Seeed reServer: Intel Tiger Lake edge server and NAS in one bottle

Seeed Studio is well known for its developments, among which stand out single-board. Recently, her team presented an unusual project – a compact edge server and network attached storage (NAS).

The development is based on the Intel Tiger Lake processor. There are several configurations, the most productive includes the Core i7-1185GRE with four cores (eight instruction streams) and Intel Iris Xe graphics accelerator. The base frequency is 1.8 GHz, the maximum possible is 4.4 GHz.

The case dimensions are 124 x 132 x 230 mm, which makes it possible to fit two 3.5-inch SATA drives inside. There is also enough space inside for a powerful cooling system – you can use a factory one, or you can use a custom one.

The developers suggest using reServer as a universal network device. It can be useful for small offices, serve as a server in small companies. Also, the device can be used in robotics, healthcare, smart agricultural systems, etc.

One use for ordinary users is a 24/7 home media server + NAS. Device compatible with software such as FreeNAS, OpenMediaVault and Unraid.

Characteristics

Processor: Intel Core i3-1115G4 with 48 EU Intel UHD @ 400 – 1250MHz; 28W TDP, Intel Core i5 with 80 EU Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 @ 400-1300MHz; 28W TDP, Intel Core i7 with 96 EU Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 @ 400-1300MHz; 28W TDP.
Coprocessor: Microchip ATSAMD21G18 32-Bit Arm Cortex-M0 +
RAM: up to 64 GB DDR4-3200 SDRAM (two sockets)
ROM: 2x SATA III 6.0 Gb / s slots for 2.5 “and 3.5” drives, support for M.2 NVMe.
Video: 1x HDMI 2.0b, 1x DP1.4a, 1x DisplayPort USB-C USB 4.0 / Thunderbolt 4 (Core i7 only), 40-pin 4-lane eDP connector or SBC, up to 2 (Core i3 / i5) or 3 (Core i7) independent displays in NAS configuration.
Audio: Realtek High Definition Audio, built-in microphone + headphone jack, 3-pin 2.54mm S / PDIF header.
Network: 2x 2.5GbE RJ45 ports Intel i225, Intel WiFi 6 AX201 M.2 E module for Wi-FI 6 and Bluetooth 5.0, optional M.2 sockets wireless module for 4G / 5G, LoRaWAN, etc. slot for Micro SIM card, 4 x SMA connectors for antennas.
USB: Core i3 / i5 models – 1x USB 2.0 port, 1x USB 3.0 port; Core i7 model – 2x USB2.0 ports, 1x USB 4.0 / Thunderbolt 4 Type-C port, built-in 9-pin header with 2x USB 2.0.
Serial – 1x RS-232/422/485, 1x RS-232.
Additionally: LEDs Power Status, SATA status, 2 x 12V coolers, RTC battery with 3V / 210mAh backup battery.
Power supply: 12V via 5.5×2.5mm DC jack for all models, plus 12-19V USB PD for Core i7.
Dimensions: 230 (H) x 124 (W) x 132 (D) mm.
Weight: 1.8 kg.
Certification: CE, FCC, KC, TELEC.

Inside the case there is also an RS-232/422/485 port, a 28-pin Arduino coprocessor header, and a cooler header.

System equipped with two high speed 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports and supports hybrid connectivity including 5G, LoRaWAN, BLE and Wi-Fi. This connection is up to 250% more efficient than Gigabit Ethernet with compatible hardware and delivers speeds up to 5 Gbps using link aggregation.

Higher performance models also have Thunderbolt 4 ports, plus PCIe 4.0 x4 is supported. Basic performance models such as Core i3 lack Thunderbolt. Instead, they are equipped with PCIe 3.0 x4.

Core i3 models can be powered by a regular 12V power supply. Older models can be connected in the same way, but there is an alternative for them – a USB-C port.

Due to its small size (about 1/15 of a typical desktop PC case), the device can be placed anywhere, including a table, shelf, floor, etc.

As for the price, it begins from $ 649 for the i3 model. How much the older models cost is still unknown.