I have two systems that I need to replace. One is my backup server, which runs FreeBSD and uses some USB attached drives. Really that could be done with anything that is like a Pi, except amd64/x86.
The other is my pfSense router. It is having some hardware issue, which isn’t surprising, I pulled parts out of my scrap pile to make it. For that, I need something that can take an pcie card for my dual 10g network card. Does anyone have any ITX or smallish machines they like? Actual smallness doesn’t matter so much as not being expensive.
How do people go about finding things these days? I used to use newegg, but mostly now it seems to be a trap of accidentally ordering parts from the moon. Amazon is fine if you know exactly what you want already. Pcpartspicker works well, if you are building a full system from parts (which I do for bigger machines) but I don’t know where to get barebones boxes.
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Dell Optipex i loaded my down with max ram and put 2x 2.5hdd and 1 14TB HDD inside. I’ll probably get a storage case for the HDD’s later.
Which one you use?
Optiplex 3070, it’s made a good box for jellyfin, truenas etc. SFF is goof for my needs but if i didnt move often i’d get a regular size to hold more HDD
Nice! I’m thinking about getting a 3040.
They are solid, the bios was my biggest surprise as there are so many settings i can tweak. Dell and Lenovo both make good boxes for homelabs and run linux well.
Wait you are unclear. Is expensive a problem?
I don’t use PFSense anymore. But I do use opnsense. And while I have iterated through all sorts of appliances, including back to PFSense when I used it and from an atom box, to a I5 base setup to another super micro mini box etc etc.
For the last two years I have been using a DEC 750 from deciso for opnsense. It’s pretty solid.not cheap tho.
Expensive is a little bit a problem. Mostly I don’t want to spend money.
I’m going to try a Zimaboard for the backup server. It should be fine. I might need a USB hub but whatever, performance isn’t a wiggle there.
I’m a pretty big fan of the super micro super servers
Like the e200 and e300 systems.
https://www.supermicro.com/en/products/embedded/compact-edge-systems
I’ve always considered one for a router. In fact my last one was an e200-8d for a while. Wont do 10 Gb or even 1 gb with Suricata/snort tho and they are still way too pricey.
I do have a rando dell SFF/mini tower I use in a pinch.
You can get a Dell Optiplex 7020/9020 SFF i5 16GB RAM No HDD from the Michigan State Surplus. For me shipping was about $25 for three of them.
Wow, that’s a shockingly good deal. I’d love to get something like this for Plex and general household stuff.
Yeah, they have ones with 1 TB HDD, and some with Windows installed too. Besides these guys, I routinely search for surplus equipment all the time
You wouldn’t mind sharing where to look for surplus stuff would you?
Such a good find. Now I’m trying to find a reason to get one lol. My Plex and *arr setup right now is an older model gaming rig with an 8TB external.
You want 7th gen or newer for Plex if you want to use QSV for hardware acceleration! Good news is those boxes are still under $100 on ebay.
Damn I need something like this but in Canada
Nice, thanks.
That is actually pretty solid. Ordered one.
Wow, just learned about a really awesome place, those are good prices!
Curse you! Ordered…
Just add power cost to run it. Old thing become way more expensive if you add power cost over it life.
They use about ~20W, not too bad.
That said I would go for 7th gen or newer at this point for proper QSV support, and OpenVINO support for things like Frigate object detection.
Yeah, they have lots of stuff if you search around the site. Probably other surplus sites or there too with good deals
I still use a couple of HP N40Ls for NAS. They’re not fast but they hold up just fine and are as reliable as a brick. The newer models look pretty interesting if you can pick one up used.
The Optiplex micro workstations are also pretty awesome for servers.
Maybe see if your local area has any swap meets? In my home town, there are quite a few computer enthusiasts and I’ve gotten some pretty good deals on stuff from Windows users that will no longer cut the mustard for Windows but do great for Linux and BSD.
I’m not allowed to go places or do things. That isn’t a bad idea though.
Personally I like the Lenovo Mini Systems. Have three right now. Mostly use the AMD ones with built in Radeon and my kids do Minecraft on them. But they also make great mini servers. Lots of folks use the Intel versions for Plex servers with quicksync. Some versions will also fit a pci card for 10gb or quad nics.
