Comment by rbanffy
15 hours ago
It’s an intriguing machine, but, by now, I’d have imagined someone would offer a sheet metal case with a PSU and fan (or mounting holes, at least).
The form factor is unfortunate. I wonder what was the intended usage (server side gaming?) and if other high-volume parts (as game console APUs are) can become small similar systems, preferably with expandable memory). The history of how this thing came into being must be really interesting.
Speaking of form factors, it’s a shame there is no generic desktop/deskside/tower conversion kit for 4 and 5u rack servers. Some machines have tower counterparts, but having an aftermarket option would save a lot of machines from the metal crushers.
The intended usage was crypto mining. You bought a 4U of these in a rack of 12 blades.
Sad. That doesn’t look like a segment that’ll have massive growth in the near future.
That said, a 12-blade system of these in a tower enclosure would be an interesting home lab.
That brings up another rant I have about physical form factors - I expected OCP would bring about opportunities for having desktop workstations using OCP server parts.