SBC Home Server Recommendation? reddit / selfhosted ---------------------------------------------------------------------- glad-k · 2023-12-22 15:07 Hey, I'm looking for an SBC to run a home server, I already have done researches and seen most people recommend using an old laptop/x86 board for such application. However, I would prefer getting an SBC both because it will be simpler to explain that it uses no power to my parents and for reusing it in future project like some robotics projects ​ Here is what I would like to run as a start (some future things will be added, I just want an all around home server as IT professional, if you have some other suggestions I should add feel free): \-Remote pc/VMs \-Docker containers (host searXNG, will add more) \-Automatic system backups \-Cloud storage (probably next cloud) \-VPN \-Pi hole ​ Maybe: \-Host some LLM/Image gen or even train my own models? \-Crypto mining (I know I will probably not be profitable but would like to just set it up and try it for one month just for fun and learning, and if profitable maybe auto start/stop it when its cpu is barely used) \-Host some other things like websites, git repos, discord bots, databases \-Host games (pokemon, mc) I also have my previous laptop at disposal, I thought about taking out the 512gb M.2 and use it as main drive for the SBC (maybe wifi card, and give the ram to a friend) or set it up with wake on lan (need to check if its compatible) or maybe take some other components like the battery to make an UPS? I would prefer an SBC with an m.2 slot (although smth like the rpi5 with an m.2 hat is ok but would result in the same price as an orange pi 5) and fast usb C for an external m.2 and some extra usb ports. I already have an ethernet cable, 2X1tb m.2 in an external ssd box, 512gb external ssd and could use a 3D printer although its way cooler if I could see the hardware. What would y'all suggest as setup (would love going into detail like external storage setup with raid, cooling, OS,...)? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- AmountOk3836 · 2023-12-22 17:12 Raspi 5 is honestly pretty great assuming you already have accessories like a sufficient power supply and fan/heatsink. Otherwise for that price (£100+) get something like a Latte Panda which also supports m.2 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- glad-k · 2023-12-22 17:42 Why would you recommend de rpi5? Beside a big community, I don't really see what it offers more compared to for example an orange pi 5 for my use case (or am I missing out on smth)? >Otherwise for that price (£100+) get something like a Latte Panda which also supports m.2 Latte pandas seem to be quite expensive for what I'm trying to do (beside the older models). ---------------------------------------------------------------------- AmountOk3836 · 2023-12-22 18:06 Hmm where I am the orange pi with shipping is around £40 more expansive than the pi for the same amount of ram. If the difference is narrower for you I guess the orange pi is also pretty good ---------------------------------------------------------------------- hhkk47 · 2023-12-22 18:09 Pretty much just the big community. You know that the hardware is going to be well-supported, and that almost anything you'll want to do with it has already been done by someone else. Other SBCs do have better hardware, but the software support tends to be iffy. I would echo the advice you've seen from others -- go with an old computer. If you're concerned about power consumption, take a look at mini PCs running Intel's Alder Lake N-series CPUs. These are very low power (they're basically the 12th-gen efficiency cores), but perform about the same as maybe 6th- or 7th-gen Intel cores. The price of a mini PC with the lowest end model (N100) is not going to be that far off from an SBC once you factor in the additional hardware an SBC needs. The only times I would consider an SBC over these mini PC are if you absolutely need the SBC form factor, or if you need the GPIO. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 54lzy · 2023-12-22 19:20 There are N100 or N95 (very low consumption) NUC-knock-offs for between $100 and $200 on Amazon that have a very low TDP. Then you get the benefit of being x86 instead of arm plus upgradeable ram and M.2+sata slots. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- glad-k · 2023-12-22 19:35 Actually, the Opi5 would be cheaper for me 8gb versions w shipping&taxes: Opi5 w charger = 120 bucks Rpi5 w charger = 119 bucks and that's without m.2 hat ---------------------------------------------------------------------- glad-k · 2023-12-22 19:42 >Pretty much just the big community. You know that the hardware is going to be well-supported, and that almost anything you'll want to do with it has already been done by someone else. > >Other SBCs do have better hardware, but the software support tends to be iffy. And why wouldn't I be able to just use those documentations if I run debian or ubuntu or... beside gpio ofc? Are there some things only working on rpi5 os? ​ >I would echo the advice you've seen from others -- go with an old computer. If you're concerned about power consumption, take a look at mini PCs running Intel's Alder Lake N-series CPUs. These are very low power (they're basically the 12th-gen efficiency cores), but perform about the same as maybe 6th- or 7th-gen Intel cores. Just trying to check both worlds, getting an SBC is also just cool in the long term to reuse it in other project, but my old laptop could also be an option. (seems better than buying a mini pc) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- glad-k · 2023-12-22 19:57 Seems like a good option thx, although if I'm going for x86 (which seems a bit overkill for now but why not), I'm prob going to start my old laptop first. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 54lzy · 2023-12-22 19:58 Old laptop is cheaper option but may be less efficient. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- AmountOk3836 · 2023-12-22 21:37 That’s great for you then, I’d probably go for that. I was just saying where I was it’s a bit more expensive ---------------------------------------------------------------------- glad-k · 2023-12-23 00:22 True, it's also a "gaming" laptop... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- hhkk47 · 2023-12-23 04:36 > And why wouldn't I be able to just use those documentations if I run debian or ubuntu or... beside gpio ofc? Are there some things only working on rpi5 os? It's more that you will have to run specific versions of Linux distros (with specific kernels) instead of just being able to run any generic distro. This can cause issues at times -- not to mention being potentially outdated/insecure. I did read that the Rockchip stuff will be (or may already be) supported in the mainline kernel, so maybe that has changed. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- glad-k · 2023-12-23 10:20 >I was just saying where I was it’s a bit more expensive Out of curiosity, where are you from? Cz orange pis can be got from ali and from my know their shipping price is quite low everywhere, or is it the rpi being cheaper? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- glad-k · 2023-12-23 10:38 From what I see the orange pi (as an example of a rockchip SBC) seem to support a lot (see [Opi5 images](http://www.orangepi.org/html/hardW are/computerAndMicrocontrollers/service-and-support/Orange- pi-5.html#:~:text=Downloads-,Official%20Images,-OpenWRT%20Image)) beside the raspberry pi OS (which ig will have some softs only working on it but also vice versa?) but when I saw some reviews of in on ytb most of the google drives were empty, so I guess that has changed. If that's the case would Opi5 be a better choice and what os should I look for? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [deleted] · 2023-12-23 22:15 [removed]