My Intel NUC server just died (whenever it’s plugged in, it makes a buzzing noise, and the external power LED is off (the internal one is on tho)), so I need a new server box. Any recommendations?
I can salvage the RAM (16 GB DDR4) and hard drive (1TB HDD) off of this one, I believe.
Did you try another power supply?
This is the most likely failed part, yes. If you feel adventurous, you can try repairing it like DiodeGoneWild. Looks like the auxiliary power supply (5V 1A independent of others; powers BIOS chips in standby to allow soft power-on) works but the main one does not. Unplug the connectors, connect the black (GND) and green (ENABLE) wires to signal a POWER ON state and check all the voltage rails. Many units use a powerful 12V supply and step-down converters to create the 5V and 3.3V rails, as well as an inverter for the -12V one – if that’s the case, you can try backfeeding 12 V from another PSU and see if the rest come on. Once you identify the failed power supply, check its primary transistor(s) (big 3-pin components on a heatsink) for a short or open circuit.
As others just said, take the challenge of repairing or correctly identify what’s broken. It should be fun, and part of the diy ethos.
If, you are still going for a new piece for the upgrades…
Depends very much on your scope. Heck, there’s even aesthetics. Do you prefer AMD or Intel? Don’t you feel like having an ARM and take the challenge of compatible images? Would you need to check the transcoding compatibility for Jellyfin? Are you going fangless? Is one 2.5gpbs eth port enough? Etc.
That said, check the reviews from https://www.servethehome.com/ they have articles with benchmarks and videos for all the latest nucs and other hardware’s form factor servers.
Be aware that Intel discontinued the NUCs iirc… but Asus or some vendor might have picked up to grab that market segment.
Good luck!
Are you going fangless?
I would definitely go fangless. I have been bitten enough times. A bite might also transfer viruses. Nowadays I defang all my computers.
If you don’t mind it being completely Chinese based, Beelink with their new Intel 12th gen mini PC were my upgrade from the last Shuttle device I’ve used.
Dual Intel 2.5G NIC plenty of USB and an extremely efficient Intel Alder Lake-N100 with a great price to performance closed the deal for me.
EQ12-N100 is what i went for, to be exact, there are more powerful options too, if needed.
Do you notice any slight problem on EQ12-N100? I was worried about single channel RAM performance.
Not at all, i use it as a firewall, so i wouldn’t notice anything. I can’t imagine it being a problem, it’s still DDR5
