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Topic: Mining rig extraordinaire - the Trenton BPX6806 18-slot PCIe backplane [PICS] - page 7. (Read 169362 times)

hero member
Activity: 742
Merit: 500
Can they handle more than 5-6 GPU's? I heard that a Windows Cat/Forceware Driver cant handle more than 5 ore 6 GPU's, not sure.
I wonder if I should consolidate all the information into a new topic, since no one ever reads the posts in this one.
It is kinda sad.  I mean you are talking about virtualizing on this very page.  It's not like they had to even read the whole topic...
rjk
sr. member
Activity: 448
Merit: 250
1ngldh
Can they handle more than 5-6 GPU's? I heard that a Windows Cat/Forceware Driver cant handle more than 5 ore 6 GPU's, not sure.
I wonder if I should consolidate all the information into a new topic, since no one ever reads the posts in this one.
full member
Activity: 182
Merit: 100
roundhouseminer
Can they handle more than 5-6 GPU's? I heard that a Windows Cat/Forceware Driver cant handle more than 5 ore 6 GPU's, not sure.
rjk
sr. member
Activity: 448
Merit: 250
1ngldh
how about guest operating systems? (bamt/linuxcoin)
Likely BAMT, if I can make it virtualize, otherwise I'm not sure.
member
Activity: 85
Merit: 10
how about guest operating systems? (bamt/linuxcoin)
rjk
sr. member
Activity: 448
Merit: 250
1ngldh
I was wondering what kind of noise does the server PSU make compared to traditional consumer PSU? In your case it is probably irrelevant as those delta screamers would drown out even a jet engine Tongue
I haven't got it started yet, but I have ordered the plugs and a PDU for it so I'll try it soon. It has a smaller Delta fan inside, which is pretty loud. It is of superb design and build quality; every component is well placed and thought out. It should be able to throttle down the fan when idle or low load, so it shouldn't be too loud normally.

Sry if i overlook the answer, but what OS is operated here on this backplane?
None yet, but probably will be KVM.
full member
Activity: 182
Merit: 100
roundhouseminer
Sry if i overlook the answer, but what OS is operated here on this backplane?
member
Activity: 85
Merit: 10
I was wondering what kind of noise does the server PSU make compared to traditional consumer PSU? In your case it is probably irrelevant as those delta screamers would drown out even a jet engine Tongue
rjk
sr. member
Activity: 448
Merit: 250
1ngldh
I thought the limit in the PCI spec was 19 cm due to latency issues Huh

How long is the total setup and is the card performing worse in terms of MHash/s ?

Thanks !
It probably is longer than spec, but that doesn't apply to the low bandwidth needs of bitcoin mining. It is overclocked and going just as fast as the other 5 cards in the same rig.
hero member
Activity: 518
Merit: 500
And once I get some more riser cables, I'll plug some of them in series so that they can reach over to the side carriers (that's what they are there for, after all).
I'm pretty interested in whether that will work. I've been considering trying that and setting a gpu on top of my cd drive xD But all the responses I've gotten say either "idk" or "i wonder..." Tongue
Should work fine, as long as you aren't trying to game on it. Mining is low bandwidth, and a couple of my rigs have this: PCI-to-PCIe adapter, which goes to a x1 to x16 riser cable, which connects to a powered x16 to x16 riser, and then the video card. Works fine.


I thought the limit in the PCI spec was 19 cm due to latency issues Huh

How long is the total setup and is the card performing worse in terms of MHash/s ?

Thanks !
rjk
sr. member
Activity: 448
Merit: 250
1ngldh
Would be cool for AMD to add support for linking cards using Crossfire bridge only, then you could link unlimited cards and run them off 1 PCIe slot.
^ The Bitcoin miner's Utopia.

The fan controller is coming along nicely though I've been really busy with school this week. Do you prefer the GUI to have settings from 0-255 or 0%-100%? I think the raw pwm values would be better, but its your choice.
Wow it has a gui and everything ?!! Whichever way is easier, I don't mind. Hopefully it isn't stuck to windows or something, actually I'm not even sure how you are planning on interfacing with the cards at all (probes?).
legendary
Activity: 938
Merit: 1000
What's a GPU?
Would be cool for AMD to add support for linking cards using Crossfire bridge only, then you could link unlimited cards and run them off 1 PCIe slot.
^ The Bitcoin miner's Utopia.

The fan controller is coming along nicely though I've been really busy with school this week. Do you prefer the GUI to have settings from 0-255 or 0%-100%? I think the raw pwm values would be better, but its your choice.
legendary
Activity: 1162
Merit: 1000
DiabloMiner author

Please make it say "hello Professor Falken" when you turn it on  Roll Eyes

No no no, make it sound like HAL. If we're going for classics, HAL > WOPR.
legendary
Activity: 1162
Merit: 1000
DiabloMiner author
sr. member
Activity: 336
Merit: 250
Would be cool for AMD to add support for linking cards using Crossfire bridge only, then you could link unlimited cards and run them off 1 PCIe slot.
member
Activity: 85
Merit: 10
I do hope that the virtualization does allow unlimited amount of passthroughs because damn it would be sad for this not to fly!
All the howtos I could find about KVM was about basic device passthroughs. And some vague mentions about how someone made patches for GPU passthrough but no GPU specific tutorials.  Huh
rjk
sr. member
Activity: 448
Merit: 250
1ngldh
And once I get some more riser cables, I'll plug some of them in series so that they can reach over to the side carriers (that's what they are there for, after all).
I'm pretty interested in whether that will work. I've been considering trying that and setting a gpu on top of my cd drive xD But all the responses I've gotten say either "idk" or "i wonder..." Tongue
Should work fine, as long as you aren't trying to game on it. Mining is low bandwidth, and a couple of my rigs have this: PCI-to-PCIe adapter, which goes to a x1 to x16 riser cable, which connects to a powered x16 to x16 riser, and then the video card. Works fine.

dual-GPU monster cards
I guess when you get virtualization set up this will work flawlessly. This project is easily cooler than any ASIC or FPGA! (Sarcastic pun unintended, but lol.)
lol yeah, it should be pretty cool with these fans. BTW how is that controller coming along?

I've been trying to work out the eventual efficiency of this, but I don't have good numbers on the power draw of the board itself or the new SHB that I have ordered that supports VT-d. Removing the fans on the cards saves me a few watts, but the monster blowers that I am installing use 48 watts each or something huge like that. Maybe less when PWM'd down to 30% or whatever. The PSUs are reasonably efficient, and I will be running them on 240VAC, (hmm that reminds me I need to update the second post with some more goodies that I bought...) so I will have to find a good way to monitor the current. I wonder if the PDU I bought has current monitoring, it might actually.
legendary
Activity: 938
Merit: 1000
What's a GPU?
And once I get some more riser cables, I'll plug some of them in series so that they can reach over to the side carriers (that's what they are there for, after all).
I'm pretty interested in whether that will work. I've been considering trying that and setting a gpu on top of my cd drive xD But all the responses I've gotten say either "idk" or "i wonder..." Tongue

dual-GPU monster cards
I guess when you get virtualization set up this will work flawlessly. This project is easily cooler than any ASIC or FPGA! (Sarcastic pun unintended, but lol.)

I'm really happy to be a part of this.
rjk
sr. member
Activity: 448
Merit: 250
1ngldh
Here's a pic of what I was thinking...

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww153/Spotswood_/20SlotTraywoverhangingclamp.jpg

The PCI mounting bracket is removed.  The (new) overhanging piece of aluminum bar presses down onto an edge of the GPU card.

Hmm, that's an interesting idea, so the foam would just be on the Crossfire connectors. And then you would need something to support the bottom of the upper level as well. I think for now I will just leave it, since the eventual plan is for dual-GPU monster cards which presumably will have proper single-slot brackets available from watercooling shops.

I could even do no support at all on the lower levels by removing the card brackets totally, and then leave the brackets on the upper cards so that they can hold themselves up, but the upper cards will also be able to have more airspace between them since they are on flexible risers and not plugged into the board. That is probably the best compromise for now.
Reference this pic to see how the upper cards have space:



And once I get some more riser cables, I'll plug some of them in series so that they can reach over to the side carriers (that's what they are there for, after all).
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