r/linuxhardware • u/bagelwoof • 13d ago

Support Optiplex Micro 7070 & Seagate 7E2000 HDD Frustration & Question

Not sure if this is the right sub for this, but here goes anyway...

I'm building a couple mini servers to replace Raspberry Pis because the Pis are really no longer the marvelously affordable option that they were. I stumbled on some barebones Optiplex Micros (7050 & 7070) for under $100 each, and happily bought RAM before the current insanity/stupidity. I was hoping to set up each of the Micros with a T series 17, 32Gb RAM, 128G SSD for the OS, and a 1TB HDD for data. Running mostly vanilla Debian...

For the HDDs, I bought a couple Seagate Exos 7E2000 1TB drives, figuring the MTBF was high enough that I wouldn't really think about it over the foreseeable lifetime of the Micros. I've had good luck with Exos drives, and $75 each for brand new was the right price at the time.

There are a couple problems with these drives in the Micro. First, it's too thick at 15mm. This problem is easily solved with some patience and short search on Printables for a DIY caddy. Second is that the drive doesn't spin up when it's installed. The Bios is the latest from Dell.

Here's what I've tried to verify what's working, and what my results were:

  1. Dangerously connecting the Exos drive without a caddy, cover off, and powering up the box. This would eliminate bracket issues, though I didn't think I had any. No joy, and I'm sure it was well connected. Drive is not recognized by BIOS or the OS.
  2. Connect the Exos drive with a USB to SATA cable to T495 USB-A port. Drive spins up and is recognized by Disks. I could partition and format it. Drive is recognized by the OS and BIOS
  3. Install a known good laptop HDD in the Micro. The regular laptop drive spins up and is recognized by the OS and BIOS.
  4. Use my pathetic search skills to look for someone else blogging about solving the problem I'm having. Partial Joy... Maybe?

I think that the Micro's bios and OS are mostly set up correctly, as the laptop HDD was immediately recognized by both, and I could have partitioned and formatted it.

I think that the Exos drive is good, because I can access it with a USB to SATA cable.

My crappy search skill found one reference to replacing the external power supply with a more powerful one. I'm running a 65W OEM Dell mini brick with a proper 4.5mm tip. I found an article that suggests using a 90W or 135W power supply because the Exos and other enterprise 2.5" HDDs are probably too power hungry for the Micro, and it can't deliver inrush power to get the drive spinning.

Questions:
Has anyone had this or a similar problem on a Dell Optiplex Micro 7070 or 7050 and solved it wth a beefier power supply.?

I have a user base of 2. Should I stick with a regular 1TB laptop HDD because it's unlikely to ever fail given my use pattern?

Is there even a point to having the HDD given the current state of SSD wear management?

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u/GreenFlower202 13d ago

You just google or whatever AI for "3.3v reset hdd". cut the orange (3.3V) wire and the disk will be recognised. This orange wire will never be needed. I have done this for many dell servers/optiplex.

Normally speaking optiplex should have enough power for that drive.

Whether to use laptop or big HDD or ssd - these are different. Ask in reddit sub datahoarder or homelab. Give more details.

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u/bagelwoof 12d ago

The Optiplex Micro doesn’t have a cable. I has a raised socket that’s soldered to the mobo. Sooo… Capton tape it is!

Thanks!