Intel Mini-ITX Atom 8-core Hardware Build Recipe Available Here
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Upgraded a few hours ago, seems to work fine.
Edit: It does not: https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=123957.0
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@Sir:
I recently built my pfSense router server and found all the information on this forum I needed, but not in one place. So I am putting the recipe here for future builders as a reference:
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Motherboard: Supermicro A1SRi-2758f
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RAM: Kingston ValueRAM 8GB 1600MHz DDR3L PC3-12800 ECC CL11 1.35V SODIMM KVR16LSE11/8.
- It is best to run 2 sticks of SODIMM to get interleave memory access through both channels. If you want less RAM, get 2 sticks of 4GB SODIMMs. Or, if you forgo interleaving, get just 1 stick of 8GB SODIMM so you can upgrade later without throwing away 2 sticks of 4GB SODIMMs.
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This case is very small and well built. Keep in mind though it doesn't have room for any expansion card to utilize the PCIE slot.
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Case Accessories: M350 HDD/Fan bracket and one or more 40mm fans.
- If you have one drive installed, you can install 2 more fans on another bracket and 1 fan on the front of the case for a total of 3 fans. You may need a fan splitter cable. I think there are only 2 fan headers on the motherboard. The M350 comes with 1 bracket so you will only need one more. The CPU runs at about 70 degrees C without any fan at about 15% CPU utilization. A fan or two will help a lot in lowering the temp.
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Power Supply: 150w AC-DC Power Adapter, 12v 12.5A with 4-pin connector
- The A1SRi-2758f works with either the 4-pin connector or the 20-pin connector, but not both at the same time (per motherboard manual chapter 1-6 on page 1-12). This power supply works with this motherboard. You will need a 4-pin power cable extender. Additionally, you will need a Serial ATA 15 Pin Female to LP4 Female Power Cable to connect power to the hard drive or SSD of your choice, if you are not using only USB memory stick for boot or storage. Alternatively, this power brick + picoPSU combo will work and has the hard drive power connector built in.
I hope this is helpful for other folks who are looking to build one of these 8-core monsters! :)
I am planning to build the exact same system….may buy the parts in the next day or two.
Does anyone have anything to add to this build, in terms of how its working for those who have this system running now for about a year or so?. Would love to hear your comments or alternate suggestions.
Thanks very much.
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@Sir:
I recently built my pfSense router server and found all the information on this forum I needed, but not in one place. So I am putting the recipe here for future builders as a reference:
-
Motherboard: Supermicro A1SRi-2758f
-
RAM: Kingston ValueRAM 8GB 1600MHz DDR3L PC3-12800 ECC CL11 1.35V SODIMM KVR16LSE11/8.
- It is best to run 2 sticks of SODIMM to get interleave memory access through both channels. If you want less RAM, get 2 sticks of 4GB SODIMMs. Or, if you forgo interleaving, get just 1 stick of 8GB SODIMM so you can upgrade later without throwing away 2 sticks of 4GB SODIMMs.
-
This case is very small and well built. Keep in mind though it doesn't have room for any expansion card to utilize the PCIE slot.
-
Case Accessories: M350 HDD/Fan bracket and one or more 40mm fans.
- If you have one drive installed, you can install 2 more fans on another bracket and 1 fan on the front of the case for a total of 3 fans. You may need a fan splitter cable. I think there are only 2 fan headers on the motherboard. The M350 comes with 1 bracket so you will only need one more. The CPU runs at about 70 degrees C without any fan at about 15% CPU utilization. A fan or two will help a lot in lowering the temp.
-
Power Supply: 150w AC-DC Power Adapter, 12v 12.5A with 4-pin connector
- The A1SRi-2758f works with either the 4-pin connector or the 20-pin connector, but not both at the same time (per motherboard manual chapter 1-6 on page 1-12). This power supply works with this motherboard. You will need a 4-pin power cable extender. Additionally, you will need a Serial ATA 15 Pin Female to LP4 Female Power Cable to connect power to the hard drive or SSD of your choice, if you are not using only USB memory stick for boot or storage. Alternatively, this power brick + picoPSU combo will work and has the hard drive power connector built in.
I hope this is helpful for other folks who are looking to build one of these 8-core monsters! :)
I am planning to build the exact same system….may buy the parts in the next day or two.
Does anyone have anything to add to this build, in terms of how its working for those who have this system running now for about a year or so?. Would love to hear your comments or alternate suggestions.
Thanks very much.
Just make sure you get the newer motherboard version with the fatal flaw fixed. Or wait for the 3xxx boards..
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Just make sure you get the newer motherboard version with the fatal flaw fixed. Or wait for the 3xxx boards..
What fatal flaw are you referring to? Is it applicable to the 2558 model?
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Did anyone upgrade his (or her :)) Supermicro A1SRi-2758f pfSense installation to 2.4 beta already? If so, any hardware related problems or is everything OK?
Rock solid. Supermicro A1SRi-2558f, 16GB. using all 4 nics and vlans.
EDIT: using ZFS with clean install and config restore.
Just make sure you get the newer motherboard version with the fatal flaw fixed. Or wait for the 3xxx boards..
What fatal flaw are you referring to? Is it applicable to the 2558 model?
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Just make sure you get the newer motherboard version with the fatal flaw fixed. Or wait for the 3xxx boards..
What fatal flaw are you referring to? Is it applicable to the 2558 model?
The Atom C2000-series chips LPC clock failure flaw.
https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=125105.0 -
Yikes on that fatal flaw! Oddly enough, I haven't finished the physical build of my custom pfSense machine, but I bought it prior to fix, so I definitely cannot return it. I'll need to RMA. I'd hate to have to get refurb one though, as this one is still brand new.
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Just use it. I have one A1SAi2770 with 2 years and one A1SRi2558 running fine. Don't worry.
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Just use it. I have one A1SAi2770 with 2 years and one A1SRi2558 running fine. Don't worry.
That's what I was thinking, especially considering I won't be pushing this hardware that hard. If it failed later on outside of warranty, with this being a documented design flaw, would there be a way of getting it repaired without cost?
Also, with what Netgate did, is there a way to disabled LPC/SERIRQ feature of board if we don't need it?
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Also, with what Netgate did, is there a way to disabled LPC/SERIRQ feature of board if we don't need it?
To me, that's the 1 million dollar quetion… ;D
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Supermicro told me if I send it back, they'd apply fix to it and send it back to me. I'm up in the air on it. I plan to keep this board a long time, so even if it failed 4-5 years in, I'd find it annoying if I didn't have it taken care of it.
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Super micro did the same to me. They did clear the cmos but the IPMI hostname I set was the same so they are sending the same board back.
I used the Antec ISK110 Vesa case which includes a power supply and just used some wires to mount a fan on the grill. My A1SRi-2758f is running great but it will be interesting to see the temps in the summer when the garage it is stored in turns into a hot box. I saw it hitting 80 C in the old case I had it where the airflow sucked in the 2U case I was using before.
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Super micro did the same to me. They did clear the cmos but the IPMI hostname I set was the same so they are sending the same board back.
Cool. You just have to cover shipping costs to them? All you have send back is board itself, right?