Article ID Code: GK-MR-11
GEEKOM Mini PCs are well-suited for homelab and IT security lab setups — they are compact, energy-efficient for 24/7 operation, support virtualization, and several models include dual 2.5G Ethernet ports for advanced network configurations.
| Use case | Recommended model | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Firewall / router (pfSense, OPNsense) | GT1 Mega AI | Dual 2.5G LAN + Wi-Fi 7, low idle power, Intel NIC (best pfSense compatibility) |
| Virtualization server (Proxmox, ESXi, Hyper-V) | IT13 / IT15 | Intel VT-x + VT-d, up to 64GB RAM, strong multi-core performance for multiple VMs |
| IT security lab (Kali Linux, Metasploitable, CTF) | A6 / IT13 | Good Linux compatibility, enough RAM for multiple attack/defense VMs, budget-friendly |
| Local AI + homelab combined | A8 Max / A9 Max | Dual 2.5G LAN + NPU for local LLM inference + large RAM for VMs |
| Budget homelab (under $500) | A5 | Low power, upgradeable RAM/SSD, runs Proxmox and basic VMs reliably |
Firewall and network segmentation (pfSense / OPNsense)
A dedicated firewall/router is the foundation of any homelab. Key requirements are dual network ports (WAN + LAN), low idle power consumption, and Intel NICs (better driver support in pfSense/OPNsense than Realtek).
Best choice: GEEKOM GT1 Mega AI
- Dual 2.5G Intel Ethernet ports — ideal for WAN/LAN separation
- Wi-Fi 7 — can serve as a wireless access point alongside the wired firewall
- Intel Core Ultra processor with low idle power draw (~8–12W at idle)
- Supports pfSense CE, OPNsense, and VyOS installation via USB
Virtualization server (Proxmox / ESXi / Hyper-V)
Running multiple VMs requires a processor with hardware virtualization support (Intel VT-x + VT-d for PCIe passthrough), sufficient RAM, and fast storage.
Best choices:
- GEEKOM IT13 (Core i9-13900H) — 14 cores, up to 64GB DDR5, excellent Proxmox compatibility, proven in homelab community. Good budget option for a primary virtualization host.
- GEEKOM IT15 (Core Ultra 9 285H) — 16 cores, Intel Arc GPU with SR-IOV support for GPU passthrough, up to 64GB DDR5. Best for GPU-accelerated VMs or AI workloads alongside virtualization.
Recommended Proxmox setup: Install Proxmox VE on the NVMe SSD, allocate 8–16GB RAM to the Proxmox host, and use the remaining RAM for VMs. A USB-to-Ethernet adapter adds a second NIC for VM network isolation if needed.
IT security lab (Kali Linux, Metasploitable, CTF practice)
An IT security lab typically runs multiple VMs simultaneously — an attacker machine (Kali Linux), one or more vulnerable targets (Metasploitable, DVWA, VulnHub machines), and optionally a network monitoring VM (Security Onion, Wireshark).
Minimum recommended specs: 32GB RAM, 512GB+ SSD, processor with hardware virtualization.
Best choices:
- GEEKOM A6 (Ryzen 7 6800H) — Budget-friendly, good Linux compatibility, supports up to 64GB DDR5. Handles 3–4 simultaneous VMs for basic security lab work.
- GEEKOM IT13 — More cores for heavier workloads, better for running 5+ VMs or resource-intensive tools like Burp Suite Pro alongside multiple targets.
Recommended software stack:
- Hypervisor: Proxmox VE (free) or VirtualBox/VMware Workstation on Windows
- Attacker: Kali Linux 2024+ (best hardware support on GEEKOM)
- Targets: Metasploitable 2/3, DVWA, VulnHub images
- Network monitoring: Security Onion or pfSense in a VM
Local AI + homelab combined
If you want to run local LLMs (Ollama, LM Studio) alongside homelab VMs, you need a model with both large RAM capacity and a capable NPU/iGPU.
- GEEKOM A8 Max (Ryzen 9 8945HS) — Up to 96GB DDR5, Radeon 780M iGPU + AMD XDNA NPU, dual 2.5G LAN. Runs 7B–13B parameter models locally while keeping VMs active.
- GEEKOM A9 Max (Ryzen AI 9 HX 370) — Up to 128GB DDR5, 80 TOPS NPU, dual 2.5G LAN. Best for running larger models (30B+) alongside a full homelab stack.
For local AI model recommendations and setup guides, see: GK-MR-07: 2026 AI Productivity Powerhouse
Power consumption — important for 24/7 homelab operation
Running a homelab device 24/7 adds up on your electricity bill. Estimated idle power consumption by model:
| Model | Idle power (approx.) | Annual cost (at $0.15/kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| GT1 Mega AI | ~8–12W | ~$10–16/year |
| A5 / A6 | ~10–15W | ~$13–20/year |
| IT13 / IT15 | ~15–25W | ~$20–33/year |
| A8 Max / A9 Max | ~15–20W | ~$20–26/year |
All GEEKOM models support Wake-on-LAN (WoL) for remote power management, and can be configured to auto-restart after a power outage via BIOS settings.
Still not sure which model to choose?
Contact GEEKOM Customer Service with your use case and budget — the team can recommend the best configuration for your homelab setup.
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