Memory for your SparkBox: what fits, and how to add more
SparkBox runs on whatever you already own: a NAS, a mini PC, an old desktop, a Raspberry Pi. The one thing that decides how much of it you can run at once is memory. This page says how much each preset needs, how to find out which memory your box takes, and where to look for more. When you pick a preset in the dashboard, SparkBox measures your box first and tells you whether it fits before anything changes.
How much memory each preset needs
These are the running estimates each app declares, added up. Real use moves with your library size and how many people are streaming at once, so treat them as a floor. SparkBox will not apply a preset that would claim more than about 70% of the memory in the box.
| Preset | What runs | Memory, about | Comfortable box |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essentials | Core and the dashboard; add apps one by one | 0.4 GB | Anything with 2 GB |
| Privacy | Ad-blocking, passwords, VPN, cloud storage, files, monitoring | 1.1 GB | 4 GB |
| Media | Jellyfin, Sonarr, Radarr, downloads through the VPN | 3.5 GB | 8 GB (a 4 GB box runs it with nothing else on) |
| Full | The whole catalogue | 6 GB and up | 16 GB |
ARM boxes (a Raspberry Pi 4 or 5 on a 64-bit OS, some ARM NAS models) are untested: most of SparkBox runs, the media bundle runs slower than on an Intel or AMD box with the same memory, and a few apps are published for Intel/AMD only. For the smoothest setup, pick Intel or AMD. 32-bit boards are not supported. Heavier apps such as Immich (photos, about 1.5 GB) or a Minecraft server (1 to 2 GB) come on top of the preset.
Apps that don't run on ARM
These apps are published for Intel/AMD only: there is no 64-bit ARM build of them to download. On an ARM box SparkBox lists them when it installs, marks them “Not available on ARM” in the App Store, and won't switch them on. Everything else publishes an ARM build, including the whole media stack (Jellyfin, Sonarr, Radarr, the downloaders and the VPN), though media conversion is slower on ARM.
| App | What it does | On ARM, try instead |
|---|---|---|
| Antivirus | Checks downloaded files for malware (ClamAV) | No ARM option in SparkBox yet |
| Emby | Media server | Jellyfin (the Media Center uses it) |
| Project Zomboid Server | Game server | Minecraft Bedrock, Terraria or Factorio servers |
| Stable Diffusion | AI image generation | No ARM option (it also wants a big graphics card) |
| Tunarr | Live TV channels from your library | ErsatzTV |
| Valheim Server | Game server | Minecraft Bedrock, Terraria or Factorio servers |
Checked against each app's published image on 2026-09-25, and re-checked every week and whenever an app is updated. “Publishes an ARM build” means the image exists for ARM, not that we have tested every app there: ARM is untested.
Which memory does my box take?
Memory is not universal. Before you buy anything, look up your exact model on the maker's spec page: it names the memory type, the module size (a laptop-style SODIMM or a desktop DIMM), the speed, the number of slots and the largest module the box accepts. Ten minutes there saves a return.
| Box | Usually | Check |
|---|---|---|
| UGREEN NASync DXP series | DDR5 SODIMM, one or two slots depending on the model; user-replaceable behind the drive bays | UGREEN's spec page for your model for the largest module it accepts |
| Mini PCs (Beelink, Intel NUC, GMKtec, Minisforum) | DDR4 or DDR5 SODIMM, one or two slots; some smaller models have soldered memory | The model's spec page: type, speed and whether it is soldered |
| Synology and QNAP | Model-specific SODIMM; some models take ECC memory or only the maker's own modules | The maker's compatibility list for your model |
| Old desktop or tower | DDR4 (or DDR3 on older boards) full-size DIMM, two or four slots | The motherboard manual; mixing sizes usually works, mixing speeds runs at the slowest |
| Raspberry Pi | Soldered; cannot be upgraded | Pick the model with the memory you need when you buy it |
Look for memory
These open a search for the common types. Match the type, form factor and speed from your spec page, and prefer a known brand with a lifetime warranty (Crucial, Kingston, Corsair, Samsung, SK hynix are the usual ones).
DDR5 SODIMM (UGREEN DXP, newer mini PCs)
DDR4 SODIMM (most mini PCs from before 2023, many NAS models)
Desktop DIMM (an old tower)
A whole box, if you are starting from nothing: a used small-form-factor office PC (Dell OptiPlex, Lenovo ThinkCentre, HP EliteDesk) with 16 GB and an Intel chip with Quick Sync runs the Media preset well and costs less than most new NAS enclosures. An old Intel Mac mini works too once Ubuntu replaces macOS: the 2012 model is the pick, with an Intel chip that has Quick Sync and memory you can upgrade to 16 GB yourself.
As an Amazon Associate, SparkBox earns from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra and helps keep the project going.
After you add memory
Nothing to configure. Boot the box, open the dashboard, and the preset check measures the new total. On the shell, sparkbox doctor reports memory at the top. If a preset you were told would not fit now fits, apply it from the Apps page.