Can a mini PC run OPNsense or pfSense as a home firewall?
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.
Talk
Short, source-checked answers to practical mini PC questions. Independent and unofficial.
Short answers to specific mini PC questions. Each one explains the reasoning, shows what we checked and where it came from, and marks what we could not confirm. Independent and unofficial.
Home Assistant
Installing and running Home Assistant on a mini PC.
Proxmox and homelab
Clusters, virtual machines and always-on setups.
Plex and media
Transcoding and media server choices.
Buying and upgrading
Barebone, memory and storage decisions.
Networking
Using a mini PC as a firewall or router.
Troubleshooting
Shutdowns, heat and diagnosis order.
Power and uptime
UPS and safe shutdown.
How do you check a mini PC’s M.2 slots before buying a second SSD?
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.
Can you install 32 GB of RAM in an Intel N100 or N150 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.
Why does a mini PC shut down or restart under load?
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.
Does a 24/7 mini PC home server need a UPS?
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.
Barebone or pre-installed mini PC: which should you buy?
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.
Do you need Plex Pass for hardware transcoding on a mini PC?
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.
Can two mini PCs form a Proxmox cluster?
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.
Does Ollama use a mini PC’s NPU or integrated GPU?
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.
Should Home Assistant run directly on your mini PC or inside a Proxmox VM?
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.