Real Build Analysis · Techno Tim
HomeLab Hardware Tour: Compute, Storage and Network as Separate Layers
An independent SizeMyHomeLab analysis of a real build documented by Techno Tim. This is commentary and technical interpretation, not an endorsement by the creator.
Techno Tim · 2025 · 273k+ views at research time
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What is visible in the build
Intel NUC 11/12 cluster, Minisforum MS-A1, Beelink EQ13, HL15 NAS, NVMe/SATA storage, 2.5/10 GbE networking and UPS hardware.
Workloads / constraints we can model
- Proxmox
- Kubernetes
- NAS / storage
- Networking
- AI / accelerator workloads
SizeMyHomeLab analysis
The key architectural lesson is separation of roles. Compact compute, production storage, test systems and networking are not forced into one chassis.
This validates an important SizeMyHomeLab principle: a result can legitimately become a multi-device architecture when storage or acceleration requirements conflict with compact compute.
The NUC/Beelink/Minisforum class gives us realistic consumer hardware families for compact virtualization recommendations.
Proxmox + Kubernetes + storage + advanced networking; performance/growth priority.
Does the hardware map to products we can recommend?
Very strong. Mini PCs, RAM, NVMe, UPS and network hardware are widely sold; larger NAS/server components are better treated as separate product classes.
Important: a product used in the video is not assumed to be today's best-value purchase. Current offers still have to satisfy the current sizing result.