how low could a CPU goes w/out slowing down the GPU??

[LandShark]

I've tried to look around (included the F@H forum), but can't seem to find a good answer.

I really want to see how slow a CPU could goes w/out slowing down the GPU client?? by slow, I mean a CeleronD 2.5-2.6ghz. do you guys think it will impact the GPU client's performance or no??

planning to build a cheap barebone machine (<$100) for dedicated GPU folding.... :cool:

[leelegend]

i dont know how low, but it might be worth seeing who has what feeding a GPU....

i have a X2 4400

[ssjwizard]

id be interested as well. im considering picking up a 1950 pro agp to stick into my wifes AXP 2100+ system and thats for sure slower than your celly D

[pscout]

My guess is that it will be enuf to run a gpu. Haven't seen any reports of someone trying one yet either though.

Are you planning pci-E or agp?

Or one of those amd lowend bundles others have posted from fry's might be a good base for a gpu. I can't get stuff like that here in canada, but a $100 bundle with an amd proc might be a better deal with its presumably lower power/heat, and if oc'ing isn't needed you can just run it stock.
(in case you are like me and don't know how to oc an amd :o )

[leelegend]

are there any cards in the X1000 range that can folder, with a AGP bus?

lee

[pscout]

are there any cards in the X1000 range that can folder, with a AGP bus?

lee

supposedly some 1950 pro's for agp are going to show up soon?.

The hope is that on an agp x8 mobo they will fold as well as on pci-e x8 which is almost equivalent to the perf #'s so far on pci-e x16.

/edit Hmmm ... maybe my retired 478's mobo's will come back to life ... I have only disposed of a few of the really old ones, but the ones i have left all seem to support agp 8X ... maybe i will retire the prescott 478's agp rigs instead of the 478's since the cpu folding factor will be minimal compared to the gpu. And these nice 2.4C's oc'ed at 3 ghz + might well drive a gpu and 1 cpu instance?

I am trying to limit my farm size to what fits on my rack and can be accessed on my kvm's (16 rigs). 478's are a lot less power hungry and heat producing than the prescotts.

And based on my multi gpu testing to date, running 2 pci-e gpus doen't work well on any of the mobo's i have that are capable - p5wd2, p5wd2-e premium and p5b-d. The only combo i have seen that worked in dual gpu mode at nearly single gpu speed was a guy at F@h forum with a p5w dh and 2 crossfire xtx's ( not running in x-fire mode) who could also run 1 cpu instance on his 6600.

So unless the bios/drivers/windows/gpu client software that is the root of the problem gets fixed, multi gpu folding may not bring the density i am looking for.


... now i too am anxious to see the arrival of agp 1950 pro's :D

[LandShark]

My guess is that it will be enuf to run a gpu. Haven't seen any reports of someone trying one yet either though.

Are you planning pci-E or agp?

Or one of those amd lowend bundles others have posted from fry's might be a good base for a gpu. I can't get stuff like that here in canada, but a $100 bundle with an amd proc might be a better deal with its presumably lower power/heat, and if oc'ing isn't needed you can just run it stock.
(in case you are like me and don't know how to oc an amd :o )
it's gonna be pci-e. just got a mATX 915chipset mobo for $39, and thinking to get one of those slow/cheap celeronD (2.5-2.66 range) so I'll have a decent platform for GPU folding while limiting the power usage/heat from the CPU. this way, it will be cheaper for me than adding another layer of Conroe folder.

I don't have any Fry's over here in the northeast.... but will keep an eye on those cheap bundle. however, low power consumption CPU is a must tho.

[7im]

Yes, I have seen people post that a slower processor will slow down the GPU very slightly. But it was the difference between an overclocked C2D, and a slower P4, and the slow down was measured in seconds, not minutes. You still get way more points from freeing up the C2D than from losing a slower processor.

[Sleepy_Steve]

How about a 65nm celeron?? Still pretty cheap, and would definitely fit the low power consumption criteria (assuming the board will take it of course) this one (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819112211) is only $65 over at the egg.

[Mr.Guvernment]

even though the GPU client will show %100 on th cpu it isnt actually using %100, a celeron 2gh would work fine with any high end gpu, since your not gaming anyways and the client is optimized for your gpu, not cpu.

[LandShark]

How about a 65nm celeron?? Still pretty cheap, and would definitely fit the low power consumption criteria (assuming the board will take it of course) this one (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819112211) is only $65 over at the egg.
that's what I'm thinking along w/ a slower/cheaper Prescott CeleronD (2.53-2.66ghz)... which one do you guys think will produce less heat and use less energy?? :rolleyes:

[Sleepy_Steve]

With the power considerations, and a cheap mobo -- are you thinking of overclocking this at all??

[LandShark]

With the power considerations, and a cheap mobo -- are you thinking of overclocking this at all??
nope. it will just be a pure GPU folding rig. the CPU will be just for housing and polling for the GPU. plus a loaded x1900xtx @ 3D+clock is hot enough already for my cabinet, and use quite a bit of power too! cost and effect is my main concern. :cool:

here's what I have in mind......

used mATX 915 chipset motherboard $30
CeleronD 352 (cedar mill) @ 3.2ghz $66
reuse my dusted single stick 256mb ddr2700 $0
reuse a old PSU, but bought a 6pins adapter $3
-----------------------------------------------
total cost of this GPU barebone just $99

add a used x1900xt 512mb $250
-----------------------------------------------
total cost of this 800ppd folder $349!

that's not bad at all consider a decent Conroe folder will cost about the same from just the CPU & motherboard (e.g. e6400 + DS3) but for it to really shine, I'll need to spend at least another $120 for a gig of ddr800 memory 'cos I don't have any laying around....

I'll see how this little meanie folds and let you guys know. :cool: