2025-11-10

If you want to get into IT and need to build a homelab, where can
you get actually cheap compute?

I thought about this the other day when talking with some "younger
folk" who wanted to build up some skills. Since I'm an elder
millenial, I have literal closets full of old laptops and computers
I've collected over the years. All of which can be cobbled together
to build quick linux or BSD server farms.

I actually just installed the latest LTS Ubuntu on a Core 2 Duo
laptop I had sitting around to test some python and golang stuff.
Works perfectly fine.

So just "run what you brung" is probably the cheapest method of
getting quick homelab compute going. Getting old computers from
your family and friends is cheap and easy. As long as it is running
a 64-bit x86 chip, it is pretty much useable to install Linux and
learn basics like web-servers, containers, python, k8s, and whatever
you want on a standard linux install. The downside of course is
space and power efficiency and noise...oh god the noise.

I see a lot of youtubers and netizens suggesting and using a lot
of rasberry Pi devices. I have to be honest and say that I've never
been really keen on that option. Unless you are really using the
IoT/GPIO functions of the rasberry Pi device, then I really can't
see why people love them so much for building general IT compute
infrastructure like servers and such. I just never saw the appeal.
Nowadays they usually end up costing at least $100 USD all in for
a case and power supply. Now don't get me wrong, rasberry Pi's are
very capable machines that are very power efficient but for general
IT homelabs, I just think there are better and cheaper options that
you don't have to assemble yourself.

Another really popular option is to buy a bunch of used corporate
1 Liter (1L)  mini-PCs like HP elitedesks or old lenovo ThinkCentres
or even old Intel NUCs.  Also getting super tiny Intel N-series
mini-PCs from amazon are also popular. The problem is of course
cost. Even the cheapest N100 mini-pcs from Amazon are often over
$100USD. And although you can often find older corporate 1L mini-PCs
for cheaper, they are often very loud with cheap and high pitched
CPU fans...ask me how I know.

So what's the solution? Personally I really like buying old Intel
Mac Minis. Specifically the "Mid 2011" and "Late 2012" Mac Minis
with the i7 processor.  These devices were made by the millions
and you can find them around $50 USD on ebay all the time. The
intel i7 Mac Minis still have dual SATA drive capability, along
with replaceable (and cheap) DDR3 RAM. They basically have the
performance of a Rasberry Pi 5 (single and multicore) and at only
5W idle, they aren't huge power hungry towers either. And their
one big advantage over 1L mini-PCs is that they are generally VERY
QUIET. The thermal design on the Mac Mini's is just better.

Of course, they are more complicated to upgrade the internal parts,
but the RAM is easy enough to upgrade. The SATA disks are a little
harder to get to but nothing too crazy.

Most importantly they are CHEAP to buy and upgrade. Used DDR3 RAM
is everywhere and SATA disks are hella cheap. They make great Linux
servers for people wanting to build up labs and most importantly
they are QUIET, CHEAP, and EFFICIENT.

I dunno, am I smoking crack? I just feel like these Intel Mac Minis
hit the perfect balance of power, cost, and noise for a homelab.
Of course, these things won't help you learn AI but for everything
else you need to learn about Linux, Servers, containers, python,
k8s, automation, etc etc. I just feel like these old Mac Minis are
goldmines at the $50 USD price point. Of course, once you start
getting into the $100 to $150 price points, there are way better
options.

I think N150 mini-PCs at  the $150 price point and actual Rasberry
Pi computers at the $100 price point may be more compelling...but
I'm really hard pressed to find a better compute option than Intel
Mac Minis at the $50 and below price point.

anyways, if anyone knows of a better compute option at $50 with
the same upgradeability and expansion ports and quietness and
efficiency of an old Mac Mini, then let me know.

peace out!