Best SMP Bang For Buck

gnewbury

[H]ard|DCer of the Month - September 2007
Joined
May 4, 2001
Messages
2,544
We need a thread for the best SMP folder for the buck with different variations:
For the dedicated folder- A board, CPU, processor, PSU, RAM, thumbdrive/HD
For the gamer
For the home worker/student/player
For the home theater dudes

For instance my Q6600 - ~$350 to $400 cranks about 3400ppd @135watts
/edit I started this thread because of this thread please keep it real

 
My rig was built for gamer/worker.....It's mostly a workstation for development in Unreal Engine 3 or XNA development, but I do game in my bit of free time.

MSI P35 Neo2-FR
C2Q Q6600 G0
2x2GB OCZ Gold DDR2-800
Gigabyte 8800 GT 512MB

Spent roughly $750 on those parts, used my old HDDs, PSU, case (granted, that's only about $200-$300 more depending on what you get) for about 3200 PPD @ stock speeds

 
Dedicated Folder:

Processor: - $69.99
Intel Pentium E2140 Allendale 1.6GHz 1MB L2 Cache
Overclocked @ 2.66Ghz

Cooler: - $21.99
ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler

Motherboard: - $41.99
ABIT IB9 Intel P965 Socket 775 Motherboard

Memory: -$18.50 (After MIR)
CORSAIR XMS2 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800

CD-Rom: - $17.99
LITE-ON Black 16X DVD-ROM SATA DVD-ROM DH-16D2S-04

Case: - $24.99 (After MIR)
COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black

Power Supply: - $29.99 (After MIR)
Thermaltake Purepower W0100RU ATX 12V 2.0 500W Power Supply

Case Fans - $6.00 (For 2)

Total - $231.44

71 Watts (Total System) - 1463 PPD

Could go with Q6600 for +190 More = $421.44
 
Dedicated Folder:

Processor: - $69.99
Intel Pentium E2140 Allendale 1.6GHz 1MB L2 Cache
Overclocked @ 2.66Ghz

Cooler: - $21.99
ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler

Motherboard: - $41.99
ABIT IB9 Intel P965 Socket 775 Motherboard

Memory: -$18.50 (After MIR)
CORSAIR XMS2 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800

CD-Rom: - $17.99
LITE-ON Black 16X DVD-ROM SATA DVD-ROM DH-16D2S-04

Case: - $24.99 (After MIR)
COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black

Power Supply: - $29.99 (After MIR)
Thermaltake Purepower W0100RU ATX 12V 2.0 500W Power Supply

Case Fans - $6.00 (For 2)

Total - $231.44

71 Watts (Total System) - 1463 PPD

Could go with Q6600 for +190 More = $421.44

How'd you get all that stuff so cheap? Most of it is about double the price you list.
 
Processor, Cooler, Memory, Cd Rom., PS - Newegg
Motherboard -Ebay

Took 6 weeks to get all the stuff

Order 1 or each. Mail rebate off. Wait for new rebate. Repeat
I am starting to get my check back already. Got over $150 in rebates check now, waiting on $375 more. $10 and $20 rebates add up really fast!
 
Processor, Cooler, Memory, Cd Rom., PS - Newegg
Motherboard -Ebay

Took 6 weeks to get all the stuff

Order 1 or each. Mail rebate off. Wait for new rebate. Repeat
I am starting to get my check back already. Got over $150 in rebates check now, waiting on $375 more. $10 and $20 rebates add up really fast!

It’s funny, that’s one of those issues I wish could be eliminated from the hot deals thread. I have only ever had 1 missed MIR and that was my fault, not the manufactures.

It seems every time anybody posts a deal with an MIR the same people are going to bitch over and over.

I’m with you on this one, MIR=money back, period, what’s not to like?;):D


 
I do have an opinion on this, believe it or not.

Bang for the Buck is a lot more then the original outlay for the machine. There is that ongoing matter of electricity and I don’t know about your electric bill but mine keeps going through the roof.

Long term something like a Q6600 G0 on a decent motherboard with a good PSU running windows, VM and two machines within VM each with an SMP client is the best bang for the buck, again, in the long run. Get your Q6600 to 3.2 (very doable) and you have a 4000 PPD box on average.

The cost of running the bigger box is really minimal; KWH usage has remained pretty much the same. Being an old guy and retired recurring monthly expenses are a major pain so I try to keep them low.

No matter if you are in this thing for the points or the science or both, the bigger box costs less in the end.;)


 
I'm with BillR on this one about the ongoing costs.

You either want to get Quads or mobile Duals to keep the running costs down.

Mobile Dual core CPU's will use less electrisity but will cost more to set up and need more space.
Quads are cheaper to set up due to buying less hardware but will draw more power.
Dual-Quads are the most expensize to set up but you do have a power/space saving over 2x Single Quads.

My yearly running costs of my farm, it draws 2 kW/h, equals my yearly upgrade budget of around £1,000-1,500.
I tend to get the fastest CPU's I can afford that fit into the smallest space possible.
Hence getting X5355's

Luck ............. :D
 
I do have an opinion on this, believe it or not.

Bang for the Buck is a lot more then the original outlay for the machine. There is that ongoing matter of electricity and I don’t know about your electric bill but mine keeps going through the roof.
<snip>


Gee Bill - that's nice, that's why I put my power use in the original post. I started this thread because of anticipation of prospective folders coming in from elsewhere. We need to offer some numbers - cost to buy, cost to run - on what it takes to operate.
My last box took me over two hours to build - should I add in $300 for that? Don't think so.

 
It is kinda hard to offer a cost to run number.

Cost to run is really a regional or state thing.
I live in the TN and power here is really cheap. Other Southern states are the say way (expect FL)

For the same costs to run my 7 rigs here, you might only get to run 3. Just an example.

My power bill for my Apt is $62 a month. That is with 8 Computers / Heat & AC / Lights ... and I have a good sized apartment.

The only thing we can do is state how many watts / va it pulls and let the users decide how much that will be in their area.

I also think that original outlay is very important. IF you are going to build a farm, you have to make sure it will last & be upgradeable. It costs more in the long run if you don't plan it all out!
 
Gee Bill - that's nice, that's why I put my power use in the original post. I started this thread because of anticipation of prospective folders coming in from elsewhere. We need to offer some numbers - cost to buy, cost to run - on what it takes to operate.
My last box took me over two hours to build - should I add in $300 for that? Don't think so.


Well Gee gnewbury, why you gotta get all up in my face over this?

In no way shape or form was I at all critical of your post and in fact agreed with you. I only pointed out that that a more powerful machine would give more output per dollar in the long run.

The new people coming in here have choice, same as you and me. What I have found over the years is many new folders get discouraged too quickly with a single or even a couple machines that two years ago were the tits.

Stanford is not going to make the work units easier and that’s fact.

I didn’t list out a specific machine for a reason; nobody will agree with the choices I may make and lord knows the prices on parts are dynamic as all get out.

Add to all that I am the proud owner of about 15 useless boxen because by today’s standards they simply are not worth running. Sure they will produce some numbers but at a cost I currently can’t absorb. I will also point out that my builds don’t break, in all my years of folding I have yet to have to replace a PSU, CPU, RAM or Board. All that helps keep costs down as well.

We are on the same train and probably the same track so chill my friend ok?;):)


 
Add to all that I am the proud owner of about 15 useless boxen because by today&#8217;s standards they simply are not worth running.

I know this feeling.
About two years ago, I have 3 AMD XP 2200+ borgs in my bedroom.
Today, they would not be worth running, but back then they turned some serious WU's.
After about 1 year, I reformated the drives & sold them to family/friends to use a basic computers. It helped offset the costs a little.

I didn&#8217;t list out a specific machine for a reason; nobody will agree with the choices I may make and lord knows the prices on parts are dynamic as all get out.

This is very true. Prices change on a daily bases. I always advise people to start off lite and plan ahead. Put together a basic system and see if you like it. In time, upgrade where necessary. By taking a little time to plan the system out, we can maximize upgradability and help reduce costs.(Not meant to sound like corporate buzz words...just kinda ends up that way)
 
Well Gee gnewbury, why you gotta get all up in my face over this?

In no way shape or form was I at all critical of your post and in fact agreed with you. I only pointed out that that a more powerful machine would give more output per dollar in the long run.

The new people coming in here have choice, same as you and me. What I have found over the years is many new folders get discouraged too quickly with a single or even a couple machines that two years ago were the tits.

Stanford is not going to make the work units easier and that’s fact.

I didn’t list out a specific machine for a reason; nobody will agree with the choices I may make and lord knows the prices on parts are dynamic as all get out.

Add to all that I am the proud owner of about 15 useless boxen because by today’s standards they simply are not worth running. Sure they will produce some numbers but at a cost I currently can’t absorb. I will also point out that my builds don’t break, in all my years of folding I have yet to have to replace a PSU, CPU, RAM or Board. All that helps keep costs down as well.

We are on the same train and probably the same track so chill my friend ok?;):)



Sorry for the so late reply, been doing Army work for a week.
My point on this thread was that there are gamers that want that extra few Ghz per processor - what's the best for them?
There' the home user - a core duo 2160 put's out pretty good points for $80 ($100 at Fry's today with a m/b)
Some of us don't want to overclock, or buy cheap ass m/b's that won't (ECS).
We have to put OUR cost to operate in responses, because there are a ton of peeps living in dorms and elsewhere that do not pay for electricity separate.
But let us lay out some of our rigs so they can find some similarity and Fold.
Right now a Q6600 is the best for me, a duo 6850 for my son, and a duo 2160 for my wife.

 
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