Graphics card for folding?

dekez

dekez

dekez

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I'd like to add another graphics card to my current set up to increase my production with folding@home.

My current set up:
E5200 (running normal client on one core and supporting gpu on the second.)
Asus P5Q Pro (one spare PCIe 2.0 x16 slot)
Asus ATi Radeon HD 4850 512MB (running GPU client)
Antec Earthwatts 650w (with one spare 6/8 pin power cable)
Windows Vista & 7

I'm looking at the GeForce 9600 GSO as I've read it gives really good PPD, and is very cheap, but will this work on a motherboard designed for crossfire?

Obviously it won't work in crossfire and I'm not looking to use the card towards graphics in anyway or connect it to a monitor. Just have it sit there crunching.

If not any other suggestions of cheap cards (<£100) which would work and give good PPD?
Cheers
 
it should run on your mobo without any prob's
i currently run two different nvidai cards on a crossfire mobo for folding
however im not sure about how it will run with an ATI card in the system
i have read it is possible as some use ati as main graphics and use a nvidia card to run physix.
 
Thanks that's reassuring to hear, I'll give it a go and see what happens, worst comes to worst I can always sell one of the cards.
 
The 9600 GSO/8800GS was the best points per watt card - it also runs quite cool.
Mine is passive with a AC S1rev2 @ 50 or 63c load depending on wu
but I think the 8800gt eco now wins.

You need to clock the shadder to really make the gso worth it.
I've mine at 600/1888/900 but some of the new units really need more o/b ram.
Which is why the GT's a better bet.

My 8800GS ppd's per wu

480pts - 5120ppd
511pts - 3200ppd
384pts - 4200ppd
353pts - 4600ppd
768pts - 4000ppd
472pts - 4400ppd
1888pts - 4200ppd

Second hand gso/gs are a steal if you can find one
 
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Even new, I've seen them for sub £40 brand new.

Just add the advise to make sure you get the G92 based 96 stream processors version. There are G94 versions out there that only have 48 stream processors and SUCK for folding :)
 
Have you considered swapping the 4850 for a GTS250? You should be able to make a fair bit of the price back from selling the 4850 (OCuK have an ASUS GTS250 for £85). You wont then have to worry about multiple sets of drivers, and id wager that the GTS250 (essentially a 9800GTX+) would outperform both the 4850 and the 9600 combined in terms of F@H output, and would be roughly the same as the 4850 in games.
 
No I hadn't thought of that, although now I'm tempted to get the GTS250 and keep the 4850 as well! :D

Anyway thanks for the advice guys, I've got a few more options of what to look for now. I'm going to see if I can pick up any bargins 2nd hand, I've seen a few 9600GSOs and 8800GSs so will stick some low bids on them, if not I'll go for the GTS250 or 9600GSO new.
 
Yeah but sell the 4850 and get TWO 9600GSO's :p

Remember the 9600GSO is the same card as the 8800GS was.
 
That makes the most sense for PPD, ah if only I'd bought an SLi board in the first place!
 
You dont' need SLI for folding, in fact you CANT use SLI for folding.

I had 4 9800GT's in a Crossfire board before. And even with my SLI board I have SLI Turned off.
 
Good point, it would be nice for games though, but yeah I probably wouldn't end up using it much anyway.
 
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