Setting up new cruncher... diskless? dual?

[OSUmaxx]

Hey guys, I just hit the big 1k and decided to add a little more crunching power. Right now I have two computers running seti, but I'd like to add another. The catch is that I'd like to do it as cheap as possible (while getting good crunching power).

Would the best solution be a dual proc board? I can stick Mandrake or something on one of my boxes and run a diskless cruncher, right? Or would it be better to just invest in a $10 2 gig HD? Also, what would a good, almost everything integrated, motherboard be? I was thinking of going refurb possibly also.

Sorry for all of the questions, but I need someone to help steer me in the right direction :)

[TC]

If you're just going to add one computer the diskless route is not best imo, especially if you can get a HDD that cheap. If you wanted to add several computers then diskless would be the way to go.

[none1]

I'm still looking for the "best" cheap crunching MB ......

1) As near as I can tell, duals are MORE EXPENSIVE on a $$ / WU basis than two, seperate single machines. While with a dual you only need on ram, hd, mb, video, etc ..... there are single proc MB with integrated stuff around $60, and a dual MB costs around $180.

2) Search some of the posts here, we've had a few "what motherboard is cheapest for a farm" type discussions in the last 2 weeks. :-)

3) The ausus nforce board can be had right now at newegg refurbed for $60. This has integrated everything. The on board lan works fine if you install an OS form HD, but won't yet boot diskless with LTSP (I'm working on it :) This boards doesn't OC well, but integrated everything is cool, and it works well as a medium game machine when friends come over (good sound and geforce 2 :)

There are also frequently KT333 or KT266A boards refurbed at newegg for like $50 that OC well. Cheap video = $10, cheap Lan = $10, so $70 for mobo, video and lan.

NEW, not as OC friendly, there's the ECS K7S5A SiS® 735 at newegg for $54, a bunch of people like / use this board.

4) HD or not, HD or not, HD or not ......

Ya, I agree with TC, for just one more comp, get a HD.

BUT KNOW THAT ..... adding crunchers is addictive. If you think you might add a few ...... go the LTSP route and go diskless now with your one comp, and then its easy to add more.

5) I think the crunching prices from previous threads ran from $150 for bare bones stuff, to $250 per node for some stuff that OC REALLY well.

Just a quick check, with the boards above, say $70 for mobo, video, lan, + $54 amd 1600+, $20 power supply, $35 pc2100 128 meg = $180 total for 5 WU a day easy. Personally, I'd go with PC2700 256 meg at say $60, and an OC mobo, get at least one more WU per day.

gotta crunch more, gotta crunch more gotta ....

[OSUmaxx]

Thanks for the responses. I did do searches, but I had a hard time coming up with solid answers due to some debates :)

I think I'll go with a HD this time around, and I'll keep reading up on mobos. Your post really helped none1.

[jokrswild]

Go dual 1600's on a tyan. Watch newegg for a refurb dual tyan board, they usually go for about 100 when on a special. Get cheap video card, some cheap ddr (it says it needs ECC, but it doesn't, we built one without), and you're set.

[none1]

Originally posted by jokrswild
Go dual 1600's on a tyan. Watch newegg for a refurb dual tyan board, they usually go for about 100 when on a special. Get cheap video card, some cheap ddr (it says it needs ECC, but it doesn't, we built one without), and you're set.

YA, I looked at that the last time the tyans were $100, was very tempted.

SO, you can get the system I mentioned in the earlier note

"say $70 for mobo, video, lan, + $54 amd 1600+, $20 power supply, $35 pc2100 128 meg = $180 total for 5 WU a day easy. "

OR, the dual route, is
say $120 for mobo, video, lan, + $108 (two) amd 1600+, $20 power supply, $35 pc2100 128 meg = $280 total. <need a bigger PS??)

BUT, each proc in a dual does not crunch as fast as in a single. Quick informal survey the loss was like 10 - 20%. Now, this didn't take into account differences in WU dfficulties and such, but for those that responed, this was what the losss do to dual looked like. So at the same mhz, the dual is slower. (at least for dedicated crunching)

AND, the tyan board won't OC as fast, so you won't get the same Mhz.


SO,
$180 for a single, that will OC some, 5 WU per day, = $36 per WU per day.

OR

$280 for the dual, say, 8 WU per day, = $35 WU per day.

For ONLY crunching, I did not see much cost savings by going dual. Duals of course are more fun .... :-)

NOW, if you're thinking of having a farm in the future, a dual might be nice to set up as the server ....... but I don't think it is the cheapest crunching option.

[TC]

I'll throw in some dual figures. I got a refurb Asus A7M266D for $90. Two 1600's overclocked to 2000+ with a stick of crucial PC2100. I'm using an sparkle 300 watt psu. Total cost was about $260. It produces about 12-13 units per day according to SetiQ.

[Mictlan]

And about duals crunching slower than a single one, that depends wholly on the mobo you are running. If happen to get on where you can tax the memeory a little bit you'll manage to get some good figures out of it.

My Iwill DVD266u-RN crunched, as a single processor, WUs in 3.75-3.9 h/WU, right now it is crunching WU in 4.15-4.25 h/WU. I only need to change the memeory to overclock this baby a little bit, as after one year crunching one stick suddently died and the other is having some fits.....have to lower stress on them. Changing the memory settings from Perfonce 0T to Peformance 2T (whaterever that means).....I'm looking for the correct files to use WCPEdit in a VIA Apollo 266T chipset.