[9fans] cheap, usb-c powered, quiet, virtualization capable, multicore intel x86 PCs

[9fans] cheap, usb-c powered, quiet, virtualization capable, multicore intel x86 PCs

[ron minnich]

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I'm looking for something as defined in the subject. Has to run Plan 9 of
course. No disk needed, will netboot.

refurb is fine. If anyone has gotten such a thing recently, please lmk.

I may just see if there's cheapo thinkpads that fill the bill, but I'd
prefer something tiny.

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Re: [9fans] cheap, usb-c powered, quiet, virtualization capable, multicore intel x86 PCs

[hiro]

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for new stuff: i'd look out for cheap Intel N100 based boards on aliexpress.
i have never noted the power supply, so no clue if there's anything usb-c
powered, sorry.

for used stuff: old thinkcentre tiny PCs. but that's definitely not usb-c
powered, sorry.
;)

On Sat, Feb 8, 2025 at 2:48 AM ron minnich <rminnich@gmail.com> wrote:

> I'm looking for something as defined in the subject. Has to run Plan 9 of
> course. No disk needed, will netboot.
>
> refurb is fine. If anyone has gotten such a thing recently, please lmk.
>
> I may just see if there's cheapo thinkpads that fill the bill, but I'd
> prefer something tiny.
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Re: [9fans] cheap, usb-c powered, quiet, virtualization capable, multicore intel x86 PCs

[Carl Phillips]

I have a GMKtec G3 N100 mini pc which has been running 9front ok for the 
past few months.

It is very cheap (I paid £63 delivered to the UK with 8GB RAM, 256GB 
NVME installed), x86, quiet, virtualization capable and multicore.

It's not usb-c powered out the box but you can use a barrel jack to 
usb-c adapter.

RAM is upgradeable to 32Gb. There is one 2280 NVME slot and one 2242 
SATA slot.

Case is easy to get into and plastic so very lightweight. It's not the 
absolute smallest of the Chinese mini pcs but smaller ones tend to have 
non upgradeable RAM or SSD.

BIOS is ok. From memory I had to do a UEFI install of 9front and it 
needs the files in the esp. I don't think traditional MBR/PBS booting is 
supported.

The built-in ethernet adapter is an Intel 226v which 9front doesn't 
support (yet?) but I use a Tecknet USB ethernet adapter which works 
fine. Haven't tried wifi but I suspect would be a battle.

It is ok with 9front but won't boot 4e or 9legacy out of the box. Maybe 
with some work and backports from 9front...

I haven't tried net booting it as the built-in ethernet adapter isn't 
supported so you might need a small disk/usb stick with kernel and nvram 
partition.

On 08/02/2025 01:22, ron minnich wrote:
> I'm looking for something as defined in the subject. Has to run Plan 9 
> of course. No disk needed, will netboot.
>
> refurb is fine. If anyone has gotten such a thing recently, please lmk.
>
> I may just see if there's cheapo thinkpads that fill the bill, but I'd 
> prefer something tiny.
> *9fans <https://9fans.topicbox.com/latest>* / 9fans / see discussions 
> <https://9fans.topicbox.com/groups/9fans> + participants 
> <https://9fans.topicbox.com/groups/9fans/members> + delivery options 
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> <https://9fans.topicbox.com/groups/9fans/T729522c9f9cda362-Me366fb28f2a4a870cf59aff8> 
>

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