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Latest Posts

24
Apr
Comic book style picture of an "upright" mounted RTX4090 with the caption "POWERED UP."

The Architecture of Transcoding: NVENC vs. QuickSync & The AV1 Future (2026)

You've seen, read or heard a lot about transcoding since you've begun your streaming media idealization
19 min read
22
Apr
Split screen showing Plex Media Server library home screen and OpenMediaVault 8 (OMV8) Dashboard workbench interface.

The Ultimate OMV8 & Plex Media Server Guide (2026): Build Your Own 100TB NAS

Master your home lab with this 2026 update for OpenMediaVault 8. Learn to set up Plex on OMV8 using Docker Compose, optimize ZFS pools, and enable 4K transcoding.
9 min read
22
Apr
A picture of Core Lab Custom Server/NAS while being built, on a floor beside oragizer bin, with drive cables hanging out and side, top panels removed.

The "Core Lab" Monster: My 80+TB DIY NAS Build (2026)

A 17-drive, 80TB+ DIY NAS build log: enterprise SAS hardware, ZFS pool design, HBA cards, and the 3.3V pin gotcha that stops drives from spinning up.
20 min read
22
Apr
Closeup of a brand new motherboard, black, labelled MSI and is in fact, an MSI X570 Pro-A motherboard.

Best Homelab Hardware Guide (2026): Servers, Mini-PCs, CPUs & Parts

Construct your Digital Fortress. From silent N100 "Gatehouse" nodes to massive "Command Center" storage servers, this is the battle-tested hardware we trust to hold the line in 2026.
33 min read
18
Apr
Infographic comparing OMV8/Truenas, Unraid, Synology/Ugreen for use as affordable scrap-lab OS. You'll notice the "Ease of Use" changes from left (3/5) to right (5/5), along with the price!

Homelab on a Budget: Your Zero-to-Hero Guide (2026)

Build a high-performance home lab for under $300 CAD in 2026. Learn to use "scrap" hardware, Dell Optiplex Micros, and Proxmox to start your self-hosting journey.
8 min read
17
Apr
Cyberpunk digital fortress representing a self-hosted homelab with servers, Docker, networking, firewalls, and privacy-focused infrastructure. Canadian flag in backround.

🗺️ Start Here: Turn Your "Trash" Hardware Into a Digital Fortress

Learn self-hosting, Docker, homelabs, networking, Plex or Jellyfin, automation, and cybersecurity. Turn scrap hardware into a secure digital fortress with Core Lab.
11 min read