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Lenovo M920s workstation upgrade

  • 29-12-2024 03:45AM
    #1
    pillphil
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 793 ✭✭✭


    Probably should wait until the new GPUs are out to post this, but still interested in opinions before they're out.

    Posting this part for a friend

    I have a Lenovo M920s workstation I'm looking to convert into a usable gaming Pc. Mostly for gaming but I do some animation and rendering too.

    Looking to spend ~ €500.

    It has an i7-8700 and 64GB 2666 RAM and a 512GB M.2 SSD.

    Is there any point getting faster ram?

    I need a case, GPU, PSU and some way to convert the M.2 to work in a new case since Lenovo leave it sticking off the side of the Mobo with an additional plastic bracket.

    I was looking at 7600XT to leave budget for a case and PSU, but some reviews said it doesn't make sense since the mobo only has PCIE 3 (akaik)

    I already have the 24 Pin to 10 Pin ATX PSU adapter so that won't be an issue.

    Posting for myself

    I have a few of these M920s and i was wondering what leaving it in the SFF case and adding an SFF RTX 3050 would be like, can I add one of these without increasing the size of the PSU?

    or even would it be possible to add a better PSU and GPU but keep the sff case? guessing thermals would be an issue if i did?



Comments

  • #2
    K.O.Kiki
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,088 ✭✭✭✭K.O.Kiki


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058385888/lenovo-m920s-workstation-upgrade

    The problem with these SFF machines is that they're using non-standard (custom) motherboards, so you can't just put them into ATX-compliant cases because the screw holes are in the wrong positions.

    I'd look for a used LGA 1151v2 motherboard instead, e.g. this ASRock B365M - then you also don't have to faff about with a potentially dangerous ATX PSU adapter.

    As for making them into gaming PCs, a quick check with a PSU calculator gives power draw of ~236W for i7-8700 + RTX 3050. Doable but right on the limit of their best PSUs (260W Platinum) (PDF spec link).
    Again, they are proprietary so the 260W Platinum is the best you can put in them AFAIK.

    The Lenovo motherboard doesn't support DDR4 speeds faster than 2666 MHz so don't buy faster RAM.



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