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2P Pros and Cons

J

Jester14

Limp Gawd
Joined
Aug 9, 2010
Messages
157
I'm looking to add a 2P folding rig to my farm. This machine would perform a couple tasks. I'd use it to store all my media and run XBMC so I can watch and listen to said media. It may also run a Minecraft server. While doing that, it'll fold 24/7. My question is, what are the pros and cons between an SR-2 and a 2P G34 build? I've made a list in my head and I can't decide either way so I'm hoping to look through your lists and hear your reasoning! Thanks in advance!
 
Have you checked the prices in the DC folding for sale forum? There have been some good deals in there.
 
If you do indeed plan to use it as a Minecraft server and would prefer not to run the risk of it taking a dump while serving games, then G34 will offer significantly better stability than an SR-2 rig. Also, the SR-2 bites in terms of network performance, whereas G34 boards usually have bondable onboard Intel NICs. 24 G34 cores will outperform 24 LGA1366 threads on a clock-for-clock basis, but obviously the SR-2 catches up and surpasses (depending on the chips used) 2P G34 when overclocked.

So if it was indeed a strict folding box, then I might argue in favour of an SR-2. But since you wish for it to perform other tasks competently - particularly ones that depend upon network performance - I believe I would recommend opting for 2P G34.
 
You are also talking about quite a bit less power usage on a 2p G34 rig versus an overclocked SR-2 rig. You also have a proc upgrade path (maybe) with G34. Given the choice of the two, I would go with the 2p G34.
 
Pocatello said:
Have you checked the prices in the DC folding for sale forum? There have been some good deals in there.
Click to expand...

With DSee practically giving away G34 combos and Doozer throwing around pairs of 1366's, the deals are too good. Hence the decision making, or lack thereof.

Dead Things said:
So if it was indeed a strict folding box, then I might argue in favour of an SR-2. But since you wish for it to perform other tasks competently - particularly ones that depend upon network performance - I believe I would recommend opting for 2P G34.
Click to expand...

I hadn't thought about stability issues as I've yet to hear it talked about. If the SR-2's are finicky (I know my 680i is), then that is a concern.

musky said:
You are also talking about quite a bit less power usage on a 2p G34 rig versus an overclocked SR-2 rig. You also have a proc upgrade path (maybe) with G34. Given the choice of the two, I would go with the 2p G34.
Click to expand...

Two huge points on my pros list for the G34. My only real con toward it is that I think I'm afraid of it. :eek: I have zero experience with true server hardware and I've convinced myself that I won't know what I'm doing even though it's likely the same as any other build. I feel like such a noob admitting that. :(
 
I'm a g34 newb too and purchased one of dsee's 2p combos a week or so ago. I'm very happy with my purchase. I haven't moved my minecraft server over to it yet but I plan on it when my friends won't mind the down time.

The g34 is louder than I expected so if you are keeping this in a place you spend a lot of time in consider purchasing some after market coolers.
 
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In my opinion I would go G34... for the following reasons:

- UPG path
- Power consumption
- PPD / power (again)





Kardonxt said:
I'm a g34 newb too and purchased one of dsee's 2p combos a week or so again. I'm very happy with my purchase. I havnt moved my minecraft server over to it yet but iI plan on it when my freinds won't mind the down time.

The g34 is louder than I expected so if you are keeping this in a place you spend a lot of time in consider purchasing some after market coolers.
Click to expand...

Mr. Kardonxt,
Try adjusting the fans speed @ BIOS.
You could also upgrade the fans or even the entire HSFs :)
 
I don't know, pricing being the same I would go with an SR-2 for the following reasons.

- Workstation flexibility - The single threaded performance you get from an SR-2 FAR outclasses a G34 system.
- Comparable features - Aside from the occasional boot glitch, my experience with SR-2's has been just as stable as the G34 system. In addition, while the 4p G34 boards offer alot of compelling features like integrated SAS, the 2P's don't generally bring a lot of differentiating features over the SR-2.
- GPU capability - This follows with the workstation flexibility point above, but knowing the SR-2 is ready for whatever gpu load you can dream up is nice.
- Equally bleak upgrade path. Sure G34 will get IL, but that comes at a cost premium and if it performs anything like BD it will be a sidestep at best. Additionally, while 12 AMD cores are faster than 6 Intel cores clock for clock, 8 are not. Once you add overclocking into the mix (and excluding Extra Sexy g34), I don't think even IL will bring parity to what Intel already has available for the SR-2.

In the end it really comes down to your vision for the box. If you will only ever use it for a dedicated boxen, then yes, G34 is the way to go. However you are very much limiting the flexibility for the platform to perform non server roles, and outside of folding I don't think the vast majority of us have any legitimate use for that range of features.

Power draw is an advantage of G34, but I question how long it will remain so with the advent of Interlagos. There is a reason most of the folders that go G34 go 4p, it really isn't 'blow me away compelling' at the 2p level.

I own both platforms and love both for their specific merits, however it should be said that my G34 experience is going to be very different from what you would get with retail chips. At the end of the day, a 2p G34 will perform between a stock 1366 2p hex system and an SR-2, with the possibility for power draw to be better depending on chips.
 
R-Type said:
I don't know, pricing being the same I would go with an SR-2 for the following reasons.

- Workstation flexibility - The single threaded performance you get from an SR-2 FAR outclasses a G34 system.
- Comparable features - Aside from the occasional boot glitch, my experience with SR-2's has been just as stable as the G34 system. In addition, while the 4p G34 boards offer alot of compelling features like integrated SAS, the 2P's don't generally bring a lot of differentiating features over the SR-2.
- GPU capability - This follows with the workstation flexibility point above, but knowing the SR-2 is ready for whatever gpu load you can dream up is nice.
- Equally bleak upgrade path. Sure G34 will get IL, but that comes at a cost premium and if it performs anything like BD it will be a sidestep at best. Additionally, while 12 AMD cores are faster than 6 Intel cores clock for clock, 8 are not. Once you add overclocking into the mix (and excluding Extra Sexy g34), I don't think even IL will bring parity to what Intel already has available for the SR-2.

In the end it really comes down to your vision for the box. If you will only ever use it for a dedicated boxen, then yes, G34 is the way to go. However you are very much limiting the flexibility for the platform to perform non server roles, and outside of folding I don't think the vast majority of us have any legitimate use for that range of features.

Power draw is an advantage of G34, but I question how long it will remain so with the advent of Interlagos. There is a reason most of the folders that go G34 go 4p, it really isn't 'blow me away compelling' at the 2p level.

I own both platforms and love both for their specific merits, however it should be said that my G34 experience is going to be very different from what you would get with retail chips. At the end of the day, a 2p G34 will perform between a stock 1366 2p hex system and an SR-2, with the possibility for power draw to be better depending on chips.
Click to expand...

The SR-2's GPU flexibility is a huge pro. I currently fold on 5 vid cards across three systems. With the new Fermi WU's the CPU takes next to no hit in points so consolidating my farm into one hot, noisy boxen is definitely tempting.

As for features, you make some interesting points. The 2P G34's are by no means feature rich when compared to the 4P's or the SR-2. But I don't see myself using SAS in the future... but I also don't see myself taking advantage of SATA3 or USB3 on the SR-2. That said, I do love to overclock and I'm not sure if I'll be able to leave the G34 alone and be satisfied.

I'd love to hear more from owners of both systems with regards to stability, usability, [edit] power consumption [/edit] and performance comparisons. I would be leaning toward hexes in either case unless IL blows us away. Then I'd settle for octos until IL comes down in price.
 
ppd/W is the metric I always use when figuring out hardware upgrade paths. Taking the two 2p G34 octo systems DSee just sold as an example, you are looking at between 350 and 400 ppd/W. Go to the next level with my 4p G34 dodecas @ 1.8 (6166HEs), I have it around 790 ppd/W (350K ppd, 443W with an 80+ Gold PSU.) That is a big difference, but it is also a bunch more money to move up to 4p and 12-core Magny Cours (you'll clear $2000 easily on a system like mine.)

I believe a dual hex SR-2 comes in close to the 2p G34 octo rigs in terms of ppd/W. The initial price will be higher though - I doubt you could get under $1000 for one.

There is a "fun" factor to SR-2 machines that you will never see with any other basic server setup, Intel or AMD. They overclock very similarly to any other socket 1366 board, so you can get some nice results. They are also impressive to look at if you have never seen one. As far as stability, I ran 4 of these at one time, all dual hex and all at 3.6 GHz. They were extremely stable - I would say that as long as you don't get too crazy on the overclock, they can be as stable as any server board even with a good overclock.

I switched everything I have over from dual hex SR-2s to 4p G34 several months ago now. I did it because of the significant ppd/W gains 4p G34 systems offer - even my quad octo system is close to 600 ppd/W. My case is somewhat unique, though.
 
Jester14 said:
The SR-2's GPU flexibility is a huge pro. I currently fold on 5 vid cards across three systems. With the new Fermi WU's the CPU takes next to no hit in points so consolidating my farm into one hot, noisy boxen is definitely tempting.

As for features, you make some interesting points. The 2P G34's are by no means feature rich when compared to the 4P's or the SR-2. But I don't see myself using SAS in the future... but I also don't see myself taking advantage of SATA3 or USB3 on the SR-2. That said, I do love to overclock and I'm not sure if I'll be able to leave the G34 alone and be satisfied.

I'd love to hear more from owners of both systems with regards to stability, usability, [edit] power consumption [/edit] and performance comparisons. I would be leaning toward hexes in either case unless IL blows us away. Then I'd settle for octos until IL comes down in price.
Click to expand...

Folding with gpu's under Linux sounds like a huge PITA from what I've read, but should technically be possible.

Also, my comment about G34's upgrade path is rather subjective and others may disagree. A piledriver based server cpu could change this outlook quite a bit, but that is an unknown at this point.

As for power draw, with dual hexes on an SR-2 in the 3.5-3.6ghz range you are typically looking at something like 500w for 180k ppd running linux with big beta. I think 2P G34 systems will be something like 275-325w, 90-130k depending on chips (others please correct me if that's wrong!)

For comparison the 4p's are 400-500w and can put out over 400k ppd...
 
R-Type said:
... with dual hexes on an SR-2 in the 3.5-3.6ghz range you are typically looking at something like 500w for 180k ppd running linux with big beta.
Click to expand...

How easy can you OC the SR-2? Can you really get 180k ppd with this setup?
 
Pocatello said:
How easy can you OC the SR-2? Can you really get 180k ppd with this setup?
Click to expand...

Its pretty straight forward, basically if you have good chips you will be setting blk to 200, memory strap to achieve target frequency, mch strap to effective memory speed, then adjusting vcore, vtt, and ioh voltages. Musky's guide thread is filled with setting examples and discussions about any nuances that can arise. Its more complicated than overclocking a desktop board, but more fun and rewarding as well.

With dual hexes at 3.6 and cheap ddr3 1600 ram, I break 180k ppd on both 6903 and 6904 WU's.
 
Cool. I will have to look for Musky's guide. I hope to get some linux luvvin on my SR-2 this weekend.
 
It sounds like I'll have more fun and more PPD with the SR-2. The extra SATA and USB ports will assist in media storage and the pile 'o' PCI-eX slots will allow for some consolidation. My upgrade path can be the SR-2-2. :p Hell, my Gaming rig pulls 500W at the wall when folding away. If that's all the SR-2 is gonna pull, and it'll quadruple my PPD, I'm cool with that. Guess I'll see what hits the DC FS/FT forum and what my better half says yes to. ;)
 
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