I’m going to run generic server tasks (webhosting, Nextcloud, Home Assistant) but also use it as a torrent client, NAS and media center. It will sit close to the dumb TV and give it IPTV and file playback capabilities. I haven’t decided between a SBC or mini PC yet.

My requirements are:

  • low idle power consumption (electricity is expensive here, I’m aiming for 5 W with the HDD spun down, able to idle without spinning the fan) so preferrably ARM
  • reliability (I’m worried about SD cards in particular, maybe booting from NVMe/mSATA is better)
  • connecting my 8TB SATA HDD
  • Bluetooth+WiFi+100Mb/s Ethernet
  • no dedicated GPU or NPU needed
  • 1x FullHD video output (HDMI or even VGA, the TV is ancient)
  • GPIO for IR receiver (IPTV should be accessible to tech-illiterate parents)
  • budget of 100 € for the whole setup
  • available in the Czech Republic (preferring local retailers or used market to Amazon or Aliexpress)

Raspberry Pi 4/5 seems compelling but the HDD needs a separate 12V source and USB adapter, making the setup a little unwieldy, plus people say RPi is overpriced. Mini PCs boot from reliable storage but lack GPIO so they need a USB infraport, and many don’t have SATA or wireless either so that adds more adapters. Or should I repurpose my old laptop, which would run at 10 W and need an adapter for IR but have wireless (and kind of a UPS) built in?

I think that there might be other SBCs (RPi competitors) suited for my use case but I haven’t been able to find a better deal than a used 60 € Raspberry Pi 4B/5 (+10 € fan box + 20 € high-endurance SD card + 2 € microHDMI adapter + I already have the power adapter) from the official site. Given that the 4B and 5 with 4GB RAM cost almost the same, I wonder if the power upgrade is worth it given that the 5’s idle power draw is higher, there is no A/V jack (I can solder though) and I only have the 3A power supply, requiring an extra 20 € to use its full CPU power.

  • CmdrShepard49@sh.itjust.works
    2·
    3 months ago

    Upgrading that laptop to an SSD is essential and will make it seem like a much newer machine. If space isnt a priority, just use the laptop with an SSD. It’s essentially the same as a mini-PC with a built-in monitor. You won’t have GPIO, but there has to be some sort of USB IR adapter out there.

    The Pi5 is overpriced and requires what might as well be a proprietary power connector (5V5A USB is absurd) costing you even more. You’ll have less computing power at a higher cost with this option.

    • ChaoticNeutralCzech@lemmy.mlOP
      2·
      3 months ago

      I have an official RPi 5V3A supply already, which can power the Pi 5 at lower clock speeds, which kinda defeats the point of buying it over the 4B, unless they are almost the same price (around 60 € used at the official store). I’ve been trying to contact someone selling a “barely used” 4B for 40 € but they haven’t responded yet.

      • CmdrShepard49@sh.itjust.works
        1·
        3 months ago

        You can probably just buy the SSD and use the laptop as the htpc/server and then use the savings to buy the used RPi to tinker with separately.