Spring Build

Just as the title says!
User avatar
stewartcollinge
Boinc Private
Boinc Private
Posts: 18
Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2013 7:13 pm
Location: Lancashire

#1 Spring Build

Post by stewartcollinge »

After my unsuccessful attempts to get crunching going on my spare PS3 (see threads PS3 and help, if interested), I have decided to build a dedicated cruncher. Any advice/ thoughts appreciated.... i.e.O/S GPU /CPU and the like. I have a limited budget, so might run into summer. :) :)
You should put the white ball where you want it
User avatar
Janos (retired)
Still a Newbie
Posts: 1919
Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2012 8:58 am
Location: Aberdeenshire, Scotland

#2 Re: Spring Build

Post by Janos (retired) »

For an easy, high performance build with low maintenance I would suggest:

i7 with 8gb ram
SSD - any size
Case with plenty of cooling - quieter the better
7970 GPU
Power supply - 750 would be plenty
Standard motherboard. I like the Asus boards at the moment

Windows is the easy option. Linux can offer slightly better performance on some projects but it can take a fair bit more setup time but once running can run with less maintenance.

Go for an i7 K if you want to overclock.

What sort of budget do you have?
"Happiness can be defined as: a geek with non-work related code to write, no distractions and no deadline." - Janos
User avatar
stewartcollinge
Boinc Private
Boinc Private
Posts: 18
Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2013 7:13 pm
Location: Lancashire

#3 Re: Spring Build

Post by stewartcollinge »

Well... regarding budget it might vary. Semi retired on a small NHS pension,looking for a small part time job. But, single now, low maintenance lifestyle, maybe about £400 if I look after pennies. Been surfing around, don,t really want to buy bespoke. As mentioned before, would like to do a build, and get my noggin around things,and fire up a few of my grey cells. And, again, all advice appreciated. :)
You should put the white ball where you want it
User avatar
Janos (retired)
Still a Newbie
Posts: 1919
Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2012 8:58 am
Location: Aberdeenshire, Scotland

#4 Re: Spring Build

Post by Janos (retired) »

Are you after high credits or just the science?
"Happiness can be defined as: a geek with non-work related code to write, no distractions and no deadline." - Janos
User avatar
scole of TSBT
Boinc Major General
Boinc Major General
Posts: 5980
Joined: Mon Feb 03, 2014 2:38 pm
Location: Goldsboro, (Eastern) North Carolina, USA

#5 Re: Spring Build

Post by scole of TSBT »

I'm working on build parts list myself. http://pcpartpicker.com is a pretty good tool for configuring a system.

Here's my part list I plan on putting together for a mac daddy home PC. I'm curious how it will crunch. http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2MsDi
Image
User avatar
Alez
[ TSBT's Pirate ]
[ TSBT's Pirate ]
Posts: 10363
Joined: Thu Oct 04, 2012 1:22 pm
Location: roaming the planet

#6 Re: Spring Build

Post by Alez »

For that budget i7 etc out the window.
Would probably spec around a socket 1366 mobo ( top of budget ) with i7 920 cpu
or
socket 775 mobo, dual pcie x16 slots , core 2 quad Q6600 cpu,
case with 500w psu, AMD R9 270 GPU or pair AMD 7770 or GTX 650ti gpu's, memory ( 4 or 8 GB ), cdrom, HDD ( doesn't have to be huge ).
Are you comfortable buying on ebay ( both new and used ) ?
Image
The best form of help from above is a sniper on the rooftop....
User avatar
Alez
[ TSBT's Pirate ]
[ TSBT's Pirate ]
Posts: 10363
Joined: Thu Oct 04, 2012 1:22 pm
Location: roaming the planet

#7 Re: Spring Build

Post by Alez »

If going socket 775, then a mobo like this http://www.asus.com/uk/Motherboards/P5K ... /#overview. On ebay just now for £77.50. CPU etc on this should keep you below £400.

If going new socket 1150 boards then i3 or ( maybe ) i5 cpu ( depending on price )
Image
The best form of help from above is a sniper on the rooftop....
User avatar
stewartcollinge
Boinc Private
Boinc Private
Posts: 18
Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2013 7:13 pm
Location: Lancashire

#8 Re: Spring Build

Post by stewartcollinge »

Janos wrote:Are you after high credits or just the science?
Making and building telescopes for many moons (pun intended)... credits, no ... Science yes. With best regards. :)
You should put the white ball where you want it
User avatar
stewartcollinge
Boinc Private
Boinc Private
Posts: 18
Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2013 7:13 pm
Location: Lancashire

#9 Re: Spring Build

Post by stewartcollinge »

Janos wrote:Are you after high credits or just the science?
sorry for double post... fat fingers :oops:
You should put the white ball where you want it
User avatar
Alez
[ TSBT's Pirate ]
[ TSBT's Pirate ]
Posts: 10363
Joined: Thu Oct 04, 2012 1:22 pm
Location: roaming the planet

#10 Re: Spring Build

Post by Alez »

scole250 wrote:I'm working on build parts list myself. http://pcpartpicker.com is a pretty good tool for configuring a system.

Here's my part list I plan on putting together for a mac daddy home PC. I'm curious how it will crunch. http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2MsDi
Should be quite a cruncher. Would be a little concerned about the heat it can generate though, would ensure the case has plenty of cooling.
Image
The best form of help from above is a sniper on the rooftop....
User avatar
scole of TSBT
Boinc Major General
Boinc Major General
Posts: 5980
Joined: Mon Feb 03, 2014 2:38 pm
Location: Goldsboro, (Eastern) North Carolina, USA

#11 Re: Spring Build

Post by scole of TSBT »

Going to have plenty of case fans and a decent hydro cooler.

What's the price difference between buying components in the UK vs. US? I bet a i7-4770K crunching config could be put together for less than $600 US. Not sure of shipping and other fees though.
Image
User avatar
Alez
[ TSBT's Pirate ]
[ TSBT's Pirate ]
Posts: 10363
Joined: Thu Oct 04, 2012 1:22 pm
Location: roaming the planet

#12 Re: Spring Build

Post by Alez »

Depends on if you are in the UK or the states. Cheaper in the states, but shipping to UK needs to pass customs. If they ship as gift then :D . Since you spec'ed all in $ I'm guessing USA, not worth trying to ship from UK.
Also I believe the jury is still out on the new Haswell CPU's as I believe they have heat issues run at 100 % and the K's are only worth the extra if you intend to over clock.

Also depends what you intend to crunch. For maximum credits then GPU and a cheap as chips quad pentium driving 3 or 4 high end GPU's is the way to go. CPU crunching doesn't come close to the $ / credits of a GPU. For science you need i7's, for points GPU's rule.
Image
The best form of help from above is a sniper on the rooftop....
User avatar
Janos (retired)
Still a Newbie
Posts: 1919
Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2012 8:58 am
Location: Aberdeenshire, Scotland

#13 Re: Spring Build

Post by Janos (retired) »

I think the answer to this question is buy some second hand parts or half dead computers, strip them apart and build up a nice cruncher or two. This would be the lowest cost and most enjoyable way to make a dedicated cruncher.

I've had more fun building and wiring up my U2's than I did installing any GPU in an i7.
"Happiness can be defined as: a geek with non-work related code to write, no distractions and no deadline." - Janos
User avatar
stewartcollinge
Boinc Private
Boinc Private
Posts: 18
Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2013 7:13 pm
Location: Lancashire

#14 Re: Spring Build

Post by stewartcollinge »

Janos, that sounds like a plan.. have to talk to some of my muckers on T,interweb see what's lying about :) BTW, anyone built a farm?
You should put the white ball where you want it
User avatar
PinkPenguin
Boinc Sergeant
Boinc Sergeant
Posts: 179
Joined: Fri Oct 18, 2013 8:01 pm
Location: 3rd Iceberg on the left, Ross Island, Antarctica

#15 Re: Spring Build

Post by PinkPenguin »

stewartcollinge wrote:J...:) BTW, anyone built a farm?
Tried it once, but when you water the motherboards they just sort of fizzle and go pop!... :D
"This is one of those days that the pages of history teach us are best spent lying in bed."
Image
User avatar
Janos (retired)
Still a Newbie
Posts: 1919
Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2012 8:58 am
Location: Aberdeenshire, Scotland

#16 Re: Spring Build

Post by Janos (retired) »

PinkPenguin wrote:
stewartcollinge wrote:J...:) BTW, anyone built a farm?
Tried it once, but when you water the motherboards they just sort of fizzle and go pop!... :D
Sounds like you didn't use a compatible sprinkler system.
"Happiness can be defined as: a geek with non-work related code to write, no distractions and no deadline." - Janos
User avatar
Janos (retired)
Still a Newbie
Posts: 1919
Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2012 8:58 am
Location: Aberdeenshire, Scotland

#17 Re: Spring Build

Post by Janos (retired) »

stewartcollinge wrote: BTW, anyone built a farm?
A small holding, yes. I currently have 11 devices crunching :)
"Happiness can be defined as: a geek with non-work related code to write, no distractions and no deadline." - Janos
User avatar
Alez
[ TSBT's Pirate ]
[ TSBT's Pirate ]
Posts: 10363
Joined: Thu Oct 04, 2012 1:22 pm
Location: roaming the planet

#18 Re: Spring Build

Post by Alez »

Janos wrote:
stewartcollinge wrote: BTW, anyone built a farm?
A small holding, yes. I currently have 11 devices crunching :)
About to have 14 devices, ( 6 are Androids ). Not so much a farm as an expensive obsession :shock:
Image
The best form of help from above is a sniper on the rooftop....
User avatar
Silver
Boinc Brigadier
Boinc Brigadier
Posts: 2210
Joined: Sun Apr 14, 2013 7:09 pm
Location: Aberdeen/Anguilla

#19 Re: Spring Build

Post by Silver »

Janos wrote:
stewartcollinge wrote: BTW, anyone built a farm?
A small holding, yes. I currently have 11 devices crunching :)
If we're going with the Janos quantifying method ;)
Then I reckon I have a vegetable patches worth.

I've got 6 1/2 devices crunching. 5 are Odroids/Android, my computer and my dad's runs some units when not in use.
Image
User avatar
Alez
[ TSBT's Pirate ]
[ TSBT's Pirate ]
Posts: 10363
Joined: Thu Oct 04, 2012 1:22 pm
Location: roaming the planet

#20 Re: Spring Build

Post by Alez »

My 14th . Intel core 2 quad Q6600 cpu running a HD7770 on linux just came on line, finally....
Image
The best form of help from above is a sniper on the rooftop....
Post Reply Previous topicNext topic

Return to “Help”