Someone run games on AMD BC-250 under Linux * Cut down PS5 die to 6 CPU cores 24 GPU cores for use in crypto mining

[Rabit]

There is an SVM option in the BIOS, I'll have to see if I actually enabled it or not.

Man, I wish I had the space for an entire rack of these just to screw around with.

EDIT: SVM is enabled in the BIOS, but Windows doesn't show virtualization as supported. Nevermind, Windows now shows virtualization as enabled.

Geekbench results:

GB6: 1143/5764

Default string AMD BC-250 - Geekbench

Benchmark results for a Default string AMD BC-250 with an AMD BC-250 processor.

browser.geekbench.com

GB5: 888/6271

Default string AMD BC-250 - Geekbench

Benchmark results for a Default string AMD BC-250 with an AMD BC-250 processor.

browser.geekbench.com

GB4: 4019/22888

Default string AMD BC-250 - Geekbench

Benchmark results for a Default string AMD BC-250 with an AMD BC-250 processor.

browser.geekbench.com

GB3: 3907/24933

Default string AMD BC-250 - Geekbench

Benchmark results for a Default string AMD BC-250 with an AMD BC-250 processor.

browser.geekbench.com

So basically, a Steam Deck with six cores (makes sense) or a tiny bit slower than an R5 2600X.

Try linux to get GPU drivers and run some games.

 

[sam_86314]

Turns out that outside of Debian, I'm well out of my league when it comes to Linux.

Fortunately, someone on Reddit provided a download for a pre-made Fedora image for the BC-250.

Spoiler: true_gamer13 on Reddit

https://www.reddit.com/r/linux4noobs/comments/1bvdfi3/_/ls9ka8i

I know using images provided by some rando on the internet isn't the best idea, but dammit, I want to see this thing working properly!

It took some trial and error, but I eventually got it booted.

It recognizes the GPU properly, so let's try something with GPU acceleration.

Here's Unigine Valley at the Extreme HD preset.

Unigine Heaven at Extreme

Unigine Superposition at Medium 1080P

Next step is to figure out how to safely extend the root partition size so I can try some games.Turns out that was actually stupidly easy. Game tests incoming at some point.

EDIT: I tried updating to Fedora 41 and that borked everything (fell back to software rendering, I tried to reinstall the drivers and it broke everything).

I'm too much of a noob to fix it, so I'll just reimage it at some point.

 

[Rabit]

I read above redit post, community even make modified bios for this board that allowed changing Vram allocation https://github.com/mothenjoyer69/bc250-documentation/ originally was 8/8 or 4/12 depends to bios version.

Also GPU OC is possible via https://gitlab.com/TuxThePenguin0/oberon-governor or manually via

echo vc 0 <CLOCK> <VOLTAGE> > /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.1/0000:01:00.0/pp_od_clk_voltage
echo c > /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.1/0000:01:00.0/pp_od_clk_voltage

Looks like lowest historical price was 29,16$ per blade asic if you bought in bulk 10 rigs x 12 Asic each on clearance. https://pcserverandparts.com/used-l...mo55FtzUgFn2VZ8eyuu5NXREDCcEHw9Ajie7zdA_tY5oR

 

[sepheronx]

I

I read above redit post, community even make modified bios for this board that allowed changing Vram allocation https://github.com/mothenjoyer69/bc250-documentation/ originally was 8/8 or 4/12 depends to bios version.

Also GPU OC is possible via https://gitlab.com/TuxThePenguin0/oberon-governor or manually via


Looks like lowest historical price was 29,16$ per blade asic if you bought in bulk 10 rigs x 12 Asic each on clearance. https://pcserverandparts.com/used-l...mo55FtzUgFn2VZ8eyuu5NXREDCcEHw9Ajie7zdA_tY5oR

I looked at that but it was gonna cost me $1100 to ship it.

There really is no real way to get one of these in Canada without paying extortion for shipping or the device itself.

This country is such trash.

 

[sam_86314]

So while trying to run the Final Fantasy XV benchmark, I was running into issues where it would start out fine and then turn into a stuttery mess. Upon looking into it, I found that it was simply running out of memory.

Unfortunately, changing the memory split requires a custom BIOS, which requires an SPI flasher.

So I got an SPI flasher and the custom BIOS and loaded it up.

Everything went smoothly, so I reset the CMOS, booted it up, and...

There we go, the memory split is adjustable now. I went with a 12:4 split instead of the default 4:12.

And it worked. Now I can try running FFXV bench again.

There are some weird graphical glitches with textures, but overall it ran great.

6567 in 1080P at the standard preset puts this in line with an RX 480 or GTX 1060 3GB.

More game tests coming at some point.

 

[Apocalypsee]

That is an interesting thing to play around! Alas, I don't have time or money for such things, but I will watch this post closely. I love watching hacking hardware to make things works like this.

 

[Solaris17]

So while trying to run the Final Fantasy XV benchmark, I was running into issues where it would start out fine and then turn into a stuttery mess. Upon looking into it, I found that it was simply running out of memory.

Unfortunately, changing the memory split requires a custom BIOS, which requires an SPI flasher.

So I got an SPI flasher and the custom BIOS and loaded it up.

View attachment 377073

Everything went smoothly, so I reset the CMOS, booted it up, and...

View attachment 377074

There we go, the memory split is adjustable now. I went with a 12:4 split instead of the default 4:12.

View attachment 377075

And it worked. Now I can try running FFXV bench again.

View attachment 377077View attachment 377078

There are some weird graphical glitches with textures, but overall it ran great.

View attachment 377079

6567 in 1080P at the standard preset puts this in line with an RX 480 or GTX 1060 3GB.

More game tests coming at some point.

Please document this and attach the bios’ and or what modifications need to be done. This is super cool!

 

[eidairaman1]

You might be able to show people how to properly flash a gpu using a spi tool considering many can't seem to follow written directions in my guide.

So while trying to run the Final Fantasy XV benchmark, I was running into issues where it would start out fine and then turn into a stuttery mess. Upon looking into it, I found that it was simply running out of memory.

Unfortunately, changing the memory split requires a custom BIOS, which requires an SPI flasher.

So I got an SPI flasher and the custom BIOS and loaded it up.

View attachment 377073

Everything went smoothly, so I reset the CMOS, booted it up, and...

View attachment 377074

There we go, the memory split is adjustable now. I went with a 12:4 split instead of the default 4:12.

View attachment 377075

And it worked. Now I can try running FFXV bench again.

View attachment 377077View attachment 377078

There are some weird graphical glitches with textures, but overall it ran great.

View attachment 377079

6567 in 1080P at the standard preset puts this in line with an RX 480 or GTX 1060 3GB.

More game tests coming at some point.

 

[sam_86314]

Please document this and attach the bios’ and or what modifications need to be done. This is super cool!

Most of the info about this thing is here.

GitHub - mothenjoyer69/bc250-documentation: Documentation for running the AMD BC-250 powered ASRock mining boards as a desktop.

Documentation for running the AMD BC-250 powered ASRock mining boards as a desktop. - mothenjoyer69/bc250-documentation

github.com

Custom BIOS is here.

Segfault / BC-250 BIOS · GitLab

GitLab.com

gitlab.com

You might be able to show people how to properly flash a gpu using a spi tool considering many can't seem to follow written directions in my guide.

This was the flashing guide I followed.

[Guide] How to Use a CH341A SPI Programmer/Flasher (with Pictures!)

If you’re worried about flashing your motherboard with an SPI Programmer, then this is the guide for you. Each step is explained in detail, with pictures. We’ll go over everything, from buying your Programmer to flashing your chip with Flashrom. As per usual, this is a tutorial on the internet...

winraid.level1techs.com

And this is the flasher I used.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VNVVXW6

 

[Solaris17]

Most of the info about this thing is here.

GitHub - mothenjoyer69/bc250-documentation: Documentation for running the AMD BC-250 powered ASRock mining boards as a desktop.

Documentation for running the AMD BC-250 powered ASRock mining boards as a desktop. - mothenjoyer69/bc250-documentation

github.com

Custom BIOS is here.

Segfault / BC-250 BIOS · GitLab

GitLab.com

gitlab.com

This was the flashing guide I followed.

[Guide] How to Use a CH341A SPI Programmer/Flasher (with Pictures!)

If you’re worried about flashing your motherboard with an SPI Programmer, then this is the guide for you. Each step is explained in detail, with pictures. We’ll go over everything, from buying your Programmer to flashing your chip with Flashrom. As per usual, this is a tutorial on the internet...

winraid.level1techs.com

Thanks.

I dont need the flashing guide.

Guide: Flashing with a hardware programmer

Lets get physical So; you tried flashing your GPU and you didn't backup. Now you have some dude on the forum linking you a BIOS but you have no way to apply it because you don't have a spare GPU either. Well no worries friend. In this guide we are going to cover the simple procedures of...

www.techpowerup.com

 

[eidairaman1]

Most of the info about this thing is here.

GitHub - mothenjoyer69/bc250-documentation: Documentation for running the AMD BC-250 powered ASRock mining boards as a desktop.

Documentation for running the AMD BC-250 powered ASRock mining boards as a desktop. - mothenjoyer69/bc250-documentation

github.com

Custom BIOS is here.

Segfault / BC-250 BIOS · GitLab

GitLab.com

gitlab.com

This was the flashing guide I followed.

[Guide] How to Use a CH341A SPI Programmer/Flasher (with Pictures!)

If you’re worried about flashing your motherboard with an SPI Programmer, then this is the guide for you. Each step is explained in detail, with pictures. We’ll go over everything, from buying your Programmer to flashing your chip with Flashrom. As per usual, this is a tutorial on the internet...

winraid.level1techs.com

And this is the flasher I used.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VNVVXW6

Thanks.

I dont need the flashing guide.

Guide: Flashing with a hardware programmer

Lets get physical So; you tried flashing your GPU and you didn't backup. Now you have some dude on the forum linking you a BIOS but you have no way to apply it because you don't have a spare GPU either. Well no worries friend. In this guide we are going to cover the simple procedures of...

www.techpowerup.com

I will need to refer people to these guides for gpu bios repros.