Good v3 port candidate for Socket F

[Myles Watson]

All,

I'm looking for a system to port to v3.  It needs to be Dual socket F.

Here's the "simplified" block diagram of the system that I have:

Opteron - Opteron
   |
Chipset
   |
 PCIe

And the system that I need:

Opteron - Opteron
  |         |
PCIe       Chipset

Notice that the second socket has an independent link to a PCIe controller.

The Tyan s2895 would work, but I need socket F.

My question is if you know of any Socket F systems that would fit the bill.
I'm especially interested in what chipsets they use.  I'd like to port it to
Coreboot-v3.

Thanks,
Myles

[Marc Jones]

On Mon, Dec 22, 2008 at 4:21 PM, Myles Watson  wrote:
> All,
>
> I'm looking for a system to port to v3.  It needs to be Dual socket F.
>
> Here's the "simplified" block diagram of the system that I have:
>
> Opteron - Opteron
>   |
> Chipset
>   |
>  PCIe
>
> And the system that I need:
>
> Opteron - Opteron
>  |         |
> PCIe       Chipset
>
> Notice that the second socket has an independent link to a PCIe controller.
>
> The Tyan s2895 would work, but I need socket F.
>
> My question is if you know of any Socket F systems that would fit the bill.
> I'm especially interested in what chipsets they use.  I'd like to port it to
> Coreboot-v3.

I am not sure what you mean. You want a HT-PCIe bridge that isn't a
tunnel to the southbridge?
Have you looked at serverworks/broadcom boards?

Marc

[Myles Watson]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Marc Jones [mailto:[e-mail]]
> Sent: Monday, December 22, 2008 11:41 PM
> To: Myles Watson
> Cc: Coreboot; yhlu; [e-mail]
> Subject: Re: Good v3 port candidate for Socket F
>
> On Mon, Dec 22, 2008 at 4:21 PM, Myles Watson  wrote:
> > All,
> >
> > I'm looking for a system to port to v3.  It needs to be Dual socket F.
> >
> > Here's the "simplified" block diagram of the system that I have:
> >
> > Opteron - Opteron
> >   |
> > Chipset
> >   |
> >  PCIe
> >
> > And the system that I need:
> >
> > Opteron - Opteron
> >  |         |
> > PCIe       Chipset
> >
> > Notice that the second socket has an independent link to a PCIe
>
> controller.
> > The Tyan s2895 would work, but I need socket F.
> >
> > My question is if you know of any Socket F systems that would fit the
>
> bill.
> > I'm especially interested in what chipsets they use.  I'd like to port
>
> it to
> > Coreboot-v3.
>
> I am not sure what you mean. You want a HT-PCIe bridge that isn't a
> tunnel to the southbridge?

Yes.  I want to be able to control the PCIe slot from the second socket
without going through the BSP.
> Have you looked at serverworks/broadcom boards?

No.  Is there a chipset that supports socket F from v2 that I could port to
v3?

Thanks,
Myles

All the AMD Socket F designs are basically going to be the same.  You
have a CPU that contains the Northbridge chipset that has a HT link to
the 2nd CPU.  From the 2nd CPU you then have a HT link that takes you to
your southbridge chipset and all the PCI, PCI-X or PCI-E slots.

The only difference between Broadcom or NVIDIA would be how many memory
slots may or may not be tied directly to each CPU.  Outside of that the
design basically the same in regards to routing.

Joel Robertson
Tech Support Manager
Customer Service Manager
Vendor Relations Manager
[e-mail]
[phone] ext. 5196
-----Original Message-----
From: Marc Jones [mailto:[e-mail]] 
Sent: Monday, December 22, 2008 11:41 PM
To: Myles Watson
Cc: Coreboot; yhlu; joelr (joelr - TYANUS)
Subject: Re: Good v3 port candidate for Socket F

On Mon, Dec 22, 2008 at 4:21 PM, Myles Watson  wrote:
> All,
>
> I'm looking for a system to port to v3.  It needs to be Dual socket F.
>
> Here's the "simplified" block diagram of the system that I have:
>
> Opteron - Opteron
>   |
> Chipset
>   |
>  PCIe
>
> And the system that I need:
>
> Opteron - Opteron
>  |         |
> PCIe       Chipset
>
> Notice that the second socket has an independent link to a PCIe

controller.
> The Tyan s2895 would work, but I need socket F.
>
> My question is if you know of any Socket F systems that would fit the

bill.
> I'm especially interested in what chipsets they use.  I'd like to port

it to
> Coreboot-v3.

I am not sure what you mean. You want a HT-PCIe bridge that isn't a
tunnel to the southbridge?
Have you looked at serverworks/broadcom boards?

Marc

[Myles Watson]

On Tue, Dec 23, 2008 at 8:44 AM,   wrote:
> All the AMD Socket F designs are basically going to be the same.  You
> have a CPU that contains the Northbridge chipset that has a HT link to
> the 2nd CPU.  From the 2nd CPU you then have a HT link that takes you to
> your southbridge chipset and all the PCI, PCI-X or PCI-E slots.
>
> The only difference between Broadcom or NVIDIA would be how many memory
> slots may or may not be tied directly to each CPU.

Sorry I missed this last time I read it.  You're right, this is what's
important to me.  I need SATA directly from Socket 2.

It looks like s4985 would work too if the IO55 chip were supported.

Thanks,
Myles

[Arne Georg Gleditsch]

"Myles Watson"  writes:
> All,
>
> I'm looking for a system to port to v3.  It needs to be Dual socket F.
>
> Here's the "simplified" block diagram of the system that I have:
>
> Opteron - Opteron
>    |
> Chipset
>    |
>  PCIe
>
> And the system that I need:
>
> Opteron - Opteron
>   |         |
> PCIe       Chipset
>
> Notice that the second socket has an independent link to a PCIe controller.
>
> The Tyan s2895 would work, but I need socket F.
>
> My question is if you know of any Socket F systems that would fit the bill.
> I'm especially interested in what chipsets they use.  I'd like to port it to
> Coreboot-v3.

The Tyan S2912(-E) is socket F, but has a HTX slot off of CPU1, not a
PCIe bus.  Depending on your needs, I guesst that might or might not be
a deal breaker...

[Myles Watson]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Arne Georg Gleditsch [mailto:[e-mail]]
> Sent: Tuesday, December 23, 2008 4:57 AM
> To: Myles Watson
> Cc: 'Coreboot'; 'Marc Jones'; 'yhlu'; [e-mail]
> Subject: Re: Good v3 port candidate for Socket F
>
> "Myles Watson"  writes:
> > All,
> >
> > I'm looking for a system to port to v3.  It needs to be Dual socket F.
> >
> > Here's the "simplified" block diagram of the system that I have:
> >
> > Opteron - Opteron
> >    |
> > Chipset
> >    |
> >  PCIe
> >
> > And the system that I need:
> >
> > Opteron - Opteron
> >   |         |
> > PCIe       Chipset
> >
> > Notice that the second socket has an independent link to a PCIe
>
> controller.
> > The Tyan s2895 would work, but I need socket F.
> >
> > My question is if you know of any Socket F systems that would fit the
>
> bill.
> > I'm especially interested in what chipsets they use.  I'd like to port
>
> it to
> > Coreboot-v3.
>
> The Tyan S2912(-E) is socket F, but has a HTX slot off of CPU1, not a
> PCIe bus.  Depending on your needs, I guesst that might or might not be
> a deal breaker...

I need to get to SATA.  There are lots of PCIe -> SATA devices, but I can't
find a SATA card for the HTX slot.

Thanks,
Myles

[Arne Georg Gleditsch]

"Myles Watson"  writes:
> > The Tyan S2912(-E) is socket F, but has a HTX slot off of CPU1, not a
> > PCIe bus.  Depending on your needs, I guesst that might or might not be
> > a deal breaker...
>
> I need to get to SATA.  There are lots of PCIe -> SATA devices, but I can't
> find a SATA card for the HTX slot.

Hm, I'm not aware of any either.  (I know the HTX development boards we
have come equipped with SATA ports, but you'd need your own FPGA design
and you'd be limited to FPGA performance -- in other words you'd need to
be pretty desperate...)

[Myles Watson]

On Tue, Dec 23, 2008 at 7:38 AM, Arne Georg Gleditsch <
[e-mail]> wrote:
> "Myles Watson"  writes:
> > > The Tyan S2912(-E) is socket F, but has a HTX slot off of CPU1, not a
> > > PCIe bus.  Depending on your needs, I guesst that might or might not be
> > > a deal breaker...
> >
> > I need to get to SATA.  There are lots of PCIe -> SATA devices, but I
>
> can't
> > find a SATA card for the HTX slot.
>
> Hm, I'm not aware of any either.  (I know the HTX development boards we
> have come equipped with SATA ports, but you'd need your own FPGA design
> and you'd be limited to FPGA performance -- in other words you'd need to
> be pretty desperate...)

Yes.  I'm hoping to find a way that doesn't introduce yet another variable
:)

Thanks,
Myles

[Myles Watson]

On Mon, Dec 22, 2008 at 4:21 PM, Myles Watson  wrote:
> All,
>
> I'm looking for a system to port to v3.  It needs to be Dual socket F.
>
> Here's the "simplified" block diagram of the system that I have:
>
> Opteron - Opteron
>   |
> Chipset
>   |
>  PCIe
>
> And the system that I need:
>
> Opteron - Opteron
>  |         |
> PCIe       Chipset
>
> Notice that the second socket has an independent link to a PCIe controller.
>
> The Tyan s2895 would work, but I need socket F.
>
> My question is if you know of any Socket F systems that would fit the bill.
> I'm especially interested in what chipsets they use.  I'd like to port it to
> Coreboot-v3.

Here are some candidates that I've found:

Tyan Thunder n6650W (S2915-E)
- NFP 3600 + NFP 3050
- 3600 support in v2, but not 3050.  Any guesses how hard it would be?

I'm guessing that IO 55 is the NFP 3050.  If so, these boards would be
similar to port:
Tyan Thunder n6650EX (S4989)
- 4 processors

Supermicro H8QM3-2
Supermicro H8QMi-2

These boards are 4 Opteron + MCP55 + AMD 8132 (PCI-X instead of PCIe)
Supermicro H8QM8-2(+)
Supermicro H8QME-2(+)

I'm still looking at other vendors' sites.  Not all of them make it
easy to see how the chips are connected.

Thanks,
Myles

[Marc Jones]

On Tue, Dec 23, 2008 at 9:34 AM, Myles Watson  wrote:
> On Mon, Dec 22, 2008 at 4:21 PM, Myles Watson  wrote:
> > All,
> >
> > I'm looking for a system to port to v3.  It needs to be Dual socket F.
> >
> > Here's the "simplified" block diagram of the system that I have:
> >
> > Opteron - Opteron
> >   |
> > Chipset
> >   |
> >  PCIe
> >
> > And the system that I need:
> >
> > Opteron - Opteron
> >  |         |
> > PCIe       Chipset
> >
> > Notice that the second socket has an independent link to a PCIe controller.
> >
> > The Tyan s2895 would work, but I need socket F.
> >
> > My question is if you know of any Socket F systems that would fit the bill.
> > I'm especially interested in what chipsets they use.  I'd like to port it to
> > Coreboot-v3.
>
> Here are some candidates that I've found:
>
> Tyan Thunder n6650W (S2915-E)
> NFP 3600 + NFP 3050
> 3600 support in v2, but not 3050.  Any guesses how hard it would be?
>
> I'm guessing that IO 55 is the NFP 3050.  If so, these boards would be
> similar to port:
> Tyan Thunder n6650EX (S4989)
> 4 processors
>
> Supermicro H8QM3-2
> Supermicro H8QMi-2
>
> These boards are 4 Opteron + MCP55 + AMD 8132 (PCI-X instead of PCIe)
> Supermicro H8QM8-2(+)
> Supermicro H8QME-2(+)
>
> I'm still looking at other vendors' sites.  Not all of them make it
> easy to see how the chips are connected.

I don't know of a stand alone HT-PCIe bridge but there are a few PCIX
ones available. Look at the HTC page under the products tab.
http://www.hypertransport.org/

The serverworks/broadcom ht2000/1000 are in the v2 tree under
southbridge/broadcom/bcm57*.

Marc

[Myles Watson]

> On Tue, Dec 23, 2008 at 9:34 AM, Myles Watson  wrote:
> > On Mon, Dec 22, 2008 at 4:21 PM, Myles Watson  wrote:
> > > All,
> > >
> > > I'm looking for a system to port to v3.  It needs to be Dual socket F.
> > >
> > > Here's the "simplified" block diagram of the system that I have:
> > >
> > > Opteron - Opteron
> > >   |
> > > Chipset
> > >   |
> > >  PCIe
> > >
> > > And the system that I need:
> > >
> > > Opteron - Opteron
> > >  |         |
> > > PCIe       Chipset
> > >
> > > Notice that the second socket has an independent link to a PCIe
>
> controller.
> > > The Tyan s2895 would work, but I need socket F.
> > >
> > > My question is if you know of any Socket F systems that would fit the
>
> bill.
> > > I'm especially interested in what chipsets they use.  I'd like to port
>
> it to
> > > Coreboot-v3.
> >
> > Here are some candidates that I've found:
> >
> > Tyan Thunder n6650W (S2915-E)
> > NFP 3600 + NFP 3050
> > 3600 support in v2, but not 3050.  Any guesses how hard it would be?
> >
> > I'm guessing that IO 55 is the NFP 3050.  If so, these boards would be
> > similar to port:
> > Tyan Thunder n6650EX (S4989)
> > 4 processors
> >
> > Supermicro H8QM3-2
> > Supermicro H8QMi-2
> >
> > These boards are 4 Opteron + MCP55 + AMD 8132 (PCI-X instead of PCIe)
> > Supermicro H8QM8-2(+)
> > Supermicro H8QME-2(+)
> >
> > I'm still looking at other vendors' sites.  Not all of them make it
> > easy to see how the chips are connected.
>
> I don't know of a stand alone HT-PCIe bridge but there are a few PCIX
> ones available. Look at the HTC page under the products tab.
> http://www.hypertransport.org/

I don't know why I didn't think to look there.  Thanks for the reminder.
> The serverworks/broadcom ht2000/1000 are in the v2 tree under
> southbridge/broadcom/bcm57*.

Good to know, that broadens my search.  I wish everything didn't have 2
names.

Thanks,
Myles