Planning guide
How much CPU do you really need for a homelab?
Start from workload counts instead of marketing specs. Storage and networking often matter more than raw cores — here is how to size correctly.
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Guides
Homelab planning guides for builders who want to get it right.
These guides cover the decisions that make or break a homelab build: CPU sizing, drive selection, rack noise, and power planning. Each one is designed to feed directly into the build planner.
Planning guide
Sizing a quiet rack for a closet or home office
Noise, depth, and airflow determine whether the lab stays in the room or gets banished to a garage. What to check before buying rack hardware.
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Planning guide
Choosing the first two drives for a ZFS homelab
The best first step is a safe layout with enough headroom to grow into mirror, RAIDZ, or a dedicated backup role. How to pick drives that give you that flexibility.
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Ready to apply what you have read?
Open the homelab build planner and start checking part compatibility, power draw, and rack fit in real time.