Folding HTPC setup

[Xilikon]

After receiving a Q6600 sold by a fellow folder here, I installed in the HTPC computer (Asus P5E-VM HDMI in a Lian Li PC-A05B). Shortly after, the motherboard has decided it's time to do a seppuku and burn the northbridge. Since it's my second motherboard failing on that HTPC, I decided it's time to kill the LGA775 plateform and go on a new one.

My goal is to have a powerful but power efficient HTPC computer which can fold as well. I don't have a unlimited budget so here's what I came up :

EVGA H55V micro-ATX motherboard
Intel i5-650 (to take advantage of the integrated graphics and hyperthreading).
Mushkin Enhanced Silverline DDR3-1333 2x2Gb
Corresponding LGA1156 waterblock (probably a EK Supreme LT)

Total should come at about 400$ so I'm asking if there are things which must be changed to optimise folding performance. I know I could go to a i7-860 or even going to AMD (if that's the case, I don't know anything about it so suggest a good setup).

EDIT : After doing some research, it seems the EVGA H55V have no much overclocking options and since I don't want to touch Asus again with a ten foot pole, what's left was Gigabyte and MSI. I found a Gigabyte which better match my needs in the GA-H55M-D2H, still checking.

 

[mplee]

I think you'll get more ppd from using the i7...the downside is you'll need to add a video card to your cost. I'm not sure how power efficient that will be either...

I don't think that the i5 could be overclocked high enough to match the ppd of the i7 at 3.8+ speeds. Someone else might be able to provide some real numbers, but I saw on the folding forums that the estimate for the i5 at 4ghz was 7000ppd. The closest thing I've folded on was an i5 520m laptop that got between 3-3.5k ppd. I think it ran through one 670x that dropped it down to the 2k ppd range.

 

[Xilikon]

Well, coming from either a C2D E5200 or Q6600, it's a big upgrade anyway. I'm also thinking about going to i7 860 with a dedicated card but I need to factor the costs as well (we're talking about 200-300$ extra which is a lot).

 

[jebo_4jc]

what about downgrading on your CPU to free up some budget for a ~$130 GTX460?

I have two folding HTPCs. One is the "old school" random box o parts, Q6600, 9800GX2, loud as hell.

The real HTPC is using a AMD X6 1055T, air cooled by a Scythe Mini Ninja (which I highly recommend if it fits in your case) and an evga GTX460. It is quiet as a mouse and produces about 20k ppd between the CPU and GPU.

 

[jebo_4jc]

I've built two HTPCs using cheap Microcenter AMD combos. For about $150 you get a CPU and a decent mobo. Add a GPU and you have the basis for a nice folding htpc.

 

[Xilikon]

Don't forget I'm in Canada so no Microcenter deals

However, thinking about what you said made me reconsider some things so here's a new list, tell me what everyone think :

Intel i3-540 (2C/4T like the i5 but without turbo boost, which is not really important)
Gigabyte GA-H55M-D2H
Mushkin Enhanced Silverline DDR3-1333 2x2Gb
EVGA GTS 450 Fermi
New CPU waterblock.

I think this new setup is well within my budget but will boost the ppd a lot due to the GPU folding which is added in the mix.

 

[mekkanic]

what PSU are you running?

 

[mplee]

If you have the budget available, maybe bump the 450 up to a 460? Based on what Tobit mentioned, you'll probably be better off in the long run.

 

[Xilikon]

what PSU are you running?

I got a Antec Earthwatts 430W in the HTPC and I don't want to change it. This will rule out the GTX 460. From what I saw in the ppd numbers between the 450 and 460, there is not much difference. Also, consider the fact that it's only for media center duties and folding, which make it more than sufficient.

 

[jebo_4jc]

my Antec Fusion case has a PSU similar to the earthwatts 430W, and I'm pretty sure I'm pushing it to its limit with my X6 and GTX460. At lower clocks they work fine, however.

 

[Tobit]

From what I saw in the ppd numbers between the 450 and 460, there is not much difference.

PM coming on this subject.

 

[Xilikon]

After taking with Tobit a bit (a big thank you !), here's the new one I think will be what I will order :

Intel i3-540
Gigabyte GA_H55M_UD2H (picked that one due to better reliability and features for just a few bucks more)
Mushkin Enhanced Silverline DDR3-1333 2x2Gb
Silverstone Olympia OP700 PSU (found a great deal for 59$)
EVGA GTX 460 768MB

All this for about 505$, just 100$ over my budget but not a problem. I also ordered a EK Supreme LT acetal/nickel to replace my cpu block which have no LGA1156 mount and is getting outdated.

For the curious peeps, the rest of my setup is :

Lian Li PC-A05B
Samsung SH-S203B DVD-RW drive
WD Caviar 320GB
HWLabs BlackIce GTX 240 radiator
MCP355 with XSPC reservoir top
3/8" ID - 5/8" OD Primochill LRT tubing
D-Tek Fuzion CPU v2 with LGA775 Pro mount (this will get replaced with the EK Supreme LT).

 

[SpeedyVV]

What about reusing your DDR2 memory?

Gigabyte GA-MA785GM-US2H $79.99
AMD Phenom II X6 1055T $199.99

Then add:
Silverstone Olympia OP700 PSU (found a great deal for 59$)
EVGA GTX 460 768MB

Would this not be faster and cheaper?

BTW, I assume you live in Toronto, but if not I am sure you can find similar deals online.

Even with shipping newegg saves you $10 on the 2 items.

 

[jebo_4jc]

Good recommends
Posted via [H] Mobile Device

 

[Xilikon]

I'm not really a fan of reusing memory. Anyway, the freed memory sticks will be used for another boxen for my son (it's all what missing along with the PSU) and this box will be folding as well producting more ppd.

I'm from Quebec City but I can find better deals with www.pricecanada.com

 

[Xilikon]

Thanks everyone, ordered them and they should be here very shortly

 

[10e]

Crap, I wish I had seen this sooner. As a fellow Canadian folder I would have been more than happy to help you save $$$$$$$$$$$$, as I ALWAYS have extra parts around.