Fujitsu FUTRO S520 (Thin Client) – My experience

Not too long ago, I started looking at PCs that would serve as a web-server for the FM-DX Webserver. My local Czech market was not particularly filled with good options, especially since we don’t have huge marketplaces available locally. I scouted through marketplaces from other countries such as Aliexpress and eBay; however, I couldn’t find anything cheap shipped within Europe.

As a last resort, I decided to visit the Polish marketplace Allegro. Nevertheless, I was positively surprised. I checked the cheapest Mini PCs, and what caught my eye in particular was the Fujitsu S520 thin client at a very good price tag of 56 zł, which equals roughly to 13€. This offer, in particular, also included the original power supply and an extra mouse, which was a nice addition.

 

Specifications:

CPU	AMD GX-212ZC
GPU	Radeon R1E
RAM	4GB DDR3
SSD	4GB NAND

My experience:

Storage:

Let’s address my first caveat with this machine: the SSD. This one is only 4 GB and lacks an expansion slot such as SATA or another PCI-E slot, posing a significant limitation. However, for my particular usage, it seems to be sufficient. I have installed Debian testing on this machine along with Node.js, ffmpeg, and a few other libraries to run my webserver. I ended up running without swap, as I’m not using any DE, and after installing all the packages, I ended up with about 1.2 GB of free space. The RAM usage floated comfortably at around 300MB, which is incredibly low, so I am comfortable leaving the swap disabled.

I have noticed a Mini PCIe port, but it is most likely only compatible with Wi-Fi cards, as it has been mentioned in other articles on the internet that mSATA SSDs aren’t compatible.

Compute power:

Surprisingly, the server handled audio streaming for 80 clients, including serving dynamic web content, without breaking a sweat. Based on this performance, I estimate it could easily accommodate 300-400 clients before maxing out the processor.

System Idle	0-1%
Server running (empty)	25% on both cores
Server running (80 clients)	41% on both cores

One unit will be deployed in Slovakia in the future, utilizing Power over Ethernet (PoE). The compatibility with a standard DC jack and the ability to use a 19-20V adapter were pleasant surprises. Along with that, here’s the power draw directly from the wall:

System Idle	4W
Running the webserver + TEF6686 via USB	8W

In conclusion, considering the price of three units of this terminal without shipping, one could only purchase a single used Raspberry Pi 3 in the Czech market. For me, this was a clear choice. This price is also the regular price, for which these units are available on different markets.

Pros:

• Price: Unbeatable at 13€ per unit.
• Low power consumption: Peaks at 10W under load.
• Presence of a standard DC jack.
• Line-in audio port.
• 2x USB3 ports.
• Upgradable RAM (up to 4GB).
• Passive cooling ensures silent operation.
• Compact size: Comparable to an Intel NUC.

Cons:

• Lack of SATA port limits storage expansion options to external drives.
• Absence of HDMI port necessitates DVI-HDMI conversion.
• 4GB SSD may be insufficient for some users, although it sufficed for my needs.

Additionally, I received my order from Poland within 48 hours, impeccably packaged. Shipping costs amounted to approximately 20 PLN (4.6 €), and the package arrived conveniently at a local box, so I could pick it up right away.