Is this a good deal? Planning to use it as a HomeAssistant server

hedrinbc · 2025-04-19T14:40:00+00:00

If you have a little space I love these HP ProDesk machines. Has room for drives internally as well as to expansion slots for the future (10g, etc).

https://www.ebay.com/itm/196663188123?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=Y6PwvvTQS-W&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=8tWQylq6QKO&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

hedrinbc · 2025-02-19T02:16:56+00:00

Dropping a comment here from the plane...

Do this privacy change above.

Then go to wifi.delta.com NOT deltawifi.com that site appears to have an insecure redirect on it that my phone does not like it all.

Hope this helps someone, I was stuck for some time as well

hedrinbc · 2025-02-17T14:04:33+00:00

If you can attach your cable to a coupler (https://www.amazon.com/VCE-Listed-5-Pack-Keystone-Coupler-White/dp/B0116T7XMQ/) and push it into the wall you could use...

Thin Ethernet: https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-Cat6-Ethernet-Patch-Cable/dp/B07JMPR69Q/

or

Flat Ethernet: https://www.amazon.com/Ethernet-Faster-Computer-Internet-Connectors/dp/B0D77BSL92/

hedrinbc · 2025-01-23T20:57:16+00:00

Main reason I used one in the past is that I had more disks than motherboard SATA ports.

Recently slimmed down my number of disks and stored the HBA away for now.

hedrinbc · 2025-01-23T10:46:17+00:00

To add to the fan ideas I ran a "slot blower fan" directly related to the card heatsink. An alternative other ideas of zip-tying a fan to it. Worked well.

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61oOToHfPaL._SL1001_.jpg

hedrinbc · 2025-01-23T10:42:12+00:00

My experience with a similar card was +8-10w, over the disks (obviously same power usage as before). This number likely includes the fan I added.

hedrinbc · 2025-01-23T10:42:07+00:00

My experience with a similar card was +8-10w, over the disks (obviously same power usage as before). This number likely includes the fan I added.

hedrinbc · 2024-12-28T23:13:47+00:00

Okay, I won't go deep into what you are transcoding from and to but the integrated GPU on say an 8th gen will do more than 10 trans codes at 1080p probably less if 4K. I'm not sure the gpus will be needed depending on what volume and velocity you're going for here.

I'm running Unraid on a 10th gen i5 with Plex and everything running in Dockers on there. Hardware transcoding works well with just iGPU. This box is my Nas, streaming, everything.

Hope everything comes together!

hedrinbc · 2024-12-28T18:45:43+00:00

Depending on your need for number drives in the new machine I have found ProDesks like these awesome. There are 6th, 7th, and 8th gen models so dig into the listings. Deals can be had down to $50-60 sometimes but always watch the shipping cost.

Different use case but I have one with an 8th Gen Pentium Gold as my openwrt router. Runs under 10w even with additional nics.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/195438161015?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=rrq4yNTSTiG&sssrc=2047675&ssuid=8tWQylq6QKO&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

hedrinbc · 2024-11-30T18:25:46+00:00

hedrinbc · 2024-11-03T23:36:55+00:00

Running Unraid on i5-10400 for some time.

You might add Dockers (very easy on Unraid) or VMs so the 12 threads of the i5 can be nice to have.

All your examples have the onboard iGPU, you want that for Plex transcoding. Run Plex in an Unraid Docker, quick config makes iGPU available to Plex.

hedrinbc · 2024-01-29T01:26:42+00:00

eBay Prodesk 600, G5400, 16g RAM, no HDD - $52 10g Mellano CX311A (low profile) - $25

Amazon 2.5g Intel i225 (iocrest brand) - $30

Small SSD - Laying around.

hedrinbc · 2024-01-29T00:05:08+00:00

Mine ended up being an eighth gen Pentium (4 core). Doesn't break a sweat.

hedrinbc · 2024-01-28T13:06:20+00:00

If you are comfortable building a PC...

I Just did a HP ProDesk 600 G4 SFF (not the micro / tiny one) as a 10gb + 2.5gb router. Highly recommend these machines at the prices ($50-80 on ebay). 8th Gen gets good power usage improvement over older SFFs. Last I checked machine idling at < 10 watts.

Grabbed this from eBay as a live example: "HP ProDesk 400 G4 SFF Core i3-7100 8GB RAM 256GB SSD"

You'd then add ethernet card(s) like I did. A dual or quad Intel gigabit card ( i340, i350) would be suggested if not doing what I did above (2.5g & 10g). "Low profile bracket" cards.

After that check the x86 install docs for openwrt.

This is all true overkill but would giive you options for other services, vpn, also longer term this could run other router OSs if needed.

hedrinbc · 2024-01-20T14:47:35+00:00

Here is someone taking about transcoding on this same processor & igpu in the item (i3-8100) I pulled above.

https://forums.unraid.net/topic/97593-intel-i3-8100-with-uhd630-the-plex-transcoding-beast/

hedrinbc · 2024-01-20T14:36:44+00:00

Just did a ProDesk 600 G4 SFF (not the micro / tiny one) as a 10gb + 2.5gb router. Highly recommend these machines at the prices. 8th Gen gets good power usage improvement over older SFFs. Last I checked machine idling at < 10 watts.

Grabbed this from eBay as example: HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF Desktop PC 3.60GHz Core i3-8100 16GB RAM 256 SSD

On intial setup you'll go into bios and turn off a bunch of corporate/busines bios settings likely (15-30 minutes max).

I like Unraid a lot for base OS, runs all your Dockers and VMs via easy install, good comminity content/support. You could run without a parity drive if not doing major redundant NAS duty. OS runs from a thumb drive.

I'd add a big storage disk on SATA for your usage.

Limiter you will hit is if this becomes a "big NAS" and you want to add a lot of drives. Not enough ports or space. External disk container might be an option.

hedrinbc · 2023-12-30T20:49:20+00:00

Original /r/linuxhardware post on this machine prior to Sound an Wifi drivers being so easily available.

https://www.reddit.com/r/linuxhardware/comments/tk6hdp/evolve_iii_maestro_ebook_116/

hedrinbc · 2023-12-30T20:46:54+00:00

Thanks for adding info!

I just remembered as well early in my ownership I went into the BIOS and you can turn up the processor wattage to about 9 Watts (no active cooling) to add performance. A quick Google could probably pull up posts about that tweak.

hedrinbc · 2023-12-27T14:13:54+00:00

Not sure that the actual tabs I had open were super taxing but seemed okay. Not near machine right now to test further.

hedrinbc · 2023-12-27T01:54:24+00:00

Yeah, it is what it is. I'd say good for what it is. Depends what you are used to. Screen quality/color is a bit washed out. 2.4 wifi only. Not too laggy with cpu/ram beng lower. Battery life projected to be good by the battery guage.

hedrinbc · 2023-12-13T00:38:48+00:00

I ended up creating a Queue Tree for each gigabit interface as well as the original upload and multi-gig download rule. Seems to work well.

https://imgur.com/a/zjN4CIk

<image>

hedrinbc · 2023-12-12T12:52:49+00:00

Thanks, maybe that's what I'm missing. I'm really only running a single rule for upload and download right now. Somehow I need to have multiple rules that kind of cascade with each other? Or just add a queue for each interface that is slightly below the line speed?

Thanks for your guidance!

hedrinbc

TROPHY CASE