Folding type rig - What do I need?

monkeypants · 19 Mar 2006 at 00:33

I'm considering building a dual proccessor rig for folding or something like that, trouble is I don't really know what I'll need other than two CPUs and a motherboard to match.

OK, questions as follows:

CPUs: Xeons? What speed? Cache? FSB? HT?
RAM: ECC? What speed?
HDD: What size?
Motherboard: Everything...

Any reccommendations for these things?

finally internet connection: is it needed at all times?

Also I want to keep this as cheap as possible, will be looking for used/free components.. What is it likely to cost? Don't want to spend more than £150-200 preferably under £100 if possible.

Thanks! :cool:

monkeypants · 19 Mar 2006 at 09:47

Those 1.6Ghz Xeons, are they 400FSB with 512KB cache?

How big a HDD will I need?

How much RAM will be enough/ideal?

I'm going to try and scrag as much as I can from my college network manager to keep the cost down.

I've not decided what it'll be for yet and seti sounds cool... I thought it had ended though?

monkeypants · 19 Mar 2006 at 18:00

I've got my eye on a pair or 1.6 LVs, but I need heatsinks. There's not much choice and I need them to be quiet, will passive one's with quiet fans be ok? Something like a Supermicro 1U Passive CEK?

monkeypants · 19 Mar 2006 at 18:32

dun said:
Yep we all have to start somewhere but investing in a multi cpu "folding type rig" seems like running before you can walk to me

What do you suggest then? Anything will be useful.

monkeypants · 19 Mar 2006 at 19:12

PCs are what I do in my spare time (which is a lot)

I'll set up BOINC on this PC and go from there. I was thinking of various combinations of things like putting this Pentium-M in my download box, running BOINC on this with the northwood and using the Xeon rig as a main PC. I still have a lot to work out.

monkeypants · 19 Mar 2006 at 19:40

I certainly would, you think that's a better idea then?

monkeypants · 19 Mar 2006 at 20:07

In my room, with the other two PCs

EDIT: You know I meant have the P4 run BOINC only, and have the Xeon run BOINC in addition to normal tasks?

monkeypants · 19 Mar 2006 at 20:33

Cool, thanks Amp.

monkeypants · 19 Mar 2006 at 21:05

I would do folding, but the SETI team needs all the help it can get.

Do you think my plan of having my P4 dedicated and the Xeon setup run whenever is a good idea? That would mean I could have the P4 running SETI and the Xeon running Folding in it's spare time.

monkeypants · 19 Mar 2006 at 21:13

Right then, I'll get hold of some stuff (PCH-DL is the likely board) and it seems I'll have to do some thinking and planning for the cooling of these things. Will no doubt be fun though.

monkeypants · 19 Mar 2006 at 21:18

I've got an 80Gb disk here that I can use if I can't get anything free from college. What wattage PSU should I be looking for?

(What's IWT?)

monkeypants · 19 Mar 2006 at 21:47

I'll secure the CPUs first, then get the board and some RAM. I have a Hiper Type-R which has dual rails, from what you say do dual rails cause problems?

I'll see what I can get from college tomorrow, tell them it's a medical project.. It shouldn't be too much trouble for the IT guy.

monkeypants · 19 Mar 2006 at 22:07

OK, seeing as the PSU is an easy thing to sort out I'll try with the Hiper before spending expensive money on something I don't need.

monkeypants · 20 Mar 2006 at 22:01

The most my PSU can put out on one rail is 20A, so it looks like I'll have to get another PSU. Oh the joy of spending money.

monkeypants · 21 Mar 2006 at 22:04

Can you give me some specifics on the Xeons, I can't find anything on the intel website.

monkeypants · 22 Mar 2006 at 11:55

Excellent, thanks Billy. The only ones I have found are C1, I've read they don't clock as well but as I can't find an alternative are they worth getting? Also how much should I pay for such CPUs?

monkeypants · 22 Mar 2006 at 16:20

BillytheImpaler/Jeff @ Xtreme Forums said:
C1 CPUs are still a great deal at around £45/pair since they will run 2.4GHz to 2.8GHz on average. One thing to note is a few of these C1s NOT run 200MHz FSB, even after increasing core and memory voltage. A good base setting for C1 CPUs after increasing core voltage to 1.6v is 165x16=2640MHz. If you get brave and want to go for 200MHz just remember that this is not guaranteed to work.

I'll get the C1s if they stay below £50 as I can still have fun overclocking them.

monkeypants · 22 Mar 2006 at 17:35

BillytheImpaler said:
Bingo! You'll have to tell us how you do.

Of course I will! What kind of overclocker do you think I am!

monkeypants · 24 Mar 2006 at 19:00

PSUs, specifically at Amp, the Tagan U22 480 has two 12v rails giving a total of 30amps. Are you sure this is enough?

Finding single rail PSUs is really quite hard. :rolleyes:

monkeypants · 24 Mar 2006 at 19:15

Ahhh, thanks Amp, the website doesn't say you can combine them.

Just looked at THIS. 34A on the 12V rail, or am I missing something?