Summary
Highlights
The video introduces the challenge of building a complete 10-inch homelab using only components from AliExpress, focusing on the cheapest available options. The goal is to determine if such a homelab can be functional, practical, and cheaper than locally sourced name-brand gear. The defined homelab includes a 5-6U 10-inch rack, router, mini PC, gigabit switch, patch panel, and shared storage (NAS).
The creator details the chosen components: a Fenvi AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 router for $28.70, a Ling Pao 8-port gigabit switch for $9.73, and a brandless industrial fanless mini PC with an i3 4005U CPU, 8GB RAM, and 128GB SSD for $104.26. Two 1TB SATA SSDs were bought for $20.36 each, along with SATA to USB cables and other accessories. All prices include delivery and are compared to local equivalents.
Instead of buying a pre-built rack, the creator opted to 3D print a 5U Lab Rax homelab using PETG filament, M6 brass inserts, and M6 screws sourced from AliExpress for a total of $34. The printing process went smoothly, and the rack was assembled using brass inserts melted into the parts and M6 screws.
The components were assembled into the 3D-printed rack, with the switch at the top, followed by the mini PC, storage drives, patch panel, vent panel, and router at the bottom. The total cost of the AliExpress homelab came to $216.05, which is less than half the estimated $490 cost for a similar name-brand system.
The mini PC, after having Windows 10 wiped and Ubuntu installed, underwent stress tests. The CPU temperature stabilized at 45 degrees Celsius. A Sysbench CPU benchmark yielded an average score of 6,148, comparable to a Raspberry Pi 4. The OS drive achieved buffered reads of 537MBps, and power consumption was 6W at idle and 14W under load. Despite the 12-year-old CPU, the PC performed as expected.
The router's web interface was user-friendly. Wired internet speeds reached 850-900Mbps download and 95Mbps upload, with 5-7ms ping, which was close to the main router. Wireless speeds were lower (60-110Mbps download, 80Mbps upload) due to an older Wi-Fi 4 adapter on the mini PC. The gigabit switch performed well in iPerf 3 tests, achieving transfer speeds of around 940Mbps.
The 1TB SSDs turned out to be a scam. While initially appearing as 1TB (953GB), H2TestW revealed they were only 128GB drives. The test repeatedly stopped writing at 122GB, and buffered reads were a low 23MBps. Upon opening one drive, the chip's part number revealed similar complaints from others who were scammed, confirming the unreliability of buying storage from AliExpress.
The creator concludes that while the homelab technically functions, it's not a recommended approach. Mechanical parts, cabling, and hardware accessories from AliExpress are acceptable, but for core infrastructure, better-quality used name-brand hardware is a superior investment. The mini PC and router are usable but outdated, the switch's longevity is questionable, and the storage drives were a clear scam. The overall recommendation is to spend similar money on more reliable used equipment.