Crowdfunding for TALOS Workstation
  • Jim
  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Jim
    Posts: 4977 from 2009/1/28
    From: Delaware, USA
    I just got a reply from Raptor Engineering.
    One of the things I asked about was splitting the Talos II Lite's x8 PCI-E slot.

    So:

    >Has anyone attempted to use an expansion system (plx based or some other solution) that would break that X8 slot into multiple slots with fewer PCI-E lanes.

    "Yes! We actually have several of these systems under test. If you're willing to work out the custom mounting arrangements, we can provide a list of hardware that could break that x8 slot to either two or four x4 Gen 3 slots"

    Note, that mentions two x4 or four x4 Gen 3 slots.
    I'm not sure if that means two x4 Gen 4 slots or four x4 Gen 3 slots, or if all options are Gen 3.

    They did confirm that they are working on a reduced form factor board.
    "Never attribute to malice what can more readily explained by incompetence"
  • »29.05.18 - 15:05
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Andreas_Wolf
    Posts: 12058 from 2003/5/22
    From: Germany
    > Note, that mentions two x4 or four x4 Gen 3 slots.

    That's probably because Raptor so far only tested PCIe gen3 bridge/switch/split cards (if there are even PCIe gen4 ones out already).

    > I'm not sure if that means two x4 Gen 4 slots or four x4 Gen 3 slots,
    > or if all options are Gen 3.

    I guess they mean the latter. Bridging an x8 gen4 slot into two x4 gen4 slots should be possible as well, of course, but someone would have to actually test such card with the board.
  • »29.05.18 - 15:31
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  • Jim
  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Jim
    Posts: 4977 from 2009/1/28
    From: Delaware, USA
    >> I'm not sure if that means two x4 Gen 4 slots or four x4 Gen 3 slots,
    >> or if all options are Gen 3.

    >I guess they mean the latter. Bridging an x8 gen4 slot into two x4 gen4 slots should be possible as well, >of course, but someone would have to actually test such card with the board.

    That does seem likely, and the comment about four x4 slots probably doesn't mean four x4 slots that have all lanes connected (unless they are talking about a switch).

    But its beginning to look like a simple x8 to dual x4 split might be possible.
    "Never attribute to malice what can more readily explained by incompetence"
  • »29.05.18 - 15:58
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Andreas_Wolf
    Posts: 12058 from 2003/5/22
    From: Germany
    Addendum:

    > I don't think any of this makes a difference when emulating/virtualizing
    > the systems with QEMU/KVM.

    It seems using QEMU/KVM to virtualize (as opposed to emulate) Power ISA CPUs (except POWER8 and POWER9) is not possible on the Talos II:

    "On to QEMU. Using the generic Power Mac profile mac99 both MacOS 9.1 and 10.4 start up largely happily under qemu-system-ppc [...]. However, while it was certainly useable, it didn't feel very fast. The System Profiler within the emulated Tiger instance said it was a "1GHz G4" with a "400MHz FSB." This seemed low, and the reason it is was ... drumroll please ... it was running with CPU emulation. After some checking, I confirmed KVM was indeed installed on this system, so I tried running a 64-bit guest with qemu-system-ppc64 emulating an IBM pSeries machine with KVM-HV. That started up and ran at a nice clip, noticeably faster when I turned on KVM, so I tried to run the 32-bit guest with KVM-PR (which ought to emulate the proper CPU) and got an error message. Even the 64-bit guest that ran just dandy with KVM-HV wouldn't run with KVM-PR. Some digging determined that the KVM-PR kernel module existed, but did not load. Some more digging turned up that KVM-PR wouldn't load with modprobe. Even more digging turned up that ... KVM-PR doesn't run on bare-metal POWER9 yet, and unfortunately all PowerNV machines like the T2 are bare-metal."
    http://tenfourfox.blogspot.com/2018/05/a-weekend-on-new-computer-or.html
  • »29.05.18 - 22:23
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  • Jim
  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Jim
    Posts: 4977 from 2009/1/28
    From: Delaware, USA
    "QEMU's performance as a Power Mac emulator is currently acceptable on the T2, just unspectacular.

    Unspectacular? 1 GHz G4 level 32 bit performance ought to be considered quite underwhelming.

    Sounds like 64 bit performance is a little better, but neither of the emulated cpus run at their full potential.

    BTW - Thanks for the reference. I now more fully understand what Raptor mentioned in the disconnect between KVM and QEMU.
    Now if only they can get this running as a 'bare metal' application.

    You would think that 32 and 64 bit sessions would be capable of being emulated at close to full speed.
    With a 16 thread processor, that would mean 16 potential G4 or G5 level sessions all running concurrently.

    Remember what I said in the past about a cross-session hypervisor enabled update of Ambient that could composite multiple sessions?
    By developing something like that we would start with our standard OS, move to a multi-session ASMP variation, and develop an SMP version that could run on as many cores as were assigned to it.
    And later, run any combinations we wanted, possibly even with OSX, or OS4 sessions all at the same time.
    "Never attribute to malice what can more readily explained by incompetence"
  • »29.05.18 - 23:42
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Andreas_Wolf
    Posts: 12058 from 2003/5/22
    From: Germany
    > Sounds like 64 bit performance is a little better

    In CPU emulation? It's near native performance when virtualizing a POWER9 or POWER8 system with KVM-HV.

    > but neither of the emulated cpus run at their full potential.

    Yes, that's the nature of CPU emulation. KVM-PR is needed to run virtualized Power ISA CPUs other than POWER(N) or POWER(N-1) to the host CPU's full potential on a POWER(N) system.

    > You would think that 32 and 64 bit sessions would be capable of being emulated
    > at close to full speed.

    ...only if virtualized with KVM instead of emulated :-)

    > With a 16 thread processor, that would mean 16 potential G4 or G5 level sessions
    > all running concurrently.

    ...as soon as KVM-PR works on PowerNV, if the session is wished to be faster than 1 GHz G4.
  • »30.05.18 - 23:08
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  • Jim
  • Yokemate of Keyboards
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    Jim
    Posts: 4977 from 2009/1/28
    From: Delaware, USA
    >...as soon as KVM-PR works on PowerNV, if the session is wished to be faster than 1 GHz G4.

    That was what I got out of the article you provided pointers too, thanks.
    Its reassuring.
    "Never attribute to malice what can more readily explained by incompetence"
  • »31.05.18 - 00:33
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  • Jim
  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Jim
    Posts: 4977 from 2009/1/28
    From: Delaware, USA
    Quote:

    xilinder wrote:
    Came across this and some may find it interesting on the T2Lite.(?)

    VideoCard x8/x16 shootout


    Talks II Lite use pci-e 4.0 slot, those benches you are referencing are for a PCI-E 3.0 test platform.
    But yes, you could put the video card in the PCI-E x8 slot, and if the x16 slot could be bifurcated, you could have an x8, x4, and four x1 slots.
    "Never attribute to malice what can more readily explained by incompetence"
  • »10.06.18 - 01:10
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Andreas_Wolf
    Posts: 12058 from 2003/5/22
    From: Germany
    > Talks II Lite use pci-e 4.0 slot, those benches you are referencing
    > are for a PCI-E 3.0 test platform.

    As long as there are no PCIe v4 graphics cards, PCIe v3 or lower graphics cards will have to be used anyway, and the PCIe v4 spec of the Talos II will bring no advantage over the lowest common denominator which is the PCIe version of the graphics card.

    > if the x16 slot could be bifurcated, you could have an x8, x4, and four x1 slots.

    This would be more like hexafurcating ;-)
  • »10.06.18 - 07:51
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  • Caterpillar
    Caterpillar
    xilinder
    Posts: 39 from 2018/2/1
    From: USA
    That is true.

    I am no fan of x86 machines so a lot of stuff I read about it pretty much goes into garbage collection. However, I do recall something about the way the multicore processors are connected can become a bottleneck under heavy load and effect graphics performance due to the PCIe bus not getting the data in a timely fashion.

    For me it does not really matter. I don't play graphics intensive games and these old eyes cannot be improved with higher resolutions. :-(

    Sometimes more fluff is exactly that, more fluff.

    Hexafurcating. Sounds like something sexual that could get you arrested.
  • »10.06.18 - 14:05
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  • Jim
  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Jim
    Posts: 4977 from 2009/1/28
    From: Delaware, USA
    Hexafurcating?
    Well at least that is amusing (its been a bad weekend).

    I should have asked Raptor about that idea when I inquired about splitting the x8 slot.

    That option would make the Talos II Lite more attractive.
    "Never attribute to malice what can more readily explained by incompetence"
  • »10.06.18 - 18:37
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Andreas_Wolf
    Posts: 12058 from 2003/5/22
    From: Germany
    > Talos II Lite mainboard available for 1100 USD: [...]
    > With a quad-core POWER9 for 375 USD, this amounts to
    > 1475 USD for board with CPU.

    Special developer system available for 1600 USD:

    - chassis with power supply
    - Talos II Lite mainboard
    - 4-core POWER9 CPU (DD2.1 stepping)
    - 8 GiB RAM
    - 128 GiB storage
  • »07.07.18 - 07:38
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  • Paladin of the Pegasos
    Paladin of the Pegasos
    redrumloa
    Posts: 1424 from 2003/4/13
    Quote:

    Andreas_Wolf wrote:
    > Talos II Lite mainboard available for 1100 USD: [...]
    > With a quad-core POWER9 for 375 USD, this amounts to
    > 1475 USD for board with CPU.

    Special developer system available for 1600 USD:

    - chassis with power supply
    - Talos II Lite mainboard
    - 4-core POWER9 CPU (DD2.1 stepping)
    - 8 GiB RAM
    - 128 GiB storage


    That's cheaper than an X5000. Why does A-Eonkit even bother?
  • »31.08.18 - 14:00
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  • Priest of the Order of the Butterfly
    Priest of the Order of the Butterfly
    connor
    Posts: 570 from 2007/7/29
    Because of the inacceptable American refund policy?
  • »31.08.18 - 14:16
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  • Moderator
    Kronos
    Posts: 2231 from 2003/2/24
    Quote:

    redrumloa wrote:


    That's cheaper than an X5000.


    Only before you add TheNameTax.

    Quote:

    Why does A-Eonkit even bother?


    Because!!!


    Looking at the real prices it would about the same as the 2core X5000 in retail (without sticking the name to it) and energy cost might be an issue with this one.

    If the get a reduced footprint lownoise fully useable board out for around 1000€ we can talk, till then it's ancient G4 based Macs for me....
  • »31.08.18 - 14:16
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  • ASiegel
    Posts: 1369 from 2003/2/15
    From: Central Europe
    @ redrumloa

    They might not have bothered with a custom design if this had been available when the X5000 was being conceptualized, which happened several years ago.

    That being said, when you compare prices you need to be aware that this "special developer system" is NOT a consumer product. The X5000 is available with all the necessary certifications and normal product warranty as mandated in North America or Europe. On the other hand, the Raptor system is spefically sold without regard for certifications or compliance guarantuees and you are expected to figure out on your own if it is legal or not to operate this hardware wherever you live. Also, they categorically refuse to accept product returns although being able to return items purchased on the internet is a legal consumer right in the European Union, and so on and so forth.

    If you want to sell a computer to consumers, there is quite a bit of administrative overhead involved nowadays, which does increase costs.
  • »31.08.18 - 14:27
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  • Paladin of the Pegasos
    Paladin of the Pegasos
    redrumloa
    Posts: 1424 from 2003/4/13
    Quote:

    Kronos wrote:
    Only before you add TheNameTax.



    Using a term you like...

    Well they could take the Eyetech route by taking the reference board and "adding stupid" to it, then double the price. Slap a Boing sticker on it and suddenly it is "teh true Amiga".

    Quote:

    If the get a reduced footprint lownoise fully useable board out for around 1000€ we can talk, till then it's ancient G4 based Macs for me....


    And it is G5s for me! Then again if Talos was shown to bench in single core performance than my G5 2.7 (and MorphOS supported it of course), I might be willing to drop the cash for the asking price. There is no way it is as bad of a power hog as my G5 2.7.
  • »31.08.18 - 14:34
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  • Paladin of the Pegasos
    Paladin of the Pegasos
    redrumloa
    Posts: 1424 from 2003/4/13
    Quote:

    ASiegel wrote:
    @ redrumloa

    They might not have bothered with a custom design if this had been available when the X5000 was being conceptualized, which happened several years ago.


    I guess you have a point.

    Quote:


    That being said, when you compare prices you need to be aware that this "special developer system" is NOT a consumer product. The X5000 is available with all the necessary certifications and normal product warranty as mandated in North America or Europe. On the other hand, the Raptor system is spefically sold without regard for certifications or compliance guarantuees and you are expected to figure out on your own if it is legal or not to operate this hardware wherever you live. Also, they categorically refuse to accept product returns although being able to return items purchased on the internet is a legal consumer right in the European Union, and so on and so forth.

    If you want to sell a computer to consumers, there is quite a bit of administrative overhead involved nowadays, which does increase costs.


    OK that makes sense. Then again don't developer systems usually have support built into the price? I do remember now someone mentioning the lack of certifications. That's a bit, odd...

    This is an interesting computer, if it ever gets a true consumer version. I still prefer forging ahead with X86-64, but this could be an interesting stop gap. Not that it will get looked at as such, just thinking out loud.
  • »31.08.18 - 14:39
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  • Jim
  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Jim
    Posts: 4977 from 2009/1/28
    From: Delaware, USA
    Quote:

    Andreas_Wolf wrote:
    Update:

    Hinting at a single-socket microATX board to be presented at OpenPOWER Summit Europe in early October:

    https://twitter.com/RaptorCompSys/status/1034901944014438400


    Neat, they have been dropping hints about this for awhile.
    And now we get a photo of a matx system.
    Wonder what the price will be.
    "Never attribute to malice what can more readily explained by incompetence"
  • »31.08.18 - 14:46
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Andreas_Wolf
    Posts: 12058 from 2003/5/22
    From: Germany
    > if Talos was shown to bench in single core performance than
    > my G5 2.7 (and MorphOS supported it of course), I might be
    > willing to drop the cash for the asking price.

    I'm sure that the POWER9 absolutely destroys the PPC970, also in single-core/thread performance.
  • »31.08.18 - 16:07
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