Budget Cruncher, need input

Message boards : Number crunching : Budget Cruncher, need input
Message board moderation

To post messages, you must log in.

1 · 2 · Next

AuthorMessage
pwolfe

Send message
Joined: 24 Mar 09
Posts: 54
Credit: 16,186,927
RAC: 0
Level
Pro
Scientific publications
watwatwatwatwatwat
Message 17305 - Posted: 25 May 2010, 18:50:19 UTC

Is there any reason why I would not want to use a dual core processor with a machine housing 3 gt240s?

Planning on using a dual core i3 with 3 gt 240s and 64 bit Linux.
Will I see a major performance hit over using a quad core?

tia
ID: 17305 · Rating: 0 · rate: Rate + / Rate - Report as offensive     Reply Quote
Betting Slip

Send message
Joined: 5 Jan 09
Posts: 670
Credit: 2,498,095,550
RAC: 0
Level
Phe
Scientific publications
watwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwat
Message 17306 - Posted: 25 May 2010, 19:04:58 UTC - in response to Message 17305.  

Is there any reason why I would not want to use a dual core processor with a machine housing 3 gt240s?

Planning on using a dual core i3 with 3 gt 240s and 64 bit Linux.
Will I see a major performance hit over using a quad core?

tia

That will depend if your going to be crunching any CPU projects at the same time as GPUGRID but overall it will be fine. Make sure you have enough RAM 4GB recommended.


Radio Caroline, the world's most famous offshore pirate radio station.
Great music since April 1964. Support Radio Caroline Team -
Radio Caroline
ID: 17306 · Rating: 0 · rate: Rate + / Rate - Report as offensive     Reply Quote
pwolfe

Send message
Joined: 24 Mar 09
Posts: 54
Credit: 16,186,927
RAC: 0
Level
Pro
Scientific publications
watwatwatwatwatwat
Message 17307 - Posted: 25 May 2010, 19:06:59 UTC - in response to Message 17306.  

Is there any reason why I would not want to use a dual core processor with a machine housing 3 gt240s?

Planning on using a dual core i3 with 3 gt 240s and 64 bit Linux.
Will I see a major performance hit over using a quad core?

tia

That will depend if your going to be crunching any CPU projects at the same time as GPUGRID but overall it will be fine. Make sure you have enough RAM 4GB recommended.



Was planning to use this machine solely for crunching gpu tasks. Any spare cpu cycles will be for serving up video files across the network to my htpc.
ID: 17307 · Rating: 0 · rate: Rate + / Rate - Report as offensive     Reply Quote
Betting Slip

Send message
Joined: 5 Jan 09
Posts: 670
Credit: 2,498,095,550
RAC: 0
Level
Phe
Scientific publications
watwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwat
Message 17308 - Posted: 25 May 2010, 19:34:42 UTC - in response to Message 17307.  

it will be more than enough for that use and more. Happy crunching.
Radio Caroline, the world's most famous offshore pirate radio station.
Great music since April 1964. Support Radio Caroline Team -
Radio Caroline
ID: 17308 · Rating: 0 · rate: Rate + / Rate - Report as offensive     Reply Quote
Profile liveonc
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 1 Jan 10
Posts: 292
Credit: 41,567,650
RAC: 0
Level
Val
Scientific publications
watwatwatwatwatwat
Message 17309 - Posted: 25 May 2010, 19:43:56 UTC - in response to Message 17305.  

i3 has Hyperthreading. 4GB RAM sounds nice. You've got a large budget for a budget PC ;-) Might I ask what Linux you use? You've got a really nice thing going with almost no errors.
ID: 17309 · Rating: 0 · rate: Rate + / Rate - Report as offensive     Reply Quote
pwolfe

Send message
Joined: 24 Mar 09
Posts: 54
Credit: 16,186,927
RAC: 0
Level
Pro
Scientific publications
watwatwatwatwatwat
Message 17310 - Posted: 25 May 2010, 20:23:34 UTC - in response to Message 17309.  
Last modified: 25 May 2010, 20:25:28 UTC

I'm currently running ubuntu 10.04. I've tried just about ever distro over the 12 years or so I've used Linux, but ubuntu has been my favorite cause its just so damn easy to use.

As far as errors go, I almost never saw an error with with my gtx295, so far the 470s have been been pretty hassle free aside from some driver issues I'm currently fighting. My GTS 250 in the htpc however loves to throw errors.
ID: 17310 · Rating: 0 · rate: Rate + / Rate - Report as offensive     Reply Quote
JLConawayII

Send message
Joined: 31 May 10
Posts: 48
Credit: 28,893,779
RAC: 0
Level
Val
Scientific publications
watwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwat
Message 18811 - Posted: 2 Oct 2010, 20:57:02 UTC

Personally I would recommend an AMD processor for a budget rig. You can get a very nice quad core for the same price as an i3.
ID: 18811 · Rating: 0 · rate: Rate + / Rate - Report as offensive     Reply Quote
Profile liveonc
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 1 Jan 10
Posts: 292
Credit: 41,567,650
RAC: 0
Level
Val
Scientific publications
watwatwatwatwatwat
Message 18814 - Posted: 3 Oct 2010, 14:39:29 UTC - in response to Message 18811.  

I usually use this site HARDWARE-REVOLUTION if I need a quick refresh. He seams like he keeps himself informed of the general prices of hardware.
ID: 18814 · Rating: 0 · rate: Rate + / Rate - Report as offensive     Reply Quote
JLConawayII

Send message
Joined: 31 May 10
Posts: 48
Credit: 28,893,779
RAC: 0
Level
Val
Scientific publications
watwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwat
Message 18816 - Posted: 3 Oct 2010, 17:56:15 UTC - in response to Message 18814.  

That seems to be a decent site. They list the Phenom II x4 945 3.0GHz as the best processor at the $140 price point, which is probably the one I would recommend as well. It uses 95W of power vs 125W for the slightly beefier Phenom II x4 965 3.4GHz Black Edition, though with 3x GT240s I'm not sure how concerned you are about power conservation. Either of those processors would be a solid choice, and will outperform an i3. The more powerful quad core will leave you the option of running CPU-only tasks later on, should you choose to expand your participation in BOINC projects.
ID: 18816 · Rating: 0 · rate: Rate + / Rate - Report as offensive     Reply Quote
Profile liveonc
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 1 Jan 10
Posts: 292
Credit: 41,567,650
RAC: 0
Level
Val
Scientific publications
watwatwatwatwatwat
Message 18817 - Posted: 3 Oct 2010, 18:45:50 UTC - in response to Message 18816.  
Last modified: 3 Oct 2010, 18:57:38 UTC

You're quoting a thread from May 2010. Time doesn't stand still. If anyone asks me about what I would feel to be good value for Q4 2010, I would probably say an AMD CPU, Asrock motherboard, or maybe even a cheap version of a motherboard that uses a Lucid Hydra chip, not because of the mixed GPU capabilities, but simply because you'd get 2 or more PCIe x16 lanes cheap(er), & NVIDIA GTX460(s), for a budget cruncher.
ID: 18817 · Rating: 0 · rate: Rate + / Rate - Report as offensive     Reply Quote
JLConawayII

Send message
Joined: 31 May 10
Posts: 48
Credit: 28,893,779
RAC: 0
Level
Val
Scientific publications
watwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwat
Message 18819 - Posted: 4 Oct 2010, 14:53:23 UTC - in response to Message 18817.  

You're quoting a thread from May 2010. Time doesn't stand still.


Right, my bad. The 945 is now $136 instead of $140.
ID: 18819 · Rating: 0 · rate: Rate + / Rate - Report as offensive     Reply Quote
Profile liveonc
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 1 Jan 10
Posts: 292
Credit: 41,567,650
RAC: 0
Level
Val
Scientific publications
watwatwatwatwatwat
Message 18820 - Posted: 4 Oct 2010, 15:29:56 UTC - in response to Message 18819.  

You're quoting a thread from May 2010. Time doesn't stand still.


Right, my bad. The 945 is now $136 instead of $140.


& there were tonnes of GTX460's back then too! ;-)

ID: 18820 · Rating: 0 · rate: Rate + / Rate - Report as offensive     Reply Quote
Profile Fred J. Verster

Send message
Joined: 1 Apr 09
Posts: 58
Credit: 35,833,978
RAC: 0
Level
Val
Scientific publications
watwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwat
Message 18821 - Posted: 4 Oct 2010, 18:58:50 UTC - in response to Message 18820.  

AMD has some nice 6 core CPU, with a GTX470, you can run several tasks.
SETI@home, f.i.but if mainly interrested in GPUgrid, then a C2D CPU, is sufficient.
I do run SETI Multibeams, MB and I have WIN XP64 rig, with an QX9650 and 1 GTX470 & GTX480 and run 4 SETI CUDA, 2 per card and 4 on CPU.

Does GPUgrid, have an ATI app., maybe later, or just out of the question ;^) ?



Knight Who Says Ni N!
ID: 18821 · Rating: 0 · rate: Rate + / Rate - Report as offensive     Reply Quote
Profile skgiven
Volunteer moderator
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 23 Apr 09
Posts: 3968
Credit: 1,995,359,260
RAC: 0
Level
His
Scientific publications
watwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwat
Message 18822 - Posted: 4 Oct 2010, 21:06:13 UTC - in response to Message 18821.  

I think the more power efficient 6 core AMD has a lot to offer, especially if you run 3 GPUGrid tasks; you can let 3 cores go into Turbo. Alternatively, their tripple core CPUs are good value.

An ATI app is still being developed for here.
ID: 18822 · Rating: 0 · rate: Rate + / Rate - Report as offensive     Reply Quote
Snow Crash

Send message
Joined: 4 Apr 09
Posts: 450
Credit: 539,316,349
RAC: 0
Level
Lys
Scientific publications
watwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwat
Message 18823 - Posted: 5 Oct 2010, 12:56:14 UTC - in response to Message 18821.  

Does GPUgrid, have an ATI app., maybe later, or just out of the question ;^) ?

They are still working on it ... we may see something fairly soon but so far it does not perform as well as nvidia cards yet ... I think the last report was it was 3 times slower.

Thanks - Steve
ID: 18823 · Rating: 0 · rate: Rate + / Rate - Report as offensive     Reply Quote
Profile Beyond
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 23 Nov 08
Posts: 1112
Credit: 6,162,416,256
RAC: 0
Level
Tyr
Scientific publications
watwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwat
Message 18824 - Posted: 5 Oct 2010, 15:17:18 UTC - in response to Message 18822.  

I think the more power efficient 6 core AMD has a lot to offer, especially if you run 3 GPUGrid tasks; you can let 3 cores go into Turbo. Alternatively, their tripple core CPUs are good value.

Ditto on the AMD Phenom II 6 core, preferably the 95w 1055T. OCs like crazy. TG has it for $190:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6455299&CatId=4431

Team it up with an 890FX MB for a great system. You'll be able to crunch a lot of CPU work while the GPUs do their job...


ID: 18824 · Rating: 0 · rate: Rate + / Rate - Report as offensive     Reply Quote
JLConawayII

Send message
Joined: 31 May 10
Posts: 48
Credit: 28,893,779
RAC: 0
Level
Val
Scientific publications
watwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwat
Message 18825 - Posted: 5 Oct 2010, 16:46:27 UTC - in response to Message 18824.  
Last modified: 5 Oct 2010, 16:54:04 UTC

TigerDirect made an error on their info sheet. The only Thuban core that is 95W is the 2.7GHz 1045T, all the rest are 125W.

edit: There's supposed to be a 2.6GHz 1035T that runs at 95W as well, but I've never actually seen one so w/e.
ID: 18825 · Rating: 0 · rate: Rate + / Rate - Report as offensive     Reply Quote
Profile Beyond
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 23 Nov 08
Posts: 1112
Credit: 6,162,416,256
RAC: 0
Level
Tyr
Scientific publications
watwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwat
Message 18833 - Posted: 6 Oct 2010, 3:43:08 UTC - in response to Message 18825.  

TigerDirect made an error on their info sheet. The only Thuban core that is 95W is the 2.7GHz 1045T, all the rest are 125W.

edit: There's supposed to be a 2.6GHz 1035T that runs at 95W as well, but I've never actually seen one so w/e.

Before correcting someone you should check your facts. Otherwise you just look silly. The 95w 1055T has been out for a while but is often hard to find as it's being sold mostly in Japan (boxed) and to OEMs (unboxed). The OEM part number is HDT55TWFK6DGR (the one at TigerDirect), and the boxed part number is HDT55TWFGRBOX. Here's a review at Hexus:

AMD Phenom II X6 1055T 95W CPU review

http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=26122

If you're worried that their current stock is not the actual 95w version call their comtomer service and have them doublecheck the part number.


ID: 18833 · Rating: 0 · rate: Rate + / Rate - Report as offensive     Reply Quote
Profile skgiven
Volunteer moderator
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 23 Apr 09
Posts: 3968
Credit: 1,995,359,260
RAC: 0
Level
His
Scientific publications
watwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwat
Message 18835 - Posted: 6 Oct 2010, 10:46:41 UTC - in response to Message 18833.  

At the present time I think the AMD Phenom II X6 1055T 95W CPU offers the best value for money:

In terms of crunching performance it matches an i7-930 (which costs much more), the 1055T uses much less power (35W less), and totally outperforms anything Intel has at the same price (such as the i5-750).

ID: 18835 · Rating: 0 · rate: Rate + / Rate - Report as offensive     Reply Quote
Snow Crash

Send message
Joined: 4 Apr 09
Posts: 450
Credit: 539,316,349
RAC: 0
Level
Lys
Scientific publications
watwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwat
Message 18837 - Posted: 6 Oct 2010, 13:48:59 UTC - in response to Message 18835.  
Last modified: 6 Oct 2010, 13:49:26 UTC

At the present time I think the AMD Phenom II X6 1055T 95W CPU offers the best value for money:

In terms of crunching performance it matches an i7-930 (which costs much more), the 1055T uses much less power (35W less), and totally outperforms anything Intel has at the same price (such as the i5-750).


Can you link to some testing or project results that prove this out?
I thought the i7-930 was still much better than 1055T for crunching.
Thanks - Steve
ID: 18837 · Rating: 0 · rate: Rate + / Rate - Report as offensive     Reply Quote
1 · 2 · Next

Message boards : Number crunching : Budget Cruncher, need input

©2025 Universitat Pompeu Fabra