Home Server Build 2025: Run Proxmox or VMware ESXi 16 Cores and 128GB RAM

I have been having fun building Proxmox servers with motherboards from Minisforum. I hadn’t really considered getting back into building servers as for literally the past 10 years I have been buying off the shelf servers from Supermicro for home lab. Then as of the last 2-3 years I have been heavily interested in mini PCs with all the great options that have hit the market, like the Minisforum MS-01. I wanted to detail a “build 2” of my Proxmox Home Server build for 2025 with a different motherboard, and a bit different setup in regards to the SATA functionality and some options there to be aware of.

Proxmox home server build option 2

I call this my “option 2.” Note the components of this build which are a slight variation from the other server build that I have detailed in blog and video form.

• Minisforum BD795i SE mini-ITX motherboard
• RackChoice 2U Micro ATX Compact Rackmount
• Coolermaster MWE Gold 850
• Crucial 128 GB 5600MT/sec RAM
• 240 GB Kingston SATA hard drive
• SATA to M.2 2230 slot adapter
• Intel x520 10GbE adapter
• Samsung EVO 990 Pro
• Artic P12 slim fan

Let’s detail the components in this build and see why they are chosen and the features of each component in the build. Also, below contains my Amazon affiliate links which I do get a small commission when you purchase.

Minisforum BD795i SE mini-ITX motherboard

The BD795i SE motherboard was sent to me by Minisforum to test on the heels of the BD795M which I have included in the first Proxmox home server build, “option 1.” However, the Minisforum BD795i SE motherboard is a powerful little motherboard that is a mini-ITX form factor, even smaller than the BD795M which is a micro-ATX motherboard size.

Below is a comparison of the sizes between the two motherboards and what you are looking at in terms of dimensions.

The BD795i SE can be used in even smaller cases that support the mini-ITX form factor. So this is a size advantage if you are looking at something that will fit in a super small case. However, for me, I am going to use the same case as in the option 1 build with the BD795M motherboard, which I will detail below.

The BD795i SE has the advantage of having a PCI-e 5.0 x16 slot compared to the BD795M’s PCI-e 4.0 expansion slot. Both have (2) M.2 5.0 slots for the NVMe drives. Due to its tiny size, the BD795i SE doesn’t have any SATA ports. So, I am trying out a M.2 2230 SATA adapter in this build for hooking up my Kingston SATA SSD for the boot drive.

Like the BD795M the BD795i SE houses the Ryzen 9 7945HX processor with 16 cores and 32 threads.

• https://amzn.to/4ilUC68

RackChoice 2U Micro ATX Compact Rackmount

I am using the same 2-U server case as in the first build. I really like this case. It isn’t too expensive and it has all the basics. I was just looking for a case that wasn’t too bulky, but at the same time, had enough room inside it to mount some hard drives, including SATA, and U.2 Intel Optane, which I have thoroughly enjoyed playing around with in Proxmox and VMware.

This case, even though it is advertised as a Micro ATX case, will allow installing a mini-ITX board as well, which the BD795i SE is.

• https://amzn.to/3CeIW5H

Coolermaster MWE Gold 850

For the power supply of the build, I chose the Cooler Master MWE Gold 850 V2 Full Modular, 850W, 80+ Gold Efficiency, 2 EPS Connectors, 120mm HDB Fan, Semi-fanless Operation, 5 Year Warranty PSU. It is currently $99 on Amazon.

• https://amzn.to/4aFXhET

Crucial 128 GB 5600MT/sec RAM

I am so excited that in 2025 I am able to write about the fact that we now have 128 GB RAM kits for SODIMM memory. That is extremely cool! It has been a long time coming and seems like it has taken forever to get here, but it is here. When I wrote about my Proxmox Server Build option 1 earlier this year, the option was 96 GB of RAM.

However, I am proud to say the 128 GB RAM Crucial kit is now my goto for a home lab server for virtualization and running VMs and containers.

• https://amzn.to/4i5g5zN

Kingston 240 GB SATA SSD

I have used the Kingston 240 GB SATA SSD many times in the past, also 120 GB version, for booting various hypervisors and OS drives. When vSphere 7.0 started requiring that we move away from SD-CARDs and over to actual hard drives, I used these in a number of machines for booting. These are nothing special and super cheap. So far, longevity wise, they have worked out well.

***Note*** I am going to keep this blog updated once I know for sure on receiving the SATA to M.2 2230 adapter. However, if the adapter doesn’t work. I will simply boot from NVMe on the other slot or use the (1) Samsung 990 for installing the hypervisor and running VMs.

• https://amzn.to/4hv6sKG

SATA to M.2 2230 slot adapter

I haven’t received this adapter as of yet to try. But I am getting skeptical this will work after all. I don’t believe there isn’t enough clearance between the slot and the installed CPU cooler to hook in the SATA cables. I thought it was turned the opposite direction than it actually is in checking the slot.

This is another difference and requirement with this build using the Minisforum BD795i SE compared to the BD795M since the BD795i SE doesn’t have SATA ports onboard. So, since I will not be using the 2230 slot that comes on the board for any type of wireless since this is a home server build, I saw the M.2 2230 to SATA port adapter and thought I had to try this to have a viable option for SATA on this board.

Intel x520 10GbE adapter

For the network card, I am using the model here: 10Gb SFP+ PCI-E Network Card NIC, with Intel 82599ES Chip, Dual SFP+ Ports. This gives the server 10 GB capabilities, in addition to the 2.5 GbE adapter that is already built-in. Also, this is important that it is Intel if you want to also have the ability to install VMware vSphere.

• https://amzn.to/4jv05ZA

Samsung EVO 990 Pro

Samsung EVO 990s have been my goto when it comes to running virtual machines in the home lab and overall I have had good success with them. You can opt for either the 2 TB or 4 TB variants and both are on pretty significant discounts right now on Amazon. This is used for the data drive in the home server build.

• https://amzn.to/40OwtiA

Artic P12 slim

Since I need a 120 mm fan on the already-installed CPU cooler, I went with the Artic P12 slim. I didn’t have to get the slim as the height in the case would allow for the standard size 120 mm fan, but I decided to go slim for the low profile and it just looks cool.

• https://amzn.to/3DwwnmD

Links to the parts in one place

• Minisforum BD795i SE mini-ITX motherboard – https://amzn.to/4ilUC68
• RackChoice 2U Micro ATX Compact Rackmount – https://amzn.to/3CeIW5H
• Coolermaster MWE Gold 850 – https://amzn.to/4aFXhET
• Crucial 128 GB 5600MT/sec RAM – https://amzn.to/4i5g5zN
• 240 GB Kingston SATA hard drive – https://amzn.to/4hv6sKG
• Intel x520 10GbE adapter – https://amzn.to/4jv05ZA
• Samsung EVO 990 Pro – https://amzn.to/40OwtiA
• Artic P12 slim fan – https://amzn.to/3DwwnmD

Wrapping up

Please do check back as I turn up this server build for the home lab. I think the Minisforum motherboards are fantastic for these types of builds. The BD795i SE is a very minimalistic motherboard, with not a whole lot of options included, outside of the (2) M.2 ports and x16 slot. However, I think the features and options it has are very good, especially since we get the 32 thread laptop processor that is an extreme performer.