Hi, I’m looking to buy a small computer to upgrade my setup for selfhosted servers. Right now I’m running containers directly on my qnap nas but I would like to migrate most of them on a dedicated server. I’m looking for something that could run docker with stuff like plex, arrr apps, Torrenring, wireguard, vault garden and more. I would like for that server to be very power efficient, something running with as low as 65w TDP or less and also I would like it to be a small computer, something like beelink or Lenovo tiny form factor for example . I looked some small pc from Lenovo, Dell, hp and as I understood it is a bit messy with the power usage depending of the cpu. So I was wondering what would me options be here? Is there other people here who also wanted to run power efficient servers if yes what did you found?
I’m currently running my Lemmy instance, an Ark server, and a Teamspeak server on a Dell Precision 3260 running Proxmox. I’ve been really happy with it, and honestly a little surprised at just how well it’s been going.
This modele is looking, good but I would like a smaller size for the computer, I think dell call them tiny or micro form factor.
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+1 for beelink. Little PCs are powerful. Call me paranoid but direct windows install shipped from China skeevs me out, but wiping it and putting linux on it makes it a great little server
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Why would I go with proxmox rather than only a ubuntu server with docker and portainer as front end?
If you have no need for a nice UI for VMs/Containers then there’s no reason. You can do everything proxmox does with CLI but with a lot more effort.
If I’m not mistaken, proxmox does not support container right?
It does, it uses LXC containers.
I have to learn about lxc container, I’m use to docker container but lxc is a mystery for me haha. Thanks
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Haha ok make sense
+1 for a used Lenovo. I have a Lenovo ThinkCentre M710q I used to run as a server I got for ~$50 with an i7-7700. Only thing it was missing was an A/C adapter which set me back ~$30 IIRC.
When I’m looking, I’ll browse eBay’s desktop category sorted by ending soonest auction only and occasionally something will pop up that is worth it.
I’ve had a lot of luck with these (I’m using the previous gen, but this one should be even better), they’re so cheap I bought 3 of them and set up a little proxmox cluster. The iGPU. In them is strong enough to run multiple 4k Plex transcoded, and I have 20 or so containters and vms tunning across then without hitting any limits. https://m.aliexpress.com/item/1005005575993915.html?spm=a2g0n.productlist.0.0.4ea83dd0P2OEuA&browser_id=e010fa4472c54b7ab7a7431394ec6e9b&aff_platform=msite&m_page_id=gxinhmngbwccavuh1891a9984c2ea436a5e1596831&gclid=&pdp_npi=3%40dis!GBP!244.73!134.6!!!!!%40214527c616883684159437702d0723!12000033613841000!sea!UK!0&algo_pvid=42d27fb3-693a-4b11-97f8-7e83f1dddc74
If you want a smaller, cleaner url, then you can delete everything after the question mark. https://m.aliexpress.us/item/3256805389679163.html
Thanks. Now I have to buy a new device!
I did not know about those, thank you
I’ve saw some good news about Intel’s N95/100/200/305 CPUs, N200 is said to have similar performance as I5-7400 at 6W TDP.
Cool, I will go check those processor for sure. Do you happen to know if there’s a small factor pc running with one of those processors?
Gigabyte GB-BNIP-N200
MSI Cubi N ADL
Beelink EQ12
Perfect I’ll check them, thanks for the suggestions
How much do you want to spend?
Well I’m aiming 800 and less.
I’ve had a lot of success with a QOTOM box from aliexpress.
They’re little fanless boxes running basic intel Core chips, in a variety of configs.
I’ve run OPNSense and PFSense as routers (also doing wireguard, torrents, etc), as well as just standard Ubuntu server.
Very small and low power, and pretty cheap. They come in a variety of configs.
Running an odroid h3+ for home server running plex, the goodies and a bunch of home lab stuff on it hasn’t missed a beat it’s tiny and powerful
I should also look for odroid they sound great to, but if I’m not mistaken they are running on a arm processor right?
Most Odroid boards have arm processors, but the H3+ has an Intel N6005.
I love the Odroids. Perfect also for clustering setup, as they are pretty cheap in terms of buying price but also operating costs.
I don’t have an answer, likely just a link that creates a bunch more questions
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=sth+1l+computer
enjoy.
All the tiny micro server content is great from sth.
Nice, I’ll definitely watch the video thank. I hope it will help me a bit at least, let’s go down to the rabbit hole haha.
I run wireguard VPN, qbitorrent, most of the *arr apps, and Jellyfin all in containers on a headless Raspberry Pi 4, with storage backed by a NAS. It works surprisingly well, I just ensure that I never need to do transcoding.
It’s a really small dollar investment to try it to see if it meets your needs.
Crazy that nobody pointed you to a bulletproof Intel NUC.
I think it is because they are more expansive ? If i’m not wrong
Definitely more expensive, but you can get used ones from a few generations ago for cheap on eBay
More expensive yes, but insane warenty, highest quality, follows specs and actually rated for 24/7 operation
I think that the Minisforum UM690/UM790 are looking quite attractive for their price points, if you’re looking for something high-end. $520 for an 8-core Zen 4 barebone. I haven’t bought one though, I’m just using an old notebook.
Mini forum computer look attracting but they do not ship to Canada saddly
Weird, they certainly claim so on their US website:
Available countries and regions: United States, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Singapore, […]