Please note that the case and motherboard layout of the CXI2 are almost identical to the CXI.... so if you have a later model, this video will still stand you in good stead. The write protect screw on the RIKKU model (CXI2) is in exactly the same location, beneath the heat sink.
Thanks for the compliment! I need to update the thumbnail, as the CXI2 unit uses the same case and component layout. So this video should be useful to CXI2 users as well.
Excellent tutorial. Before I remove the wifi card for SSD access I put a dab of glue gun goop on the little antennae wire connectors. If they come lose they are really hard to reconnect!
Absolutely brilliant video, thank you so much! I just finished upgrading my Acer Chromebox CXI v1 this way. Also your hint on how to remove write-protection worked flawlessly for me. Great! :-) One final question, as I'm looking for ways to turn this into a super-basic NAS system: Has somebody already tried to put amnother M.2-SSD into the M.2-2230-Slot of the WiFi card? (I'm afraid this will not work, but maybe I'm wrong and it could?) Basically I would like to have another disk, so that I can build data redundancy on a software RAID 1. (Yes, I get it ... I should probably buy "a real NAS" :-D ) Thanks in advance for any thoughts! EDIT: I seem to have been wrong. This WiFi card's slot is different - so if it was possible, I would only be able to replace it with a mSATA, correct?
You do have a low-tech option I could suggest... that's using a dual-port microSD card reader that fits your mSATA slot once your wifi card is removed. That way you can put a couple of 1TB microSD cards in there if you want to... each one comes up as a separate 1TB drive. I've made a video about this. You might like to check it out ;) And thanks for sharing your success with me. I'm glad to have helped you.
@@danimationstips Oh, now I see: That is an awesome idea! Before watching your video, I didn't know, that those adapters exist. I just checked eBay and they are also pretty cheap. Great, thanks again!
@@danimationstips Definitely looking forward to that. :-) (Indeed I'm researching low prices for 256GB SD cards right now) I guess you will inform your usership about the issues with fake SD cards, as testable with h2testw? Anyway, I'm subscribed and I won't miss it.
@@RC-ic1co Thanks for the tip re: h2testw... I haven't encountered any fake SD cards personally yet... but I am roadtesting a few edge-cases... very large but slow USB sticks and microSD cards that could be useful for some but not all applications :)
whats the format of the card that goes on the board of the SD card. There is a socket there and looks like a NGFF 2230 but I am not sure what it is. is it for extra storage, or other purposes. Cant figure out what it is used for. it is in the invisible part of this board that clicks on top . Can smb help?
I also looked into this but wasn't able to find a suitable NGFF SSD to suit (assuming that it IS for storage). Its purpose is a mystery at this stage. If you find out what it can be used for, please let me know!
Maybe not relevant now, i just dissasembled an Acer CXI2 i just bought, and saw the slot You are talking about. According to what i found, is a Mini PCI Express Slot that just uses 1 lane. It does not have SSD compatibility, just useful for LTE cards or something like that
Well Steve, if you buy me one, I'll make a video showing you how to upgrade it, and give you a huge vote of thanks in the video. LMK if this appeals to you. I can only make these videos using gear that I already have or can justify purchasing and as you can see, I do careful, thorough work.
2 questions 1) what's the max RAM the CXI3 can handle? 2) does RAM have to be symmetrical? For instance, if I have 4 gigs of RAM in there can I add 8 gigs to give me 12 or would I have to put two 4 gigs in there and live with 8?
Hi Cam, thanks for your questions. I haven't laid my hands on a CXI3, but these principles should hold. Firstly, the CXI3 uses DDR4 SDRAM, not DDR3L (as shown here). So make sure you buy the right stick! Now, you can put an 8GB sodimm in the second channel/slot and run the system with 12 GB of RAM, though running 8 or 16 might work better. Having both slots occupied with 4GB sticks will give better performance than having an 8GB stick in one, as your processor cores/threads can make use of both channels. If your system starts behaving strangely with 12GB ram (it might actually run slower than it did previously), you have have found a compatibility problem, but don't worry, as it won't break anything. Remove one of the RAM sticks and run with the largest capacity stick in a single slot. Your best option in the end will be to have two matching sticks, making 8GB, 16GB or 32GB the guaranteed recipes for stability, performance and success. Going beyond 16 GB for your processor will probably be overkill and not worth the expense. Best wishes, and let me know how you go with your upgrade!
@@danimationstips same exact one as in the video. Acer chromebox CXI2. It's all locked down by admin and keeps saying developer mode is disabled. Starting to think I'm shit outta luck lol. Even flashed a recovery image after removing screw and nada
@@barrywebb7398 I suggest you visit MrChromebox.tech and send him an email asking his advice. I had no trouble with doing this to CXI2 or CXI units in the past. Let's hope an end is in sight for you!
@@danimationstips got annoyed and put it away for awhile but did manage to find this readout: ibb.co/tYQymvZ Seems its setup not to verify image so it's a potential fix I'm thinking.
Walkthrough - mrchromebox.tech
Buy m.2 NGFF SSD - ebay.to/3jrJ9Uf
Buy PC3L SODIMM ram - ebay.to/2GeQ9Wq
Please note that the case and motherboard layout of the CXI2 are almost identical to the CXI.... so if you have a later model, this video will still stand you in good stead. The write protect screw on the RIKKU model (CXI2) is in exactly the same location, beneath the heat sink.
Very clear, well put together. Great job on the editing.
Thanks for the compliment! I need to update the thumbnail, as the CXI2 unit uses the same case and component layout. So this video should be useful to CXI2 users as well.
Thank you bro - Your video has helped me quite a bit as I have the same Chromebox....
That's great to hear. Best wishes.
Excellent tutorial. Before I remove the wifi card for SSD access I put a dab of glue gun goop on the little antennae wire connectors. If they come lose they are really hard to reconnect!
Thanks, good video to change e waste in a usefull computer again.
Exactly! Glad you found it useful.
Absolutely brilliant video, thank you so much! I just finished upgrading my Acer Chromebox CXI v1 this way.
Also your hint on how to remove write-protection worked flawlessly for me. Great! :-)
One final question, as I'm looking for ways to turn this into a super-basic NAS system:
Has somebody already tried to put amnother M.2-SSD into the M.2-2230-Slot of the WiFi card?
(I'm afraid this will not work, but maybe I'm wrong and it could?)
Basically I would like to have another disk, so that I can build data redundancy on a software RAID 1.
(Yes, I get it ... I should probably buy "a real NAS" :-D )
Thanks in advance for any thoughts!
EDIT: I seem to have been wrong. This WiFi card's slot is different - so if it was possible, I would only be able to replace it with a mSATA, correct?
You do have a low-tech option I could suggest... that's using a dual-port microSD card reader that fits your mSATA slot once your wifi card is removed. That way you can put a couple of 1TB microSD cards in there if you want to... each one comes up as a separate 1TB drive. I've made a video about this. You might like to check it out ;)
And thanks for sharing your success with me. I'm glad to have helped you.
@@danimationstips Oh, now I see: That is an awesome idea! Before watching your video, I didn't know, that those adapters exist. I just checked eBay and they are also pretty cheap. Great, thanks again!
@@RC-ic1co I'm also working on a review of cheap 1TB generic microSD cards, so that could finish the picture for you and keep the price down :)
@@danimationstips Definitely looking forward to that. :-) (Indeed I'm researching low prices for 256GB SD cards right now)
I guess you will inform your usership about the issues with fake SD cards, as testable with h2testw? Anyway, I'm subscribed and I won't miss it.
@@RC-ic1co Thanks for the tip re: h2testw... I haven't encountered any fake SD cards personally yet... but I am roadtesting a few edge-cases... very large but slow USB sticks and microSD cards that could be useful for some but not all applications :)
whats the format of the card that goes on the board of the SD card. There is a socket there and looks like a NGFF 2230 but I am not sure what it is. is it for extra storage, or other purposes. Cant figure out what it is used for. it is in the invisible part of this board that clicks on top . Can smb help?
I also looked into this but wasn't able to find a suitable NGFF SSD to suit (assuming that it IS for storage). Its purpose is a mystery at this stage. If you find out what it can be used for, please let me know!
Maybe not relevant now, i just dissasembled an Acer CXI2 i just bought, and saw the slot You are talking about. According to what i found, is a Mini PCI Express Slot that just uses 1 lane. It does not have SSD compatibility, just useful for LTE cards or something like that
Got thing thing for 15eur (massive bargain imo) as my second home server. Thanks a lot.
Hello, Solid State Drive (SSD) 120GB SSD Transcend MTS420, SATA 3, 2242, TS120GMTS420S is compatible with chromebox cxi2. Thank you!
Can i upgrade the wifi module?
Superb!
Looking for a video like this for the CX14 Chromebox, anyone know of one?
Well Steve, if you buy me one, I'll make a video showing you how to upgrade it, and give you a huge vote of thanks in the video. LMK if this appeals to you. I can only make these videos using gear that I already have or can justify purchasing and as you can see, I do careful, thorough work.
doe`s the processor is removable?
nice video, just as I thought Acer chromebox tear down is way tedious than Asus chromebox...
Yes, the unusual case makes access more difficult. But the parts are easily found once inside.
2 questions
1) what's the max RAM the CXI3 can handle?
2) does RAM have to be symmetrical? For instance, if I have 4 gigs of RAM in there can I add 8 gigs to give me 12 or would I have to put two 4 gigs in there and live with 8?
Hi Cam, thanks for your questions. I haven't laid my hands on a CXI3, but these principles should hold.
Firstly, the CXI3 uses DDR4 SDRAM, not DDR3L (as shown here). So make sure you buy the right stick!
Now, you can put an 8GB sodimm in the second channel/slot and run the system with 12 GB of RAM, though running 8 or 16 might work better.
Having both slots occupied with 4GB sticks will give better performance than having an 8GB stick in one, as your processor cores/threads can make use of both channels.
If your system starts behaving strangely with 12GB ram (it might actually run slower than it did previously), you have have found a compatibility problem, but don't worry, as it won't break anything. Remove one of the RAM sticks and run with the largest capacity stick in a single slot.
Your best option in the end will be to have two matching sticks, making 8GB, 16GB or 32GB the guaranteed recipes for stability, performance and success. Going beyond 16 GB for your processor will probably be overkill and not worth the expense.
Best wishes, and let me know how you go with your upgrade!
Where is the part about the screw?
I just realised this videos video and audio track are out of sync! You can see me pointing to the write-protect screw at 1:20-1:30
I removed the write screw and put it back together and
nothing seems to have changed..?
Which model Chromebox are you working with Barry?
@@danimationstips same exact one as in the video. Acer chromebox CXI2.
It's all locked down by admin and keeps saying developer mode is disabled. Starting to think I'm shit outta luck lol. Even flashed a recovery image after removing screw and nada
@@barrywebb7398 I suggest you visit MrChromebox.tech and send him an email asking his advice. I had no trouble with doing this to CXI2 or CXI units in the past. Let's hope an end is in sight for you!
@@danimationstips I scoped out the site and its amazing.
@@danimationstips got annoyed and put it away for awhile but did manage to find this readout:
ibb.co/tYQymvZ
Seems its setup not to verify image so it's a potential fix I'm thinking.
Aussie?
Yep ;)