Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

[ratdude747]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

Something else I was looking at was upping it to 16GB of PC3200, since this board (unlike the K8WE?) supports 4GB modules. However, while I can get 4GB DDR modules in slower speeds for cheap, 4GB PC3200 modules aren't so. Here's the cheapest I could find:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/QTY-1x-4GB-D...0AAOxyoA1RV-4O


And only 2 available at that. They are pretty rare apparently (as only late model DDR workstations and servers supported it, DDR2 came into vogue not long after).

Yeah, I'll leave 8 in it and keep my RAM full speed and full dual channel. Sure, V4.1 is kicking it's ass in that regard, but I didn't really need 16GB in it (but the DDR2 was so cheap I'd be a fool not to).

I will say that this, even on one GPU, is pretty slick to use... Nice and quiet too. Same for V4.1 (now that it doesn't BSOD all the time). They're older rigs but still quite nice to use (hence why I won't be getting rid of either one).

Update time!

This has become my wife's workstation; while she uses her laptop a lot, this gets some usage too.

Scored a second DVD drive for it. $5, brand new in (open) box HP dvd1265:



Ugly but functional. $5, I'm not complaining.

[ratdude747]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

Something else I was looking at was upping it to 16GB of PC3200, since this board (unlike the K8WE?) supports 4GB modules. However, while I can get 4GB DDR modules in slower speeds for cheap, 4GB PC3200 modules aren't so. Here's the cheapest I could find:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/QTY-1x-4GB-D...0AAOxyoA1RV-4O


And only 2 available at that. They are pretty rare apparently (as only late model DDR workstations and servers supported it, DDR2 came into vogue not long after).

Yeah, I'll leave 8 in it and keep my RAM full speed and full dual channel. Sure, V4.1 is kicking it's ass in that regard, but I didn't really need 16GB in it (but the DDR2 was so cheap I'd be a fool not to).

I will say that this, even on one GPU, is pretty slick to use... Nice and quiet too. Same for V4.1 (now that it doesn't BSOD all the time). They're older rigs but still quite nice to use (hence why I won't be getting rid of either one).

[ratdude747]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

nice board with equally nice caps there! its a boardful of sanyo poly and electrolytic caps!

That be supermicro. Always well built like that.

---

After 5 tons of virus cleaning and the like (malwarebytes, adwcleaner, etc.), I nabbed a torrent of the real DAZ from MDL. Works great... that said I still prefer SLIC mods as I've always favored hardware/firmware mods over software mods when given the choice.

I also installed one of my supermicro breakout boards:



Works great... although that was my last "nice" one as OSH Park boards are done in sets of three and I have two in use (the third was gifted to topcat). I may do a reorder from digkey and OSH park for spares? IDK, they're pretty cheap but I don't need another (even if I did I have one of the old milled jumpered boards left).

All that's left is finding a decent 2nd SATA optical drive (DVD Burner, Blu-ray is still ridiculously pricey if you get a new one with software) and a better GPU for V5.2 (unless I chose to buy a 3rd GTS 250... IIRC I got them for like $20 a pop NOS last time?). Suggestions (on what to buy/what you have that you want to sell only) are welcome here...

[ChaosLegionnaire]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

nice board with equally nice caps there! its a boardful of sanyo poly and electrolytic caps!

[ratdude747]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

Well that should not happen, but beware that a Google search for DAZ loader will have viruses in like the first 10 links lol.
The only safe place for DAZ loader is from the author on MDL.

Shit, I swore I found the what looked to be the original creator too.

I may look into that as MDL is where all of my existing OS-side SLIC mod stuff come from.

[Per Hansson]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

I tried DAZ loader but after checking decline to 5 bits of shitware and seeing all sorts of shitware fire up during the install, I abandoned ship. My new plan will be to fetch the 7 pro key off my dead latitude E5530, as I don't want to linux-only this one (various reasons, based off personal experience). I'm also out of my 4 windows 7 Ultimate Upgrade keys; 2 are on X5DAL rigs, one is on my parent's rig, the last was given to my father inlaw ages ago for a project (no idea if he's still using it, that may be an option if it's not in use).

At least it returned to normal after flashing the stock BIOS...

Well that should not happen, but beware that a Google search for DAZ loader will have viruses in like the first 10 links lol.
The only safe place for DAZ loader is from the author on MDL.

[ratdude747]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

Mobo came in. Picture time!

First, one thing I DON'T like about this board is the fan cooled northbridge. That fan was a bit noisy. Luckily, a drop of ATF (Type F, I use it in 3 speed bike hubs and for bike chains too) squelched the rattle (it's a dual ball bearing fan). Here's the model number for future reference (if I need to replace it):




Another pain in the ass was the retainer screws for the fan brackets. The original dynatrons screwed to the backplates directly. They're also non-PWM jet turbines (this board seems to have been a former server board... ), so they aren't getting reused. The issue is that 2 of the 4 screws (939/940 use 2 per socket) are too long and while the old backplates on the K8WE would allow for that, the new ones don't (and the backplates are well adhered... they ain't coming off safely). Nothing that a screw cutter won't fix though:



With those issues fixed, I was able to drop in the board (along with some 85W 2.6GHz Opteron X2 285's):



Everything I have installed:



Memento from the old board:



(as I doubt I could get a SM one if I wanted to... it's a farking SLI bridge, so what?)

I haven't thrown in one of my breakout boards yet, as my two not in use are currently at work as desk decorations. I need to remember to bring them home and toss one in.

The good news: after a CMOS clearing (password locked into server fan mode) and a BIOS update she runs great. Very quiet and cool running. Also decently snappy.

The bad news: SLIC isn't possible. Or rather, I can't get a modded BIOS to work. Before some of you start cheering (and bashing), no, I didn't brick it. Instead, I tried SSV, SSV2, and SSV3 AMI slic methods and all three for some reason blocked my RAID card from being recognized by the 3ware driver (no shit ). Dynamic was of no use as obviously SM didn't have any SLIC in it from the factory.

I tried DAZ loader but after checking decline to 5 bits of shitware and seeing all sorts of shitware fire up during the install, I abandoned ship. My new plan will be to fetch the 7 pro key off my dead latitude E5530, as I don't want to linux-only this one (various reasons, based off personal experience). I'm also out of my 4 windows 7 Ultimate Upgrade keys; 2 are on X5DAL rigs, one is on my parent's rig, the last was given to my father inlaw ages ago for a project (no idea if he's still using it, that may be an option if it's not in use).

At least it returned to normal after flashing the stock BIOS...

[ratdude747]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

One oopsie: I took a look at my drive stash and only found one SATA optical. I do have a 2nd, but it's slow as hell. Looks like I'll be on the lookout for another good SATA optical (no rush, this build won't be complete for a while).

[ratdude747]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

Went ahead and bought the board... As I may never see another.

Other changes:

-Different optical drives (details in my next post)
-9650 Raid card (as I have one sitting and I have the PCIe Slot to do it)
-One GPU for now, until I find an upgrade for V5.2l Once I have two I will keep the Tyan SLI Bridge though (bad luck?)
-Different BIOS mod (as this one is AMI based, you better bet I'll look into a custom splash image)
-Supermicro Breakout Board (for the 9650)
-Coolers: I have options. This one has dynatrons but they're 3 pin (although the fans I bought for V5.2 would fit and I buy more). I can also re-use the cooler master TX3s that came off or the modded stock coolers.

One thing I like about this platform is that it is QUIET. Although that mobo fan may prove otherwise. All my other workstations are a lot louder.

Sound like a cool build? It will be my second fastest workstation... Not to knock my Irwindale build, which is also pretty spiffy.

[ratdude747]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

I'm contemplating rebuilding this rig as most of it's parts have become free again. In fact, all that is missing:

-Motheboard: The board is still fried. However, This is on ebay and all that is holding me back is not wanting to spend $93 on a project (even if it potentially yields my 2nd fastest rig):

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Supermicro-H...kAAOSwpWVW8cN3

-HDDs: The Hdds out of it are in V4.1... but V4.1 had two 160GB 7200RPM drives come out. Alternatively I could swap them back (and look to make V4.1 go SAS).

-GPUs- One of the two GPUs is still in V5.2... but I've been looking to upgrade that anyway

-Opticals: The opticals moved over. That said, I do have a SATA optical or two sitting (yay dumpster scores).

Other than the prospect of spending $ this is a very tempting buy. I've always wanted to try one of the supermicros (especially since they have provisions for a PCIe 4x in adddition to the same options on the K8WE).

I hate to ask this, but somebody give me a reason not to?

[ratdude747]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

Did some bench testing... Got it to fire up one time. But to no avial. CPU2 keeps getting pretty hot (much more so than CPU1), so my guess is the VRM went to shit. Oddly the CPU that I thought burned up tested out as good. My guess is that the loose cooler bracket was a red herring (I probably did knock it loose when pulling the PSU). Stupid tyan...

I'm starting a V5 thread since I know what I'm getting (but not posting it as Topcat hasn't posted the backstory yet). I have some stuff planned, and I think some of you out there who have been somewhat critical of my builds might like this one a little bit better. However, it will (when complete) swap out a good chunk of the system (more than the V3.0 to V3.5 change), so I'l still have some parts left over. I know topcat has a K8WE wannabe board (denutted HP) that I've wanted to trade for and attempt a BIOS hack or two on... maybe that's where the guts will go. IDK.

[ratdude747]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

New board design complete.

https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/zszsAHZa

The boards are on order...

I made everything but the 2 pin headers from scratch... as the existing footprints in the latest Kicad don;t work for this. Besides, doing this ensures that the parts will fit correctly.

Look nice?

[ratdude747]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

Two things:

1. Something occured to me: if the cooler came loose on the CPU1 socket, then why is CPU2 having issues? Unless it's a dual CPU issue (I.E CPU2 is good minus the fact that it can't run dual CPUs due to fault and that CPU1 must be populated to start). IDK. I may have to come back to with with some known working single core opterons I have in storage (in hindsight I should have tried them first, )

2. For another build I designed a breakout PCB to allow the use of Supermicro LED/switch ribbon cables with RAID cards. While the two I have are fine and dandy (of which I owe Topcat one), I'm redesigning it for this potential V5 build which I suspect would involve a SM board (as I don't like using thier breakout cables when the ribbon matches the board otherwise).

Mainly it will use two DPDT slide switches instead of four jumpers and will be sent to OSH park as a dual-sided PCB with silkscreens instead of a single sided milled PCB. Topcat, I will make you a new one and you'll get that instead (OSH park boards are made in sets of 3, so I'll be making three total).

[ratdude747]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

Its much newer than 604, has 2x quad-core processors and 32gb of memory in it.

Well, I have a home for it all right, as main rig V3.5 is officially DEAD.

My CPUs came in, and upon installation the problem has returned. Unless I was shipped bad CPUs (which is possible i guess, I'll look into it further), that indicates that the motherboard itself has gone belly up.

While I know you want to keep it a surprise, as I'd probably be installing it in the case as soon I got it in, I'd like to know enough to know what other hardware I may need to get. Mainly, whether I need a new PSU and whether it supports SLI or not (that way I know whether I'll need new GPUs or not). Unless it's in a case, it looks like V3.5 is getting stripped and redone.

Edit- yup, either two fried CPUs or a fried board. Given the circumstances, I'm leaning towards a fried board.

[Sweet & Spicy]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

Yay, an excuse to spend money! (lol, eventually). Depends on what it is and how much building such will cost (CPU, RAM, and coolers if it's socket 604). I'll find out on the 1st then.

My wife might kill me over this...

He's making enough to afford it. As long as he's reasonable about it, it's cool.

[ChaosLegionnaire]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

My wife might kill me over this...

thats why i dont have a wife... lol~

[Topcat]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

Yay, an excuse to spend money! (lol, eventually). Depends on what it is and how much building such will cost (CPU, RAM, and coolers if it's socket 604). I'll find out on the 1st then.

My wife might kill me over this...

Its much newer than 604, has 2x quad-core processors and 32gb of memory in it.

[ratdude747]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

That's a very real possibility!

Yay, an excuse to spend money! (lol, eventually). Depends on what it is and how much building such will cost (CPU, RAM, and coolers if it's socket 604). I'll find out on the 1st then.

My wife might kill me over this...

[Topcat]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

You mean RD main rig 5.0 may exist someday?

(I do have another AFT XM-5U card reader that I nabbed for peanuts a few months ago which is slated for such a main rig. )

That's a very real possibility!

[shovenose]

Re: Ratdude's Main rig V3.5

(gee, you guys never tell topcat to junk his workstations, and he builds more of them than I do!)

Because he has unlimited time and money for these projects