What specs to look for in an Optiplex SFF/MFF pc?
What specs to look for in an Optiplex SFF/MFF pc?
So I’ve been wanting to replace my Pi4 (4GB) with an Optiplex for better support (x86 architecture), more ram, and a better CPU.
I’m hoping to get something that also supports intel quick sync for hardware decoding of h265 but it isn’t a major problem if it isn’t available.
What’s the minimum CPU to go for ? Is an i5 6500 fine ? Will that draw more power than let’s say an 8500? Will an i3 6200 be fine too? What about an i5 3400?
I have no idea if I should aim for something in the i5 8x00 range vs i3/5 3x00, when it comes to power usage vs compute output.
I’m not planning on running a full plex server, as there isn’t space for my 3.5” disks, but I would like to run Immich, Seafile, Audiobookshelf etc without a sweat and without using 10+ kWh a week.
I’m located in Denmark so European prices are always an issue with both hardware and electricity 😂
An 8GB ram + i5 6500 Optiplex is about $150 used.
Acronyms, initialisms, abbreviations, contractions, and other phrases which expand to something larger, that I've seen in this thread:
Fewer Letters More Letters NAS Network-Attached Storage PSU Power Supply Unit Plex Brand of media server package SATA Serial AT Attachment interface for mass storage SSD Solid State Drive mass storage
5 acronyms in this thread; the most compressed thread commented on today has 3 acronyms.
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8You can find Intel N100 mini PCs for 100-200 Euros that have similar performance to a 6th gen i5 but much lower power consumption and better codec support including AV1. The i3-N300 is also starting to become available with twice as many cores.
5Hmm maybe it’s just me, but I can’t find any N100s for that price.
2One example, Chuwi Larkbox X: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005715207156.html
This one is cheaper, but lower spec and no-name: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005234838380.html
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If you can find one with a T series CPU they tend to be more power efficient. And they are common in refurbished mini pcs like the Lenovo Tiny series which should be in your price range.
4The T series isn't worth it IMO. Second-hand non-T CPUs and PCs are usually the same price as the T ones, and you can achieve the same effect of lower power consumption by limiting the max clock speed of the non-T CPUs.
The Lenovo tiny series is not a thin-client; it's a mini PC. I wouldn't get a thin client since they're not designed to run much on them - a thin client literally just connects to a server via remote desktop. Get a mini PC or SFF PC at least.
1The Lenovo tiny series is not a thin-client; it’s a mini PC
Fair enough, got my terminology wrong there.
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I bought an Optiplex 7050 SFF for $100 USD at the start of 2023. Upgraded it to an i7-7700, 32GB RAM, 300W PSU from an XE3 model (stock is 180W), and threw in a spare Nvidia K1200 Quadro for shits and giggles. Runs almost my entire suite of self-hosted applications without a hitch.
2But then you also spend much more than $100 😂 I already have a NAS with a a 7th gen i7, 16gb ram, 32TB hdh, and a 1070 for decoding but it uses too much power to stay on all the time. I only turn it on to watch plex and then power it down to save electricity.
7Try without gpu and make sure hdd spindown is enabled, it should use much less power. I have much cheaper 7th gen g3930 and its at ~25W (~25€ a year here where I live)
1Well, to be fair, I actually bought it to use as a desktop and upgraded it accordingly. Then a few months later I decided to build a Ryzen system. Optiplex got moved to server duty.
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CPU cores. I think the i5 6500 was my lowest option ide get. I believe it has 6 cores?
I didn't look into i3 at all though.
I also looked for the one with the best USB speeds.
2I think 8000 series is the suite spot. I've gotten a few optiplexes between $110-140 with an i3-i5
2I wish that was the case here. I can’t find an 8000 series below $200. Most in the $100 range is 4000-6100 series with 6500 being $120+.
Kinda leaning towards an N100 even though it’s a bit more ($250ish)
1I've been thrilled with my dell 7060 micros. SSD+nvme, 64gb of RAM, 8th gen Intel and very low power.
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$150 is overpriced, you can get something like this at half the price https://www.dba.dk/dell-optiplex-3046-micro/id-1104387599/
I would just watch dba for 1-2 weeks and see what you can find, you can often get some good deals if you don't need to buy something right now.
2I’ve looked at that but idk if 650kr for 8gb ram version is worth it if the CPU is ‘only’ a 6100.
I’ve had a DBA Agent going for some weeks but most things are 6th gen or lower or overpriced 8th gen.
2Yeah, it's not great, but the 6500T isn't much better, you really want the i7 or something newer.
I would give it a bit of time and look for something with 16 GB memory and a 4 core / 8 threads CPU, ideally a system that use an m.2 and SATA drive at the same time.
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I've got two 7060 micros and they are friggin great. 8th gen, 6cores, 64gb of RAM.
1I think I paid 250 for both with power supplies
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I have a Lenovo ThinkCentre m900 sff. It has an i5-6500T (low power) and I added an Nvidia Quadro p600 for transcoding in Plex. The m900 was about $80 and the Quadro p600 was about $50.
Just saw that you're in Denmark. So yeah the prices will probably be a little higher.
1Oh wow, I didn't know SFF machines have the space and the port to use a dGPU. That opens a lot of doors to me.
1