hey y'all i just got mine in yesterday, the unit has been fun, here's my report.
I ordered my n5105 / I226 version from the
"YSJMNPC Store". At the time with a small coupon it was slightly less than other options. Around US$162. I ordered it on Oct 14, and received it on Nov 7. I ordered the version with the "basic" small chassis, and I think it was the... v4 version of the Changwang board.
Here are my out of order notes:
* The biggest I problem I noticed was in windows. When I try to install the intel graphics drivers, Windows boots into a black screen. I can reboot in safe mode and get video, but the the video driver reinstalls again and I'm stuck with black screen. This is using the newest driver from Intel's site. Anyone else had this problem? I don't plan on running Windows for real, so it's not a showstopper it's just annoying.
* the system buzzer is surprisingly loud!
* I didn't see any daylight gaps between the heatsinks for either the CPU or the NICs. Since temps were okay, I didn't do any further disassembly.
* It came with bios from 7/30/2022, jk4lv03. I think I could upgrade it with
this later bios from changwang, but I've been scared.
* CPU temperature! Windows idles at around 55C. running prime 95 I saw two phases. First phase (PL1) it went up to 81C. Second phase (PL2) it was about 72C. Running for a more extended time (an hour?) it crept up to 77C. This is totally fine for me, so no sanding or repasting or shims needed.
* hwinfo reports the CPU using 3.15W at windows idle. almost 19W during PL1, and just under 15W at PL2.
* total system draw, per my smart plug, with two dimms, a 2.5" SSD, and one ethernet cable plugged in, and the monitor, was 10W at windows idle, and 23W during prime95.
* installed my system with 2x4GB Samsung DIMMs that I bought used, and a janky 2.5" SSD that I had sitting around in a box.
* I noticed not many people posting experience with a 2.5" drive. There are screw holds to mount it on the bottom. But it blocks the vent where you could put a 40mm fan. in addition, when you screw it in, there is not enough clearance to plug in the SATA adapter! (pic included). Or at least with my 7mm SSD. My solution to this was very fancy, flipping the SSD upside down so there was a millimeter of extra room adn then using electrical tape to hold it on.
* the included AC adapter was a "Dajing" model. it seems fine. it even has a little blue light when powered up. total system power is 15.2W sitting at bios screen.
* i looked through my pile of adapters and had a 36W adapter from an old router. when I plugged it in it used 14.9W at the wall. I'm not sure really how efficient what I have is.