Quirks with new NAS box

[Crlaozwyn]

Howdy, and thanks for taking the time to read.

I've got a NAS box running unRAID that's about 8 years old - time for an upgrade.

I picked the following parts to put in the existing case:
Mobo: ASRock A88M-ITX/ac (w/ integrated graphics)
CPU: AMD Athlon X4 860k
CPU cooler: Reeven Brontes
RAM: G.SKILL Sniper 2x4 (F3-17000CL9D-8GBSR)

So far, it's been a trainwreck 😀 I put it together but couldn't get it to display anything or give me the usual post beeps. Plugging in a 2 pin speaker from another system didn't create any beeps either. Weird, right?

I did manage to get graphics by plugging in a dedicated GPU. In the bios, I enabled integrated graphics (changed from auto) and made integrated gpu primary. Removed the dedicated GPU and still no output on integrated GPU. Grrrr. Help!

But here's what's REALLY freaking me out - once in the bios, I saw my CPU temps: it got up to 63.5C before I powered down. I tore the system apart and found I'd overdone it on thermal paste; it's been a long time since I built a system. Removed all paste, cleaned with qtips and rubbing alcohol, and followed the "X method" detailed here. Put it all back together and my temps are the same. Not sure where they'd max, but I shut down at 63.5C again. I usually run Intel systems that idle under 40C and don't hit 60C at load. Is this normal? Any suggestions?

TL;DR: My CPU idles at >60C and the integrated GPU on my mobo doesn't work.

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[rhysiam]

So most FM2+ CPUs include integrated graphics in the CPU. The "motherboard" integrated graphics you're citing there, is simply the graphics connectors which are powered by the iGPU in the CPU. However... the X4 860K does NOT include integrated graphics. If you're going to stick with that motherboard you're going to need either a dedicated GPU, or an "APU" (as AMD calls them), which are the "A" series FM2+ CPUs. Something like an A8 7600.

Those high idle temps are cause for concern, but let's solve the display issue first!

 

[rhysiam]

FYI - if you can just return everything, you're probably much better served with one of the new hyperthreaded Pentiums (like G4560). They offer fantastic value for money.

 

[Crlaozwyn]

So most FM2+ CPUs include integrated graphics in the CPU. The "motherboard" integrated graphics you're citing there, is simply the graphics connectors which are powered by the iGPU in the CPU. However... the X4 860K does NOT include integrated graphics. If you're going to stick with that motherboard you're going to need either a dedicated GPU, or an "APU" (as AMD calls them), which are the "A" series FM2+ CPUs. Something like an A8 7600.

Those high idle temps are cause for concern, but let's solve the display issue first!

Huh, really? I picked up the mobo at Newegg and the "onboard video" section says "Integrated AMD Radeon R7/R5 Series Graphics in A-series AP." I read that as the motherboard itself had the GPU. If I misread - oops!

FYI - if you can just return everything, you're probably much better served with one of the new hyperthreaded Pentiums (like G4560). They offer fantastic value for money.

Are you familiar with passmark? The card I've got scored a 5477 vs the G4560's 4982, so a bit better price/value ratio.. of course, if I have no video on my current chip I may have to look into other options.

 

[rhysiam]

Huh, really? I picked up the mobo at Newegg and the "onboard video" section says "Integrated AMD Radeon R7/R5 Series Graphics in A-series AP." I read that as the motherboard itself had the GPU. If I misread - oops!

Yeah - I can see how easy it would be to make that mistake. That's not clear at all from the Newegg wording.

When they're referencing "in A-series APU", that's what they're trying to say... the iGPU comes with the A-Series chip, not the motherboard. You've picked an X4, not an A series, which means no iGPU. There are some Intel CPUs model numbers which end in a "P" which also have disabled iGPUs.

I agree though... super unclear. Hopefully Newegg will accept that as grounds to return the hardware?

You can get an A8-7600 which includes an R7 (GPU) onboard for $65: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113371&cm_re=a8-_-19-113-371-_-Product
Identical to your current X4, but clocked a good chunk lower.
Or $15 more for the A10-7860K which is clocked more or less with your current X4: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113404&cm_re=a10-_-19-113-404-_-Product

Or send it all back (including RAM) and get a Pentium G4560... though the B250 board you'd need may well be more expensive too.

 

[rhysiam]

Are you familiar with passmark? The card I've got scored a 5477 vs the G4560's 4982, so a bit better price/value ratio.. of course, if I have no video on my current chip I may have to look into other options.

I don't rate passmark. It's better than nothing, and decent enough if you're comparing performance on the same architecture, but doesn't give you good picture of different workloads across different CPU designs (AMD vs Intel, for example).

Look at the Anandtech Bench results: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/1707?vs=1682
(Make sure you pay attention to the "higher is better" / "lower is better" results)
I've picked an i3 6100 because they haven't tested the G4560, but they're identical CPUs, just 200mhz apart. While the X860 gets close to the Intel and even edges it out in the odd test, it loses most of the time, and often when it loses, it loses by a huge margin. You can bet the Intel is far more efficient too, though I don't have numbers to back that up.

It's not big deal though. The APUs are fine for a SOHO NAS. If you're able to just swap the CPU out you should be fine.

 

[Crlaozwyn]

Thanks. Will research other cpus and investigate returns tomorrow. For my purposes, I only need video for troubleshooting command line prompts, so I may be able to do without as well.

Any ideas on CPU temps? Probably not an issue if I RMA, but I'd hate to reassemble the whole thing with the old hardware again. My wife needs her TV (hosted on that server)!

 

[rhysiam]

Any ideas on CPU temps? Probably not an issue if I RMA, but I'd hate to reassemble the whole thing with the old hardware again. My wife needs her TV (hosted on that server)!

Temps are a really good question. Assuming the CPU fan is running and the PSU isn't a pile of trash (check both!) it's difficult to know what the problem might be.

I haven't spent much time with Kavari hardware to be honest. Some motherboards have built-in overclocking features or one-click OC buttons (physical buttons on the motherboard. Is it possible the BIOS is running a slight OC? Check clocks? And check that "Cool and Quiet" is enabled.

You could spend a bunch of time trying to get the temps down on a CPU you're sending back anyway. But I also understand your hesitancy to buy a new CPU when the platform seems to not be working quite right.
Start with my suggestions above... I'm not sure what else to suggest though, to be honest.

 

[Crlaozwyn]

I got an AMAZING Newegg rep (Thanks Ephram, if you're out reading this!) who took great care of me. They don't normally RMA opened CPUs but I'll get store credit for it. I think I'll be making the switch to a lower wattage Intel chip with onboard video, though it'll cost a bit more.

 

[rhysiam]

I got an AMAZING Newegg rep (Thanks Ephram, if you're out reading this!) who took great care of me. They don't normally RMA opened CPUs but I'll get store credit for it. I think I'll be making the switch to a lower wattage Intel chip with onboard video, though it'll cost a bit more.

Glad you're getting it sorted. I hope you're not paying too much more for an Intel platform. An APU will do the job. I suspect, though, if you care about efficiency, a modern Intel with moderate clocks (like the G4560) is going to sip far less power than any Bulldozer derived APU.