Hey everyone! I'm making the switch from an old Synology NAS to a MiniPC with a 2-bay enclosure. The MiniPC has an Intel N150 processor and 16GB of RAM. I'm experimenting with different Linux distributions to see which one will perform best for my setup. I plan to use this machine not only as a NAS but also as a Home Theater PC (HTPC) for streaming, light browsing, and some casual gaming on Steam. I've read that installing a desktop environment on OpenMediaVault might cause issues, which got me thinking about other options.
I've done my homework and feel capable of managing things, but I'm torn about which distro will give me the best performance for browsing and streaming. I'm also looking for something that makes automatic or semi-automatic app and system updates easy.
Here are my current thoughts:
- I really like **Linux Mint**, but the kernel support for the Intel N150 seems to be lacking (I haven't tested version 22.2 yet).
- **Debian 13** fully supports my hardware, but I'm struggling to find all the apps I want in its software repository (like Brave), and I'm concerned about its user-friendliness for daily tasks and updates.
- The **latest version of Ubuntu** also supports my hardware, and I'd prefer using MATE or CINNAMON, but I'm worried that Snap might pose performance issues.
Sorry if I've rambled a bit! I'd really appreciate any advice on which distro would be the best fit for my Home NAS/HTPC setup.
2 Answers
For your needs, I’d recommend sticking with Ubuntu with MATE or Cinnamon, as they’re pretty lightweight and user-friendly. Just keep an eye on Snap; some people have mixed feelings about its impact on performance, but it usually runs smoothly with the right setup.
Have you considered using Ubuntu Server instead of a full desktop? You can install a lightweight desktop environment later if you need it. If your main goal is streaming, software like Kodi or Jellyfin could work really well without the overhead of a full desktop. Here's a guide that might help: [How to build an HTPC with Linux and a Mini PC](https://www.howtogeek.com/how-to-build-an-htpc-with-linux-and-a-mini-pc/).
I want to do some web browsing and light gaming, too, so I think I need the full desktop environment.