Just just bought a Lenovo 720q with and i5-8400 processor for my home lab ($50).I’ll bring it up to 32MB memory and it will run proxmox. I want to add a 2.5gb ethernet port and I’ve identified four options.
- Add a riser and use a PCI card (apparently these cards run very hot and that could be an issue; also the most expensive especially if I get a 2 port adapter)
- replace the wireless card with a 2.5gb adapter (the adapters I’ve seen have the plug at right angles to the card and not sure if it will actually fit in the case).
- I could get an M.2 ethernet adapter (but then I don’t have any internal storage because there is only one m.2 storage slot)
- Use an external (USB) adapter (I already use this solution on a NUC8, but would prefer an internal solution)
I’m a bit confused if option 2 and option 3 can use either the M.2 slot or the wireless slot.
Has anyone used options 1-3 on an 8th generation tiny? Recommendations?
were any of the machines “tiny’s” ?? The question with option 2 is if the card and cable will fit in the tight space.