TPU's WCG/BOINC Team

[Tallencor]

Both systems down. 1 has a HDD failure and other just stuck at boot.

Ugh! Any ideas on why it won't boot? And do you have another HDD for the other one?


Edit: Hey guys been looking at getting another system for a dedicated cruncher and came across this http://www.kijiji.ca/v-servers/bedf...ii/1031683678?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true
I know nothing of servers but noticed the Xeon chips. For 150 bucks???? Any idea what I can expect for ppd outta these puppies there are 2 after all.
@twilyth
@Norton
@t_ski
@manofthem
How the heck do I tag Kai? lol. Sorry for the attention grabbing but there is only 4 days left before the challenge and I am headed that way tomorrow. It's an hour and a half from home and I figured I would kill 2 birds so to speak. If this is correct it's gotta be stolen or something.
Also, Can I just install linux on this and go just like a normal pc. Or is there some sort of trick to it?
http://ark.intel.com/products/37104/Intel-Xeon-Processor-E5540-8M-Cache-2_53-GHz-5_86-GTs-Intel-QPI
Giggity Giggity

 

[[Ion]]

That is a very good deal there!
The system I built last week, Bucharest, is very similar to that: a pair of Xeon X5672s (also quad-core LGA1366 CPUs with HT, but 3.2GHz instead of 2.53).
I see no reason it wouldn't just run Linux--no reason it all.
Only thing to keep in mind is it will be hella loud. Servers, particularly 1U servers, are usually loud since it doesn't matter.
But I'd go for it!

 

[thebluebumblebee]

Taging @ [Ion] ? It's easy to tag @[Ion] !
Okay, here's how I've discovered to do it. Type @_[ion where the _ is a space. Once you get @_[ion typed, his user will pop up below. @[Ion]
All together now...

Edit: But are those tags working?

Edit #2: never mind

 

[Tallencor]

Thanks Bluebumblebee. lol
As a side note buddy with the server hasn't messaged me back. Hope I don't miss out or have missed out.

 

[twilyth]

@Tallencor I think the chips in my dual quad are Q3QU ES chips but I'm not sure. If so, these are equivalent to 5660's at 2.8ghz. They produce about 6700 ppd under windows but you can probably do better than that.

 

[Norton]

Taging @[Ion] ? It's easy to tag @[Ion] !
Okay, here's how I've discovered to do it. Type @_[ion where the _ is a space. Once you get @_[ion typed, his user will pop up below. @[Ion]
All together now...

Edit: But are those tags working?

Your tags don't seem to work?

I just copy/paste this:

[USER=75675]@[Ion][/USER]

Works for me
@[Ion]

*EDIT- once the user # is in place you can use any text in there too:
pwn'd TPU cruncher

 

[Tallencor]

@Tallencor I think the chips in my dual quad are Q3QU ES chips but I'm not sure. If so, these are equivalent to 5660's at 2.8ghz. They produce about 6700 ppd under windows but you can probably do better than that.

Each? If so for 150 bucks that's awesome.

 

[twilyth]

Each? If so for 150 bucks that's awesome.

No, I wish - that's total for the whole system. You can view my ppd for each system here - http://boincstats.com/en/stats/15/host/list/0/0/339118/1

 

[xvi]

Edit: Hey guys been looking at getting another system for a dedicated cruncher and came across this http://www.kijiji.ca/v-servers/bedf...ii/1031683678?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true
I know nothing of servers but noticed the Xeon chips. For 150 bucks???? Any idea what I can expect for ppd outta these puppies there are 2 after all.

Advice? You want advice on that deal? Let's ask Sir Mix a Lot.

Spoiler

@Tallencor I think the chips in my dual quad are Q3QU ES chips but I'm not sure. If so, these are equivalent to 5660's at 2.8ghz. They produce about 6700 ppd under windows but you can probably do better than that.

My dual E5450 3GHz server does 4-5k under Linux, but I think it may be set to sub-optimal conditions. RAC is just a hair under 5k.

 

[Tallencor]

No, I wish - that's total for the whole system

Still though.

Advice? You want advice on that deal? Let's ask Sir Mix a Lot.

Honestly @xvi I really know nadda about Xeon chips and or servers. I was going by the stats on Intel's page and comparing that to my 3770 and it blew my mind how low it was priced. I figured there has to be a catch somewhere. Granted as Ion stated it is noisy but I can overcome that later somehow. The chips alone are worth the cash so maybe I can find an atx dual chip board and case with normal coolers or something. If that's even possible. I have a few stock intel coolers around. Maybe it won't be to bad anyways and I will certainly get him/her to fire it up while I'm there. I will undoubtedly treat this like an adventure/Learning exp. I feel like a kid getting his first Nintendo lol.

 

[BUCK NASTY]

That is a very good deal there!
The system I built last week, Bucharest, is very similar to that: a pair of Xeon X5672s (also quad-core LGA1366 CPUs with HT, but 3.2GHz instead of 2.53).
I see no reason it wouldn't just run Linux--no reason it all.
Only thing to keep in mind is it will be hella loud. Servers, particularly 1U servers, are usually loud since it doesn't matter.
But I'd go for it!

I say pop the lid on the rack and let some larger coolers rise out of the top of the case.

 

[[Ion]]

Your tags don't seem to work?

I just copy/paste this:

[USER=75675]@[Ion][/USER]

Works for me
@[Ion]

*EDIT- once the user # is in place you can use any text in there too:
pwn'd TPU cruncher

The OCed 2700k is being set up as we speak anyways

 

[BUCK NASTY]

Lookey what I found buried in my parts closet. This Wireless card will allow me to bring the i7-870 online for the challenge! Gotta love $5 wireless adapters.

 

[Mindweaver]

Lookey what I found buried in my parts closet. This Wireless card will allow me to bring the i7-870 online for the challenge! Gotta love $5 wireless adapters.

I've still got around 4 of those from some of my old crunchers setting in a draw.. hehe Good cards and cheap.

EDIT: @BUCK NASTY - Look what I found on my desk.. heheh Just goes to show you I don't throw pc parts away.. lol

 

[xvi]

Honestly @xvi I really know nadda about Xeon chips and or servers.

Understandable. Was just supposed to be a comical reply though. One of my dual Xeon setups has poor memory performance. Other than that, they should be pretty comparable to desktop chips. My E5450s are basically multi-processor capable Core 2 Quads.
If that server was close to me, I'd have my wallet out in a heartbeat. The 1U will be loud and it may be difficult finding mounting hardware for the cooler to fit it. I'm still trying to track down some inexpensive LGA771 coolers for one of my rigs.

 

[[Ion]]

Understandable. Was just supposed to be a comical reply though. One of my dual Xeon setups has poor memory performance. Other than that, they should be pretty comparable to desktop chips. My E5450s are basically multi-processor capable Core 2 Quads.
If that server was close to me, I'd have my wallet out in a heartbeat. The 1U will be loud and it may be difficult finding mounting hardware to fit it. I'm still trying to track down some inexpensive LGA771 coolers for one of my rigs.

My Westmere-EP DP system is running on a pair of Supermicro 1U coolers that were $10 each with free shipping on Ebay--have you looked there?

 

[Tallencor]

The 1U will be loud and it may be difficult finding mounting hardware to fit it.

By all accounts it looks like a 212 evo should fit. Coolermasters site says LGA1366 mounting. The bracket that came with mine is pretty flexible. It looks like that is the oldest platform they support though.

 

[[Ion]]

By all accounts it looks like a 212 evo should fit. Coolermasters site says LGA1366 mounting. The bracket that came with mine is pretty flexible. It looks like that is the oldest platform they support though.

The Hyper 212+ fits on an X58-based LGA1366 system at the very least--the concern I would have is the mounting. It's backplate is pretty big and thick--and often in servers there isn't much space under the board for that.

Depending on how it's done, there's either a mounting bracket attacked to the back of the motherboard, which could be removed, very carefully and with great difficulty, or it's part of the case, in which case you'd just be SOL.

Also I bet if you disconnect all of the 1U fans the board is going to have a fit.

 

[Tallencor]

The Hyper 212+ fits on an X58-based LGA1366 system at the very least--the concern I would have is the mounting. It's backplate is pretty big and thick--and often in servers there isn't much space under the board for that.

Depending on how it's done, there's either a mounting bracket attacked to the back of the motherboard, which could be removed, very carefully and with great difficulty, or it's part of the case, in which case you'd just be SOL.

Also I bet if you disconnect all of the 1U fans the board is going to have a fit.

Well that's not good news at all. Hmmmm. Could a fine Dremel blade be used to cut out a large enough square to allow the back plate access? Being very careful of course.

 

[[Ion]]

Well that's not good news at all. Hmmmm. Could a fine Dremel blade be used to cut out a large enough square to allow the back plate access? Being very careful of course.

I don't know. I have no idea how Dell does things. But on my Supermicro X8DTI board in the Westemere-EP DP system, the backplates are attached to the board. I don't know they're removable--maybe if you're very careful. I wouldn't take a Dremel to the board either way.
If you have a basement or attic available that seems like the best solution--just get it out of the way.

Alternatively, based on the heatsink pictures in the ad, you may be able to just take the top off of the case and set like 92mm fans on top of the heatsinks. You'd still need a way of slowing down the 1U fans, but that's basically what I've done with mine (1U heatsinks + fans rubber-banded to the top) with success

 

[twilyth]

You don't really need heavy duty cooling for those chips. The main reason for getting a bigger cooler is to reduce fan noise since a bigger fan and rad can run at lower revs.

You should be able to get coolers that will screw directly into the bracket on the 1366 board. The screws just have to be the right size and tpi (threads per inch)

Go to the Newegg cpu cooler section and do a power search. Tick off every listing that includes 1366 - there are about a dozen and you should get this list - http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=Property&Subcategory=574&N=100008000 600338010 600110698 600110699 600035368 600035363 600035366 600291733 600291732 600035361 600418200 600456464 600360497 600035362&IsNodeId=1&IsPowerSearch=1

when you look at the pix, look for short fat screws as one of the mounting option. I think they're the same as for 2011 boards but it's been a while so I'm not sure. The point is that if it has a bracket with just 4 screws, and it's 1366 compatible, it should screw directly into the existing bracket.

Don't try to remove the bracket on a 1366 or 2011. I don't think it's possible. And even if it is, I don't think replacement brackets are designed to fit dualie mobos. You'll probably end up damaging tracings or worse.

edit: also, for large coolers, make sure to measure your clearances - both between coolers and over features on the mobo. For example on my 2011 board, 2 Noctua D14's barely fit. I had to mesh the heat fins together in one spot to wedge them in there.

 

[Tallencor]

The main reason for getting a bigger cooler is to reduce fan noise since a bigger fan and rad can run at lower revs.

That's my thought pretty much. I don't care so much but the wife is sensitive to noise while going to sleep.
Thanks for the tips everyone. Very helpful indeed.

 

[[Ion]]

That's my thought pretty much. I don't care so much but the wife is sensitive to noise while going to sleep.
Thanks for the tips everyone. Very helpful indeed.

Well, my experience, having had a 2U server before, is that if it's in a different room you ought to be fine--particularly if you sleep with the door shut. Do you have an attic or basement it can go in?

 

[Tallencor]

Well, my experience, having had a 2U server before, is that if it's in a different room you ought to be fine--particularly if you sleep with the door shut. Do you have an attic or basement it can go in?

No for either. No attic and just a crawl space under the house. We have a loft bedroom and the setup is at the bottom of the stairs about 10 feet away from the bedroom with no door to the loft. I could build a box to cover it out of wood with an air intake near the bottom front and an exhaust at the back upper lip lol. Our house is like a cabin in the woods kinda setup.

 

[t_ski]

Sorry I am a little late to the party, but I think that Dell server is dual S771, not 1366.

http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/products/pedge/en/pe_1950_III_spec_sheet.pdf