User:FlyingBlackbird

Usage

I am using a Blackbird Desktop System with an IBM Power9 v2 (= stepping DD2.3) 8-core CPU as testing infrastructure for open source projects (since Jan, 2020).

Instable hardware watchpoints in stepping DD2.2 (erratum #1: DAWR [Data Access Watchpoint Register] feature is disabled on DD2.2) was the main reason for me to wait for DD2.3 to have reliable low-level debugging available.

System configuration

Component	Brand	Model	Costs in EUR
Mainboard	Raptor	Blackbird Rev. 1.01
CPU	IBM	8-Core POWER9v2 with 3U HSF
Desktop Case	Fractal Design	Define R6 USB-C	140
Power Supply	be quiet!	Straight Power 11 (650 W)	120
RAM	Samsung (OEM by phs memory)	2 x M393A4K40CB2-CTD7Q 32 GB DDR 4 RDIMM	344
Video Card	Aspeed	AST 2500 onboard VGA	0
Optical Drive	Asus	BW-16D1HT Retail (Blu Ray Writer)	75
HDD	Seagate	IronWolf Pro 8 TB (ST8000NE0004) SATA III	300
Operating System	Ubuntu	Server 19.10	0
Total

Measures

Power Consumption:

• 2.2 W plugged in
• 68 W Idle
• 186 W with 100 % CPU load (testet with stress --cpu 32 -t 180s)

Temperatures:

• CPU idle: 45 degree Celsius
• CPU 100 % load: 72 degree Celsius
• DIMM 0 (32 GB ECC RAM): 44 Degree Celsius
• DIMM 1 (32 GB ECC RAM): 49 degree Celsius

Noise Level:

• Surprisingly quiet during idle and normal use (low CPU usage)
• Fans spinning fast but not too loud during 100 % CPU load (slow RPM increase and decrease, no annoying sudden changes)

Software

Ubuntu Server 19.10

• Gnome installed via tasksel command:
  • choose "Ubuntu desktop" to install Gnome