Decision matrix in Markdown format to clearly evaluate the trade-off between the GMKtec K8 Plus and the custom Ryzen 9 9950X server for a Sage 50 Proxmox-based deployment:

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✅ Sage 50 Server Decision Matrix – Compact vs Long-Life Build

Factor	GMKtec K8 Plus (~£730)	Ryzen 9 9950X Custom Build (~£3,800)
Processor	Ryzen 7 8845HS (8C/16T, mobile)	Ryzen 9 9950X (16C/32T, desktop)
RAM Capacity	Max 64 GB DDR5 (non-ECC)	Up to 192 GB DDR5 ECC (server-grade)
Storage Expandability	2× NVMe slots	2× NVMe + SATA + PCIe RAID support
Thermal Management	Good, but limited headroom	Excellent, oversized cooler and airflow
Power Supply	External 120W adapter	High-end 850W PSU + UPS for resilience
Networking	Dual 2.5GbE	Dual 10GbE + onboard 2.5GbE
Repairability	Poor – single-board system	Excellent – all components swappable
Form Factor	Ultra compact, silent	Full tower workstation/server
Expected Lifetime	~5–6 years	8–10+ years
Future-Proofing	Low – capped RAM/CPU	High – scalable RAM, PCIe, storage
ECC Memory	❌ Not supported	✅ Fully supported
RAID / ZFS Mirror	❌ Not practical	✅ Fully supported
UPS / Power Redundancy	❌ Optional only	✅ Built-in UPS protection
Cost	✅ Affordable	❌ 5× higher upfront cost

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✅ Choose the GMKtec K8 Plus if you:

• Need a compact, quiet, energy-efficient server
• Will only run 1–2 VMs for the next ~5 years
• Can accept limited expandability and moderate long-term risk
  

✅ Choose the Ryzen 9 9950X build if you:

• Want a long-term infrastructure with minimal future replacement
• Need more VMs, heavier loads, or rapid growth capacity
• Prioritise ECC RAM, RAID/ZFS, UPS, and repairable components