This is a simple NUC that I set up for my home staking validator. It was very easy to build - around 10 minutes to unpack everything, slot in the RAM and SSD, and turn it on.
I decided on the larger form factor for the NUC (there's a normal and a slim version) to avoid any problems with restricted airflow and overheating. I'm also not constrained on space so I didn't mind having a slightly larger form factor on my shelf.
2TB SSD is the right amount for me as I won't need to upgrade it within the next 1-2 years and possibly by that time there may be improvements made in the protocol and/or clients that allow for smaller states, needing less storage.
You don't need 64GB of RAM but I wanted to have extra in case I needed it in the future, but 16GB would have been fine.
Total cost: £1165 (October 2022)
The machine only needed three parts:
To open the NUC, simply unscrew the four retaining screws, and detach the ribbon cable.
The ribbon cable has a small plastic retainer that can be unclipped by hand.
With the ribbon cable removed, the NUC will look like this:
The first component to insert is the SSD. There is a retaining screw that needs to be removed before the SSD is inserted (1).
The SSD is placed in the slot that says "NVMe ONLY" (2). It can only fit one way because of the little notch, so there's nothing to worry about.
Replace the SSD retaining screw (1).
The SSD in place should look like this:
Insert the RAM into the slots. Again, they can only fit one way because of the little notch.
The finished setup should look like this:
Replace the NUC base plate and secure the four retaining screws... and that's it!
All you need to do now is plug in the power cable and press the power button to turn it on 🥳
To install the validator software, check out the Linux installation guide.
This is a Custom-built-desktop that I put together for stake solo validator. I decided on high-quality components at a good price so that they will not be obsolete quickly.
There are 6 main things to keep in mind:
Motherboard External site link ↗
Microprocessor External site link ↗
RAM memory External site link ↗
Hard Drive External site link ↗
Power supply External site link ↗
Cabinet External site link ↗
I decided on a mini ITX motherboard Z690l which is a small form factor, the card is modern to house Intel 12th generation microprocessors that will last me for many years of hard work.
An Intel Corei5-12400 microprocessor with integrated graphics, the ratio with or without integrated graphics is very little difference in cost, plus you save on buying a graphics card.
A 16GB DDR5 RAM with RGB looks great for your build, in addition to the 6000 MHz it reaches.
A hard drive SSD 2TB PCI Express 3.0 NV1 M.2 NVMe.
The power supply EVGA Supernova 750 GM is very important for the assembly, I decided on an EVGA for the mini ITX that does not make noise, that is modular, you save on cables that you do not need and the fan is only activated when it is needed. With the SFX shape that is smaller.
Finally, Cabinet Cooler Master NR200P SFF - Mini-ITX, removable and with great access to modify the hardware components, including fans.
It is certainly a wise decision to build your own node. They are quality components without a doubt, you can save more by buying other motherboards or another type of RAM.
$280 USD - Motherboard Z690I AORUS ULTRA LITE LGA 1700/ Intel Z690/ Mini-ITX/ DDR5/ Dual M.2/ PCIe 3.0/ USB 3.2 Gen2X2 Type-C/2.5 GbE LAN
$225 USD - Microprocessor Intel Procesador Core i5-12400 - S-1700-2.50GHz - 6-Core - 18MB Smart Cache (12va. Generación - Alder Lake)
$125 USD - RAM memory 16GB DDR5 XPG ECC CL40 XMP 6000 MHz RGB
$145 USD - Hard Drive SSD 2TB PCI Express 3.0 NV1 M.2 NVMe
$115 USD - Power supply EVGA Supernova 750 GM, 80 Plus Gold 750W, Fully Modular, Eco Mode with FDB Fan, SFX Form Factor
$125 USD - Cabinet Cooler Master NR200P SFF - Mini-ITX
TOTAL: $1015 USD (September 2022)
Greetings #StakeFromHome #Mexico
Here is a list of example home-staking setups created by the EthStaker community: