blueskull

Some Chinese SSDs (colorful, galax, and those nameless brands) use recycled UFS smartphone flash chips modified to expose raw NAND interface with some shitty JMicron controllers. I will not touch them. I won't even touch Spectek chips. I only consider flash chips with genuine original markings (Intel/Micron, Toshiba/Sandisk, Samsung) usable. By my standard, even Mushkin's in-house packaged chips are fishy.

I do embedded system design, and I compile large projects often, mostly Yocto (a collection of Linux kernel and apps). With a 22-core CPU, the SSD chokes the system. And I'm not saying I have a SATA or cheap entry level 2D TLC NVMe. I have a 1.2TB 750, and it still sucks. Compiling is a really stressful operation on SSDs -- many threads, shallow (mostly 1) QD, tons of small files and mixed R/W. I'm waiting for the new 970 Pro. 900P was great, but my chassis can't house it. It only supports up to 12mm 2.5" drives, while 900P is 15mm thick. Ans my mobo has only one PCIe, so AIC cards are also not possible. Yes, silly me, buying an ITX X99.

It certainly looks good from early reviews. http://www.guru3d.com/articles-pages/samsung-970-pro-m-2-512gb-nvme-ssd-review.html

How about the future 970 Pro? It will hit market in a less than a week, and it's only priced $630, while a brand new in box 960 Pro is still $530.

Hi all, I have an X99 workstation which I use all the time. However, I'm about to start a new job that requires me to use it at home AND at work, so I need it to be portable. As such, I plan to move the guts of my computer into a smaller chassis, in this case, NFC Skyreach 4. However, this case has only 12mm vertical space for SSDs, any further will risk bending the GPU (the SSD bracket is above backplate of GPU), and I don't know if it's a good idea to force a component to another. Therefore, I would want to look for options without using an U2 SSD. This means Optane 900P is out of the picture, and my current 750 is also out of picture. Keep in mind that this X99 is an ITX, and it only has one single PCIe slot. All AIC SSDs are not usable with it. So, among M2 SSDs, which is the best in terms of multi thread, QD1 random performance, as well as high endurance? Cost is not a concern, unless it's absurdly expensive. So far, I have this list: 1. SM961 2. PM981 3. 960 Pro 4. XG3 5. XG5 6. M8PeG 7. 800P* *: This one is only available in up to 118GB, which is too small. This may be tolerated, but only as a last resort. It also has quite low endurance as an Optane, in the range of mid-range NAND SSDs. My preferred capacity is at least 256GB, preferably 512GB or 1TB. I already have 2*2TB Micron 1100 drives, so I don't need too much capacity. Realistically, I need 40GB for OS and 100GB for source code (Linux, U-boot, etc., I do embedded design). So a super fast drive with at least 140GB is all what I need. But I would prefer 240GB+ so that I don't have to purge source code cache frequently. If I use 800P, I will have to install OS on SATA SSD, which is something I prefer not to do. I know M8PeG is, among the list, the worst performer, but how bad it is? I happen to have one lying around in my HTPC that will never use its all potential, so if it is not completely blown away by, say, 960 Pro, then I might cannibalize it. BTW, has anyone here own an 900P U2 and is willing to tear it down for some pictures? If it is a single PCB construction, I might just strip the case off and that should shave off a few mm. If it has a 2 PCB construction like my 750, then there's no way I can use it in the new case, unless I force it onto the GPU, which I don't want. Fancy custom software and drivers are not needed nor useful. I will be running Linux anyway. //Edit: another option being using the M8PeG for now and wait for 970 Pro, which is announced but not for sale now. Based on performance of PM981, I won't say 970 Pro is mind blowing fast, but it should at least be slightly better than 960 Pro. Thanks

I mean, I got <50% CPU usage on the mostly used core and pretty 60 FPS (jumps between 60 and 240, I enabled Vsync). But it simply freezes, and the GPU fan runs like a chipper taking off. I should try an NV card and see how it does. If I have, I probably will move to Windows, but I will try to stay with Linux as long as it is even slightly possible, since doing all advanced networking and other services on Windows is too difficult, and I simply can not live without a real ANSI POSIX terminal and a well built in SSH server. Also, I need this machine to be online 24*7, so Windows 7 is not an option, while I do not want to spend $800 on a Windows Server license. Any newer versions of Windows are impossible, since the spying policy of Win10 buggers me so much.

Hi all, I am experiencing very poor performance on my Linux machine. CS:CZ runs smoothly, Unigine Valley runs at a lower FPS, but at least it gives me 30 fps, despite it gives my 70 fps on Windows. However, the 2 Source engine games I tried, HL2 and L4D2, run very sluggish. All animations are so so, but not too bad. Whenever I move my mouse or keyboard, it starts to freeze. In the meanwhile, FPS remains >=60. I know I am running on a particularly awful CPU, but on the same CPU using Windows, I get super smooth experience on both games. I can even run HL2 smoothly on iGPU (i5-4250U) even under Linux. I highly suspect it is due to bad GPU driver. Can anyone confirm that AMD driver is sluggish even with not very demanding games like HL2 or L4D2? So far I've tried fglrx in 15.10 repo, Crimson 15 from binary and AMDGPU in 16.04 kernel, and the latter one is worse, but both 3 suck. Here is the hardware list: ASRock X99E ITX ac Xeon E5-2603V3 (I use this CPU before E5V4 BIOS releases, I have a 2696V4 on my hand, but I do not want to risk frying it) AMD R9 nano 32GB ECC 2400 RDIMM*2 (derated to 1600 due to limitation of CPU) Once again, can anyone confirm that Source engine is not compatible with AMD drivers in Linux? Thanks, Bo

Will do.

Of course. The old ones do not even fit in the socket well.

It is just amazing there are NO any stores carrying any X99 or 2011-3 in my city (Raleigh ,Cary and Wake Forest), and no computer shops offer diagnostic service for X99 platform.

From common sense, the mobo is more prone to DOA than a CPU, BUT, I got my CPU from evil bay, so the source is a little muddy. It is listed as seller refurbished, but guaranteed to work. I already ordered the cheapest 2011-3 CPU form Amazon ($190, used E5 2603 v3), and I will test the mobo with the new CPU, then pay the restocking fee and return the CPU.

Triple beep means no RAM, which is correct. The short, faint sound is just caused by power up, and from this I concluded the system reboots every 1s.

Hi all, I received my mobo, RAM and CPU days ago, and the thing won't post, even without any PCIe devices (but a GPU, I cross checked the GPU with my other one, none of them can boot this computer). The CPU is an eBay E5 2696 v3, $1400. The mobo is an AsRock X99 ITX ac. I am pretty sure the RAM is not the problem since I tried with LRDIMM 32G*2, RDIMM 32G*2 and UDIMM 8G*8. Even the shittiest compatibility board should at least boot with 8G UDIMM RAM. Without RAM installed, I get 3 beeps. With RAM installed, the buzzer makes a short and faint "da" every second, and the fan's PWM fluctuates every second, so it looks like the system reboots every second. Since I need the PC BADLY, I will use the most expensive overnight shipping, so I need to know which part to return for my best bet. No local PC shops can even diagnose my build since neither my local Intrex and BestBuy regional center carry any X99 mobo or LGA2011-3 CPU. Advise needed! Thanks

Thanks all. I already ordered a 520W fan less platinum Seasonic PSU.

Can I use Seasonic 460W or 520W fanless ones? I only trust very few server PSU brands even I'm pursuing a desktop ATX power supply. Also, in a tiny ITX (literally, Elite 110, otherwise I won't bother go for an R9 nano), will heat be a problem if I use a fanless PSU? CPU is cooled by a H60 with 2 Noctua fans stacked, and GPU sucks air from side panel perforation. My major concern is RAM, VRM, MB and PSU -- without PSU fan, will the 2 stacked radiator fans be enough? Thanks