Opteron 100 Mainboard Recommendation

[Ken Gunderson]

On Mon, 2006-01-16 at 19:22 +0100, Daniel Rock wrote:
> Steven Hartland schrieb:
> > I'll have to get back to you on the revision. We've been busting the balls
> > of our suppliers as we have only been able to see stable operation when
> > underclocking the RAM to 166. This is running with 4400+ processors
> > and 2Gb of RAM ( off tyan's recommended list ) using Windows XP.
> >
> > The symptoms are just random reboots with crash logs indicated various
> > errors from memory issues to driver problems.
> > 
> > We also have had high amounts of total MB failures off the top of my
> > head about 10 and we only have 14 machines with this MB in.
> > 
> > The issues may be related only to the X2 CPU's Im not sure.
> 
> Hmm,
> 
> I bought mine in September (S2865AG2NRF) together with an X2 4400+ and 2GB RAM 
> (2x1 GB, ECC, DDR400 3-3-3). Didn't have a problem yet. Idle CPU temperature 
> ~50°C (in BIOS HW-Monitor, so not really idle).

This is with the latest BIOS, I presume?  The machines I was referencing
are on the initial release, running Opteron 165's and reporting low 60
degrees C shortly after start up and booting straight into BIOS.  This
in their 1U barebones system B2865.  Only 1-2 degrees less in a
workstation w/well cooled case though.

> 
> My board revision (above POST codes display): APCB M6 94-V0 0509
> 
> 
> Maybe you should consider a BIOS upgrade:
> 	http://www.tyan.com/support/html/b_s2865.html
> 
> V3.01
> . Adjusted CPU temperature readings

Yeah- it's now on my to-do list.  The upgraded BIOS didn't _exist_ when
I first reported the issue to Tyan though.  Their response was that
their thermal testing had indicated sufficient head room.  I assumed
that they'd let me know if they came out w/update since I'd reported the
issue (guess we all know what they say about "assume"...).

It will be intersting to see how "corrected" they are.  The Opteron 165
is dual core at 1.8GHz.  The system on deck to be built will be an
Opteron 180 at 2.4GHz, so I think I am justifiably concerned about the
heat.  Hopefully the numbers will be significantly lower w/updated BIOS.

A few minor nits I don't like about the Tyan 2865 mainboard for
workstation builds are board layout related:

1) The sound header is about as far as they could make it from where
most cases locate the front access-- the bottom front.  Only built a
couple but yet to see a case w/long enough leads to reach.

2) The board locates the ATX power connector and ensuing cable wad right
under the PSU air intake.

3) The ram is mounted horizontally directly above the CPU so it soaks up
the heat from the CPU heatsink/fan.

4) Most cases I've used use a 3-pin power-led lead and the 2865 uses 2
pin.

Minor stuff like that.  I can live w/another 2865 but thought I check
out my options first.

TIA-- Ken