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setting up a dedicated folding machine

B

[BRO]Alaskan

Gawd
Joined
May 14, 2005
Messages
954
I have been folding for about a 1.5 years and want to set up 2 dedicated folding machines (their secondary job in to heat my garage) and want to know what you would suggest as the minimum ram for the machines. They will both be X2 4200 or 4400 (does the extra cache make much difference?) on NF4 boards with shared memory for the video (set to its lowest setting)
 
Well, you basically want 512 PER CORE of any boxen if you plan on accepting the bigger units. So unfortunately that means 1GB of ram per box.. Right now is still kind of a bad time to buy memory last I checked prices are still really high - mostly due to a transition to 80nm processing by some of the major memory chip makers - samsung, infineon, etc. and high demand for DDR2 due to Conroe and AM2.. But if you shop around you could find some deals I'm sure. Anyways, 1GB per box for those boxen would be my recommendation. Fold on!

PS - nice little bit of production added with those boxes, FOLD ON my friend!
[EDIT] The extra cache would only make a small difference depending on the protein, but I doubt it would be enough to justify the extra cost of the chip.
 
if you plan on using windows, adjust for best performance (essentially remove all eye candy). if youre going to allow large work units, allow 128 mb free per core. With winders optimized i think it would be safe to get by on 512 per machine.

Above poster, why 512 per core? i've never seen a large wu use more than 110 mb of ram, and windows without eye candies / minimal processes can actually get fairly skinny.

I'm sure you could do similar running a basic linux distro and the linux f@h client to furhter save on ram usage, but 512 i think should be used regardless
 
I would suggest saving money by getting the older X2 3800+ and overclocking it up. They OC VERY well (for the most part mind you) and you get save a lot of money that way. About the RAM, I suggest 512 per box and maybe get like an NF4 with built in video (I think you were getting that, right?). Also, I assume you're getting Socket 939? If you were thinking about AM2, think again. The F@H applications won't really benefit from AM2 and it saves you more money.

Btw, I've been out of the hardware loop for a while and I don't see NewEgg selling the X2 3800+ Socket 939 CPUs anymore. I don't know so search around.
 
Another option would be to get a socket AM2 board, and an X2 4600 Energy efficient model. You save 24 watts over a standard processor, and it's 2.4ghz so you don't have to overclock it (wasting even more energy). And you don't need up upgrade to a better heatsink/fan. It's $260 last I checked, about the same price as a non-EE 4600. 24 watts 24/.7 @ 9.5cents/kwh over 2 years = 420kwh or $39.94. If you factor in another 20% (17w) savings due to not having to overclock a 3800 (2.0 ghz) to 2.4ghz you save another $28.29 for a combined savings of $68.23 for 2 years.
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As for memory, both DDR2 and regular DDR are getting pretty pricey. I'd suggest 1GB RAM whichever route you take. If money is real tight, get one stick 512MB and another later on.
 
But is there really a NEED for 1GB of RAM for a dedicated folding machine? I mean it's not like you're running a BF2 server. However, I agree, do try to get the lowest Wattage CPU possible. Another option would be to get a good Conroe and overclock it to all hell and get an amazing PPD per core :D
 
iSkylla said:
But is there really a NEED for 1GB of RAM for a dedicated folding machine? I mean it's not like you're running a BF2 server. However, I agree, do try to get the lowest Wattage CPU possible. Another option would be to get a good Conroe and overclock it to all hell and get an amazing PPD per core :D
Click to expand...

People used to say that 128MB was enough, back in the pre-Windows XP days. Then the work units got gradually larger and they had to either upgrade or accept slower performance. I tested this back in the day, and indeed 128MB was slower than 256MB. Not by a whole lot, but I think it was worthwhile to get the 256.

I haven't tested this with current work units and 256 vs 512MB per core, but I expect it to remain true.
 
The client must report 256 or > for large wu's. Needs 110 meg a piece to run.

Back in the QMD days, client must report > 504 meg ram. Used 425+ ram.
 
Sorry I forgot to post that I downloaded it just fine this morning. The internet has been acting all screwy in this area.
 
iSkylla said:
But is there really a NEED for 1GB of RAM for a dedicated folding machine? I mean it's not like you're running a BF2 server. However, I agree, do try to get the lowest Wattage CPU possible. Another option would be to get a good Conroe and overclock it to all hell and get an amazing PPD per core :D
Click to expand...

The problem there is that the conroe mobos are freaking expensive. Also the integrated video boards dont' overclock as well. I think it will come down to how much cash you want to spend per box. If it were me, I'd get the E6300, a DS3, and the cheapest video card you can along with a 2x512 of ram and overclock the crap out of it!

Keep in mind that integrated video takes up some system ram as well.

 
I suggested 512MB ram per core because we could quite possibly see a need for it. Look at QMDs (I know they're no longer being served up, but similar projects could come along, call it future-proofing?) I suppose the best option would be to put a stick of 512 into each box, and then you can always put another 512 later if the need arises.

Also, on AM2 vs. Socket 939 - you'll save a good amount of power, even if you're not using the Energy Efficient models as AM2 cpus use less power than their socket 939 equivilants, and DDR2 uses less power than DDR1 does..

To the Original Poster, can you post a budget of what you'd like to spend PER BOX and we can maybe hook you up with some parts etc. that would fit your budget. Also list any parts you already have.
 
kaleb_zero is sending me 2 free (can't beat the price) MB's that are socket AM2 with integrated video one uses DDR 3200 and the outher uses DDR2 6400. I also picked up an NF4 board with 1 gig and an x2 3800 processor. I ordered 3 ThermalTake Mambo from PC club for $130 total with $90 mail in rebates ($30 plus shipping $30 mail in rebate $40 shipping) I have (3) 4gig HDs (are they large enough?), (3) cd drives, and (3) powersupplies I still need to find 2 AM2 processors (3800's or 4200's) and the ram 1gig each of pc3200 and pc2 6400. If anybody sees a good deal on them post it. Foldix will go on all of them (Thanks Unhappy Mage)
 
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