Upgraded AMD-Based FreeBSD Mini-ITX Desktop Offers Improved Performance and Compatibility

A technology enthusiast has built a new compact FreeBSD desktop based on AMD hardware, upgrading from an older system now repurposed for his children. The new build centers around an AMD Ryzen 7 4750GE processor, an 8-core, 16-thread CPU with a 35W TDP, paired with an ASRock Radeon RX 7700 XT 12GB GPU. This setup offers approximately 25% faster CPU performance and 40-60% faster GPU performance compared to the previous Ryzen 7 1700 and Radeon 5700 XT combination. The system is housed in a Silverstone SG13 Mini-ITX case, which is only marginally larger than the previous SG05 model but provides essential features and compactness. During assembly, the builder encountered challenges fitting the GPU into the case due to the fan shroud and expansion slot bracket dimensions. To resolve this, he carefully trimmed the plastic fan cover and expansion slot bracket, enabling the GPU to fit securely. The build includes 32GB of DDR4 RAM, a combination of SATA SSD and NVMe storage, and a Thermaltake Toughpower Grand 750W power supply with detachable cables. The total cost of components was around 995 EUR. Crucially, the system runs FreeBSD with full support for the AMD GPU using the drm-kmod kernel module and the XLibre amdgpu display driver, avoiding the need to switch to the more common Xorg implementation. The builder also addressed firmware issues by installing the Intel wireless Bluetooth firmware package to eliminate boot errors. Power consumption measurements show idle power around 39-47 watts and peak CPU load power reaching 80 watts. The CPU supports only the C1 power state, which is somewhat limited compared to modern CPUs. The FreeBSD environment was upgraded to the latest 15.1-pX release, and the system runs a lightweight Openbox window manager atop the XLibre X11 server. The builder shared configuration details, including the necessary packages and X11 driver setup. This build demonstrates that FreeBSD can effectively support modern AMD hardware in a small form factor, providing a practical desktop solution with open-source drivers. It also highlights the hands-on challenges of fitting high-performance components into compact cases and the importance of firmware management on FreeBSD. Beyond the technical build, the author reflects on the educational value of involving his son in the assembly process and notes his son's early programming achievements using AI tools, underscoring the evolving landscape of learning and technology engagement.