Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

[ratdude747]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

The "upgraded" SLI bridge came in... so I did some cable management and decided to take a fresh batch of pics:



Yes, I'm using my basement stairs as a showroom... and yes the intake is dusty; it doesn't stay clean for long, I got rid of the worst of the bunnies awhile back.

The current set of Removable drives:



Complete with a BD-ROM that's been crossflashed (it had some BS HP firmware, it's actually an LG with a less-blingy bezel). See previous posts for why I had to flash it; in short it wasn't agreeing with the nforce SATA controller but the LG firmware does.

The back of the unit:



...as no photo shoot is complete without a butt shot!

Actually, one can see that all but one of the slots is occupied. That one isn't used by my mobo and a lot of SM cases don't even have it as a fillable position since most server/workstation boards have so much onboard fun crammed in that there simply isn't board/trace routing space for the uppermost slot to even exist. Mine had a spot for a slot but it wasn't populated (some oddball slot, not PCI,PCI-X, or PCIe).

Some guts:



As before, red sata cables everywhere, 6 in total. The main change from last time is the cards:



Which includes two beefier GPUs (more in a sec), the ATSC/QAM card from last time, and an upgraded AMCC (Aka LSI aka 3ware) 9550SX-4LP. Unlike the previous 9500s, which ran at 66MHz, this bad boy runs the full 133MHz, hence the moved slot positions. In addition to presumably more Cache and SMART support, I also get a 10-12MB/s data rate increase. Puts my 9500s to shame.

The upgraded GPUs:



These are a pair of Geforce 250 GTS's that were sold to me as 9800 GT's... IIRC it was like $23 a pop, these being NOS. Normally I wouldn't have done such beefy 2-slot cards; these were designed to be run that close (as they can be triple SLI'd) which is evident by the angled fans and the notch in the plastic housing (breathing space). Not too noisy either (hard to say if they or the CPU coolers are louder at idle, even under load they don't ramp up much).

What's cool (and fortunate) is that the 250 is a rebadged 9800 GTS+ which in turn is a die shrunk and slightly overclocked 8800GTS... Sounds lame... but considering that the final BIOS update addressed an issue with 8800's Code 12ing (sound familiar?), this more or less makes this the most recent card to be known to work on the platform... although I could see even newer cards perhaps working. I do know that it runs well...

After determining that I did not in fact have FB DIMMs but just plain unbuffered ECC ones, my PSU is just barely enough to power everything (the suggested was 608W, I have a 600W, with 550W calculated being used).

Also, having the right SLI bridge is nice... I didn't like having a folded up flexible bridge; this one fits perfectly.

Nice Build?

[ratdude747]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

Fixed the linux issue; apparently Mosiac DOES work... and for those who are wondering, here's my xorg.conf:

# nvidia-xconfig: X configuration file generated by nvidia-xconfig
# nvidia-xconfig: version 340.58 (buildmeister@swio-display-x86-rhel47-09) Fri Oct 31 17:40:05 PDT 2014

# nvidia-settings: X configuration file generated by nvidia-settings
# nvidia-settings: version 340.58 (buildmeister@swio-display-x86-rhel47-09) Fri Oct 31 17:39:45 PDT 2014

Section "ServerLayout"
  Identifier   "Layout0"
  Screen   0 "Screen0" 0 0
  InputDevice  "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
  InputDevice  "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
  Option     "Xinerama" "0"
EndSection

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

  # generated from default
  Identifier   "Mouse0"
  Driver     "mouse"
  Option     "Protocol" "auto"
  Option     "Device" "/dev/psaux"
  Option     "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
  Option     "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

  # generated from default
  Identifier   "Keyboard0"
  Driver     "kbd"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"

  # HorizSync source: edid, VertRefresh source: edid
  Identifier   "Monitor0"
  VendorName   "Unknown"
  ModelName   "DELL 1703FP"
  HorizSync    30.0 - 80.0
  VertRefresh   56.0 - 76.0
  Option     "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
  Identifier   "Device0"
  Driver     "nvidia"
  VendorName   "NVIDIA Corporation"
  BoardName   "GeForce GTS 250"
  BusID "PCI:2:0:0"
EndSection


Section "Screen"
  Identifier   "Screen0"
  Device     "Device0"
  Monitor    "Monitor0"
  DefaultDepth  24
  Option     "Stereo" "0"
  Option     "nvidiaXineramaInfoOrder" "DFP-0"
  Option     "MultiGPU" "Off"
  Option     "BaseMosaic" "On"
  Option     "SLI" "AFR"
  Option     "MetaModes" "GPU-0.DFP-0: 1280x1024+0+0, GPU-0.DFP-1: 1280x1024+1280+0"
  SubSection   "Display"
    Depth    24
  EndSubSection
EndSection

[ratdude747]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

Found out the bad pin on the one drive was a ground... so for now it will work but I will want to swap it eventually.

[ratdude747]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

Arch is a fail on this one... as nvidia's blob driver has shitty SLI support... only 1 monitor! One!

Twinview isn't even a choice...

Damn my luck.

[ratdude747]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

Yup, the bridges are cheap:

http://www.antarespro.com/1891968-it...08d314d309d317

(another place matched them on price).

Sounds like tyan liquidated them... the other place was a computer builder for the gov't and the like, which makes me think they had surplus leftover from an assload of tyan builds. What sucks is neither had USPS shipping... so $11 (or $18 in the other case) to ship a $3.45 part... still bought one.

Who would have thought?

[ratdude747]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

Updates:

-The bios WAS indeed being gay... as I did NOT have the latest BIOS... in fact, the latest one addressed an issue with code 12's and the 8800... which the 250 GTS is essentially the same thing (OC'd and die shrunk a few times, same G92 core). I was able to SLIC it successfully too... and the GPUs work. Yay!
-Recap was successful...
-One of the HDD's decided to be a prick and bomb a SATA connector (same one as before... I was able to kludge it into working again but pending what that pin actually does, I may be looking for either another WD 740 or a set of 4 newer drives (I have a SATA II capable card now )

here's a benchmark with the new GPU's (SLI enabled) and new RAID card:



compared to the previous:



The smaller HDD space is due to the partitioning (as I'm copying and tweaking over an arch install from one of my laptops, for a dualboot) and obiously novabench marked me down for it. The GPU setup is a lot better though!

I may take pics later in the week; the wiring will need cleaned up again.

BTW, getting the BIOS flashed took hours, I ended up jury rigging a PATA optical to git r done. I also had a jury rigged floppy drive... as my USB drive wasn't bootable and winphlash, unlike last time, was not agreeing with the files.

Other than the HDD, I don't see much else needing upgrades... maybe new coolers, but so far my modded stock ones have been cutting it. However, it is a socket 940 and IIRC AMD still uses the same cooling clip format... any upgrade would be for noise reduction...

Oh, and ditching my lame folded up flex-bridge for the SLI would be nice... I wonder if tyan still has those for sale (they were NOT included with the board, they actually were sold separately, pricks).

The PSU is also a bit skimpy for what I'm running... but I'm not going to fix what isn't broke (unless i get a >600W PSU with the right connectors for cheap).

[ratdude747]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

Updates:

-the GPUs that came in are NOT 9800 GTs... but 250 GTS's. Wahoo! Yup, beefier than described (it's what they pictured even).
-Still have the IRQ issue... either it's just bad luck (newer 2nd GPUs default to the same as the 3ware 9550sx and neither gives a useable alternative) or this:
-One of the KZG's has bulged... so it's on blocks until I get it recapped (around 40 caps no less, this is a BEAST).

I've though about trying an adaptec card but looking on ebay and their site, I'm confused... many have cache but no BBU and adaptec says some have flash... I see that the SATA I 2610's are dirt cheap but I take it they're junk... for that I could move the battery out of the 9550 to my spare 9500 (has a BBU with the dead battery cell removed).

Anybody know if there are IRQ settings for 3ware cards? I'll check my 9500 in my other rig... this is stupid... fucking IRQs.

[ratdude747]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

Bought a pair of GPUs for $61 shipped:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/201216302114

Looks beefy for GT's... either really good cooling or these are nicer than advertised.

I was going to upgrade anyway... worst case, I go back to the 9500 controller. could be a lot worse.

[ratdude747]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

It's a Tyan S2895 Thunder K8WE, with the Nvidia Nforce Professional 2000 chipset.

Here's what happens when:

-Two 8600 GTS with the 9550sx: The first card (which both monitors are connected) is installed and fully operational. The second shows in device manager as code 12'd. SLI cannot be enabled.

Swapping for either the 9500s or a pair of Quadro fx 1400's results in a working system where SLI can be enabled.

I did not try a single 8600, as since one was working and the other wasn't (slot dependent), pulling a card didn't seem like a logical move. I will try it when I get home but I expect the one card to work, just like it has been (the issue is when a second card is added).

[brethin]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

Remind us again what motherboard this is?

Try just 1 GPU and the raid card and see what it does. If that works then add the second GPU and check it. Then last Enable SLI and see what happens.

[ratdude747]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

I've tried:

-updating the card's firmware. No dice
-swapping the GPUs for the pair of clay pidgion Quadros. Worked.

My only conclusion is for whatever reason the 8600's and the 9550SX fight for the same IRQ... and for another arbitrary reason the quadro's and the 9500S both go for different ones.

Here's my question, which may not have an known answer: would a pair of say, 9600's or a different (newer) pair of SLIable GPUs also work?

[ratdude747]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

WTF?

I removed everything but the GPUs and the RAID card, no dice.

I tried moving the RAID card down to the 133 slot (where it should have been) with no change.

But when I put back in the 9500 (and reinstalled windows as it didn't re-reconize the array), the issue goes away.

How? Why? I know for a fact Topcat's former K8WE ran with a nicer 9550 AND twin Geforce 7600's... Maybe my 8600's are being bitchy. I have a pair of junk Quadro fx 1400's with SLI connectors that I can try...

To re-iterate, the lower of my two cards (no monitors) is in device manager reporting code 12, not enough available resources.

[ratdude747]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

^ I'll reset CMOS and see

In the mean time I've found that 9600's have come way down in price to the point where for $45 I can score a pair... If one saw the V4.1 thread, the pair of 8600 GTS's aren't cutting it (a single underclocked 9800 GT left them in the dust) and looking at the benchmarks and reviews, the 9600 GT is not far below the 9800 (what I'm looking at has only 512MB but similar benchmark scores) and nearly double the processing power of the 8600. Sure, the current setup *was* working, but IMHO that's not a lot for a substantial upgrade. Should run reasonable cool as well.

edit- Wasn't able to work out said deal... the best I can seem to do is $22 a card plus shipping... $55-$60 is a little much.

[RJARRRPCGP]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

Didn't like the raid card, it booted all right but my 2nd GPU began not working... first both gave a code 43 (nvidia reported a problem), re-installed the latest (compatible) drivers, then got the primary working and the second reporting code 12 (not enough resources)... tried again, now the secondary doesn't show up at all.

When I'm home next week I'll try a live linux disc to see if I can get everything to chime in and if so, I'll look to a reinstall of 7 (it could use it)... if not, then I'll reseat all the cards and whatnot... (insert u-235 making some wiseass comment about my stuff never working, until the RAID card addition it had been solid for many months buddy)

Those codes are likely the BIOS being gay!!

[ratdude747]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

Didn't like the raid card, it booted all right but my 2nd GPU began not working... first both gave a code 43 (nvidia reported a problem), re-installed the latest (compatible) drivers, then got the primary working and the second reporting code 12 (not enough resources)... tried again, now the secondary doesn't show up at all.

When I'm home next week I'll try a live linux disc to see if I can get everything to chime in and if so, I'll look to a reinstall of 7 (it could use it)... if not, then I'll reseat all the cards and whatnot... (insert u-235 making some wiseass comment about my stuff never working, until the RAID card addition it had been solid for many months buddy)

[ratdude747]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

Once again this rig is getting an upgrade... mainly I'm upgrading to a 9550sx-4lp controller (scored for cheap, I needed another BBU'd card for my other EATX build)... and around Xmas I may try getting a pair of geforce 9600's for it, as while the 8600 GTS's aren't bad, there are better fish in the pond.

[ratdude747]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

Looks like a few minor updates never made it here:

First, I found a BD-ROM Lightscribe drive for it at a goodwill for $20 a while back... but the crappy HP firmware kicked my ass at first. The saga that fixed said drive (firmware hack) is here:

https://www.badcaps.net/forum/showthread.php?t=36626

Also, before that upgrade, I added a pair of Dell 1703FPt's to the setup... they're the same size and resolution as the LCD's used before (1280x1024 @ 17"), but these have DVI and USB hubs... and telescoping rotating bases. Really nice picture quality for the vintage...

Last, I managed to SLIC mod the BIOS... mainly to free up the upgrade copy of 7 I had been using. Using a .bat I wrote, I was able to swap the certificates and keys w/o reinstalling 7.

[ratdude747]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

Just a minor update:

a month and a half ago I redid the GPU and CPU heatsink compounds... with AS5. Having gotten my 200 PoH, I furmarked it last night... one GPU got to 95C, but furmark's benchmark ran w/o breaking 100.

FWIW, I did the same compound swap on V2.5 as well... bit since doing that, I haven't even powered it on... remind me to find a use for it...

[shovenose]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

Burn-in periods are over-rated.
Temps will go down a couple degress - your CPU won't overheat before then just run that much hotter which is really just a little!!

[NUKLEAR-SLUG]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

Aye, the only way you're going to get air bubbles between a heatsink and cpu shield is if there's a mismatch between the surfaces anyway in which case your paste isn't going to be doing a lot to help either way. So long as you put a thin layer on it should be fine, just not smear it on like toothpaste.