The best Desktop Barebones: Reddit reviews

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Miuzei Raspberry Pi 3B+ Case with Fan Cooling and 3× Heat-Sinks, 5V 2.5A Power Supply with On/Off Switch Cable for RPi 3B+, 3B, 2b

I like it overall, came with everything I wanted minus the SD card and pi.

You can get a whole kit for $50 from Amazon via the Canakit with a raspberry pi3 B+ , I am sure you can get it cheaper somewhere like microcenter.

YouTube will be difficult to block though so please be aware of that, and Pi-Hole isn't a one stop fix all for things, but can block a good chunk of stuff with the right lists.

I'd suggest a used computer off of ebay. You can get a slim form factor 2nd Gen i3 Dell Optiplex w/ 4GB of RAM for $55. It will perform significantly better than an RPi for Plex and for not much more either. All you'd need is a boot drive for whatever OS you choose or a flash drive w/ FreeNAS. As for not having a monitor, you'd need one to set it up initially, but that's it. Once you get the OS loaded and SSH server installed, you can manage it remotely.

If you really need as small of form factor as possible, I'd suggest an Intel NUC, but it's a big jump in price.

Plenty of those on sites like Amazon, eBay, proshop, aliexpress, etc.
nothing too crazy about them.

Link for a Pi 3B+, there's also some for the Pi 2 and 4.

https://www.amazon.com/Raspberry-320x480-Monitor-Raspbian-RetroPie/dp/B07N38B86S

Here's a very similar (maybe the same?) Case/ screen combo on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Raspberry-320x480-Monitor-Raspbian-RetroPie/dp/B07N38B86S/ref=sr_1_14?crid=2XBNIJHFJ0S4S&keywords=raspberry+pi+3+b%2B&qid=1563661306&s=gateway&sprefix=ras%2Caps%2C262&sr=8-14

You should be able to make a snapshot and restore to the new server.

While you’re upgrading why not go all the way and get a low end NUC? It’s a little more cost for a lot more power and future expansion possibility. I use this one with a cheap SSD that’s way more reliable than the sd card in a pi.

https://www.amazon.com/Intel-NUC-Essential-Kit-NUC6CAYH/dp/B01MSZTD8N

Well if you already have a Raspberry Pi sitting around then I think it’s worth the money. All you need is a case and power supply. I bought mine from Amazon for about $17:

Pi Case

Surprisingly easy to put together using this video:

DIY BridgeX

Have fun!

Lol, here for Raspberry Pi 3 B+ 3.5 inch Touch Screen with Case, 320x480 Pixel Monitor TFT LCD Game Display [Support Raspbian, Ubuntu, Kali, RetroPie System] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N38B86S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_LnFaGbV5RXXB2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 There is also one for the raspberry pi 4

Easily done with the vertical GPU mount adapter they make specifically for the Mini. It includes the riser cable. You just remove the stock rear panel (it's modular, easy to swap out) and replace it with this panel.

Is the vertical GPU mount the Lian Li one?

https://www.amazon.ca/O11DMINI-1-Vertical-Bracket-Black-O11DMINI-1X-4/dp/B08TRB3672/

I have the same case, minus the GPU, and based on sizing it looks like I'm going to need the vertical mount to fit any 4090 in because fitting it normally requires more board to glass clearance than is available.

You could also get universal rails or a rack shelf and just move your current PC to a rack if it fits.

Your best bet would be 0U rails - something like this. They are more of small shelves on each side that the server would sit on. You can just rack that chassis to the front posts with cage nuts and let the rear hang free as that's what that design is supposed to accomplish but over the years you may see it start to droop but that also depends on the weight of everything.

https://www.amazon.com/Lian-Li-O11DMINI-1-Vertical-O11DMINI-1X-4/dp/B08TRB3672/ref=sr\_1\_1?crid=1YGD7NHM6E4WA&keywords=Lian+Li+O11DMINI-1+Vertical+GPU+Bracket+KIT+%2FPCIE+4.0+%2F+Black+-O11DMINI-1X-4&qid=1659271502&s=electronics&s...

so assuming you have the o11 dynamic xl here is the 4.0 pcie bracket and cable set for the o11 xl.

if you need it to be white go down to your local hardware store and grab some nice white spray paint and have at it

Or go with this one. All black and a 4.0

Lian Li O11DXL-1-4 PCI-E 4.0 Upright Display Card Kit for O11 Dynamic XL only (Vertical Graphics Card Holder for O11D XL) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B095NZ6WSJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_P0JD465WVD9KBJ4SJG89

Front and back are the same. If you're installing servers though you do a set like https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Server-Rails-Adjustable-Mounting/dp/B083N35SCZ that span between front and back (that specific kit has support for mid verticals too).

This is my case I picked up for the 3b+ after having high CPU temps without a fan for a couple years.

Highly recommend and now my temps are barely over 100F https://www.amazon.com/Miuzei-Raspberry-Heatsinks-Supply-Compatible/dp/B07BTHNW9W/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?crid=3T8J94HAMEUVV&keywords=raspberry+pi+3+case+with+fan&qid=1646977872&sprefix=raspberry+pi+3+case%2Caps%2C123&sr=8-1-spons&...

If you ever wanna go full on mini ITX and ditch the GPU all together, I really fell in love with the Chopin Pro case. Comes with a 200w power supply built in!

IN WIN Chopin Pro Titanium Gray (200Watts 80+ Gold PSU Included) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B096CBLR7T/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_FAV8K1QYH5EAD2382RR8

That sucks... I might end up getting something like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083N35SCZ/ I've had nothing but good experiences with Startech, it's simple and gets the job done. How do you like the case though?

Got mine off Amazon, but beware im using the O11D XL which I believe won’t work for the normal O11. Link below though its OOS now. I also do not think they make a PCIE 4.0 version for the normal O11 yet.

Lian Li O11DXL-1-4 PCI-E 4.0 Upright Display Card Kit for O11 Dynamic XL only (Vertical Graphics Card Holder for O11D XL) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B095NZ6WSJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_DWFRRCEKTBYFB0TVP4C0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I have bottom and side fans as intake, top and back fans as exhaust. Pretty sure all of them are set to 1900 rpm.

CPU is overclocked with PBO and I fixed the inlet outlet issue.

I’m using the this gpu bracket and the SE rad below it. The XE wouldn’t fit so I put it on top.

Don't have much knowledge of the NUC market, but if you want a full desktop processor in a small form factor you can go with a build like this. I'd throw it in this case that for some reason pcpp wouldn't let me add. Only thing you're missing after that is a drive of your choice.

That should easily be able to handle 15-20 1080p transcodes and is pretty powerful if you ever need it for something else. It's also smaller than some NUCs according to inwin

You're welcome! I bought a Canakit B3+ from Amazon (CanaKit Raspberry Pi 3 B+ (B Plus) with 2.5A Power Supply (UL Listed) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BC6WH7V/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_PJWFB9JVXY06VGMC1YNT?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1)

You can buy a case (or print one) as well. Shoot me a dm of you run into trouble. I've never touched an RPi before and had no issues getting mine set up 👍

Recomendo dares uma vista de olhos nas intel NUC mais baratas, vale a pena se precisares de mais performance ou IO. Se ja tiveres uns sticks de ddr3 e um ssd diria que vale a pena. https://www.amazon.es/Intel-NUC-BOXNUC6CAYH-Ordenador-CELERON/dp/B01MSZTD8N/ref=sr_1_7?__mk_es_ES=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&dchild=1&keywords=intel+nuc&qid=1629915124&sr=8-7

It's on Amazon Japan already if you want to go through the hassle of setting up an account and the price is about $120 plus shipping. It should be on Newegg soon though.

https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/LIANLI-O11DXL-1X-Video-Vertical-O11DXL/dp/B095NZ6WSJ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=O11DXL-1&qid=1624972102&sr=8-1&th=1

https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/Dedicated-Vertical-Installation-Compatible-O11DMINI-1X-4/dp/B08TRB3672/ref=mp_s_a_1_17?dchild=1&keywords=o11d+mini+vertical+gpu&qid=1623021436&sr=8-17 Have you thought about getting a black one and just painting it? This one ships to the us pretty fast.

I've tried finding a solution to this via forum and subreddit posts, but have yet to find the exact issue anywhere. This is my first time using a Raspberry Pi so I'm a little lost.

I set up a Pi 3B+ to run OctoPrint for my 3D printer and it ran perfectly. However, once I connected the Raspberry Pi Camera V2 it stopped booting. There's no green light and the OctoPrint server is not active. I assumed it was due to the power draw from having the camera and a cooling fan attached (the fan and a case came bundled with this power supply I bought for only a couple extra bucks: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BTHNW9W?psc=1&ref=ppx\_yo2\_dt\_b\_product\_details). So I tried seeing if it would boot with the fan on a lower setting or without the fan entirely and still didn't work either way. I also tried it again without the camera to ensure nothing was damaged and it booted normally.

The only solutions I can think of is to try the official power supply, which appears to provide 5V 2.5A like the one I already have, or if maybe the camera I bought is defective in some way. I've seen where some people got tricked into buying knock-off cameras but I don't know how to tell. Here is the one I bought for reference: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ER2SKFS?psc=1&ref=ppx\_yo2\_dt\_b\_product\_details. Buying off of Amazon instead of the official page's supplier probably wasn't the best idea on my part, but I had gift card balance left over from an earlier return. Hopefully there's something simple that I'm missing. Otherwise, I guess my next step is to try a replacement camera and/or power supply.

Universal rack-rails, just lay it on top and slide it down to the back.

​

Something like
this or this

Startech also makes universal rails, you don't need to pay for official Dell rails. $36 and they're adjustable if you ever decide to change rack lengths: https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Server-Rails-Adjustable-Mounting/dp/B083N35SCZ/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=startech+1u+rails&qid=1613418484&sr=8-3

they did originally but they weren't included.

I found a kit from star tech that supports up to 200lbs https://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B083N35SCZ

I ordered this for my 4U server, but it might be strong enough for the disk shelf as well. Do you think this would work?

yes I will probably end up using some support, although my plan is to mount it in the lowest spot so not much lifting to do. If the rails fit sliding it in shouldn't be too hard.