Best DC CPU for the $$

[Tobit]

Is the Q6600 still the best bang for the buck these days for dedicated DC crunching? Right now, I am t-minus one week to my next pay check and, in addition to finally buying some nvidia GPUs, I want to add one more CPU to the small farm. While I'd love to add another Core i7 920, that just isn't in the budget right now unless I hold off on GPUs for another month.

I haven't decided on which projects I'd dedicate the new "D" to but, if I go with something like a Q6600, I'd probably do something like 2 x RC5-72 and 2 x OGR-NG.

 

[capreppy]

For what it is worth, I am planning to use Q6600's in my boxen. I'll be running WCG on the CPU & F@H on the GPU's

 

[Jathanis]

Yeah, the Q6600 is next on my list to upgrade my current rig...

Man, why can't Intel come out with a quad equivalent of the e2XX0 dual cores? I love my 1.8 GHz dually at 3.2 for $70... Now if I could just get me a 1.6 quad for $120/free shipping that OCed to 2.8, I'd be all over it - I don't need 3MB cache/core to fold! But at $189 for the Q6600, I'd rather get one of the above plus a 9600GSO or two...

 

[Tobit]

But at $189 for the Q6600, I'd rather get one of the above plus a 9600GSO or two...

Yeah, I think my "D" list from NewEgg next week is going to include 3 or 4 9800GT's (for multiple boxen) and a Q6600 with board and 4GB memory. Maybe try and save a few $$ by buying a used Q6600 combo from someone here on [H]ard.

 

[Zero82z]

Man, why can't Intel come out with a quad equivalent of the e2XX0 dual cores?

They do, it's called the Q8xxx series (well, it's the quad equivalent of the E5xxx series - the E2xxx series is EOL). Their Q9x00 series is the quad-core equivalent to the E7xxx series, and the Q9x50 series is the quad version of the E8xxx series.

 

[Tobit]

I've been tempted to try a Q8300 as it's the same price as the Q6600 - It'd be great for a Linux folder but useless on a Windoze boxen where one would normally run VMWare. Lack of virtualization tech is why many frown upon the Q8xxx series. I'd prefer a 45nm tech CPU over a 65nm but for the price of a Q9550 one can get a Core i7 so the Q8300 is tempting when it's the same price as the Q6600.

 

[Wheresatom]

I have been wanting to get a Q6600 since way back last summer, but I guess I have never invested the funds into it. I watch the FS/FT forums a bit though, and the Q6600s are few and far between and any of them I do find are sold or WTB. I think people are going to hold onto that chip for a while still...

 

[Tobit]

I wonder if a X3220 Xeon would have better FPU and Interger numbers than a Q6600/Q8300. X3220's at $215 aren't much more than a Q6600 or Q8300 and it's LGA775 based and they appear to overclock nicely as well.

 

[brycejones]

x3220 will perform the same as a Q6600. They are basically the same part.

 

[Tobit]

$560 - Core i7 920, mobo, 3GB RAM
$360 - Q6600, mobo, 4GB RAM

Tough call for only $200 difference. Decisions, decisions. My current i7 has been a great performer with most DC applications.

 

[brokenarrow03]

So ive read that the Q6600 = 3000ppd on 4 cores, where do the phenoms stack up? And can you fold on 4 processor cores when you have 4 GPUs running as well or do they require some CPU?

 

[Tobit]

So ive read that the Q6600 = 3000ppd on 4 cores, where do the phenoms stack up?

No clue here as I'm an Intel fan boy and don't pay attention to AMD numbers. For reference to my above $$ numbers, my Core i7 920 @ 3.4 GHz generates 9200 PpD with FAH.

And can you fold on 4 processor cores when you have 4 GPUs running as well or do they require some CPU?

With NVIDIA GPUs you can as each one takes around 1% CPU. With ATI's, forget about it as they use 100% per GPU core.

 

[brokenarrow03]

No clue here as I'm an Intel fan boy and don't pay attention to AMD numbers. For reference to my above $$ numbers, my Core i7 920 @ 3.4 GHz generates 9200 PpD with FAH.

With NVIDIA GPUs you can as each one takes around 1% CPU. With ATI's, forget about it as they use 100% per GPU core.

Hmm..the only reason I ask is that I just put up a 4x9600GSO boxen on an AMD platform, dont really want to switch to Intel if I could help it, just trying to get the most out of a single boxen

 

[Tobit]

Hmm..the only reason I ask is that I just put up a 4x9600GSO boxen on an AMD platform, dont really want to switch to Intel if I could help it, just trying to get the most out of a single boxen

Go for it, Kendrak is running 3 x 9800GX2's (6 GPU cores) on a small AMD dual core. If you have a Quad, I see no reason why you can't run 4 9600GSO's and still have some CPU folding as well.

 

[metallicafan]

$560 - Core i7 920, mobo, 3GB RAM
$360 - Q6600, mobo, 4GB RAM

Tough call for only $200 difference. Decisions, decisions. My current i7 has been a great performer with most DC applications.

This isnt the oft Forum. Just kidding man.

Either would be good setups but two i7s would give you a really nice CPU base. You can always add GPUs later. The Core i7s arent going anywhere anytime soon. 16 Logical cores could tear through a lot of WU's.

 

[Tobit]

16 Logical cores could tear through a lot of WU's.

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. I haven't done anything with FAH in a few days as I've been playing with Lattice. Would be nice to dedicate an i7 to FAH again and use the new i7 for rotating through various DC-Vault projects and sieving.