Servers for a homelab, virtualization and NAS
Refurbished Dell PowerEdge and HPE ProLiant rack servers for Proxmox, VMware ESXi, Hyper-V, TrueNAS, Unraid and Plex. Size the server by the memory your VMs need and the drives you want to hold, configure it, or take a unit that ships today.
Size it by memory and drives
- MemoryHost plus every VMProxmox needs about 2 GB for itself plus the memory of each guest. ZFS adds about 1 GB per TB of storage used.
- DrivesAn HBA for ZFSZFS and TrueNAS want direct access to the disks: an HBA, or a controller in HBA mode, not hardware RAID.
- ProcessorCores for VMsTwo Xeons give the most cores and memory slots. Their virtualization extensions are what Proxmox and ESXi need.
- Noise and powerRack servers are loud1U and 2U servers are built for server rooms. For a quiet desk, a Xeon W workstation takes ECC memory too.
Source: Proxmox VE system requirements. Quiet option: single-socket Xeon W workstations.
Servers that suit a homelab
Storage-heavy 2U for a NAS, 2U and 1U for virtualization hosts. Ready from: complete units in stock. Chassis from: the base price before you choose CPUs, memory and drives.
- 1-year warranty, 90-day returnsParts, labor and shipping; up to 5 years
- Tested in MichiganAssembled and tested before shipping
- Free shipping in the lower 48Most builds ship in 1–2 business days
| Model | Specs | Best for | Ready from | Chassis from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Dell PowerEdgeR740xd Model page › |
Specs2× Xeon Scalable 1st/2nd gen24 DIMM slots · DDR4Up to 24 × 2.5″ or 12 × 3.5″ + rear | Best forStorage-heavy: file, backup, databases | Ready fromSee builds › | Chassis fromSee chassis › |
Built to your spec: pick a chassis, then CPUs, memory, drives and RAID. | ||||
 Dell PowerEdgeR730xd Model page › |
Specs2× Xeon E5-2600 v3/v424 DIMM slots · DDR4Up to 24 × 2.5″ or 12 × 3.5″ | Best forBudget storage 2U: file, backup, databases | Ready fromSee builds › | Chassis fromSee chassis › |
Built to your spec: pick a chassis, then CPUs, memory, drives and RAID. | ||||
 Dell PowerEdgeR740 Model page › |
Specs2× Xeon Scalable 1st/2nd gen24 DIMM slots · DDR4Up to 16 × 2.5″ or 8 × 3.5″ | Best forAll-round 2U; room for GPUs | Ready fromSee builds › | Chassis fromSee chassis › |
Built to your spec: pick a chassis, then CPUs, memory, drives and RAID. | ||||
 HPE ProLiantDL380 Gen10 Model page › |
Specs2× Xeon Scalable 1st/2nd gen24 DIMM slots · DDR4Up to 24 × 2.5″ or 12 × 3.5″ | Best forAll-round 2U with many storage options | Ready fromSee builds › | Chassis fromSee chassis › |
Built to your spec: pick a chassis, then CPUs, memory, drives and RAID. | ||||
 Dell PowerEdgeR640 Model page › |
Specs2× Xeon Scalable 1st/2nd gen24 DIMM slots · DDR4Up to 10 × 2.5″ or 4 × 3.5″ | Best forDense virtualization, web and app servers | Ready fromSee builds › | Chassis fromSee chassis › |
Built to your spec: pick a chassis, then CPUs, memory, drives and RAID. | ||||
 Dell PowerEdgeR730 Model page › |
Specs2× Xeon E5-2600 v3/v424 DIMM slots · DDR4Up to 16 × 2.5″ or 8 × 3.5″ | Best forBudget 2U, homelab; GPU-capable | Ready fromSee builds › | Chassis fromSee chassis › |
Built to your spec: choose the CPUs, memory, drives and RAID. | ||||
What each platform needs
| Software | Needs | Start with |
|---|---|---|
| Proxmox VE | CPU virtualization, memory for the host and guests, SSDs for VM storage | R640 or R740 |
| TrueNAS, Unraid | Disks on an HBA, ECC memory recommended, room for drives | R730xd or R740xd |
| VMware ESXi, Hyper-V | A CPU generation and network card the version you plan to run supports | R740 or DL380 Gen10 |
| Plex, Jellyfin | Drive bays for the library; a GPU only for heavy transcoding | R730xd or R740xd |
| pfSense, OPNsense | Several network ports; a modest CPU covers most home and office links | R640 with an extra network card |
| Windows Server | A server generation the Windows Server version supports | R740 or DL380 Gen10 |
Questions
Are rack servers too loud for home?
They are built for server rooms, and their fans are loud, especially at start-up and under load. Most homelabs keep them in a closet, a basement or a rack. For a quiet machine at a desk, a single-socket Xeon W workstation such as the Precision T5820 runs Proxmox and takes ECC memory.
Can I use ZFS with the RAID controller?
ZFS and TrueNAS should see the disks directly. When you configure the server, choose an HBA such as the Dell HBA330 where the chassis offers one, or a controller that runs in HBA mode, instead of hardware RAID. Not sure which? Ask us.
Can you configure it for me?
Yes. Tell us the VMs, the storage you need and the budget, and we quote a configuration with the right CPUs, memory, drives and controller.
Is there a warranty?
Configured systems carry PCSP's free 1-year warranty covering parts, labor and shipping, extendable up to 5 years.