ZimaBoard: A Versatile Mini-PC for the Homelab

I've used a lot of different small form factor machines over the years, from the Raspberry Pi to used ebay thin clients. All of them are good at some things. But when Icewhale sent over their x86-based Zimaboard for me to take a look at, I've been impressed with the flexibility it has for me to test new software and hardware in a relatively cheap way. It's not spectacular at any one thing, but it's versatile enough that it's a great foundation for so many of my projects. So what's good about the Zimaboard: -Reasonable price for an x86-based single board computer -Being x86 based is a huge advantage for running the usual homelab software -Enough eMMC for a full operating system, enough for many use cases without additional storage -Dual NICs are a huge benefit to a lot of projects -Low power 12V input -CasaOS is open-source and very easy to get started with if you want the basics for your homelab without a lot of fuss A few negatives: -PCIe slot is in a bit of a weird position, slot covers don't fit well and hit the case, I ended up taking them all off -Not enough USB ports if you want to actually use it as a desktop (or install and OS via a GUI) -The ZimaBoard itself is beautiful, but when you add cards and SSDs, it can look very hacked together. Buy a Zimaboard yourself! From Zimaboard: https://bit.ly/436OTcF From Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/ZimaBoard-Computer-Personal-Network-Attached/dp/B0BKL7YPBQ/ref=sr_1_1?th=1 Blog post has full lscpu / lspci / vainfo output: https://www.apalrd.net/posts/2023/network_zima/ I have a few more projects planned for the Zimaboard, so don't forget to stick around to check those out. Feel free to chat with me more on my Discord server: https://discord.gg/xJsaEukAr4 If you'd like to support me, feel free to here: https://ko-fi.com/apalrd Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:37 - Unboxing 01:52 - Specs 03:54 - CasaOS 07:11 - PCIe Card Testing 13:20 - Conclusion Some links to products may be affiliate links, which may earn a commission for me. #homelab #zimaboard #homeserver