I currently have a server, a Dell T310 with an SSD in it and 12Gig of ram (weird config, I know I messed up but it works fine so I can’t be bothered to change that for now), with all my dockers running in it.
It runs mostly fine, with Debian 11, a VPN so that I can block public ssh and allow it only on the VPN network, an nginx proxy to have services like a forgejo and a music library (ampache).
However it can’t run a Minecraft server with more than a single person on it without stuttering ; so I was considering changing it maybe next year, after more than 3 years of services, for something beefier but also consuming less W/h (current consumption is 80W), and since I already have a Mac for work I was wondering how suitable a Mac Mini M1/M2 would be for a homelab?
Does anyone have such a configuration and how does it work for you? Any hurdle that you should be aware of?
What benchmark do you have that says a R9 7950X “consumes as much and at times less power than an M1/M2”??? I mean, a) of course that’s a crazy comparison because the M1/M2 is an entry-level laptop chip and the 7950x is AMD’s flagship high performance desktop chip and b) the M1/M2’s power consumption at full load is ~20W and the 7950x idles at 20-30W.
A reasonable comparable is one of AMD’s monolithic laptop chips like the 7840U or (if you’re willing to consume more power) 7840HS.
Some actual useful charts: https://www.notebookcheck.net/Apple-M3-SoC-analyzed-Increased-performance-and-improved-efficiency.766789.0.html https://www.techspot.com/review/2499-apple-m2/