mirror of
https://github.com/BoKKeR/awesome-thinkcentres.git
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179 lines
18 KiB
Markdown
179 lines
18 KiB
Markdown
# Awesome ThinkCentres
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These machines can be found used for about 100-250 usd/eur. Most often found with 6 core cpu-s (8400t/9400t), single 8gb ram sticks and smaller 256/512gb M.2 nvme drive, and wifi configurations.
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What is this is good for?
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- homelab
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- k8s nodes
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- NAS/router
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- dev/test boxes
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Models covered:
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- M720q
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- M920q/x
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- P330 tiny (Same as M920q but with 2x m.2, ie like an M920x)
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| | | | |
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| ----------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------- |
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|  |  |  |  |
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---
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## Awesome projects
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| Image | Project |
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| ------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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|  | [4 Bay NAS](https://www.reddit.com/r/homelab/comments/1qllfjn/thinkbox_released_diy_4bay_nas_and_powerful/) |
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| | [Kubernetes cluster](https://blog.zolty.systems/posts/2026-02-07-choosing-the-hardware) |
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|  | [OPNsense box/router](https://www.reddit.com/r/homelab/comments/1lvnv72/built_a_opnsense_router_from_a_lenovo_m720q_intel/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) |
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| | [CEPH Distributed Storage mesh](https://heck.sh/posts/10g-ceph-mesh-tinyminimicro/) |
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|  | [ThinkNAS - 2x HDD enclosure for Lenovo M920q](https://makerworld.com/en/models/1280680-thinknas-2x-hdd-enclosure-for-lenovo-m920q?from=search#profileId-1308483) |
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|  | [ThinkNAS - 4x HDD NAS enclosure for Lenovo M920q](https://makerworld.com/en/models/1399535-thinknas-4x-hdd-nas-enclosure-for-lenovo-m920q?from=search#profileId-1451077) |
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|  | [ThinkNAS - 6x HDD NAS enclosure for Lenovo M920q](https://makerworld.com/en/models/1737570-thinknas-6x-hdd-nas-enclosure-for-lenovo-m920q#profileId-1846272) |
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|  | [ThinkLab - 6 Bay Home Lab - M920q](https://makerworld.com/en/models/1754167-thinklab-6-bay-home-lab-m920q?from=search#profileId-1865265) |
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|  | [THINK NAS - Lenovo Think Style NAS Case](https://makerworld.com/en/models/1368836-think-nas-lenovo-think-style-nas-case?from=search#profileId-1415019) |
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|  | [6-bay 10Gbps NAS from a Lenovo M720Q](https://www.reddit.com/r/homelab/comments/1sdmgzm/built_a_6bay_10gbps_nas_from_a_lenovo_m720q/) |
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---
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## Features
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| Model | RAM | Storage | USB | Video | Network | spec sheet |
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| ----- | ----------- | ---------------------------- | ------------------------- | --------- | ------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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| M720q | 2x32GB DDR4 | 2.5" SATA + M.2 2242/2280* | USB 3.1 Gen1/Gen2 + USB-C | HDMI + DP | 1Gbit | [spec sheet](https://psref.lenovo.com/syspool/Sys/PDF/ThinkCentre/ThinkCentre_M720_Tiny/ThinkCentre_M720_Tiny_Spec.pdf) |
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| M920q | 2x32GB DDR4 | 2.5" SATA + M.2 2242/2280** | USB 3.1 Gen1/Gen2 + USB-C | HDMI + DP | 1Gbit | [spec sheet](https://psref.lenovo.com/syspool/Sys/PDF/ThinkCentre/ThinkCentre_M920_Tiny/ThinkCentre_M920_Tiny_Spec.PDF) |
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| M920x | 2x32GB DDR4 | 2.5" SATA + 2x M.2 2242/2280 | USB 3.1 Gen1/Gen2 + USB-C | HDMI + DP | 1Gbit | [spec sheet](https://static.lenovo.com/shop/emea/content/pdf/ThinkCentre/MSeries/2018/M920x/ThinkCentre%20M920x%20Tiny_DS_EN.pdf) |
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| P330 | 2x32GB DDR4 | 2.5" SATA + 2x M.2 2242/2280 | USB 3.1 Gen1/Gen2 + USB-C | HDMI + DP | 1Gbit | [spec sheet](https://psref.lenovo.com/syspool/Sys/PDF/ThinkStation/ThinkStation_P330_Tiny/ThinkStation_P330_Tiny_Spec.pdf) |
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```
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* can be modded with additional M.2 SATA slot
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** can be modded with additional M.2 NVME slot
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```
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### Common CPU configurations
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| CPU | Cores | Threads | Why |
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| -------------------------------- | ----- | ------- | ----------------------------- |
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| i5-8500T | 6 | 6 | best value / very common |
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| i5-8400T | 6 | 6 | cheaper alternative |
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| i7-8700T | 6 | 12 | highest performance in class |
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| i5-9500T | 6 | 6 | newer stepping, stable |
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| i5-9600T | 6 | 6 | slightly higher boost |
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| i7-9700T | 8 | 8 | 8 cores for heavy workloads |
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| i3-8100 | 4 | 4 | low core count, not worth it |
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| i3-9100 | 4 | 4 | weak for multi-tasking |
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| Celeron / Pentium (G49xx, G54xx) | 2 | 2–4 | too slow for most homelab use |
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## Reviews/info
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| Image | Name |
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| ----------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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|  | [ServeTheHome: Lenovo ThinkStation P330 Tiny Review](https://www.servethehome.com/lenovo-thinkstation-p330-tiny-review-intel-nvidia-quadro/) |
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|  | [ServeTheHome: Lenovo ThinkCentre M920 and M920q Tiny Guide and Review](https://www.servethehome.com/lenovo-thinkcentre-m920-and-m920q-tiny-guide-and-review/) |
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|  | [ServeTheHome: Lenovo ThinkCentre M720q Tiny Compact PC Review](https://www.servethehome.com/lenovo-thinkcentre-m720q-tiny-compact-pc-review/) |
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|  | [ServeTheHome Forum: Lenovo Thinkcentre/ThinkStation Tiny (Project TinyMiniMicro) Reference Thread](https://forums.servethehome.com/index.php?threads/lenovo-thinkcentre-thinkstation-tiny-project-tinyminimicro-reference-thread.34925/) |
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|  | [Youtube: Lenovo ThinkCentre M920Q Tiny - Teardown and Upgrade SSD, RAM, CPU in 4K](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHJpXFjRBLw) |
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---
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### Mods/upgrades
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[M920q extra M.2 nvme](https://github.com/badger707/m920q-dual-NVME)
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[M720q extra M.2 sata mod](https://github.com/badger707/m920q-dual-NVME)
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### PCIE Risers
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| Image | Name | Extra Features | Purchase link | License |
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| ------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------- |
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|  | Lenovo style riser | | [Aliexpress](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005010038222767.html) | Official |
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|  | [Tinyriser](https://github.com/a-little-wifi/Tinyriser) | M.2 NVME slot (Vertical) not for SATA drives | [Tindie](https://www.tindie.com/search/?q=tinyriser) | Open source |
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|  | [LenovoTiny5PcieCard](https://github.com/qq8322302/LenovoTiny5PcieCard) | 4x M.2 NVME slot* not for SATA drives | [Taobao](https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=993356165215/) | Closed source |
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|  | [PowerRiser](https://github.com/nandfarm/PowerRiser/tree/main) | M.2 NVME slot (Horizontal) not for SATA drives | [Tindie](https://www.tindie.com/products/nandfarm/powerriser-by-nandfarm-pcie-riser-for-tiny5/) | Open source |
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```
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* Requires custom BIOS, and hardware beyond the riser
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```
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### 2.5G Network Interface
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You can replace the M.2 Wifi card for 2.5G Ethernet
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| Image | Name |
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| ------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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|  | [Industrial Grade M.2 A and E Intel i226V Customized 2.5G Ethernet Server NIC](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008612570820.html) |
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|  | [M2 E A Key Karte 2.5 Gigabit RJ45 LAN ETHERNET 1G 2.5G Intel I226 SRKTV](https://www.ebay.de/itm/306178342372) |
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---
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## PCIE cards
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To be able to add a pcie card you will need a PCIE expansion riser card.
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The following cards have been reported to fit these machines
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### Networking
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| Image | Name | Purpose | Notes |
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| ------------------------------------------------- | ------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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|  | Mellanox ConnectX-3 | (single/dual) 10Gbit SFP+, 40Gbit QSFP+, InfiniBand 56Gbit | Sold under many brands, different products have different capabilities, ConnectX4 is preferred since it allows for lower c-states saving power |
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|  | Mellanox ConnectX-4 | (single/dual) 10Gbit SFP+, 25Gbit SFP28, 40Gbit QSFP+, 50Gbit QSFP28, 100G QSFP28, InfiniBand 100Gbit | Sold under many brands, different products have different capabilities, great models for 25Gbit are CX4121C/CX4121A |
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|  | Intel X550 | 2x 10Gbit Ethernet | The ethernet 10Gbit might run too hot without an added fan |
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|  | Intel X520 | 2x 10Gbit SFP+ | |
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|  | Intel X710 | 2x 10Gbit SFP+ | |
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|  | Thunderbolt Card | 40 Gbit thunderbolt | |
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|  | Intel i350-AM4 | 4x Gbit ethernet | |
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|  | Fujitsu D2755-A11 | 2x 10Gbit SFP+ | |
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### Storage
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| Image | Name | Purpose | Notes |
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| --------------------------------- | --------------- | --------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
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|  | Dell PERC H200 | 2x SAS (6Gbps) | Can be broken out into 2x 4 Sata with a breakout cable |
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|  | TISHRIC ASM1166 | 6x SATA (6Gbps) | |
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### GPUs
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| Image | Name | Purpose | Notes |
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| --------------------------------- | ---------------- | ------------- | ----- |
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|  | Quadro K1200 | 4GB VRAM GPU | |
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|  | RTX A2000 | 12GB VRAM GPU | |
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|  | NVIDIA T600/1000 | 4GB/8GB VRAM | |
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### Other
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| Image | Name | Purpose | Notes |
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| ------------------------------- | ------------ | -------------------------------------------------- | ----- |
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|  | Oculink Card | Oculink SFF 8612 interfaces through a PCIe x8 slot | |
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---
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## 3D printed mounts
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### Rack mounts
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| Image | Name |
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| ----------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
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|  | [Improved Thinkcentre Tiny 1U Rack](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6375095) |
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|  | [Mini PC server case rack](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6651463) |
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|  | [Lenovo Tiny Vertical Holder for DeskPi 10" rack](https://makerworld.com/en/models/1216152-lenovo-tiny-vertical-holder-for-deskpi-10-rack?from=search#profileId-1232034) |
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|  | [ThinkCentre Tiny Tower (v2)](https://makerworld.com/en/models/773096-thinkcentre-tiny-tower-v2?from=search#profileId-709241) |
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|  | [OpenRack 1U - Lenovo ThinkCentre M720](https://makerworld.com/en/models/1480687-openrack-1u-lenovo-thinkcentre-m720?from=search#profileId-1546016) |
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|  | [ThinkCentre Tiny 10" Rack Mount](https://makerworld.com/en/models/2533762-thinkcentre-tiny-10-rack-mount?from=search#profileId-2788743) |
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|  | [thinkcentre 10 inch rackmount](https://makerworld.com/en/models/1141511-thinkcentre-10-inch-rackmount?from=search#profileId-1143992) |
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## HDD caddy-s
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https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4231309
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---
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## Where to find/buy
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[LowCostMiniPcs.com](https://www.lowcostminipcs.com)
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Local marketplaces, vinted, craigslist, facebook marketplace.
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