I just set up my own server with Yunohost on a HP EliteDesk 800 G3 Mini PC 8GB 256GB SSD Intel Core i5-6500T Win10, Black. Costs about $95 refurbed online. I've got 14 apps running on it with no issues.
Self-hosting
Hosting your own services. Preferably at home and on low-power or shared hardware.
Also check out:
An old laptop.
Synapse will struggle on an ARM SBC and forget about hosting email on a residential internet connection. It will be either blocked by the ISP or filtered directly to spam by most email providers.
i mean, email isn't a huge priority for me. i do want to have a Matrix server and a media server though. i'd take your advice, but i'm fresh out of old laptops at the moment. i would get a System76 Meerkat if it wasn't just a little overpowered for what i need. do you know of anything with a similar form factor and 4 gb RAM (or at least where i can look for something like that)?
Get an old refurbish hp thin-client or a thinkpad then. Something sub 200$ with at least 4 threads and upgradable to at least 8gb ram and sata ssd storage. Laptop has the advantage of built in battery (UPS) and screen/keyboard in case you mess something up.
Nezha D1 board would be best!
I hosted my first on a raspberry pi with an externally mounted ssd drive. It worked great.
I'd say find a cheap Intel/AMD 64 bit used PC, but those can be noisy and draw lots of power compared to SBCs. You don't need anything fancy. The <40€ ThinkCentres and such will do, especially if you throw some SSD in.
Old laptop probably best, ARM is getting better though. I'd be tempted by https://forum.banana-pi.org/t/banana-pi-bpi-cm5-computer-module-with-amlogic-a311d2-4g-lpddr4-ram-and-16g-emmc-onboard/15578/3 but expect some software hassle
a debian 11 virtualbox VM in any computer with tunnelmole (ts/js) or tunnel.pyjam.as (wg)