For a long time, I relied on Home Assistant installed on a Raspberry Pi4. Initially, like many users, I utilized an SD card, but as issues arose, I upgraded to an SSD. However, as my Home Assistant setup expanded, especially with the addition of cameras, I needed a more robust solution. That’s when I turned to the MSI Cubi mini PC. Below, I’ll delve into why I made this transition and share insights into the pros and cons of using a mini PC with Home Assistant.
What’s covered in this article?
- Opting for a Mini PC: A Smarter Alternative to Raspberry Pi4 for Home Assistant
- Choosing the Right Mini PC Hardware for Home Assistant
- MSI Cubi JSL-042EU Review
- Overcoming Heat Challenges in MSI Cubi: A User’s Experience
- Conclusion
Opting for a Mini PC: A Smarter Alternative to Raspberry Pi4 for Home Assistant
When it comes to building a Home Assistant system from scratch, consider investing in a mini PC or NUC instead of a Raspberry Pi4. In this article, I’ll explain why choosing a mini PC offers several advantages over Raspberry Pi4 and why it’s the recommended option for building a reliable Home Assistant setup.
More Processing Power: Computers typically have more processing power than Raspberry Pi devices. This can be beneficial if you have a large number of smart devices connected to your Home Assistant instance or if you plan to run resource-intensive add-ons or integrations.
Greater Memory and Storage: Computers usually have more memory (RAM) and storage space than Raspberry Pi devices. This can be advantageous if you need to store a large database of historical sensor data or run multiple applications alongside Home Assistant.
Flexibility in Hardware Configuration: With a computer, you have greater flexibility in choosing hardware components such as CPU, RAM, and storage. This allows you to customize your setup according to your specific requirements and performance needs.
Expandability: Computers offer more options for expansion and upgrading. You can easily add additional storage drives, upgrade RAM, or install expansion cards to extend the capabilities of your Home Assistant setup as your needs evolve.
Better Performance for Add-ons and Integrations: Some add-ons and integrations may require more resources than a Raspberry Pi can provide. By running Home Assistant on a computer, you can ensure smoother performance and compatibility with a wider range of add-ons and integrations.
Running Additional Applications: If you plan to use your Home Assistant setup for purposes beyond home automation, such as media serving, web hosting, or running virtual machines, a computer may be better suited to handle the additional workload.
Networking Capabilities: Computers typically have more robust networking capabilities than Raspberry Pi devices, including faster Ethernet ports, Wi-Fi options, and support for additional networking protocols. This can be advantageous if you have a complex network setup or require high-speed connectivity.
Easier Troubleshooting: Troubleshooting hardware or software issues on a computer can be easier compared to a Raspberry Pi, as computers often have better diagnostic tools, a wider range of compatible peripherals, and more extensive community support.
Integration with Existing Systems: If you already have a dedicated server or computer running 24/7 for other purposes, installing Home Assistant on the same system can help consolidate your home automation setup and simplify management.
Cost-Effectiveness for High-End Configurations: While the initial cost of a computer may be higher than a Raspberry Pi, for high-end configurations, a computer can offer better value for money in terms of performance, expandability, and longevity.
Since I wanted to use Home Assistant with Frigate for my cameras, Plex for broadcasting throughout my house, as well as MQTT, Pi-Hole and similar software in my new system, I decided to buy a cheap mini PC and install Proxmox.
Choosing the Right Mini PC Hardware for Home Assistant
Selecting the appropriate hardware for your Home Assistant setup is crucial for ensuring optimal performance, especially when running resource-intensive applications like Plex and Frigate. While Home Assistant is known for its resource efficiency and can run on modest hardware configurations such as a Raspberry Pi3 or an older computer with at least 2GB of memory, it’s essential to consider your specific usage requirements.
For users planning to run additional software like Plex or Frigate, it’s recommended to invest in more robust hardware. If you intend to utilize software like Plex for media serving or Frigate for advanced features like object identification, you’ll need a mini PC with a powerful CPU and ample memory. Specifically, for Frigate’s object identification feature, a mini PC with at least a sixth-generation CPU is recommended to ensure smooth operation and optimal performance.
While searching for a mini PC with the desired features, I stumbled upon a tempting discount on MSI’s Cubi JSL-042EU model on Amazon deals. Despite its lower memory capacity, I was drawn to its potential for expansion and the promising Intel N6000 processor. Upon testing, I was pleasantly surprised by the Cubi’s remarkable power and versatility, making it an ideal choice for various computing needs, including Home Assistant setups.
My version of the Cubi JSL-042EU is equipped with an Intel N6000 processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD, which perfectly suits my requirements. The expandable RAM up to 16GB provides ample room for future upgrades, ensuring smooth operation of Home Assistant and other applications. Additionally, the Cubi boasts 4 USB 3.2 ports, suitable for accommodating Zigbee dongles and external HDDs for backups, enhancing its utility for Home Assistant users.
Despite coming with Windows 11 Pro pre-installed, I seamlessly transitioned to Proxmox for my Home Assistant needs, leveraging the Cubi’s compatibility and performance capabilities. With its compact size and robust features, the Cubi JSL-042EU proves to be a reliable and efficient companion for Home Assistant enthusiasts, offering the power and versatility required for seamless home automation.
This is of course my own choice, and I made this choice for the reasons mentioned above, but as I mentioned in the article, any device with a new generation CPU, enough RAM and SSD will do just fine.
Overcoming Heat Challenges in MSI Cubi: A User’s Experience
While the MSI Cubi boasts an aesthetically pleasing design and a small cooling fan to minimize noise, users may encounter elevated CPU temperatures, even during basic system operations like accessing the BIOS screen. To mitigate the heat problem without resorting to returning the mini PC, I experimented with alternative cooling methods. By placing an additional fan on the case and stabilizing it with a 3D-printed apparatus, I observed a significant drop in CPU temperature, enhancing the overall performance and reliability of the MSI Cubi.
While the my solution effectively resolved the heat issue, there remains a discussion on the expectation of design improvements from manufacturers like MSI. Despite the Cubi’s impressive features, users may anticipate enhanced cooling systems integrated into future iterations to prevent thermal challenges commonly encountered in compact devices.
Conclusion
To summarize, my transition from Raspberry Pi4 to mini PC was very easy and comfortable. In my next article, I will share with you the Proxmox installation and then I will explain how I migrated my Home Assistant from Raspberry to mini PC.