Verdict
The €150-250 used ThinkCentre M75q running Hermes Agent is the cheapest credible workhorse setup in 2026. You give up some performance vs a current-gen mini PC and you accept the refurb caveats (worn fans possible), but for first-time self-hosters the price-to-capability is unbeatable.
Setup notes
Verify the unit on arrival: thermal throttle test, fan noise, NVMe SMART. Replace thermal paste if the unit is older than 3 years. Debian 12 + Docker + Caddy. Hermes Agent installs as on any Intel mini PC.
Performance
No measurement of ours. On llama.cpp's Vulkan scoreboard, the Ryzen 4000 series' integrated graphics write 9.63 tokens per second with a 7B model at Q4_0.
What breaks
- Local models beyond 7B
- Sustained workloads on units with worn cooling
Want to know more
See the Hermes Agent page and the Lenovo ThinkCentre M75q (used) spec sheet.