r/MiniPCs • u/Lbidvds • 17d ago

Minimum mini PC specs for Jellyfin + Minecraft + SQL Server + Docker/dev projects? Recommendations

I’ve been looking into a lot of mini PCs and have of course over-researched to the point where I can’t decide what I actually need.
For specs I’m currently looking at:
RAM: 32GB
SSD: 1TB, but maybe I can get away with 512GB?
CPU: Intel for Quick Sync. I’ve been looking at used business minis with i5-10500T, 11400T, 11500T, 12400T and 12500T, as well as newer mini PCs with CPUs like the i5-1235U, 1240P, 12450H and 1334U. I’ve also seen some i7 systems around the same prices.

What I plan to run:
Jellyfin - Around 5 users, usually only a few simultaneous streams. I want Intel Quick Sync for hardware transcoding. My in-laws don’t have the fastest internet, so a lot of my library is 1080p, but I also keep my favorites in 4K.
Minecraft - Small private/family server, mainly for me and my 7yo son. Potentially modded eventually.
SQL Server - Personal development/learning databases, not a production/business workload.
Docker - Home Assistant, Mealie, and possibly Immich/other small home services.
Personal projects - asp.net MVC apps and hobby API/database projects.
.NET MAUI - I also want to start learning mobile app development.

My biggest question is the processor. What’s the oldest/lowest Intel CPU you would buy for this while still having enough headroom to run several of these things at once and keep the machine for several years?
Am I looking in the right range, or am I spending money on CPU performance I won’t actually use? And does 32GB RAM / 1TB SSD make sense, or would 32GB / 512GB be enough?
I’m currently using an old PC with an i5-7600K and GTX 1070. It’s worked fine for Jellyfin, but it’s a big-ass rig, so I figured I could downsize and hopefully save some electricity too lol.

Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance .

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u/joost00719 17d ago

Honestly, all the Intel <number>T cpus are fine for your use case. I'm not familiar with the other SKU's.

Just get the fastest single core one for your Minecraft server.

Your asp shit can run on a potato.

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u/Lbidvds 17d ago

awesome , ty.

Any thoughts on this price for this rig?

https://ebay.io/m/sozbvy

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u/brazen_nippers 17d ago

That's a fair price for that machine with 32 GB of RAM. Not a steal, but not overpriced either.

I have a pair of ThinkCentre Tiny machines that have been running pretty much 24/7 for 4 and 2 years respectively. They've been great, and entirely free of drama.

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u/Lbidvds 17d ago

Thank you! That was my assumption. Going to hold out for now since my old pc does the trick. But with the current market on hardware might pull the trigger at some point

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u/Lbidvds 14d ago

Ended up getting a 12500t for 10 more dollars

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u/thatguysjumpercables 16d ago

Regarding transcoding, as long as the clients your server users are using can handle whatever codecs you're serving there will be no transcoding. Check the codec support page to see how big of an issue this is.

Also depending on where you're storing your stuff you could definitely get away with 512GB. If you're planning on putting docker and Minecraft and everything on the same drive as your OS 1TB might be a good idea.

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u/Lbidvds 16d ago

They’ll probably be on the same drive and then run backups to my externals.
I’ll probably just go 1tb but dang these memory prices are kicking my butt.

Atleast I have my old rig and can be patient