HP Z820 (16-core) compatibilty with Pyramix Ravenna/MassCore

[beyarecords]

Hi,

Out of interest can anyone from Merging inform me whether the 16-core HP Z820 range of computers are suitable/recommended for use with Pyramix Native (64 bit) and future 64 bit Multi-Masscore versions of Pyramix Ravenna/Multi-MassCore?

Many thanks in advance,

[beyarecords]

In relation to the above question, will an Pyramix/Masscore based HP Z820 workstation system perform better utilising full-buffered, buffered, or unbuffered, RAM?

Many thanks in advance

[klaukholm]

There is a recommended motherboard list, it may be wise to follow those recommendations

[beyarecords]

There is a recommended motherboard list, it may be wise to follow those recommendations

Which is exactly why I'm asking the question in the first place.

Can you tell where I can access the most recent list from?

EDIT: The following resource, 'Pyramix Compatibility and Upgrade Information as of August 2012' http://www.merging.com/pages/pcconfig, does not specify the Intel Xeon E5-2687 ('Sandybridge' C600 Chipset) motherboard as one not recommended for use with a Pyramix system.

Of course this does not mean that it is recommended for use with a Pyramix system, should Merging have not already tested it, although I do know Avid have recommended this motherboard for use with their HDX systems.

Many thanks in advance,

[Graemme]

Pyramix Native is less fussy about the computer it runs on (I didn't say 'not fussy') than Ravenna MassCore.

I think you should contact Merging directly and not rely on a message here to get you r question answered or at least do both...

For MassCore, Following the recommended list in my experience is good practice if you aren't particularly computer savvy. Straying from recommended chip sets, in particular, is not a good idea (at all...).

Graemme

[AndrewB]

...can anyone from Merging inform me whether the 16-core HP Z820 range of computers are suitable/recommended for use with Pyramix Native (64 bit) and future 64 bit Multi-Masscore versions of Pyramix Ravenna/Multi-MassCore?

Hey Beya,
Did you ever try out a Workstation setup ?
I'm looking at building a new PC for DSD/DXD etc. The intel DQ87 looks like a nice elegant designed mobo for Haswell CPUs.
However, Merging doesn't give any recommendations for non-commercial motherboards and chipsets.
Just looking for examples that have worked.

[ego]

My Intel S2600COE not run with 16 core,not run with 12 core...But with 8 core MassCore work fine!
You need change in BIOS numbers of avalable cores on one CPU. This Number is - 4.
My CPU's - 2 x Xeon E5 2690.In UltraLow Latency Mode my sistem work fine(MYK X-30)...

[AndrewB]

My Intel S2600COE ...with 8 core MassCore work fine!
You need change in BIOS numbers of avalable cores on one CPU. This Number is - 4.
My CPU's - 2 x Xeon E5 2690....

Thanks Ego! Your motherboard is a LGA2011 (socket R) with a C602 chipset ? (C600 family)

I just bought a HP workstation LGA2011 / C602chipset. It's currently in shipping, but good to know it will work when it arrives.
It has a Xeon E5-1620 3.60GHZ quad-core. Eventually i might upgrade to an 8-core but it would be good to know if that will work.

I did read in the Pyramix 8.1 installation guide that 2 x quadcore works well. I wonder if that is the same for 1x8-core?
(That upgrade will be a little ways off - other priories for upgrades first...)

[Gaël Nicolas]

Hi beya,

I run my pyramix V8.1 on a HPZ800. For now with an old mykerinos PCI it runs fine, but you will experience some masscore peaks as soon as you'll upgrade to Horus.
So you understand that it's not "approved by Merging".
After many discussion with Claude CELLIER himself, I think we will get an answer soon. As we do, he was sensitive to "approve" computer build by a serious company and that could last for years. It is obvious that that kind of computer should help pyramix be more stable seeing that everyone will have the same configuration and nobody can customize it.
Avid is running on Mac Pro Merging should run on HP Z.

Considering multi Processor, it seems that masscore is happy with 1 proc not 2. I try with 2*6core, it was a disaster.

Waiting for switzerland news.

[AndrewB]

I run my pyramix V8.1 on a HPZ800. For now with an old mykerinos PCI it runs fine...
After many discussion with Claude CELLIER himself, I think we will get an answer soon. As we do, he was sensitive to "approve" computer build by a serious company and that could last for years. It is obvious that that kind of computer should help pyramix be more stable seeing that everyone will have the same configuration and nobody can customize it....

Considering multi Processor, it seems that masscore is happy with 1 proc not 2. I try with 2*6core, it was a disaster.

Hey Gael,
This is interesting news.
Merging should really confirm a non-consumer level motherboard. A Pro-Turnkey builder in Germany recommended a workstation/server C602 chipset with LGA2011 socket for audio applications. We went with this advice. The Workstation route looks to be a great match - not overkill as some servers, but more reliable than consumer MOBO.

The HP Z820 and Z620 both use this chipset specification. We're using Z620 with a Horus, (though at the moment it's running Native ASIO Ravenna until the RTX update...). Both these HP Z series would support 1 native PCI (Mykerinos).

Ego, above is using an Intel C602 chipset I believe, with 2 processors and the Myk X-30 !

If Claude is doing research on this subject, he might want to also check out Supermicro as well.
They have a C602 chipset motherboard (with only 1 CPU unfortunately) that will support 3 native PCI slots (and another board with 3 PCI-X). This would (should) work with multiple Mykerinos-PCI boards and Ravenna. HP, Intel, or Supermicro workstation boards should all be very reliable. (Just stay away from HP consumer level PCs)

More on Supermicro X9: viewtopic.php?f=54&t=10060

I had to do a great deal of research on my own, but the Merging advice to stay away from bridged PCIe-to-PCI has been invaluable, since we may wish to run a Mykerinos setup as well as Ravenna, and/or a redundant RME madi card.

By the way, in the Pyramix V8.1 instalation guide, page 15 under the heading "Video and Pyramix..." :
we recommend a quad core Processor PC with one or two CPUs

If you look above at Ego's findings, 12 core will not work. But your 2x 6core should work if you change Bios setting to use only quad cores.

My question is: can pyramix recognize a single CPU with 8 cores? I assume so, but it would be nice to know for sure before an upgrade.

[Jesse.Lewis]

Reviving this thread: Has anyone had good results with an 8-core (16 virtual) running on either Pyramix Native or Pyramix MassCore?

Currently our 16 virtual-core Native system will only use 6.25% (or 1/16th) for all audio engine, VST and VS3 processing, which is not enough for us. And Merging cannot provide a demo for their SMP key. I need to know if it will work if we are to upgrade.

Jesse