An ARM Homelab Server, or a Minisforum MS-R1 Review(sour.coffee)
23 pointsby neelc2 hours ago5 comments
  • walterbellan hour ago
    https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2025/minisforum-stuffs-ent...

    > The strange CPU core layout is causing power problems; Radxa and Minisforum both told me Cix is working on power draw, and enabling features like ASPM. It seems like for stability, and to keep memory access working core to core, with the big.medium.little CPU core layout, Cix wants to keep the chip powered up pretty high. 14 to 17 watts idle is beyond even modern Intel and AMD!

  • jdpedriean hour ago
    Funny, I just bought one of these last week. Agree with the article. Mine came with storage and Debian preinstalled. If you buy one from Amazon, keep an eye on price. I bought, then the next day the price dropped $150. Ordered another one and returned the expensive order.
    • cweagansan hour ago
      You used to be able to just call Amazon and they'd refund the difference. Not sure if they do that anymore.
      • jdpedriean hour ago
        They did not. The rep told me to return it and buy another. :/
        • jacquesm43 minutes ago
          And fuck the planet, your time and the time of the logistics people.

          This is so incredibly inefficient. Multiply by how many times this happens every day...

  • hi_hi34 minutes ago
    Not sure I understand this distinction.

    > I’ve always wanted an ARM server in my homelab. But earlier, I either had to use an underpowered ARM system, or use Asahi...

    What is stopping you using Mac with MacOS?

    • tiew9Vii17 minutes ago
      It’s not great as a headless server.

      With full disk encryption enabled you need a keyboard and display attached at boot to unlock it. You then need to sign in to your account to start services. You can use an IP based KVM but that’s another thing to manage.

      If you use Docker, it runs in a vm instead of native.

      With a Linux based ARM box you can use full disk encryption, use drop bear to ssh in on boot to unlock disks, native docker, ability to run proxmox etc.

      Mac minis/studio have potential to be great low powered home servers but Apple is not going down that route for consumers. I’d be curious if they are using their own silicon and own server oriented distro internally for some things.

    • geerlingguy31 minutes ago
      Most likely wanting to run Linux natively. Only M1/M2 can fill that role with Asahi, and still not with 100% hardware compatibility.

      On the flip side, an M4 mini is cheaper, faster, much smaller (with built in power supply) and much more efficient. Plus for most applications, they can run in a Linux container just as well.

  • some-guyan hour ago
    > Yes, while I use Fedora on my laptop, I also know Fedora is generally not a good option for a server.

    Why is Fedora not considered good for a server?

    • zuntaruk39 minutes ago
      I'd also love to hear what folks have to say about this.

      For myself I've had nothing but positive experiences running Fedora on my servers.

    • neelcan hour ago
      It's a cutting-edge distro with 6-month release and 13-month support cycles.

      Whereas Debian/Ubuntu have 5 years and RHEL/Alma/Rocky have 10 years.

      • zuntaruk37 minutes ago
        I don't feel like this really answers the question thought, right? At least not at face value.

        I could see the side of maintenance burden being a potential point, meaning that one would be "pushed" to update the system between releases more often than something else.

  • metadat2 hours ago
    Why is the power supply 2x larger than a Macbool Pro PS unit? Cheap? What about GaN?
    • neelc2 hours ago
      Mac Mini/Studio has an integrated power supply, but other Mini PCs do not have the same luxury. It doesn't matter if you're Minisforum or HP.

      Minisforum probably reused the x86 power supply for ARM. The x86 MS-01 and MS-A2 supports GPUs after all.

      I'm not a hardware engineer, I've failed miserably in software engineering and now run a VPS host.

      • metadat2 hours ago
        I was wondering why the PSU is half the size of the compute unit housing. 15 years ago, sure, but today it just seems cheap and lazy on part of whoever designed it.

        Caveat: I'm frequently mistaken, always keen to learn and reduce the error between my perception and reality!

      • GCUMstlyHarmlsan hour ago
        > but other Mini PCs do not have the same luxury

        My Beelink Me Mini has an integrated PSU. Actually same with the EQR6 I got too.

    • wmfan hour ago
      It's just cheap.
    • plagiaristan hour ago
      I have a personal ban on any hardware that isn't powered by USB-C. (Or if it's large I'll accept a C17 socket.) Either give me a GaN or I will get it myself.

      Otherwise I'd probably have a few machines from this company.