Choosing a used mini PC for Proxmox: RAM, drives, NICs and clusters
Updated 2026-09-25
Proxmox VE runs on almost anything. What decides whether a mini PC is a good node is how many guests it can hold and how you will store them.
1. RAM ceiling first
RAM runs out before CPU on most home Proxmox hosts. ZFS also uses RAM for its cache. Prefer a model officially rated for 64 GB if you plan many VMs; see which models support 64 GB.
2. A second drive
Two drives let you mirror the VM storage or keep the OS separate. Two NVMe slots is best; one NVMe plus a 2.5" SATA SSD is the common compromise. On Lenovo Tiny models a PCIe riser takes the 2.5" bay, so you cannot have both.
3. Networking
One 1 GbE port is enough for a single node. For a cluster with shared storage or live migration, or for an OPNsense VM, look at models with a faster or second NIC path. Intel NICs (I219, I226) are well supported by Proxmox's kernel.
4. Remote management
Intel vPro/AMT on supported CPUs gives you remote console and power control for a headless node, without extra hardware.
5. Clusters: three is the magic number
A Proxmox cluster needs a majority of votes (quorum) to make changes. Three nodes can lose one and keep running; with two nodes you need an external QDevice for a third vote. Buying three identical used units also means one set of spare parts.
Models with real headroom (two NVMe, 64 GB or PCIe)
| Model | CPU generations | Max RAM (official) | Drives (NVMe + 2.5") | Faster networking | vPro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dell OptiPlex 3080 Micro | 10th gen (Comet Lake) | 64 GB | 1 + 1 | 1 GbE (USB for more) | No |
| Dell OptiPlex 7080 Micro | 10th gen (Comet Lake) | 64 GB | 2 + 1 | 1 GbE (USB for more) | Some CPUs |
| HP EliteDesk 800 G4 Mini | 8th gen (Coffee Lake) | 32 GB | 2 + 1 | 1 GbE (USB for more) | Some CPUs |
| HP EliteDesk 800 G5 Mini (verify) | 9th gen (Coffee Lake Refresh) | 32 GB | 2 + 1 | 1 GbE (USB for more) | Some CPUs |
| HP EliteDesk 800 G6 Mini (verify) | 10th gen (Comet Lake) | 64 GB | 2 + 1 | 1 GbE (USB for more) | Some CPUs |
| HP EliteDesk 800 G8 Mini | 11th gen (Rocket Lake) | 64 GB | 2 + 1 | 1 GbE (USB for more) | Some CPUs |
| HP Elite Mini 800 G9 | 12th gen (Alder Lake) / 13th gen (Raptor Lake) | 64 GB | 2 + 1 | 2.5GbE via Flex IO port with an Intel I226-V 2.5GbE controller (must be configured at purchase) | Some CPUs |
| Lenovo ThinkCentre M720q Tiny | 8th gen (Coffee Lake) / 9th gen (Coffee Lake Refresh) | 32 GB | 1 + 1 | 10GbE via Low-profile PCIe network card in the riser slot (riser and bracket bought separately) (owner-reported, not a vendor option) | No |
| Lenovo ThinkCentre M920q Tiny | 8th gen (Coffee Lake) / 9th gen (Coffee Lake Refresh) | 32 GB | 1 + 1 | 10GbE via Low-profile PCIe network card in the riser slot (riser and bracket bought separately) (owner-reported, not a vendor option) | Some CPUs |
| Lenovo ThinkCentre M920x Tiny | 8th gen (Coffee Lake) / 9th gen (Coffee Lake Refresh) | 32 GB | 2 + 1 | 10GbE via Low-profile PCIe network card in the riser slot (riser and bracket bought separately) (owner-reported, not a vendor option) | Some CPUs |
| Lenovo ThinkCentre M70q Gen 1 Tiny | 10th gen (Comet Lake) | 64 GB | 1 + 1 | 1 GbE (USB for more) | No |
| Lenovo ThinkCentre M75q Gen 2 Tiny | Ryzen 4000 (Renoir) | 64 GB | 1 + 1 | 1 GbE (USB for more) | No |
| Lenovo ThinkCentre M90q Gen 1 Tiny | 10th gen (Comet Lake) | 64 GB | 2 + 1 | 10GbE via Low-profile PCIe network card in the riser slot (riser and bracket bought separately) (owner-reported, not a vendor option) | Some CPUs |