Key Takeaways
- Hub: an Intel N100/N150 mini PC or a Raspberry Pi 5 runs Home Assistant
- Frigate: an Intel iGPU (OpenVINO) or a Hailo-8L M.2 module accelerates camera detection β the Google Coral is now legacy
- Storage: an SSD for recordings, or a NAS once you run several cameras
- Local LLM step-up: a Ryzen mini PC (32GB RAM) or a used RTX 3090 box
- A used RTX 3090 (24GB, ~$600β800) is the best value for models up to ~70B
- Decide HA-only vs HA + cameras + local AI before buying β it changes the right box
What the Hub Needs
Home Assistant itself is lightweight and runs on modest hardware; the heavy demands come from Frigate camera detection and a local LLM. Size the box for what you will add, not just the hub.
- The hub needs little compute for device control and automations.
- Frigate object detection needs an accelerator: an Intel iGPU via OpenVINO handles most setups, and a Hailo-8L or Hailo-8 M.2 module adds capacity. The Google Coral USB/M.2 TPU still works but is now legacy β Frigate no longer recommends it for new builds.
- Larger Whisper models and local LLM inference are the most demanding workloads β plan RAM and a GPU/NPU around those.
- Store camera recordings on an SSD; move to a NAS once you run several cameras continuously.
Raspberry Pi
A Raspberry Pi 5 is the lowest-power way to run Home Assistant for typical smart home use. It struggles with LLM inference and large Whisper models, and a 2026 DRAM shortage has pushed board prices up sharply.
- Great for device control, automations, and a small local voice setup.
- LLM inference on a Pi is limited to very small, slow models β pair it with a Hailo-8L M.2 HAT if you want Frigate detection.
- Choose a Pi 5 if you want basics at low power. The 8GB and 16GB SKUs are the useful ones, though 2026 memory pricing means the 16GB board now costs far more than its ~$120 launch price.
- For a plug-and-play appliance, the Home Assistant Green ships ready to run (about $199 in 2026). Home Assistant Yellow was discontinued in early 2026.
Mini PC (and Room for an LLM)
A mini PC is the best single-box choice for Home Assistant plus local AI, with enough RAM and a capable iGPU or NPU to run a small LLM and accelerate Frigate. It balances power, size, and cost.
- A low-power Intel N100/N150 mini PC runs Home Assistant and accelerates Frigate via the Intel iGPU (OpenVINO) β the practical default for a hub-plus-cameras box. The Beelink EQ14 (Intel N150) sits around $190β220.
- For a local LLM on the same box, step up to a Ryzen mini PC with 32GB RAM: the Beelink SER8 (Ryzen 7 8845HS, ~$649) runs a Qwen3 8B or Llama 3.1 8B model via Ollama at usable speed. Prioritise RAM and a capable integrated GPU or NPU for lower latency.
- For specific picks, see best mini PCs for Home Assistant + local AI and the cross-cluster best mini PCs for local LLMs.
NAS
A NAS can host Home Assistant in a container alongside storage and Frigate recordings, if it has enough CPU and RAM. It is convenient if you already own one.
- Good for combining storage with home automation services.
- Check the NAS has the CPU/RAM headroom for your add-ons.
- LLM inference on a NAS depends on its hardware β many lack a capable GPU. Example: Synology DS925+ or DS225+; UGREEN NASync models ship a built-in local LLM option.
Dedicated Server (LLM Step-Up)
A dedicated server with a discrete GPU is the step-up for running a larger local LLM alongside many cameras. It offers the most headroom at higher cost and power.
- A used RTX 3090 (24GB VRAM, ~$600β800 used in 2026) is the best value box for running models up to ~70B at Q4; an RTX 3060 (12GB, ~$150β180 used) handles 7Bβ13B models on a budget.
- Best for many cameras, a larger LLM, and multiple users. Higher power draw and cost than a mini PC.
- Overkill for a basic smart home β reserve for heavy local-AI use, and keep the Home Assistant hub on a separate low-power box for reliability.
Picking for HA-only vs HA + AI
Choose a Pi for HA-only, and a mini PC for HA plus local AI β that single decision drives the right hardware. Match the box to the workload.
| Hardware | Relative price | HA-only | Can run a local LLM | Frigate acceleration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi 5 | Low | Yes | Very small only, slow | Hailo-8L M.2 HAT |
| Intel N100/N150 mini PC | Medium | Yes | Small models | Intel iGPU (OpenVINO) |
| Ryzen mini PC | Medium | Yes | Yes (7Bβ8B) | iGPU or Hailo M.2 |
| NAS | MediumβHigh | Yes (container) | Depends on hardware | Depends on model |
| Server + used RTX 3090 | High | Yes | Yes (up to ~70B) | Discrete GPU |
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardware does Frigate recommend?
For new builds Frigate recommends an Intel iGPU via OpenVINO, or a Hailo-8L (budget) or Hailo-8 (faster) M.2 module for more detection capacity. The Google Coral USB/M.2 TPU still works but is now legacy β Frigate no longer recommends it for new installations except on very low-power hardware.
Can a Raspberry Pi run a local LLM too?
A Pi can run only very small models, and slowly, so it is not ideal for a responsive local-LLM assistant. It handles Home Assistant and basic voice well, but for local AI a mini PC with a capable iGPU or NPU β or a used RTX 3090 box β is the better choice.
How much RAM do I need?
Home Assistant alone runs in a couple of gigabytes. To run a small local LLM and other AI services on the same box, more RAM helps; a mini PC with 32GB RAM and a capable iGPU/NPU keeps a Qwen3 8B or Llama 3.1 8B model responsive. Match RAM to the model size you plan to run.
What mini PC should I get?
For HA plus cameras, an Intel N100/N150 mini PC accelerates Frigate via OpenVINO. For HA plus a local LLM, step up to a Ryzen mini PC with 32GB RAM. See the best mini PCs for Home Assistant + local AI guide for picks.
One box or two?
One box (a mini PC) is simplest and runs Home Assistant plus a small local LLM together. Split into two if you want to keep the hub ultra-reliable on a low-power box and offload heavy AI to a separate machine such as a used RTX 3090 server.