Minisforum MS-01 PCIe Card and RAM Compatibility Thread

[daylightroberty]

@h0schi nice! How is it secured?

@Newfangled I reckon backups over RAID for NVMe too, unless 100% uptime is critical

My MS-01 has arrived but the RAM is still enroute. After diving down the PSU rabbit hole for my JBOD I wouldn't make the same decision again, but it's done now. I got a Corsair modular ATX on discount.

I'll probably make up some power leads at some point and power the whole mini PC cluster off the ATX. I'll need a step up controller for the 19v. I'm handy with a soldering iron and I've dabbled in electronics so my risk of death is low. Probably 5% or less

The benefits of running my NAS in Proxmox on the MS-01 are that I can make a HA cluster with my existing node for failover of critical services (nginx, DHCP, unifi), and use my PBS N100 box for Quorum. I have a Hasivo 10/2.5Gbe switch and IOCrest 10Gbe adapter from Ali Express so I can get a 10Gbe connection to my desk and implement thunderbolt networking between Proxmox nodes. It should be super quick. I can devote ~40GB RAM for file caching on the NAS in this setup

 

[h0schi]

@h0schi nice! How is it secured?

Thanks.
For the first test, i used strong double-side tape
If the results are good, i want to use standoffs or i will design a fan bracket for a 3D-print.

I removed the standard heatsik of my Intel i350-T4 and glued a thinner aluminum heatsink on the chip.

 

[Newfangled]

The problem with the DS1019+ is that it cannot get 10gbe network card to raise up the speed but maybe the 1gbit is enouph. Test it and i personally want to know your results.

That is true (about the 1gbe limit on my NAS). I will try to run some tests when everything arrives and I have it all set up.

I agree with you about the Raid as well. Think I might just get one drive for Proxmox (to be in the 2nd slowest slot) and another for the data (in the fastest slot). Everything will be backed up to NAS and if it ever fails, I will get raplacement SSDs and rebuild from backups. Nothing is super critical. So basically exactly like you said.

Also noted about the heatsink on the Samsung 990 Pro. Actually having second thoughts about that SSD as I just noticed it is not on Amazon Austalia for next day delivery. It needs to be imported. Might try to find a compatible SSD that is next day. Not that I need the initial ones quickly, more for replacements.

Thanks for your reply, much appreciated.

 

[Newfangled]

@Newfangled I reckon backups over RAID for NVMe too, unless 100% uptime is critical

Yep, i'm convinced. Added benefit is it might also run a bit cooler with one less SSD.

 

[h0schi]

If you are using ZFS in combination with Proxmox, i recommend to use an enterprise m.2 / u.2 with a proper PLP and DRAM.
Unfortunately Proxmox and ZFS eat pro-/consumer M.2 for breakfast.

The next advantage of an enterprise U.2 is namespaces for a better seperation and workload-control.

 

[anewsome]

New to the forum here, but I was wondering if anyone had any luck with getting the RTX 2000 ADA working with the PCIE slot in the MS-01 12900h or if it might require a more stronger power supply?

Tried to install one with a low profile cooler. On power-on, the fans spin but it doesn't appear as though the MS01 boots (the GPU does get exceptionally hot though if I leave it sit. Nothing pops up on the KVM, can't ping, and I'm unable to see the MS-01 through MeshCommander. I do see link light on my 10G port, but can't ping it either.. The MS01 is loaded with Proxmox if it matters.

Boots fine and without problem without the card.

I'll bet the SMBIOS pins need to be taped on the A2000.

 

[Finlike3355]

Can you boot from that slot?

Sorry for the super late reply.

Yes, you can boot from it. It's a 3x1 slot though so don't expect to win any speed transfer races or anything.

 

[Caerliss]

I'll bet the SMBIOS pins need to be taped on the A2000.

This is a 2000 ADA, not an A2000. If it matters (not entirely sure on the reason behind the pins being taped).

 

[anewsome]

Sorry for the super late reply.

Yes, you can boot from it. It's a 3x1 slot though so don't expect to win any speed transfer races or anything.

Coming from a lifetime of using spinning disks, even in large virtualization servers, the "slowest" NVME slot on the MS01 seems pretty speedy for me. This is kdiskmark (default settings), running on a Ubuntu 22.04 VM (proxmox 8), on the NVME in the slowest slot.

 

[Scoonix]

Hello,

has anyone tested something else than the NICIGA Marvell AQC113 10Gbase-T card ? I only have rj45 and read that using a transceiver might be hot (it's also hard to find a list of compatible model... it's a jungle. I've order 2 different but not sure if the will be compatible).
So just wondering if there is another rj45 pcie card that has been tested (and working ) and if it is a better solution regarding temp.

Also thinking to use sometinhg like Sonnet Technologies Solo 10G Thunderbolt 3 to 10GBASE-T Ethernet Fanless Adapter (SOLO10G-TB3).

Thanks for any advice.

 

[ms264556]

Hello,

has anyone tested something else than the NICIGA Marvell AQC113 10Gbase-T card ? I only have rj45 and read that using a transceiver might be hot (it's also hard to find a list of compatible model... it's a jungle. I've order 2 different but not sure if the will be compatible).
So just wondering if there is another rj45 pcie card that has been tested (and working ) and if it is a better solution regarding temp.

Also thinking to use sometinhg like Sonnet Technologies Solo 10G Thunderbolt 3 to 10GBASE-T Ethernet Fanless Adapter (SOLO10G-TB3).

Thanks for any advice.

The CPU cooling and SSD cooling are insulated from the PCIe section of the case, so you'll be relying on the heat radiating out the top grille if your card is fanless. The AQC113 card I tried (no-name AliExpress) had a reasonably chunky heat sink but I could feel the warmth if I held my hand over the grille. The cheap RJ45 SFP+ modules I own worked in the MS-01 and I had no issues with heat, so I happily used one of these for a while. I'm now running a DAC to a cheap 2.5+10Gb switch. This has moved the heat somewhere else + given me a bunch of extra ports.

 

[sidplayos2]

Hi all, new poster here coming to you from Australia. I am also new to servers as well, but do have a Synology DS1019+ with some docker containers running. I have purchased one of the MS-01 mini-PCs (i9-13900 barebones), but it will take a few weeks to arrive. I have also purchased the 96GB Crucial RAM that I have seen mentioned a lot. My plan is to run Proxmox and move all my dockers from NAS onto MS-01 (*arrs, jellyfin, audiobookshelf etc.). I also have plans to play with some new stuff such as Home Assistant, Pihole and whatever other things I come across that sound intersting. Plan to keep using the NAS for media, backups and surveillance station.

Questions I have are around the storage for the MS-01. I have never used Proxmox, so forgive me if these are stupid questions:

1) I assume that it would be best practice to store VMs and containers on local SSDs rather than the NAS?
2) Given that I will be storing media and backups on the NAS, I would assume that I would not need a lot of capacity for say <10 VMs and <20 containers? Like 2TB would be plenty?
3) My initial plan was to set up mirrored zfs using 2x something like Samsung 990 Pro 2TB. My thinking was that I am used to redundancy on my NAS in case one drive fails (the NAS is in Raid6/SHR2). But I was reading on the Proxmox forums that mirrored zfs is not recommended for consumer drives for Proxmox (only enterprise ones). I also read that it was better to have separate drive for Proxmox OS itself. So what do people advise for storage for my needs? One drive (m.2 or u.2)? Two in a mirror? 3 drives (one for OS, 2x for mirror for VMs and containers)? I am also a little concerned about heat if loading the device up too much as it will sit in a network cabinet that doesn't have any fans. No issues atm in winter, but Aussie summers can get quite hot.
4) If I did go with 3x SSDs (1 for OS, 2 mirrored for storage). Would you put the OS on the slower slot (I believe it is Gen 3.0 x2)?
5) If I do go with the 990 Pros, would the heatsink version fit in the MS-01?

I appreciate any advice.

Fellow Aussie here

I was able to mount the 2 x PM983 in the PCI 4.0x4 and PCI 3.0x4 slots and let the OS drive in the slower PCI 3.0x2 slot.
I also added a 14x14x4 mm Pi heatsink to each of the controller and it can all fit with the standard Fan bracket. While I can't say about summer yet, but it did drop each drive by about 5C which is not too bad.


1) Remove the PCI 3.0x4 nvme standoff at the 2280 header and screw it into the 22110 header of the PCI 4.0x4 slot, like the red arrow pictured above.




2) It will be slightly angled up diagonally but still will clear the 2280 post.


3) Install the 14x14x4mm Pi heatsinks




4) It clears at the front and back with the fan bracket installed.

The beauty was that I didn't even need to go to Bunnings and buy anything, just use what came with the MS-01, and at least I get 3.0x4 instead of 3.0x2 across both drives.

Note that I bought 3 x i5 version to generate less heat, so not sure if this helps with the i9 version.
I bought the Redline RAM, not the Crucial but 96GB works fine in the i5 @ 4800.

This was the RPI Kit I bought

https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B099DTH24X

And I used these SFP cables with no issues between my MS-01 and USW PRO 48

https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0BWDLPTNT

These ship from Amazon AU, Prime One Day delivery

Hope this helps.

 

[Scoonix]

The CPU cooling and SSD cooling are insulated from the PCIe section of the case, so you'll be relying on the heat radiating out the top grille if your card is fanless. The AQC113 card I tried (no-name AliExpress) had a reasonably chunky heat sink but I could feel the warmth if I held my hand over the grille. The cheap RJ45 SFP+ modules I own worked in the MS-01 and I had no issues with heat, so I happily used one of these for a while. I'm now running a DAC to a cheap 2.5+10Gb switch. This has moved the heat somewhere else + given me a bunch of extra ports.

Thanks for your replay. I think i'll follow the same path as you did.
If you have time could you tell me the 2.5+ 10GB switch you're using. Any DAC cable will do ? (those would be my last questions I swear )
Thanks again.

 

[ms264556]

Thanks for your replay. I think i'll follow the same path as you did.
If you have time could you tell me the 2.5+ 10GB switch you're using. Any DAC cable will do ? (those would be my last questions I swear )
Thanks again.

I've been trying out various AliExpress switches, so not one in particular. I think it's the 5x2.5Gb switches which were fussy about DACs so I've never bought one of those. I had the cheapest possible switch for a few weeks (Hisource K0402WS, $26 delivered to NZ) but my current switch is a Hasivo S600WP-4GT-1SX-1XGT reviewed here (and also available with mokerlink & poeplus branding) which was $80 during a sale.

I wasn't sure about DAC compatibility so I bought the cheapest 0.5m, 1m, 1.5m & 2m DACs I could find, from a variety of AliExpress sellers (all under $7 delivered). They all worked without issue, so now I have a drawer full of DACs which I need to get rid of.

 

[Scoonix]

I've been trying out various AliExpress switches, so not one in particular. I think it's the 5x2.5Gb switches which were fussy about DACs so I've never bought one of those. I had the cheapest possible switch for a few weeks (Hisource K0402WS, $26 delivered to NZ) but my current switch is a Hasivo S600WP-4GT-1SX-1XGT reviewed here (and also available with mokerlink & poeplus branding) which was $80 during a sale.

I wasn't sure about DAC compatibility so I bought the cheapest 0.5m, 1m, 1.5m & 2m DACs I could find, from a variety of AliExpress sellers (all under $7 delivered). They all worked without issue, so now I have a drawer full of DACs which I need to get rid of.

Thanks a lot, the switch is exactly what I'm looking for.
Thanks

 

[choucroute]

I've purchased this Coral TPU ML B/M but it doesn't fit in the wifi slot which seems to be a E slot.
Any suggestion of what I should do ?

 

[Henry2]

Has anyone successfully flashed a LSI 9200-8e to IT mode using the MS-01? How do you get it to boot from the FreeDOS USB?

 

[Arjestin]

Hey, I didn't see anyone asking (sorry if a repeat question) about the chip under the small heatsink on the motherboard. What is that?

 

[P00r]

Hey, I didn't see anyone asking (sorry if a repeat question) about the chip under the small heatsink on the motherboard. What is that?

View attachment 37793

OOps, corrected... it is the 10G Nic...

 

[BlueChris]

Hey, I didn't see anyone asking (sorry if a repeat question) about the chip under the small heatsink on the motherboard. What is that?

View attachment 37793

I think its the intel x710, the graphic card that @P00r says above is embedded in the CPU.