Hey everyone, I’m really excited to share my latest project with you! I’ve been thinking about building a custom ITX PC for a while now, and I finally decided to take the plunge. My main goal is to create a stable home automation setup using Home Assistant (HA) and have a reliable server for file storage, especially for my security camera footage. Currently, I’m running HA on a Raspberry Pi, but I want something more powerful and customizable.
One of the things I’m most excited about is the flexibility of a custom PC. I’ve been using Zigbee2mqtt and Xiaomi’s Bluetooth temperature and humidity sensors, and I’m curious to see how well they’ll integrate with the new setup. I also have some Yi cameras that I’ve hacked, but they only stream via IP right now. I’m hoping the new PC will help me manage all of this more efficiently.
I’m leaning towards a Linux-based OS for its lightweight nature and the opportunity to learn more about server management. I’m also considering whether to go with Intel or AMD for the build. If anyone has experience with a similar setup, I’d love to hear your recommendations on parts and configurations!
Another thing I’m looking forward to is the ability to store camera footage directly on the PC instead of relying on SD cards. This should make backups and organization much easier. I’m also thinking about setting up a more robust security system, maybe integrating some smart locks or motion sensors.
This project feels like the next logical step in my home automation journey, and I’m really looking forward to diving into the details. Whether it’s tweaking the server settings or figuring out the best way to organize my files, I know there’s a lot to learn, but that’s part of the fun!
If anyone has tips, suggestions, or even just words of encouragement, I’d love to hear them. Let’s make this happen! 