I actually found the source of the voltage leak noise. It was actually the PSU all along. But since the PSU is at the bottom of the case, I can't hear it from the bed like I used to (not to mention the room has to be below 20C anyway.
I looked at a modular PSU and since the 24 pin and the +24 are in roughly the same location as the where it is now, I decided to scrap that idea.
So the upgrade stands as the SATA optical drives (either BD or DVD), and a new card reader since the current one is almost 10 years old and can't read SDHC/XC cards. Even though I'm not really worried about it (and openSUSE doesn't support exFAT format anyway), the black bezel would look nicer with the black colour of the case (verses the cream colour of the current card reader bezel). I used to have a black bezel for my current card reader but I have no idea what happened to it, since it was 9 years ago when I got it and built Ziggy. Oh well.
06 February 2012
Hard drive noises
Well, Shizuma's HDD started giving some weird noise (it did it twice, so it's not a fluke), so I decided to keep her powered off most of the time now since I don't exactly have the money to buy another and clone it.
My only problem with having her shut off is that I lose my FTP, since OS X 10.6.8 has a easy, built-in FTP server. I can set up an FTP server within openSUSE 11.3 (and I've done it before), but it's just so awkward, and when I had to reinstall on Triela, for some reason, the FTP was very finicky.
I was "forced" to setup Firefox Sync (though I really didn't want to use it) to ease the discomfort of not being able to use Firefox on Shizuma. I kept the sync tabs option unchecked though... I don't want to have to deal with the tab groups opening and closing when I don't really need them.
It would be nice if Firefox Sync also took care of installed addons, but oh well..
Well, I hope I can muster up some money soon and get a new HDD for Shizuma and get that process rolling... Maybe I should check the option to power down the HDD when possible (whatever OS X calls it, if it has it...).
My only problem with having her shut off is that I lose my FTP, since OS X 10.6.8 has a easy, built-in FTP server. I can set up an FTP server within openSUSE 11.3 (and I've done it before), but it's just so awkward, and when I had to reinstall on Triela, for some reason, the FTP was very finicky.
I was "forced" to setup Firefox Sync (though I really didn't want to use it) to ease the discomfort of not being able to use Firefox on Shizuma. I kept the sync tabs option unchecked though... I don't want to have to deal with the tab groups opening and closing when I don't really need them.
It would be nice if Firefox Sync also took care of installed addons, but oh well..
Well, I hope I can muster up some money soon and get a new HDD for Shizuma and get that process rolling... Maybe I should check the option to power down the HDD when possible (whatever OS X calls it, if it has it...).
22 January 2012
Lie-chan and Mei-chan Upgrades 2
Oh, couple things I forgot, first is the Wifi card and the second is that voltage leak noise.
When I was going to play music and get updates while I do other stuff, I noticed it couldn't access the repositories, and that's when I noticed there was no Wifi. I rebooted with no avail, and tried moving it to the PCIe slot above the graphics card which disabled my graphics... I moved it back and no Wifi, I tried a regular PCI Wifi card and it also disabled my graphics, so I just did a hard wire connection and found some updates, after installing them the Wifi worked. Weird. I want to say it might have been a power issue, but I don't at the same time... The only difference in power is the case fans, since the Raidmax case just had the 80mm and 120mm LED fan, and the CM has the two 140mm and the one 120. Whatever though.
I've left the PSU on and haven't noticed the voltage leak noise, I usually notice it when it is below 20C in the room, but I haven't noticed anything so far. I might have heard it when I woke up in the night, but I could have imagined things, hard to say.
Well, I'm much happier with the new CM case.
When I was going to play music and get updates while I do other stuff, I noticed it couldn't access the repositories, and that's when I noticed there was no Wifi. I rebooted with no avail, and tried moving it to the PCIe slot above the graphics card which disabled my graphics... I moved it back and no Wifi, I tried a regular PCI Wifi card and it also disabled my graphics, so I just did a hard wire connection and found some updates, after installing them the Wifi worked. Weird. I want to say it might have been a power issue, but I don't at the same time... The only difference in power is the case fans, since the Raidmax case just had the 80mm and 120mm LED fan, and the CM has the two 140mm and the one 120. Whatever though.
I've left the PSU on and haven't noticed the voltage leak noise, I usually notice it when it is below 20C in the room, but I haven't noticed anything so far. I might have heard it when I woke up in the night, but I could have imagined things, hard to say.
Well, I'm much happier with the new CM case.
20 January 2012
Lie-chan and Mei-chan Upgrages 1
Time finally worked it's way around to tax season, and I finally was able to get a 550W power supply for Lie-chan, and a new case for Mei Ren.
The PSU didn't take too long, maybe about 30 minutes. Luckily both the old 750W and the 550W were both modular, and they really mean it when they say modular; I didn't even have to use the cables provided with the 550W, all the cables from the 750W all plugged into the 550W! Now that's modular! That was a nice surprise.
It took me four hours (not including the hour that I had to run and get fans) to get Mei Ren all transferred over. I had both cases open and stripped down in the room to work on it. The new case is a Cooler Master Elite 335U by the way.
Not too many problems occurred, though I did have quite a few hiccups... The metal used for the CM case is stronger than the Raidmax Thunder case, in most areas anyway; overall, it still is sturdier than the Raidmax case.
Seeing how all the PCI and 5.25" bays had the twist/bend off type covers, I took all the 5.25" covers off and a couple of the PCI ones (at first). After transferring the motherboard, I realized I didn't have space to break any of the other PCI ones off, so I put it back in the old case, and took the rest of the PCI covers off. At this time, I realized I had a couple special motherboard stand-offs that held the motherboard in place (so you don't have to worry about aligning the holes), so I rearranged the motherboard stand-off pattern a bit (I originally just screwed them all in lol). After that, transferred the DVD burners and the HDDs over and then left for the local computer store (well, if a 30 minute drive counts as local). I realized that the front and side panels had mounts for 140mm fans, and all I had was the 120 from the Raidmax, thus why I decided to run to the computer store. I made it 5 minutes before it closed (whew), but they were quite low on fans (I luckily snagged some NZXT fans for 14 a piece (there was a couple more fans that I found before I left the section, and they were a dollar more for less CFMs... Yeah, no.). I still have some space between the heatsink (Zalman 9700... I think it's the 9700...) and the upper side fan, but if I want to put a fan there, I'm gonna need a slim fan.... I'll probably just leave it open.
After I got back, I put the front fan in, and to my displeasure, the mounting holes did not line up perfectly... Luckily, the holes were just big enough to where I was still able to mount it. I then ran all the front panel wiring (which wasn't attached to the front panel and was very pleasant) and cable managed them, then I mounted the PSU and started working with those wires... I did the IDE and SATA cables before that though.
Since the PSU isn't modular, cable management and running was very awkward and a bit strange. I did get it decent enough to allow maximum airflow. Anyway sometime after this I thought I was finished... I kept remembering that I didn't disconnect the USB cable for the card reader from when unplugged everything in the old case, and I also remembered that I never really saw the lights for the card reader light up either... I looked and looked for the cable after I got all the PSU cables connected... Then finally, I decided to look a pile of cables and miscellany in the same room, and first found the cable for the card reader that connects the Firewire port to the motherboard (at this point I was relatively ecstatic, seeing that I was that much closer to finding it), and then after a bit more digging, I found the clear cable with shielding I was looking for. Success! I connected it and kinda cable managed it a bit (I didn't want to fuss any more with it since I already spent quite a bit of time doing it and I was quite tired), then put it together and turned it on. I didn't screw anything up which was good. I disconnected it and was about to move it when I remembered that I forgot to check the HDD and power LEDs... So I reconnected it and looked at it. No lights, so I flipped all the plugs and put it back together and moved it back to the room it goes into and reconnected everything. I turned it on just to look at the lights and they look nice (I just got to GRUB and shut it down from there).
So the next couple upgrades for Mei Ren is a couple of SATA DVD burners (or BD whichever comes first), and maybe a modular PSU.
Slept like a rock after I was done. (LOL)
The PSU didn't take too long, maybe about 30 minutes. Luckily both the old 750W and the 550W were both modular, and they really mean it when they say modular; I didn't even have to use the cables provided with the 550W, all the cables from the 750W all plugged into the 550W! Now that's modular! That was a nice surprise.
It took me four hours (not including the hour that I had to run and get fans) to get Mei Ren all transferred over. I had both cases open and stripped down in the room to work on it. The new case is a Cooler Master Elite 335U by the way.
Not too many problems occurred, though I did have quite a few hiccups... The metal used for the CM case is stronger than the Raidmax Thunder case, in most areas anyway; overall, it still is sturdier than the Raidmax case.
Seeing how all the PCI and 5.25" bays had the twist/bend off type covers, I took all the 5.25" covers off and a couple of the PCI ones (at first). After transferring the motherboard, I realized I didn't have space to break any of the other PCI ones off, so I put it back in the old case, and took the rest of the PCI covers off. At this time, I realized I had a couple special motherboard stand-offs that held the motherboard in place (so you don't have to worry about aligning the holes), so I rearranged the motherboard stand-off pattern a bit (I originally just screwed them all in lol). After that, transferred the DVD burners and the HDDs over and then left for the local computer store (well, if a 30 minute drive counts as local). I realized that the front and side panels had mounts for 140mm fans, and all I had was the 120 from the Raidmax, thus why I decided to run to the computer store. I made it 5 minutes before it closed (whew), but they were quite low on fans (I luckily snagged some NZXT fans for 14 a piece (there was a couple more fans that I found before I left the section, and they were a dollar more for less CFMs... Yeah, no.). I still have some space between the heatsink (Zalman 9700... I think it's the 9700...) and the upper side fan, but if I want to put a fan there, I'm gonna need a slim fan.... I'll probably just leave it open.
After I got back, I put the front fan in, and to my displeasure, the mounting holes did not line up perfectly... Luckily, the holes were just big enough to where I was still able to mount it. I then ran all the front panel wiring (which wasn't attached to the front panel and was very pleasant) and cable managed them, then I mounted the PSU and started working with those wires... I did the IDE and SATA cables before that though.
Since the PSU isn't modular, cable management and running was very awkward and a bit strange. I did get it decent enough to allow maximum airflow. Anyway sometime after this I thought I was finished... I kept remembering that I didn't disconnect the USB cable for the card reader from when unplugged everything in the old case, and I also remembered that I never really saw the lights for the card reader light up either... I looked and looked for the cable after I got all the PSU cables connected... Then finally, I decided to look a pile of cables and miscellany in the same room, and first found the cable for the card reader that connects the Firewire port to the motherboard (at this point I was relatively ecstatic, seeing that I was that much closer to finding it), and then after a bit more digging, I found the clear cable with shielding I was looking for. Success! I connected it and kinda cable managed it a bit (I didn't want to fuss any more with it since I already spent quite a bit of time doing it and I was quite tired), then put it together and turned it on. I didn't screw anything up which was good. I disconnected it and was about to move it when I remembered that I forgot to check the HDD and power LEDs... So I reconnected it and looked at it. No lights, so I flipped all the plugs and put it back together and moved it back to the room it goes into and reconnected everything. I turned it on just to look at the lights and they look nice (I just got to GRUB and shut it down from there).
So the next couple upgrades for Mei Ren is a couple of SATA DVD burners (or BD whichever comes first), and maybe a modular PSU.
Slept like a rock after I was done. (LOL)
27 November 2011
openSUSE 12.1 Part 2
I got the wifi + bluetooth combo card made by Intel, and it only seems to work like the AzureWave one where I only can get wifi. Except I can only get wifi in 12.1. Looks like I'm going to have to RMA this one as well... Dammit.
Well, I did find one thing out. The wireless defaulting to off problem is the same problem I experienced a couple months ago. Just had to blacklist acer-wmi and it's on upon boot.
Well, I did find one thing out. The wireless defaulting to off problem is the same problem I experienced a couple months ago. Just had to blacklist acer-wmi and it's on upon boot.
18 November 2011
Computer Cluster 2
So after digging a bit, I found a different HPC Linux distro that seems a little closer to what I want to use for a cluster. I was going to comment on the previous entry, but I couldn't for some reason.
Anyway, it's called KestrelHPC, and if I read it right, I only need one install of Debian/Ubuntu to run it. Which means I won't need a disk for every node, and just for the frontend node.
One of the nice things I found is that it's not a dead distro. Last update was back in October, so It's still being worked on.
Again, I still need a USB wireless stick to get anywhere with it, and I won't download /burn it until I'm ready to start experimenting with computer clusters again.
Anyway, thought I'd post the HPC distro so I don't forget about it (and don't have to make a bookmark for it).
Anyway, it's called KestrelHPC, and if I read it right, I only need one install of Debian/Ubuntu to run it. Which means I won't need a disk for every node, and just for the frontend node.
One of the nice things I found is that it's not a dead distro. Last update was back in October, so It's still being worked on.
Again, I still need a USB wireless stick to get anywhere with it, and I won't download /burn it until I'm ready to start experimenting with computer clusters again.
Anyway, thought I'd post the HPC distro so I don't forget about it (and don't have to make a bookmark for it).
16 November 2011
Mei Ren 2
I don't know if I mentioned it or not, but after unlocking the other cores, there was a bit of voltage leak to the CPU (I'm assuming that's what it was) which caused a digital ticking noise (which I lost a bit of sleep due to it that night). I stepped up the frequency level from -2% to 0% to see if it changed anything, but it didn't seem like it.
Anyway, I left it on last night to see if anything would happen, and I didn't hear anything at all. There's only a slight digital "screeching" noise now, but I actually have to put my ear next to the case to hear it.
Cool! Now I don't have to switch the PSU off to kill the voltage leak.
It was a bit annoying, since I had to boot into openSUSE, then reboot for it to pick up my Wifi card. Now that I don't have to switch the PSU off, I don't have to do the boot-reboot thing now.
Awesome!
Just need to test 12.1 on it somehow before making it an official install. Wish I had a... Wait... I think I can borrow an unstable SATA drive from my friend... I'll have to remember that later.
Anyway, I left it on last night to see if anything would happen, and I didn't hear anything at all. There's only a slight digital "screeching" noise now, but I actually have to put my ear next to the case to hear it.
Cool! Now I don't have to switch the PSU off to kill the voltage leak.
It was a bit annoying, since I had to boot into openSUSE, then reboot for it to pick up my Wifi card. Now that I don't have to switch the PSU off, I don't have to do the boot-reboot thing now.
Awesome!
Just need to test 12.1 on it somehow before making it an official install. Wish I had a... Wait... I think I can borrow an unstable SATA drive from my friend... I'll have to remember that later.
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