Written 27 Aug 2026. This is a how-to, not a product card.

See how much memory the computer already has

Before you buy a tiny computer, check how much memory the computer already has.

Memory is the computer's short-term workspace. Not the disk. Not free room when the computer feels slow. That free look is see if the computer still has free memory. This note is the total size already installed, before you shop for an N100. Worker count is see how many workers the computer already has. You don't need a new mini this morning because the laptop is old.

Skip until SSH works

If ping fails and SSH hangs, start with is the computer still on? If you have never logged in from the couch, that is SSH from the couch. Prefer this look after the computer is doing real work, before you shop: start with what you already have. This note assumes you can log in from the couch.

What this is

A look, not a shopping trip. You are reading how much memory the computer already has, so you know whether house ad block and a file share fit. You are not buying RAM sticks tonight. You are not buying an N100, an N150, or a Protectli this morning.

Ask how much memory it has

SSH in from the couch, then run:

free -h

Point at the Mem line, total column. That is how much memory the computer already has. 4 GB is a tight old laptop. 8 GB is common and fine for Pi-hole plus a house share. 16 GB is comfortable. Don't buy a mini PC because total says 8G.

Optional one-line total

If you want one number without the full table:

grep MemTotal /proc/meminfo

That line is kilobytes. Divide by about a million for a rough gigabyte count, or stay with free -h if the table is clearer. Keep this light. Don't install extra tools for this look.

If the total is small

4 GB still runs the first lab if you keep the stack thin. If the computer feels slow, check see if the computer still has free memory and see what is keeping the computer busy before you shop. Free room and one busy copy squeeze an old laptop more often than a low total. Worker count stays see how many workers the computer already has. Whether the computer can run a pretend computer is see if the computer can run a pretend computer. A later mini is a tiny computer you can leave on, with the RAM shopping rule in buy RAM you can add later; skip soldered 12 GB cubes, when the computer is actually in the way. Skip buying one this morning because total said 4G.

What next

Free room when it feels slow stays see if the computer still has free memory. Worker count stays see how many workers the computer already has. The VM flag look is see if the computer can run a pretend computer. The computer model is see what computer you already have. Overflow memory on disk is see if the computer already has extra memory on disk. The disk size is see how big the computer disk already is. The start-with-what-you-have rule stays start with what you already have. The later buy is a tiny computer you can leave on, when you actually need it.

Skip

Skip if SSH fails. That is is the computer still on? or SSH from the couch.
Skip buying an N100 because free -h total printed 4G or 8G.
Skip stacking a movie library, a VM, and Pi-hole on 4 GB, then blaming the computer.
Skip buying RAM sticks for a soldered old laptop. That trap is buy RAM you can add later; skip soldered 12 GB cubes.
Skip a NAS for this look.
Skip Proxmox tonight. That is what a VM is, and when you don't need one.

Sources

Debian: free. Ubuntu: free. Debian: proc. Official pages only. For free room when the computer feels slow, see see if the computer still has free memory. For worker count, see see how many workers the computer already has. For the start-with-what-you-have rule, see start with what you already have. A later mini is later: a tiny computer you can leave on and buy RAM you can add later; skip soldered 12 GB cubes. For the login, see SSH from the couch.

Also on this topic

See how many workers the computer already hasBefore you buy a tiny computer, check how many workers the computer already has. See if the computer still has free memoryThe computer feels slow. Check free memory before you buy a new mini PC. See if the computer can run a pretend computerBefore you buy a tiny computer for Proxmox, check whether the computer already has the CPU feature for VMs. See if the computer already has extra memory on diskBefore you buy a tiny computer, check whether the computer already has overflow memory on the disk. See how big the computer disk already isBefore you buy a tiny computer or a NAS, check how big the computer disk already is. Start with what you already haveDon't buy anything yet. Old laptop first, or a retired OptiPlex from Marketplace. Buy RAM you can add later; skip soldered 12 GB cubesBuy enough memory you can actually add later. Soldered RAM means memory you cannot add later. Skip 12 GB cubes. 16 GB is the floor for a later mini. A tiny computer you can leave onDon't buy one of these first. Use the old laptop, or a retired OptiPlex from Marketplace. These quiet little PCs are the later buy, when you know you will leave a box on and you want it small and silent.