Topics

1

Mod Zone / Custom cooler mount

« on: June 24, 2023, 07:29:37 am »

I thought I'd share some work-in-progress on this. It's not yet finished, and I'm waiting on the next iteration to be CNC'd.

After a lot of prompting from @Vikings, I designed a bracket that allows other coolers to be fitted (Noctua SecuFirm2 and AMD AM4/5). I'm testing here with an NH-U12A, and the temps are better than the stock cooler (and it's quieter!). This version shown is flawed, and I don't know if the changes will fix it: the Noctua 78mm mount is too flexible, so the cooler can move, and since there's no independent loading mechanism on the T2 this movement transfers to the CPU (which then crashes the system).

In a few weeks when I get the next version back I'll retry with the Noctua cooler, and I'll also compare with an EK AM5 water block.

(I'll share the design files when it's done, whether it works or not.)

2

Mod Zone / Initial findings running on water cooling

« on: March 24, 2023, 10:12:03 am »

I'd like to share my early, initial findings water cooling (finally!) my Talos II using this kit with some Thermal Grizzly paste:

https://store.vikings.net/en/water-block-assembly-for-power9-cpus

I have dual 18-core CPUs, testing with only one CPU for now. I'm running on a test bench, with a simple AIO radiator/pump/reservoir combo (Alphacool Eisbaer). I'm stressing the CPU using my own benchmark (I do numerical 'stuff') so I have the same on Threadripper, Apple M1 Ultra, etc. A photo of the messy test bench is attached.

The numbers with the big, noisy HSF are in the mid-70s (Celsius, I'm not a savage...) with the fans running LOUD! And with the water block it's mid-40s, with the fans stalling on the radiator because they're running so low. It's running silently, which is very pleasing!

Next is to get the second CPU plumbed in.

3

GPU Compute / Accelerators / Talos II GPU slot preference

« on: September 26, 2022, 10:08:20 am »

I have an odd observation and I'd be interested if others have the same, or it's just a bunch of coincidences. Whilst juggling my PCIe cards around to find room for the Arctic Tern board I moved my graphics card (a WX9100) from CPU 2 to CPU 1, and suddenly the machine feels snappier.

I'm running Debian 11 and CPU 1 appears to be doing most of the work (judging by which runs the hottest) so I'm wondering if that's what makes the difference. I always had the impression the graphics were laggy, but now all of a sudden the system feels a lot more usable. That said, the OS received updates, the internal VGA is now disabled, probably other stuff, and the PSU was replaced (the logs were full of MasterDetectionFailure and I got it down to a PSU fault).

4

Talos II / Arctic Tern bracket?

« on: September 09, 2022, 11:07:42 am »

My Arctic Tern board arrived but doesn't have a PCIe bracket, and looking at the photos they don't appear to do so. I'm guessing others have them now, how is it supposed to hold in place securely when the mobo is vertically mounted?

5

Mod Zone / Separating CPU/HSF?

« on: May 29, 2022, 06:39:09 am »

I'm about start watercooling my Talos II but before doing so I would like to know if there's anything special required when separating the CPU from the HSF with the indium pad in place?

My existing setup is the with the HSFs and indium pads from RCS. Do they stick? Do they need cleaning up?

I've two waterblocks to try out, one from vikings.thum, and another I had custom made from a company here in France.

(I'll be documenting the build and the steps for anyone interested.)

6

Applications and Porting / Google's Depot Tools (and eventually Chrome and anything else)

« on: February 16, 2022, 07:36:01 am »

I'm looking at building Dawn (with the idea to try some of the 3D tools from work on Power) and I'm stumbling at even getting Depot Tools to work. Starting with:

    https://wiki.raptorcs.com/wiki/Porting/Chromium_(New)

Building gn is fine, but then bootstrapping gclient fails (failing to resolve prebuilt packages for ppc64le). Since folks are building Chromium, V8, etc., is this just me not able to get started?

7

GPU Compute / Accelerators / AMD GPU at boot

« on: January 31, 2022, 10:05:58 am »

Before typing I'm already feeling the burning shame of a n00b question, but anyway, here goes...

I finally built my Talos II (dual 18-core), temporarily installed a Radeon RX 580 (I plan on a Radeon Pro W5700 but it currently has a waterblock fitted) and installed Ubuntu 21.10 (server install followed by desktop packages). It's early days and it's mostly working (Firefox 96 has issues, but one thing at a time). So far so good. I've disabled the built-in VGA via the jumper but it still starts up with this and then hands over to the Radeon card. Is this normal?

See the attached image.

8

Talos II / Film on Power9 CPU?

« on: January 27, 2022, 06:28:39 am »

I took some photos whilst building up my system and it's only on looking at the photos I noticed what appears to be a film on the CPUs?

I could take the heatsink back off and take a look a guess but wasn't sure the indium pad would still be good after doing so (or can I remove/refit the cooler as often as I like?).

Is it a trick of the light, my imagination, or is there a film that needs removing?

9

Mod Zone / 2U or 3U Heatsink Assembly Wanted

« on: December 21, 2021, 12:08:00 pm »

I'm looking to buy a 2U or 3U heatsink assembly to sacrifice for building a waterblock, does anyone have one for sale? I'm central Europe so would prefer to buy something already over this side of the Atlantic (not for jingoistic reasons, just that it's less hassle for import duty and taxes).

I already have a couple of 3U HSFs arriving with my system (any day now!) but I'd like something to dismantle and measure.

10

GPU Compute / Accelerators / GPU options as of December 2021

« on: December 12, 2021, 08:18:21 am »

What's the latest options I have for a GPU for my Talos II? I've a spare Radeon Pro W5700, which I'll try once my mobo and CPUs arrive from Raptor, but if I don't want to spend all my time tinkering, what are my current options? I can still pick up a WX7100 over here (Switzerland) but I'm loath to spend 700 on such an old card (then again, since I want to use my system and not spend all my time getting it running, is it still the best out-of-the-box choice).

I realise AMD is where it's at and the retired RTX 6000s I can grab from work will be of no use.

11

Applications and Porting / Clion, VSCode, IDE options?

« on: December 12, 2021, 08:10:37 am »

Hi! My first post... I'm waiting for my Talos II to arrive and have a question regarding IDE options. Having been spoiled with the choice of IDEs on x64 what will my options be on Power? Hopefully I'm not going to be stuck with gcc, gdb and a text editor? The answer to that shouldn't be clang and lldb...

Eclipse looks to prebuilt for IBM's Advance Toolchain, so I'm assuming I can get that running? Any other good choices?