AbdulrahmanApr 15
Lucie / minute

MNT Station prelaunch page is finally online at @crowdsupply: https://www.crowdsupply.com/mnt-research/mnt-station

Subscribe by leaving your email there if you're interested in updates about our universal open hardware computer for your desktop, homelab, or wall-mounted edge device/router!

MNT Station

A modular, open hardware desktop computer and server

Crowd Supply
Apr 14 at 5:32pmWeb
Show threadLucie / minuteApr 14
many thanks @holo_memory and @bnys for getting the page up! the industrial design is done by Ana Dantas once again.
Show threadBruce ElrickApr 14
@mntmn @holo_memory @bnys
What version of USB are the external ports, if you don't mind? I assume something modern (3.1, 3.2, ? I can't keep track) but it would be nice to have the details on that page. Or is the USB version a function of the MNT Reform Processor Module?
Show threadLucie / minuteApr 14
@virtuous_sloth @holo_memory @bnys that's mostly depending on the processor module, correct!
Show thread지지 ᚠד (Jiji Freya Daniel), 黄法官Apr 15

@mntmn @holo_memory @bnys

It's so beautiful! 🥺

Love the LEDs, they are such a pretty finish. :3
🥳✨🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈

Show threadLucie / minuteApr 14
@crowdsupply BTW we've been using a bunch of these internally for development for a while already (for example as a dev setup for Quasar), and it's been really handy
Show threadpoleguy looking for lost toolsApr 14

@mntmn @crowdsupply I recently had my company order me a ThunderScope for my day job... I'm awaiting delivery.

Just today I was thinking that an MNT reform would work well as a controller/hub/visualization sever for my telemetry setup.

I'm currently using a RPI CM5 and Alchitry Pt FPGA board. But that means I'll have to roll my own battery setup, etc.

And now this post. Cool.

I think I'll try to get the company to buy MNT hardware for me to try out as a next gen platform.

#protonpack

Show threadLucie / minuteApr 14
@poleguy @crowdsupply oh neat, happy to hear! one can also make custom top plates with built-in display(s) for example
Show threadpoleguy looking for lost toolsApr 15

@mntmn @crowdsupply

I see you have two Kintex versions of the processor. That's very interesting to me as an #FPGA dev.

I'm generally a cheap-skate, so I look at the price of those and question the value proposition for an exploratory side project with no real aim, but on the other-hand, it is still cheaper than a lot of the dev boards.

I'm also thinking I would like to build a mash-up with my Alchitry Pt based FPGA design that has a pair of coax run to the transceivers for telemetry.

Show threadpoleguy looking for lost toolsApr 15

@mntmn @crowdsupply Adding a top plate with a screen is an interesting idea.

For pass one, my telemetry recording box will just have a power, switch, a toggle switch and some LED's: toggle it on to start recording and watch the LED's to be sure it is happily recording. Toggle it off to stop the recording.

No display, because we don't want the complexity and we would have to deal with emissions off the screen, which risk disrupting the RF signals we are looking at.

Show threadpoleguy looking for lost toolsApr 15

@mntmn @crowdsupply I do have longer-term thoughts of having some remote status monitoring as a second phase, and the idea of streaming some summary-status data over wifi/udp and having a MNT-reform-type device receive the multiple streams, build them into a dashboard and display them and/or stream them via websockets to a website/phone based browser so multiple people could monitor the system in real time.

That's a stretch goal.

Show threadpoleguy looking for lost toolsApr 15

@mntmn @crowdsupply Currently I'm using an FTDI FT600 based USB FIFO to get data into a CM5 to SSD.

I'm wondering if I could have a more direct FPGA to MCU to SSD flow if I built an adapter to plug a small FPGA (Artix 7 100?) with transceivers feeding directly in to the MNT-reform MCU. Maybe I could avoid FTDI and USB entirely.

Hmm... I'll have to read up on the architecture. Having open schematics opens up so many options. I love your work here. I hope corporate isn't a wet blanket.

Show threadJan Lehnardt Apr 14
@mntmn heellll yeah!
Show threadSam StephensonApr 14
@janl @mntmn I want one so badly
Show threadmnmlist  Apr 14
@mntmn sounds exciting .. subscribed ✅ @crowdsupply
Show threadCodingPanicApr 14
@mntmn @crowdsupply Finally an arm desktop (not made by Apple) with decent specs!
Show threadMoses IzumiApr 14
@mntmn @crowdsupply
How much will it cost compared to the laptops?

Honestly more interested in the idea of building laptops around small desktops (i.e thin clients, Optiplex Micros, ITX gaming rigs), but I suppose the Snapdragon version might be worth something as a quiet HTPC or server.
Show threadLucie / minuteApr 14
@moses_izumi @crowdsupply will be cheaper as you'll be able to get the case separately from the mainboard and the modules etc, so you can mix + match
Show threadjaxter184Apr 14
@mntmn congrats on the prelaunch! ~~out of curiosity, did you ever consider adding PoE headers?~~ ah, nvm, I thought this was a different PCB design, PoE on a laptop motherboard is admittedly a pretty niche feature.
Show threadlou.Apr 14

@mntmn @crowdsupply

Do you have any info on the expected price range for this yet?

Show threadTobiasApr 14
@mntmn @crowdsupply congrats!
Show threadAlexander CobleighApr 14
@mntmn @crowdsupply so freaking cool, congrats to the team on getting the crowdsupply page up!
Show threadstdevelApr 14
@mntmn @crowdsupply Very interesting device! Thrilled to see where this is going :)
Show threadRay McCarthyApr 14

@mntmn @crowdsupply
No expansion slots and only USB-C power means it's just like the MoBo in an all-in-one PC.

More use than a Rasberry Pi, but less use than a compact workstation with a couple of PCI-e slots or a real laptop (integrated screen and UPS).

It's too small.

Show threadLucie / minuteApr 14
@raymaccarthy @crowdsupply what do you mean by no expansion? there are at least 2x (3x with rk3588) internal pcie expansion options and 2x internal usb headers
Show threadRay McCarthyApr 14

@mntmn @crowdsupply
I couldn't see any PCIe slots. All I could see was a too compact PCB.
USB-C power wastes a port and limits consumption. Stupid even for a laptop. Only just acceptable on a tablet, if there is more than one USB-C port.

The EU USB-C mandate doesn't forbid additional connectors if needed.

It's better than a Raspberry Pi for projects that need more I/O and CPU, but not a replacement for a decent laptop or even a compact workstation.

It certainly deserves to succeed.

Show threadLucie / minuteApr 14
@raymaccarthy @crowdsupply but there is a secondary direct power connector on the board! JST-PH connector. you can feed in a wide range of voltages
Show threadRay McCarthyApr 14
@mntmn @crowdsupply
Good.
Show threadMutesplashApr 14
@mntmn I do like the idea of router, but needs more gbit ethernet
Show threadLucie / minuteApr 14
@Mutesplash can be added via mpcie, just needs one more port opening/cover on a long side maybe
Show threadMutesplashApr 14
@mntmn Interested in this because I just today upgraded internet and learned my old APUs cannot do line speed gigabit routing 😬 One of these guys have the juice?
Show threadLou.Apr 14
@Mutesplash @mntmn that remind me of the talk around the openwrt one.
Sure a router need a second gbit ethernet. IMO, more would be a waste. It's best to put a gbit switch in front of your router so you get as many port as you need in a much more affordable device.
Show threadMutesplashApr 14
@gkrnours Two is enough, more is gravy
Show threadchfkch  Apr 14
@mntmn
Will there be a version with 2x ethernet some day? For routers it
is good to have 2.
@crowdsupply
Show threadLucie / minuteApr 14
@chfkch @crowdsupply this is only prelaunch, so based on feedback we could still make changes like that
Show threadFlatFootFoxApr 14
@mntmn It's going to be so tempting to replace the MNT Station's lid with a small ortholinear keyboard PCB. 👀💦 Turn it into a proper little wedge computer.
Show threadLucie / minuteApr 14
@FlatFootFox haha oh yes
Show threadcrypt17Apr 15

@mntmn @crowdsupply any chance of getting one of these without a processor module?

I have two modules at the moment

Show threadLucie / minuteApr 15
@crypt17 @crowdsupply yes, of course!
Show threadcrypt17Apr 15
@mntmn @crowdsupply
nice I was looking at a mb 3.0 for my reform anyway
Show threadPatrickApr 15
@mntmn Those cases just look absolutely gorgeous 
Show threadAbdulrahmanApr 15
@mntmn @crowdsupply nice news 🔥🔥
Show threadBenisApr 15

@mntmn @crowdsupply

I am an ECC junkie for server use. LS1028A has ECC support but not the module you sell?

Show threadbreakfastApr 17

@mntmn @crowdsupply wish I had the need for a new pc or the money for one, but if both those conditions line up, I'd love to buy what yall are doing

these look great!!

Show threadr0ssApr 18
@mntmn @crowdsupply its MNT, of course I have already registered my interest, I value my right to computation and the devices are just so much fun!
Show threadunicoderApr 18

@mntmn @crowdsupply This looks really cool. I am a bit surprised about the distribution of USB-A and USB-C ports though. Neither USB type is going away any time soon, but having only one USB-C port available seems to be rather limiting. And if that USB-C port is already occupied by the power cable, you can't use it for something else.

This is just my 2c. Different people want to do different things with this device and many people might not need more than one USB-C port.