MX on Leader Micro PC

[tascoast]

I received this compact device today and after some tinkering and updating the included W10 Pro it came with (will not support w11 which is fine for my purposes), I studied the installer instructions on boot partitions, made one in MX, rebooted to W10, checked boot flag and finally succeed in installing MX-23 and getting Grub working, showing the Win bootloader option along with the usual MX choices, by selecting ESP for the MX boot partition I needed (addressing the initial 'no UEFI found...' during installation).

I did need to use Win Disk Management to hide the MX partition, which was unexpected but simple to resolve.

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Snapshot created on: 20241226_0538
System:
  Kernel: 6.1.0-28-amd64 [6.1.119-1] arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 12.2.0
    parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-6.1.0-28-amd64 root=UUID=<filter> ro quiet splash
  Desktop: Xfce v: 4.18.1 tk: Gtk v: 3.24.36 info: xfce4-panel wm: xfwm v: 4.18.0 vt: 7
    dm: LightDM v: 1.26.0 Distro: MX-23.4_x64 Libretto January 21  2024 base: Debian GNU/Linux 12
    (bookworm)
Machine:
  Type: Laptop Mobo: Shuttle model: NC02U v: 1.0 serial: <superuser required>
    UEFI: American Megatrends v: 1.04 date: 10/27/2017
CPU:
  Info: model: Intel Core i5-6200U bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Skylake gen: core 6 level: v3
    note: check built: 2015 process: Intel 14nm family: 6 model-id: 0x4E (78) stepping: 3
    microcode: 0xF0
  Topology: cpus: 1x cores: 2 tpc: 2 threads: 4 smt: enabled cache: L1: 128 KiB
    desc: d-2x32 KiB; i-2x32 KiB L2: 512 KiB desc: 2x256 KiB L3: 3 MiB desc: 1x3 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 731 high: 1535 min/max: 400/2800 scaling: driver: intel_pstate
    governor: powersave cores: 1: 400 2: 400 3: 1535 4: 591 bogomips: 19200
  Flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx
  Vulnerabilities:
  Type: gather_data_sampling status: Vulnerable: No microcode
  Type: itlb_multihit status: KVM: VMX disabled
  Type: l1tf mitigation: PTE Inversion; VMX: conditional cache flushes, SMT vulnerable
  Type: mds mitigation: Clear CPU buffers; SMT vulnerable
  Type: meltdown mitigation: PTI
  Type: mmio_stale_data mitigation: Clear CPU buffers; SMT vulnerable
  Type: reg_file_data_sampling status: Not affected
  Type: retbleed mitigation: IBRS
  Type: spec_rstack_overflow status: Not affected
  Type: spec_store_bypass mitigation: Speculative Store Bypass disabled via prctl
  Type: spectre_v1 mitigation: usercopy/swapgs barriers and __user pointer sanitization
  Type: spectre_v2 mitigation: IBRS; IBPB: conditional; STIBP: conditional; RSB filling;
    PBRSB-eIBRS: Not affected; BHI: Not affected
  Type: srbds mitigation: Microcode
  Type: tsx_async_abort status: Not affected
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel Skylake GT2 [HD Graphics 520] vendor: Holco Enterprise Co /Shuttle driver: i915
    v: kernel arch: Gen-9 process: Intel 14n built: 2015-16 ports: active: HDMI-A-1
    empty: DP-1,HDMI-A-2 bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:1916 class-ID: 0300
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.7 compositor: xfwm v: 4.18.0 driver: X:
    loaded: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa dri: iris gpu: i915 display-ID: :0.0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1680x1050 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 444x277mm (17.48x10.91") s-diag: 523mm (20.6")
  Monitor-1: HDMI-A-1 mapped: HDMI-1 model: Samsung SyncMaster serial: <filter> built: 2008
    res: 1680x1050 hz: 60 dpi: 93 gamma: 1.2 size: 459x296mm (18.07x11.65") diag: 533mm (21")
    ratio: 3:2 modes: max: 1680x1050 min: 720x400
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6 Mesa 22.3.6 renderer: Mesa Intel HD Graphics 520 (SKL GT2)
    direct-render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel Sunrise Point-LP HD Audio vendor: Holco Enterprise Co /Shuttle
    driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel alternate: snd_soc_skl,snd_sof_pci_intel_skl bus-ID: 00:1f.3
    chip-ID: 8086:9d70 class-ID: 0403
  API: ALSA v: k6.1.0-28-amd64 status: kernel-api tools: alsamixer,amixer
  Server-1: PipeWire v: 1.0.0 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse status: active
    2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin 4: pw-jack type: plugin
    tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl
Network:
  Device-1: Intel I211 Gigabit Network vendor: Holco Enterprise Co /Shuttle driver: igb v: kernel
    pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: e000 bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 8086:1539
    class-ID: 0200
  IF: eth0 state: down mac: <filter>
  Device-2: Intel Wireless 3165 driver: iwlwifi v: kernel modules: wl pcie: gen: 1
    speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 02:00.0 chip-ID: 8086:3165 class-ID: 0280
  IF: wlan0 state: up mac: <filter>
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: Intel Bluetooth wireless interface type: USB driver: btusb v: 0.8 bus-ID: 1-2:2
    chip-ID: 8087:0a2a class-ID: e001
  Report: hciconfig ID: hci0 rfk-id: 1 state: up address: <filter> bt-v: 2.1 lmp-v: 4.2
    sub-v: 1000 hci-v: 4.2 rev: 1000
  Info: acl-mtu: 1021:5 sco-mtu: 96:6 link-policy: rswitch hold sniff
    link-mode: peripheral accept service-classes: rendering, capturing, object transfer, audio,
    telephony
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 232.89 GiB used: 12.71 GiB (5.5%)
  SMART Message: Unable to run smartctl. Root privileges required.
  ID-1: /dev/sda maj-min: 8:0 vendor: Crucial model: CT250MX500SSD4 size: 232.89 GiB block-size:
    physical: 4096 B logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s type: SSD serial: <filter> rev: 020 scheme: GPT
Partition:
  ID-1: / raw-size: 48.75 GiB size: 47.68 GiB (97.81%) used: 12.71 GiB (26.7%) fs: ext4
    dev: /dev/sda6 maj-min: 8:6
  ID-2: /boot/efi raw-size: 1024 MiB size: 1022 MiB (99.80%) used: 428 KiB (0.0%) fs: vfat
    dev: /dev/sda7 maj-min: 8:7
Swap:
  Kernel: swappiness: 15 (default 60) cache-pressure: 100 (default)
  ID-1: swap-1 type: file size: 3 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: -2 file: /swap/swap
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 59.0 C pch: 61.0 C mobo: N/A
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
Repos:
  Packages: pm: dpkg pkgs: 2307 libs: 1231 tools: apt,apt-get,aptitude,nala,synaptic pm: rpm
    pkgs: 0 pm: flatpak pkgs: 0
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian-stable-updates.list
    1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-updates main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian.list
    1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
    2: deb http://security.debian.org/debian-security bookworm-security main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.list
    1: deb [arch=amd64] https://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mx.list
    1: deb http://mirror.datamossa.io/mxlinux/mx/repo/ bookworm main non-free
Info:
  Processes: 199 Uptime: 0m wakeups: 1 Memory: 7.64 GiB used: 1.14 GiB (14.9%) Init: SysVinit
  v: 3.06 runlevel: 5 default: graphical tool: systemctl Compilers: gcc: 12.2.0 alt: 12
  Client: shell wrapper v: 5.2.15-release inxi: 3.3.26
Boot Mode: UEFI

[tascoast]

I initially tried importing MX as a VM in W10Pro but it ran a bit sluggishly.

MX via a Live USB was fine.

Installing my own MX Snapshot was very easy compared to updating the W10 part, which took so long as we all know!

MX runs really well anyway with the 8GB RAM and it's nice to have a compact machine to back up the old multi-boot MX desktop, now with a USB-C and HDMI socket to make use of.

I only wish there way a way to apply the Pro features to my Dell laptop (where MX is just a VM) W10home edition, but all this digital license stuff complicates things.

Anyway, the hardware and W10Pro cost me $120AU which was a bargain really.

PS. Office365 is charging like a wounded bull next time around so I anticipate more Libre Office users coming into the loop, linux and elsewhere.

[tascoast]

I opened the back (the two tiny screws are hard to relocate) and get this, which is convenient otherwise:



It took a bit of thinking as QSI doesn't seem to show RAM speed so I used this suggestion looking for Debian commands:

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$ sudo dmidecode --type 17
# dmidecode 3.4
Getting SMBIOS data from sysfs.
SMBIOS 3.0.0 present.

Handle 0x0043, DMI type 17, 40 bytes
Memory Device
	Array Handle: 0x0042
	Error Information Handle: Not Provided
	Total Width: Unknown
	Data Width: Unknown
	Size: No Module Installed
	Form Factor: Unknown
	Set: None
	Locator: ChannelA-DIMM0
	Bank Locator: BANK 0
	Type: Unknown
	Type Detail: None

Handle 0x0044, DMI type 17, 40 bytes
Memory Device
	Array Handle: 0x0042
	Error Information Handle: Not Provided
	Total Width: 64 bits
	Data Width: 64 bits
	Size: 8 GB
	Form Factor: SODIMM
	Set: None
	Locator: ChannelB-DIMM0
	Bank Locator: BANK 2
	Type: DDR3
	Type Detail: Synchronous
	Speed: 1600 MT/s
	Manufacturer: 1315
	Serial Number: 28944311
	Asset Tag: 9876543210
	Part Number: CT102464BF160B.C16
	Rank: 2
	Configured Memory Speed: 1600 MT/s
	Minimum Voltage: Unknown
	Maximum Voltage: Unknown
	Configured Voltage: 1.35 V

So now I plan to get a 1600 8GB RAM to match and know they will both use dual channel hardware efficiently, as I understand it, being matched for speed, if not exact manufacture.

The readily accessed HDD/SATA connector was a nice find, one I simply relocated to free the RAM slot space, for now.

[CatManDan]

try to pick the RAM based on the part number - this way, you make sure that not only the transfer speed is the same, but also the latencies.

[tascoast]

try to pick the RAM based on the part number - this way, you make sure that not only the transfer speed is the same, but also the latencies.

I'm not sure how close I am but went with "Crucial 8GB DDR3L 1600MHz PC3L-12800 204-Pin Sodimm memory LAPTOP RAM" off ebay for around the price of 3-4 good coffees here in Oz!

It's proven to be an economical unit so far, with ongoing power consumption being a consideration. I just need to wait around two weeks now for delivery, and think about another, economical second internal drive.

Thanks for the idea.

From Ebay purchase:

CAS Latency
11

Voltage
1.35V

Rank
2Rx8

ECC
No

Buffered/Registered
Unbuffered

Brand
Crucial

Type
DDR3L

Form Factor
SO-DIMM

Number of Modules
1

Bus Speed
PC3L-12800 (DDR3L-1600)

Total Capacity
8GB,16GB,32GB

Capacity per Module
8GB

Memory Features
Non-ECC Unbuffered

MPN
CT102464BF160B

Number of Pins
204

Country/Region of Manufacture
China

Custom Bundle
No

Item Height
30mm

Item Length
68mm

Item Width
3mm

Manufacturer Warranty
Lifetime

Model
Crucial 8GB DDR3L 1600MHz

[CatManDan]

Part number matches (MBN in your list) with the one from your dmidecode output, so should be fine for dual channel.