GEEKOM A5: How a Mini PC Replaced My Server

The story of how I replaced a bulky home server with a compact GEEKOM A5 and didn't regret it. Problems, finding a solution, and impressions from use.
7 minute
1350 words
Categories:
Technology
Tags:
#mini-pc #geekom #amd #ryzen #computers #review #specs #hardware #server

GEEKOM A5 Mini PC
GEEKOM A5 Mini PC

The story of how I got rid of a bulky server under the desk and found a solution that works quietly, efficiently, and reliably. If you’re also tired of noise, excess hardware, and compromises — this story might be useful.

How It Started

Until recently I had a full-fledged server at home. On paper it looked impressive: powerful platform, lots of ports, NVMe support, ability to run VMs. Seemed like the ideal solution for a home NAS and hosting services.

My old home server
Old server in Ginzzu CL150 case

The heart of the system was the HUANANZHI X99 BD4 motherboard on LGA2011-3 socket — a Chinese replica of a server platform. It ran an Intel Xeon E5-2680 v4 — a fourteen-core monster with 28 threads. RAM was assembled from different modules: 16 GB as two 8 GB sticks and another 32 GB as two 16 GB sticks, totaling 48 GB DDR4. The system ran on a fast 256 GB NVMe drive, with an A04 cooler for cooling.

Server internals
HUANANZHI X99 BD4 server platform with Xeon E5-2680 v4

All this was in a Ginzzu CL150 case with tempered glass — looked impressive but took up a lot of space. Power came from a Ginzzu SB500 500W PSU. For networking — Intel AX210 Desktop Kit with Wi-Fi 6. A GeForce GT 730 2 GB was needed for video output since the server CPU has no integrated graphics. For storage — ExeGate HS435-02 drive cage for four hard drives.

Server configuration
Full old server configuration

On paper the config looked serious. Six SATA ports for drives, four USB 3.0, quad-channel memory support, M.2 slot for fast storage. In theory this allowed building a powerful home server for VMs, file storage, and various services.

But reality was different.

First Warning Signs

The first thing that started bothering me was noise. Even with relatively quiet fans, the server constantly reminded me of itself with a monotonous hum. It didn’t scream, but its presence was always felt. Especially at night when I wanted silence.

Then I started noticing the electricity bill. The platform running 24/7 consumed quite a bit. And it heated up. Even in winter the room with the server felt warmer than the rest.

But the main problem was elsewhere — in the software.

Experience with XPEnology: When Pretty Doesn’t Mean Reliable

Initially I ran XPEnology on the server — an unofficial build of Synology firmware. The interface was familiar and convenient, everything looked like real Synology, just without paying for the hardware. Sounded great.

In practice, problems started. System updates were forbidden — any update could break everything. Small bugs constantly appeared that had to be fixed manually. Drives periodically “dropped” for no apparent reason. XPEnology would stop seeing them, and I had to reboot hoping everything would return after restart.

At some point I realized: this setup doesn’t deliver what it was all for — reliability. When you have a home server, you want it to just work. No surprises, no workarounds, no constant attention.

The Turning Point

That’s when I decided: enough. Need something different. Not a huge iron monster that demands attention, but something simple, quiet, and stable.

I started looking for alternatives and came across the GEEKOM A5 mini PC. Size-wise — a box that fits in your palm. Specs-wise — a serious device with an AMD Ryzen processor.

And it hit me: what if I use the mini PC as the head node and put the drives in a separate device? Thus was born the idea of GEEKOM A5 + external DAS (Direct Attached Storage).

The New Solution

When the GEEKOM A5 arrived, the first thing I noticed was silence. After the constant server hum, this box ran almost silently. Yes, there’s a fan, but you barely hear it. That was the first plus.

GEEKOM A5 - front view
Compact GEEKOM A5

The second plus appeared after a month — the electricity bill became noticeably lower. The mini PC consumes far less power than a server platform running 24/7.

GEEKOM A5 - ports and connectors
Rich set of ports on GEEKOM A5

The third plus — compactness. Instead of a large case under the desk, now there’s a neat box on the shelf that’s easy to overlook.

GEEKOM A5 in work environment
GEEKOM A5 at the workstation

First Impressions

The first days I was watching. Is everything stable? Will there be performance issues? Can it handle the tasks I assigned?

Turned out it can. The system boots fast thanks to the NVMe drive. Docker containers start without issues. File storage connected via DAS works steadily. No more glitches and drive “dropouts” like with XPEnology.

After a week I’d forgotten there was a server under the desk. The new solution just worked. No extra attention, no problems.

What Changed

Sometimes less is indeed more. Instead of a bulky, power-hungry server I got:

GEEKOM A5 - side view
Compact dimensions of GEEKOM A5

The GEEKOM A5 turned out to be an excellent base not only for office tasks but also for a home server. Especially if you’re tired of noise, excess hardware, and endless compromises like I was.

📋 Full GEEKOM A5 Technical Specifications

Main Specifications

Processor

Memory

Storage

Graphics

Ports and Interfaces

USB Ports
Video Outputs
Network Interfaces
Other Ports

Operating System

Physical Characteristics

Power

Performance

Computational Performance
Graphics Performance

Warranty and Support

💾 GEEKOM A5 Advantages

🎯 GEEKOM A5 Use Cases

Useful links:

To be continued — in future articles I’ll cover DAS, filesystem, and chosen software.

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