[gentoo-amd64] quadcore - part 2

[gentoo-amd64] quadcore - part 2

[Fernando Boaglio]

Hi again, =)

Yesterday I was installing my Gentoo from stage3 and I noticed (with
htop) even though my machine has 4Gb, only 350mb (tops) was used
during compilation.

Is there any way to improve my memory usage  ?

Another question: the cooler from quadcore box is too much noisy, and
my old machine ( X2 4200+ - Socket 939) has an excellent Zalman cooler
, but will be safe to use it ?

TIA!

[]'s
Fernando Boaglio

[gentoo-amd64] Re: quadcore - part 2

[Nikos Chantziaras]

Fernando Boaglio wrote:
> Hi again, =)
> 
> Yesterday I was installing my Gentoo from stage3 and I noticed (with
> htop) even though my machine has 4Gb, only 350mb (tops) was used
> during compilation.
> 
> Is there any way to improve my memory usage  ?

That's the memory needed to compile.  There's nothing to optimize.  Just 
make sure to have "-pipe" in CFLAGS in order to avoid using the disk and 
use the RAM more instead.


> Another question: the cooler from quadcore box is too much noisy, and
> my old machine ( X2 4200+ - Socket 939) has an excellent Zalman cooler
> , but will be safe to use it ?

Go to Zalman's site and check.  I also recommend a quality thermal 
paste.  Most people (me too) are using Arctic Silver 5 because it gives 
good temps.

Re: [gentoo-amd64] quadcore - part 2

[Volker Armin Hemmann]

On Donnerstag 27 November 2008, Fernando Boaglio wrote:
> Hi again, =)
>
> Yesterday I was installing my Gentoo from stage3 and I noticed (with
> htop) even though my machine has 4Gb, only 350mb (tops) was used
> during compilation.
>
> Is there any way to improve my memory usage  ?

if it doesn't need more, it won't use more. You can speed things up a bit with 
-pipe cflag and /var/tmp/portage on tmpfs

>
> Another question: the cooler from quadcore box is too much noisy, and
> my old machine ( X2 4200+ - Socket 939) has an excellent Zalman cooler
> , but will be safe to use it ?

Zalman and excellent? Really?

Check their website. Most Zalman coolers aren' compatible with AM2 or not 
powerfull enough.

http://www.frostytech.com/
http://www.frostytech.com/top5heatsinks.cfm
has a lot of cooler reviews.

Re: [gentoo-amd64] quadcore - part 2

[Beso]

2008/11/27 Fernando Boaglio <boaglio@gmail.com>:
> Hi again, =)
>
> Yesterday I was installing my Gentoo from stage3 and I noticed (with
> htop) even though my machine has 4Gb, only 350mb (tops) was used
> during compilation.
>
> Is there any way to improve my memory usage  ?
>
compile into ram and have more compilation threads to compile simultaneously.
there are how-tos on how to set up inram compilation (faster than disk one) on
the gentoo wiki and in the forum. usually you just need to have
/var/tmp/portage
(assuming /var/tmp/portage is where portage compiles the packages) to
a tmpfs.
i've added some lines in /etc/conf.d/local.start to create a directory in /tmp
then give the own to portage and then to mount this directory over
/var/tmp/portage and the unmount of this directory in local.stop when
closing the pc.
you'll have to set to the proper dimension to the tmpf inside
/etc/fstab. i have it set to
6.8 gb with 3.2gb of physical ram and 4 gb of swap space. remember
that the total ammount
of space for the particular tmpfs should not be over the space of
total physicalram plus
swap dimension or you'll have some problems with it.

> Another question: the cooler from quadcore box is too much noisy, and
> my old machine ( X2 4200+ - Socket 939) has an excellent Zalman cooler
> , but will be safe to use it ?
>
you'll just have to try it out and monitor the thermal sensors after
you've added it. if
they have almost the same values that they had when using the original
cooler then
you should be able to safely substitute the base cooler. if you still
want a good cooler
i'd suggest cooler master or thermaltake coolers and dissipators that
are really great.

-- 
dott. ing. beso

Re: [gentoo-amd64] quadcore - part 2

[Branko Badrljica]

Beso wrote:

<SNIP>
> you'll just have to try it out and monitor the thermal sensors after
> you've added it. if
> they have almost the same values that they had when using the original
> cooler then
> you should be able to safely substitute the base cooler. if you still
> want a good cooler
> i'd suggest cooler master or thermaltake coolers and dissipators that
> are really great

Well, if he is going to buy new cooler, then why not spend extra couple 
of $/€ and go for the best ?
I have Thermalright's IFX-14 on my Phenom 9950 and it is BIG but works 
phenomenally.

Good cooler and liquid metal thermal paste is my solution. Be careful 
with aluminium, though. Liquid metal reportedly "loves" aluminium, but 
love is of suicidal kind ;o)

You have to be a bit careful with liquid metal, though. First, it 
conducts electricity, so spills can be bad thing.
Second, you have to undestand when applying it that you are effectively 
doing low temp soldering.
So, it is of _vital_ importance to get the liquid to _wet_ _both_ 
surfaces. Since you can't do it with soldering iron and you don't have 
chemical aids, you9 have to clean both surfaces ( fine grit paper etc), 
apply a drop of metal liquid and rub it in with some sharp edged metal 
(Xacto knife comes to mind). Sharp edge will create high pressure , 
which will push liquid through oxide barrier.
Once you have done that, liquid will behave just as if it were molten 
solder. You can then wipe off liquid with metal oxide remains from both 
surfaces.

After that, you have to ensure that there is just enough liquid to fill 
in voids between both surfaces, so you add liquid by droplets until you 
can slide CPU over heatsink and it feels wet.
After that, you are ready to mount whole thing.

One nitpick with LM: you will have trouble getting it off CPU, so 
warranty is kinda problematic. On the flip side: when was the last time 
you killed the chip without you or something else ( board, PSU ) being 
the culprit ?

Re: [gentoo-amd64] quadcore - part 2

[Martin Herrman]

On Fri, Nov 28, 2008 at 12:01 AM, Branko Badrljica
<brankob@avtomatika.com> wrote:

> Well, if he is going to buy new cooler, then why not spend extra couple of
> $/€ and go for the best ?
> I have Thermalright's IFX-14 on my Phenom 9950 and it is BIG but works
> phenomenally.
>
> Good cooler and liquid metal thermal paste is my solution. Be careful with
> aluminium, though. Liquid metal reportedly "loves" aluminium, but love is of
> suicidal kind ;o)
>
> You have to be a bit careful with liquid metal, though. First, it conducts
> electricity, so spills can be bad thing.
> Second, you have to undestand when applying it that you are effectively
> doing low temp soldering.
> So, it is of _vital_ importance to get the liquid to _wet_ _both_ surfaces.
> Since you can't do it with soldering iron and you don't have chemical aids,
> you9 have to clean both surfaces ( fine grit paper etc), apply a drop of
> metal liquid and rub it in with some sharp edged metal (Xacto knife comes to
> mind). Sharp edge will create high pressure , which will push liquid through
> oxide barrier.
> Once you have done that, liquid will behave just as if it were molten
> solder. You can then wipe off liquid with metal oxide remains from both
> surfaces.
>
> After that, you have to ensure that there is just enough liquid to fill in
> voids between both surfaces, so you add liquid by droplets until you can
> slide CPU over heatsink and it feels wet.
> After that, you are ready to mount whole thing.
>
> One nitpick with LM: you will have trouble getting it off CPU, so warranty
> is kinda problematic. On the flip side: when was the last time you killed
> the chip without you or something else ( board, PSU ) being the culprit ?

what about ccache?

http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/handbook/handbook-x86.xml?part=2&chap=3#doc_chap3

I'm using a Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro at my Q9300.

Martin

Re: [gentoo-amd64] quadcore - part 2

[Volker Armin Hemmann]

On Saturday 29 November 2008, Martin Herrman wrote:
> On Fri, Nov 28, 2008 at 12:01 AM, Branko Badrljica
>
> <brankob@avtomatika.com> wrote:
> > Well, if he is going to buy new cooler, then why not spend extra couple
> > of $/€ and go for the best ?
> > I have Thermalright's IFX-14 on my Phenom 9950 and it is BIG but works
> > phenomenally.
> >
> > Good cooler and liquid metal thermal paste is my solution. Be careful
> > with aluminium, though. Liquid metal reportedly "loves" aluminium, but
> > love is of suicidal kind ;o)
> >
> > You have to be a bit careful with liquid metal, though. First, it
> > conducts electricity, so spills can be bad thing.
> > Second, you have to undestand when applying it that you are effectively
> > doing low temp soldering.
> > So, it is of _vital_ importance to get the liquid to _wet_ _both_
> > surfaces. Since you can't do it with soldering iron and you don't have
> > chemical aids, you9 have to clean both surfaces ( fine grit paper etc),
> > apply a drop of metal liquid and rub it in with some sharp edged metal
> > (Xacto knife comes to mind). Sharp edge will create high pressure , which
> > will push liquid through oxide barrier.
> > Once you have done that, liquid will behave just as if it were molten
> > solder. You can then wipe off liquid with metal oxide remains from both
> > surfaces.
> >
> > After that, you have to ensure that there is just enough liquid to fill
> > in voids between both surfaces, so you add liquid by droplets until you
> > can slide CPU over heatsink and it feels wet.
> > After that, you are ready to mount whole thing.
> >
> > One nitpick with LM: you will have trouble getting it off CPU, so
> > warranty is kinda problematic. On the flip side: when was the last time
> > you killed the chip without you or something else ( board, PSU ) being
> > the culprit ?
>
> what about ccache?
>
> http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/handbook/handbook-x86.xml?part=2&chap=3#doc_ch
>ap3
>
> I'm using a Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro at my Q9300.

oh great. AC ...

just make sure to check the fan A LOT. AC fans are highly susceptible to dust. 
More so than any other fan.  They also need a lot of room around the fan so 
the 'air vortex' can build up - without it they have a abysmal throughput. So 
no cables or anything else next to it!

Re: [gentoo-amd64] quadcore - part 2

[Martin Herrman]

On Sat, Nov 29, 2008 at 5:59 PM, Volker Armin Hemmann
<volker.armin.hemmann@tu-clausthal.de> wrote:
> On Saturday 29 November 2008, Martin Herrman wrote:

>> I'm using a Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro at my Q9300.
>
> oh great. AC ...
>
> just make sure to check the fan A LOT. AC fans are highly susceptible to dust.
> More so than any other fan.  They also need a lot of room around the fan so
> the 'air vortex' can build up - without it they have a abysmal throughput. So
> no cables or anything else next to it!

Well, reviews I read were positive about this cooler, and it does it's
job well as I'm aware of. Thanks anyway for the warning, I checked for
cables and fortunately that's not an issue. In my previous PC I had a
Zalman, the copper part became very dusty too.

Martin

Re: [gentoo-amd64] quadcore - part 2

[Volker Armin Hemmann]

On Montag 01 Dezember 2008, Martin Herrman wrote:
> On Sat, Nov 29, 2008 at 5:59 PM, Volker Armin Hemmann
>
> <volker.armin.hemmann@tu-clausthal.de> wrote:
> > On Saturday 29 November 2008, Martin Herrman wrote:
> >> I'm using a Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro at my Q9300.
> >
> > oh great. AC ...
> >
> > just make sure to check the fan A LOT. AC fans are highly susceptible to
> > dust. More so than any other fan.  They also need a lot of room around
> > the fan so the 'air vortex' can build up - without it they have a abysmal
> > throughput. So no cables or anything else next to it!
>
> Well, reviews I read were positive about this cooler, and it does it's
> job well as I'm aware of. Thanks anyway for the warning, I checked for
> cables and fortunately that's not an issue. In my previous PC I had a
> Zalman, the copper part became very dusty too.

because reviews only test for a view minutes in nice, big cases, with good 
cable managment. Reviews never test a cooler over a couple of month. AC gets 
good reviews, but if you don't clean the fan a lot or there is a lot of dust 
in the air, the FAN suffers a lot. Their open spindle is very sensitive.

I don't like Zalman. No way to change the cooler. Stupid fastening system, no 
pwm.

Re: [gentoo-amd64] quadcore - part 2

[Peter Humphrey]

On Monday 01 December 2008 20:27:02 Volker Armin Hemmann wrote:

> I don't like Zalman. No way to change the cooler. Stupid fastening
> system, no pwm.

Pwm? Pulse-width modulation?

-- 
Rgds
Peter