Topics
Browse posts by category and tag — every topic we cover, with the latest pieces under each.
Tags
- #homelab 23
- #mini-pc 20
- #n100 18
- #low-power 10
- #energy-efficiency 4
- #proxmox 4
- #budget 3
- #lxc 3
- #power-consumption 3
- #uptime 3
- #virtualization 3
- #alder-lake-n 2
- #bios 2
- #build-guide 2
- #comparison 2
- #cpu-comparison 2
- #docker 2
- #jellyfin 2
- #kill-a-watt 2
- #n305 2
- #nas 2
- #plex 2
- #quick-sync 2
- #self-hosting 2
- #thin-client 2
- #transcoding 2
- #24-7 1
- #ac-power-recovery 1
- #buying-guide 1
- #capacity-planning 1
- #dell 1
- #electricity-cost 1
- #fanless 1
- #firewall 1
- #hardware 1
- #home-assistant 1
- #home-server 1
- #homelab-build 1
- #hp-t620 1
- #hp-t630 1
- #hp-t640 1
- #idle-wattage 1
- #igpu 1
- #lenovo-tiny 1
- #media-server 1
- #n150 1
- #n97 1
- #networking 1
- #nextcloud 1
- #noise 1
- #nvme 1
- #pfsense 1
- #pi-hole 1
- #power 1
- #ram 1
- #raspberry-pi 1
- #sata-ssd 1
- #silent 1
- #starter-stack 1
- #storage 1
- #thinkcentre 1
- #troubleshooting 1
- #twin-lake 1
- #uefi 1
- #ups 1
- #wake-on-lan 1
- #wyse-5070 1
Categories
guides 16 posts
- N100 Mini PC Power Consumption: Idle and Load WattsWhat an N100 mini PC actually draws at the wall: 6-12W idle, 20-30W loaded, why the 6W TDP figure misleads, and the yearly cost of leaving it on.
- How to Build a Low Power Homelab: Start With a Watt BudgetA watt-budget approach to a low power homelab: pick hardware that idles under 10W, verify it with a meter, and run a Docker stack for about $1 a month.
- How Many VMs Can an N100 Mini PC Run?RAM sets the ceiling on an N100 mini PC, not cores. A per-service memory budget, three worked Proxmox stacks, and the symptoms of an overloaded host.
- Mini PC BIOS Settings for a 24/7 HomelabThe BIOS pass a headless mini PC needs before the OS goes on: AC power recovery, Wake-on-LAN, VT-d, C-states, boot mode, fan curve, and radios.
- Proxmox iGPU Passthrough for Plex in an LXCGive a Plex or Jellyfin LXC access to an N100 iGPU under Proxmox: the render device, the group ID trap, unprivileged containers, and how to verify it.
- Best Mini PC for pfSense Firewall: Hardware That WorksHow to pick the best mini PC for a pfSense firewall: NIC compatibility, AES-NI, RAM sizing, and the specific models that work reliably in 2026.
reviews 6 posts
- N150 vs N100 for a Homelab: What Actually ChangedIntel's N150 quietly replaced the N100 in 2026 mini PCs. What the Twin Lake refresh changes for a homelab, what it does not, and which one to buy.
- Best Mini PC for a Proxmox Homelab in 2026Three mini PCs that actually run Proxmox well, from a $150 N100 box to the MS-01's dual 10GbE, with specs, trade-offs and what to check before buying.
- Lenovo ThinkCentre Tiny vs N100 Mini PC for a HomelabUsed Lenovo M720q/M920q/M75q Tiny vs new Intel N100 mini PCs for a 24/7 homelab — idle wattage, expandability, BIOS quality, and which is the better buy.
- Mini PC vs NAS vs Raspberry Pi for a HomelabMini PC, prebuilt NAS or Raspberry Pi for a first homelab? Cost, idle power, what each is genuinely good at, and the trap each one sets for beginners.
- The Intel N100 Mini PC Buying Guide for HomelabsWhat to look for when buying an Intel N100 mini PC for a 24/7 homelab: RAM, storage layout, NIC quality, BIOS quirks, and which brands to trust.
- N100 vs N305 vs N97: Which Low-Power Chip for Your Homelab?How the Intel N100, N305 and N97 compare for a homelab: cores, idle watts, memory ceilings and price, plus which one is worth the step up and when.
builds 3 posts
- A Starter Self-Hosting Stack for a Mini PCThe first services to run on a new N100-class mini PC, in order: reverse proxy, DNS, remote access, backups, then the apps, with a RAM budget for each.
- A Low-Power 24/7 Home Server Build That Stays QuietA complete parts-to-power walkthrough of a 24/7 home server built around idle wattage and silence: hardware, the OS layer, BIOS tuning, and the UPS.
- A $200 N100 Homelab: 11 Services, ~8W Idle, Low MaintenanceA complete reference N100 mini PC homelab build: every part, every service, every BIOS tweak, and what it costs to run per year. Documented to copy.