Top 5 Mini PCs for Home Server in early 2024

Тәжірибелік нұсқаулар және стиль

Mini PCs are a great platform for running a home lab environment. We take a look at the top 5 mini PCs that I have tested for home lab in early to mid 2024 and see which options I would pick.
I have a write up on top mini PCs here:
www.virtualizationhowto.com/2...
Check out the VHT forums to get your questions answered: www.virtualizationhowto.com/c...
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Introducing the Top 5 Mini PCs for home server - 0:00
Quick reasons you may want to use a mini PC for home server - 0:40
Compact size - 0:48
Energy efficiency - 1:14
They are quiet - 1:39
Cost effective - 2:15
Good performance - 2:38
1. Minisforum MS-01 - 3:15
2. Trigkey S7 Pro - 4:48
3. GMKtec Nucbox M5 - 6:06
4. GMKtec Nucbox K10 - 7:54
5. Beelink SEi 12 - 8:56
Wrapping up thoughts on top mini PCs - 10:05

Пікірлер: 54

  • @AchwaqKhalid
    @AchwaqKhalid15 күн бұрын

    On-Screen specs are a must on this type of videos 💡

  • @VirtualizationHowto

    @VirtualizationHowto

    15 күн бұрын

    @AchwaqKhalid good to note. Thank you for the feedback!

  • @druxpack8531
    @druxpack853115 күн бұрын

    been using mini-pcs since the HP mini G1's a decade ago...and to be honest, the Asrock Deskmeet is a better option. 4 full size RAM slots (128GB or 192GB in the new x600!!), Desktop CPU, and a PCIe slot that can handle a video card or 10/25/40/100GB networking) in a 8 liter size. just tune the power settings up and down depending on the project and how much horsepower you want/need at the time. minis have too many limitations and lack expandability. Resale value is better as well because you can part it out and sell as you upgrade.

  • @darthkielbasa

    @darthkielbasa

    15 күн бұрын

    Interesting take. I had no awareness of the asrock deskmeet platform. Gonna check it out! Initial browsing is showing barebones x300w are widely available.

  • @Airbag888

    @Airbag888

    13 күн бұрын

    Sure but what is the lowest power draw you can hit? If it's not using a DC power jack very often it will be in the double digits at idle

  • @druxpack8531

    @druxpack8531

    13 күн бұрын

    @@Airbag888 You will be using a desktop processor, so it will be higher, but that is the trade off for performance, expandability, resale value, etc...just keep in mind, the number one on this list (and widely considered the best mini-pc for homelabs; the MS-01) has an idle power consumption of 25-29 Watts as tested by Serve The Home: "Idle power consumption was higher than the average mini PC. We saw around 25-29W at idle on our test system.The system under load would spin up to around 115W for ~45 seconds before pushing back down to 90-95W and run at that level consistently."

  • @Airbag888

    @Airbag888

    13 күн бұрын

    @@druxpack8531 in case you did not know it's possible to hit single digits on a decent processor. The minisforum is nice but maybe needs better power management in their drivers and also offer mid spec cpus. Lookup wolfgang's channel

  • @johngreen1060

    @johngreen1060

    13 күн бұрын

    This looks great. My main gripe with mini PCs was lack of space for storage. Desktop components mean I already have most components to populate the x300 system.

  • @gowinfanless
    @gowinfanless11 күн бұрын

    Very impressive and I hope you could try the Gowin R86S fanless version!

  • @RutgerJonaker
    @RutgerJonaker15 күн бұрын

    Good video, but I think you talk too much about VMware. VMware is not free anymore so I think homelabbers are going to change hypervisor now

  • @rakly3473

    @rakly3473

    15 күн бұрын

    It's actually free again. Well, Workstation and Fusion that is.

  • @JamesGreen-gv4yn
    @JamesGreen-gv4yn15 күн бұрын

    I find these Mini PC videos interesting and after watching it I still feel like I made a great choice in selecting a Protectli Vault. These are fantastic for a home lab server running Proxmox. I have two sets of three. One for my home network and one for a lab network. Each set clustered together. 100% fan-less and no noise coming from them. They now have some with 10G networking if that is desired. For those still using 1G network switches, the 6 ports allow for different ports on different VLANS or even creating some redundancy plus faster speeds by bonding them together.

  • @polraudiozion1156
    @polraudiozion115611 күн бұрын

    I been using a reServer i5 1135G7 with 64gb of ram, 1TB NVME for the main drive, 4TB HDD and a 500GB SSD. I have proxmox on it and i use it for hosting game servers and some development things. I dont remember what model but i also have a reComputer with 8gb of ram that i just use for my plex server and NAS. Its got a 6TB and an 8TB HDD connected to it.

  • @jasonluong3862
    @jasonluong386210 күн бұрын

    Can you do a video on what to do when issues arise from using these Intel hybrid CPUs with the performance and efficiency cores? In particular how do these CPUs affect the use of Proxmox?

  • @conorton
    @conorton15 күн бұрын

    Can you run ESXi 8 on the minisforum or just Windows 2022 Standard on it?

  • @dukeseb
    @dukeseb15 күн бұрын

    I’d swap out your beelink for the EQ12pro….. it’s top notch for clustering proxmox and has both sata and nvme as well as 2 2.5g nics

  • @ronm6585
    @ronm658513 күн бұрын

    Thanks.

  • @enzanto
    @enzanto6 күн бұрын

    Got my self a used dell 3070, with i5-9500t and 256gb nvme disc, and 8gb of ram. ca $100. Just going to add more ram. and a ssd for storage. and i have a perfect proxmox server with NAS for my use

  • @TontNZ
    @TontNZ9 күн бұрын

    I've just purchased a barebones AOOSTAR R7 2 Bay 40T NAS Storage AMD Ryzen 7 5700U Mini PC(8C/16T; up to 4.3GHz, they are currently selling for US$299! I plan to put 64Gb (2xSO-DIMM), a 2Tb M.2, 4Tb M.2 and two Exos 18Gb's into it. I want a basic NAS and would like to try Proxmox for the first time.

  • @christianlohmann8577
    @christianlohmann857715 күн бұрын

    Xcp-ng on my MS-01; thinking to get a second one

  • @VirtualizationHowto

    @VirtualizationHowto

    15 күн бұрын

    awesome!

  • @scampi_ml
    @scampi_ml15 күн бұрын

    At 10:57 the audio cuts out, is this normal? Thx :) Keep them coming

  • @VirtualizationHowto

    @VirtualizationHowto

    15 күн бұрын

    @scampiml1985 - So sorry on that, didn't catch this before uploading, it looks like something happened with the audio right at the end during upload....well at least it is just me signing off :)

  • @Tanax13
    @Tanax1315 күн бұрын

    What about Asus NUC 14? They are using Intels new "Ultra Core" 5/7/9

  • @accesser
    @accesser15 күн бұрын

    Possibly unlikely, I'd like to see a model with the new laptop LPCAMM2 memory

  • @atamarez80
    @atamarez807 сағат бұрын

    the first one was very nicre

  • @pfitz4881
    @pfitz488115 күн бұрын

    Seems most of these have some shortcomings for home lab use. Are there any Mini PCs that tick all the boxes?

  • @VirtualizationHowto

    @VirtualizationHowto

    15 күн бұрын

    I think the MS-01 is the one to go with at this time in 2024.

  • @g.s.3389
    @g.s.338915 күн бұрын

    I think that the only rule is to use a Ryzen and not an Intel with efficient and performance core, so that it is possible to use ESXi but have also stable performance.

  • @frustratedalien666

    @frustratedalien666

    14 күн бұрын

    How many people still use ESXi for their home server? Almost everyone I know uses proxmox and it works fine with the P and E cores. Most of my devices are Ryzen, but I've got two reasonably powerful mini PCs with 12th and 13th gen i9s and they haven't given me any grief in the 6 months I've had them.

  • @christoffbothma3905
    @christoffbothma390515 күн бұрын

    Where is the v700

  • @cloudcloud408
    @cloudcloud40814 күн бұрын

    the web link is broken.

  • @zyghom
    @zyghom15 күн бұрын

    the biggest problem with all mini PCs is lack of SATA ports or ways to install it - except maybe MS-01

  • @HiltonT69

    @HiltonT69

    15 күн бұрын

    I've seen quite a few with a 2.5 SATA capability.

  • @zyghom

    @zyghom

    15 күн бұрын

    @@HiltonT69 what is 2.5 SATA? I heard about SATA 3 but 2.5?

  • @peteradshead2383

    @peteradshead2383

    15 күн бұрын

    @@zyghom 2.5 is the size of the drive 2.5 inch , eg a laptop size .

  • @zyghom

    @zyghom

    15 күн бұрын

    @@peteradshead2383 yeap, this I know, but to make a NAS or so, 1or 2 SATA ports is not enough.

  • @dukeseb

    @dukeseb

    15 күн бұрын

    Eq12 pro beelink

  • @tvojejbabkydedko
    @tvojejbabkydedko15 күн бұрын

    pretty sure you cant run esxi on ms01

  • @VirtualizationHowto

    @VirtualizationHowto

    15 күн бұрын

    @tvojejbabkydedko, thanks for the comment. There is no issue running ESXi on the MS-01 as long as you run the ESXi boot parameter for non uniform processors. See my review video here: kzread.info/dash/bejne/hmZmm7Vyl8uYqJs.html

  • @jackz166
    @jackz16614 күн бұрын

    I just feel regular ATX build is better for home lab. Why do we need mini PC?

  • @vasileioszografos9318
    @vasileioszografos931815 күн бұрын

    ok I am setting speed to x1.25

  • @VirtualizationHowto

    @VirtualizationHowto

    15 күн бұрын

    lol...I guess this means I talk too slow? :)

  • @theroboticscodedepot7736
    @theroboticscodedepot773615 күн бұрын

    Seriously, you didn't include the MINSFORUM Mini PC NAB9? I think you need to do a little better research.

  • @VirtualizationHowto

    @VirtualizationHowto

    15 күн бұрын

    @theroboticscodedepot7736 as I mentioned at the end of the video, the mini pcs in my list are only ones I have tried. I dont' want to give recommendations on any hardware I haven't tried out personally.

  • @HiltonT69
    @HiltonT6915 күн бұрын

    Nobody will be buying a new pc for a VMware homelab any more.

  • @delliscool4924
    @delliscool49242 күн бұрын

    BEAUTIFUL DEVICE...IF ONLY POSSIBLE TO CONNECT IT TO MOBILE PHONE SCREEN BY BLUETOOTH OR WIFI..

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