Dive deep into Alpha Bits' HomeLab hardware strategy, comparing PC vs embedded systems approaches. Learn why we use a mix of Raspberry Pi 4s, Orange Pi Zeros, Radxa boards, and a dedicated GPU server, including real-world costs, lessons learned, and recommendations for building your own distributed infrastructure.
Alpha Bits
Engineering Team
When I tell people about our HomeLab setup at Alpha Bits, the first question is usually: "Why don't you just use a single powerful server?" It's a fair question, and one that took me months of experimentation to answer properly.
The short answer: because different workloads have different needs, and the beauty of a distributed HomeLab is matching the right hardware to the right job. Today, I'll walk you through our hardware philosophy, the specific devices we use, and the hard-learned lessons that shaped our current setup.
Let me start with the fundamental choice every HomeLab builder faces: do you go with a traditional PC/server approach, or embrace the world of single-board computers (SBCs) and embedded systems?
I've tried both approaches extensively, and honestly, the answer isn't either/or – it's both, strategically deployed.
Pros:
Cons:
Pros:
Cons:
After three years of experimentation, we've settled on what I call the "hybrid distributed approach." Here's our current setup and the reasoning behind each choice:
Raspberry Pi 4 (8GB) - Our Workhorses
We run three Pi 4s as our primary service nodes. Each one handles specific roles:
Why Pi 4s? After testing various SBCs, the Pi ecosystem's maturity is unmatched. Documentation is extensive, community support is incredible, and hardware availability is generally reliable (supply chain issues aside).
Raspberry Pi 400 - The Development Machine
This might sound crazy, but I do a surprising amount of development work directly on a Pi 400. It's my "field laptop" – I can SSH into any system, edit configurations, test deployments, and even do light coding. The integrated keyboard form factor is perfect for quick maintenance tasks.
Raspberry Pi CM4 Modules - Specialized Tasks
We use CM4 modules in custom carrier boards for specific applications:
The CM4's flexibility lets us build exactly what we need without compromise.
Here's where we get into the really cost-effective territory. Orange Pi Zero boards (we use the Zero 2W and Zero 3) serve as our "micro-services" nodes:
At $15-25 each, these little boards handle single-purpose tasks beautifully. The power consumption is negligible (under 2W each), and if one fails, it's not a major financial hit to replace.
A Personal Story: I was initially skeptical about the Orange Pi ecosystem – the documentation isn't as polished as Raspberry Pi's. But after our first Zero 2W ran Pi-hole flawlessly for eight months straight, drawing less power than a night light, I became a convert. Sometimes the best solution is the simplest one.
For compute-intensive tasks, we maintain one traditional x86 server:
Specifications:
Primary Uses:
This server only runs when needed – it's not our 24/7 infrastructure. The Pi ecosystem handles daily operations, and we fire up the big server for specific tasks. This approach keeps our power bill reasonable while providing serious compute when required.
The Radxa Rock 3W deserves special mention. We use it for our most demanding ARM workloads:
Our Rock 3W runs our computer vision pipeline for security cameras, handles real-time image processing, and serves as a backup for critical services. It's the perfect middle ground between Pi 4 performance and x86 power consumption.
1. Start with Power Measurement
I wish I'd bought a power meter earlier. Understanding the actual power consumption of each device changed how I think about 24/7 services. That "efficient" mini PC drawing 25W idle costs more in electricity per year than buying two Raspberry Pis.
2. Plan for Failure from Day One
SD cards will fail. It's not if, it's when. I learned this the hard way when our main Pi's SD card died on a Sunday morning, taking down several services. Now every critical service runs on at least two devices, and we use USB SSDs for anything important.
3. Network is Everything
A distributed setup is only as good as the network connecting it. Invest in a decent managed switch, plan your VLANs, and monitor network performance. We'll cover this in detail in our networking post.
4. ARM Software Ecosystem Has Matured
Three years ago, finding ARM builds of software was frustrating. Today, most major applications have native ARM support, and Docker makes the rest manageable. Don't let ARM compatibility fears hold you back.
For transparency, here's what our current hardware cost (approximate, as prices fluctuate):
Total Hardware Investment: ~$2,110
Compare this to a single high-end server with equivalent capabilities, and we're actually saving money while gaining redundancy, power efficiency, and learning opportunities.
If you're just starting:
If you need serious compute:
Hardware is just the foundation. In our next post, we'll dive into the networking magic that ties everything together: how ZeroTier, Cloudflare DNS, and Cloudflare Tunnel create a seamless, secure network that works from anywhere in the world.
We'll cover the specific configurations, the security considerations, and why this combination has been game-changing for our distributed setup.
Have questions about specific hardware choices or wondering how a particular device might fit your use case? Drop us a line – I love talking hardware, and your questions help shape future posts in this series.
Next up: "HomeLab Networking: ZeroTier + Cloudflare = NAT-Free Nirvana"