Help me choose my next lab PC (from rpi4)
Help me choose my next lab PC (from rpi4)
I'm currently running about 30 containers on my RPi4, handling *arr stack, Plex, torrents, Home Assistant, and various other applications/DBs.
Looking to upgrade, I want to add an NVR with AI detection and a NAS. Planning to switch to a micro/tower PC, I need your help deciding. Future upgradeability is crucial for me, including SATA & PCIe connections, CPU cooling, and ample disk space.
Options:
- Dell OptiPlex Micro 7080 i5-10600
- Dell OptiPlex Tower 7080 i5-10500
- Lenovo ThinkStation P340 Tower i9-10900k (double the price, but manageable)
- Lenovo ThinkCenter M70q Micro i7-12700T
Leaning towards the Dell micro, but concerned about limited upgrade options, especially with flaky m.2 to SATA expansions. GPU-wise, only Google Coral seems viable.
Power cost is also a factor – in my country, 100W per year costs around $140.
Your insights are much appreciated!
The most important part of a Frigate NVR is the Coral Edge TPU. As long as you can secure one, you'll be set. The USB version is easiest to use, since it doesn't require installing drivers and most PCs will have a USB 3 port.
All the processors are good enough for a small NAS and NVR.
I wouldn't buy a PC without SATA ports or an expansion slot. If you go the mini-pc route, where would your store your HDDs? An expansion slot would let you one day add an HBA card for more SATA connections. By default, it looks like all those motherboards have limited SATA connections. The 7080 Tower says it has 4 SATA connections, but only 1 of them looks like its the full speed SATA3.
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