I want to buy an Intel-type NUC for my node. What are your recommendations? \ stacker news ~bitcoin

I want to buy an Intel-type NUC for my node. What are your recommendations?

526 sats \ 26 comments \ @Kathleen_Croteau 15 Jan bitcoin_beginners

I want one that is up-gradable. I will replace the SD or SSD with 4tb, and upgrade the RAM.

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25 sats \ 0 replies \ @nikotsla 15 Jan

What software are you going to run on it? Do you have problem with fan noise?

Cheap new: https://store.minisforum.com/ Cheap old: ebay

65 sats \ 8 replies \ @random_ 15 Jan

2012 mac mini Cheap, easy to upgrade, high quality.

4 sats \ 0 replies \ @xz 15 Jan

^^ Good choice. Can attest.

0 sats \ 6 replies \ @Kathleen_Croteau OP 15 Jan

Great suggestion. Looks I can upgrade it with 16GB RAM and up to 8TB SSD.

4 sats \ 5 replies \ @PlebeiusG 15 Jan

100%

I came here to suggest this. Cheap on ebay. solid built. Old ones can be upgraded. Plenty of horsepower for a node.

4 sats \ 4 replies \ @9 15 Jan

Can you install any Linux with just using an ISO on an SD card?

4 sats \ 0 replies \ @PlebeiusG 15 Jan

Yeah for Intel-based.

Id stay away from the new Apple Silicon ones, at least for another 5 years

4 sats \ 2 replies \ @random_ 15 Jan

I'd check compatibility issues for whatever linux distro first. Expect missing drivers, etc.

I'd recommend dell latitude if you don't want to use a mac computer. Also affordable, easy to upgrade, and a bonus UPS.

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @Kathleen_Croteau OP 15 Jan

Thanks, that's why I was leaning towards Intel.

4 sats \ 0 replies \ @random_ 15 Jan

https://proprivacy.com/privacy-news/intel-management-engine

25 sats \ 3 replies \ @nullama 15 Jan

A few options:

macOS: The Mac Mini M1 from 2020 is incredibly powerful and small, plus you never hear the fans even at 100% usage. Apple Silicon is a game changer. It's UNIX in the end so you can compile anything for it. You don't need an Apple account to use it.

https://i.imgur.com/VuO1ASQ.jpg

Windows: If you like Windows, then there's a cool little new ARM device called Project Volterra, it's basically a MS version of the Mac Mini. Haven't used it but seems nice.

https://i.imgur.com/9SI2pgX.jpg

Linux: Intel NUCs are fantastic for running these kinds of things, ideally with Linux. In particular the Phantom Canyon is a great deal as it has a relatively powerful discrete NVidia card, it's silent, and looks great:

https://i.imgur.com/78tjTpH.jpg

4 sats \ 1 reply \ @xz 15 Jan

Have you run a node on any of these?

9 sats \ 0 replies \ @nullama 15 Jan

Yes, the mac mini M1, it syncs with the blockchain overnight. It's a great little machine.

4 sats \ 0 replies \ @xz 15 Jan

Never heard of Project Volterra +1

1004 sats \ 0 replies \ @kristapsk 15 Jan

If you plan to also run Lightning node, I would not go with anything where you can't connect two physical storage devices that can be mirrored. Looking at Wikipedia, 12th generation Alder Lake NUCs have two internal M.2 slots. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_Unit_of_Computing#Twelfth_generation

For my node at home I personally run Odroid HC4 ARM-based device with two SATA SSD drives. https://www.hardkernel.com/shop/odroid-hc4/

4 sats \ 0 replies \ @anon 15 Jan

System76 Mini preloaded with Linux https://system76.com/desktops/meerkat

4 sats \ 0 replies \ @wingalt 15 Jan

I have a NUC 5 which is a good start, affordable second hand, two slots for SSDs which is great to run separate distros or nodes but the RAM is limited to 16 GB and it has only two cores. I am now eying a NUC 12 which has ten cores and can be upgraded to 64 GB which I find more comfortable to allocate resources when setting up VMs in Proxmox

4 sats \ 2 replies \ @03a5308755 15 Jan

Buy an used server with ECC Ram, can get those with a reasonably modern CPU and 16gb ecc ram for ~$200

4 sats \ 1 reply \ @aljaz 15 Jan

old servers or servers in general have significant power drain + are generally loud as they are designed to sit in datacenters

a good compromise might be some of the workstation models, they run quieter but still use a lot of power

as suggested by others look at alternatives to nuc that you could get cheaper, possibly with two ssds.

Not a horrible option is also refurbished laptop, you can usually get tons of thinkpads that businesses cycle out, gives you silent run&built in ups

4 sats \ 0 replies \ @03a5308755 15 Jan

ECC RAM is important

4 sats \ 0 replies \ @SpaceHodler 15 Jan

I use an Intel NUC N3700. I chose it for its low power consumption - TDP 6W. It feels a bit slow, but it's more than fast enough for just a node.

4 sats \ 1 reply \ @DiracDelta 15 Jan

Something on Alibaba

4 sats \ 0 replies \ @sime 15 Jan

I just ordered this, been eyeballing it for a while. https://a.aliexpress.com/_EQc0DIV

4 sats \ 0 replies \ @WeAreAllSatoshi 15 Jan

I guess I need to look up NUC

4 sats \ 0 replies \ @_b_o_n_e_s_ 15 Jan

An old Thinkcentre M series (think that's what they're called) off ebay. The small form factor PCs.

4 sats \ 0 replies \ @nout 15 Jan

I think Intel NUC is a fair plan, but it may be almost overkill for bitcoin node. Beelink produces decent "Intel NUCs" (they actually have a bunch with AMD too). Check it for the specific model, but SSD and RAM are replaceable.