Articles
Used Enterprise SSDs for Homelabs: Are eBay Data Center Drives Worth the Risk?
Used data center SSDs on eBay look like an absurd deal. Here's what you actually get, what the endurance numbers really mean, and when a new consumer drive is the smarter buy.
Best Budget Managed Switch for VLANs (Homelab, 2026)
The 2026 shortlist of the best budget managed switches for homelab VLANs: the $25 hero pick, a cheaper rival, and upgrade tiers for PoE and 2.5G networking.
Best UPS for a Homelab: Battery Backup on a Budget
A UPS is the cheapest insurance your homelab will ever buy. Here's how to size one for a low-power setup, which units are worth the money, and how to make it shut your server down safely.
My Homelab Stack: Everything I Actually Run (and What It Costs)
A full tour of my budget homelab stack: the hardware, every service I run grouped by job, and the real monthly cost breakdown with numbers.
Why I Stopped Using Rack Servers (And What I Use Instead)
I ran rack gear for two years. Here's what the homelab rack server vs mini PC tradeoff actually taught me, and what I run now instead.
Self-Hosting Meets Real Life: What's Actually Worth Running at Home
Not everything belongs in a container. An honest, category-by-category look at what self-hosting actually pays off at home and what you should just keep paying for.
Low-Power Homelab: Run 15+ Services on Under 25 Watts
Build a homelab that idles under 25W while running 15+ services. Hardware picks, container density tips, power budget table, and honest trade-offs.
How Much Does a Homelab Actually Cost? (Power, Hardware, Time)
Year-one total cost of ownership for a budget homelab: hardware, electricity, time, storage, recurring fees, and the upgrade spiral. With real numbers.
Best Mini PC for Home Assistant in 2026 (HAOS, Containers, and Heavy Add-ons)
The opinionated 2026 buyer's guide to mini PC hardware for Home Assistant: five picks across price tiers, real performance notes, and the accessories that make the whole thing work.
Best Mini PCs for a Budget Homelab in 2026 (Real Idle Power Numbers)
The complete 2026 guide to mini PC homelab hardware: every tier from $80 to $475, real idle power numbers, and the picks that actually run Proxmox and Docker well.
Homelab Power Usage: How to Measure and Reduce It
Your homelab runs 24/7, and that adds up on your electric bill. Here's how to actually measure what you're using and cut it without cutting your setup.
Replacing Google One With a Home Server: Is It Actually Worth It?
Google One keeps raising prices. Here's what it actually takes to replace it with a self-hosted alternative, and whether the trade-offs make sense.
The Hidden Costs of Homelab Nobody Tells You About
Electricity and hardware get all the attention. Here's the full list of what a homelab actually costs, including the things most guides skip.
How Much Does a Homelab Actually Cost Per Month? (Real Numbers)
The real monthly cost of running a homelab: power draw, hardware amortization, domain, and services. Based on what I actually pay, not estimates.
Self-Hosting vs. the Cloud: When It Actually Makes Financial Sense
A clear-eyed breakeven analysis of self-hosting versus cloud subscriptions, with real costs, real trade-offs, and an honest answer for different situations.