Lenovo ThinkCentre M75q Gen2 Tiny AMD Ryzen Based Review 

@Tano A lot of these incompatibilities are actually a direct cause of the C language refusing to keep up with the times. It leads to programmers bit banging protocols and making their own interfaces which are very rigid instead of using dynamic programming methods. With a more dynamic system a data stream is a data stream and where it comes from doesn't matter, but when a programmer only programs an interface for a specific set of protocols/circumstances any change causes issues. That is why on the net things are much more compatible and portable. C is the worst when it comes to these problems because it is so limited that developers will even make their own memory allocators. C++ at least somewhat keeps up with progress, so you see a lot less of it. Python is in my opinion the most popular system language that benefits from this progress. Sadly PIP is such a terrible mess that it gives node/npm competition. Having multiple sets of the same python libraries for each version and environment is a huge waste of space and when a bad configuration system that uses CMD prompts and a current working directory to control where things are installed it is a recipe for disaster. When installing FreeCAD plugins were trying to install into the wrong repository and into locations which were write-protected by Win10 and since I have over 10 Python installs (2.7, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8 and 3.9) for compatibility reasons, it cost me DAYS to get the mess sorted out. Not only should everything be installed in one repo, versioning should use subdirectories inside a libs own folder. That would keep things tidy and easily found. This rant is getting long, but I hope that in the future we get a fix for this idiocy because NodeJS/JS has destroyed the web development industry while System programming keeps getting more and more languages that each fix half the issues while introducing more of their own. Unless they gain acceptance like C has or compile down to Assembly they are not a fix at all and just create a more fractured ecosystem and of time.

@@excitedbox5705 Why is it a problem of the C language specifically? I am fine with it being left not 'modernized', in that it is a simple, easy to understand and does not do millions of abstractions for you, it does not hide away things, it makes you aware, makes you understand top to bottom. Indeed, maybe it is for people interested in doing the job properly, not half baked. With C, you have few things built-in, you learn the basics very well, which does not take you ages, because the base is tiny compared with other languages, and you are good to go. It makes you responsible, it makes you use your brain, it makes you improve yourself. With this responsibility comes great reward when you manage it properly. With a bunch of other languages, they have so many things that it is impossible for a novice to start writing and write proper code at the same time. Eventually you get tired, don't understand the purpose of a lot of stuff and misuse it because you do not know it well. But anyway, from your reply, I don't get any actual example of why C is bad... why coding your own stuff is specifically bad? C supports libraries just fine, just like C++ does, you can't tell me people build 'memory allocators' when working in C because they do not have a 'new' keyword like in C++. So, again, C is bad because some people do not know how to include and link a library, while in Python or whatever high level thing you mention some agent does it automatically behind the scenes for you, so that 90% of new users do not even know how it works? I don't think those types of guys write the software side of the USB stacks on printers and motherboards, though. People that do serious stuff choose C because it is friendly enough for a human, yet very close to how the machine actually works, which benefits in a lot of scenarios. You're not coding on a hypothetical Turing machine, you are coding on a real one, where computer science theories like O complexities matter, of course, but there are a ton of other things like L caches, certain instructions performing better, scheduling choices, interrupts and many more...

It’s not just printers. Some wireless mice don’t play nice with USB 3.x either. My Razer Atheris is one such example. USB 3.x results in erratic performance, where 2.0 and BT work just fine.

Should still be all USB 3.0 ports on the machine. In the extreme niche case where you have a machine that won’t work on USB 3.0 use a USB 2.0 extension cable to force it to work.

One of the best designs of all time, i love the design of almost every gadget who is styled like the ps2

We're buying new laptops, new MacMini's and new Lenovo Tiny's with 24 hour turnaround. We work with CDW and they keep a healthy amount in stock so we're promised quick shipping. You really need to find better suppliers. We're having zero issues standardizing builds and having them shipped quickly. No clue where you're trying to buy from. Our pricing has been better than what we've found on Amazon so we're happy there as well.

@@lexwaldez Idk, I am not from the US, I am from Europe. The situation is indeed even shittier here. I mean, as usual, if it were good, they wouldn’t have left looking to get to India...

The ~$530 version is the one that Lenovo canceled. I had the 128GB SSD and a dust cover so it was a bit more but otherwise the same.

@@ServeTheHomeVideo The first one i ordered was canceled, but it worked the second time i ordered(took about 3 weeks to show the first unit had been canceled) My co-worker ordered the same thing but without USB-C and didnt have issues. CDWG has the thing listed as EOL for some reason. But has, as far as i can tell, an identical one that still shows as backordered. I wonder if there wasnt an issue with some part on the motherboard, as all of the listed parts are exactly the same model, from the RAM, and WD hard drive, to the intel WiFi

@@denvera1g1 Almost as though there is a supply chain disruption/ supply constraint somewhere :-)

how is the fan noise? does it switch off completely during light tasks? How soon does it kick in? Do you have any coil whine? Would be super helpful :)

@@simonb.979 The fan can get loud, i dont have a DB meter but think a bit more quiet than a gaming laptop with nvidia XX60 class card. The fan does not shut off completely for me, but that might because i have it inside of a monitor(barely audible while browsing youtube if you stick your ear up next to the monitor's exhaust). If you dont want it to get loud under full load keep it at 3Ghz it should be nice and quiet. I havent noticed any coil wine but i'm using the 90w adapter that came with the monitor

you can get that with 15-25 watts

@@JasperSchwinghammer where?

@@denispalt9184 AMD 4000U and 5000U series are both 15W chips with up to 8 cores.

@@GeoStreber right :) i pref my 4350G though :) 35W are fine and base clock is higher 4000U should be amazing in laptops

Well then Apple's M1 is even way way more amazeballs.

Watch out for the realtek nics :) Took me a couple of minutes on my asrock deskmini x300 with proxmox

We certainly have those. I can try but probably after the Milan/ Ice launches. We have the 135W bricks from other systems.

In this segment, these are still the current gen. 5000 series Zen 3 is currently for desktops. I expect that to change soon, but we cannot review products that are not yet released for the 1L segment.

@@ServeTheHomeVideo of course and if this certainly not a jab at you guys It's mostly I'm hoping for a time when laptop parts and apus get same gen releases. Also looking to having more laptop apus in these sub 1L boxes. Like I said I'm a power saving junkie 😅

@@ServeTheHomeVideo hey Patrick, the m75q gen2 is available with a zen3 5650ge at the same price as the zen2 4750ge. Interested in doing a test? I have one you can borrow.

@@siriusroadster Hey David, thanks for the kind offer. We are 100% swamped between now and Christmas. I may order one and see if I can play with it over the break

Depends on whether you have 1, or 1000.

COM(Serial) ports ARE STILL around. Though they are just usually headers on a motherboard now.

I know I'm late but: watch?v=1PGveFN4AkU

@@AndrewStrydomBRP So does one just purchase two dual rank SODIMMs to get the performance of dual rank? Is the motherboard compatible with both single and dual rank?

@@MicheIIePucca If you install dual channel memory then you will get dual channel performance, make sure the sticks both match sizes. I cannot tell you much else since I don't have this but i recall it does support dua channel from watching that video 4 months back.

I actually have that setup mounted on trussing to control the studio.

No video on that one. Nich has a guide on the STH main site linked in the description

The intel Mac mini would work, RAM is upgradable so I would just upgrade CPU and/or SSD and then upgrade ram for cheap. I can't think of any other common machines this size with TB3, there should be more, so nice to have a PCIe 4x interface in a USB-C connector.

The tinies of the 3rd generation can get a Thunderbolt PCI Card. (So M720q, M920q, P330, P340)

@Tano The M720q, M920q and P330 P340 have a small (8x iirc) PCI slot. FRU 01AJ929 if you want to look it up.

This is a WD SN730 which is the same as we have seen in a few units such as the m90n Nano

The CPU supports it. I have a Ryzen PRO 4650G on a cheap ass 70€ ASUS TUF A520M-PLUS running with 2x 16GB Samsung DDR4-2666 Unbuffered ECC RAM. I have validated error reporting using mild overclock under Linux (Kernel 5.8), so you get notified via OS, whenever a corrected / uncorrectable error occurs. However, the mainboard needs to support it aswell. And I can't answer that for this Lenovo system. Either way: if you're your own boss or in home use scenarios, going down this route is fine. If you have a job to lose, or this is for mission critical stuff, look for something else.

Not ECC, but if the RAM claims can run @ 3200 but only when on 1.35v, not 1.2 v (such as Crucial ballistic 3200), then the RAM will only run at 2666. The BIOS has no setting to raise the ram slot voltage above 1.2

You can drive three displays, but you need the optional slot(s) configured. This may help psref.lenovo.com/syspool/Sys/PDF/ThinkCentre/ThinkCentre_M75q_Gen_2/ThinkCentre_M75q_Gen_2_Spec.PDF

If price is equal, M90q Gen2. The M75q Gen2 has been hard to find so prices have been higher. We will talk about it in the next week or two when we have the piece on the M75q Gen2 with the Ryzen 5000 series

35W TDP CPUs are not so bad heat wise for AMD.

Dell's Intel-only stance in the segment means only the HP 805 Mini line is comparable to what Lenovo has here.

At some point the technology transition needs to happen though. With WiFi 6, wired connections need to get faster to keep pace with WiFi speed increases.

@@ServeTheHomeVideo in practical conditions wifi 6 still rarely beats gigabit ethernet

@@tommihommi1 Totally true, with WiFi 6e that will be more common though. Years ago wired was the much faster and more reliable option. It still is, but 2.5GbE helps maintain the advantages over wireless.

@@ServeTheHomeVideo 10Gbit ethernet FTW

I am not sure of the part number, but it is in the configurator.

Search Lenovo 5C50W31953. Or, from Lenovo m75q gen 2 support page parts section, choose "cards misc internal" type

@@finallyOK thank you so much for your reply! Is it possible to us it in the M720q model as that is the model I have.

@@failensouljah I think not, for your one, seems 01AJ9131 or 01AJ914. Do your search, using the method I mentioned , i.e., m720q support, click parts, then the type from drop-down category. You can also call Lenovo for parts help or get confirmation for your own search result. RU-vid won't let me post url

@@failensouljah 01AJ950 if you mean adding a usbc to the punch out port

I kind of am in the same league ok with 1or 2 usb2 ports. But what I do not like in this model is on the back, one of the 2 usb3 port is specially for keyboard use. Only hooking to that port you can power on using keyboard. So you either lose one usb3 port to lowly keyboard use or lose keyboard power on feature. There are also 2 usb2 ports on the back. Why not dedicate a usb2 port for keyboard power on feature. Such feature has been existed since before usb3 came into being . Sine Lenovo enables this pc be mounted and hide on the back of a monitor, using keyboard to power on is important as the pc power button can be hard to reach.

Production cannot catchup with demand, and the next generation ryzen being released.

Not in the platform though.

@@ServeTheHomeVideo have you tried it? Because the pro can do it and even the non pros are able to but not validated... I have a few system that say it doesn't work but if you do insert ecc ram they work fine.

This 4750ge is the most powerful APU currently. It’s far far ahead of any generations of intel GPU

These use Lenovo notebook adapters so the bigger issue is that you need to have the correct plug. Still, easy to get something that works.

@@ServeTheHomeVideo Thank you! If it is a laptop power brick, it would most likely be dual 110-220 V I assume

I think it is to get a better WiFi signal. Actually somewhat cool since you can put a huge directional antenna if you wanted to

It is going to have to be a push from customers in this segment to make it happen.

Maybe you have ECC Bufferred model. You might need ECC Unbufferred

@@muhammadsalman7714 Nope - Unbuffered for sure! Works fine in my Synology devices

theoretically these chips have just as much PCIe as the intel counterpart. Lenovo just chose not to populate the second m.2 slot

These often come (even at sub $300) with keyboards can mice. They often have higher-TDP CPUs so are faster (35w v. 15W U series.) No Lithium battery to worry about. Often people are using these with existing monitors, TVs, or as remotely accessed nodes with a fairly solid set of I/O including wired networking.

@@ServeTheHomeVideo I guess you have a point and I agree with you but I've never been able to find a combo like you mention at sub $300. Prices seem to jump as soon as the deal is noticed. I don't have time or patience to wait and watch for those deals. Sometimes its easier just to find a $2-300 laptop and be done with it.

A better form factor for the 10 ft interface. My smarter TV beat up your fire stick.

@@DotThei 🤣

Ryzen 5000 series is not out yet for this segment. The mobile SKUs just launched this week www.servethehome.com/amd-ryzen-pro-5000-series-mobile-launch/

@@ServeTheHomeVideo I guess my perception is warped then due to zen 3 being around for some while. But what is the difference for this 1 liter segment? I thought the CPUs where the same as the mobile CPUs for laptops? Maybe you can explain that in a video.

Still have to wait for YT to add them.

M.2 is technically PCIe :-)

Get you mind out of the gutter