home. It stores family photos, powers Plex for movie nights, and runs self-hosted apps, all from one device without extra setup.

Why it's special: More than a NAS! It's a data command center for builders, families, and creators who want control without compromise.

• App Store for Docker apps (install Plex, Nextcloud, Jellyfin, Home Assistant in a click)

• Hardware-accelerated streaming for media servers

• Backup tools for personal and family data

• Easy web UI for managing drives, shares, and services

📘 ZimaOS vs CasaOS

• CasaOS: lightweight, simple, great for small boards

• ZimaOS: more advanced features, hardware acceleration, better NAS functions

👉 Read more: ZimaOS vs Synology DSM →

📝 Read more: ZimaOS + DSM: Meet a Faster, Smoother NAS Experience → 

Why it's special: It lowers the barrier for newcomers while still letting experts dive deep.

Feel free to check the ZimaOS review below👇

Inspiration: What the Community Is Building

Zima isn't just hardware, it's a community. Here are just a few examples we've seen:

• A portable NAS for video editors on the road

• A self-hosted email + calendar server for a small team

• A family Plex + photo backup hub replacing Google Photos

• A Kubernetes cluster with multiple ZimaBoards, running edge services

Every time someone shares a setup on Reddit, Discord, IceWhale community or YouTube, we learn something new. That feedback loops back into how we design future products.

Member Day Perks

Now, the part you've been waiting for:

• Up to 35% off across the store (ZimaBoard 2 excluded)

• Orders over $188 unlock a free Zima Swag Bag (no code needed)

• Runs Sept 13–15, ends at 11:59PM EDT

You Build. We Listen.

Every Zima product started with builders like you telling us what was missing. More SATA? Better rack trays? A stronger OS? We built it because you asked.

Not sure which product fits your needs? Just ask us. Because we're not just a store, we're in your stack. Feel free to reach out at shop@icewhale.org

👉 Explore Zima Member Day Collection →