Hardware Guides
25 hardware guides for self-hosting. NAS devices, mini PCs, drives, and complete server builds for every budget.
Best Mini PCs for Home Servers in 2026
The best mini PCs for self-hosting in 2026. Compared by performance, power draw, and value — from budget N100 to powerhouse Ryzen builds.
Best NAS for Home Servers in 2026
The best NAS devices for self-hosting in 2026. Synology, QNAP, TrueNAS, Unraid, and DIY options compared by features, price, and performance.
Intel N100 Mini PC: The Self-Hoster's Best Friend
Why the Intel N100 is the perfect CPU for home servers. Benchmarks, power consumption, best models, and what you can run on it.
Raspberry Pi vs Mini PC for Self-Hosting
Raspberry Pi vs Intel N100 mini PC for home servers. Performance, cost, power draw, and Docker compatibility compared side by side.
Raspberry Pi as a Home Server: Complete Guide
How to use a Raspberry Pi as a home server. Setup, what you can run, limitations, and whether it's the right choice for self-hosting.
Best Hard Drives for NAS in 2026
The best NAS hard drives in 2026. WD Red Plus, Seagate IronWolf, and enterprise drives compared by reliability, speed, and price per TB.
Synology vs TrueNAS: Which NAS Platform?
Synology DSM vs TrueNAS SCALE compared for self-hosting. Features, Docker support, ease of use, data integrity, and cost breakdown.
DIY NAS Build Guide for Self-Hosting
How to build a DIY NAS for self-hosting. Parts list, case options, OS choice, and step-by-step assembly for a budget home server.
Home Server Power Consumption Guide
How much electricity does a home server use? Power draw for mini PCs, NAS devices, Raspberry Pi, and tower servers with annual cost estimates.
Dell OptiPlex as a Home Server
How to use a used Dell OptiPlex Micro as a home server. Best models, pricing, setup guide, and what you can self-host on one.
Lenovo ThinkCentre as a Home Server
How to use a used Lenovo ThinkCentre Tiny as a home server. Best models, pricing, and comparison with Dell OptiPlex for self-hosting.
Synology vs Unraid: Which Should You Use?
Synology DSM vs Unraid compared for home servers. Features, Docker support, storage flexibility, and cost breakdown for self-hosting.
TrueNAS vs Unraid: Which NAS OS?
TrueNAS SCALE vs Unraid compared for home servers. ZFS vs parity array, Docker support, performance, and flexibility for self-hosting.
HDD vs SSD for Home Servers
HDD vs SSD for self-hosting and NAS use. Performance, cost per TB, power consumption, and when to use each for your home server.
Best SSDs for Home Servers in 2026
The best SSDs for self-hosting and NAS use. NVMe and SATA drives compared for Docker, databases, and NAS caching workloads.
RAID Levels Explained for Home Servers
RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, and ZFS RAID-Z explained simply. Which RAID level to use for your NAS and home server with practical examples.
Best UPS for Home Servers in 2026
The best uninterruptible power supplies for home servers and NAS. Sizing guide, runtime estimates, and automatic shutdown configuration.
Best Routers for Self-Hosting in 2026
The best routers for home servers. Software router vs hardware, OPNsense, pfSense, and consumer routers compared for self-hosting setups.
Raspberry Pi Docker Setup Guide
How to install and run Docker on a Raspberry Pi 5. Complete setup guide with Docker Compose, ARM64 images, and performance tips.
Best Managed Switches for Homelab
The best managed switches for self-hosting and homelab setups. VLAN support, PoE, and 2.5GbE options compared for home servers.
Best Access Points for Homelab
The best WiFi access points for homelab setups. Ubiquiti, TP-Link, and budget options compared for self-hosting networks.
PoE Explained for Home Servers
Power over Ethernet explained simply. PoE standards, what it powers, and when you need it for your homelab and self-hosting setup.
Best Server Cases for Homelab
The best server cases for homelab and NAS builds. Compact NAS cases, rack-mountable enclosures, and tower options for self-hosting.
Home Server Rack Setup Guide
How to set up a home server rack. Rack sizes, what to mount, cable management, and whether you actually need one for self-hosting.
Mini PC Power Consumption Compared
Real-world power consumption of popular mini PCs for self-hosting. N100, N305, Ryzen, and used OptiPlex idle and load wattage tested.