Skulltrail more info.

[Nemesis 1]

I am assuming that your referring to onboard raid controllers here .

There some good reviews of this controller on the net . Adaptec RAID 3085

They show performance does scale with increased no. of drives. I wouldn't ever run this many drives with an onboard controller in raid 5 .
As it is what I am having done is a waste of $$. But with onboard controller it would be throwing money away.

I know that with onboard controller with fewer drives and larger storge space i could have same storge space with redundancy with R1 . But I want redundancy with great performance.

I could self build a system I lot cheaper than this thing is costing us . But when I recieve my unit . I will show pics of what I am allowed to.

It is really nice setup. I am sure I will get flamed over cost. But I can live with that. Keys you I know will love this system . You will also agree that you have never ever seen anything like it.

 

[Nemesis 1]

INTEL SKULLTRAIL PLATFORM FEATURES NVIDIA SLI TECHNOLOGY

NVIDIA nForce 100 Media and Communications Processors Provide An Exciting SLI-Ready Platform for Intel Customers
Intel demonstrated its new ?Skulltrail? motherboard at this week?s Intel Developers Forum in San Francisco, CA. Skulltrail is a dual-socket motherboard that is targeted at ultra-high-end desktop enthusiasts and workstation customers.
The Skulltrail motherboard uses Intel's workstation ?Stoakley? chipset designed for 2P CPU operation (1P configurations are not supported).
To enable NVIDIA SLI support, Intel has purchased NVIDIA nForce 100 SLI MCPs from NVIDIA.
The NVIDIA nForce 100 MCP converts a single x16 PCI Express Gen 1 bus into dual x16 PCI Express Gen 1 buses. This is how SLI is being supported on Skulltrail.
NVIDIA assisted Intel in the bring-up and testing of the Skulltrail motherboard which was publicly demonstrated at the Intel Developers Forum in San Francisco this week.
NVIDIA SLI technology is the world?s leading multi-GPU platform, allowing multiple NVIDIA GeForce graphics processing units (GPUs) to work together, resulting in scalable performance.
Intel has not licensed SLI technology from NVIDIA. Intel purchased NVIDIA nForce 100 MCPs to enable support for SLI.
Skulltrail is the only Intel motherboard which will feature NVIDIA SLI support. Intel is not using the NVIDIA nForce 100 MCP on any other chipsets, including X38.
For other 1P segments of the Intel market, NVIDIA has a wide variety of SLI products already available, including the leading nForce 680i SLI MCP for enthusiasts and gamers.
Skulltrail motherboards will only be available directly from Intel.

 

[Fayd]

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003

There are still reasons to be an AMD fan, but less so.

AMD sounds cooler, and that's really all i need ^^

 

[Nemesis 1]

We talked earlier about Intels Nehalem / Skulltrail chipset set nameing . Here it is

SMACKOVER

http://www.dailytech.com/Smack...ckover/article9886.htm

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: Nemesis 1
The NVIDIA nForce 100 MCP converts a single x16 PCI Express Gen 1 bus into dual x16 PCI Express Gen 1 buses. This is how SLI is being supported on Skulltrail.

How can they do that, and not lose out on bandwidth? You can't magically turn one set of PCI-E x16 bandwidth into 2x16.

 

[taltamir]

wait you mean skulltrail actually has anything to do with cpus? I thought you posted in the wrong section about a B movie flick....

 

[Nemesis 1]

Hows this for a B movie flick. Sure am glad this server board won't over clock!

http://www.xtremesystems.org/f...howthread.php?t=169421

 

[Zenoth]

Wow ...

CPU's and overall system speed increases are going up so fast, exponentially I'd say.

Let's just look at how it was back in 1990, and where we are today, that's just a 27 years period (almost 28). I can't imagine, I really just can't imagine where we'll be in 30 years from now. I bet that people will laugh at you for buying a "multi-GLFOPS-capable system" over at Walwart for merely $500.

 

[Sentry2]

So what makes the water cooling in the Dark Star the best you've ever seen??? Interested... and what's up with the cable management(if you can call it that) in those systems...

 

[Nemesis 1]

It uses 6 individual loops with a very cool flow control system.

 

[aigomorla]

LOL...

JAG and i had this bout when the Q6600 first rolled along.

LOL....


Anyhow, i have uses for all 8 cores. Thats CRUNCHING MASSIVE amounts of WU's on WCG for XS.

I want skulltrail, but its hard as hell to buy. I even have the 3g's saved up for the entire system. But the hard part is getting the QX9775 or is it the QX9770's for it. And the board is soooo limited, its hard as hell getting one.


But yes, the price on the system will be near 3g's. Thats almost 5 Q6600 rigs you can buy with just 1 machine.

The 3g estimate is here:

The board will most likely run around 600-800 dollars. Maybe top at 1000 dollars.
Each chip will be in Extreme price ranges as well, being around 1000-1200 for it each.

Add FB-DIMM to it, and you got yourself a big hole in your pocket.



Also JAG, the skulltrail CPU's overclock nicely from what im seeing. Also another skulltrail rig, the guy got 4.1ghz on both cores. And the tyan 8500 series CANT overclock unless you do a pin mod. You can overclock the RAM, but not the CPU. Which makes no sense.

But Anyhow... i want skulltrail.... :\

<my rant>

 

[Sentry2]

Originally posted by: Nemesis 1
It uses 6 individual loops with a very cool flow control system.

With how many pumps....radiators...???? Why would you want to control the flow...why not just go for the optimal flow rate???

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: Nemesis 1
It uses 6 individual loops with a very cool flow control system.

and how would you know if charles isnt telling anyone? I believe he's on a NDA for whatever cooling system he's using. Most likely Phase.

If you are correct:
Flow control system means he has the cpu's on paralell. Seems like a great idea considering how much heat each of those chips will drop in your system.

But i dont think charles is willing to say anything at the moment. And i think he's more running dual cascades on them.

And unless you know charles really well, i highly doubt he'll tell you. I could bother eric or dave to find out, but then if i did know, I wouldnt be able to tell you either, so you guys need to wait until he tells you.

 

[Nemesis 1]

2pumps. In parallel. One large rad its cool how its mounted. = 2x 120x3. Thats all the builder would like me to discuss on that. Subject. Once I get mine I will post detailed pics.

 

[Nemesis 1]

Originally posted by: aigomorla

Originally posted by: Nemesis 1
It uses 6 individual loops with a very cool flow control system.

and how would you know if charles isnt telling anyone? I believe he's on a NDA for whatever cooling system he's using. Most likely Phase.

If you are correct:
Flow control system means he has the cpu's on paralell. Seems like a great idea considering how much heat each of those chips will drop in your system.

But i dont think charles is willing to say anything at the moment. And i think he's more running dual cascades on them.

And unless you know charles really well, i highly doubt he'll tell you. I could bother eric or dave to find out, but then if i did know, I wouldnt be able to tell you either, so you guys need to wait until he tells you.

Your OUT OF LINE HERE! Were not talking about Fuggers linked performance jawdropper here.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: Nemesis 1

Originally posted by: aigomorla

Originally posted by: Nemesis 1
It uses 6 individual loops with a very cool flow control system.

and how would you know if charles isnt telling anyone? I believe he's on a NDA for whatever cooling system he's using. Most likely Phase.

If you are correct:
Flow control system means he has the cpu's on paralell. Seems like a great idea considering how much heat each of those chips will drop in your system.

But i dont think charles is willing to say anything at the moment. And i think he's more running dual cascades on them.

And unless you know charles really well, i highly doubt he'll tell you. I could bother eric or dave to find out, but then if i did know, I wouldnt be able to tell you either, so you guys need to wait until he tells you.

Your OUT OF LINE HERE! Were not talking about Fuggers linked performance jawdropper here.

OHHHHHH i thought u were.. Im sorry

Originally posted by: Sentry2

Originally posted by: Nemesis 1
It uses 6 individual loops with a very cool flow control system.

With how many pumps....radiators...???? Why would you want to control the flow...why not just go for the optimal flow rate???

Its simple, as i said its for a paralell setup. If the CPU's were on serial, mean one after another, the water would pick up some heat from the first cpu and the second CPU would have higher temps then the first. By doing a paralell, you have fresh water going to both CPU's for a more even temp on both setups. This is how i would of done skulltrail. With a pump going to each block on a flow regulator.

Now on a paralell setup, you need to = the flow going to both blocks. If one path is more restrictive, then less water will travel that path, and you got a messed up loop. Hence why you need a flow regulator.

 

[Nemesis 1]

Well this system has 6 parallel loops. Using just 2 pumps. With the 2 cpu's recieving 13/4 GPM and the2 GPU's recieving 13/4GPM and the chipsets get 11/4 gpm. Its very nice setup and very $$. The flowcontrol I have been told is $500+. I I believe it. I tried online to find similiar designs and thats the price range on the <side.

 

[Sentry2]

Well, it makes sense now that I know he'll be using 2 pumps, each pushing 3 loops.

@ Nemesis: What will be cooled from these 6 loops? (2 cpus, 2 gpus, and 2 chipsets)??

LOL, I guess you beat me to it!


I'm currently working on adding another Panworld 50px to my setup and a couple of PA 120.3's....then it's off to phase for the cpu sometime next year.

 

[Nemesis 1]

Thats correct cpu's gpu's and chipsets. Also 2 pumps feed all 6x loops. The pumps connect to 2 seperate inlets &2outlets on the flowcontol unit. The flow controll unit uses 6 seperate loops .Rad also uses 2inlets 2outlets . By using pumps in parallel you double the flow while maitaining the same head. At least thats what I was told .

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: Nemesis 1
Thats correct cpu's gpu's and chipsets. Also 2 pumps feed all 6x loops. The pumps connect to 2 seperate inlets &2outlets on the flowcontol unit. The flow controll unit uses 6 seperate loops .Rad also uses 2inlets 2outlets . By using pumps in parallel you double the flow while maitaining the same head. At least thats what I was told .

correct. But flow doesnt do anything in a system. Head pressure fights restrictions from each block, and therefore head pressure is more important expecially when using accelerators.


But yeah, nice design, i was thinkn of something simular to it. Except my cpu would be powered by 1 pump which is my RD-30, splicing directly into a flow regulator where it splits the flow to the 2 cpu's.

 

[JAG87]

Originally posted by: aigomorla
LOL...

JAG and i had this bout when the Q6600 first rolled along.

LOL....


Anyhow, i have uses for all 8 cores. Thats CRUNCHING MASSIVE amounts of WU's on WCG for XS.

I want skulltrail, but its hard as hell to buy. I even have the 3g's saved up for the entire system. But the hard part is getting the QX9775 or is it the QX9770's for it. And the board is soooo limited, its hard as hell getting one.


But yes, the price on the system will be near 3g's. Thats almost 5 Q6600 rigs you can buy with just 1 machine.

The 3g estimate is here:

The board will most likely run around 600-800 dollars. Maybe top at 1000 dollars.
Each chip will be in Extreme price ranges as well, being around 1000-1200 for it each.

Add FB-DIMM to it, and you got yourself a big hole in your pocket.



Also JAG, the skulltrail CPU's overclock nicely from what im seeing. Also another skulltrail rig, the guy got 4.1ghz on both cores. And the tyan 8500 series CANT overclock unless you do a pin mod. You can overclock the RAM, but not the CPU. Which makes no sense.

But Anyhow... i want skulltrail.... :\

<my rant>

lmao, 1000-1200 for the chips? try 1490 USD for each chip by the dozen. thats 3K just for the processors aigo, not the whole system.

2x QX9775: 2980 dollars
1x skulltrail motherboard with fancy skull on it: 695 dollars
2x 2GB DDR2-800 FB-DIMMs with terrible CL5 timings : 599 dollars
water cooling equipment to keep it from boiling: 799 dollars

your face after intel releases a $300 nehalem not even a year after that outperforms your 3000 dollar processors that have no resale value what-so-ever: priceless.

 

[Nemesis 1]

Please Jag 87. I understand you have a right to your own opinion. But please do as Movie man at XS asked. If you don't like skulltrail stay out of the threads.

In this thread you have shown to all that you are indeed one of the TOP enthusist here @ AT. AS you yourself stated.

SO far you have stated. SKulltrail won't have sli. SKulltrail won't O/C . Skull Trail is nothing more than pimped up proof of concept server board.

SO far you are wrong about 100%. Thats outstanding for an elite such as yourself.

SO Here's the facts everyone already knows about SKULL TRAIL.

1) ITS EXPENSIVE!!!!!!

2) ITS the top performing platform for Performance on the planet. It's got SLI / 4x8pcie on 16xslots.

3). It has 2 top binned Yorks on a 771 socket that seem to O/C like Crazy.

4) It uses FBdimms instead of the more expensive DDR3 / Has greater bandwidth. Will use Cas. 3# when released. FBdimms have improved greatly.

THis is skulltrail ! THE top performing PC system in the WORLD ! ITS EXPENSIVE ! Its got it all. So you have no right trying to belittle this system .

As for Nehalem making it obsolite next year. YA thats possiable. But Intel could slip and fall also . Unlikely but possiable.

If Nehalem does as you say. And makes C2D obsolite. Than Skull trail will be the only system available from C2D generation that will come close to competing with nethalem.

So your telling everone to wait till Nehalem to build or buy a pc . Even tho skulltrail is expensive as you say. It is the only system you can buy or build in 08 that can compete with Nethalem All other system shall become lowend in comparison.

 

[Idontcare]

Originally posted by: JAG87
your face after intel releases a $300 nehalem not even a year after that outperforms your 3000 dollar processors that have no resale value what-so-ever: priceless.

Feeling entitled to express an opinion that you don't value your time or money in a way that convinces you to go out and buy a Skulltrail is A LOT different from being entitled to express your opinion and passing judgement on how you perceive every other person on the planet values their time and money should any other person decide to buy Skulltrail.

It is about the same difference between making pleasant small-talk on a forum versus being a troll.

You know when you've crossed the threshold and started trolling when you find yourself defending post after post in a thread at AT and XS with highly respected people keep telling you to stop.

The very tone of your posts is one of passing judgement as if you are the superior talking down to a child in as much of a condenscending attitude as possible. That is neither pleasant nor polite. It is called trolling.

 

[Nemesis 1]

Well some reviews are out. Not bad. I really liked how easy this thing O/C to 4ghz . without adding voltage all stock settings very nice.

A little disapointed in the fact only 2 memory slots were used. LOL.

Fugger will do it right.

But all and all looks good for those who can put . This kind of power to use.

 

[Idontcare]

The problem I see coming to light from the reviews is that Skulltrail is not really the best in any category.

If you are a gamer, you can get faster or nearly as fast with an i780 board and SLI.

If you are an overclocking enthusiast you can get faster benchmarks with DDR2 or DDR3...the FBDIMM really kills anyone who wants high FSB and/or really low latency.

If you are a workstation type person who could put 8-cores to work then you are just as well off getting a standard dual-socket board and you are off to the races.

Overclocking seems lackluster in all the reviews thus far, gaming performance is not exceptional, and anything tied to memory latency and timings appears to take a hit.

Even if you had the resources, would you choose to spend them on a Skulltrail? I'm not going to after having seen the reviews.

Jag87 was onto something. I owe him an apology.