EU [FI] FS: Asus Pro WS C246-ACE

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heromode

Well-Known Member
May 25, 2020
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So I've been having trouble deciding between using this as a sunshine desktop streaming server, or trying to sell it, and save money to get something more suitable for a game streaming server..

I don't really have a need for Xeon + ECC for a gaming rig so i decided to create this thread and see, if there would be any interest in this combo for 250 EUR.

The CPU was bought used from EU some years ago, i think Italy for a decent amount of money, so is probably not from china, but origins is unknown. It's been running fine for years 24/7 as a debian desktop.

The RAM is Mushkin MPL4E266KF16G28 Proline

The motherboard is in great condition, except for the small issue when i was attaching the M.2 SSD mounting support into the 2280 hole of the secondary (pcie3x2) M.2 slot, i didn't even tighten much, and it just twisted off the threads like butter, i guess the mounting screw was defective. This was resolved by a small drop of superglue to attach it, and only affects things if one needs to mount a 22110 M.2 SSD into the secondary slot, then it would need to be removed

Motherboard comes in original box with all original accessories.

I don't have a sale history on this forum, but i do have a Ebay.de account for things unrelated to IT, which i can use to sell this with full Ebay buyer protection + Money back guarantee and 14 days returns. In such case i would create a sale there and PM the buyer the link. Through my Ebay.de account i have good experience in shipping within EU, shipping costs would be 19,90 EUR.

Right now system is running a fedora live USB stick with SSH access, so if anyone needs the output from some command, ask and i will post in this thread

Attached is one recent picture of a dusty interior of the system.
 

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heromode

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May 25, 2020
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Well, there doesn't seem to be much interest in this combo, so for now i'll start by putting the CPU for sale on ebay, and see if it sells.. I guess i'll leave this offer active for the time being, hope it's not against the rules.

The one thing that's killing me about this system is the price of ddr ecc udimm, if i could upgrade it to 128GB cheaply, it could make a viable proxmox desktop streaming server, but with the prices of RAM, i won't pay.

Recently 16GB Muschkin ecc udimm's like the ones installed had dropped to the lowest point, 34,99 EUR at the german alternate.de dealer, and i was considering upgrading to 64GB (4x16GB modules).

But you need to email them specifically if you want something shipped outside of germany, and that is about 20 EUR, so 2x16GB RAM would have been about 90 EUR incl. shipping.

But then micron announced it's winding down DDR4 production, and below is a graph what happened to the prices.
So i refuse to pay that for 32GB of DDR4..

2025-07-04 13.31.50 geizhals.eu 21a7ed3e183a.png
 
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heromode

Well-Known Member
May 25, 2020
508
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Update: So the CPU + RAM was sold to a STH forum member. I will create a new thread about the motherboard, with new pics. It's now been removed from the case.

Edit: having trouble deciding whether to sell this motherboard or not lol.. Before i sold the CPU+RAM, i was playing around with a intel H10 32GB/512GB M.2 drive, and when enabling intel RST mode for the M.2 slots in BIOS, linux could indeed see both the 3dxpoint module and the NAND module.

The mobo has 2 M.2 slots, one is pcie3x4, other pcie3x2. It also has a U.2 connector that you can run in pcie or sata mode.

This makes it very interesting as a fileserver platform for example, as you can connect 8 SATA drives using the U.2 + the 4 sata slots, and then use a H10/H20 as combined ZIL/L2ARC.

or run 2x U.2 nvme drives using a cheap M.2 to U.2 adapter..

Or run X amount of SATA HDD's using a pcie SATA controller connected to the pcie3x2 x16 mechanical slot, a H10/H20 as ZIL/L2ARC, 2x U.2 nvme drives as special vdevs, a boot drive connected to the pcie 3x1 slot, and still have room for 2x GPU's.

It's really versatile, but on the other hand i want to save money for a new game streaming server.. choices, choices.. for 140 EUR i will sell it. I know it's a lot for a used c246, but then again, there is none available for that price elsewhere, and it has unique features regarding the U.2 and optane support.. Feel free to make offers..

One more thing, i did update the "Intel Converged Security management engine" back in the days using this thread:
Intel (Conv.Sec.) Management Engine: Drivers, Firmware and Tools (2-15)

It was a long and hard process, including compiling the tools, and having to use some Intel FIT tool with a horrific UI that only runs in windows to assemble the final image.. It would be up to the user to check if there's been any updates since, and learning that massive thread lol.. I do have some incomplete documentation from my update, available on request.

Aside from that the only issue is the glued on M.2 attachement standoff on the secondary M.2 slot at the 2280 hole.

Payment options are bank transfer or paypal, optionally i can create a ebay.de sale, that would allow ebay buyer protection + money back guarantee, plus visa/mastercard options.

The problem with my ebay is i'm nearing my threshold for 2000 EUR in sales, which by some new horrific EU standard will prompt ebay to send all my sales data to the local tax authorities, and might force me to PROVE i have not made any profit on my sales.. A dystopian nightmare..

Wow, so this is really the worst sales pitch in the world, but it is what it is.. I will now add pictures of the mobo, and leave the offer of 140 EUR on the table.
 

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