Build for a home server
Proxmox or Unraid with virtual machines and containers: Home Assistant, Pi-hole, a game server, a test lab.
Budget
Goal: A handful of VMs and containers
$1,208
- 6C/12T processor for virtual machines
- 32 GB of memory: enough for most several virtual machines
- About 148 W at full load
- Processor
- 6C/12T
- Graphics
- Built-in
- Memory
- 32 GB DDR5
- Storage
- 5 TB (2 drives)
- Peak power
- ~148 W
- ProcessorRyzen 5 7600$274 at Amazon AU (opens store in a new tab)
- MotherboardASRock A620M-HDV/M.2+$119 at Amazon AU (opens store in a new tab)
- MemoryKingston Fury Beast 32GB (2×16) DDR5-6000$374 at Mwave (opens store in a new tab)
- StorageCrucial P3 Plus 1TB$104 at Scorptec (opens store in a new tab)
- StorageSeagate Barracuda 4TB$134 at Centre Com (opens store in a new tab)
- Power supplyMSI MAG A650BN$79 at Amazon AU (opens store in a new tab)
- CaseJonsbo D31 Mesh$124 at Centre Com (opens store in a new tab)
- CPU coolerIncluded with the Ryzen 5 7600
Mid-range
Best valueGoal: Lots of VMs
$1,987
- 12C/24T processor for virtual machines
- 64 GB of memory: plenty for several virtual machines
- About 222 W at full load
- Processor
- 12C/24T
- Graphics
- Built-in
- Memory
- 64 GB DDR5
- Storage
- 6 TB (2 drives)
- Peak power
- ~222 W
- ProcessorRyzen 9 9900X$604 at PC Case Gear (opens store in a new tab)
- MotherboardASRock A620M-HDV/M.2+$119 at Amazon AU (opens store in a new tab)
- MemoryCorsair Vengeance 64GB (2×32) DDR5-6000$689 at Amazon AU (opens store in a new tab)
- StorageKingston NV3 2TB$184 at Amazon AU (opens store in a new tab)
- StorageSeagate Barracuda 4TB$134 at Centre Com (opens store in a new tab)
- CPU coolerThermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE$54 at Amazon AU (opens store in a new tab)
- Power supplyMSI MAG A650BN$79 at Amazon AU (opens store in a new tab)
- CaseJonsbo D31 Mesh$124 at Centre Com (opens store in a new tab)
High-end
Goal: A serious lab
$2,841
- 16C/32T processor for virtual machines
- 96 GB of memory: plenty for several virtual machines
- About 298 W at full load
- Processor
- 16C/32T
- Graphics
- Built-in
- Memory
- 96 GB DDR5
- Storage
- 10 TB (3 drives)
- Peak power
- ~298 W
- ProcessorRyzen 9 9950X$819 at Amazon AU (opens store in a new tab)
- MotherboardASRock B650M Pro RS WiFi$199 at Amazon AU (opens store in a new tab)
- MemoryG.Skill Flare X5 96GB (2×48) DDR5-6000$999 at Amazon AU (opens store in a new tab)
- StorageKingston NV3 2TB$184 at Amazon AU (opens store in a new tab)
- StorageSeagate Barracuda 4TB$134 at Centre Com (opens store in a new tab)
- StorageSeagate Barracuda 4TB$134 at Centre Com (opens store in a new tab)
- CPU coolerThermalright Frozen Notte 280$124 at Mwave (opens store in a new tab)
- Power supplyCorsair RM750e (2023)$124 at Amazon AU (opens store in a new tab)
- CaseJonsbo D31 Mesh$124 at Centre Com (opens store in a new tab)
What matters
- Memory: every virtual machine needs its own share; 64 GB fills up surprisingly fast.
- Processor cores to share between machines.
- Low idle power, because it runs all day.
What to skip
- A graphics card, unless you want to pass one through to a gaming or AI virtual machine.
Good to know
- Faster networking (2.5 or 10 GbE) is usually added with a network card; Rigsmith doesn’t list those yet.
BUDGET_FINDERPro
The best build for your budget
For Virtualisation and homelab: set exactly what you want to spend and we find the complete, compatible build that suits it best at that price.
Sign in and upgrade to use the budget finderEach build is the cheapest complete, compatible PC from current parts that meets its goal, priced at the best Australian store prices as of 12/11/2026. Speed comparisons are Rigsmith estimates, not benchmarks. Open a build in the builder to swap parts or buy second-hand.