Taking a look inside HP T730 thin client | internal overview

Today, I want to introduce you to the HP T730 thin client machine. This is the next generation from the T620 Plus that I've shown you in previous videos. It has a more powerful processor and slightly different internal airflow design. With the half height PCIe slot, this thin client can be transformed into a firewall/router, NAS, of even light-weight virtualization hypervisor.

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[markganzer]

These are great little boxes for running pfSense. I bought one a few months ago, added a quad port Intel NIC, and easily handles my ATT Gigabit connection.

[jabbawok]

The power button behaviour is a manufacturing defect. there is a standard tactile switch behind it, but the actuating rod is too long so just rests on the button slightly pushing it. I filed the rod on the back of the button down and normal tactile feel returns.

[dorinxtg]

Great video!
Regarding the internal USB - the SanDisk 256GB Ultra Fit USB 3.1 would perfectly fit there and will give great speed (up to around 100MB/s)

[Arachnoid_of_the_underverse]

Just had mine arrive and note ther is a small clipped access panel below the PCI plate, I see its listed as "Fiber Optic NIC expansion slot".

[atulmalhotra]

I like these designs very much. I just need a medium specced home PC. Should I go for it ? No gaming or UHD videos needed.

[marcg]

Nice overview. Have you ever managed to boot any of your T620, 630 or 730 from the internal 3.0 USB port? It seems a great purpose but I can never get it to boot from there while booting from external USB is no problem.

[Yandarval]

Addendum to this video. The PCIe slot is fixed to have a max of 35 watts power delivery. Not the standard 75 watts of the normal slot. So be aware of this, if you do put a GPU in with the intention of gaming. As the 85/90 watt power bricks cannot handle the power draw, and shuts down the machine, once a game has started. I tried a Quadro K1200 HHHL card. Shut down within 5-10 seconds of any game loading. The T620 Pluses have the same PCIe limitation.

[NM-vwxq]

Wow great video, thanks for the very indepth explanation. What perfect timing, just picked one of these up for a pfSense install. Some questions:

1) Is the M.2 slot SATA or NVMe?
2) Looks like there is ample room for a 2.5" drive, anyway to adapt that here? Didn't the T620 plus come with a SATA port?
3) You mentioned lack of airflow .. any 5/12V headers on there that can be used for a fan (e.g. like a tiny Noctua 40x40x10)?

I also agree the T620 plus is enough for most that would use this for a firewall but I'm finding much better deals on the T730 at the moment, FWIW.

[Arachnoid_of_the_underverse]

Very nice overview thanks, Im looking to run pfsense and its was between this and the T720 plus which looks to be around the same used price at the moment.

[rudyleplane]

Great tutorial! Was going to use for a pfsense box but was rethinking...Do you think I could pull off a 'daily driver' ?? I have 16gb of Gforce Ram and a WD 500gb hardrive m.2 will one that big fit? ...Installing Fedora or Arch Linux on it. May run 1 VM at a time on it. No games, well maybe MAME but nothing else really except some audio editing software. Adobe Creative cloud maybe too... Thoughts? Super interested in trying 32gb if RAM! Excellent video!

[ThomasTomchak]

Another great video. I see that (again) you’re stepping up some of your camera shots. Did you buy a slider for some of those beauty shots?

It’s also very well lit.

[RobsonWilliam]

Have you tried it with 32gigs of ram? Thanx!

[emericaCircamcchicke]

Thanks for the breakdown!! Do you know how to get pfSense to boost the CPU to 3.6ghz?

[alfredosaquinog]

About m.2 replacing, seems t730 only accepts MLC, or could I install any ssd m.2, thanks

[demanuDJ]

Are you sure about PCI-e passthrougn? I cannot find information that this CPU support for passthrough

[yumpchrisiscooltoo]

Would you happen to know if 10gb will be running smooth and run relatively cool? I want to pull a trigger on purchase and installing a x550 but not sure if I should.

[Vadinaka]

Hi,
Great video as always. One thing I think would help a lot is a video showing how you clean it. To answer your question the Hypervisor will be great.
May I also ask which firewall you are using please?
Thanks

[confessionsofatechnofile]

I know this video is a bit old, but, I had purchased one of these from you some time ago. It has been working like a charm. Up until I tried to update the BIOS. I can get into the BIOS setup. I can see some of the options. Most are greyed out. After looking at some of the boot up screens, I don't think the BIOS actually updated. Do you know how to unlock the "Setup" menu so I can try another flash? Thanks for all the great videos.

[alfredosaquinog]

Wondering to install Linux Ubuntu on this machine, ...or windows 10 x64 pro, is it possible to use this one as a standalone machine ?

[grocerylist]

I'm getting very slow inter-vlan traffic (~20MBps) using pfSense. Is that typical performance for these thin clients?