Quad core for $266 in July (hopefully). Lets see some CHEAP crunching builds?

[TallBill]

Yes, plugging a switch into the wireless router would work fine.

 

[NicColt]

Originally posted by: imaheadcase
Remove the floppy drive..lol Heck even walmart does not sell floppy drives anymore

On my M2A-VM I could not use the built-in EZ-Flash Bios update when updating from 0601.

Since my entire disk partition is using linux my alternative was to format my USB drive which is (for now still) a pita.

the simplest method was to boot from floppy with a bootdisk.com and easily update the bios.

I know it's crazy but make me an easy bootable usb dos disk and i'm all over it.

If I have a bootable dos CD will it be able to see the USB drive ?

 

[Smoke]

Originally posted by: NicColt

Is there anything in here you would change add or modify ?

3 x Antec TX1050B Super Mid Tower Case w/500w SmartPower2.0 PSU, Black $116.00 = $348.00

3 x OCZ Gold 1GB PC2-6400 DDR2 Memory Module *XTC GX REV2* $64.00 = $192.00

3 x Asus P5K-VM iG33 S775 mATX Mainboard w/Video/Audio/GB/FW $128.00 = $384.00

3 x Mitsumi 3.5" Floppy Drive, Black $11.00 = $33.00

3 x WD 160Gb 7200RPM 8Mb SATAII HArd Drive, 3Yr $59.00 = $177.00

3 x LG 16X DVD-ROM Drive BLACK, OEM $27.00 = $81.00

3 x Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz 8MB/1066FSB S775 CPU, Retail $289.95 = $869.85

1 x Linksys 8-Port 10/100/1000 Workgroup Switch, Retail $92.00 = $92.00

1 x APC BackUPS ES 750VA w/Tel&Coax $94.00 = $94.00

3 x Asus Silent Square Cooler (Intel S775) $45.00 = $135.00

If I go with this I would have
2 x 5200+ systems
1 x E6850 as my main system
3 x Q6600 crunchers

Right now I have the 2 x 5200+ and my main system plugged into the 3 ports in the back of the WRT54G and I have one connection just for testing in case and I have one wireless laptop.

If I plug the 3 x Q6600 and the 2 x 5200+ into the switch, can I just plug the switch into one of the ports of the wireless WRT54G router ? will the router then see all my systems ? I'm just not sure on that one.

It seems to me you need a little more memory and I doubt if that APC 750VA is going to keep three Q6600 systems from crashing when you experience a short-term or even momentary power outage.

Of course, you can always add more memory and you can also always buy additional UPSs.

/me jealous/

BTW, I have the same Antec case and power supply. The power supply just gave up the ghost after 14 months but it is still in warranty ... just a PITA to ship back. First Antec PS I've had that went out so quickly.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Last I checked, Directron.com had black sony floppies for $6 or so, might want to check that out.
Also, I don't think that the 750VA UPS is going to cut it for three Q6600 systems. Get a 1000VA or bigger. (I have a APC BX1500 unit myself.)

 

[JWMiddleton]

Originally posted by: NicColt
If I plug the 3 x Q6600 and the 2 x 5200+ into the switch, can I just plug the switch into one of the ports of the wireless WRT54G router ? will the router then see all my systems ? I'm just not sure on that one.

Hey Nic, Yes you can daisy chain the switch off of the router's switch ports. I have an 8-port and a 4 port switch off of mine and also have some wireless connections. You would either use the crossover port on ONE of them, or use a crossover cable. In the back of the Linksys manual it has the pinout info to make your own crossover cable.

I would drop the 3 x LG 16X DVD-ROM drives. I use one to load the OS, then remove it. So one drive could be shared when needed. But, then again I don't always put the systems in a case so it is easy to connect a drive when needed.

 

[NicColt]

It seems to me you need a little more memory and I doubt if that APC 750VA is going to keep three Q6600 systems from crashing when you experience a short-term or even momentary power outage.

for the 1Gig of memory keep in mind that it's only to start Ubuntu and SoB clients that's it.

Ok thanks for the info on the UPS I'll go bigger. I just want to avoid spikes that last a second, I seem to get those about once or twice a month and all my systems reboot.

I also added an Aten CS9138 MasterView 9 Port KVM Switch

As soon as I get my main E6850 system I'm hitting the buy button on this.

(just called the store and they still don't have all the parts, missing 5200+ the E6850 and the PSU)

Once everything is installed I'll picture it up

and I will have zero noise and zero heat issues

Edit:

The power supply just gave up the ghost after 14 months but it is still in warranty

Man I have the Antec True Blue 480W crunching non stop since November 0f 2003 and it has never failed me.

 

[Markfw]

NicColt, what folding name do you go under ? You crunch for Anandtech ? I have 2 Q6600's for tema anantech, and I am number one contributoer, number 3 overall right now. So you are going to blow me off the number one spot ?

 

[Assimilator1]

Originally posted by: NicColt

Originally posted by: imaheadcase
Remove the floppy drive..lol Heck even walmart does not sell floppy drives anymore

On my M2A-VM I could not use the built-in EZ-Flash Bios update when updating from 0601.

Since my entire disk partition is using linux my alternative was to format my USB drive which is (for now still) a pita.

I know it's crazy but make me an easy bootable usb dos disk and i'm all over it.

I've formatted my old 256MB USB flash drive for using to flash bioses &using other DOS programs ,I don't recall it being any trouble.
I did it using these instructions

 

[NicColt]

Originally posted by: Markfw900
NicColt, what folding name do you go under ? You crunch for Anandtech ? I have 2 Q6600's for tema anantech, and I am number one contributoer, number 3 overall right now. So you are going to blow me off the number one spot ?

I just cruch SoB right now.

 

[NicColt]

Ordered: Saturday, July 14th, 2007 7:41pm
Authorized: Wednesday, August 1st, 2007 12:26pm
Completed: Wednesday, August 1st, 2007 12:26pm

 

[TallBill]

You just bought parts for 3 Q6600 systems for SoB? Guess I had better hurry home so I can build mine.

 

[Allio]

Originally posted by: NicColt
Ordered: Saturday, July 14th, 2007 7:41pm
Authorized: Wednesday, August 1st, 2007 12:26pm
Completed: Wednesday, August 1st, 2007 12:26pm

I am DOOMED

 

[NicColt]

Originally posted by: TallBill
You just bought parts for 3 Q6600 systems for SoB? Guess I had better hurry home so I can build mine.

>As soon as I get my main E6850 system I'm hitting the buy button on this.

no this is my main system order.

Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 3.00GHz 4MB/1333FSB Processor
AMD Athlon64 X2 5200+ AM2 Dual-Core 65W Processor
Antec SmartPower2.0 500 watt ATX Power Supply
Antec TruePower Quattro 850Watt Power Supply
Antec TX1050B Case
APC BackUPS 1500VA
Asus DRW-1814BLT 18x DVDRW SATA Lightscribe Drive, Black
Asus M2A-VM AM2 690G mATX Mainboard (Video/Lan/Audio)
Asus P5K PREMIUM/WIFI-AP iP35 S775 ATX Mainboard w/Audio/2xGB/802.11g/eSATA/FW
Asus Silent Square Cooler (Intel S775)
Thermaltake TMG A3 CPU Cooler (AM2/939/754)
Mitsumi 3.5" Floppy Drive, Black
OCZ Gold 1GB DC PC2-6400 DDR2 Memory Kit *XTC*
OCZ Reaper 2Gb DC PC2-8500 DDR2 Memory Kit (CrossFire Edition)
2 x Seagate 7200.10 500GB 7200RPM 16MB SATAII Hard Drive, 5Yr
2 x Saphire HD2600XT Video cards

Once I finish building my main system and my 2nd 5200+ cruncher (hopefully over the long weekend) then I'll start buying and building my Q6600 systems.

UPS delivered 2 of the 3 boxes the last box should be here Friday.

The long and elusive 1T barrier will be mine

BTW VirtualLarry I did go with the 1500 and that is one awsome UPS

 

[PCTC2]

NicColt. Where do you get the money?

I can't wait to get the money to build my crunchers.... *jealous*

 

[VirtualLarry]

I'm still waiting to get a guaranteed G0-stepping Xeon 3210, then I'll pull the trigger. Might as well put a quad-core CPU into the storage server, right?

 

[Assimilator1]

NicColt
So was my link any use to ya then?

 

[NicColt]

Originally posted by: Assimilator1
NicColt
So was my link any use to ya then?

Yea it was, I will end up using it and making a bootable flashdisk. I won't even install my floppy now.

Last time I bought computer stuff 2003

New computer stuff 2007

NicColt. Where do you get the money?

It will be four years in November since my last major upgrade....

 

[Assimilator1]

Glad to hear it

I also went 4yrs between major upgrades (graphics card excluded) ,I got my Asus A7N8X in 3/04 & replaced it with my MSI C2D system in June.Though I did upgrade the CPU on the skt A rig in 11/05 (XP2400 @2.2GHz to XPM 2500 @2.5GHz).

Btw your links don't show your rigs.

 

[NicColt]

Originally posted by: Assimilator1
Btw your links don't show your rigs.

I think it's fixed now...

Well the system is up and running I updated the bios and overclocked it from 9 x 333 to 9 x 400 for 3.6 Ghz instantly and temps where still in the low range at 1.29 vcore.

system now has 1.32 Terabytes of disk space with CrossFire 2600XT's and everything seems to be running ok first time boot.

The Asus silent spare heat sink is not for the faint of heart to install. That thing is HUGE.

 

[caferace]

ref: the APC 1500 Smart-UPS

I have a APC 1000 Smart-UPS I bought in 1996. I didn't have to replace the battery until last year, and it's run flawlessly regulating some serious crunchboxes and regular comps 24/7 over the years. The only thing I don't like about it is that you can't disable the warning beeps. That sucks, when you're using it to power your TV and DVD player when the power is out and you want to watch the end of the movie.

-jim

 

[NicColt]

ok here are some numbers for SoB

on my XP3200+ (now retired) I was getting about 2.1M single core

on my XP2400+ (now retired) I was getting about 1.4M single core

on my P4 3.4Ghz Laptop I'm getting about 3.4M single core, limited use.

on my XP5200+ I'm getting 2.8M per core dual core = 5.6M

on my E6850 o/c to 400 x 9 = 3.6Ghz I'm getting 6.4M per core dual core = 12.8M
it takes about 37 seconds per block.

that 6.4M per core is if nothing else is interfering with it. For 3 consecutive block it could not log into server and it dropped to 6.1M

If your thinking of getting an intel dual core cpu definately go with a G0 stepping. Overclocked I'm running at 1.29 vcore and 45c cpu with full load with orthos stable, that is amazing.

TallBill you should link this if you want.
http://www.free-dc.org/forum/showthread.php?t=12260

it's IronBits guide to install multiple clients. Below is what I did and it's simple as pie.

Open a CMD session, goto \program files\sob

:: (installs the service handler)
sobsvc -i

:: (agressive: 2 clients)
sobsvc -p:2:0

:: (TOGGLE - keeps the icons in the tray, so that you can check them)
sobsvc -k

:: (Displays the current parameters)
sobsvc -d

:: starts the Service
net start "Seventeen or Bust Service"

:: stops the Service
net stop "Seventeen or Bust Service"

Edit: BTW did anyone see that for the past few hours Anandtech is running at 300M ???
Just checked and Smapty is running at 250M wow

 

[TallBill]

NicColt, I'd recommend setting up SBqueue. You wont lose time trying to connect to a server.

 

[Assimilator1]

Nice overclock!
How long did you test with Orthos?

Btw 2x2600s? ,is that cheaper than a 2900 or 8800GTS?

 

[NicColt]

Originally posted by: Assimilator1
Nice overclock!
How long did you test with Orthos?

Btw 2x2600s? ,is that cheaper than a 2900 or 8800GTS?

I tested orthos for about 40 minutes or so.... everything I read on xtreme systems indicate that this is the sweet spot. I have OCZ reapers PC2-8500 at 400 Mhz 1:1 but when I load cpuz SPD says that it's 533 Mhz so I'll try to up that to where it's suppose to be. From what I had before this is heaven, Isn't PC2-6400 suppose to be 400Mhz ?

As for the 2600s it's a difficult answer but I'll put it this way... first it's a personal choice not to go with nvidia.

At the time of purchase 2 x 2600's were about $40 cheaper than an 8800GTS but $40 more than a single 8600GTS. 2600 CF will beat 1 x 8600GTS and the X1950 Pro and the 8800GTS 320 in HDR and 3DMark05 but most games will run faster on the 8800GTS I acknowledge that and that not all games support CF modes.

I just could not go with nvidia and I don't want the HD2900XT on 80mm process without UVD. So I got a temporary solution until the real R670 or R680 on 55mm comes out.

 

[Assimilator1]

Fair enough about the graphics cards:thumbsup:

Ref Orthos ,40 mins?? ,that's nowhere near enough!:Q ,whoever told you that was the sweet spot was leading you up the garden path!.You cannot be sure that your system is stable with such a short test.
If you read the 'read me.txt' that comes with Prime95 (of which Orthos is based on) it says that it needs to be run for 24hrs to be as certain as you can be it's stable.
I have on 3 seperate occasions had Orthos & P95 fail at around 17-18hrs on me, this shows that it does need to be run for 24hrs.

About RAM speeds ,I wish the industry would stick to one convention for this as it causes so much confusion
Here's a little chart I've saved for myself when I need to remember RAM speeds

PC 4200 = DDR2 533 = 266 MHz ,real clock
PC 5400 = DDR2 667 = 333 MHz
PC 6400 = DDR2 800 = 400 MHz
PC 7200 = DDR2 900 = 450 MHz
PC 8000 = DDR2 1000 = 500 MHz
PC 8500 = DDR2 1066 = 533 MHz

CPU-Z on my rig shows 400MHz which is dead on my OCZs DDR2 800 default speed ,your RAM is running under its proper speed ,assuming CPU-Z is reading it right (probably is).
Awesome RAM you have btw!