Question What version of M.2 NVME do I need

[noideagamer]

I am thinking of buying this board for running proxmox and a mini NAS. I don't understand the different options for M.2 NVME storage - can anyone explain what version/generation this board supports
Here is the link to
Board

 

[USAFRet]

I am thinking of buying this board for running proxmox and a mini NAS. I don't understand the different options for M.2 NVME storage - can anyone explain what version/generation this board supports
Here is the link to
Board

Given the information in that listing, no one can tell.

Why AliExpress?

 

[Aeacus]

can anyone explain what version/generation this board supports

PCI-E 3.0 x1 2280.
Source: https://inf.news/en/digital/f9677ca0db74ff76cba36382277ea8af.html

Why AliExpress?

Because MoBo is made by Changwang Microcontroller and i think it's only place where this MoBo is sold.

 

[USAFRet]

PCI-E 3.0 x1 2280.
Source: https://inf.news/en/digital/f9677ca0db74ff76cba36382277ea8af.html


Because MoBo is made by Changwang Microcontroller and i think it's only place where this MoBo is sold.

Good catch.
"dual M.2 SSD expansion slots, supporting PCIE 3.0 x1 channel M.2 2280 SSD, about 900MB/s"

ewww....with that, why bother with a NVMe?

 

[noideagamer]

Good catch.
"dual M.2 SSD expansion slots, supporting PCIE 3.0 x1 channel M.2 2280 SSD, about 900MB/s"

ewww....with that, why bother with a NVMe?

Haha ok so sounds like its really slow - sorry I don't understand M.2 - i assumed they were all fast.

1xM.2 NVMe/PCIe3.0 2280 - what should I be looking for in terms of M.2 slot?

 

[noideagamer]

PCI-E 3.0 x1 2280.
Source: https://inf.news/en/digital/f9677ca0db74ff76cba36382277ea8af.html


Because MoBo is made by Changwang Microcontroller and i think it's only place where this MoBo is sold.

Thanks for the info. I'd watched a few reviews that said these were quite solid performers for running proxmox and docker containers. For example, I think this unit is built on top of a similiar board and the review was very positive

If not very good, can you recommend any similiar products that offer decent performance with very low power consumption

 

[USAFRet]

Thanks for the info. I'd watched a few reviews that said these were quite solid performers for running proxmox and docker containers. For example, I think this unit is built on top of a similiar board and the review was very positive

If not very good, can you recommend any similiar products that offer decent performance with very low power consumption

The Nxxx series of CPU are not "quite solid performers", in any sense of the word.

 

[35below0]

Haha ok so sounds like its really slow - sorry I don't understand M.2 - i assumed they were all fast.

1xM.2 NVMe/PCIe3.0 2280 - what should I be looking for in terms of M.2 slot?

I assume you mean what you should be looking for in an NVMe drive?
Look for PCIe 3.0 and 2280 in the drive specification.
You can also buy a PCIe 4.0 drive, but it will cost more and it will be limited to PCIe 3.0 speed.

In case you did mean slot, then looking for a board with PCIe 4.0 support or even 5.0 would allow you to use a faster drive.

 

[USAFRet]

You can also buy a PCIe 4.0 drive, but it will cost more and it will be limited to PCIe 3.0 speed.

Even worse...PCIe 3.0 x1.
Not any better than a SATA III SSD. Possibly worse.

 

[noideagamer]

The Nxxx series of CPU are not "quite solid performers", in any sense of the word.

I should perhaps clarify that I'm looking to build a mini home server / virtualised router to run a few VMS (pfsense, pi hole) and some docker containers. As such, low power is a must hence why I am looking at these boards. I've been watching many channels that seem to think these mini PCs fit the bill very well

 

[noideagamer]

I assume you mean what you should be looking for in an NVMe drive?
Look for PCIe 3.0 and 2280 in the drive specification.
You can also buy a PCIe 4.0 drive, but it will cost more and it will be limited to PCIe 3.0 speed.

In case you did mean slot, then looking for a board with PCIe 4.0 support or even 5.0 would allow you to use a faster drive.

Yea was meaning if the slot on thius board are slow, what slots should I be looking for on another board - but you have also answered that question - cheers

 

[USAFRet]

I should perhaps clarify that I'm looking to build a mini home server / virtualised router to run a few VMS (pfsense, pi hole) and some docker containers. As such, low power is a must hence why I am looking at these boards. I've been watching many channels that seem to think these mini PCs fit the bill very well

And "a few VMs" will make one of those CPUs cry.

Have you considered a commercial NAS box? QNAP or Synology?

 

[noideagamer]

And "a few VMs" will make one of those CPUs cry.

Have you considered a commercial NAS box? QNAP or Synology?

The reviews seem to think they can run the kind of VMs I am looking at fine.

I am looking for a DIY budget friendly option - also from what I hear many of the commercial NAS run similar hardware inside anyway?

 

[USAFRet]

The reviews seem to think they can run the kind of VMs I am looking at fine.

I am looking for a DIY budget friendly option - also from what I hear many of the commercial NAS run similar hardware inside anyway?

Many of them do have a regular i5 or similar CPU.

For the reviews...you have to look carefully. I'd try to find some real independent reviews, rather than someone on utube looking for clicks.

My QNAP has a N3160, w/ 16GB RAM.
I tried a VM of a Linux variant.
It was not great.

 

[noideagamer]

Many of them do have a regular i5 or similar CPU.

For the reviews...you have to look carefully. I'd try to find some real independent reviews, rather than someone on utube looking for clicks.

My QNAP has a N3160, w/ 16GB RAM.
I tried a VM of a Linux variant.
It was not great.

Was that running proxmox bare metal.

Fair shout about the YouTube reviews !

 

[USAFRet]

Was that running proxmox bare metal.

Fair shout about the YouTube reviews !

No, it was running the generic QNAP OS as the host. I forget which Linux distro I tried.

 

[noideagamer]

No, it was running the generic QNAP OS as the host. I forget which Linux distro I tried.

Ah ok. Another reason for looking at these boards was to install Proxmox on bare metal. Perhaps I need to rethink going this route if performance is going to be poor

 

[USAFRet]

Ah ok. Another reason for looking at these boards was to install Proxmox on bare metal. Perhaps I need to rethink going this route if performance is going to be poor

For me, that board has way too many red flags.

Poor CPU for the desired use case
Poor NVMe slots
AliExpress

 

[noideagamer]

For me, that board has way too many red flags.

Poor CPU for the desired use case
Poor NVMe slots
AliExpress

What would you look at instead for a low power home server that would allow me to run it headless and serve up VMs and docker. It doesn't need to be small, just very power efficient and reasonably priced

 

[USAFRet]

What would you look at instead for a low power home server that would allow me to run it headless and serve up VMs and docker. It doesn't need to be small, just very power efficient and reasonably priced

Suggest you start here:

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