Tinkering with Fujitsu FUTRO S930
2624 words, 13 minutes
After watching Wolfgang’s review of the S920 , I went for chasing one and found a refurbished Fujitsu FUTRO S930 for 54€. I bought it with a few extra electronics parts and tested it with a few FOSS operating systems I know.
Hardware
My Fujitsu FUTRO S930 came with an AMD GX-424CC, 4GB of RAM and a 16GB mSATA Innodisk storage.
I started replacing the RAM with two spare 8GB DDR3 SDRAM PC3-12800 SO-DIMM I had. They are properly seen at the BIOS. And OSes can now deal with 16GB of RAM!
Given that I want to turn it into a hypervisor, I will use the SATA and PCIe connectors to add storage. To do that, I removed the extra COM port and the speaker.
The SATA port is hidden behind the heatsink. And the heatsink is attached to some back bracket. You need to detach the motherboard from the case to manipulate it properly.
To connect a 2.5" SATA SSD, I bought a StarTech 12" SATA to Right Angle cable (LSATA12RA1) and a noname USB 9 pins to 2.5" SATA power cable. Once connected, the heatsink can be screwed back and there is a little gap between it and the cable.
To connect an NVMe drive, I bought an OTOTEC PCI-E 4X Riser Adapter Compatible with Computer Server 1U/2U and a GLOTRENDS PA22110 M.2 NVMe to PCIe 4.0 X4 Adapter for 22110 M.2 NVMe SSD. Those don’t require the motherboard to be taken out of the case. The hardware I got fit really tight. But the BIOS and the OSes don’t seem to complain. The machine now has a 16GB mSATA, a 4TB SATA and a 1TB NVMe drives.
The S930 has DVI and DisplayPort outputs. By default, mine was configured to use DVI. So I couldn’t get any output until I bought a noname DVI to HDMI adapter so that I can connect my 4K monitor using HDMI. Once in the BIOS, there are options to use one output or the other. It can also be set to “auto”.
EDIT 2025-05-28: the S930 required input DC is ( 19-20V; 2.0A or 3.25A ).
Using a PD 100W (5A) USB to Male Jack adapter (5.5mm / 2.5mm) with a
USB-C powerbrick ( 20.0V; 3.25A; 65.0W ), the S930 can be powered and
work properly. The powerbrick is a spare one for USB-C laptops. The
adapter was found on a well-known Chinese marketplace.
Software performance
I connected a Fibaro Switch to the powerbrick so that I could keep an eye on power consumption while doing my testings. Note that when powered off, the S930 still draws 1.9W out of the wall. That’s probably due to its Wake-On-LAN and Remote Power On/Off features.
I installed several OSes and tested the hardware using the same commands. OS is installed on the mSATA; not the brightest idea to use this machine as a workstation. But it does the job pretty well when used as a server.
The S930 is connected to a tp-link gigabit switch. Networking bandwidth tests are processed towards a Linux server driven by a 12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-1255U with 64GB of RAM and an Intel I226-V ethernet controller.
Disclaimer: Those numbers are what I got, using simple observations, not scientific benchmarks. Don’t start an OS flame war using those, this would be absolute dumbness.
Debian GNU/Linux 13
While booting, the system draws about 20W out of the wall. Then, when idling, it draws about 8W. Storage was formatted using EXT4.
Network stress according to iperf3 used about 10.4W.
$ iperf3 -c example.com -n 24G
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr
[ 5] 0.00-218.98 sec 24.0 GBytes 941 Mbits/sec 0 sender
[ 5] 0.00-218.98 sec 24.0 GBytes 941 Mbits/sec receiver
An overall system test used about 25W.
# stress --cpu 2 --io 1 --vm 1 --vm-bytes 4G --hdd 1 --timeout 1m
Testing the mSATA storage used between 9 to 11W.
$ /usr/sbin/bonnie++ -d /home/joel -r 2048
(...)
Version 2.00a ------Sequential Output------ --Sequential Input- --Random-
-Per Chr- --Block-- -Rewrite- -Per Chr- --Block-- --Seeks--
Name:Size etc /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP
debian 4G 214k 99 31.4m 17 40.4m 9 705k 99 1.7g 99 4421 94
Latency 69782us 762ms 278ms 14797us 96us 2843us
Version 2.00a ------Sequential Create------ --------Random Create--------
debian -Create-- --Read--- -Delete-- -Create-- --Read--- -Delete--
files /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP
16 16384 76 +++++ +++ 16384 70 16384 77 +++++ +++ 16384 69
Latency 322us 826us 956us 27868us 72us 653us
1.98,2.00a,debian,1,1747863712,4G,,8192,5,214,99,32113,17,41359,9,705,99,1794776,99,4421,94,16,,,,,16112,76,+++++,+++,25416,70,17270,77,+++++,+++,24548,69,69782us,762ms,278ms,14797us,96us,2843us,322us,826us,956us,27868us,72us,653us
Testing the NVMe and SATA storage needed between 17 and 21W.
$ /usr/sbin/bonnie++ -d /mnt/nvme -r 16384
(...)
Version 2.00a ------Sequential Output------ --Sequential Input- --Random-
-Per Chr- --Block-- -Rewrite- -Per Chr- --Block-- --Seeks--
Name:Size etc /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP
debian 32G 210k 99 346m 98 243m 67 498k 99 669m 81 2605 137
Latency 71466us 23890us 32526us 25616us 6633us 6050us
Version 2.00a ------Sequential Create------ --------Random Create--------
debian -Create-- --Read--- -Delete-- -Create-- --Read--- -Delete--
files /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP
16 16384 97 +++++ +++ +++++ +++ 16384 97 +++++ +++ +++++ +++
Latency 339us 607us 737us 246us 68us 679us
1.98,2.00a,debian,1,1747867716,32G,,8192,5,210,99,354335,98,248883,67,498,99,685072,81,2605,137,16,,,,,20778,97,+++++,+++,+++++,+++,22519,97,+++++,+++,+++++,+++,71466us,23890us,32526us,25616us,6633us,6050us,339us,607us,737us,246us,68us,679us
$ /usr/sbin/bonnie++ -d /mnt/sata -r 16384
(...)
Version 2.00a ------Sequential Output------ --Sequential Input- --Random-
-Per Chr- --Block-- -Rewrite- -Per Chr- --Block-- --Seeks--
Name:Size etc /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP
debian 32G 203k 99 343m 97 199m 55 682k 99 480m 62 2571 137
Latency 74946us 27175us 62126us 13988us 9541us 4582us
Version 2.00a ------Sequential Create------ --------Random Create--------
debian -Create-- --Read--- -Delete-- -Create-- --Read--- -Delete--
files /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP
16 16384 94 +++++ +++ +++++ +++ 16384 96 +++++ +++ 16384 92
Latency 339us 1001us 737us 5373us 51us 802us
1.98,2.00a,debian,1,1747868663,32G,,8192,5,203,99,351046,97,203592,55,682,99,491341,62,2571,137,16,,,,,19885,94,+++++,+++,+++++,+++,21621,96,+++++,+++,32659,92,74946us,27175us,62126us,13988us,9541us,4582us,339us,1001us,737us,5373us,51us,802us
According to htop, during all those testings, the temperature didn’t go above 53°C.
Watching a 4K video @1080p resolution from YouTube using Firefox ESR used 80% CPU usage. Any greater resolution leaded to lots of framedrops.
Using powertop --autotune didn’t show any benefits on this machine.
FreeBSD 14.2
The FreeBSD dmesg is available here and there .
During installation, power consumption was about 12.4W with pikes at
20W. After the first boot, idling used about 10W. Running
freebsd-update fetch and freebsd-update install drew from 17 to 20W
out of the wall. All storage was formatted using ZFS; one single pool
for each of those. Defaults parameters were used.
Network performance stress according to iperf3 used about 17.5W:
$ iperf3 -c example.com -n 24G
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr
[ 5] 0.00-219.00 sec 24.0 GBytes 941 Mbits/sec 374 sender
[ 5] 0.00-219.00 sec 24.0 GBytes 941 Mbits/sec receiver
An overall system test used about 25.7W.
$ stress --cpu 2 --io 1 --vm 1 --vm-bytes 4G --hdd 1 --timeout 1m
stress: info: [21210] dispatching hogs: 2 cpu, 1 io, 1 vm, 1 hdd
stress: info: [21210] successful run completed in 65s
Testing the mSATA storage used about 18.5W.
$ bonnie++ -d /home/joel -r 2048
(...)
Version 1.98 ------Sequential Output------ --Sequential Input- --Random-
-Per Chr- --Block-- -Rewrite- -Per Chr- --Block-- --Seeks--
Name:Size etc /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP
fujitsu 4G 94k 93 14.5m 2 203m 57 207k 99 828m 99 12189 1106
Latency 141ms 728ms 635ms 47595us 174us 33099us
Version 1.98 ------Sequential Create------ --------Random Create--------
fujitsu -Create-- --Read--- -Delete-- -Create-- --Read--- -Delete--
files /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP
16 24178.141603 93 +++++ +++ 20886.845666 97 24781.403685 93 +++++ +++ 20635.202968 94
Latency 2129us 87us 158us 2045us 70us 154us
1.98,1.98,fujitsu,1,1747928757,4G,,8192,5,94,93,14825,2,207767,57,207,99,847640,99,12189,1106,16,,,,,24178,93,+++++,+++,20886,97,24781,93,+++++,+++,20635,94,141ms,728ms,635ms,47595us,174us,33099us,2129us,87us,158us,2045us,70us,154us
Testing the NVMe and SATA storage needed between 19.1 and 20.6W.
$ bonnie++ -d /nvme -r 16384
(...)
Version 1.98 ------Sequential Output------ --Sequential Input- --Random-
-Per Chr- --Block-- -Rewrite- -Per Chr- --Block-- --Seeks--
Name:Size etc /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP
fujitsu 32G 108k 99 496m 96 345m 96 194k 99 794m 99 +++++ +++
Latency 146ms 28472us 24201us 61861us 183us 3216us
Version 1.98 ------Sequential Create------ --------Random Create--------
fujitsu -Create-- --Read--- -Delete-- -Create-- --Read--- -Delete--
files /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP
16 26100.516901 99 +++++ +++ 22235.376694 99 26438.041806 98 +++++ +++ 21645.647697 99
Latency 2056us 90us 130us 2084us 67us 153us
1.98,1.98,fujitsu,1,1747939382,32G,,8192,5,108,99,507608,96,353448,96,194,99,813330,99,+++++,+++,16,,,,,26100,99,+++++,+++,22235,99,26438,98,+++++,+++,21645,99,146ms,28472us,24201us,61861us,183us,3216us,2056us,90us,130us,2084us,67us,153us
$ bonnie++ -d /sata -r 16384
(...)
Version 1.98 ------Sequential Output------ --Sequential Input- --Random-
-Per Chr- --Block-- -Rewrite- -Per Chr- --Block-- --Seeks--
Name:Size etc /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP
fujitsu 32G 107k 99 499m 96 348m 97 196k 99 795m 99 +++++ +++
Latency 147ms 30299us 47122us 70890us 176us 2948us
Version 1.98 ------Sequential Create------ --------Random Create--------
fujitsu -Create-- --Read--- -Delete-- -Create-- --Read--- -Delete--
files /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP
16 26428.067474 99 +++++ +++ 22464.481115 99 26408.851773 99 +++++ +++ 22379.303004 99
Latency 2071us 77us 128us 2049us 61us 126us
1.98,1.98,fujitsu,1,1747940960,32G,,8192,5,107,99,510884,96,356081,97,196,99,813671,99,+++++,+++,16,,,,,26428,99,+++++,+++,22464,99,26408,99,+++++,+++,22379,99,147ms,30299us,47122us,70890us,176us,2948us,2071us,77us,128us,2049us,61us,126us
I tried running X11 but I could never had it working properly; whether
using the amdgpu or the radeonkms KMS driver. I was stuck with a
black screen although nothing special popped up in Xorg.0.log.
OpenBSD 7.7
The OpenBSD dmesg is available here and there .
During installation, about 17.4W was required. After the first boot, and
when idling, 11W was drawn from the wall. Enabling apmd didn’t change
idle consumption.
I had to reinstall the OS as the default partitioning didn’t left me much free space to install software and run tests. A single 16GB partition allowed me to run the “benchmarks”.
Network performance tests according to iperf3 used about 15.9W. Temperature never went above 50°C.
$ iperf3 -c example.com -n 24G
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr
[ 4] 0.00-247.04 sec 24.0 GBytes 835 Mbits/sec 0 sender
[ 4] 0.00-247.03 sec 24.0 GBytes 835 Mbits/sec receiver
An overall system test used about 17.3W and temperature was 49°C.
# stress --cpu 2 --io 1 --vm 1 --vm-bytes 4G --hdd 1 --timeout 1m
Testing the mSATA storage used about 12.7W.
# bonnie++ -u joel -d /usr/obj -r 2048
(...)
Version 1.97 ------Sequential Output------ --Sequential Input- --Random-
Concurrency 1 -Per Chr- --Block-- -Rewrite- -Per Chr- --Block-- --Seeks--
Machine Size K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP /sec %CP
fujitsu.home.arp 4G 276 89 9584 2 12929 4 455 90 904645 90 614.1 29
Latency 48259us 2609ms 2007ms 38670us 20495us 11675ms
Version 1.97 ------Sequential Create------ --------Random Create--------
fujitsu.home.arpa -Create-- --Read--- -Delete-- -Create-- --Read--- -Delete--
files /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP
16 42 0 +++++ +++ 72 0 32 0 +++++ +++ 84 0
Latency 461ms 10222us 632ms 258ms 10228us 2974ms
1.97,1.97,fujitsu.home.arpa,1,1747931802,4G,,276,89,9584,2,12929,4,455,90,904645,90,614.1,29,16,,,,,42,0,+++++,+++,72,0,32,0,+++++,+++,84,0,48259us,2609ms,2007ms,38670us,20495us,11675ms,461ms,10222us,632ms,258ms,10228us,2974ms
Testing the NVMe and SATA storage needed between 17.1 and 20W.
# bonnie++ -u joel -d /mnt/nvme -r 16384
(...)
Version 1.97 ------Sequential Output------ --Sequential Input- --Random-
Concurrency 1 -Per Chr- --Block-- -Rewrite- -Per Chr- --Block-- --Seeks--
Machine Size K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP /sec %CP
fujitsu.home.ar 32G 296 90 319003 96 128434 45 400 99 248352 53 1733 253
Latency 47678us 20953us 31690us 39207us 20968us 86640us
Version 1.97 ------Sequential Create------ --------Random Create--------
fujitsu.home.arpa -Create-- --Read--- -Delete-- -Create-- --Read--- -Delete--
files /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP
16 4221 17 +++++ +++ 7066 21 4635 20 +++++ +++ 7821 19
Latency 20769us 21061us 20601us 20667us 10210us 20600us
1.97,1.97,fujitsu.home.arpa,1,1747999792,32G,,296,90,319003,96,128434,45,400,99,248352,53,1733,253,16,,,,,4221,17,+++++,+++,7066,21,4635,20,+++++,+++,7821,19,47678us,20953us,31690us,39207us,20968us,86640us,20769us,21061us,20601us,20667us,10210us,20600us
# bonnie++ -u joel -d /mnt/sata -r 16384
(...)
Version 1.97 ------Sequential Output------ --Sequential Input- --Random-
Concurrency 1 -Per Chr- --Block-- -Rewrite- -Per Chr- --Block-- --Seeks--
Machine Size K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP /sec %CP
fujitsu.home.ar 32G 298 90 326013 97 111869 41 399 98 200350 44 1634 192
Latency 47984us 20842us 26323us 41746us 25943us 121ms
Version 1.97 ------Sequential Create------ --------Random Create--------
fujitsu.home.arpa -Create-- --Read--- -Delete-- -Create-- --Read--- -Delete--
files /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP
16 3305 10 +++++ +++ 5083 15 3293 13 +++++ +++ 5245 11
Latency 20241us 20485us 20658us 20709us 10207us 20721us
1.97,1.97,fujitsu.home.arpa,1,1747988540,32G,,298,90,326013,97,111869,41,399,98,200350,44,1634,192,16,,,,,3305,10,+++++,+++,5083,15,3293,13,+++++,+++,5245,11,47984us,20842us,26323us,41746us,25943us,121ms,20241us,20485us,20658us,20709us,10207us,20721us
I could install and run Xfce and Firefox ESR. It was quite sluggish, probably because of the mSATA installation. But Firefox and mpv couldn’t display a 1080p video properly. So even installed on SATA, this machine would not make a great OpenBSD workstation, for me.
OmniOS r151054
The installation went smooth and drew between 17 and 20W out of the wall. After the first boot and while idling, it used about 11W.
Network performance tests using iperf3 used about 16.3W.
$ iperf3 -c example.com -n 24G
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate
[ 6] 0.00-242.00 sec 24.0 GBytes 852 Mbits/sec sender
[ 6] 0.00-243.26 sec 24.0 GBytes 847 Mbits/sec receiver
An overall system test used about 24.5W.
# stress-ng --cpu 2 --io 1 --vm 1 --vm-bytes 4G --hdd 1 --timeout 1m
Testing the mSATA storage used about 18.7W.
# bonnie++ -u joel -d /home/joel -r 2048
(...)
Version 1.98 ------Sequential Output------ --Sequential Input- --Random-
-Per Chr- --Block-- -Rewrite- -Per Chr- --Block-- --Seeks--
Name:Size etc /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP
fujitsu 4G 35k 99 19.6m 10 12.9m 11 32k 99 98.9m 99 13221 498
Latency 597ms 427ms 12624us 267ms 12107us 17156us
Version 1.98 ------Sequential Create------ --------Random Create--------
fujitsu -Create-- --Read--- -Delete-- -Create-- --Read--- -Delete--
files /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP
16 9168 56 +++++ +++ 3191 88 3008 78 +++++ +++ 3187 87
Latency 3958us 5002us 1049us 17088us 96us 3535us
1.98,1.98,fujitsu,1,1748177154,4G,,8192,5,35,99,20085,10,13173,11,32,99,101285,99,13221,498,16,,,,,9168,56,+++++,+++,3191,88,3008,78,+++++,+++,3187,87,597ms,427ms,12624us,267ms,12107us,17156us,3958us,5002us,1049us,17088us,96us,3535us
Testing the NVMe and SATA storage needed between 19.9 and 21.2W.
# bonnie++ -u joel -d /nvme -r 16384
(...)
Version 1.98 ------Sequential Output------ --Sequential Input- --Random-
-Per Chr- --Block-- -Rewrite- -Per Chr- --Block-- --Seeks--
Name:Size etc /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP
fujitsu 4G 40k 99 198m 93 88.6m 97 67k 99 88.1m 99 +++++ +++
Latency 578ms 67432us 22540us 268ms 10708us 22854us
Version 1.98 ------Sequential Create------ --------Random Create--------
fujitsu -Create-- --Read--- -Delete-- -Create-- --Read--- -Delete--
files /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP
16 3812 98 +++++ +++ 3565 96 3752 97 +++++ +++ 3601 97
Latency 17823us 473us 1110us 17100us 136us 1293us
1.98,1.98,fujitsu,1,1748177991,4G,,8192,5,40,99,203026,93,90749,97,67,99,90171,99,+++++,+++,16,,,,,3812,98,+++++,+++,3565,96,3752,97,+++++,+++,3601,97,578ms,67432us,22540us,268ms,10708us,22854us,17823us,473us,1110us,17100us,136us,1293us
# bonnie++ -u joel -d /sata -r 16384
(...)
Version 1.98 ------Sequential Output------ --Sequential Input- --Random-
-Per Chr- --Block-- -Rewrite- -Per Chr- --Block-- --Seeks--
Name:Size etc /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP
fujitsu 4G 46k 99 204m 97 95.2m 98 145k 99 98.4m 99 +++++ +++
Latency 566ms 46970us 11109us 83596us 2638us 23909us
Version 1.98 ------Sequential Create------ --------Random Create--------
fujitsu -Create-- --Read--- -Delete-- -Create-- --Read--- -Delete--
files /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP
16 13542 77 +++++ +++ 13335 90 16412 90 +++++ +++ 15187 84
Latency 3676us 142us 1127us 3705us 86us 276us
1.98,1.98,fujitsu,1,1748179536,4G,,8192,5,46,99,208878,97,97461,98,145,99,100719,99,+++++,+++,16,,,,,13542,77,+++++,+++,13335,90,16412,90,+++++,+++,15187,84,566ms,46970us,11109us,83596us,2638us,23909us,3676us,142us,1127us,3705us,86us,276us
Final thoughts
Regarding hardware, this little piece of hardware is really nice. It is
fanless, it has nice custom capability and it doesn’t use much of power.
That said, it basically uses the same amount of power than my Topton
GM1 with an Intel Core i7-1255Y and 64GB of
RAM
.
The S930 is 10th the price of the Topton. But it is also probably 5
times less powerful. So make your choice according to your priorities :)
Regarding software, I was pleased to see every OSes nearly performed the same.
They do not behave the exact same way but they all have pros/cons. For example, as I don’t want to use Linux, I’m happy to see FreeBSD performing that good with storage and see OpenBSD capable of that network throughput while using little power.
I was not sure which OS to use for this HomeLab machine. Now I know.