RPI 3/4, NUC or something else?

Hardware
1

Respect to all!
I am new to the forum, at the same time in all this.

It may be a longer post, but I would like to be more detailed, in order to get a more detailed answer.

I am currently using the hacked xiaomi home app, and xiaomi hub v3, xiaomi cheap cube thermometers with screen, and aqara thermometers.
I am about to receive a xiaomi set with hub v2 (with light), 2 door / window sensors, 2 motion sensors, and 1 sensor as a switch.
I also use the shelly app, and I have one of their devices to start with, 1PM plus, connected to the boiler.
Now, I will definitely take more xiaomi, aqara, shelly and other devices.

I haven’t had any problems with the xiaomi and shelly app, for over a year now, I haven’t updated anything, but everything is working properly.

I would like to take a device to integrate all this in one application.

However, I plan to take 3 outdoor cameras as well.
So if you can suggest me in which direction to go and what to buy.

I would like to put on cameras with good night mode, and to be able to send notifications when movement is noticed. I may not even need to record 24/7, only while there is movement.
I don’t know if I can watch it on TV (I have an Android TV box), or on a tablet.

Also, should I watch RPI 4 for all this, or some NUC device on which I will have HA + cameras in HA (if possible, if not then is it possible outside HA?), Or some third device?

Thank you in advance to all of you already experienced in all of this.

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1 2 3 - NUC I would say

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If you want to go cheap, have you considered buying a used rack server, loading it up with ubuntu. running a VM. I run an old supermicro with 32gig, 1TB drive and two Xeon processors. It just works and has for 6 years (2 on HA and 4 with HomeSeer). It was $125 refurbished. I got it on craigslist if you are in the US.

4

I’ve bought used supermicro from eBay,Craigslist and school auction….never had issue with any

Old laptops and PCs are great

NUC if you want new

5

I run hass.io in a LXC container on my arm router

It complains of being an unsupported platform, but works perfectly despite this

1 Like
6

Even an older i3 NUC (what I use) is overkill for Home Assistant, but it’s very difficult to beat the small-form factor for a dedicated HA host.

7

there are lots of ‘old hardware’ optoins. I use a HP g1 mini pc, run a few things more on it as it is capable enough. cost me 100Eur 2 years back and gives me all the freedom to do whatever I want.

8

can I run HA + cameras on the NUC device as I mentioned above in the post?
Nuc BOXNUC8i5BEH2 for 240e, used.

9

Yes.

Storage will mostly be limiting factor but can be managed

10

lapptops are nice since they have built in power backup

11

is it better to buy a cheaper raspberry and an additional device for cameras, ie. video surveillance ?
or buy NUC and run HA and video surveillance on it, if possible?