Folding@evga

NO!!!

go nvidia, more points, less power

if you wanna build multiple rigs, i7 based with GTX260's at a minimum

otherwaise, maybe 2 i7 rigs loaded with GTX275s??
 
A stock 4850 only gets a little over 2000PPD these days and eats up CPU still. Build a nVidia based quad GPU box.
 
A stock 4850 only gets a little over 2000PPD these days and eats up CPU still. Build a nVidia based quad GPU box.

It really sucks, both of my linux VMs were getting better PPD than my poor 4850 was. I've got a GTX 275 in there now and it's like I'm in another league of folding power. It overclocks like a beast and it does just fine with stock cooling, and I definitely can't say that about my 4850. With that thing it was either run the fan on 40% at idle or so soon as any kind of load was applied shoot straight up to 100%. It actually woke me up a couple nights because it's in my bedroom.
 
Is it worth trying to air cool four 275/285's in one box? That sounds (to me, it's been a while) next to impossible without WC, which is not ideal for headless boxen...
 
Okay someone look this over.

4x - EVGA 01G-P3-1180-AR GeForce GTX 285 1GB 512-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
1x AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor Model HDZ955FBGIBOX - Retail
1x ASUS M4A79 Deluxe AM2+/AM2 AMD 790FX ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
1x PC Power & Cooling T12W 1200W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
2x CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X4096-6400C5 - Retail
2x Western Digital Raptor WD740ADFD 74GB 10000 RPM SATA 1.5Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM

...I'm gonna kick myself tomorrow...
 
looks like a good build to me.. overclock the 955 to 3.8-4.0ghz.. could easily see 7-9k PPD just from the processor alone.. and then another 25-30k+ from the gpu's..

my phenom II 940 @ 3.5ghz does just shy of 3k PPD for each VM... so roughly 6k PPD total..
 
Okay someone look this over.

4x - EVGA 01G-P3-1180-AR GeForce GTX 285 1GB 512-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
1x AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor Model HDZ955FBGIBOX - Retail
1x ASUS M4A79 Deluxe AM2+/AM2 AMD 790FX ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
1x PC Power & Cooling T12W 1200W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
2x CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X4096-6400C5 - Retail
2x Western Digital Raptor WD740ADFD 74GB 10000 RPM SATA 1.5Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM

...I'm gonna kick myself tomorrow...

Why the dual Raptors?

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but shouldn't the GTX 275 Fold just about as well as the 285? It's got the same number of shaders. The only difference in the core is the narrower memory bus which shouldn't have a significant effect on Folding. Could save some bucks there.

Any particular reason for the T12W? That's a freakishly expensive PSU and there are cheaper ones out there with higher efficiency. Something like the Enermax Revolution85+ 1050W (80 Plus Silver Certified) should save you a few bucks on your power bill.
 
Last edited:
you could save some cash going the 275 route, they get the same points as a 285, might be able to build 2 boxes rather than 1 (youd save on 2 good PSUs vs one HUGE PSU) and they would be cooler.

With EVGA cards, youd save 70$ per card (+free ship), With 2x PCp&c 750's (favorite PSU) youd save 250$ after rebate, and youd break even on the mobo's. RAM would be a bit more, but one of the 275's would offset that, and youd still have hundreds left over for a second CPU and case. Shave down on the HDD (they are just folders) and youd have money left over

So, youd actually save a bunch of money, get 7k more per day (second CPU) and heat would be MUCH BETTER off that way.

I'll make you a loadout later if you need, Ive got a long night tonight at work and nothing to do lol

but that would be better in every aspect (except maybe floor space, but its only one more case...)
 
My 275 gets between 7800-9200 PPD at 702/1584/1188. Those numbers should be fairly comparable to a 285 but I'm not sure.



 
its the same shader count, and should OC better due to better heat issues
 
Thanks y'all, That's why I love you guys. Vaulter98c if you're board I'm all ears, I've been out of the loop for way too long for this stuff. The
MSI 790FX-GD70 AM3 AMD 790FX ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
and
four EVGA 896-P3-1170-AR GeForce GTX 275 896MB 448-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
look good though. How important is CPU with these multi-gpu setups?

Here's my plan for cooling, btw.

That's five 6 watt 48 volt 120mm fans from an 80's analog phone system and a 6.75" COMAIR Rotron from my old gaming machine. The Rotron alone is 375 CFM. I need to fill in another 40 watts though so I can max out the 100w 48v PSU
 
By a while, I mean 2005. This was what the rotron came out of... cardboard vapor cooling
foldpowa.jpg

;)

EDIT:
Rotron in action...
ghetto1.jpg

The ghetto grill is there because at 3200 RPM it will take your finger clean off.
 
Last edited:
WOW... all Ive got to say

youve earned the [H]

Ill make a list tonight when I go on duty (0000-0800)
 
CPU power isn't very important if you're just running the GPU clients. I've got a dual core Athlon 64 supporting 4 9800GX2s for a total of 8 GPU clients. CPU usage bounces around between 0 and maybe 20%.

 
9800X2 is the way to go. any dual cpu will do and you can even run the os off of flash or cd or network if you want for max cost/ppd with no ppd loss. you can even mod pci-e 1x slots to run the gpu's with no ppd hit.
 
I really appreciate everyone's suggestions. Starting from scratch:

1 MSI 790FX-GD70 AM3 AMD 790FX ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail (thanks sirmonkey1985)
1 AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor Model HDZ955FBGIBOX - Retail (@sirmonkey1985, fold on the cpu as well?)
4 EVGA 896-P3-1170-AR GeForce GTX 275 896MB 448-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
1 ENERMAX REVOLUTION85+ ERV1050EWT 1050W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Certified 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active ... - Retail (thanks Parja)
4 Crucial Ballistix Tracer 1GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory (with LEDs) Model BL12864TA1336 - Retail
1 COOLER MASTER V8 RR-UV8-XBU1-GP 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail (to stick my 48 volt fan in. I miss air OC)
1 Western Digital Caviar SE WD800AAJS 80GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM (Thanks Parja, IDK what I was thinking)

All comes in at a reasonable $2k even (vs. 2.8k before)
 
Touching on the Radeon folding, my 4890 is OC'd to 900 Mhz and it seems to use more than 1 core of my 720x3 at 3.5 Ghz. I have one VM running so I can leave the GPU one entire core to use and it still uses some of the other 2 cores assigned to the VM.
 
Touching on the Radeon folding, my 4890 is OC'd to 900 Mhz and it seems to use more than 1 core of my 720x3 at 3.5 Ghz. I have one VM running so I can leave the GPU one entire core to use and it still uses some of the other 2 cores assigned to the VM.

Hungry little fellow isn't he.
 
(@sirmonkey1985, fold on the cpu as well?)
I'm not sirmonkey, but yes, you should. Overclock the chip and you should be good for a nice 6k PPD or so.
Touching on the Radeon folding, my 4890 is OC'd to 900 Mhz and it seems to use more than 1 core of my 720x3 at 3.5 Ghz. I have one VM running so I can leave the GPU one entire core to use and it still uses some of the other 2 cores assigned to the VM.
What kind of PPD are you getting from that card? I'm curious to see how the much higher clockspeeds of the 4890 affect it compared to the 4870.
 
for 2k you can get 2 9800gx2 X4 rigs.

aprox 80k(on the low end) without cpu folding. thats with stock on the 9800gx2's

I think your wasting your money for less ppd.
 
for 2k you can get 2 9800gx2 X4 rigs.

aprox 80k(on the low end) without cpu folding. thats with stock on the 9800gx2's

I think your wasting your money for less ppd.

9800GX2's aren't being made anymore and used one's are difficult to get a hold of. More importantly, if you do get one, or 4, running them COOL is impossible, and if you have problems with them, unless they're BFG cards where the lifetime warranty is transferable, you're SOL.

It's just easier to get 275s for a little bit more for actual warranty and lower operating costs.
 
That's the problem with OCN, their version or reality just doesn't coincide with everyone else's. :D
 
That's the problem with OCN, their version or reality just doesn't coincide with everyone else's. :D

I guess Mitsu, nitteo, Atlas KniteLife and others reality is squewed as well :rolleyes:

Wonder where you can find them? Hmmm, the top of the ppd producers board maybe? ROTF:p
 
I guess Mitsu, nitteo, Atlas KniteLife and others reality is squewed as well :rolleyes:

Wonder where you can find them? Hmmm, the top of the ppd producers board maybe? ROTF:p

For the reasons already stated here, it's only advisable for guys with that kind of money to burn. If I can't get a warranty, I'm not buying.
 
you cant compare anyone like atlas to anyone like the other 99% of folders. Thats VERY unfair, they have the money to make whatever they want happen (19 295's? WOW). Normal people have to rely on whatever we can work, and we usually require warranty's if your going to drop 2k, thats a lot of cash for 99% of the folders
 
4 Crucial Ballistix Tracer 1GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory (with LEDs) Model BL12864TA1336 - Retail

It'll probably be cheaper and certainly easier to hit a high memory speed with 2x2GB vs. 4x1GB. Should be able to get the 2x2GB set for about $60 and save yourself a few bucks.

1 COOLER MASTER V8 RR-UV8-XBU1-GP 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail (to stick my 48 volt fan in. I miss air OC)

How about something that doesn't require you to put the fan in the middle (TRUE, Xigmatek Dark Knight, Spire Thermax II, etc) where you could strap one of those bad boys on either side? That should get you some ridiculously low temps.
 
for 2k you can get 2 9800gx2 X4 rigs.

The 9800gx2's on ebay are the same price as the 275's on newegg, less the whole warranty thing. I'm looking for a repeatable design that I can pitch to my company, so the parts need to be available in the future.

For the reasons already stated here, it's only advisable for guys with that kind of money to burn. If I can't get a warranty, I'm not buying.

Yeah, I tend to agree with that. Especially with consumer-grade products that will have to run at 110% of their maximum capacity 24/7 for (hopefully) many years.

It'll probably be cheaper and certainly easier to hit a high memory speed with 2x2GB vs. 4x1GB. Should be able to get the 2x2GB set for about $60 and save yourself a few bucks.
Roger.
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail?

How about something that doesn't require you to put the fan in the middle (TRUE, Xigmatek Dark Knight, Spire Thermax II, etc) where you could strap one of those bad boys on either side? That should get you some ridiculously low temps.

I like your thinking. Howabout a Thermalright Ultra-120?
 
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail?

You'll need DDR3 for the 790FX-GD70.

This looks pretty good. CAS 7 and $60 shipped.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231200

I'm not familiar with the AMD stuff to know what FSB you'll want to be shooting for, though.

I like your thinking. Howabout a Thermalright Ultra-120?

Just make sure you get the Extreme (aka the TRUE). Moar heatpipes!
 
I bought the copper because it was shiny.

In all seriousness, I'll never forget my cu Volcano 7+ that took a 2.4 P4 (in the blue case, above) to a stable 3.98 at 6200 glorious RPM. Maybe there's tests that prove me wrong, but if I'm dinking with oc I want cu.

EDIT: Oh man, this is bringing back all sorts of fond memories. For instance, the LCD chilling ontop of that computer:
lcd.jpg
 
Last edited:
Back
Top