Folding Rig for my wife

I shoud note I dont know much about folding except that apparently running the GPU versions give superior performance so I figure 2 or 3 graphics cards would be the key to this whole thing.

I do have a question. What is Folding?

Oh wow, sounds really serious. Sorry I can't help you out in that department. :)

The newer Kepler based GPUs would be perfect for F@H. Here's also a guide for setting up Folding on the Kepler GPUs: http://www.overclock.net/t/1271684/how-to-set-up-folding-on-kepler-in-windows-7

Hi MagiK,

I assume she is using Folding@Home for her client. I think you are right that the software does take advantage of GPU processing. I don't fold and have just a little knowledge about it but lets see if I can come up with something that will work for her.

There is a couple of ways to go with this. We could use an inexpensiveness CPU and go heavy with the GPUs. Or, we could go 6 core CPU and as much GPU as you can afford. I am not sure which approach would give the highest processing power to the software. Does she have any input on what would be better? I do know that when our folding guru built his machine he bought the biggest processor available with a high OC and 4 GPUs. So maybe this is what we should do.

What do you think?

Frank

Teemberland,

Folding is a distributed processing network that uses your idle computing power to combine with other participants idle computing power to try and solve some of the worlds diseases. You download a software program and have to leave your computer on 24/7. Folding goes on all the time even when you are using your computer. The program just uses the processing power you have idle at the time. The program uses idle CPU or GPU processing. It can also use PS-3 units.

Frank

Edited by FrankW - 02 Jul 2012 at 3:08pm

Hi bprat22,

Thanks for the build. I think if we work together we can come up with something.

My first thought is that the 3820 is the wrong choice. Folding will use the unused cores so it may be better to go 3930. I agree that the X79 is a better choice for the GPUs.

Stage 4 cooling would be good for 24hr operation but runs an additional $260 over the Vortex. DS will do stage 1 OC with the 3930 and the Vortex. We should also consider that for a folding computer maybe a 3930 that is not OC would be in order. She won't be playing games and it would give better longevity.

I don't know if 4Gb cards would be an advantage or if we need 16Gbs of memory.

Any thoughts?

Frank

What about this build? The configuator didn't have the 3 670 2Gb option but the third GPU would put you right at your budget.

I would change the Blu-Ray player to a standard CD/DVD burner.

Frank

Configuration: 704337 Cost: $3122

Chassis Model: Special Deal Hot Seller - Cooler Master 942 HAF X
Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Trim Accents: - Standard Factory Finish
Processor: Intel Core i7 3930K 3.2GHz (Unlocked CPU for Extreme Overclocking) (Six-Core)
Motherboard: ASUS Sabertooth X79 (Intel X79 Chipset) (Features USB 3.0 and SATA 6Gb/s)
System Memory: 16GB DDR3 1600MHz Digital Storm Certified Performance Series (Highly Recommended) (Hand Tested)
Power Supply: 1200W Corsair Pro Gold Series (CMPSU-1200AX) (Dual/Triple/Quad SLI Compatible)
Expansion Bay: - No Thanks
Hard Drive Set 1: Operating System: - No Thanks
Set 1 Raid Options: - No Thanks
Hard Drive Set 2: Multimedia\Data: 1x (500GB Western Digital Caviar (7200 RPM) (Model: Black Edition)
Hard Drive Set 3: Backup\Misc.: - No Thanks
Optical Drive 1: ASUS Blu-Ray Player/DVD Writer (Play Blu-Ray and Burn DVDs) (Model: BC-12B1ST)
Optical Drive 2: - No Thanks
Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)
Video Card: 2x SLI Dual (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670 2GB (Includes PhysX)
Add-on Card: - No Thanks
Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio
Extreme Cooling: H20: Stage 2: Digital Storm Vortex 240mm Radiator Liquid CPU Cooler (Extreme-Performance Edition)
H20 Tube Color:- Not Applicable, I do not have a FrostChill or Sub-Zero LCS Cooling System Selected
Chassis Airflow: Standard Factory Chassis Fans
Internal Lighting: - No Thanks
Enhancements: - No Thanks
Chassis Mods: - No Thanks
Noise Reduction: - No Thanks
LaserMark: - No Thanks
Boost Processor: Standard Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 Automatic Overclocking
Boost Video Card: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my video card(s)
Boost Memory: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my memory
Boost OS: - No Thanks, Please do not tweak the services on the operating system
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional (64-Bit Edition)
Recovery Tools: Windows Recovery Toolkit (Bundled with Windows 7 CD)
Virus Protection: - No Thanks
Office: - No Thanks
Game: - No Thanks
Display: - No Thanks
Surge Shield: - No Thanks
Speakers: - No Thanks
Keyboard: - No Thanks
Mouse: - No Thanks
External Storage: - No Thanks
Exclusive T-Shirt: FREE: Digital Storm T-Shirt - Black (Large)
Priority Build: - No Thanks, Ship Within 10-15 Business Days After Order Is Successfully Processed
Warranty: Life-time Expert Customer Care with 3 Year Limited Warranty

Edited by FrankW - 02 Jul 2012 at 2:54pm

I was considering the HafX case, and a quad core CPU//from what I can tell you use either the GPU client or the CPU client, Im not aware of a Folding Client that utilizes both so maybe Ill get her dual 670's and add a third later when she gets the cash  ...

Im also thinking of an SSD boot drive and 1TB drive for storage....no OC beyond the free option or fancy cooling..I kinda want to keep this a bit on the quiet side too as it sits on the other side of the TV room.....but I guess I could banish her to her basement hobby room...

Yeah reading your inputs, im leaning toward the
HafX Case
3920 cpu
16GB of the lower cost RAM
120GB SSD (or there about)
1TB Storage
1200watt PS for when we add a third or 4th GPU...  Will the Sabertooth handle 4 or is a Tri MoBo...gonna have to check


Edited by MagiK - 02 Jul 2012 at 3:50pm

For some reason My wife said she wanted the Sabertooth MoBo...I didnt even know she knew what a MoBo was  :)  I think Tri SLI will do it...I mean considering what she is folding on now.....anything even close to new will kick its ass...shes got a P4 rig.