Completed DeskNano x300 - a 1.2L replacement for the DeskMini a300/x300

[ebolamonkey3]

Any plans to design one for the AM5 platform?

 

[msystems]

This whole project is a thing of beauty. For the first time, I'm interested in dabbling in 3D printing. My rig is both a NAS (4*4TB SSDs) and home server (Home Assistant OS, ADSB feeder, Jellyfin server etc.). My main gripe is with the temps for rear SSDs. If - which admittedly doesn't happen often at all - they have to write for longer periods, they can get hot. So the mod with a rear fan is super interesting.

• Would the rear fan/2.5" drive module work with this USB 2.0 extension lid? It is the opposite side, isn't it?
• When using the rear fan/SSD module and allowing air flow to the rear NVMe SSD, how should fans be directed in order for front and back fan not to work against each other?
• In the long run, I'm super tempted to add an M.2 E-key 2.5GBit ethernet adapter (I don't need wifi), maybe like this one: . Should it be possible to integrate that in the USB 2 module above as well? That would be so sexy!

This style of usb lid didn't work out too well unfortunately, because the deskmini USB connector was just very bulky.

Some time later, I found a better extremely compact usb adapter ( https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804894031528.html ) designed a better lid around it for the Lander case, but that improved design didn't get incorporated back into the Desknano lids, so there just isn't a good solution there for usb unfortunately

 

[king_ben]

Some time later, I found a better extremely compact usb adapter ( https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804894031528.html )

Unfortunately, that link doesn't work, at least not here in Germany. Is the header on the mobo in standard USB 2.0 pitch? Something like this (https://de.aliexpress.com/i/1005005426984866.html) could be interesting, but I'm not sure how to fixate it...

P.S.: The local maker space has a Prusa MK3S. Would that be a good choice for a decent quality print?

 

[SFFMunkee]

Unfortunately, that link doesn't work, at least not here in Germany. Is the header on the mobo in standard USB 2.0 pitch? Something like this (https://de.aliexpress.com/i/1005005426984866.html) could be interesting, but I'm not sure how to fixate it...

P.S.: The local maker space has a Prusa MK3S. Would that be a good choice for a decent quality print?

Prusa make some of the best printers so I'd be comfortable you'll get good quality if they're using it well.

Link for German AliExpress: https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005005080346280.html

Motherboard has a standard USB2.0 header, but the power switch & LED are a smaller pitch than typical.

 

[king_ben]

Link for German AliExpress: https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005005080346280.html

"Sorry, this item's currently unavailable in your location." :-(

Could someone post a photo for visual comparison?

 

[BaK]

Could someone post a photo for visual comparison?

 

[king_ben]

Thanks. I found it, but it is either out of stock, not shipped to Germany or both. I might try to reactivate my soldering skills with two of these (https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005003595937109.html) or I could check if I could fit something like this somewhere: https://www.mouser.de/datasheet/2/18/1/cnec_s_a0009746183_1-3008527.pdf

Given that the case would be all plastic, would it need some kind of grounding? Or is that irrelevant because the PSU brick is external?

 

[king_ben]

I would love to find a way to integrate one of these in the Desknano:

I read it should fit in the WiFi card slot, but I find no spot where the ethernet port could go. Any ideas? I haven't bought it yet, so I don't have the dimensions.

 

[SFFMunkee]

I would love to find a way to integrate one of these in the Desknano:

I read it should fit in the WiFi card slot, but I find no spot where the ethernet port could go. Any ideas? I haven't bought it yet, so I don't have the dimensions.

I've been considering doing this for a 10GbE but then it ends up kinda pointless for the most part (for me).

 

[king_ben]

I've been considering doing this for a 10GbE but then it ends up kinda pointless for the most part (for me).

It would make sense for me a second NIC (and a faster one!) would allow for either faster (simultaneous) transfers from/to my NAS, or segregation of networks for certain VMs/containers. Would be cool.

But as I have zero experience with 3D modeling, it would be much preferable if I could integrate it into an existing design.

2.5Gbit was the fastest I was able to find in A/E Key. 10GbE was normally a long SSD-like card.

 

[SFFMunkee]

It would make sense for me a second NIC (and a faster one!) would allow for either faster (simultaneous) transfers from/to my NAS, or segregation of networks for certain VMs/containers. Would be cool.

But as I have zero experience with 3D modeling, it would be much preferable if I could integrate it into an existing design.

2.5Gbit was the fastest I was able to find in A/E Key. 10GbE was normally a long SSD-like card.

you wont get above 1gbe on A/E because it’s limited by the pcie link, you need the much faster x4 of the b+m for 10gbe

 

[BaK]

Given that the case would be all plastic, would it need some kind of grounding? Or is that irrelevant because the PSU brick is external?

You may find some info there: https://smallformfactor.net/forum/threads/plastic-cases-grounding.3178/

 

[king_ben]

you wont get above 1gbe on A/E because it’s limited by the pcie link, you need the much faster x4 of the b+m for 10gbe

I probably just use the wrong search terms, but I cannot find good definitive info regarding the E-Key bandwidth. Which PCIe version at which factor should it support? Does that depend on the CPU?

(I found some reviews on Aliexpress and Amazon mentioning 270-280Mb/s, but of course I cannot verify that and I don't know which system they were used on.)

 

[SFFMunkee]

I probably just use the wrong search terms, but I cannot find good definitive info regarding the E-Key bandwidth. Which PCIe version at which factor should it support? Does that depend on the CPU?

(I found some reviews on Aliexpress and Amazon mentioning 270-280Mb/s, but of course I cannot verify that and I don't know which system they were used on.)

A/E or key is typically PCIe x1 (two of them, IIRC*) and USB2.0

So usually this is split up by WiFi over PCIe x1 and Bluetooth over USB2.0

* You can potentially exploit this as two separate PCIe x1 links, dependent on the motherboard, as they may have both wired up, but I don't think you can connect any device as PCIe x2, as they're split up into two single lane links.

I'm not sure whether they have different generation PCIe links for different boards or chipsets. I think it's usually PCIe 2.0 - but that may change with PCIe 4 and 5 now becoming more mainstream.

 

[king_ben]

A/E or key is typically PCIe x1 (two of them, IIRC*) and USB2.0

So usually this is split up by WiFi over PCIe x1 and Bluetooth over USB2.0

* You can potentially exploit this as two separate PCIe x1 links, dependent on the motherboard, as they may have both wired up, but I don't think you can connect any device as PCIe x2, as they're split up into two single lane links.

I'm not sure whether they have different generation PCIe links for different boards or chipsets. I think it's usually PCIe 2.0 - but that may change with PCIe 4 and 5 now becoming more mainstream.

So let's assume a single usable PCIe Gen2 lane. According to Wikipedia says that should be 0.500 GB/s. I assume that is GByte/s, not GBit. 2.5GBit/s would be ~0.3125 GB/s. All calculations w/o overhead etc. Shouldn't that be sufficient? And according to the Deskmini X300's manual, the NVMe slots are using PCIe Gen3 - if that were true for the E-Key slot as well, we'd be looking at even higher baddwidth.

 

[SFFMunkee]

So let's assume a single usable PCIe Gen2 lane. According to Wikipedia says that should be 0.500 GB/s. I assume that is GByte/s, not GBit. 2.5GBit/s would be ~0.3125 GB/s. All calculations w/o overhead etc. Shouldn't that be sufficient? And according to the Deskmini X300's manual, the NVMe slots are using PCIe Gen3 - if that were true for the E-Key slot as well, we'd be looking at even higher baddwidth.

For 2.5GbE sure! I always forget about 2.5GbE and 5GbE because I'm old

This guy should do 2.5GbE over M.2 A/E -> https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005686418462.html
I'm not sure how much I'd trust it given it's running over untwisted unshielded wires from the card to the RJ45 socket but who knows!

 

[king_ben]

This guy should do 2.5GbE over M.2 A/E -> https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005686418462.html
I'm not sure how much I'd trust it given it's running over untwisted unshielded wires from the card to the RJ45 socket but who knows!

That was my worry too. That flat cable (looks a bit like the IDE ones of old) might also be short and awkward to manage in a tight case. I was wondering if it could be replaced with something of higher quality, but that might be too niche.

 

[msystems]

Thanks to photo by @Kaji it appears that the original Desknano design may still be compatible with the x600, but requires relocating the battery away from the very front edge of the board. The battery is affixed to the rear of the board with double sided tape. This was not extensively tested though.

Battery position of the x600 (TOP) and the x300 (BOTTOM)

 

[SFFMunkee]

Thanks to photo by @Kaji it appears that the original Desknano design may still be compatible with the x600, but requires relocating the battery away from the very front edge of the board. The battery is affixed to the rear of the board with double sided tape. This was not extensively tested though.

Battery position of the x600 (TOP) and the x300 (BOTTOM)

Damnit @Kaji you beat me to it!

 

[protocolsix]

Due to the delays with the HDPlex 250w Gan, the first internal PSU to be supported by the GPU module will be the Picobox 200 dcdc, a somewhat obscure but perfect sized dc module found on Taobao/Ali for $20-40 but capable of powering up to a slightly tamed RTX 3060. It can either be given it it's own dedicated 19v brick, or, share a single brick like a 300w Dell, which powers the GPU and the DeskMini together on a Y-splitter. This is only for advanced users as it will need it's own wiring harness. Rough volume of the case with the Pico, 2 slot GPU and single brick will be approximately 3.6 Liters, and with 2 bricks approximately 4 Liters.

After that I will add support for HDPlex 250w GAN and HDPlex 400w dc-dc together, as they have the same exact hole patterns, so it's the same design. Depending on power needs there are many possible configurations with these modules:
1) Brickless. HDPlex 250w GAN, 12vEPS to Barrel Cable for DeskMini, Midrange GPU such as RTX 3050
2) Internal + Stock Brick. HDPlex 250w GAN Internal for GPU up to 3060ti, Stock Brick for DeskMini, No Y-Splitter
3) Single [BIG] Brick. HDPlex 400w DC-DC Internal, Y-Splitter for DeskMini, GPU up to 3060ti, use Dell 300w brick.
4) Dual Brick. HDPlex 400w DC-DC for GPU up to 3080(?), Brick for gpu, stock brick for DeskMini, No Y-Splitter

Edit: #5) Half height GPU with HDPlex Gan occupying vacant space in dual slot area, total volume approx 2.9L

These are almost plug and play as there is not much custom wiring. Rough volume of the case will be about 4 Liters with HDPlex mounted underneath internally, but ultimately depending on GPU length.

How reliable is the Pico box DCDC 200 under 200W load? Could it be pushed further with active cooling?