GMKTek Mini PC with Intel N97

freezr

freezr

I recently bought this mini PC, the goal was to install FreeBSD and use it as daily-driver, unfortunately I couldn't meet some specific criteria thus I had to move on Linux... 😢

Anyway I used FreeBSD for one week and my evaluation is surely positive, here a brief recap:
  • CPU/GPU: Alder-lake gen, works by compiling drm-61-kmod 👍
  • Ethernet: good 👍
  • Wifi: good with firmware 👍
  • Mini SD reader: not recognized 👎
  • Video only 2 HDMI port: good for multimedia 👍 ; bad for recent monitor that usually have only display port 👎
  • USB: 3 USB-A-v3 👍 ; 1 USB-C used for power supply 👎
  • Audio jack: not tested 🤷‍♂️
  • Size: very compact 👍
  • Noise: very silent 👍
  • Performance: good 👍
  • Ram: good, up to 12GB 👍
  • Storage: 1 m2-sata 👎

If compared with my previous setup, which was a SBC LibreComputer ROC-3328-CC, the difference is abysmal. Same size, better performance, it is a real computer, I use (and used) headless with TigerVNC and you get GPU acceleration and X working flawless.

If you're looking for a mini-pc to run FreeBSD, this works just fine.

Thanks... 😉
 
Test it with FreeBSD 15 RC3 and nothing works.

I am trying to get working the WiFi, it installed the firmware but the wifi it is not recognized, I only see the ethernet interface.

I need to get the WiFi working if possible, otherwise I am going to reinstall FreeBSD 14...

But really drive my crazy all these inconsistencies from a version to another... 😵‍💫
 
Provide the output of "pciconf -lv |grep -i -B2 -A1 wi-fi" -- that will tell us if the wifi is supported (or if you have to install a relevant package).
 

I am going to open an appropriate request, thanks!

I guess it is not the time yet...

Code: 
pciconf -lv | grep -B3 Wireless
    class      = serial bus
rtw880@pci0:1:0:0:    class=0x028000 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00 vendor=0x10ec device=0xc821 subvendor=0x10ec subdevice=0xc821
    vendor     = 'Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.'
    device     = 'RTL8821CE 802.11ac PCIe Wireless Network Adapter'

The hardware is there, the firmware and module are loaded:

Code: 
Needed firmware packages: 'gpu-firmware-intel-kmod-alderlake gpu-firmware-intel-kmod-tigerlake wifi-firmware-rtw88-kmod-rtw8821c'
The most recent versions of packages are already installed

kldstat | grep rtw
14    1 0xffffffff83827000   129660 if_rtw88.ko

But not wlan0 interface:
Code: 
 ifconfig
re0: flags=1008843<UP,BROADCAST,RUNNING,SIMPLEX,MULTICAST,LOWER_UP> metric 0 mtu 1500
    options=8209b<RXCSUM,TXCSUM,VLAN_MTU,VLAN_HWTAGGING,VLAN_HWCSUM,WOL_MAGIC,LINKSTATE>
    ether e0:51:d8:17:8d:cd
    inet 10.0.10.1 netmask 0xffffff00 broadcast 10.0.10.255
    media: Ethernet autoselect (1000baseT <full-duplex,master>)
    status: active
    nd6 options=29<PERFORMNUD,IFDISABLED,AUTO_LINKLOCAL>
lo0: flags=1008049<UP,LOOPBACK,RUNNING,MULTICAST,LOWER_UP> metric 0 mtu 16384
    options=680003<RXCSUM,TXCSUM,LINKSTATE,RXCSUM_IPV6,TXCSUM_IPV6>
    inet 127.0.0.1 netmask 0xff000000
    inet6 ::1 prefixlen 128
    inet6 fe80::1%lo0 prefixlen 64 scopeid 0x2
    groups: lo
    nd6 options=21<PERFORMNUD,AUTO_LINKLOCAL>

Also Xorg doesn't work either, but wifi now is more important... Thanks... 🙏
 
rbranco said:
I bought the G9 v2 and it works with FreeBSD 15-STABLE. Even WiFi but it sometimes drop. Haven't tested graphics yet.
Click to expand...

Now I am using it as my daily driver although I connect to it through a VNC.
I am on 15 too and everything looks working fine, I was trying to connect to it through WiFi but I couldn't fix some issue with hostapd but trough cable is ok.
 
Don't purchase from the GMKTec store. They tell you they take care of VAT. They don't. It's a fucking mess and they don't send an invoice but charge your credit card nonetheless.
 
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I bought a G11 at the store just yesterday and it's sad that they now produce 2 invoices. One for $159 so they pay less taxes and refund less to you and another with the real price that they tell you they won't refund. The whole thing is shady now. Sigh.

At least I got a €30 discount code from this page that has coupons for lots of online stores: https://umbilz.com/stores/gmktec-de/coupons

This is the text translated from German that I got in the email:
Orders shipped from our German warehouse do not require customs clearance or additional taxes.

Products shipped directly from our factory in China are factory prices, excluding taxes, and are typically 20–30% cheaper than through other channels. Not all international packages require customs clearance: some are cleared directly, while others may be subject to VAT according to local regulations .

In case of customs problems and if you require our assistance, we recommend:

1) Assisted Declaration (€159) – GMKtec may be able to cover a partial tax refund. If customs requests documents, please download and submit the invoice.

2) Standard customs clearance – declaration at the actual purchase price (approx. 20–25% depending on local regulations). Taxes are borne by the customer.
Click to expand...

The store said the mini-PC was in a German warehouse but the Shopify tracking app tells a different story.
 
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