I’ve always wanted to start a homelab, and now I finally have the hardware to make it happen. Recently, I picked up a Lenovo Ideacentre 510s for just $80. It comes with an Intel i5-8400, 8GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD. Prices for PC parts have gone up because of the AI craze, so finding this deal felt amazing. I call this little machine Lil Beast.
How This Price Compares
To give you context, similar used desktop PCs with an i5‑8400, 8 GB RAM, and SSD typically range from $150 to $300 second‑hand:
- Refurbished Dell OptiPlex 3060 SFF (i5‑8400, 8 GB, 512 GB SSD) sells for around $240
- eBay listings show i5‑8400 desktops with 8 GB RAM for $120–$200
That puts my $80 deal significantly below average, making Lil Beast a budget-friendly gem.
Why I Bought It
I wanted something affordable and reliable for homelab experiments. The Lenovo 510s is compact, energy‑efficient, and powerful enough for everyday tasks. It’s a fantastic entry point for anyone wanting to dive in. Besides, I need a CPU with a minimum UHD Graphics 630 for media purposes.
Specs at a Glance
- CPU: Intel i5‑8400 (6 cores, strong multitasking performance)
- RAM: 8 GB DDR4
- Storage: 512 GB SSD
- Price: $80 (second‑hand deal)
What I Plan to Do
This machine is my homelab foundation:
- Virtualization: lightweight VMs for testing
- Media Server: Jellyfin for streaming
- Automation: Home Assistant for smart home control
- AI Experiments: running local LLMs (if the hardware allows, which I doubt)
Why It Matters
Homelabs aren’t just for enthusiasts. They give you control, flexibility, and a learning playground. Lil Beast will improve my quality of life by centralizing services, automating tasks, and offering endless tech exploration.
My Takeaway
If you’re thinking about starting a homelab, don’t wait for perfect specs. Start small, start cheap, and start today. Lil Beast may not be top-tier, but for $80 it’s more than enough to get the ball rolling.
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