Drag to reposition cover

Lenovo Thinkcentre/ThinkStation Tiny (Project TinyMiniMicro) Reference Thread

Notice: Page may contain affiliate links for which we may earn a small commission through services like Amazon Affiliates or Skimlinks.
S

Spucke

New Member
Feb 7, 2023
3
0
1
That would interest me too. Who could unlock my BIOS from the Tiny P350 11900t for undervolting?
Many thanks in advance
 
L

leeism

New Member
Jan 12, 2024
5
0
1
Hi guys

Been reading through this thread and there is a lot to take in! I will have a P330 tiny shortly and am looking to somehow add 2.5Gb Nic to it. Anyone have the part numbers or links to parts please?
 
K

kangfat

New Member
Nov 26, 2022
9
9
3
andrea87 said:
Time to join the thread. After my past woes with chinese mini PCs, and with a clean possibility of getting a proper FTTH connection in the future, I've decided to build myself a dedicated Proxmox/OPNsense box with one of those.

Found off ebay a very basic M720q with a g5400t, then added some ram, a pcie riser and a dual 2.5g nic based on the i226-v b4 chip.

View attachment 33885

Plenty of those on Ebay and Aliexpress, price is usually in the 40-45$ range. They look nice, have actual i226-v chips on them, the only downside is that they run off a pcie bridge - asm1182e - which limits the whole card to a single lane of pcie gen2. With the two nics connected with an ethernet cable, and each one assigned to a different network bridge in proxmox, running a bidirectional iperf between two containers I get max 1.43gbit/s throughput.

Here are some iperf results for anyone interested:

root@test-ct-1:~# iperf3 -c 192.168.64.11 --bidir -i 1 -t 10
Connecting to host 192.168.64.11, port 5201
[ 5] local 192.168.64.10 port 49042 connected to 192.168.64.11 port 5201
[ 7] local 192.168.64.10 port 49054 connected to 192.168.64.11 port 5201
[ ID][Role] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr Cwnd
[ 5][TX-C] 0.00-1.00 sec 167 MBytes 1.40 Gbits/sec 0 1.41 MBytes
[ 7][RX-C] 0.00-1.00 sec 170 MBytes 1.43 Gbits/sec
[ 5][TX-C] 1.00-2.00 sec 169 MBytes 1.42 Gbits/sec 0 1.41 MBytes
[ 7][RX-C] 1.00-2.00 sec 168 MBytes 1.41 Gbits/sec
[ 5][TX-C] 2.00-3.00 sec 170 MBytes 1.43 Gbits/sec 0 1.41 MBytes
[ 7][RX-C] 2.00-3.00 sec 168 MBytes 1.41 Gbits/sec
[ 5][TX-C] 3.00-4.00 sec 170 MBytes 1.43 Gbits/sec 0 1.41 MBytes
[ 7][RX-C] 3.00-4.00 sec 169 MBytes 1.41 Gbits/sec
[ 5][TX-C] 4.00-5.00 sec 169 MBytes 1.42 Gbits/sec 0 1.41 MBytes
[ 7][RX-C] 4.00-5.00 sec 168 MBytes 1.41 Gbits/sec
[ 5][TX-C] 5.00-6.00 sec 170 MBytes 1.43 Gbits/sec 0 1.48 MBytes
[ 7][RX-C] 5.00-6.00 sec 169 MBytes 1.41 Gbits/sec
[ 5][TX-C] 6.00-7.00 sec 169 MBytes 1.42 Gbits/sec 0 1.48 MBytes
[ 7][RX-C] 6.00-7.00 sec 169 MBytes 1.41 Gbits/sec
[ 5][TX-C] 7.00-8.00 sec 170 MBytes 1.43 Gbits/sec 0 1.55 MBytes
[ 7][RX-C] 7.00-8.00 sec 169 MBytes 1.41 Gbits/sec
[ 5][TX-C] 8.00-9.00 sec 170 MBytes 1.43 Gbits/sec 0 1.64 MBytes
[ 7][RX-C] 8.00-9.00 sec 168 MBytes 1.41 Gbits/sec
[ 5][TX-C] 9.00-10.00 sec 169 MBytes 1.42 Gbits/sec 0 1.72 MBytes
[ 7][RX-C] 9.00-10.00 sec 168 MBytes 1.41 Gbits/sec

[ ID][Role] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr
[ 5][TX-C] 0.00-10.00 sec 1.65 GBytes 1.42 Gbits/sec 0 sender
[ 5][TX-C] 0.00-10.00 sec 1.65 GBytes 1.42 Gbits/sec receiver
[ 7][RX-C] 0.00-10.00 sec 1.65 GBytes 1.42 Gbits/sec 5 sender
[ 7][RX-C] 0.00-10.00 sec 1.65 GBytes 1.41 Gbits/sec receiver
iperf Done.
root@test-ct-1:~# iperf3 -c 192.168.64.11 -i 1 -t 10 -b 2500M
Connecting to host 192.168.64.11, port 5201
[ 5] local 192.168.64.10 port 39248 connected to 192.168.64.11 port 5201
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr Cwnd
[ 5] 0.00-1.00 sec 244 MBytes 2.05 Gbits/sec 0 660 KBytes
[ 5] 1.00-2.00 sec 242 MBytes 2.03 Gbits/sec 0 718 KBytes
[ 5] 2.00-3.00 sec 242 MBytes 2.03 Gbits/sec 0 877 KBytes
[ 5] 3.00-4.00 sec 242 MBytes 2.03 Gbits/sec 0 1.04 MBytes
[ 5] 4.00-5.00 sec 236 MBytes 1.98 Gbits/sec 35 854 KBytes
[ 5] 5.00-6.00 sec 242 MBytes 2.03 Gbits/sec 0 854 KBytes
[ 5] 6.00-7.00 sec 242 MBytes 2.03 Gbits/sec 0 854 KBytes
[ 5] 7.00-8.00 sec 242 MBytes 2.03 Gbits/sec 0 857 KBytes
[ 5] 8.00-9.00 sec 242 MBytes 2.03 Gbits/sec 0 857 KBytes
[ 5] 9.00-10.00 sec 250 MBytes 2.10 Gbits/sec 0 919 KBytes

[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr
[ 5] 0.00-10.00 sec 2.37 GBytes 2.03 Gbits/sec 35 sender
[ 5] 0.00-10.00 sec 2.37 GBytes 2.03 Gbits/sec receiver

iperf Done.

root@test-ct-2:~# iperf3 -c 192.168.64.10 -i 1 -t 10 -b 500M
Connecting to host 192.168.64.10, port 5201
[ 5] local 192.168.64.11 port 57736 connected to 192.168.64.10 port 5201
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr Cwnd
[ 5] 0.00-1.00 sec 59.6 MBytes 500 Mbits/sec 0 257 KBytes
[ 5] 1.00-2.00 sec 59.6 MBytes 500 Mbits/sec 0 270 KBytes
[ 5] 2.00-3.00 sec 59.6 MBytes 500 Mbits/sec 0 303 KBytes
[ 5] 3.00-4.00 sec 59.5 MBytes 499 Mbits/sec 0 389 KBytes
[ 5] 4.00-5.00 sec 59.6 MBytes 500 Mbits/sec 0 409 KBytes
[ 5] 5.00-6.00 sec 59.6 MBytes 500 Mbits/sec 0 515 KBytes
[ 5] 6.00-7.00 sec 59.6 MBytes 500 Mbits/sec 0 515 KBytes
[ 5] 7.00-8.00 sec 59.6 MBytes 500 Mbits/sec 0 515 KBytes
[ 5] 8.00-9.00 sec 59.6 MBytes 500 Mbits/sec 0 515 KBytes
[ 5] 9.00-10.00 sec 59.5 MBytes 499 Mbits/sec 0 540 KBytes

[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr
[ 5] 0.00-10.00 sec 596 MBytes 500 Mbits/sec 0 sender
[ 5] 0.00-10.00 sec 596 MBytes 500 Mbits/sec receiver

iperf Done.
root@test-ct-1:~# iperf3 -c 192.168.64.11 -i 1 -t 10 -b 2000M
Connecting to host 192.168.64.11, port 5201
[ 5] local 192.168.64.10 port 35700 connected to 192.168.64.11 port 5201
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr Cwnd
[ 5] 0.00-1.00 sec 231 MBytes 1.94 Gbits/sec 0 631 KBytes
[ 5] 1.00-2.00 sec 227 MBytes 1.90 Gbits/sec 0 631 KBytes
[ 5] 2.00-3.00 sec 227 MBytes 1.90 Gbits/sec 0 631 KBytes
[ 5] 3.00-4.00 sec 220 MBytes 1.84 Gbits/sec 0 1.09 MBytes
[ 5] 4.00-5.00 sec 226 MBytes 1.90 Gbits/sec 0 1.14 MBytes
[ 5] 5.00-6.00 sec 226 MBytes 1.90 Gbits/sec 0 1.20 MBytes
[ 5] 6.00-7.00 sec 227 MBytes 1.90 Gbits/sec 0 1.20 MBytes
[ 5] 7.00-8.00 sec 226 MBytes 1.89 Gbits/sec 0 1.32 MBytes
[ 5] 8.00-9.00 sec 227 MBytes 1.90 Gbits/sec 0 1.69 MBytes
[ 5] 9.00-10.00 sec 227 MBytes 1.90 Gbits/sec 0 1.96 MBytes

[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr
[ 5] 0.00-10.00 sec 2.21 GBytes 1.90 Gbits/sec 0 sender
[ 5] 0.00-10.00 sec 2.21 GBytes 1.90 Gbits/sec receiver

iperf Done.

root@test-ct-2:~# iperf3 -c 192.168.64.10 -i 1 -t 10 -b 700M
Connecting to host 192.168.64.10, port 5201
[ 5] local 192.168.64.11 port 43742 connected to 192.168.64.10 port 5201
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr Cwnd
[ 5] 0.00-1.00 sec 83.4 MBytes 699 Mbits/sec 0 205 KBytes
[ 5] 1.00-2.00 sec 83.5 MBytes 700 Mbits/sec 0 205 KBytes
[ 5] 2.00-3.00 sec 83.5 MBytes 700 Mbits/sec 0 216 KBytes
[ 5] 3.00-4.00 sec 83.4 MBytes 699 Mbits/sec 0 496 KBytes
[ 5] 4.00-5.00 sec 83.5 MBytes 700 Mbits/sec 0 523 KBytes
[ 5] 5.00-6.00 sec 83.4 MBytes 699 Mbits/sec 0 550 KBytes
[ 5] 6.00-7.00 sec 83.5 MBytes 700 Mbits/sec 0 550 KBytes
[ 5] 7.00-8.00 sec 83.4 MBytes 699 Mbits/sec 0 588 KBytes
[ 5] 8.00-9.00 sec 83.4 MBytes 697 Mbits/sec 0 618 KBytes
[ 5] 9.00-10.00 sec 83.6 MBytes 704 Mbits/sec 0 618 KBytes

[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr
[ 5] 0.00-10.00 sec 834 MBytes 700 Mbits/sec 0 sender
[ 5] 0.00-10.00 sec 834 MBytes 700 Mbits/sec receiver

iperf Done.
root@test-ct-1:~# iperf3 -c 192.168.64.11 -i 1 -t 10 -b 2500M
Connecting to host 192.168.64.11, port 5201
[ 5] local 192.168.64.10 port 39204 connected to 192.168.64.11 port 5201
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr Cwnd
[ 5] 0.00-1.00 sec 267 MBytes 2.24 Gbits/sec 0 725 KBytes
[ 5] 1.00-2.00 sec 260 MBytes 2.19 Gbits/sec 0 882 KBytes
[ 5] 2.00-3.00 sec 261 MBytes 2.19 Gbits/sec 0 939 KBytes
[ 5] 3.00-4.00 sec 261 MBytes 2.19 Gbits/sec 0 1.11 MBytes
[ 5] 4.00-5.00 sec 261 MBytes 2.19 Gbits/sec 0 1.11 MBytes
[ 5] 5.00-6.00 sec 261 MBytes 2.19 Gbits/sec 0 1.56 MBytes
[ 5] 6.00-7.00 sec 261 MBytes 2.19 Gbits/sec 0 1.81 MBytes
[ 5] 7.00-8.00 sec 261 MBytes 2.19 Gbits/sec 0 1.81 MBytes
[ 5] 8.00-9.00 sec 261 MBytes 2.19 Gbits/sec 0 1.81 MBytes
[ 5] 9.00-10.00 sec 261 MBytes 2.19 Gbits/sec 0 1.81 MBytes

[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr
[ 5] 0.00-10.00 sec 2.56 GBytes 2.20 Gbits/sec 0 sender
[ 5] 0.00-10.00 sec 2.55 GBytes 2.19 Gbits/sec receiver

iperf Done.

root@test-ct-2:~# iperf3 -c 192.168.64.10 -i 1 -t 10 -b 250M
Connecting to host 192.168.64.10, port 5201
[ 5] local 192.168.64.11 port 45550 connected to 192.168.64.10 port 5201
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr Cwnd
[ 5] 0.00-1.00 sec 29.9 MBytes 251 Mbits/sec 0 134 KBytes
[ 5] 1.00-2.00 sec 29.8 MBytes 250 Mbits/sec 0 134 KBytes
[ 5] 2.00-3.00 sec 29.9 MBytes 251 Mbits/sec 0 134 KBytes
[ 5] 3.00-4.00 sec 29.8 MBytes 250 Mbits/sec 1 134 KBytes
[ 5] 4.00-5.00 sec 29.8 MBytes 250 Mbits/sec 0 134 KBytes
[ 5] 5.00-6.00 sec 29.9 MBytes 251 Mbits/sec 0 160 KBytes
[ 5] 6.00-7.00 sec 29.8 MBytes 250 Mbits/sec 0 160 KBytes
[ 5] 7.00-8.00 sec 29.9 MBytes 251 Mbits/sec 0 160 KBytes
[ 5] 8.00-9.00 sec 29.8 MBytes 250 Mbits/sec 0 160 KBytes
[ 5] 9.00-10.00 sec 29.8 MBytes 250 Mbits/sec 0 160 KBytes

[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr
[ 5] 0.00-10.00 sec 298 MBytes 250 Mbits/sec 1 sender
[ 5] 0.00-10.00 sec 298 MBytes 250 Mbits/sec receiver

iperf Done.

The performance results (with virtIO, through two debian LXC containers) are not bad, and shouldn't provide too big restrictions on any 2.5/1gb GPON fiber. Currently I do have OPNsense running with VirtIO networking for ease of backup / migration, in the future I might just pcie passthrough the whole card to it as the mini pc will be essentially dedicated to internet connection, routing and such with no other major vms running.

Power and Thermals.

The box, at idle with just the hypervisor running (governor conservative and acpi-cpufreq driver) and the main nic, draws off the plug about 3.5-4W. With the card installed, the power draw raises significantly to about 8-9W at idle with the two nics up at 2.5gb speed. With no additional active airflow and the case closed the card's heatsink reach easily 60-65°C. As both the pcie bridge and the two nics are connected to it with 4mm thermal pads, I expect their temperature to have been at least 10-15°C above. It's a bit too hot for me to run them 24/7.

As the card is fairly small, there is enough space for a second fan. Instead of adding any, I've decided to cut away a small piece of the main fan's air guide to allow some airflow out to the side. Temporarily, I've added a couple pieces of masking tape to divert the air torwards the NIC. Results so far have been very good, the heatsink temp doesn't go over 40-45°C. I've set the fan control in the bios to something akin to "better cooling" instead of "better acoustic performance". The mini PC lives inside a closed 9U network rack with a single fan pushing air out of the top and ~27°C inside air temp.

View attachment 33886 View attachment 33887 View attachment 33888

The card is held with a custom 3d printed bracket, if anyone is interested I'll post the stl file somewhere.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure if it would fit over your card but I'm currently running a Mellanox MCX314A-BCCT 40Gb with this shroud over it. It dropped my card's temps from about 81C to down to about 53C. I'm not sure if it would be better than your current setup but I think it's something worth looking into.
 
A

akariii

New Member
Oct 16, 2023
3
1
3
SyntacticSugarDev said:
Newbie to this forum. Been watching this thread ever since I got my hands on a m720q to build a OPNSense box. Looking for a 4-port 2.5 gbe intel nic for the m720q. So far i've found the Qnap 4 port 2.5 nic. But looking for other options as well. Came across a bunch of these IOCrest 4 port nics that supposedly have i225 chips.

View attachment 33843

Looks like they are specifically being advertised to work in the lenovo m-series minis. I haven't been able to find much info or reviews on these nics anywhere else. Anyone here have any specific experience with these nics in their routers?
Click to expand...
I had this for a few months. No issues whatsoever with mine. Fan is a little noisy, mostly the higher pitch of it. Can use a generic 2 pin fan cable with a resistor in the middle to lower the fan speed by like 30%. Also found on ali.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Antec
S

SyntacticSugarDev

New Member
Jan 21, 2023
9
4
3
akariii said:
I had this for a few months. No issues whatsoever with mine. Fan is a little noisy, mostly the higher pitch of it. Can use a generic 2 pin fan cable with a resistor in the middle to lower the fan speed by like 30%. Also found on ali.
Click to expand...
Thanks. I ordered it the other day. Glad to hear it worked for you in the m720q. So hopefully I'll have same experience. Yeah, I might try your solution to lower the fan noise.
 
T

truongnht

New Member
Oct 25, 2023
10
0
1
akariii said:
I had this for a few months. No issues whatsoever with mine. Fan is a little noisy, mostly the higher pitch of it. Can use a generic 2 pin fan cable with a resistor in the middle to lower the fan speed by like 30%. Also found on ali.
Click to expand...
It runs a bit hot in my case with proxmox, opnsense, HA among others.
 
P

Parallax

Active Member
Nov 8, 2020
420
212
43
London, UK
leeism said:
Hi guys

Been reading through this thread and there is a lot to take in! I will have a P330 tiny shortly and am looking to somehow add 2.5Gb Nic to it. Anyone have the part numbers or links to parts please?
Click to expand...
Did you want to do it via PCIe card or by replacing the WiFi card?
 
A

akariii

New Member
Oct 16, 2023
3
1
3
truongnht said:
It runs a bit hot in my case with proxmox, opnsense, HA among others.
Click to expand...
yeah it ran a bit warm but i dont think it was hot hot. I had it like that for months and it was fine. I never tried maxing out all the links at the same time though. plus all those intel 225 cards run like that
 
andrea87

andrea87

Member
Oct 15, 2022
63
86
18
36
North-east Italy
I've decided to publish the 3d model for the bracket I designed to install a 2x 2.5gbe i226-v card into the m720q and m920q in this post

Printables

www.printables.com www.printables.com

Print it in a strong material (I used petg and it's absolutely fine), clip off the right part of the model once printed, stick it through the pins and weld in place. It should print in less than 20 mins and use ~3g of filament.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PnoT, evil_santa and Antec
A

akariii

New Member
Oct 16, 2023
3
1
3
Bought a used m75q-1 and the exhaust smells sweet, more so when it's under load/high fan rpm. Anyone else have similar experiences? Have a feeling it's a sign the fan bearing or motor is failing.

Additionally, does anyone know if the fans from an m720q are compatible? It's lower amperage. (0.8 vs stock 1.60)
 
N

NatPagles

New Member
Jan 23, 2024
1
0
1
Hey guys, just bought a m90q gen 1 on ebay but I noticed it doesnt have a screw on the back to hold the case together. Does anyone know if theres a thumbscrew I can buy somewhere?

Also need a screw to hold down the coral where the wifi card is supposed to be. Ive tried many different screws for this slot but non of them fit.
 
S

SyntacticSugarDev

New Member
Jan 21, 2023
9
4
3
NatPagles said:
Hey guys, just bought a m90q gen 1 on ebay but I noticed it doesnt have a screw on the back to hold the case together. Does anyone know if theres a thumbscrew I can buy somewhere?

Also need a screw to hold down the coral where the wifi card is supposed to be. Ive tried many different screws for this slot but non of them fit.
Click to expand...
I lost my screw on a m720q. But I was able to use a spare thumbscrew from a PC case. Amazon sells those thumbscrews in packs. I've also seem them at Microcenter.
 
N

Nonetoo

Member
Mar 6, 2017
37
2
8
54
I want more drives in my Lenovo tiny!! Few M2 ssd to lenovo tiny questions .....
From the first post ...
" You can install most x1/x2/x4/x8/x16 PCIe cards as long as they are half height and shorter than 150mm (M720q and M920q) or 167mm (M90q and later)"

I know there is a potential mod that involves soldering for the M920, I'm not interested in doing that (for this post at least :) )


1) Has anyone found a pcie to M2x2 card that does bifurcation on the card, that will work in a M920, that is, small enough length?

2) Anyone tested any such cards with bifurcation in an M90q / any known cards working?
3) SEEMS like this card would NOT work in m920, but should work in an M90q. (6.3 inches long = 160mm) Any other options? https://www.amazon.com/Ableconn-PEX...mzn1.fos.f5122f16-c3e8-4386-bf32-63e904010ad0

4) Has anyone actually tested the newest M90q gen 3 riser card, will that intel 1200 series motherboard do bifurcation so we can use a generic card, or, still need a card that does bifurcation?


Thanks!
 
kayson

kayson

Member
Apr 21, 2021
37
8
8
Anyone know of a cheaper source for the M.2 retention clips? I don't want to spend $18, let alone $40...
www.ebay.com

New!! Lot of 5pc Lenovo Thinkcentre M.2 SSD Kit Tray Anchor Tool PN. 4XF0P01011 | eBay

Lot of 5pc 4XF0P01011 Lenovo ThinkCentre M.2 SSD Kit Tray Bracket Anchor Tool for M710s M710t M715s M715t M910s M910t. < 4XF0P01011 Thinkcentre M.2 SSD Kit provide a solution to install M.2 SSD on your Thinkcentre machine, it is compatible with Thinkcentre M410, M415, M510, M610, M710, M710s...
www.ebay.com
www.ebay.com

One M.2 Plastic Retention Clip Fastener for Lenovo ThinkCentre M600 M700 | eBay

Small plastic clip that holds the M.2 drive down in the Lenovo ThinkCentre M600 M700.
www.ebay.com

I'm thinking I might 3D print them...

Same question on the thermal pad:
www.ebay.com

Lenovo ThinkCentre M820z M.2 SSD 2280 Thermal Pad 02CW347 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Lenovo ThinkCentre M820z M.2 SSD 2280 Thermal Pad 02CW347 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
www.ebay.com

This one I'm sure I can get cheaper elsewhere since it could be any old pad, just need to know the dimensions/thickness
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom