Kitz Forum

Broadband Related => Broadband Hardware => Topic started by: phi2008 on October 03, 2017, 01:25:08 PM

Title: Just got lucky on eBay ...
Post by: phi2008 on October 03, 2017, 01:25:08 PM: Been through lots of routers in my time Tp-Link, Cisco, Juniper, Linksys, Ubiquiti, etc - if they're expensive I just tend to use them for a while, for fun, and pass them on. Just got an absolute bargain from eBay that was listed as "parts or repair", but in fact seems to work fine - it's a Mikrotik Cloud Core Router CCR1036-12G-4S (http://www.msdist.co.uk/product_Mikrotik-RouterBOARD-Cloud-Core-Router-CCR1036.php), normal price around £700. After selling my old router(£50) the net cost of this box will be £150 - not bad for a 36-core, 4GB, monster! If you're lucky you can find them used for about £400, but never £200. Probably the best deal I've ever done on eBay. ;D

(https://s1.postimg.org/3c896ru3yn/win36.png)
Title: Re: Just got lucky on eBay ...
Post by: j0hn on October 03, 2017, 01:41:34 PM: That's a beast.
Get yourself an SFP VDSL2 modem and that's quite an all-in-one box ::)
Title: Re: Just got lucky on eBay ...
Post by: Chrysalis on October 03, 2017, 01:50:36 PM: The best I consider to have ever got out of ebay is one day on a whim I decided to see if could slot in a better cpu to my old laptop, it turns out there was 3 models on my laptop made, with 2 difference cpu's, so one other cpu was compatible.

I looked on ebay and someone was selling a few from broken disassembled laptops for £10 each. Brought one and it worked fine (still have the laptop today in another role).

I have checked a few random times since to see if these processors are regurly available and have never seen one on ebay since, I think I got very lucky with the timing.

Dont think I would ever spend £100 on something marked as broken/spare parts usage tho. In my above example the seller did say the cpus are working.
Title: Re: Just got lucky on eBay ...
Post by: phi2008 on October 03, 2017, 01:53:35 PM: Quote from: j0hn on October 03, 2017, 01:41:34 PM
That's a beast.
Get yourself an SFP VDSL2 modem and that's quite an all-in-one box ::)

The only issue it has is somebody poked the reset button off the PCB - so I'll solder in a new reset button, also has a barely noticeable "ding" to the case. Luckily you can reset these routers by connecting two pads on the PCB with, for instance a screwdriver. Haven't noticed any other issues so far - think the seller was just unfamiliar with Mikrotik routers and thought he had a lemon.

I actually have the repair guide for these boxes(you can download it freely) and as soon as the seller mentioned it booted and had a blue status light I knew there was a pretty good chance there was nothing seriously wrong with it.
Title: Re: Just got lucky on eBay ...
Post by: burakkucat on October 03, 2017, 06:10:41 PM: Quote from: phi2008 on October 03, 2017, 01:53:35 PM
. . . as soon as the seller mentioned it booted and had a blue status light I knew there was a pretty good chance there was nothing seriously wrong with it.

:thumbs: That certainly reads as a bargain.

One question from me, please -- What is its typical power consumption?
Title: Re: Just got lucky on eBay ...
Post by: tubaman on October 03, 2017, 06:15:24 PM: I'm sure it doubles as a room heater too. :lol:
Title: Re: Just got lucky on eBay ...
Post by: phi2008 on October 03, 2017, 06:26:05 PM: Quote from: burakkucat on October 03, 2017, 06:10:41 PM
:thumbs: That certainly reads as a bargain.

One question from me, please -- What is its typical power consumption?

Idle 35 watts, max power 60 watts - so not much really.
Title: Re: Just got lucky on eBay ...
Post by: burakkucat on October 03, 2017, 06:29:13 PM: Quote from: phi2008 on October 03, 2017, 06:26:05 PM
Idle 35 watts, max power 60 watts - so not much really.

Ah, not as much as I was expecting. Thank you.
Title: Re: Just got lucky on eBay ...
Post by: phi2008 on October 03, 2017, 06:34:53 PM: Quote from: burakkucat on October 03, 2017, 06:29:13 PM
Ah, not as much as I was expecting. Thank you.

It uses a TILE-Gx (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TILE-Gx) chip from Tilera and is designed to give excellent per watt performance - this PowerPoint presentation explains the architecture (https://www.ll.mit.edu/HPEC/agendas/proc10/Day1/S2_1405_Schooler_presentation.ppt).
Title: Re: Just got lucky on eBay ...
Post by: sevenlayermuddle on October 03, 2017, 06:36:46 PM: Another question not entirely unrelated to power consumption...

Does it have a cooling fan, and if so, how noisy is it?
Title: Re: Just got lucky on eBay ...
Post by: phi2008 on October 03, 2017, 06:46:29 PM: Surprisingly - or not, as it doesn't use much power anyway - it's actually pretty quiet, about as quiet as a 3.5" mechanical HD(maybe quieter). I'm running it at the moment in my study to see if the noise bothers me(everything else in that room is almost silent), if the noise does bother me I'll replace the two fans with something less audible like Noctua.
Title: Re: Just got lucky on eBay ...
Post by: sevenlayermuddle on October 03, 2017, 07:05:39 PM: That’s good to know. :)
Title: Re: Just got lucky on eBay ...
Post by: phi2008 on October 03, 2017, 07:11:12 PM: The new version of the 9 core Cloud Core Router (https://mikrotik.com/product/CCR1009-8G-1S-1SplusPC) is passive cooling, but as cores increase inevitably fans appear.
Title: Re: Just got lucky on eBay ...
Post by: phi2008 on October 05, 2017, 07:48:15 PM: For anyone who's interested ... Mikrotik CCR1036-12G-4S (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mikrotik-CCR1036-12G-4S-Ethernet-LAN-router-routers-1U-10-100-1000Base-T-X-/272872562501?clk_rvr_id=1328037718712&rmvSB=true) auction ending in 3 days, currently at £25(not mine!). :)