5 ms·

This wasn't mentioned in the article but CXL Stands for Compute Express Link which is an open standard, CPU-to-Device Interconnect, I guess they're on v3.0 now.

This wasn't mentioned in the article but CXL Stands for Compute Express Link which is an open standard, CPU-to-Device Interconnect, I guess they're on v3.0 now. First I had heard of it as well. 3.9GB/s on the low end and as high as 121.0GB/s with the latest 16x 3.0 spec over serial connection https://www.computeexpresslink.org/about-cxl https://www.computeexpresslink.org/about-cxl https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compute_Express_Link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compute_Express_Link

gostsamo 3y ago
I'm surprised that it is not known on HN. This is standard developed to enable different server configurations in the data center from what I've read through the years. The universal interconnect allows for adding and removing devices without special allowances for each device type as far as I get it. It might work for laptops, but it is not the main goal and it might be only Framework who will do something in that direction.
- cmrdporcupine 3y ago
  These days that bulk of us people doing dev work aren't getting to play in the actual DC, it's all so abstracted away. Frankly looking to get a used rack or two at home here, just so I can play with the HW a bit. (I do embedded and not server stuff mostly these days anyways, but generally interested in systems stuff, so)
  - MattPalmer1086 3y ago
    I was talking with a colleague about this just the other day. We all used to have home labs, because we could get reasonably near to what business used and learn that way. Now, what goes on in is so different, frankly you won't learn much with one. Obviously if you're just interested then go for it. It's just not practical generally speaking.
    - cmrdporcupine 3y ago
      For myself, I've got 3gbps fiber to the house, and a need to host something. Pondering buying a used server instead of dishing money out to AWS or GCP. Question is if the power bills make sense.
      - abound 3y ago
        I've spent a lot of time down this rabbit hole recently. I have a Dell M1000e blade server (16 blades, each with dual CPUs). A comical amount of compute for a home, sounds like a leaf blower. Hosted a couple dozen small apps on it. Power usage was 1.5kW (ouch), made less painful by large rooftop solar. Just today, I replaced the whole thing with a single mini PC with a laptop Ryzen chip (6900HX). Pulls like 60W at the wall under load. This is a circuitous way of saying that, for non-mission critical stuff, you can self-host and save a ton of money over the equivalent hosted option. You don't even need server hardware necessarily, depending on what you're trying to learn from the experience. Standard caveats about securing your home network apply. (Note: I'm not actually seriously saying a 16x blade server and a mini PC are equivalent. I got the blade server to learn things (more networking, mostly), it was very, very overpowered for my workloads)
        cmrdporcupine 3y ago
        Yeah I think this likely where I'll end up going as well. What MiniPC did you end up working with? The thing I'm building/hosting can benefit from plenty of cores, but for the start it's just prototype with a limited audience, so I don't need to go hardcore. But I have a friend who has rackspace in a DC, and my thought was if I bought something in a rack form I could move it there and pay him to host it later. But I suspect it doesn't make a lot of sense, really.
        abound 3y ago
        I ended up with a Beelink GTR6, picked up used on eBay for $430. It's been great so far, but it's too early to vouch for it. You lose the nice IPMI/other server management features using consumer hardware, but that's part of the tradeoff. Rack stuff can be efficient (<100W idling), especially recent model year stuff, but it gets pricey quickly. You could spec a used 1U single socket Epyc Rome or Milan for under $2,000 if you're willing to shop around, but if you don't have other rackmount equipment, I'd stay away as it's such a price (and power) premium
- hsbauauvhabzb 3y ago
  IT is an extremely diverse field with extremely diverse subprofessions - knowledge about esoteric hardware should not be assumed.
sva_ 3y ago
Is it possible to run an eGPU with this? Like the TH3P4G3 one can buy on AliExpress
- gbraad 3y ago
  This is based on serial PCI Express (PCIe), and allows block based transfer, cache coherence, etc. In the Device Types they talk about "Accelerators with Memory", type 2: https://www.logic-fruit.com/blog/cxl/compute-express-link-cxl-device-types/ https://www.logic-fruit.com/blog/cxl/compute-express-link-cx....

gostsamo 3y ago

I'm surprised that it is not known on HN. This is standard developed to enable different server configurations in the data center from what I've read through the years. The universal interconnect allows for adding and removing devices without special allowances for each device type as far as I get it. It might work for laptops, but it is not the main goal and it might be only Framework who will do something in that direction.

cmrdporcupine 3y ago
These days that bulk of us people doing dev work aren't getting to play in the actual DC, it's all so abstracted away. Frankly looking to get a used rack or two at home here, just so I can play with the HW a bit. (I do embedded and not server stuff mostly these days anyways, but generally interested in systems stuff, so)
- MattPalmer1086 3y ago
  I was talking with a colleague about this just the other day. We all used to have home labs, because we could get reasonably near to what business used and learn that way. Now, what goes on in is so different, frankly you won't learn much with one. Obviously if you're just interested then go for it. It's just not practical generally speaking.
  - cmrdporcupine 3y ago
    For myself, I've got 3gbps fiber to the house, and a need to host something. Pondering buying a used server instead of dishing money out to AWS or GCP. Question is if the power bills make sense.
    - abound 3y ago
      I've spent a lot of time down this rabbit hole recently. I have a Dell M1000e blade server (16 blades, each with dual CPUs). A comical amount of compute for a home, sounds like a leaf blower. Hosted a couple dozen small apps on it. Power usage was 1.5kW (ouch), made less painful by large rooftop solar. Just today, I replaced the whole thing with a single mini PC with a laptop Ryzen chip (6900HX). Pulls like 60W at the wall under load. This is a circuitous way of saying that, for non-mission critical stuff, you can self-host and save a ton of money over the equivalent hosted option. You don't even need server hardware necessarily, depending on what you're trying to learn from the experience. Standard caveats about securing your home network apply. (Note: I'm not actually seriously saying a 16x blade server and a mini PC are equivalent. I got the blade server to learn things (more networking, mostly), it was very, very overpowered for my workloads)
      - cmrdporcupine 3y ago
        Yeah I think this likely where I'll end up going as well. What MiniPC did you end up working with? The thing I'm building/hosting can benefit from plenty of cores, but for the start it's just prototype with a limited audience, so I don't need to go hardcore. But I have a friend who has rackspace in a DC, and my thought was if I bought something in a rack form I could move it there and pay him to host it later. But I suspect it doesn't make a lot of sense, really.
        abound 3y ago
        I ended up with a Beelink GTR6, picked up used on eBay for $430. It's been great so far, but it's too early to vouch for it. You lose the nice IPMI/other server management features using consumer hardware, but that's part of the tradeoff. Rack stuff can be efficient (<100W idling), especially recent model year stuff, but it gets pricey quickly. You could spec a used 1U single socket Epyc Rome or Milan for under $2,000 if you're willing to shop around, but if you don't have other rackmount equipment, I'd stay away as it's such a price (and power) premium
hsbauauvhabzb 3y ago
IT is an extremely diverse field with extremely diverse subprofessions - knowledge about esoteric hardware should not be assumed.

sva_ 3y ago

Is it possible to run an eGPU with this? Like the TH3P4G3 one can buy on AliExpress

gbraad 3y ago
This is based on serial PCI Express (PCIe), and allows block based transfer, cache coherence, etc. In the Device Types they talk about "Accelerators with Memory", type 2: https://www.logic-fruit.com/blog/cxl/compute-express-link-cxl-device-types/ https://www.logic-fruit.com/blog/cxl/compute-express-link-cx....