Minisforum MS-01 PCIe Card and RAM Compatibility Thread

[zubilitic]

I installed 8.0.2 on both of my MS-01s and set the options but didn't disable the E-cores or set CPU affinity. I migrated all the VMs to the MS-01s and they've been running for a couple of days now without any issues.

I might move to Proxmox in the future but for now while my VMUG subscription is active I'll stick with this.

Hello, any PSOD? I got two so far (about 5 days apart), and it doesn't matter if I set CPU affinity so some VMs get P-cores and some E-cores. Or even without CPU affinity set. I am still testing but so far no magic combination. I am afraid I will have to disable e-cores and lose some GHz.

 

[r3dux]

For 13900H users

There is newer microcode for Raptor Lake H! 0x4122

THEBOSS619 @ techpowerup has created MCU 0x4122 Windows pack

[INTEL]-How To Update Your Microcode for Intel HX 13/14th Gen. CPUs Laptops/Mobile Easily.

Let me start with a small background info... Since we know all Intel's fiasco about what is happening with Raptor Lake/Raptor Lake Refresh which is Intel's codename for the 13th and 14th generations of Intel Core processors, Most OEM/Vendors doesn't want to provide BIOS update that includes...

www.techpowerup.com

Affected Processors: Transient Execution Attacks & Related Security...

Review the impact of transient execution attacks and select security issues on currently supported Intel products.

www.intel.com

 

[biacsid]

I got this thing: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006957238570.html

It is very hot, the connection starts cutting out unless I point a fan directly at it.

I would recommend using SFP+ at both ends if you can, unless you only plan to only connect temporarily for specific tasks.

I've ordered one of these so I can go SFP+ to SFP+ from my MS-01 and RJ45 to RJ45 from my desk: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006222506874.html

It has an internal heatsink on the 10Gb RJ45 so hopefully it'll be okay.

--------

Heat has been a bit of an issue for me because I'm allergic to noise. It's mostly the NVMe fan on the bottom. It sounds like a mosquito and I can hear it through the cupboard door.

I've removed the NVMe fan now and put heatsinks on my drives. The whole unit is sitting on a 140mm Noctua fan on a ventilated rack shelf, so it can draw air in from underneath. It's actually running cooler now.

Someone on Reddit made and shared this 3D model of a bottom plate that fits a 140mm fan. I'm getting one printed so I can connect the fan permanently: Printables

View attachment 37862

(edit - tidied the Ali Express link)

I am still curious, can someone please suggest a Noctua fan for this mod? Thank you!

 

[alphasite]

Hello, any PSOD? I got two so far (about 5 days apart), and it doesn't matter if I set CPU affinity so some VMs get P-cores and some E-cores. Or even without CPU affinity set. I am still testing but so far no magic combination. I am afraid I will have to disable e-cores and lose some GHz.

In a previous post in this thread I mentioned that after a month or so without any issues one of my systems got a PSOD. When I rebooted I disabled all the E-cores. Later I rebooted the other system and disabled the E-cores on that one as well. So far no more PSOD.

 

[alphasite]

Has anyone heard if Minisforum is working on getting out a BIOS update with the new microcode? I contacted support a while ago asking about it and never got a response.

 

[r3dux]

Has anyone heard if Minisforum is working on getting out a BIOS update with the new microcode? I contacted support a while ago asking about it and never got a response.

JaxJiang stated in the private message that they will implement 0x4121 (or newer 0x4122) only if it will fix random instability/reboot in proxmox.

Minisforum does not seem to be willing providing up to date microcodes with security and stability fixes so much.
Most likely they are overly conservative with that due to new potenrial bugs or instabilities coming from microcode.

However they can release/test in parallel BIOSES with conservative and latest microcodes so we will be able to test these.

 

[zubilitic]

In a previous post in this thread I mentioned that after a month or so without any issues one of my systems got a PSOD. When I rebooted I disabled all the E-cores. Later I rebooted the other system and disabled the E-cores on that one as well. So far no more PSOD.

Pity. Probably I will move away from ESXi in the near future.
Thanks!

 

[alphasite]

JaxJiang stated in the private message that they will implement 0x4121 (or newer 0x4122) only if it will fix random instability/reboot in proxmox.

Minisforum does not seem to be willing providing up to date microcodes with security and stability fixes so much.
Most likely they are overly conservative with that due to new potenrial bugs or instabilities coming from microcode.

However they can release/test in parallel BIOSES with conservative and latest microcodes so we will be able to test these.

Given that the microcode update is to prevent the CPUs from failing I really hope Minisforum extends the warranty on the affected devices if they aren't going to implement the microcode in the firmware.

 

[RexInTheCity]

Given that the microcode update is to prevent the CPUs from failing I really hope Minisforum extends the warranty on the affected devices if they aren't going to implement the microcode in the firmware.

Well so far their warranty isn't worth much. I've been trying to get my failed unit replaced for almost a month now and haven't made any progress. Their "after sales support team" seems to be nonexistent.

 

[sprucemoose]

I'm looking to rig my own JBOD and was considering the LSI 9300 8e. Any updated recommendations on a reliable HBA?

use case: unraid with a mix of spinning disks and maybe 2-4 consumer SSDs in a separate pool.

 

[P00r]

Cheap and lazy man solution for temp.

I have put a set of 1 between 2 unit, pretty well made, haven't done much comparison yet but definitely getting a few C less, planing to upgrade the paste as well.

If the fan fail I will replace with Noctua, but they seem pretty good.

https://www.amazon.ca/NewHail-140mm-Multi-Speed-Reduction-Playstation/dp/B0C3V63FM7

The fan fit right above the top opening of the lower unit, I will make test with maybe the 2nd on the top unit, it give about a full unit spacing and they are stable, I use to stack them with about 3/4 inch of rubber foot this is more stable.

 

[the-last-englishman]

Given that the microcode update is to prevent the CPUs from failing I really hope Minisforum extends the warranty on the affected devices if they aren't going to implement the microcode in the firmware.

New microcode can also be passed to the cpu via windows update or in Linux using "sudo apt install intel-microcode"

In fact I am on the original bios for all 4 of my MS-01 which are running Proxmox and all are running latest intel microcode via above command :

 

[sth2352345]

PCIe slot is 3.0 x16 physical / x8 electrical.

Hi, late to the ms-01 party, just completed my basic installation.

So, maybe the correct information is buried somewhere in this 84 pages thread. Will go through these pages.

PCIe slot is 3.0 ?

 

[TomSwift]

Hi, late to the ms-01 party, just completed my basic installation.

So, maybe the correct information is buried somewhere in this 84 pages thread. Will go through these pages.

PCIe slot is 3.0 ?

Straight from their website

The MS-01 is equipped with a PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, allowing for the installation of high-performance external GPUs, network cards, storage controllers, and other external devices. The PCIe 4.0 x16 slot enables faster data transfer, delivering optimal performance in various applications that require high computational power and bandwidth, such as gaming, video editing, and 3D rendering.

It supports PCIe 4.0 x8 (128GT/s)

 

[alphasite]

New microcode can also be passed to the cpu via windows update or in Linux using "sudo apt install intel-microcode"

In fact I am on the original bios for all 4 of my MS-01 which are running Proxmox and all are running latest intel microcode via above command :

View attachment 38633

I'm using ESXi 8 so need to see if there's a way to load the new microcode.

But the best solution would be for Minisforum to release an updated BIOS with the new microcode since it's a critical fix to prevent hardware failure.

 

[the-last-englishman]

I'm using ESXi 8 so need to see if there's a way to load the new microcode.

But the best solution would be for Minisforum to release an updated BIOS with the new microcode since it's a critical fix to prevent hardware failure.

But didn't Intel mention that laptop CPU's are not impacted by high voltage ?

 

[the-last-englishman]

Straight from their website

The MS-01 is equipped with a PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, allowing for the installation of high-performance external GPUs, network cards, storage controllers, and other external devices. The PCIe 4.0 x16 slot enables faster data transfer, delivering optimal performance in various applications that require high computational power and bandwidth, such as gaming, video editing, and 3D rendering.

It supports PCIe 4.0 x8 (128GT/s)

It's actually a PCIe 5.0 x8 , but has only been tested/validated internally with Gen4 devices by Minisforum so your mileage may vary with Gen5 devices. Minisforum confirmed this on their Discord channel also.

 

[anthonypants]

New microcode can also be passed to the cpu via windows update or in Linux using "sudo apt install intel-microcode"

In fact I am on the original bios for all 4 of my MS-01 which are running Proxmox and all are running latest intel microcode via above command :

View attachment 38633

The latest is 0x4122, not 0x4121.

 

[Koenraad]

PCIe Cards Tested

Worked

• QNAP 4-port SFF-8088 adapter from the QNAP TL-D400S JBOD kit.

I just received my TL-D400S and I installed the included QXP-400eS-card in an MS-01 running proxmox. I lost my network-connectivity.
HELP
I'm using a 10G fibre-module in an SFP+ port. When I install the card, I don't have network-connectivity anymore. Removing it gets my network back. Any help ? At the moment, the DAS does not have any disks.
lspci sees the card.
The lights on my switch connected to the fiber-cable light and I have an ip-address (although with a fixed address that does not say much). Pinging does not work, not to local network, not to global network.

 

[the-last-englishman]

I just received my TL-D400S and I installed the included QXP-400eS-card in an MS-01 running proxmox. I lost my network-connectivity.
HELP
I'm using a 10G fibre-module in an SFP+ port. When I install the card, I don't have network-connectivity anymore. Removing it gets my network back. Any help ? At the moment, the DAS does not have any disks.
lspci sees the card.
The lights on my switch connected to the fiber-cable light and I have an ip-address (although with a fixed address that does not say much). Pinging does not work, not to local network, not to global network.

The fix is taping off the smbus pins on the pcie card before inserting it into the slot, normally pins