Small Server FinderUK EDITION

HOME AUTOMATION

Choosing a refurbished mini PC for Home Assistant

A specific starting configuration, the questions to send a seller, and the steps from delivery to a working automation.

Small Server Finder editorial · Updated 8 Sept 2026 · Research, not hands-on testing.

Our starting choice

For a first, dedicated Home Assistant server, start with the Dell 3060 Micro, i5-8500T, 8GB RAM and 240GB SSD. Install Home Assistant OS directly on it. That is our buying judgement for ordinary home automation; you do not need to pay for an i7 or 32GB just to get started.

Already have a spare PC? Run through the checks below before buying another one.

1. Choose the right size of setup

What you want to runShopping starting pointWhere to spend extra
Home Assistant and a modest set of apps8GB RAM, 120–256GB SSD, wired EthernetA backup destination and any required smart-home radio
Home Assistant plus several virtual machinesStart your comparison at 16GB RAM and 256GB SSDAdd up each guest's needs before choosing capacity
Camera recording or local AI alongside automationSize the camera or AI workload firstIts storage and processing needs can determine the whole purchase

These are planning allowances, not official minimums. A 240GB SSD is fine for our ordinary-automation starting point; paying more solely to reach the finder's 256GB filter gains little.

2. Reject incomplete or locked machines

Ask for these answers before paying:

  • BIOS access: no unknown administrator password; you must be able to change boot settings.
  • Boot support: 64-bit x86 processor, UEFI available and Secure Boot can be disabled. These are Home Assistant OS requirements.
  • Included hardware: the advertised RAM and SSD, a compatible power adapter and a UK mains lead. “Up to 32GB” does not mean 32GB is included.
  • Returns: a stated return period and a clear process if the unit is faulty or does not match the description.

Copy this to the seller if the listing is unclear:

Can you confirm the CPU, installed RAM and SSD, included power adapter and UK lead, and that the BIOS has no administrator lock? I need UEFI boot with Secure Boot disabled.

If the seller cannot confirm BIOS access, choose another unit. Between similarly priced complete offers, favour a clear configuration and return policy.

3. Budget for the connection to your devices

Connect the PC to your router by Ethernet. If you want to pair Zigbee devices directly through Home Assistant's ZHA integration, you also need a supported Zigbee coordinator. The PC's Wi-Fi or Bluetooth does not replace it. If your devices already work through an existing compatible hub, investigate that integration before buying another radio.

4. Set it up, then prove it works

  1. Gather a monitor, keyboard, Ethernet cable and an 8GB-or-larger USB stick. Back up anything on the PC: writing Home Assistant OS erases the target drive.
  2. Enable UEFI and disable Secure Boot. Follow the official Ubuntu USB installation method to write Home Assistant OS to the internal SSD. The USB stick is the setup tool, not the final system drive.
  3. Remove the USB stick, connect Ethernet and boot from the SSD. Complete onboarding using the official instructions.
  4. Add one device and make one automation work. Reboot and check it still works before moving the PC out of sight.
  5. Create a backup and keep a copy on another device. Do this before building a configuration you would hate to recreate.

Sources and review date

Source dates are listed below. Recommendations are our editorial judgement; we have not physically tested these machines.