THE OCTOBAMT CHALLENGE
Spent some time trying to help LittleDuke get 8 GPUs working in bamt. Also reviewed this thread and a found everyone else who has tried 8 got the same results we did: It doesn't work.
7 GPUs = totally fine
8 GPUs = the ati driver crashes, machine locks up, game over
Pretty sure more than 8 is impossible on any linux box, but it would be nice to get that 8th slot working for people who cram 4 5970s into a box etc.
I don't have any machines anything like that, so testing things is quite difficult here. If you do have a rig that can support 8 GPUs, I hearby invite you to enter the first annual OCTOBAMT challenge!
The rules are simple: Using any tool or technique, get BAMT working with 8 GPUs. The solution must be something we can apply to the standard BAMT image without reducing the existing BAMT functionality, otherwise anything goes.
The first person to complete the challenge will be awarded a fantastic prize package which includes unspecified items of practically undefinable value. You will be as a god among men, celebrated and feared throughout the land. Don't let this amazing opportunity pass you by.
Hints:
My suspicion is that the drivers we use are just broken. Limited experiments with other versions have revealed that certain versions, such as 10.11 and 11.12 behave differently than our version (11.6 iirc). Other versions, 11.7-11.10 seem to lock up just the same as 11.6.
However, 10.11 and 11.12 seem to introduce their own problems, which may or may not be something that can be resolved.
The challenge has been completed, I have seen the light and it is BAMT with 8 GPUs descending from heaven.
I'll post more details on that later, but an issue has come up...
Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any way to get more than 7 working with the current 32bit version.
A 64bit kernel/driver is what makes 8 gpus happy.
So.. who's going to be sad if we abandon 32 bit machines?
Who's going to be sad if we never support 8 gpus (i.e. go to 64bit)?
It's one or the other, as far as I am concerned. No freakin way I am maintaining two builds.
Speak now, if you care.
PS - please no "omg i want to mine this other thing that needs 64 bit blah". I don't care about alternate and scam chains ever working in bamt. This is about supporting the people who want to use it for the things it is designed to do. If you do have 8 GPUs, or if you do have hardware that requires 32bits, I'd love to know.