X600 SFF Option#

This path is about flexibility: a tiny box that can take a desktop AM5 CPU and a lot of storage.

ASRock DeskMini X600 Specs

• Platform: Desktop AM5 socket (barebone)
• CPU support: Ryzen 7000/8000/9000 series (max 65W TDP)
• RAM: 2x DDR5 SO-DIMM (max 96GB+, OC support)
• Storage: 1x M.2 Gen5 + 1x M.2 Gen4 + 2x SATA 2.5-inch
• LAN: 1x 2.5GbE (Realtek)
• Volume: 1.92L (larger than typical mini PCs)
• Notes: Swappable desktop CPU, Gen5 SSD, high storage density

GMKtec and Beelink Options (Ryzen 7 8845HS)#

If you want near workstation performance in a mini PC, the Ryzen 7 8845HS class is the sweet spot.

GMKtec NucBox K8 / K8 Plus Specs

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS (8C/16T, Zen 4)
• RAM: 2x DDR5-5600 SODIMM (max 96GB)
• Storage: 2x M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0
• LAN: 2x 2.5GbE (Intel i226-V)
• Expansion: OCuLink (PCIe 4.0 x4) + USB4 (K8 Plus has two)
• Notes: eGPU-friendly, high-performance workstation/gaming

Beelink SER8 Specs

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS (8C/16T)
• RAM: 2x DDR5-5600 SODIMM
• Storage: 2x M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0
• LAN: 1x 2.5GbE (reduced vs K8)
• Cooling: Vapor Chamber (MSC 2.0), tuned for low noise
• Notes: Premium metal body, quiet, no OCuLink

Price and Feature Snapshot

Processor Class Comparison#

Mainstream Confusion: Ryzen 7 5800H vs 5825U In the 8-core segment, Ryzen 7 5800H and Ryzen 7 5825U split the market. Many buyers see the model numbers and assume the 5825U is a lower tier or older part. The launch context and tuning goals tell a different story.

Ryzen 7 5800H (Cezanne): Launched in early 2021, the 5800H targets performance laptops with a 45W base TDP, often configured up to 54W+ by vendors. It runs 8 cores and 16 threads with a 3.2 GHz base clock, which makes it excellent for sustained heavy workloads like rendering or compiling. Beelink's SER5 Max pushes this chip at 54W out of the box, delivering strong performance at the cost of heat and fan noise.

Ryzen 7 5825U (Barcelo): Released in 2022 as a refresh, the 5825U is still Zen 3 but optimized for efficiency with a more mature 7nm process. Its 2.0 GHz base clock is lower than the 5800H, which cuts idle and light-load power. However, its boost clock is 4.5 GHz versus 4.4 GHz on the 5800H, so bursty workloads like web browsing and office apps can feel snappier. This makes the 5825U a better fit for 24/7 home servers or quiet office environments.

Recommendation Notes#

GMKtec NucBox M5 Plus (Ryzen 7 5825U)

• For home servers or network labs: dual 2.5GbE removes the need for extra USB NICs for Proxmox or software router builds.
• For efficiency-first 24/7 boxes: the 5825U is excellent for always-on use. Expect light tuning (repaste and fan curve tweaks).

Beelink SER5 Max (Ryzen 7 5800H)

• For desktop replacement: single LAN is fine and performance is strong out of the box.
• The 54W TDP profile is great for video editing and heavy multitasking. If you are noise-sensitive, lower TDP in BIOS or enable a quiet mode.

Why This Series#

A homelab does not have to be expensive to be useful. With a few well-chosen components and clear priorities, you can run real workloads and gain production-grade experience without burning money.

Who This Is For#

• You want a hands-on lab for Kubernetes, Linux, and networking.
• You prefer pragmatic trade-offs over perfect specs.
• You want repeatable, documented setups instead of one-off hacks.

Guiding Principles#

• Spend where it matters: storage reliability, power stability, and backups.
• Avoid shiny overhead: many small nodes cost more to operate and maintain.
• Automate early: IaC and GitOps reduce rebuild pain.

Cost Tiers (Rough)#

• Starter: 1-2 nodes, local storage, basic monitoring.
• Practical: 3 nodes, shared storage, backups, and metrics.
• Comfortable: 4-6 nodes, HA control plane, full observability stack.

What You Will Build#

• A stable base OS and network layout.
• A Kubernetes cluster that matches your budget tier.
• Storage that balances reliability and complexity.
• Monitoring, logging, and backup workflows.
• A setup you can rebuild from scratch.

Series Outline#

1. Introduction and budget planning
2. Storage strategy
3. Network configuration (IP plan, VLANs, DNS)
4. Compute baseline and base OS
5. Kubernetes bootstrap
6. Observability and logging
7. Backups and disaster recovery
8. Automation and GitOps

Next Up#

Part 2 covers storage strategy: OS vs data disks, filesystems, and backups so you can protect your data early.

Budget, power, and noise baselines#

• Budget tiers: starter, practical, comfortable
• Power target: ≤ 50W idle for starter labs
• Noise target: avoid 1U/2U unless a closet is available

Series roadmap#

Checklist#

• budget cap defined
• power/noise limits defined
• upgrade path identified