Old Repurposed Hardware Recommendations reddit / selfhosted ---------------------------------------------------------------------- spurgeonspooner · 2023-12-19 19:09 I haven't really thought about hardware in over 10 years, but I want to get more into self-hosting. I know I at least need more storage, and possibly other upgrades/replacements, but I'd like to keep my cost as low as possible. The primary use will be photo management (Immich) for my wife and I. If all goes well and it can handle it, it would be nice to add Nextcloud and Jellyfin to the same machine. For video, I don't mind capping video to 1080 to ease performance requirements. There will just be 2 users, so I wouldn't think the requirements would be too dramatic. The old machine I'm hoping to repurpose has a Intel [DG45ID](https://a rk.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/34684/intel-desktop-board- dg45id.html) motherboard, a Core 2 Quad [Q6600](https://ark.intel.com/ content/www/us/en/ark/products/29765/intel-core-2-quad- processor-q6600-8m-cache-2-40-ghz-1066-mhz-fsb.html) processor, and currently 8gb of RAM. Are my goals realistic? I think I could upgrade the ram to 16gb, and drop a SATA SSD drive in that would meet my storage requirements. If not, what's the best way to get a cheap machine for this type of project? Could I get something workable for \~$300? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- certuna · 2023-12-19 19:23 For such a system, you can indeed get the parts for free (apart from the SSD) and most Linux distros still run on it. However, power consumption will be big and will eat up much of your savings. These ancient Core 2 Quad systems rarely idle below 50W (=438 kWh for a year), plus they are pretty noisy. So maybe not bad to play around and experiment with, but if you’re planning going to run it 24/7 for years, that’s maybe not so ideal. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ItsPwn · 2023-12-19 21:00 I would advise a more modern less power hungry chip/machine Something with new N100 chip (i bought few of these around 109$ barebone from gmktec and aliexpress (140) but that came with ram and ssd which i replaced. For gallery you can perfectly run a storage server that that inbuilt /r/xpenology Synology DSM has Photos application and phone managament apps in application store .Its a great mature software. Boot loader is available here , it wont work on Your C2D (as the software needs higher chipset than ICH7 which is reallllly old) https://github.com/AuxXxilium/arc Storage wise (speaking from my own sitting point) i reused a bunch of 2,5 sata disks i had and use them as storage via USB that is plugged into above \^ ​ Happy to help/advice/with setup ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Agile_Ad_2073 · 2023-12-19 22:08 Oh man, don’t trust your wife’s photos. If by any unfortunate event you lose them all, you are fucked ---------------------------------------------------------------------- spurgeonspooner · 2023-12-19 22:35 I'd be doing weekly backups to something like Proton Drive or Tresorit. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [deleted] · 2023-12-19 22:37 [removed] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- spurgeonspooner · 2023-12-20 16:53 Wow, that actually looks like a great option. My only hesitation is that storage maxes out at 2tb. That might be enough, but I kinda wanted the option to upgrade to 4tb at some point. Still though, to have 2tb of storage, 32gb of RAM, and a very efficient processor for under $300 is really compelling. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ItsPwn · 2023-12-20 18:08 UNTRUE because with Proxox You can easily virtualize the OS it self and add storage at will via USB , im doing just that for past few months and its been rock solid. Just a bunch of usb to sata 3.0/3.2's from aliex for 2,5 / 3,5 disks and it all works well (Passthrough the whole controller / usb port / or just attach disk by id in proxmox shell (cli) ). I got fairly good experience and i know how to set up in matter of minute or two ;-) I only use M.2 nvme slot for Linux (Proxmox hypervisor) from there i manage everything (webgui). So what i bought recently 1) 109$ at time no ram no ssd [https://www.gmktec.com/products/gmktec-nucbox-g3-most-cost-effective- mini-pc-with- intel-n100-processor](https://www.gmktec.com/products/gmktec- nucbox-g3-most-cost-effective-mini-pc-with-intel-n100-processor) this isn't horrible really , bios is great. 2) [https://www.aliexpress.us/item/1005006141099278.html](https://www. aliexpress.us/item/1005006141099278.html) with RAM and SSD which i never ever once booted with. Just replaced both m.2's with 2280 nvme and installed proxmox 2nd option has internal space for 2,5 disk but i dont even use that) Happy to help with the journey and setup (as i was in same spot 2/3 years ago and no one helped me go to go throuh this "new topic") ---------------------------------------------------------------------- spurgeonspooner · 2023-12-21 06:43 That second link isn't working for me, but I see now the GMKtec NukBox G3 actually can take a 2tb 2280 SSD and another 2tb 2240 SSD, plus the option of external USB to SATA disks you're describing. I don't have experience with Proxmox, but if I understand correctly, it would allow me to combine these multiple drives into a larger virtual drive, and then run Ubuntu Server / Cosmos / my Docker setup on it, and add storage as I go, as needed. Is that right? If so, that seems like the right solution for me. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ItsPwn · 2023-12-21 23:06 Yes M.2 is only used for proxmox ve for me where I keep the VM/lxc's I use USB devices as storage because it just works I've no interest in buying outdated m.2 SATA just to add some flash storage personally. - proxmox is the way to go to run everything and everything runs on top of it (Personally) I have no use for Ubuntu server lol Cosmos looks weird asf ,just normal.docker container for me to setup everything imo.