In my first foray into running a Bitcoin node, I did what most beginners do: I followed one of the many excellent guides written by enthusiasts. Since I already had Raspberry Pi hardware, I used the wonderful Raspibolt guide. I can’t speak highly enough of the content or the community that has maintained it over the years. I learned so much - not just about Bitcoin, but also about Linux, security, and privacy - thanks to this resource.

However, things took a turn when I upgraded my node to Bitcoin Core v29.0. After weeks of troubleshooting, my little Pi just wouldn’t complete the sync. Despite many attempts, it never reached 100% again. All good things must come to an end, so I decommissioned my node, repurposed my Pi, and began searching for new hardware to host a more robust Bitcoin node.

Why a Micro PC?

I needed something more powerful - but not too powerful. Enter: micro PCs.

Compared to a Raspberry Pi, these mini desktops offer some real advantages:

  • Availability: There’s a constant supply of used corporate mini PCs on the second-hand market thanks to regular hardware refresh cycles and business liquidations.
  • Affordability: They’re often priced similarly to a fully-kitted Raspberry Pi setup.
  • Build quality: Designed for business environments, they’re durable, quiet, and energy-efficient.
  • Upgradability: They support far more RAM and storage than a Pi and are easy to service.
  • Versatility: Beyond running a Bitcoin node, these machines can perform other lightweight server tasks.

Hardware and Upgrades

I found a Dell Optiplex 7070 Micro with a 9th-gen Intel i5 processor for just €200. For comparison, refurbished models with similar specs were selling for around €300.

Here’s what I upgraded:

Component Original Upgraded To
RAM 2×8GB (16GB) 2x16GB Samsung DDR4 SODIMM (M471A2K43CB1-CTD)
Storage Samsung 256GB M.2 2230 NVMe PCIe Gen3 x4 SSD Crucial P3 2TB M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe Gen3 x4 SSD

Although the system can support 64GB of RAM, I didn’t need that much for a Bitcoin node. I spent around €200 on upgrades, but plan to sell the original SSD and RAM to recover some of the cost.

Setting Up the Node

I didn’t want to stray too far from what I knew, so I started by installing Debian 12 on the Optiplex. I followed much of the Raspibolt guide again, applying similar security and privacy hardening practices. Installing Bitcoin Core and Electrs on Debian was almost identical to the process on Raspberry Pi OS.

The blockchain sync took just a couple of days - a huge improvement over the week-long syncs I was used to on the Pi. I still don’t fully understand what went wrong with my Pi setup. It remains a great device for running a node. But if you have the space and budget, I highly recommend using a micro PC. The extra computing power not only improves sync time but also adds some future-proofing in case your Pi starts struggling, like mine did.

Beyond Bitcoin

One of the biggest advantages of moving to a micro PC is the headroom it provides. Running a Bitcoin node doesn’t tax the system much, so the machine can comfortably handle additional tasks.

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