What are the Raspberry PI alternatives for a DIY bitcoin node? \ stacker news ~DIY

What are the Raspberry PI alternatives for a DIY bitcoin node?

3319 sats \ 23 comments \ @mateusdeap 12 Apr DIY

I suppose the title says it all.

More specifically, the issue is that, at least in my neck of the woods, raspberry pis are not cheap at all.

Was wondering if there are recommendations of alternatives SBCs, or computer configurations in general that would make good options to build my own node.

Naturally, the smaller the form factor, the better.

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576 sats \ 6 replies \ @Wumbo 12 Apr

A used mini workstation (levneo, hp, etc)) works well.

You can pick them up for under $200

https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-ThinkCentre-M700-Tiny-64-Multi-Language/dp/B083P5YCPR/

You will need to also buy a new hard drive.

410 sats \ 4 replies \ @freetx 12 Apr

This x 100.

A sub 1L "mini, tiny, micro" pc (mini = HP naming, tiny = Lenovo, micro = Dell) are much much better options than a RPI.

Remember these desktops are "business class" desktops that include all the BIOS bells and whistles. Secure boot, backup BIOS images, Block USB drives, etc.

You can routinely find something like an HP Micro 800 G3 for sub-$125. There is no reason to buy a weak, underpowered, hard-to-manage RPI for these use cases.

253 sats \ 2 replies \ @Scoresby 12 Apr

This x 1000.

By far best choice! Don't waste time with single board computers. Even a used laptop works.

126 sats \ 1 reply \ @justin_shocknet 12 Apr

used laptops are ideal because if you have a power event the built-in battery allows for a graceful shutdown

otherwise a power event can corrupt your channel state

28 sats \ 0 replies \ @kepford 12 Apr

Yep another great option.

27 sats \ 0 replies \ @kepford 12 Apr

Second this. I've run many RPI and they are cool. I've used them for nodes. No way I would buy one for that purpose now. The mini PCs are better in every way.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @DEADBEEF 13 Apr

I have a Lenovo ThinkCentre M900 Tiny from 2015 laying around unused that I got for free. It has 16GB of ram and an Intel Core i5-6500T. I think I know what I’m going to do with it now :) I just need to get a new hard drive for it.

161 sats \ 1 reply \ @kristapsk 12 Apr

I use Odroid HC4, it has two built-in SATA slots, so I can have two drives in a mirror for redundancy. https://www.hardkernel.com/shop/odroid-hc4/

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @BitcoinFreedomSiim 12 Apr

I use Odroid M1 with NVMe

10 sats \ 0 replies \ @orthwyrm 13 Apr

pi nodes are a shitcoin

just use an old laptop

247 sats \ 0 replies \ @topical 12 Apr

A used thinkpad laptop you can get for less than 200 bucks

150 sats \ 1 reply \ @RDClark 12 Apr

You can also get an Intel n100 mini PC very cheap. Sub $200. I got one on a sale for $160. Easy to upgrade you'll need to upgrade a drive.

50 sats \ 0 replies \ @RDClark 12 Apr

I add this to the good advise on using an old desktop. The one advantage for a cheap mini pc, the n100 is a 6watt part. Whole thing should run well under 15w vs some old PC or laptops which will likely draw 3x or more.

110 sats \ 0 replies \ @SUPERMAX 12 Apr

A dedicated mini PC, old laptop like what is suggested below. 100%

38 sats \ 3 replies \ @amaurel 12 Apr

I've set-up my umbrel on a B-Max mini-PC $120 https://www.amazon.com/Bmax-B3-Processor-Desktop-Computer/dp/B0CT84R6R2/ref=sr_1_5?sr=8-5, with a 1 TB SSD installed under the sliding cover. $66 https://www.amazon.com/PNY-CS900-Internal-Solid-State/dp/B07Y5VDNT9/ref=sr_1_1?sr=8-1.

I've installed Ubuntu and umbrel on the 256GB SSD, and moved the bitcoin blocks on the 1To second drive. It runs smooth, it's silent, and power efficient.

It's a DIY node for less than $200.

0 sats \ 2 replies \ @jp30566347 12 Apr

I didn't know you could install umbrel on top of ubuntu that's great.

I find StartOS to be a bit limiting, but at the same time it's very efficient and lean.

8 sats \ 1 reply \ @amaurel 12 Apr

Is StartOS a better option? that's the distribution one shall install to build a start9 server, right? Is start9 beter than umbrel? I mean I went for umbrel becasue it seemed to be the easier way into running my own node. Umbrel or Start9 pros and cons? Will look into it

28 sats \ 0 replies \ @RDClark 12 Apr

Umbrel has more turn key services. Which I view as a great way to test services out. But for any real amount of money I prefer start9 because of the reduced threat surface. If you know what services you want to run and limit the node to that its kinds dealer choice.

30 sats \ 0 replies \ @beorange 12 Apr

Any old laptop also works.

30 sats \ 0 replies \ @anon 12 Apr

I use a asrock deskmini x300 with an amd athlon 3000 cpu and 16gb of ram, 2tb ssd. Very cheap compared to other options if you buy some components used and you can upgrade cpu ram storage later if desired.

30 sats \ 0 replies \ @jp30566347 12 Apr

I built one using a mini PC from amazon with upgraded SSD and Start OS. I don’t regret it, but startOS is a bit limiting, which might be a good thing in the sense that I won’t be screwing up the install with random packages (I like to try things 😂)

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @039e7a238d 13 Apr

Just buy consumer grade HW (a motherboard with integrated graphics cards will do). That's the way to go DIY.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @marks 12 Apr

Old laptop is great.

Or you can grab one of the devices from Umbrel or Start9.