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OPNsense and pfSense run on x86-64 mini PCs. What the official hardware docs say about CPU, RAM and why the network chip matters more than the badge.

Two M.2 slots can differ in size, interface and speed. How to read the manufacturer page and the CPU limits before you buy a second SSD for a mini PC.

Intel lists 16 GB as the maximum memory for N100 and N150, and a Beelink EQ14 page says up to 16 GB DDR4. What that means for a 32 GB upgrade.

A mini PC that shuts off or restarts under load: check the Windows event log, the power adapter, RAM with MemTest86, then heat, in that order.

A UPS is not mandatory for a mini PC server, but it protects against sudden power loss. What Proxmox, NUT and Home Assistant document about safe shutdown.

What “barebone” means on a mini PC listing, what you still need to buy, and how to check Windows activation, RAM and SSD before you order.

Plex says hardware-accelerated streaming needs a Plex Pass and Intel Quick Sync or a supported GPU. What that means when choosing a mini PC for Plex.

Two mini PCs can join a Proxmox cluster, but quorum needs a third vote. What the Proxmox docs say about QDevice, networking and when to skip clustering.

Ollama documents GPU back ends (CUDA, ROCm, Metal, Vulkan) but no NPU. What that means when you shop for a mini PC to run local models.

Home Assistant OS directly on a mini PC, or a Proxmox VM? What the official docs say, what a Zigbee USB stick needs, and when the extra layer pays off.