For a small or moderate photo library, buy an Intel N100 mini PC with 16GB of RAM and at least a 512GB NVMe SSD. It meets Immich’s published baseline with low power use and has enough capacity for Vaultwarden and several other containers when your photo storage and backups are planned separately. Choose an Intel Core i3-N305 system with 16–32GB of RAM and a 1TB NVMe SSD when you expect a large first import, several simultaneous services, or longer machine-learning queues.
The processor is only part of the decision. Immich’s database, thumbnails, video transcodes, and machine-learning jobs stress different resources, while Vaultwarden mainly needs dependable storage, HTTPS, and backups. A well-cooled N100 with sensible storage is a better server than a faster chip in a cramped enclosure with no backup plan.
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Recommended configurations at a glance
| Use case | Mini PC specification | Why it fits | Important checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small or moderate library, low energy use | Intel N100, 16GB RAM, 512GB or larger NVMe SSD | Four CPU cores satisfy Immich’s published recommendation, and 16GB leaves room for the operating system, Docker, PostgreSQL, Immich services, Vaultwarden, and light additional containers. | Confirm the advertised RAM and SSD are actually installed, verify Linux support, and require wired Ethernet. |
| Larger import or several services | Intel Core i3-N305, 16–32GB RAM, 1TB NVMe SSD | Eight cores provide more scheduling headroom for indexing, transcodes, and concurrent containers than the N100. | Choose a chassis with adequate sustained cooling and upgradeable or sufficiently large memory. Core count does not guarantee a particular indexing time. |
| Capacity-first deployment | Either CPU, with the internal NVMe reserved for the OS, Docker data, and PostgreSQL; library on a separate disk, USB enclosure, or NAS as capacity requires | Keeps the database and application responsive while allowing the photo collection to grow beyond the boot drive. | Back up both the live photo files and Vaultwarden’s persistent data to storage independent of the host. |
What each application actually needs
Immich is the demanding workload
Immich’s official requirements call for Linux or another 64-bit Unix-like operating system. The standard installation uses Docker. Its documentation lists 6GB of RAM as a minimum and 8GB as the recommended amount, together with four CPU cores. Those figures describe a baseline for running Immich; they do not promise a fixed number of photos, users, or a specific indexing speed.
Immich performs more than simple file serving. PostgreSQL stores application metadata, thumbnail generation creates many small files, video transcoding can consume CPU and storage bandwidth, and smart search and facial recognition add machine-learning work. During a first import, these jobs can overlap and create a temporary load much higher than ordinary browsing.
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Vaultwarden is light, but loss of its data is serious
Vaultwarden is a Rust server distributed in container images. It does not publish a large hardware requirement, so the same host that runs Immich can normally run it without selecting a separate class of processor. The critical requirements are operational: its /data volume must be persistent, the web vault requires HTTPS and a secure context for the Web Crypto API, and the project recommends regular backups of files and database.
Running both applications on one mini PC is therefore practical, but only if a failed SSD or an accidental deletion cannot remove the only copy of your passwords and photos. Treat Vaultwarden’s persistent volume as production data even when the server is a hobby installation.
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| Specification | Intel N100 | Intel Core i3-N305 | What it means for this server |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU cores and threads | 4 cores, 4 threads | 8 cores, 8 threads | The N305 has twice the core count, useful when imports, transcodes, machine-learning workers, and other containers run together. |
| Maximum frequency | Up to 3.40GHz | Up to 3.80GHz | Clock speed alone is not an indexing benchmark; cooling and software scheduling also matter. |
| Processor TDP | 6W | 15W | |
| Configurable TDP-down | Not stated in the supplied N100 specification | 9W | A lower configured power limit can reduce heat, but the mini-PC manufacturer’s firmware and cooling determine the sustained result. |
| Maximum supported memory | Up to 16GB, according to Intel’s 2023 specification | Not stated in the supplied product specification; verify the exact mini-PC model | Do not buy an N100 expecting a 32GB upgrade. For an N305, check both the board limit and whether memory is soldered. |
| Media capability | Quick Sync Video | Specific support depends on the product specification and Linux device exposure | Quick Sync can assist supported video-transcoding paths; Immich machine-learning acceleration requires its documented Intel/OpenVINO setup. |
| NVMe slots, Ethernet, idle power, noise and warranty | Not universal; listing- and chassis-specific | Compare the complete model, not only the processor name. | |
Intel rates the N100 at a 6W TDP and the N305 at 15W, but those figures are processor design targets rather than measured wall power for a complete mini PC. Memory, SSD type, fan curves, USB devices, and firmware all affect consumption and noise. No universal photo-count, user-count, wattage, or acoustic result applies to every N100 or N305 system.
How to choose between the two processors
Choose N100 for a focused home server
An N100 system is the value choice when the host will run Immich, Vaultwarden, and only a few additional Docker services. Four cores align with Immich’s published CPU recommendation, and the low processor TDP makes it easier for a small cooler to remain quiet. Select 16GB rather than a smaller memory configuration so the operating system and containers have room during imports.
The N100 is also sensible when your library is already organized and the initial machine-learning and thumbnail queues will be occasional events. It will not make those queues disappear, but it avoids paying for headroom you may rarely use. Its 16GB platform limit means capacity planning matters: leave room for the database and operating system instead of assuming a future memory upgrade will solve pressure.
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Choose N305 for concurrency and headroom
The N305 is the better fit when you will import a large existing collection, run multiple services at once, or want machine-learning workers and video processing to finish sooner. Its eight cores provide more parallel CPU capacity than the N100. That is a hardware-based recommendation, not a published Immich benchmark; actual completion time depends on the number and type of files, storage speed, worker settings, and thermal limits.
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RAM planning
Start with the application baseline
Use Immich’s documented recommendation as the floor for a new build, then add capacity for the operating system, Docker, PostgreSQL, Vaultwarden, and any other services. A 16GB configuration is the practical starting point for either processor because it provides room for cache and concurrent jobs without forcing an immediate upgrade.
When 32GB is worthwhile
Consider 32GB on an N305 when the host will run several databases, media services, monitoring tools, virtual machines, or a large first import. More RAM can also help when using OpenVINO for machine learning, because Immich notes that this acceleration path may use more memory than CPU processing. Extra memory does not replace adequate storage or CPU capacity, and an N100 platform generally cannot use more than Intel’s stated 16GB limit.
Check the actual memory design
- Confirm whether the listing includes the advertised capacity or sells the system barebones.
- Check whether memory is replaceable SO-DIMM, soldered, single-channel, or dual-channel.
- Verify the manufacturer’s maximum, not just the processor family’s maximum.
- Leave enough free memory for Docker and PostgreSQL; do not allocate every gigabyte to optional services.
Storage: capacity and layout matter more than the CPU after indexing
Use the NVMe SSD for active server data
Immich’s documentation says PostgreSQL should use local SSD storage. Put the operating system, Docker data, Immich’s PostgreSQL database, and frequently accessed application data on the internal NVMe drive. This keeps database latency predictable and avoids relying on a removable network share for transactional files.
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Account for generated media
Immich states that thumbnail generation and transcoded video increase the photo-library size by 10–20% on average. Size the live storage for the original files plus that additional working set, then leave free space for future imports and filesystem overhead. For example, a collection that occupies 500GB before processing should be planned at roughly 550–600GB for the average generated-media overhead, before allowing growth or backups. Individual libraries can differ, especially when they contain many videos.
Separate a large library when necessary
If the internal NVMe cannot hold the collection, keep the operating system, Docker data, and PostgreSQL on NVMe and place the photo library on a second internal disk, a USB enclosure, or a NAS. Check that the selected mini PC actually has the required SATA or NVMe slot, USB generation, and enclosure compatibility; these are chassis features, not guarantees of the N100 or N305 processor.
Backups are independent capacity
A second copy on the same mini PC is not an independent backup. Use a separate disk, NAS, or other storage system and rotate or otherwise protect it from accidental deletion. Include Immich originals and its generated data according to your recovery plan, and include Vaultwarden’s persistent /data volume plus its database. Test that a backup can be read before you depend on it.
Intel graphics and machine-learning acceleration
Quick Sync for supported video paths
The N100 includes Intel Quick Sync Video. It can help with supported hardware video-transcoding paths, reducing CPU work when the software, codec, and Linux device permissions are configured correctly. Hardware presence alone does not guarantee acceleration: the container must be able to access the relevant device and the workload must use a supported path.
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Immich documents OpenVINO acceleration for Intel GPUs and says it can reduce CPU load for smart search and facial recognition. The same documentation warns that OpenVINO may consume more RAM than CPU processing. Treat it as an optional optimization: first make the CPU-only deployment reliable, then enable the documented Linux device configuration and observe memory use, queue progress, and errors.
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Device passthrough is a model-specific check
Before buying, confirm that the mini PC exposes its Intel graphics device to Linux and that the BIOS does not disable it. Verify container device access with the exact operating system and Docker setup you plan to use. Do not infer successful Immich acceleration solely from a product page that says “Intel graphics.”
Buying checklist for a complete mini PC
- CPU: N100 for a modest, low-power stack; N305 for more concurrent work.
- Memory: 16GB as the practical starting point; consider 32GB on an upgradeable N305 for heavier multi-service use.
- Boot storage: NVMe SSD, 512GB or larger for a focused deployment, with 1TB giving more working room.
- Library storage: Confirm a second drive option or plan a USB enclosure or NAS.
- Networking: Require wired Ethernet. Check the actual link speed and controller rather than assuming every listing has the same port.
- Cooling: Read the sustained-power and fan design details; a thin, silent enclosure may throttle under indexing.
- Linux compatibility: Confirm that graphics, storage, Ethernet, suspend behavior, and any Wi-Fi chipset work with your chosen 64-bit distribution.
- Expansion: Count NVMe and SATA slots, USB ports, and whether RAM is replaceable.
- Warranty: Compare the seller’s term and support process for the exact model. Warranty length is not standardized by processor.
- Power supply: Use the supplied adapter or a manufacturer-approved replacement and avoid obstructing ventilation.
Deployment sequence for Immich and Vaultwarden
- Install a supported 64-bit Linux system. Keep the host dedicated enough that upgrades and reboots are predictable. Apply security updates before exposing services.
- Install Docker using the distribution’s supported method. The standard Immich installation requires Docker; use the project’s current compose files and pin versions according to its upgrade guidance.
- Prepare storage mounts. Keep Docker data and Immich PostgreSQL on the local NVMe SSD. Mount the photo-library location consistently, whether it is a second disk, USB enclosure, or NAS.
- Deploy Immich and let the initial jobs settle. Import a representative sample first. Watch CPU, memory, disk space, and temperature before starting a large queue.
- Deploy Vaultwarden with a persistent
/datavolume. Confirm that the volume survives a container recreation and that its files are included in backup rotation. - Publish the services through HTTPS. Vaultwarden’s web vault requires HTTPS and a secure context. Use a reverse proxy as the project suggests, terminate certificates there, and avoid exposing an unencrypted administrative path.
- Configure backups and recovery. Back up the photo data, Vaultwarden files and database, and any configuration needed to recreate the containers. Store the backup outside the mini PC and perform a restoration test.
- Enable acceleration only after baseline testing. If you need OpenVINO or Quick Sync, follow Immich’s documented Linux device configuration, then compare resource use and verify that jobs complete correctly.
Common failure modes and fixes
Import or indexing appears stuck
Check whether the queue is CPU-bound, waiting on slow storage, or short of memory. On an N100, reduce simultaneous workers before concluding that the hardware is defective. Ensure the NVMe drive is not nearly full and that the library mount remains available.
Memory pressure appears after enabling OpenVINO
OpenVINO can use more RAM than CPU processing. Disable or limit the acceleration path, stop nonessential containers, or move to an N305 system with more memory headroom. Do not solve swapping by placing PostgreSQL on a slow external share.
Video playback is slow or the CPU is saturated
Confirm that the media format is supported by the hardware-transcoding path, that the Intel device is visible inside the container, and that permissions are correct. Quick Sync is assistance for supported paths, not a guarantee that every codec will be accelerated.
Vaultwarden works locally but the web vault rejects login
Verify that the reverse proxy presents a valid HTTPS certificate, forwards the required headers, and reaches the persistent Vaultwarden container. A secure context is required for the Web Crypto API; an HTTP-only deployment is not an acceptable workaround.
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A disk failure would destroy everything
Move backups off the mini PC and verify restoration. Keeping the live library on a second internal disk improves capacity, but it is still part of the same failure domain as the host.
Which configuration should you buy?
Best value: N100, 16GB, 512GB NVMe
Choose this when your library is modest, your Docker stack is small, and low energy use matters. It aligns with Immich’s four-core recommendation, provides practical memory headroom, and leaves Vaultwarden ample resources. Spend the remaining budget on reliable library storage and backups rather than a faster processor.
Best performance balance: N305, 16–32GB, 1TB NVMe
Choose this when you expect a large initial import, concurrent services, or frequent machine-learning and transcode queues. The eight-core design gives more parallel capacity, but select a cooled, upgradeable model and treat any claimed performance as model-specific until tested with your workload.
Best long-term architecture: either CPU with separated storage
For many households, the durable choice is an N100 or N305 host with the database and Docker data on NVMe, the photo library on expandable storage, and backups on another system. Once initial indexing is complete, storage capacity, backup discipline, and recovery testing usually matter more than moving from one of these processors to the other.
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