Best Mini PCs for a Home Server

For a small home server, choose the Beelink EQ14 N150 with memory and storage included, provided its pre-order timing works for you. For a growing Proxmox lab, our starting pick is the ASUS NUC 15 Pro, Core Ultra 5 225H; choose the Minisforum MS-A2 9955HX when you specifically need its extra network ports or PCIe expansion. Start with an existing computer if it meets the worksheet below.

Official specifications and configuration availability checked November 2, 2026.

Quick picks: buy for the services you will run

Compare specifications and all conditions

EQ14 N150: modest containers and a Plex candidate

Included memory / documented ceiling

16GB DDR4 / 16GB

Included storage

500GB SATA SSD; two M.2 positions

Wired networking

Two 2.5GbE RJ45

All specifications

Buying trap

Selected complete kit is a pre-order

NUC 15 Pro 225H kit: growing VM lab

Included memory / documented ceiling

None / 96GB across two sockets

Included storage

None; 2280 and 2242 NVMe positions

Wired networking

One 2.5GbE RJ45

All specifications

Buying trap

Kit excludes RAM, SSD and OS

MS-A2 9955HX barebone: network lab and PCIe expansion

Included memory / documented ceiling

None / 96GB across two sockets

Included storage

None; three NVMe positions

Wired networking

Two 2.5GbE RJ45 plus two 10G SFP+

All specifications

Buying trap

Barebone excludes RAM, SSD and OS; SFP+ needs a separate link plan

Full comparison table ↔

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Pick and job	Included memory / documented ceiling	Included storage	Wired networking	Buying trap
EQ14 N150: modest containers and a Plex candidate	16GB DDR4 / 16GB	500GB SATA SSD; two M.2 positions	Two 2.5GbE RJ45	Selected complete kit is a pre-order
NUC 15 Pro 225H kit: growing VM lab	None / 96GB across two sockets	None; 2280 and 2242 NVMe positions	One 2.5GbE RJ45	Kit excludes RAM, SSD and OS
MS-A2 9955HX barebone: network lab and PCIe expansion	None / 96GB across two sockets	None; three NVMe positions	Two 2.5GbE RJ45 plus two 10G SFP+	Barebone excludes RAM, SSD and OS; SFP+ needs a separate link plan

Pick and job	Included memory / documented ceiling	Included storage	Wired networking	Buying trap
EQ14 N150: modest containers and a Plex candidate	16GB DDR4 / 16GB	500GB SATA SSD; two M.2 positions	Two 2.5GbE RJ45	Selected complete kit is a pre-order
NUC 15 Pro 225H kit: growing VM lab	None / 96GB across two sockets	None; 2280 and 2242 NVMe positions	One 2.5GbE RJ45	Kit excludes RAM, SSD and OS
MS-A2 9955HX barebone: network lab and PCIe expansion	None / 96GB across two sockets	None; three NVMe positions	Two 2.5GbE RJ45 plus two 10G SFP+	Barebone excludes RAM, SSD and OS; SFP+ needs a separate link plan

These are port rates and memory ceilings, not measured throughput or installed memory in the barebones. The Beelink, ASUS and Minisforum pages establish the configurations above.

Best small complete kit: Beelink EQ14 N150, if you can wait

Choose the N150, 16GB DDR4, 500GB SSD, dual 2.5G, US power selection. It is our starting choice for a modest container service list or a media host after checking Plex compatibility. Beelink lists Windows 11 Home; installing your server OS is a separate task.

The limit that matters is 16GB maximum memory, not the processor's marketing description. Intel lists the N150 as four cores and four threads. If your planned guest allocations already consume that memory ceiling, skip this box.

The supplied drive is SATA III, despite the PCIe-capable M.2 slots. Keep it for the initial installation unless your storage worksheet identifies a reason to replace it. Beelink also lists automatic power-on and Wake-on-LAN; check the relevant firmware settings during setup.

The page conflicts with itself about power: it advertises a built-in supply but also lists an adapter and includes one in its box list. Confirm the actual power arrangement and regional cord. The selected kit is explicitly pre-order, so we would not choose it for a deadline gift without a delivery commitment.

Check the exact EQ14 kit and shipping status at Beelink.

Best starting point for Proxmox: ASUS NUC 15 Pro 225H

Choose the NUC15CRK-B kit with Core Ultra 5 225H if the EQ14's memory ceiling is too restrictive and you do not need built-in SFP+ networking. ASUS lists two memory sockets, supporting 96GB total, plus separate M.2 2280 and 2242 NVMe positions. Its standard wired connection is a single 2.5GbE port.

Our suggested starting configuration is 32GB RAM and a 1TB SSD, sized again against your own services. This is an assembly recipe, not a factory bundle:

ASUS's compatibility report lists the Kingston kit in the 225H section and the SSD as MZ-V9P1T0BW. Samsung's datasheet lists BW and B/AM under the same MZ-V9P1T0 model; B/AM is the US code. This is a documented model match, not a separate ASUS listing for B/AM. The Kingston datasheet confirms the memory kit contents.

Variants: ASUS sells complete Mini PCs and kits, with several processors on the same page. The -B kit excludes RAM, storage and OS; a complete Mini PC has those installed. Match the CPU and included components in the order summary. Do not transfer the specifications of another processor or the Pro+ to this pick.

Check the NUC 15 Pro configuration at ASUS.

Best for network and PCIe expansion: Minisforum MS-A2 9955HX

The MS-A2 earns its place through expansion: two 10G SFP+ ports using Intel X710, two 2.5GbE RJ45 ports, up to 96GB DDR5, and three NVMe storage positions. Its physical PCIe x16 slot has PCIe 4.0 x8 electrical bandwidth. These are useful distinctions for a network lab; they do not establish a VM count.

Choose Ryzen 9 9955HX, barebone, US. The US store marks that variant available in its configuration data, while its configured bundles are out of stock. The global product page marks its selections sold out. Check the regional store's exact order and delivery date; a generic stock banner is insufficient.

Budget RAM, SSD and OS separately. The NUC parts recipe above is ASUS-listed compatibility, not MS-A2 validation: obtain Minisforum's approval for your chosen memory and SSD part numbers. Its support specifications explicitly say no ECC memory support. Two SSD positions default to PCIe 3.0 x4 and can be changed to PCIe 4.0 x4 in BIOS, according to the maker.

Use RJ45 initially if that serves your network. Before buying for SFP+, identify the switch endpoint and compatible DAC or transceiver/fiber parts for both ends; we are not prescribing an unverified link bundle. The store headline and specifications also disagree on Bluetooth, so that feature does not influence this recommendation.

Build your RAM, storage and network worksheet

Use these planning targets: 16GB for a modest service host and 32GB for an initial VM lab. They are our starting suggestions; the service requirements and guest allocations decide the purchase.

The overhead figures come from Proxmox's recommended hardware requirements, not its smaller evaluation-only minimum. Its backup guide recommends a dedicated Proxmox Backup Server host and gives NFS as an alternative. Our buying advice is to keep recovery copies outside this computer and rehearse a restore.

1. 1

   Inventory the services

   Record memory allocations, data location and required devices.

2. 2

   Reserve capacity

   Include hypervisor overhead, filesystem needs and storage growth.

3. 3

   Complete the order

   Match the exact kit, required parts, power connection and backup destination.

For the setup workflow, continue to our home-server starter guide. For a storage-first purchase, compare home NAS choices.

Proxmox: CPU support is the beginning

Intel documents VT-x and VT-d for both the N150 and 225H. AMD lists AMD-V for the 9955HX. Proxmox requires a capable CPU and motherboard for x86 KVM virtualization; PCIe passthrough additionally requires VT-d or AMD-Vi.

• Yes: CPU virtualization is documented for these selected processors
• Partly: Confirm firmware settings and the intended installer can see the NIC and storage
• Partly: Confirm device isolation and passthrough for the exact device if your plan depends on it
• No: A core count does not establish a guaranteed number of usable VMs

Record the controllers when preparing installation: Beelink lists Intel I226-V for the selected EQ14; the MS-A2 combines Realtek RTL8125 and Intel I226-V for copper Ethernet. Check the exact ASUS controller variant in your order. These are specification-based candidates, with no claimed Proxmox certification or guaranteed passthrough layout.

Plex: check the client before buying more CPU

Use our Plex and Jellyfin hardware worksheet to record each client's codecs, container, bitrate, subtitles and local or remote connection. Plex says Direct Play sends the file unchanged; incompatible subtitles can force a full video transcode. Improving that playback match may change which computer you need.

Intel lists Quick Sync on the N150 and 225H. Plex's hardware-acceleration documentation also requires an active Plex Pass and a supported software configuration; its Linux guidance names Ubuntu and Fedora. Its HDR tone-mapping requirements are a separate check. Do not infer codec support or concurrent streams from a display-output specification.

Plex documents extra device configuration for Docker and does not offer automatic hardware acceleration inside a VM. Verify the actual deployment path before buying primarily for transcoding. The MS-A2's larger CPU is not our default Plex recommendation merely because it has more cores.

Complete the server or gift basket

For a deadline gift, favor a confirmed complete configuration; the EQ14's pre-order and the MS-A2's barebone status need particular attention. Check installed RAM, SSD, OS, power supply/cord, delivery date and who will perform setup. A kit without its required parts is an unfinished gift.

An optional QNAP QSW-1108-8T-R2 supplies eight 2.5GbE RJ45 ports; it is unmanaged. For VLAN planning and managed-switch choices, see our multi-gig switch guide. Leave SFP+ purchases until the complete link is specified.

For power protection, the existing CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD is a US 120V sine-wave option with HID-compliant USB communication. Configure and verify shutdown with your chosen OS. Keep the data path out of its 10/100/1000 Ethernet protection ports when planning multi-gig networking. No runtime is promised for an unspecified load.

How we choose

This shortlist uses manufacturer specifications, exact configuration selectors, CPU documentation, ASUS's compatibility report, and Proxmox/Plex requirements. We prioritize a complete modest host, a memory-expandable lab host and a machine with extra network/PCIe expansion. Recommendations are editorial judgments from those documents; there are no physical performance measurements behind them. We have no comparable whole-system idle-power or acoustic results for these configurations, so we do not rank running costs or noise. Availability observations apply to the selected regional configurations on the checked date. Full policy: How we choose.

Verdict

Choose the EQ14 for a modest service host if its memory ceiling and pre-order delivery work. Choose the NUC 15 Pro 225H kit with the specified parts for a growing lab. Choose the MS-A2 when its network or PCIe expansion solves a specific requirement. Reuse an existing host first when it satisfies the same worksheet, and include a separate recovery plan with every purchase.