F5F Stay Refreshed Hardware Desktop Question Minisforum - Replacement of Intel NUC KVM/libvirt?

Question Minisforum - Replacement of Intel NUC KVM/libvirt?

Question Minisforum - Replacement of Intel NUC KVM/libvirt?

Z
ZM0NEYO43V3R
Member
145
01-25-2025, 08:06 PM
#1
Hello, everyone. I believe this is the right place to share this inquiry.
I own an older Intel NUC used as a home server for several years; it might fail unexpectedly. It’s currently running Red Hat 8 with KVM/libvirt hosting multiple virtual machines and also serves as my Plex server on the physical machine (VMs run additional services). The hardware is limited in resources, so I’m restricted in how many VMs I can support.
I’m searching for a smaller form factor alternative that could replace this NUC. Minisforum appears to be a viable choice. I’m aiming for a budget under $400 and was considering the MINISFORUM Venus Series NAB5 Mini PC, which is available on Amazon for $360. It seems like a solid option.
Do you have any experience with Minisforum? Would this be a suitable replacement for my needs at a lower cost?
Please note I require at least 32GB RAM and 1TB of storage (the NAB5 model will need an upgrade).
Looking forward to your feedback.
Z
ZM0NEYO43V3R
01-25-2025, 08:06 PM #1

Hello, everyone. I believe this is the right place to share this inquiry.
I own an older Intel NUC used as a home server for several years; it might fail unexpectedly. It’s currently running Red Hat 8 with KVM/libvirt hosting multiple virtual machines and also serves as my Plex server on the physical machine (VMs run additional services). The hardware is limited in resources, so I’m restricted in how many VMs I can support.
I’m searching for a smaller form factor alternative that could replace this NUC. Minisforum appears to be a viable choice. I’m aiming for a budget under $400 and was considering the MINISFORUM Venus Series NAB5 Mini PC, which is available on Amazon for $360. It seems like a solid option.
Do you have any experience with Minisforum? Would this be a suitable replacement for my needs at a lower cost?
Please note I require at least 32GB RAM and 1TB of storage (the NAB5 model will need an upgrade).
Looking forward to your feedback.

L
LooseDawg
Senior Member
628
01-25-2025, 08:06 PM
#2
The Minisforum NAB5 appears to have solid reviews online. Is anyone familiar with this brand or similar devices offering power on a budget?
L
LooseDawg
01-25-2025, 08:06 PM #2

The Minisforum NAB5 appears to have solid reviews online. Is anyone familiar with this brand or similar devices offering power on a budget?

B
Bring_It
Senior Member
423
01-25-2025, 08:06 PM
#3
Check this out. I purchased the NAB5 on sale from Newegg for roughly $360 with 1TB capacity, and it’s performing quite well as a KVM/libvirt host in my home lab.
B
Bring_It
01-25-2025, 08:06 PM #3

Check this out. I purchased the NAB5 on sale from Newegg for roughly $360 with 1TB capacity, and it’s performing quite well as a KVM/libvirt host in my home lab.