CPU Upgrade Recommendation

I just upgraded my existing FreeNas 9.3 to TrueNas scale 25.04.2.3. I installed 2 mirrored Intel S3500 SSD’s for my boot drives. I just ordered two 16GB sticks of EEC server memory to replace the existing 8GB.

My question is, my Tyan S3500 MB’s current CPU is an INTEL|CELERON G1840 2.8G 2M R 2 cores, 2 threads. The manual says I can run a CPU with 4 cores and I see on eBay they are pretty cheap , less than $20. Would this be a worthwhile upgrade?

I use my server for backing up my documents, pictures, music and backing up my Laptop(s). Here is my current setup:

Case: Lian Li case PC-Q18

Motherboard: Tyan S5533 mini ITX Motherboard

Power Supply: ANTEC PS EA-380D GREEN RT

CPU: INTEL|CELERON G1840 2.8G 2M R 2cores, 2 threads

Memory: (1) Kingston 8GB 240-Pin DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) ECC Unbuffered Memory KVR16LE11/8KF w/TS Server

Drives:

  • WD (2) 2TB Red drive WD20EFRX 64M (mirrored)

  • WD (2) 1TB Black drive (mirrored)

Boot Drive: (2) Intel S3500 SSD (mirrored)

FWIW, quick googling showed that 16GB is the max for the mobo. Perhaps a 32GB setup won’t start up or can be unstable.

If you use heavy compression and/or CPU-hungry apps and/or VMs, then yes.


You can just use your NAS as usual and then check the “reporting” tab for the CPU spikes.

Good catch. Not sure what I read thinking I could go to 32 but after reading the specs on my MB, you are correct. Fortunately, I was able to cancel the order and order a matching a 8GB stick.

Thanks, I guess I’ll wait to see the CPU performance before I spring for a new CPU.

I run my TrueNAS Core on a Dell SC440 - due core + 4GB ram. no problem whatsoever, with transfer speed between machines of mid 800 - 1000mbps.

that’s comparable to the kind of speed i got on far more powerful machines (100+GB and 14 cores).

for NAS, you don’t need much.

Well, there is some confusion in this post…
The MoBo is a server grade MoBo, but the Celeron is a desktop CPU.
So my guess would be that it will not start with the new RAM.
I found this link, about all the compatible CPUs you can install to this motherboard:
https://www.cpu-upgrade.com/mb-Tyan/S5533-LE_(S5533GM2NR-LE).html
According to this list all suitable CPUs are 4core/8thread ones.
The two, highest clocked variants are the Xeon E3-1281 and the 1286 (up to 4,1GHz turbo)
So, it seems, you need to upgrade your CPU to be able to run your new ECC RAM.
EDIT:
Checked deeper, the difference between 1281 and 1286 is the integrated GPU. ('81 does not have it, the '86 does)

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According to this datasheet, 32GB is the max RAM:

Also, I have an old DELL T6310 workstation, that supports theoretically only 64GB DDR3 ECC (8x8GB)
However last week, I popped in my 4x32GB 4R-2 ECC RDIMM, and surprisingly it worked… Saw all 128GB and MEMtest finished OK.

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For the price, the e3 1270v3 has the better price-performance IMHO, just bought one for 18€, is pratically between the i7 4770 and 4790. The 1230-40v3 are also pretty cheap, 12~15€. I would buy those without integrated GPU because this motherboard should have an integrated Aspeed to use in case of need

Afaik the v4 are basically similar with a cache l4, but they cost much more (and for sure need a bios update).

BTW, as already said, Celeron is not ECC capable, Pentium and i3 are (and obv Xeon)

Yes, that is why the OP should check his current system load…
The 128x is the highest clocked version.
If it works with the pathetic Celeron inside, then ANY Xeon would be a leap forward.
So you are perfectly right that he should not aim for the top dog…

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Yeah, I didn’t find the datasheet right away. Found 3 offerings; 2 showed 16GB as max, and the third didn’t have specs. The user manual is a more reputable source for sure.

I followed your advice and ordered a Intel Xeon E3-1270v3 CPU. I didn’t know the Celeron CPU didn’t support EEC memory. The CPU along with the 8GB EEC memory stick, should arrive the end of this week. I suspect I’ll see a big improvement in performance and are looking forward to it. I’ll let you all know how they work together.

My MB didn’t come with a hard copy user manual. So I also had to look for a electronic copy. It’s funny, I also found several different versions of the Tyan MB manual showing 16 or 32 GB max memory. The latest shows the max memory at 32 Gb. Once I get the server upgraded with the new CPU, memory and stable, I want to try installing 32 GB memory. The memory is cheap so it’s worth a shot.

Thanks for all the responses and advice!

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In my opinion the real question is: 16gb single stick of DDR3 UDIMM exists? I never see them, only RDIMM/LRDIMM
This just for say that unless the mainboard does not have 4 slots, you will be limited to 16gb anyway :confused:

According to the specs I find on the internet for this MB, UDIMM, RDIMM or LRDIMM, can be used as long as they are not mixed.

Can you please educate me as to why UDIMM is a preference ?

I really think that the lack of documentation for this mainboard is confusing a lot everyone there :smile: also what is available is quite confusing itself!

i think you refer to that part…But i’m quite sure when i say, hoping you don’t have already buy RDIMM modules, that is not a preference but a requirement. Afaik this depends on the CPU, and Haswell Skylake ecc are not RDIMM compatible.
Wait other opinion to be 100% sure

Please, dint forget to update your BIOS on your MoBo.
I might be that support for 32GB was introduced by a BIOS update.

Same experience here! I could not buy or even seen for sale ever a 16GB DDR3 non-ECC RAM.

I received both the memory and the new CPU and things did not go well. Not wanting to complicate things anymore than they already are I opted to install the memory first. I booted to the bios and checked the memory and it showed 16GB but only running at 1333 MHz with no apparent way to change it in the bios. I double checked both sticks of memory, and they both were 1600MHz. After booting to TrueNas I checked the dashboard and it showed 16GB ECC.

I then moved to changing the CPU and thats when things really fell apart. it would not even get to the Megatrends logo, hanging up with only the number 55 showing on the bottom right of the screen. I attempted to reseat the CPU, memory, Sata plugs and still got nowhere. I reinstalled the old CPU with the same results. I also cleared the CMOS which had no effect.

Unfortunately, I have a previous commitment so I’ll have to sideline this project first a week or so.

totally legit, the celerino is not 1600mhz capable :smiley:
The Xeon will not have this problem.
About the worst part:

90%, this code mean that ram training fails/not detected.

Try one stick at time, in each slot, and see if something change

Thanks, I kinda figured that something needed to be reseated or contacts cleaned so, I’ll focus on that issue when I get back to it in a week or so.

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