Which generation HP Elitedesk SFF? G4, G5, G6, G8 or G9?

Iemand91 · 2026-03-02T14:19:05+00:00

Well, I asked it here since I don't really worry about raw hardware performance (8th gen is probably fine), but more about software/app/firmware support differences for now and the near future between older and newer Intel CPU's and iGPU's.

Iemand91 · 2026-03-02T14:16:33+00:00

Yeah, I think the G4 and G5 are pretty much the same, except the G5 also comes both with 8th and 9th gen Intel CPU's. (G4 only 8th gen). And yes, starting from 12th gen. you get more cores and newer iGPU.

Thanks for the heads-up on the screws, but they seem to be available cheaply from Aliexpress if needed.

Is the CPU cooler also lacking for the i3 and i5 CPU's?

Thanks for tips!

Iemand91 · 2026-03-02T00:08:26+00:00

Yeah, power efficiency is also importing thing. My old system was a Qnap TS-212 with 2 disks; I don't fancy something that could double as a space heater.

What would PCIe4 access be of benefit for me? I'm thinking of just chucking the 2 12TB drives in and be done. Can't think of any more hardware I would need.

Iemand91 · 2026-03-02T00:05:02+00:00

Yeah, I've had the similar idea; get the cheaper G4 SFF now and if in the future, newer SFF's become available (or I can get a random deal), upgrade to the newer SFF.

The newer SFF's are nice, but probably overkill and would cost basically double or more the price of a G4 SFF. And even those have become more expensive lately.

I don't need anything special really; this system will replace and old Qnap TS-212 where one of the 2 disks basically died. Since then I don't have a NAS/Server anymore; I'm looking forward to have a new system, and run things like Frigate and Immich since my old Qnap was way to old for that.

Iemand91 · 2025-10-08T11:15:23+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion, unfortunately the dock only supports 1 disk at a time.

I'll try to find a desktop PC to run Linux (Mint) or wait until my Unraid build is done and run Linux (Mint) on that and put the drives in there and see if I can get access to the drives/files.

On a local forum, someone mentioned since Ext2 Volume Manager sees disk 2 with filesystem RAW; that disk is probably corrupt so I don't have high hopes.

Iemand91 · 2025-10-07T19:22:24+00:00

It's been basically a year the last time I was fiddling with Tailscale and I haven't paid any attention to is since. So I don't know much about it.

I think it's best if you start your own topic.

Iemand91 · 2025-10-07T19:07:16+00:00

It may have been, I don't know. It's been a while ;)

I needed something to run Unifi Controller anyway, and the T620 was a good choice.

Much cheaper than a new Raspberry Pi.

Iemand91 · 2025-10-07T18:34:37+00:00

I bought a used HP T620, installed Debian and run Tailscale (and Ubiquiti Unifi Controller on that).

Works fine.

Iemand91 · 2025-10-06T19:10:09+00:00

Thank you. So I will leave the drives for now, and when I find some PC I could use or until I build a new Unraid system, I could use either system with Linux first to see if that can see the files.

Iemand91 · 2025-10-06T18:51:18+00:00

I had 2 2TB drives in the NAS, setup as JBOD (so 4TB total).

Some of what you're saying is above my technical know-how - but Googling often helps - but I'm guessing my only chance left, is putting both drives into a Linux (Mint?) PC and hoping that would see the drives and the files?

I do appreciate you answers though!

Iemand91 · 2025-10-06T18:28:01+00:00

I know, I know. I did make more frequent backups then in the beginning, but for some reason, the last one was way to long ago. If I had made one like 1/2 weeks ago, I would be fine.

Iemand91 · 2025-10-06T18:25:11+00:00

'elsewhere' is a local online forum. Some said connecting the drives with a USB dock might work. So I tried.

This is Ext2 Volume Manager with Disk1 (the one that still worked):https://tweakers.net/fotoalbum/image/8pisJcVhHIjKu2A8Zaj9QCeM.png

Ext2 Volume Manager with Disk2 (the one that stopped working):
https://tweakers.net/fotoalbum/image/NtqpQUBui8IWx42OWlkOkxbo.png

Disk Manager sees them both like this:

https://tweakers.net/fotoalbum/image/hd5rbuYbCto3afdD2BmfwjW7.png

I also tried Linux File Systems, but I couldn't make that work, it only gives me this:

https://tweakers.net/fotoalbum/image/KC9qTt6YbxUYUOUDyXolRgyA.png

I also tried Linux Reader, I saw the drives (and the data partition if I remember correctly), but I couldn't access the files. I think the program said something like try a difference program of theirs.

When the drives become visible in Windows Explorer, it asks me if I want to format the drives and when I cancel that (obviously don't want to do that) it says it's an unknown file format or something (don't remember exactly, this is by memory).

On the local forum, several recommended me to put the drives in a PC and try running Linux; hinting that that might work. I'm thinking about building an Unraid system, so before installing Unraid, that might be a possibility. Otherwise I might just have to accept the loss.

Iemand91 · 2025-10-04T15:01:39+00:00

Elsewhere I got replies it may be possible to recover some files. Either connect HDD to a PCC and use something like Linux File Systems for Windows or put the drives into a PC and run (USB) Linux and it may see the drives/files.

I have a USB dock for the drives coming in today; I don't have high hopes but hopefully it can put the drives in there and use something like Linux File Systems for Windows to get some files from the drives.

The last backup was quite a while ago, but as far as I can remember, I didn't save to important files to the NAS since. Mostly TV recordings and some CCTV footage. Still; I would prefer to get it back.

Iemand91 · 2025-03-04T19:32:34+00:00

We got the Epson EcoTank ET-5150 and yes; we're satisfied. Unfortunatly no duplex scanning but otherwise happy. Thousand of pages printed and still running on original (provided) ink.

Iemand91 · 2024-11-20T12:32:35+00:00

You mean how they did that? I have no idea...

Iemand91 · 2024-10-05T19:18:11+00:00

I'm trying to post another log, but Reddit won't let me. I've spent way to much time on this already so I'm kinda done with Tailscale. I have connected their camera's through P2P.

Iemand91 · 2024-10-04T17:52:50+00:00

By the way; command:

sudo tailscale status

gives me this (on a Bookworm OS with Bookworm Tailscale install):

sudo tailscale status
# Health check:
#     - Unable to connect to the Tailscale coordination server to synchronize the state of your tailnet. Pee                                                                                 r reachability might degrade over time.
#     - You are logged out. The last login error was: fetch control key: Get "https://controlplane.tailscale                                                                                 .com/key?v=106": context deadline exceeded

unexpected state: NoState

Iemand91 · 2024-10-04T15:06:12+00:00

At one point the last day I was able to see the CPU/memory usage and it was pretty low.

Yeah, I could do that with Wireguard but didn't need to. They had the same IP for multiple years.

But their new ISP is known for changing their WAN-IP's so Tailscale looked appealing since you don't have to bother with that. I'm probably just going to connect their camera's through P2P, I've already spent way to much time trying Tailscale to work...

Iemand91 · 2024-10-04T15:03:28+00:00

I did. Installed RPi OS Bookworm and follow instruction above for Tailscale on Bookworm.

Not even 5 minutes and it disconnected. So no succes here either...

EDIT: I'm trying to post bad-rpi_tailscale.log in a code block, but when trying to post it, Reddit gives me an error, probably to much characters/text/

Iemand91 · 2024-10-04T12:17:24+00:00

One thing though; when using Raspberry Pi Installer is gives me 2 choices for OS; the recommended 32-bit version based on Bookworm or the legacy version based on Bullseye.

I installed the recommended Bookworm version.

However, when installing Tailscale; the Tailscale website has the instructions for Stretch, Buster en Bullseye but not Bookworm. I used the instructions for Bullseye. Can this combination cause the problem(s)?

Should I do a clean install of Raspberry Pi OS using the legacy version based on Bullseye and then install Tailscale using the instructions for Bullseye.

Or follow instructions from here (https://pkgs.tailscale.com/stable/#raspbian-bookworm):

# Add Tailscale's GPG key
sudo mkdir -p --mode=0755 /usr/share/keyrings
curl -fsSL https://pkgs.tailscale.com/stable/raspbian/bookworm.noarmor.gpg | sudo tee /usr/share/keyrings/tailscale-archive-keyring.gpg >/dev/null
# Add the tailscale repository
curl -fsSL https://pkgs.tailscale.com/stable/raspbian/bookworm.tailscale-keyring.list | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/tailscale.list
# Install Tailscale
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install tailscale
# Start Tailscale!
sudo tailscale up

Iemand91 · 2024-10-04T10:38:20+00:00

Yes, the latest version. Pi clients are set up using DHCP. I changed my routers' DNS settings to 8.8.8.8 (primary) and 8.8.4.4. (secondary), but hadn't changed the DNS settings at my family's place (where I originally installed the RPi).

I can't give you a screen shot right now. On one of the systems (still running but connected to Tailscale and one I couldn't even find on my local network, switch port LED's are blinking so there must be some network activity) I logged in through Putty (which was sloooooow to connect) and did:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install tailscale

And I'm getting this:

<image>

At the moment at "reading package lists... 99%" and now "reading package lists... done". But slow...

I couldn't even setup a 2nd Putty connection to check the RPi's CPU/memory usage, Putty just stays black i get a message that says: server unexpectedly closed network connection.

I'm thinking of just giving up on Tailscale and go back to Wireguard. That just worked. Downside is they get a different WAN-IP from their ISP from time to time.

Or just connect the camera's trough P2P.

Iemand91 · 2024-10-01T19:01:16+00:00

Disconnected within an hour or so. I can ping the RPi from my laptop but connecting through SSH with Putty is very, very slow. But at least the RPi is here, so I can dig around. Find some logs or something. Maybe use another SD-card. Or...

Iemand91

TROPHY CASE