The $50 PC that is quietly changing Raspberry Pis in homelabs
While the Raspberry Pi used to rule the dominion of low-cost homelab {hardware}, that enviornment is now dominated by skinny purchasers. They’re low cost, highly effective (comparatively), and straightforward to seek out. Here’s why a $50 skinny consumer needs to be your first homelab buy and never a Raspberry Pi.
Raspberry Pis are overpriced for the compute they provide
They have been good again within the day, however Raspberry Pi simply does not reduce it anymore
When the Raspberry Pi turned a mainstay within the homelab planet, it was far cheaper than a correct desktop laptop. The Raspberry Pi 3B launched over a decade in the past at $35, which, someway, practically 11 years later, continues to be what that mannequin goes for.
Back then, the Pi 3B launched on the similar value that the Pi 2 launched at. Raspberry Pi stored up the pricing with the Pi 4B launching in 2019 on the similar $35 because the Pi 2 and Pi 3B, which stored up the affordability of the Pi.
The drawback is, whereas the Raspberry Pi was priced nicely, it merely is not anymore. Back in 2016 and 2019, a 1GB laptop for $35 was a fairly nice value. In 2026, you would be hard-pressed to discover a Pi 4B for $45 in inventory anyplace, not to mention $35.
The reminiscence disaster has priced the Raspberry Pi out of the world it as soon as dominated—inexpensive computer systems. At this level, a Raspberry Pi with a good quantity of energy is identical price as a mini PC with out many upsides for the homelab. That’s why I’m beginning to inform individuals to simply take a look at skinny purchasers for his or her homelabs.
Thin purchasers are low-power full-on x86 desktops
You’d be stunned at how a lot one can do
If you have by no means heard of a skinny consumer, that is okay because the time period is not all that well-known. Essentially, a skinny consumer is a low-powered PC that’s designed to connect with a distant server.
Often, workplace buildings or shops will use skinny purchasers as the pc that somebody is utilizing does not have to have a ton of energy, as all it is doing is accessing a distant server.
This makes skinny purchasers low cost, as they do not have a complete ton of processing. However, although low cost and low-power, skinny purchasers are nonetheless improbable for the homelab.
Take the Dell Wyse 5070 for instance. I discovered one on eBay for beneath $50, and it ships with a 2-core 2-thread Intel Celeron J4005 processor and 4GB of RAM. For comparability, a 4GB Raspberry Pi 4B prices a minimum of $100.
The good thing about going with a skinny consumer although is that it is a full-on x86 desktop. Raspberry Pis are all ARM-based and that’s each a professional and a con. These days, ARM is taking up the planet, with Snapdragon PCs becoming mainstream and Apple going all-in on ARM processors with their M-series processors.
However, x86 continues to be the mainstay of homelabs the planet over. It’s probably the most supported structure obtainable, and meaning you’ll be able to simply run virtually something on it.
Likewise, software program is extra supported on x86 than Raspberry Pi. Plex, as an illustration, does not assist {hardware} transcoding on Raspberry Pi, although it’s natively supported on the Intel Celeron J4005’s UHD Graphics 600.
Similarly, with a Raspberry Pi you are locked into the {hardware} that you just buy, as not too long ago Raspberry Pi locked out doing DIY RAM upgrades. With a skinny consumer, you’ll be able to merely purchase a bigger RAM DIMM and insert it as long as the precise skinny consumer to procure helps it. While not all do, many provide user-upgradable RAM choices.
At this level, a skinny consumer simply merely affords extra energy and functionality than Raspberry Pis for a similar value (or much less), and so they’re far simpler to choose up.
You can discover skinny purchasers in all places
Just search for workplace constructing closeouts
I already talked about that skinny purchasers are sometimes utilized in places of work, and that makes them fairly plenteous relying on the place you look.
I’ve seen a ton of skinny purchasers or workplace mini PCs on the market on my native Facebook Marketplace, although these can generally be a bit costlier since they’re area of interest merchandise. However, shopping eBay is among the greatest locations to seek out used skinny purchasers obtainable on the market.
The stock there’s consistently fluctuating, however simply search for one thing that fits your wants on the value you need. Above, you’ll be able to see 5 totally different skinny purchasers that I discovered when looking eBay all for beneath $50. Each one supplies extra energy and functionality than a Raspberry Pi for much less cash.
Plus, with a skinny consumer, you’ll be able to set up any fashionable working system, from Linux to Windows, which is one thing that the Raspberry Pi simply merely cannot compete with.
Quiz
Mini PCs: History, {hardware}, hidden makes use of
Trivia problem
From tiny packing containers to powerhouse desktops — how a lot do you actually find out about mini PCs?
HistoryHardwareBrandsUse CasesDesign
Which firm is extensively credited with popularizing the trendy mini PC type issue with its NUC (Next Unit of Computing) line, launched in 2013?
Correct! Intel launched the NUC in 2013, defining what many think about the trendy mini PC class. The NUC was roughly the scale of a paperback ebook and used laptop-grade parts to pack actual computing energy right into a tiny chassis.
Not fairly — it was Intel that launched the NUC (Next Unit of Computing) platform in 2013. While ASUS, Zotac, and others adopted with their very own mini PCs, Intel’s NUC set the template that a lot of the trade would imitate for years.
The Apple Mac mini, first launched in 2005, was marketed with which memorable slogan emphasizing what patrons wanted to produce themselves?
Correct! Apple marketed the unique Mac mini with “BYODKM” — Bring Your Own Display, Keyboard, and Mouse. It was a intelligent pitch aimed toward Windows switchers who already owned peripherals, letting Apple provide a Mac on the then-low value of $499.
The precise slogan was “BYODKM” — Bring Your Own Display, Keyboard, and Mouse. Apple used this catchy acronym to focus on Windows customers who wished to attempt a Mac with out shopping for a wholly new setup, positioning the $499 Mac mini as an inexpensive entry level.
Most fashionable mini PCs use which sort of processor, initially designed for laptops, to steadiness efficiency and thermal output in a compact chassis?
Correct! Mini PCs virtually universally depend on mobile-class processors — like Intel’s U-series or H-series, or AMD’s equivalents — as a result of their decrease thermal design energy (TDP) means much less warmth and no want for giant cooling methods. This is the important thing engineering trade-off that makes the tiny type issue attainable.
The proper reply is cell (U-series or H-series) processors. Full desktop CPUs generate far an excessive amount of warmth for a small enclosure, whereas ARM microcontrollers are too underpowered for general-purpose computing. Laptop chips hit the candy spot of efficiency and effectivity that mini PCs depend upon.
Mini PCs are extraordinarily standard for operating house media facilities. Which open-source media software program is mostly put in on mini PCs for this objective?
Correct! Kodi (previously often called XBMC) has lengthy been the go-to open-source software program for turning a mini PC right into a full house theater PC (HTPC). It helps plugins, streaming providers, and native media libraries, making it extremely versatile for lounge setups.
While Plex and Jellyfin are additionally standard for house media, Kodi is traditionally probably the most iconic alternative for mini PC house theater builds. Originally referred to as XBMC (Xbox Media Center), Kodi has a large plugin ecosystem and was virtually synonymous with the HTPC mini PC use case for a few years.
What storage interface, initially designed for SSDs in laptops, turned the usual inner storage connection in most mini PCs, changing older 2.5-inch SATA drives?
Correct! M.2 NVMe slots turned the dominant storage interface in mini PCs as a result of the small card type issue suits simply inside compact chassis, and NVMe speeds far exceed what older SATA connections may provide. Many fashionable mini PCs embody one or two M.2 slots alongside an non-compulsory 2.5-inch bay.
The reply is M.2 NVMe. While mSATA was an earlier compact storage normal, it has largely been phased out in favor of M.2, which helps the a lot quicker NVMe protocol. M.2 drives are credit-card-sized and slot immediately into the motherboard, making them ultimate for space-constrained mini PC designs.
Which Chinese model, usually in comparison with a “mini PC powerhouse,” rose to world prominence round 2022–2023 with extremely inexpensive mini PCs just like the MinisForum Venus collection?
Correct! MinisForum turned a standout title within the mini PC house round 2022–2023, gaining consideration for packing AMD Ryzen and even discrete GPU choices into compact chassis at aggressive costs. Their Venus collection, that includes devoted graphics, challenged the concept that mini PCs needed to sacrifice gaming efficiency.
The reply is MinisForum. While Beelink, Geekom, and Acemagic are all reliable Chinese mini PC manufacturers that gained reputation in the identical period, MinisForum made the largest splash with performance-focused fashions just like the Venus collection, which included discrete Radeon graphics in a palm-sized field.
Beyond house use, mini PCs are extensively deployed in industrial settings for one explicit software. Which of the next is the most typical enterprise use case for mini PCs?
Correct! Digital signage and kiosk terminals are some of the widespread industrial purposes for mini PCs. Their small measurement lets them mount invisibly behind shows, their low energy consumption retains working prices down, and their normal x86 structure means they run bizarre Windows or Linux software program with out particular configurations.
The commonest enterprise use case is digital signage and kiosk terminals. You’ll discover mini PCs hidden behind restaurant menu boards, airport data screens, and retail shows worldwide. They’re ultimate as a result of they’re discreet, energy-efficient, and able to operating normal software program with out the majority of a standard PC.
Intel discontinued its personal NUC product line in 2023, handing the model to a companion. Which firm took over the NUC model and product line?
Correct! ASUS acquired Intel’s NUC corporate affairs in 2023, persevering with the lineup beneath the ASUS NUC branding. Intel determined to exit the completed product corporate affairs to deal with its core chip manufacturing and design operations, and ASUS — already a significant NUC manufacturing companion — was a pure match to hold the torch.
It was ASUS that took over the NUC model from Intel in 2023. Intel had lengthy partnered with ASUS for NUC manufacturing, so the transition made sense. Intel’s choice to divest the NUC line was a part of a broader technique to focus on semiconductors fairly than completed client {hardware} merchandise.
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Raspberry Pis was the perfect, now it is time to give them a relaxation
I really like Raspberry Pis. I nonetheless have three in my toolkit. But, when I’m searching for a tool so as to add to my homelab, I skip over the Raspberry Pi totally now and attain for a mini PC or skinny consumer.
At this level, Raspberry Pis are merely challenge methods for me. I’ll use one to construct an eink picture body, or another challenge like that. Homelab duties belong on devoted methods, particularly when methods like skinny purchasers could be picked up for therefore low cost.
