Using a Mini PC.

Why a mini PC is the secondary recommendation.

The [Choosing Your Hardware](/home-assistant/hardware/choosing) page lays out the collective's tiered recommendation: repurposed business hardware first, mini PC second, purpose-built Home Assistant hardware third. The logic behind placing mini PCs second is worth stating plainly.

The primary recommendation — repurposed business hardware — has two advantages that mini PCs lack. First, the repurposed path is often free; the mini PC path always costs money. Second, the repurposed path keeps existing hardware in service rather than buying new equipment, which fits the collective's preference for appropriate use of technology. A grower with access to a retired ThinkCentre or ThinkPad is better served by using it than by buying a comparable mini PC.

The mini PC path becomes the right choice in several specific situations. A grower with no access to retired business hardware — no family members upgrading, no local business contacts, no IT asset disposition resellers in range. A grower with a strong preference for the smallest possible form factor or for new-with-warranty hardware. A grower who wants a machine identical to the specifications they choose (rather than what happens to be available used). A grower setting up a second site or a backup machine and needing predictable specifications. Each of these is a reasonable case for starting with a mini PC.

The mini PC path also acts as a natural step up from purpose-built Home Assistant hardware. A grower who started with a Home Assistant Green or a Raspberry Pi and outgrew it typically moves to a mini PC or a repurposed machine for the next stage. The mini PC provides more capacity without the complexity of a full desktop tower.

What a mini PC actually is.

The term "mini PC" covers a range of products. For Home Assistant purposes, the specific category that matters is the business-class small-form-factor desktop. These machines have several defining characteristics.

Small physical dimensions. Typically 180 mm × 180 mm × 35 mm (about 7 × 7 × 1.4 inches) for the smallest models, up to around 180 mm × 180 mm × 70 mm for models with more internal capacity. Fit on a bookshelf, behind a monitor, in a small cabinet, or on a VESA mount.

Desktop-class processors. Intel Core i3, i5, i7, or i9 in low-TDP configurations (35 watts typical), or Ryzen equivalents. Substantially more capable than the ARM processors in purpose-built Home Assistant hardware.

Standard RAM slots. Typically two SO-DIMM slots supporting up to 64 GB of DDR4 or DDR5 memory. Upgradeable.

Standard storage slots. Typically one or two M.2 NVMe slots plus sometimes a 2.5" SATA bay. Upgradeable.

Standard business I/O. Gigabit ethernet, multiple USB 3 ports, DisplayPort or HDMI outputs, audio jacks, sometimes a serial port or USB-C with DisplayPort Alt Mode. The kind of connectivity that makes the machine easy to work with.

Small external power supply. A 65- to 135-watt laptop-style power brick rather than an internal ATX power supply. More efficient at the typical idle loads Home Assistant produces.

Quiet operation. Small fans on small heatsinks, designed for office environments. Most are silent or near-silent at idle.

Business warranty and support (for new). Typically one to three years for new business-class mini PCs. Refurbished machines usually come with 90 days to one year from the refurbisher.

These characteristics add up to a machine well-suited to Home Assistant duty — enough capacity for the graybox pattern, quiet enough to live in any space, small enough to place anywhere, and reliable enough for years of continuous service.

Specific mini PC lines worth seeking.

Four lines of business-class mini PCs dominate the market. Each has variants across years and price points.

### Lenovo ThinkCentre M-series Tiny.

The Tiny form factor in Lenovo's ThinkCentre business desktop line. Roughly 180 mm × 180 mm × 35 mm. Long history of business deployment, widely available both new and refurbished, well-documented, with readily available service parts.

Current models (as of the last production refresh): M90q Gen 3, M75q Gen 2, M70q Gen 3/Gen 4, M80q Gen 3. These are 2022-2024 generation machines with 12th or 13th generation Intel processors.

Refurbished models commonly available: M720q, M920q, M710q, M910q — 2017-2020 machines with 7th, 8th, 9th, or 10th generation Intel processors. These are the most common refurbished choices. Plentiful, affordable, fully capable for Home Assistant.

Typical refurbished pricing: a moderate amount depending on specifications and generation.

### HP EliteDesk Mini.

The Mini variant of HP's EliteDesk business desktop line. Similar form factor to ThinkCentre Tiny, similar positioning in the market.

Current and recent models: EliteDesk 800 G9 Mini, EliteDesk 800 G8 Mini, EliteDesk 800 G7 Mini, EliteDesk 800 G6 Mini.

Refurbished models commonly available: EliteDesk 800 G3 Mini, G4 Mini, G5 Mini — 2017-2019 generation machines. Plentiful refurbished.

Typical refurbished pricing: a moderate amount depending on specifications.

HP also sells ProDesk Mini models at lower prices than EliteDesk. ProDesk 600 G3/G4/G5 Mini are the refurbished-market equivalents — similar form factor, slightly less feature coverage, often at lower prices.

### Dell OptiPlex Micro.

The Micro variant of Dell's OptiPlex business desktop line. Same form-factor category, same business positioning.

Current and recent models: OptiPlex 7020 Micro, 7010 Micro, 3020 Micro, and the older 7090 Micro, 7080 Micro, 5080 Micro, 3080 Micro.

Refurbished models commonly available: OptiPlex 7050 Micro, 7060 Micro, 7070 Micro — 2017-2019 machines. Widely available.

Typical refurbished pricing: a moderate amount.

### Intel NUC.

The Next Unit of Computing. A slightly different category from the business-class desktop minis above — Intel designed the NUC as a reference platform for small-form-factor computing, with various editions targeting home, office, and specialized use cases. Intel discontinued the NUC line in 2023 and transferred ongoing production to ASUS.

Commonly available: NUC 10th/11th/12th/13th generation models. The business-class NUC models (the "vPro" variants) are most relevant to Home Assistant.

Typical refurbished pricing: a moderate amount depending on specifications.

NUCs tend to be slightly more expensive than equivalent ThinkCentre/EliteDesk/OptiPlex models because the form factor is smaller and Intel's branding commanded a premium. For Home Assistant duty, the ThinkCentre/EliteDesk/OptiPlex families usually offer better value. NUC is a reasonable choice for growers who specifically want the smallest form factor possible.

### Other mini PC brands and models.

Beelink, Minisforum, GMKtec, and similar — Chinese-brand consumer mini PCs, often available at low prices on Amazon and AliExpress. Quality varies widely. Some offer genuinely good value; others cut corners on power supplies, memory quality, and longevity. Not the collective's recommendation for a production Home Assistant host, but a grower with a specific trusted recommendation for a specific model can investigate. Warranty and service parts are typically less available than the major business brands.

Zotac, Shuttle, and others — Second-tier business mini PC brands. Occasionally good, less widely deployed, harder to find refurbished.

Apple Mac Mini — Apple's mini PC. Capable hardware but runs macOS natively; Linux on newer Apple Silicon Macs is complex, and running Home Assistant in a Docker container on macOS is inefficient for a 24/7 service. Intel-era Mac Minis that can be wiped and have Linux installed are a reasonable repurposed-hardware path. Buying a new Mac Mini for Home Assistant is not recommended.

New vs. refurbished.

The decision between new and refurbished mini PCs comes down to a few questions.

Budget. Refurbished is typically half to a third of new for equivalent capability. A refurbished ThinkCentre M720q with 16 GB RAM and a 256 GB SSD is a moderate amount; a new ThinkCentre M70q with similar specs is a substantial amount. For a grower on a budget, refurbished stretches further.

Warranty. New machines come with 1 to 3 years of manufacturer warranty. Refurbished machines come with 90 days to 1 year from the refurbisher. For institutional settings or regulatory contexts where warranty coverage matters formally, new may be required.

Predictability. A new machine is in a known state — no previous use, no wear on components. A refurbished machine may have subtle wear that will surface later. Reputable refurbishers test and replace failing parts, but some variance remains. A grower comfortable with the slight uncertainty of refurbished saves substantial money; a grower who cannot tolerate any uncertainty should buy new.

Environmental considerations. Refurbished extends the useful life of hardware that would otherwise be scrapped. This aligns with the collective's appropriate-technology philosophy. For the grower who weighs this factor, refurbished is the preferred path where budget and reliability allow.

Specific configuration. A new machine can be specified exactly — processor, RAM, storage, features. A refurbished machine is whatever the refurbisher has available. For most Home Assistant deployments this distinction does not matter; for a grower with very specific needs, it can.

The collective's general guidance: refurbished for most deployments, new for institutional contexts or where warranty coverage is formally required. Either path produces good Home Assistant hosts.

Where to buy.

For refurbished mini PCs:

IT asset disposition resellers. PC Liquidations, Newegg Renewed, Amazon Renewed, Walmart Refurbished, Discount Electronics, and similar. These specialize in refurbished business hardware, offer warranties (typically 90 days to 1 year), and have consistent quality processes.

eBay business sellers. Many ITAD resellers maintain eBay storefronts in addition to their own sites. Filter to business sellers with high feedback, read listings carefully, and prefer sellers that clearly describe what was tested and refreshed.

Direct from manufacturers' refurbished outlets. Lenovo, HP, and Dell all operate official refurbished stores. Dell Outlet, HP Outlet, and Lenovo Certified Refurbished sell machines returned from original purchasers or cycled out of lease programs. Often slightly more expensive than third-party refurbishers but with direct manufacturer support.

Local computer recyclers. Some regions have local businesses that refurbish commercial equipment. Quality varies; visiting in person and testing machines before purchase is an advantage of the local option.

For new mini PCs:

Manufacturer direct. Lenovo.com, HP.com, Dell.com all sell their current business mini PC lines directly. Configuration is flexible; warranty and support are standard. Pricing is retail.

Business technology resellers. B&H Photo, CDW, Insight, Newegg Business, and similar carry business-class mini PCs with configuration options and often slight discounts off manufacturer retail.

Consumer electronics retailers. Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart carry common configurations of mini PCs. Less flexibility in configuration but sometimes better pricing on specific models.

For a first-time buyer seeking predictable quality, a refurbished ThinkCentre or EliteDesk from a major IT asset disposition reseller is the easiest path. For a grower wanting new with warranty, the manufacturer direct outlet is the simplest approach.

Sizing and configuration.

Target specifications for a mini PC intended to run Home Assistant and the graybox pattern.

Processor. Intel Core i5 at minimum; Core i7 for headroom. 8th generation or newer for good AI integration support; 10th generation or newer for current software compatibility. For refurbished, 8th-10th generation is the sweet spot. For new, the current generation (12th, 13th, or 14th as of this writing) is standard.

RAM. 16 GB for comfortable graybox operation; 32 GB for AI-heavy deployments with Frigate and local LLMs. If the mini PC ships with 8 GB, plan to upgrade — SO-DIMM DDR4 memory is cheap on the secondary market.

Storage. 256 GB SSD minimum; 500 GB for comfortable operation with Frigate recording and analytics; 1 TB for ambitious deployments. Check whether the mini PC supports one or two storage devices — some models have both M.2 NVMe and 2.5" SATA bays, which allows a smaller fast SSD for the OS and database plus a larger slower drive for bulk storage (Frigate recordings in particular).

Integrated graphics. Intel Core i-series with integrated graphics includes Quick Sync, which matters for Frigate. AMD Ryzen mini PCs with dedicated graphics may lack Quick Sync; Ryzen APUs (like the 5700G series) include Radeon graphics that also accelerate video but with different software support than Quick Sync. For deployments planning to use Frigate, Intel with Quick Sync is the straightforward choice.

Ethernet. Gigabit ethernet is standard. A few high-end mini PCs have 2.5 Gbps ethernet, which is useful if the local network infrastructure supports it but not required. WiFi 5 or WiFi 6 is standard on nearly all mini PCs; the Home Assistant host should use wired ethernet when possible regardless.

USB ports. Look for at least four USB 3 ports — one for keyboard/mouse during setup, one for a Bluetooth adapter (if BLE sensors are planned), one for a Zigbee coordinator (if Zigbee is planned), and one spare. Mini PCs typically have six to eight USB ports, which is plenty.

Display outputs. HDMI and DisplayPort are standard. One monitor output is enough for a machine that runs headless after setup.

Physical setup.

Mini PCs offer more placement flexibility than larger desktops.

On a shelf or desk. The simplest approach. The mini PC sits flat, usually with its ventilation slots unobstructed. A few inches of clearance around the intake and exhaust is adequate.

Behind a monitor (VESA mount). Lenovo, HP, and Dell all offer VESA mounting brackets for their mini PC lines that attach the machine to the back of a monitor using the standard VESA mount. The mini PC disappears visually, and the setup is tidy. Useful for growers who also have a monitor in the same space.

Wall-mounted with a shelf or bracket. A small shelf or bracket fastens the mini PC to a wall. Useful for utility rooms or equipment spaces where desk space is not available.

Inside a small cabinet. A wall-mounted equipment cabinet provides protection from dust and casual damage. Ventilation inside the cabinet is important — a small fan or passive vents keep the temperature reasonable. The mini PC fits a small cabinet easily.

DIN rail mount. Industrial installations sometimes use DIN rails for mounting electronics. DIN rail adapters are available for some mini PC lines. Typically overkill for agricultural Home Assistant but useful in some contexts.

Avoid placing a mini PC on carpet, fabric, or in direct sun. Same considerations as any computer — airflow, heat, and contamination.

Power and uninterruptible power supply.

Mini PCs typically draw 10 to 30 watts at idle and 30 to 60 watts under load. Low enough that a small UPS provides substantial runtime.

A consumer-grade UPS of 500 to 1000 VA is more than enough for most mini PCs plus associated equipment (a small network switch, perhaps a router). Runtime at typical mini PC load is often 30 minutes to over an hour, depending on the specific UPS and other connected loads.

Unlike a laptop, a mini PC has no built-in battery. An external UPS is recommended for any production deployment. A a modest amount consumer UPS is a reasonable investment. The [Repurposing a Desktop Computer](/home-assistant/hardware/repurposed-desktop#power-resilience) page covers UPS selection and Home Assistant NUT integration in more depth.

The external power brick (the "power supply" for a mini PC) is usually included with the machine. Genuine manufacturer power supplies are typically higher-quality than aftermarket replacements; if the machine was sold without its original power supply, sourcing a manufacturer-brand replacement is worth the modest additional cost.

What to install.

Same pattern as a repurposed desktop. The collective's recommendation is Ubuntu Server plus the graybox.

[Installing Ubuntu Server](/home-assistant/installation/ubuntu) walks through Ubuntu Server setup on the mini PC. Boot from USB, install, configure network, create user, initial security.

[Installing Home Assistant on Ubuntu with Docker](/home-assistant/installation/ha-docker) covers setting up the graybox: Docker, Docker Compose, Home Assistant container, Mosquitto, MariaDB, related services.

[Installing Home Assistant Supervised](/home-assistant/installation/supervised) covers the alternative of Home Assistant Supervised on Ubuntu.

For readers who want the simplest path and are comfortable dedicating the mini PC entirely to Home Assistant, [Installing Home Assistant OS](/home-assistant/installation/haos) directly on the mini PC works fine — mini PCs boot the Home Assistant OS image cleanly in most cases. This loses the graybox capability but simplifies the system.

What to avoid.

A few patterns that do not fit the Home Assistant use case well.

Very low-end mini PCs with Celeron or Pentium processors. These machines exist at very low price points and may work for basic Home Assistant but struggle with the graybox pattern. A refurbished Core i5 mini PC at similar price is better value.

Mini PCs with soldered RAM that cannot be upgraded. Some ultra-compact mini PCs have soldered memory (typically 4, 8, or 16 GB) that cannot be upgraded. A machine with 8 GB soldered RAM is permanently limited. Prefer mini PCs with socketed SO-DIMM memory.

Mini PCs with very small storage and no upgrade path. A 64 GB or 128 GB SSD is too small for a serious Home Assistant deployment. Check that the machine has either adequate starting storage or a clear upgrade path.

Mini PCs without Intel Quick Sync when Frigate is in the plan. Many AMD-based mini PCs work fine for Home Assistant generally but lack Quick Sync for video acceleration. For deployments planning Frigate, Intel is the simpler choice.

Unbranded or deeply obscure mini PCs. A mini PC from a brand with no track record and no service parts availability is risky. The savings over a ThinkCentre or EliteDesk are usually modest, and the risk is real. Prefer known brands with established support.

New mini PCs marketed for gaming. Gaming mini PCs (some Intel NUC Extreme models, various GMKtec and Minisforum models) combine high peak performance with higher power use, more noise, and less optimization for continuous operation. Business-class mini PCs are a better fit for 24/7 Home Assistant duty.