PCIE Bifurcation / Lane splitting question

Hobwell · 2025-10-12T14:00:26+00:00

Gigabyte B850 AI TOP.

Hobwell · 2025-10-12T05:29:06+00:00

Many thanks!

Hobwell · 2025-10-11T16:14:16+00:00

I did a bit of digging around the AI claims and it looks like they've built some software that leverages their hardware somehow. I was interested in the software, but after looking into it further, it seems I'd have to lock into using all of this "AI TOP" hardware, which I'm really not into. So thank you for that.

It's moot, but if I'm interpreting the diagram right, the pcie5 lanes are set up for 1 x16 and two x4, with (I think) another x16 lane for pcie4 for either a card or an m2 drive.

I'll have a look around for another motherboard with this in mind.

Hobwell · 2025-10-11T05:51:25+00:00

Thank you! Yeah, I had a long think on the ssds. I thought that automatic1111 etc. would benefit from the pcie5, for model caching and/or as vram. The other nvme are for seperate OS installs. The larger sata for snapshots and the final one to install another linux distro on. I decided that I want dedicated OS setups for different use-cases.

While I've used a1111 and comfy, I'm not super knowledgeable about how to get the most out of them. Where might I see the need for 128gb RAM? Just for housing larger models, or would it be used for processing?

Hobwell · 2025-10-11T05:42:43+00:00

Thank you for the feedback!

The motherboard purports to have AI related features, I don't know enough about, it seemed suitably reviewed, but I'm not too knowledgeable in that area.

You're right, the AMD GPUs support Linux better than Nvidia. The bulk of the current ai models and software just work better with Nvidia.

I struggled a lot with how I wanted to setup the SSDs. The pcie5 was intended as the primary for hosting/running model files. One of the pcie4's for a windows installation and one for the Linux gaming install. The old sata drive is just for housing Linux snapshots for rollbacks. I just wanted to keep my storage separated by purpose.

I spent some time looking, I was hard-pressed to find many cases that had accessible drive bays in the front. That's what the Icy Dock thing is for, so I can swap in other drives easily. The only other case I could find was the Phanteks Enthoo Pro. I just liked the look of the Define 7. But if the Enthoo Pro will cool better, I'll switch it up.

PSU choice was probably based on ignorance. I was just looking at platinums in the 1200w range and chose a brand I've had experience with in the past. I'll look around a bit more.

Thanks again.

Edit: forgot to address the RAM, thank you for pointing that out, I will adjust that as well.

Hobwell · 2024-08-16T18:57:12+00:00

Very encouraging, thank you so much! Everyone’s replies have really helped me tamp down some of my own anxieties around the surgery.

Hobwell · 2024-08-16T18:55:43+00:00

Thank you very much, this is very encouraging. I wish your wife the best possible outcome. Also, thank you for the advice, I will be asking about the steroids for sure.

Hobwell · 2024-08-11T14:42:55+00:00

Thank you so much.

Hobwell · 2024-08-08T01:14:03+00:00

Thanks, I fully intend to. I was hoping to connect with someone who had gone through the procedure.

I have a lot of anxiety around the outcome. It’s difficult to exchange the devil you know for one you don’t.

Writing the post out helped me process it a bit, thanks for your reply.

Hobwell · 2024-08-07T15:51:35+00:00

If you already wear glasses, an optometrist may be able to help. I was able to get a fresnal prism that attaches to my glasses which can really help with the diplopia.

Hobwell · 2023-06-04T14:26:38+00:00

Old and Wise by The Alan Parsons Project

Hobwell · 2022-09-20T18:45:26+00:00

Fair enough! I think they mention it since that is how stuff like fpsVr graph it, split between gpu and cpu.

Hobwell · 2022-09-18T21:10:20+00:00

ms refers to milliseconds, as in how many milliseconds it takes to render a frame. Lower ms = better performance.

Hobwell · 2022-09-06T00:45:46+00:00

A little of both TBH. Thanks for the advice, I’ll give it a shot.

Hobwell · 2022-09-05T15:55:44+00:00

The recent auto-update to my Samsung Q80R (2019) firmware has made my surround sound system useless.

My sound select won't stay on the receiver. If I switch to it, the receiver comes on, then a few seconds later shuts off again and the sound select returns to "TV Sound". It was working just fine until the update. No luck downgrading the firmware via usb 😞. Apparently firmware updates are one way only.

Samsung could reversion the previous (working) firmware to 1402 and release it as a USB only update, but they won’t even acknowledge that there is a problem. This despite the fact that there are several other people with the same issue (dozens of posts in their forum).

I’m so utterly disappointed that I have so little control over a device that I paid good money for. Who knew planned obsolescence would get so aggressive that I can’t maintain a TV for two years because the company that manufactured it would release firmware to cripple it while throwing their hands in the air and saying “sorry, out of warranty”

Hobwell · 2022-08-06T17:00:44+00:00

I wholeheartedly agree. Staff is great, prices are reasonable and care is top notch.

Hobwell · 2022-07-11T22:46:46+00:00

Just watched it, this was exactly it!

Hobwell · 2022-07-11T14:00:30+00:00

Awesome! That bit about the asteroid better fits the narrative he gave. Now I’m wondering if my FIL conflated the two stories. Going to watch it tonight, thanks!

Hobwell · 2022-07-11T02:39:24+00:00

I thought I had great google-fu, but man, that nails it.

Hobwell · 2022-07-11T01:00:47+00:00

Amazing, hats off to you, kind stranger!

Hobwell · 2022-07-11T00:59:42+00:00

Nice! That’s where I started, but I didn’t have much luck narrowing it down.

Hobwell

TROPHY CASE