10-10-2025, 04:15 PM
That’s a great setup idea — running a Proxmox + Ceph cluster with virtualized storage is ambitious but smart for a home lab. Between the two, the UGREEN DXP8000 Plus is clearly the more refined system: better thermals, quieter under load, solid PCIe implementation, and more stable OS-level support if you ever run it standalone. It’s also better built for constant airflow across all bays, which is crucial for Ceph nodes.
That said, your offer from Orico is very tempting. The CF1000 gives you 10 bays, dual NVMe, and a high drive density for $899, which is excellent value. The main concern is reliability and long-term firmware support. Orico’s hardware is fine, but their software and component QC are still maturing — I’ve tested their earlier CF series and thermal management was notably weaker than UGREEN’s design.
If you plan to run your own OS (like Proxmox) and not rely on Orico’s software, the risk is lower. In that case, getting three CF1000s for under $2,700 is actually a very strong base for a 3-node Ceph cluster.
If you’d rather build something DIY instead, look at:
• CWWK W680 / N7 boards with 8–12 SATA via SFF-8643 and dual 10GbE.
• Jonsbo N5 or N10 cases for 8–10 drives with excellent airflow.
• A Ryzen 7 or i5 platform with ECC DDR5 for stable virtualization.
So in short:
That said, your offer from Orico is very tempting. The CF1000 gives you 10 bays, dual NVMe, and a high drive density for $899, which is excellent value. The main concern is reliability and long-term firmware support. Orico’s hardware is fine, but their software and component QC are still maturing — I’ve tested their earlier CF series and thermal management was notably weaker than UGREEN’s design.
If you plan to run your own OS (like Proxmox) and not rely on Orico’s software, the risk is lower. In that case, getting three CF1000s for under $2,700 is actually a very strong base for a 3-node Ceph cluster.
If you’d rather build something DIY instead, look at:
• CWWK W680 / N7 boards with 8–12 SATA via SFF-8643 and dual 10GbE.
• Jonsbo N5 or N10 cases for 8–10 drives with excellent airflow.
• A Ryzen 7 or i5 platform with ECC DDR5 for stable virtualization.
So in short: