CWWK/Topton/... Nxxx quad NIC router

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kliguin

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Nov 22, 2022
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==**Chipset > PCH-IO Configuration > PCI Express Configuration > PCI Express Root Port 1 (NVME) > ASPM: [Auto], L1 Substates: L1.1 & L1.2, L1 Low: [Enabled]**==

If I enable that I loose the network ports. They no longer appear in windows or bsd
Same for me for PCI lane 12, when I enable ASPM there I loose my 2nd NVMe right away. So I configured 1-11 with ASPM auto, and kept 12 at default.
 
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audit13

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Jun 26, 2024
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I've been reading several posts about lowering my Topton's n100 idle power usage without luck. I just don't think I can get it much below 9 to 10 watts.

I've also been reading lots of posts about replacing the thermal grease/paste on these mini PCs. I basically use opnsense in its stock configuration with no IDS/IPS, occasionally connect to my network when I'm away from home and no other options/features enabled. After logging in, the opnsense dashboard lists the temp for all 4 CPUs at 32 celsius. After a minute or two, the temp drops to 29 and sometimes as low as 27. Over the next 5 minutes or so, the temp will fluctuate between 27 and 32. 29 to 30 seems to be the average. Would it be worth repasting? I have some Noctua paste left over from a recent desktop build.
 

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phil-2024

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Sep 7, 2024
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I've been reading several posts about lowering my Topton's n100 idle power usage without luck. I just don't think I can get it much below 9 to 10 watts.

I've also been reading lots of posts about replacing the thermal grease/paste on these mini PCs. I basically use opnsense in its stock configuration with no IDS/IPS, occasionally connect to my network when I'm away from home and no other options/features enabled. After logging in, the opnsense dashboard lists the temp for all 4 CPUs at 32 celsius. After a minute or two, the temp drops to 29 and sometimes as low as 27. Over the next 5 minutes or so, the temp will fluctuate between 27 and 32. 29 to 30 seems to be the average. Would it be worth repasting? I have some Noctua paste left over from a recent desktop build.
I'm pretty sure we are just banging our heads against a brick wall with trying to reduce the N100 idle power usage on these types of boards and they have a design flaw, they even draw 2 watts when shutdown! There is a reason these boxes don't have a brand name on them.

Your CPU temperatures appear absolutely fine.
 
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slybunda

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Jan 30, 2023
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Mine pulls 1.5w when shutdown, however the fan is still running since the usb ports are still powered up so that makes sense on its shutdown power since DC to DC MOSFETs are active converting the 12v to 5v usb power
 
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slybunda

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Jan 30, 2023
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I've been reading several posts about lowering my Topton's n100 idle power usage without luck. I just don't think I can get it much below 9 to 10 watts.

I've also been reading lots of posts about replacing the thermal grease/paste on these mini PCs. I basically use opnsense in its stock configuration with no IDS/IPS, occasionally connect to my network when I'm away from home and no other options/features enabled. After logging in, the opnsense dashboard lists the temp for all 4 CPUs at 32 celsius. After a minute or two, the temp drops to 29 and sometimes as low as 27. Over the next 5 minutes or so, the temp will fluctuate between 27 and 32. 29 to 30 seems to be the average. Would it be worth repasting? I have some Noctua paste left over from a recent desktop build.
Those temps are good, no need to repasted.
 
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mack

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Jul 17, 2022
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This computer is completely broken. In idle state about 10W with 2 disks. If I insert 4 disks this consumption is 17W. ASPM does not work. I have a second computer from them which is with AMD 5825u processor and without any changes in BIOS power consumption is 6W, after enabling ASPM consumption is 4W with 2 disks in idle.
 
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phil-2024

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Sep 7, 2024
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This computer is completely broken. In idle state about 10W with 2 disks. If I insert 4 disks this consumption is 17W. ASPM does not work. I have a second computer from them which is with AMD 5825u processor and without any changes in BIOS power consumption is 6W, after enabling ASPM consumption is 4W with 2 disks.
I've emailed CWWK suggesting there is some issue and could they look into it, unsurprisingly I've not heard anything back. I'm beginning to suspect there is a design flaw or its by design to save some dollars, and we are stuck with these hand warmers that idle at 3 times the power usage they should, and what that does to the long term reliability we will find out.
 
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mack

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Jul 17, 2022
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I've emailed CWWK suggesting there is some issue and could they look into it, unsurprisingly I've not heard anything back. I'm beginning to suspect there is a design flaw or its by design to save some dollars, and we are stuck with these hand warmers that idle at 3 times the power usage they should, and what that does to the long term reliability we will find out.
I think it may be related to some design defect, I don't have a thermal imaging camera, it would be possible to check how the elements heat up, unless it can be solved by changes in the BIOS, but as you can see from the last posts it doesn't help much, I recently bought a q670 board, identical problems with ASPM and power consumption in idle state 20W :D:D
 

mack

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Jul 17, 2022
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I noticed one thing now, I have a 4x1 board with 4 disks inserted, when I start proxmox (2 disks as proxmox system in mirror mode), I started a virtual machine with truenas scale and passed two pcie lines with the other two disks to truenas. Proxmox without running TrueNas in 16W idle mode, after running TrueNas 11W in idle mode, TrueNas works fine, storage created on passed disks is available
 

slybunda

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Jan 30, 2023
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Does seem like a bios issue. Hopefully cwwk can look into this and update bios to allow proper power states on the pcie lanes
 

rmagar

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Feb 17, 2024
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I've noticed the same power behavior. My CWWK 2port x86-p5 drops right down to 6-7W after booting into PFSense, starting around 10-12W during bootup. I just got the CWWK 4 port and with similar bios settings it never seems to get below 10W.
 

slybunda

Active Member
Jan 30, 2023
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Hmm, I didn't do a test where I disabled all the pcie lanes. Need to test that and see where it goes
 

rogervn

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Sep 22, 2024
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Hello, so my cwwk x86 p5 N100 with the 4x nvme drive expansion and the small case arrived and I've been playing with it to understand it, was wondering if others could help here.

1. The fan is really loud and it seems it was touching the wire. I've looked at thermals and they stay around 42 C in idle, but any activity brings it up to around 80 C.

2. I've opened the device intending to repaste it, but I couldn't do it. I can't see what's separating the board from the heatsink. Is it the standoffs? I've tried twisting them, but they won't budge.

3. Trying to put it back together I've noticed the fan power cable which was touching the fan does not really fit the case due to the angle, so it's bulging up and touching the fan. Trying to put it back together seem to have removed some of the protective rubber on it.

4. Once the board was back in the case, it seems it's a bit loose. I've tried pushing it on the ports gap, but there doesn't seem to be a place it clicks. Was it actually been just held together by the power cable being smaller and pushing through the case?

Did anyone do a careful unassemble and assemble video? The ones I've found skip parts to show the internals, but doesn't focus on the parts I've reported.
 

r33tom

New Member
Sep 13, 2024
9
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Hello, so my cwwk x86 p5 N100 with the 4x nvme drive expansion and the small case arrived and I've been playing with it to understand it, was wondering if others could help here.

1. The fan is really loud and it seems it was touching the wire. I've looked at thermals and they stay around 42 C in idle, but any activity brings it up to around 80 C.

2. I've opened the device intending to repaste it, but I couldn't do it. I can't see what's separating the board from the heatsink. Is it the standoffs? I've tried twisting them, but they won't budge.

3. Trying to put it back together I've noticed the fan power cable which was touching the fan does not really fit the case due to the angle, so it's bulging up and touching the fan. Trying to put it back together seem to have removed some of the protective rubber on it.

4. Once the board was back in the case, it seems it's a bit loose. I've tried pushing it on the ports gap, but there doesn't seem to be a place it clicks. Was it actually been just held together by the power cable being smaller and pushing through the case?

Did anyone do a careful unassemble and assemble video? The ones I've found skip parts to show the internals, but doesn't focus on the parts I've reported.
1)
Yes it is running quite hot even with the fan due to the poor thermal transfer between the CPU and heatsink. This is from the poorly installed thermal paste and heatsink

2)
There is 4 screws holding the outer case and the bottom plate.
There is an additional 4 screws that is holding the main board to the top case.
After removal you should be able to slowly pull the board from the outer case. Be careful not to apply too much force to flex the board. Try twisting it side to side to loosen it from the thermal paste.
Once you have it off, do the same for the copper or aluminium block that is stuck to the outer case with thermal grease. I had to use a small thin flat screwdriver to pry the block off the case for mine as it was on quite tight.

Good luck
 
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pigr8

Member
Jul 13, 2017
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Hello, so my cwwk x86 p5 N100 with the 4x nvme drive expansion and the small case arrived and I've been playing with it to understand it, was wondering if others could help here.

1. The fan is really loud and it seems it was touching the wire. I've looked at thermals and they stay around 42 C in idle, but any activity brings it up to around 80 C.

2. I've opened the device intending to repaste it, but I couldn't do it. I can't see what's separating the board from the heatsink. Is it the standoffs? I've tried twisting them, but they won't budge.

3. Trying to put it back together I've noticed the fan power cable which was touching the fan does not really fit the case due to the angle, so it's bulging up and touching the fan. Trying to put it back together seem to have removed some of the protective rubber on it.

4. Once the board was back in the case, it seems it's a bit loose. I've tried pushing it on the ports gap, but there doesn't seem to be a place it clicks. Was it actually been just held together by the power cable being smaller and pushing through the case?

Did anyone do a careful unassemble and assemble video? The ones I've found skip parts to show the internals, but doesn't focus on the parts I've reported.
61f3cd95a4ed7ba792dd9e85c5654c6a.mp4 here is the cwwk assembly video, was sent to me by cwwk directly, take a look it's pretty simple.

since i moved my development cooler to the new case i dont really know the unassembly procedure but i guess it's the reverse of the assemly, check the i/o port shield interference.

i have the n305 version and after repase (i've modded the case standoffs about 0.5mm to better cpu contact) and my working temps are ~38°/40° on proxmox

1728018414111.png

the only problem i see it's the fan being really loud, i'm in contact with cwwk and said they are working on a bios to lower the noise (stock rpm's i guess), but functionally it's working as it sould.
 
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