The ideal BOINC computer

Message boards : Number crunching : The ideal BOINC computer

Author	Message
Derek Joined: Aug 26 11 Posts: 6 ID: 43395 Credit: 1,505,422 RAC: 0	Message 6574 - Posted 25 Feb 2012 6:38:22 UTC
	I want to contribute in a big way to BOINC projects, like docking@home along with Rosetta@home etc. I am wondering, I've tried asking this question on other message boards having to do with computers, but no one is willing to help. What kind of computer would be IDEAL, I mean high powered, on steroids processing of Data able to handle dozens if not hundreds of batches a day? I've thought about building a custom computer with SBC's attached to a main circuit power board or "back plane" as someone in a forum put it, and maybe racking up about 6-7 CPU's housed on these SBC's as Dual CPU SBCs. So I'd have about 3-4 SBC's for a grand total of 6-8 CPU's all working on conjunction. I know it's possible to build such a custom beauty of a machine for processing Data, and I know I DON'T have to have a bachelors in electronic engineering to do so. But what I want to know is if that is the ideal thing to do. What I basically want to do is build a monster computer, a veritable mini-super computer, for the good of science, the BOINC community and humankind in general. I need real help though knowing if that is what I should do, or if there is a way to upgrade my current computer dramatically and not blow a motherboard. I'm also a complete novice. SO yeah. Tough. I know. But a good start would be explaining to me the differences in processors. Here's my specs: AMD FX-4100 Quad core processor, 3600 Mhz, 4 cores, 4 logical processors AMD Radeon HD 6670 (GPU) 16 GB of virtual memory 8 GB of Ram What do I need to upgrade and how could I do it to turn my desktop into a beast with an appetite for BOINC workunits like the event horizon of a blackhole?
	ID: 6574 \| Rating: 0 \| rate: /

user555 Joined: May 2 12 Posts: 1 ID: 55275 Credit: 470,010 RAC: 0	Message 6773 - Posted 7 Jul 2012 3:54:48 UTC - in response to Message ID 6574 .
	I want to contribute in a big way to BOINC projects, like docking@home along with Rosetta@home etc. I am wondering, I've tried asking this question on other message boards having to do with computers, but no one is willing to help. What kind of computer would be IDEAL, I mean high powered, on steroids processing of Data able to handle dozens if not hundreds of batches a day? I've thought about building a custom computer with SBC's attached to a main circuit power board or "back plane" as someone in a forum put it, and maybe racking up about 6-7 CPU's housed on these SBC's as Dual CPU SBCs. So I'd have about 3-4 SBC's for a grand total of 6-8 CPU's all working on conjunction. I know it's possible to build such a custom beauty of a machine for processing Data, and I know I DON'T have to have a bachelors in electronic engineering to do so. But what I want to know is if that is the ideal thing to do. What I basically want to do is build a monster computer, a veritable mini-super computer, for the good of science, the BOINC community and humankind in general. I need real help though knowing if that is what I should do, or if there is a way to upgrade my current computer dramatically and not blow a motherboard. I'm also a complete novice. SO yeah. Tough. I know. But a good start would be explaining to me the differences in processors. Here's my specs: AMD FX-4100 Quad core processor, 3600 Mhz, 4 cores, 4 logical processors AMD Radeon HD 6670 (GPU) 16 GB of virtual memory 8 GB of Ram What do I need to upgrade and how could I do it to turn my desktop into a beast with an appetite for BOINC workunits like the event horizon of a blackhole? Actually, you should probably consider a six core processor as a CPU. They can be just as inexpensive as a quad core (even though inexpensive wasn't one of your criteria). Here's a good example: http://x2t.com/6core Match that with a decent GPU and I think you'd have a good machine. I was thinking more about the SBC idea even before I saw your post here. Something like the Raspberry PI only costs $35, and you could buy about 10-12 for the cost of a full blown 4-6 core CPU, MB and RAM. Stack those in a frame of some type, wire them to a regular power supply (hack the connectors), and run Linux and manage them either just by the shell (ssh) or webmin. I think the power efficiency would be greater, but don't know what kind of crunching power they would produce. The Raspberry runs at 700MHz and has a VideoCore IV GPU. I don't know how well BOINC would play with the GPU, but you could start a project with just one computer and keep adding on. http://x2t.com/boinc
	ID: 6773 \| Rating: 0 \| rate: /

TheFiend Joined: Apr 7 09 Posts: 70 ID: 9482 Credit: 20,705,527 RAC: 0	Message 6774 - Posted 7 Jul 2012 4:32:12 UTC Last modified: 7 Jul 2012 4:41:40 UTC
	In the bygone days of SETI Classic I used to run a stack of 4 barebone motherboard/CPU/Ram/HD with 2 PSU's powering the stack. In addition I also had 8 desktop systems and managed them using KVM switches and RealVNC. The advent of multicore CPU's means I now run less systems I'm now down to 3 of which only 1 currently runs 24/7. I have also succumbed to GPU crunching and currently run a GTX460 and GTX550Ti on GPUGRID in addition to Docking. @Derek..... If you swapped your FX4100 for an old school Phenom II Quad or Hex core you would get a fair bit higher RAC, The Bulldozers are not a brilliant CPU for crunching, the 6 Core Phenom II outperform the 8 core Bulldozers.
	ID: 6774 \| Rating: 0 \| rate: /

Derek Joined: Aug 26 11 Posts: 6 ID: 43395 Credit: 1,505,422 RAC: 0	Message 7008 - Posted 4 Jan 2013 11:23:16 UTC - in response to Message ID 6774 .
	In the bygone days of SETI Classic I used to run a stack of 4 barebone motherboard/CPU/Ram/HD with 2 PSU's powering the stack. In addition I also had 8 desktop systems and managed them using KVM switches and RealVNC. The advent of multicore CPU's means I now run less systems I'm now down to 3 of which only 1 currently runs 24/7. I have also succumbed to GPU crunching and currently run a GTX460 and GTX550Ti on GPUGRID in addition to Docking. @Derek..... If you swapped your FX4100 for an old school Phenom II Quad or Hex core you would get a fair bit higher RAC, The Bulldozers are not a brilliant CPU for crunching, the 6 Core Phenom II outperform the 8 core Bulldozers. Alright, I was actually thinking of upgrading to this: http://hothardware.com/Reviews/AMD-FX-8350-Vishera-8Core-CPU-Review/?page=10 What do you think? And what does RAC mean? And you really think the older Phenom II would be better than this Vishera 8 core or what I have now?
	ID: 7008 \| Rating: 0 \| rate: /

TheFiend Joined: Apr 7 09 Posts: 70 ID: 9482 Credit: 20,705,527 RAC: 0	Message 7009 - Posted 4 Jan 2013 12:53:00 UTC
	Go old skool... A hex core Phenom II is a great CPU for Docking... I have 2 and both are in the top 10 in total credit. Search around for a 1090T or 1100T. They perform better than the 8 core FX CPU's and can overclock to about 4GHz.
	ID: 7009 \| Rating: 0 \| rate: /

Message boards : Number crunching : The ideal BOINC computer

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