All Articles
All articles on TechFuel HQ — homelab guides, PC builds, GPU reviews, networking, and tutorials.
This is the full archive of articles published on TechFuel HQ — every piece in one place, sorted newest first. The site’s focus is hands-on infrastructure for self-hosters and budget PC builders: Proxmox, TrueNAS, and Unraid tradeoffs; mini PCs and small-form-factor server builds; 2.5GbE and 10GbE networking on a budget; self-hosted apps that actually replace SaaS; and repurposing older gaming hardware as servers.
Each article links its sources inline and carries a Last-Verified date. Hardware claims that depend on a first-person measurement are backed by the corresponding artifact (photo, screenshot, captured terminal output); vendor specs and public benchmarks are cited with links to the source page. The full editorial standard lives on the methodology page.
If you’re new to the site, the start-here picks on the homepage cover the biggest decisions. For a focused entry point pick the relevant section: Homelab, PC Builds, GPU Reviews, Networking, or Tutorials.
Turn an Old Gaming PC Into a Server (2026 Guide)
Step-by-step: turn a 2018-era gaming PC into a Proxmox VE 8 homelab server. BIOS settings, install, GPU passthrough, idle wattage.
Self-HostedBest Self-Hosted Apps 2026: 12 That Replace SaaS
The 12 best self-hosted apps in 2026: Immich, Nextcloud, Vaultwarden, Jellyfin, and 8 more. Docker compose files, hardware requirements.
TutorialSelf-Hosting Essentials: What to Self-Host First and Why
Six self-hosted services in the right order, with real hardware requirements for each. Pi-hole, Uptime Kuma, Jellyfin, Nextcloud, Immich, and Home Assistant — what you actually need to run them.
ComparisonProxmox vs ESXi in 2026: Free ESXi Is Back, But Does It Matter?
Free ESXi 8.0 returned with limits. Proxmox VE is open source with no VM caps. Real benchmarks, feature comparison, and an honest verdict on which hypervisor wins for homelabs in 2026.
HardwareHow to Set Up Proxmox on a Mini PC — Box to First VM in Under an Hour
Step-by-step Proxmox VE setup on a mini PC. From USB boot to your first VM and LXC container in under an hour. Real hardware, real power draw, no enterprise bloat.
Build GuideDDR5 RAM Buying Guide for 2026: Stop Overpaying for Speed You Can't Feel
DDR5-6000 to 6400 is the smart money in 2026. Real benchmark scores, specific kit recommendations at 32GB, 64GB, and 96GB, and the gotchas nobody warns you about.
NetworkingBest Homelab Networking Gear Under $200
Seven pieces of homelab networking gear under $200 that actually deliver multi-gig speeds. MikroTik, Ubiquiti, GL.iNet, and TP-Link compared with real throughput and honest tradeoffs.
Build GuideThe Best Gaming Monitor You've Probably Never Heard Of
The Gigabyte AORUS FO48U is a 48-inch 4K OLED with DisplayPort and a KVM switch that nobody talks about. Here's why it's been my daily driver.