The Lenovo ThinkCentre Tiny is a solid alternative to the Dell OptiPlex for self-hosting. Here's which model to buy, what to expect, and how to set it up.
Quick Recommendation
The Lenovo ThinkCentre M720q Tiny or M920q Tiny with an i5-8500T is the best used Lenovo for self-hosting. Expect to pay $90-150 on eBay. It's comparable to a Dell OptiPlex Micro — same generation CPUs, similar size, same use case. Buy whichever is cheaper on the day you order.
Best Models for Self-Hosting
| Model | Gen | CPU Options | Max RAM | Storage | Price (eBay) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M720q Tiny | 8th | i3-8100T, i5-8400T, i5-8500T | 64 GB DDR4 | M.2 NVMe + 2.5" SATA | $90-140 |
| M920q Tiny | 8th/9th | i5-8500T, i5-9500T, i7-9700T | 64 GB DDR4 | M.2 NVMe + 2.5" SATA | $110-170 |
| M910q Tiny | 7th | i5-7500T, i7-7700T | 32 GB DDR4 | M.2 NVMe + 2.5" SATA | $80-120 |
| M920x Tiny | 8th/9th | i5-8500T, i5-9500T | 64 GB DDR4 | M.2 NVMe + 2.5" SATA + PCIe x16 | $150-200 |
| M70q Gen 2 | 11th | i5-11500T | 64 GB DDR4 | M.2 NVMe + 2.5" SATA | $170-250 |
Recommended: M720q Tiny with i5-8500T (6C/6T). Best value. Same CPU as the Dell OptiPlex 5060 Micro.
Notable: The M920x Tiny has a PCIe x16 slot — unique among Tiny form factor PCs. You can install a low-profile GPU, 10 GbE NIC, or HBA card. This makes it the only used mini PC that supports PCIe expansion.
ThinkCentre vs OptiPlex
Both are enterprise mini desktops with the same CPUs, similar specs, and comparable pricing. The differences are minor:
| Feature | ThinkCentre Tiny | OptiPlex Micro |
|---|---|---|
| Build quality | Excellent | Excellent |
| Form factor | 1L (179 x 182 x 34.5mm) | 1.2L (182 x 178 x 36mm) |
| RAM slots | 2x SO-DIMM | 2x SO-DIMM |
| Max RAM | 64 GB (M720q/M920q) | 32-64 GB (varies by model) |
| M.2 NVMe | Yes | Yes |
| 2.5" bay | Yes | Yes |
| Intel vPro/AMT | Select models | Select models |
| PCIe slot | M920x only (x16) | None on Micro |
| USB ports | 5-6 (varies) | 5-6 (varies) |
| Dual display | 2x DisplayPort (some have HDMI) | DisplayPort + HDMI |
| VESA mount | Optional bracket | Optional bracket |
| Used market availability | Good | Excellent (more units) |
| Price range | $90-170 | $80-180 |
Buy whichever is cheaper. If prices are equal, the ThinkCentre M720q/M920q supports 64 GB RAM (vs 32 GB on many OptiPlex models), which is useful for Proxmox or heavy workloads.
Setup Guide
Setup is identical to the Dell OptiPlex server setup — they use the same Intel CPUs and standard components.
BIOS Configuration
Press F1 during boot (Lenovo uses F1, not F2 like Dell):
- Power → After Power Loss: Set to "Power On" for automatic restart after outages
- Security → Intel VT-x: Enable
- Security → Intel VT-d: Enable
- Devices → Intel AMT: Enable (if available)
Install Linux + Docker
# Flash Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS or Debian 12 to USB
# Boot from USB (press F12 for boot menu)
# Install to internal NVMe SSD
# After installation, install Docker:
curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER
Quick Sync for Media Transcoding
Same as any Intel system — pass through /dev/dri:
services:
jellyfin:
image: jellyfin/jellyfin:10.10.6
devices:
- /dev/dri:/dev/dri
8th gen Intel (Coffee Lake) supports H.264, HEVC, and VP9 hardware transcoding. Handles 2-3 simultaneous 1080p transcodes.
Power Consumption
Measured on M720q Tiny with i5-8500T, 16 GB RAM, NVMe SSD:
| State | Power Draw |
|---|---|
| Off (standby) | 1W |
| Idle (headless) | 12-16W |
| Light Docker containers | 18-22W |
| Moderate load | 25-32W |
| Full CPU load | 48-55W |
Essentially identical to the Dell OptiPlex Micro with the same CPU. Annual cost at typical server load (~20W): ~$21/year at $0.12/kWh.
What You Can Run
Same as the Dell OptiPlex — the hardware is equivalent. With i5-8500T and 16 GB RAM:
- Pi-hole, Nextcloud, Jellyfin, Vaultwarden
- Home Assistant, Uptime Kuma, Nginx Proxy Manager
- Immich, Paperless-ngx, Syncthing
- 20+ Docker containers simultaneously
With 32-64 GB RAM (M720q/M920q support this):
The M920x: The PCIe Exception
The ThinkCentre M920x Tiny is unique — it has a PCIe x16 slot in a 1L form factor. This opens up possibilities no other used mini PC offers:
- Low-profile GPU: For hardware transcoding beyond Quick Sync (NVIDIA T400/T600 for Plex with tone mapping)
- 10 GbE NIC: Mellanox ConnectX-3 for high-speed NAS access
- HBA card: For direct-attach SATA/SAS connectivity (niche use)
The M920x is $40-60 more than the M920q but worth it if you need PCIe expansion.
FAQ
ThinkCentre or OptiPlex — which should I buy?
Whichever is cheaper with the specs you want. They're functionally interchangeable for self-hosting. If you need 64 GB RAM, the ThinkCentre M720q/M920q is the better choice. If you want the most models to choose from, Dell OptiPlex has more units on the used market.
Is the M710q (7th gen) worth buying?
Only if it's under $80. The i5-7500T (4C/4T) is noticeably less capable than the i5-8500T (6C/6T). The generational jump from 7th to 8th gen Intel added 50% more cores — it's a significant difference for containerized workloads.
Can I cluster multiple ThinkCentres?
Yes. Some homelab users run 2-3 ThinkCentre/OptiPlex Micros as a Proxmox cluster. At $100-120 each, 3 nodes cost less than a single used rack server and draw far less power. Stack them with a small switch for a compact HA cluster.
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