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Dell Wyse 5070 - A Thin Client suitable as 24/7 home server

·1816 words·9 mins
Feature image: Dell Wyse 5070 Black housing cover

Why the Dell 5070 Thin Client? #

The Dell Wyse 5070 Thin Client comes in small form factor (SFF). This compact size and the fanless design makes it an ideal candidate for a home server with limited space. More importantly, compared to traditional full-size servers, the Dell 5070 consumes significantly less power. Its energy-efficient design is ideal for anyone looking to run a server 24/7 without incurring high electricity costs.

One of the strongest points of the Dell 5070 is its excellent compatibility with Linux. Popular distributions such as Ubuntu, Debian, and CentOS run smoothly on this machine, and hardware support for components like Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and graphics are usually flawless. With Linux, you can fully leverage the power of open-source software to run your server efficiently and securely.

Most important it’s passively cooled without a noisy fan.

Hardware #

Processor #

The Dell Wyse 5070 Thin Client is available with 2 different CPUs:

  • Intel® Pentium Silver J5005 (Quad Core 1.5GHz, up to 2.8GHz burst)
  • Intel® Celeron J4105 (Quad Core 1.5GHz, up to 2.5GHz burst)

There are only a few differences between the two CPUs, the J5005 is slightly faster and the thin client comes with 3 display ports instead of just 2.

FeatureIntel J4105Intel J5005
ArchitectureGemini LakeGemini Lake
Cores / Threads4 Cores / 4 Threads4 Cores / 4 Threads
Base Clock1.5 GHz1.5 GHz
Max Boost Clock2.5 GHz2.8 GHz
Cache4 MB4 MB
GraphicsIntel UHD 600Intel UHD 605
TDP10W10W
Max Memory8GB DDR4/LPDDR4 up to 2400 MT/s8GB DDR4/LPDDR4 up to 2400 MT/s
PassMark Score2.9153.080
Release DateQ4'17Q1'18

DELL 5070 J4105 Motherboard
Dell 5070 J4150 Motherboard

Memory #

The thin client has two DDR4 S0DIMM slots and only supports a maximum of 8 GB RAM (at least officially). Supported speed is 2133/2400 MHz. But with the right, compatible RAM, it also runs with a total of 32 GB.

According to various Internet forums, the following RAM is compatible (be sure you have the latest BIOS installed):

  • Corsair 2x16 GB Vengeance DDR4 2400 MHz CMSX32GX4M2A2400C16
  • Corsair 8 GB Vengeance DDR4 2666 MHz CMSX8GX4M1A2666C18
  • Crucial 16GB Single DDR4 2133 MT/s (PC4-17000) DR x8 CT16G4SFD8213
  • Geil 16 GB PC4-19200 CL17-17-17-39
  • Goodram 16 GB DDR4 2400Mhz CL17, GR2400S464L17/16G SBGOD4G16NVRB11
  • MemoryGhost 8GB DDR4 3200 MHz
  • Samsung 4 GB K0C700065217D23627 1Rx16 PC4-2400T-SC0-11
  • SK Hynix 4 GB SK-Hynix (Original)
  • SK Hynix 16 GB 2666 MHz
  • SK Hynix 8 GB 1Rx8 PC4-2400T-SA1-11 HMA81GS6AFR8N-UH
  • SK Hynix 16 GB 2Rx8 PC4-2400T Sticks HMA82GS6AFR8N
  • Timetec 16 GB DDR4 3200MHz PC4-25600 Non-ECC Unbuffered 1.2V CL22 2Rx8 Dual Rank 260 Pin
I found this information in Internet forums. Without guarantee!

Connections and switches #

The device offers a wide range of interfaces:

Front

  • 2x USB 2.0
  • 1x USB-C 3.0
  • 1x USB 3.0
  • Aux-In & Aux-Out
  • Power Button

Dell Wyse 5070 Front
Dell Wyse 5070 Front

Back

  • 4x USB 3.0
  • 2x DisplayPort 1.2a (the J5005 version comes with 3x DisplayPort)
  • S-232 Serial
  • RJ45 LAN
  • Wireless Antennen Anschlüsse (je nach Modell)

Dell Wyse 5070 Back (J4105)
Dell Wyse 5070 Back (J4105 Version)

Harddisks #

Only one M.2 SSD fits into the thin client.

  • The SSD M.2 2280 slot only accepts SATA SSDs and no NVMe SSDs.
  • To install a NVMEe SSD you can use the M.2 2230 WiFi slot, but you cannot boot from it. To install the NVME card in the Wifi slot, an A+e-Key to M-Key adapter is required.

Actually, pretty much all M2 SATA SSDs should be compatible, including the following:

  • Fikwot FN203 1TB M.2 SATA SSD - SLC Cache 3D NAND TLC SATA III 6Gb/s M.2 2280
  • Intenso Interne M.2 SSD SATA III Top 2280
  • Samsung MZ-N6E1T0BW 860 EVO M.2 1 TB SATA M.2 2280
  • SK Hynix 256GB M.2 2280 SATA SSD
  • Toshiba 128GB M.2 SATA (THNSNJ128G8NY)
  • Verbatim Vi560 SATA III M.2 2280 (self tested)
  • WD Blue SATA SSD M.2 2280 (self tested)
I found this information in Internet forums. Without guarantee!

Some Dell models come with a soldered eMMC flash card (either 16 or 32 GB). Under Linux, the card is displayed as /dev/mmcblk0.

Wifi #

There is a short M.2 2230 slot for a Wireless card. As mentioned before, a NVME SSD card can also be installed here with the appropriate adapter.

LAN Adapter #

The Dell comes with an integrated Realtek Ethernet LAN 10Mb/100Mb/1Gb, Copper RJ-45 (RTL8111/8168/8411).

Graphics #

The J4105 CPU comes with integrated Intel UHD Graphics 600, the J5005 with the slightly better UHD 605.

SpecificationIntel UHD Graphics 600Intel UHD Graphics 605
GPUIntel UHD Graphics 600Intel UHD Graphics 605
Graphics clock frequency0.25 GHz0.25 GHz
GPU (Turbo)0.75 GHz0.80 GHz
GPU Generation9.59.5
Technology14 nm14 nm
Max. Screens33
Execution units1218
Shader96144
Hardware RaytracingNeinNein
Frame GenerationNeinNein
Max. GPU Memory8 GB8 GB
DirectX Version1212
Power consumption (TDP)5 Watt5 Watt
Passmark334453

Power Supply (PSU) #

The 5070 usually comes with a 65 or 90 watt power supply unit. However, there is a large number of compatible power supply units that can be used if the original power supply unit is missing.

The output voltage is 19.5 volts, the DC-plug measures outside/inside: 7.4mm / 5.0mm.

Software #

Firmware/BIOS #

If the Dell Wyse was purchased second-hand on the Internet, an old BIOS is usually still installed. It is advisable to obtain and install the latest BIOS from Dell.

BIOS: Drives
BIOS: Drives

At the time of this post, the current BIOS version is 1.33.0 (November 12 2024)

Linux OS #

Besides Windows 10, any modern Linux distribution should work. I’ve tested Debian and Ubuntu.

$ lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Gemini Lake Host Bridge (rev 03)
00:00.3 System peripheral: Intel Corporation Celeron/Pentium Silver Processor Gaussian Mixture Model (rev 03)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation GeminiLake [UHD Graphics 605] (rev 03)
00:0c.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation Gemini Lake PCH CNVi WiFi (rev 03)
00:0f.0 Communication controller: Intel Corporation Celeron/Pentium Silver Processor Trusted Execution Engine Interface (rev 03)
00:12.0 SATA controller: Intel Corporation Celeron/Pentium Silver Processor SATA Controller (rev 03)
00:14.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Gemini Lake PCI Express Root Port (rev f3)
00:15.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation Celeron/Pentium Silver Processor USB 3.0 xHCI Controller (rev 03)
00:17.0 Signal processing controller: Intel Corporation Device 31b4 (rev 03)
00:17.3 Signal processing controller: Intel Corporation Device 31ba (rev 03)
00:1c.0 SD Host controller: Intel Corporation Celeron/Pentium Silver Processor SDA Standard Compliant SD Host Controller (rev 03)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation Celeron/Pentium Silver Processor LPC Controller (rev 03)
00:1f.1 SMBus: Intel Corporation Celeron/Pentium Silver Processor Gaussian Mixture Model (rev 03)
01:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller (rev 15)

Power Consumption #

Depending on the configuration and usage, the Dell Wyse 5070 only requires approx. 5 to 9 watts, with a maximum of 16 watts. And less than 1 watt in standby mode.

Additional parts #

There are various useful parts that you can 3D print yourself, e.g.:

Applications and Use Cases #

  • DNS Server Local DNS server with built-in ad blocker, e.g. with Unbound and Pi-hole or AdGuard.

  • File Server (NAS) The Dell 5070 can serve as an excellent Network Attached Storage (NAS) system. With Nextcloud or Samba, you can create a centralized storage location for backups, media, and important files, accessible from any device on your network.

  • Web Server The Dell 5070 can easily handle web hosting duties. By installing Apache, Nginx, or Lighttpd, along with MySQL and PHP (or any other web stack), you can host websites, blogs, or web applications. With SSL encryption and proper security measures, it can even be made public-facing for personal websites.

  • Home Automation Server With the rising popularity of smart home devices, the Dell 5070 can serve as a home automation hub using software like Home Assistant or OpenHAB. It can manage and automate everything from lights and thermostats to security systems.

  • Media Server Turn the Dell 5070 into a media powerhouse by installing Plex or Jellyfin. These platforms allow you to stream your personal media library (movies, TV shows, music) to any device in your home or even remotely.

  • Virtualization and Containerization Thanks to the sufficient processing power and available RAM, the Dell 5070 can host multiple virtual machines using KVM. Alternatively, you can use Docker to run lightweight containers for different services, such as web servers, databases, or custom applications. Even Proxmox VE will work on the device quite well.

  • Backup Server Using tools like rsync or borgbackup, you can configure the Dell 5070 to back up important data from other computers on your network. This provides a central and automated solution to ensure your data is secure and easily restorable.

Costs and alternatives #

The Dell Wyse 5070 Thin Client can regularly be purchased from online refurbished dealers (like RAM-König or AMSO). Of course you find it also on eBay. It usually costs between 50 and 80 EUR depending on the features.

There are various other fanless, power efficient x86 devices that are suitable as mini server, e.g:

  • Dell Optiplex 3000 Thin Client - Intel N6005
  • Fujitsu Futro S540 - Intel J4005
  • Fujitsu Futro S740 - Intel J4105
  • HP T630 Thin Client - AMD GX-420GI
  • HP T640 Thin Client - AMD Ryzen R1505G
  • Lenovo ThinkCentre M625q - AMD E2 9000e
  • Lenovo ThinkCentre M600 - Intel Celeron N3010

Conclusion: A Mini Server with Big Potential #

The Dell 5070 proves that you don’t need to invest in expensive, large-scale hardware to run a powerful, always-on Linux server. Its compact size, energy efficiency, and robust hardware make it an excellent candidate for a variety of home or small business server applications. Whether you’re using it as a file server, media server, or web host, the Dell 5070 can handle it all while keeping costs low and reliability high.

If you’re looking for a small, versatile server that runs Linux 24/7, the Dell 5070 is definitely worth considering. With the right configuration, it can become a central hub for your home or office, delivering reliable and consistent performance in a minimal footprint.

Collection of links about the Dell Wyse 5070 thin client. Have fun :-)

Dell

TopicLink
Dell Wyse 5070 Thin Client: Drivers&Downloadshttps://www.dell.com/support/home/en-uk/product-support/product/wyse-5070-thin-client/drivers
Dell Wyse 5070: Manualhttps://dl.dell.com/content/manual60866169-dell-wyse-5070-thin-client-benutzerhandbuch.pdf?language=de-de

Energy consumption

TopicLink
The Power Consumption Database DELL Wyse 5070https://www.tpcdb.com/product.php?id=7451
ENERGY STAR Certified Computers DELL - N11D : Wyse 5070https://www.energystar.gov/productfinder/product/certified-computers/details/2365384

3D printed parts

TopicLink
SSD Standoff for Dell Wyse 5070 Thin Clientshttps://www.printables.com/model/860063-ssd-standoff-for-dell-wyse-5070-thin-clients
Dell WYSE 5070 M.2 Mounthttps://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6712354
Dell Wyse 5070 Standhttps://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4560865
Dell Wyse 5070 Ethernet Adapterhttps://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4619323

Blog posts, tests & articles

TopicLink
Wyse 5070 (N11D): Hardwarehttps://www.parkytowers.me.uk/thin/wyse/5070/
DELL Wyse 5070 Thin Client als Home Severhttps://heckpiet.net/dell-wyse-5070-thin-client-als-home-sever
OpenSense and Wyse 5070 A Love Storyhttps://thecloudadmin.nl/blog/2021/10/27/opnsense-and-wyse-5070-a-love-story/
Review: Dell Wyse 5070 Thin Client (J5005, 8GB RAM, 64GB M.2 SATA SSD)https://goughlui.com/2024/10/01/review-dell-wyse-5070-thin-client-j5005-8gb-ram-64gb-m-2-sata-ssd/
Dell Wyse 5070 Rocky Linux Installationhttp://r00t.dk/post/2022/02/03/dell-wyse-5070-rock-linux-installation
c’t 3003: Gebrauchte Thin-Clients im Testhttps://www.heise.de/news/c-t-3003-Gebrauchte-Thin-Clients-im-Test-7451493.html