Andrew ZonenbergWrote up the blog-format version of the TCXO failure analysis including a bit more backstory and commentary all in one place
Attie Grande@azonenberg
> It took a bit of experimenting with external GPU enclosures and such to figure out how to get the ThunderScope to sit out on my lab bench so I wouldn’t need to crawl under the bench and run cables up from the workstation on the floor up to probes on my DUT, but I figured that out easily enough.
I'm looking forward to reading the rest, but I'm also very interested to hear more about this if you're able! I opted for the Thunderbolt variant precisely because I didn't want to dig for connections. Might be reconsidering my choice now... 🤔
@attie The keyword to search for is "OCuLink" which is basically just PCIe over cables.
On the PC side the adapter card is just a passive PCB taking the differential pairs from a PCIe card edge connector and shoving them over a SFF-xxxx (forget the number) cable.
On the enclosure side, typically you have a board with a SFF connector and a 12V DC power inlet that converts it back to a PCIe connector you can slide a card into.
@attie note that many oculink carriers are just the card edge connector and provide no side support so i 3d printed a card guide to go around the pcb and keep the TS from wobbling side to side
@azonenberg Good info, thanks! I was aware of the PCIe 1x stuff from mining, but didn't know about this. (4x)
Did you manage to find an "enclosure", or just one of the open-air adapters? (from your wording, I presume it's just an open-air variant?)
@attie i took the pcb from an open air adapter and 3d printed an enclosure around it