High-End personal Workstation Guidance

[someone19]

Just an update, on the whole Sandy vs. X58 decision and my recommendations ...
... for those who might dig up this thread, on a web search ...

First, read the conclusion, of this "most recent" (THG) Test/Review/Analysis ...

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/p67-gaming-3-way-sli-three-card-crossfire,2910-17.html

So ... If you MUST buy, now ... It looks like the Unlocked Sandy plus an NF200 Chipset will trounce an X58 with the same core count ... Cost differences, aside.

Nonetheless, as for me, personally, I would still MUCH prefer to wait for the X79/2011 solution, with *FULL* PCIe 3.0 bandwidth, rather than to purchase a (somewhat) kludgy workaround, for the hobbled P67/NF200/1155 socket/bus architechture ... But that's just me.

The full sized socket, 2011, for the Sandies, along with the "free-breathing" and fully flexible X79 Express PCIe 3.x platform is what the original design "intends", and what *I* prefer to insist, upon ....

... For those of you who are after sheer speed/performance, on renders and are not going to load your system with extra GPUs plus screaming slot drives ... The NF200 with an Unlocked Sandy should be just fine (if the price is right) ...

... Here is my current/recommendation, (as noted in this article's conclusion), for those who are going with the Sandy, and cannot wait for 2011/X79 ...

**** NOTE: !! This platform ONLY supports 16GB DDR3 2ch *MAX* !!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131648R&cm_re=nf200_asus_ws-_-13-131-648R-_-Product

This is a NEW/CHANGE, in my recommendations and I am open to debate, on this choice, as a "best mobo", ... Please feel free to chime in with any thots or other "propsed" superior recommendations (cost/performance).

(But, the conclusions, in this posted article/review "satisfy" my concerns, to a large degree, regarding the Hobbled P67 bandwidth "problem" ... The NF200 chipset is the solution).

This thread is just for graphics/pro and advanced student ws builds. (not gaming).


PS ... P67 is LAME and inappropriate, for graphics "ws" ... Just say "NO!!".


.

Alvin - I've been watching this thread since late January, and I've used some of your guidance in my build I just purchased parts for today.

However you made an error in your recommended motherboard - it should be this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131714

The board you posted is an 1156 socket, whereas Sandy is 1155 Small number change, but a huge bump in comparability. 1155 and 1156 can not be interchanged or used with the other's processors.

A simple oversight, but one that could be problematic for somebody watching this thread.

Hope your personal things are working themselves out, I was thinking of ya when you posted the reason for your absence.

 

[Taylor422]

Hot damn, I knew he wouldn't be gone forever. It's good to have you back in saddle. I'm sorry to hear about your buddy. It's tough to deal with.

 

[Alvin Smith]

Alvin - I've been watching this thread since late January, and I've used some of your guidance in my build I just purchased parts for today.

However you made an error in your recommended motherboard - it should be this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131714

The board you posted is an 1156 socket, whereas Sandy is 1155 Small number change, but a huge bump in comparability. 1155 and 1156 can not be interchanged or used with the other's processors.

A simple oversight, but one that could be problematic for somebody watching this thread.

Hope your personal things are working themselves out, I was thinking of ya when you posted the reason for your absence.

DOH !!! ... uhOOOOPS !! [:tapko:4]

THANKS SO MUCH, Someone19, for catching that one ... WHEW !!
... Better sooner, than later ! ... SO glad that you are awake and aware (not to mention "gently diplomatic").

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZY5H6vLqVU

I have made all appropriate corrections and edits, to the (my last) post, which you just quoted ... SO SORRY, FOLKS, for that very GROSS ERROR !!


To be clear ... The correct 1155 (sandy) socket solution (mobo) is $100 more, ... It supports a full 32GB of RAM and does have dual gigabit ports, built in (very handy, for voluminous media environments) !

Man, Folks ! ... Drop a Vertex3 and 16GB Dram ? ... Cookin' with gas !

All of these current Sandies are P6x, BTW ... But you want the NF200, fer sher.

Again, sorry, Folks ! ... I was rushing out the door and I got "all in a hurry" ... I just saw "ws" and "NF200" and chose the one that costed least but I failed to verify the pin count ... just a sloppy cut-n-paste ... not my usual style ... tho senility does seem to be creeping up, on me, just a weee little bit.

SO ... JUST TO RE-ITERATE (to re-post the correct info/recommendation) ...

************************************

... Here is my current/recommendation, (as noted in this article's conclusion), for those who are going with the Sandy, and cannot wait for 2011/X79 ...


ASUS P8P67 WS REVOLUTION LGA 1155 Intel P67 / NVIDIA NF200 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
B3/Digi+VRM, UEFI BIOS, NF200, Dual Intel LAN, CUDA

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131714

DOES >> Support 32GB RAM and has dual gigabit ports (yay) ...

... Not cheap ... but it is "plenty good 'nuff".

That Someone really IS "Someone" !!!

... Now ... Will someone please lend me a searchlight, so as I can find my own butt ??

Yerz, truly,

=Alvin=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvnMI7uddmQ

 

[Alvin Smith]

PS ... Some folks will do ANYTHING, to get to page 12 and (now) over 10,000 views !

Puff, ROCKS !

 

[someone19]

"THANKS SO MUCH, Someone19, for catching that one ... WHEW !!
... Better sooner, than later ! ... SO glad that you are awake and aware (not to mention "gently diplomatic" ). "

No problem at all. Lots of old memories of building computers came back to me reading your posts. We share very much the same philosophy in technology assembly.

Here's to 12 pages of useful information!

 

[Alvin Smith]

Hot damn, I knew he wouldn't be gone forever. It's good to have you back in saddle. I'm sorry to hear about your buddy. It's tough to deal with.

Yes ... David was an amazing man ... I was just very agitated that he could not be unplugged, sooner ... the massive head trauma would have doomed him to a miserable existence (which he would not have deserved), had he lived.

All is well, now ... (I have "seen" him, since ... gave me the "thumbs up").

=yup=

 

[Taylor422]

Yes ... David was an amazing man ... I was just very agitated that he could not be unplugged, sooner ... the massive head trauma would have doomed him to a miserable existence (which he would not have deserved), had he lived.

All is well, now ... (I have "seen" him, since ... gave me the "thumbs up").

=yup=

I'm happy for you that you're able to be at peace, or at least a little bit.

 

[Alvin Smith]

Thanks ... And, as I said ... I could have "returned", sooner, had there been any significant developments, in the interim ...

Now, with the Vertex3s, the NF200 Benches (and features) ... And, with a "firm" leak, that the X79/2011 will be released, in Q4, ... There is good reason to return (to this thread) and to modify my conditions and recommendations. (I am guessing that the majority of views, on this (Puff's) thread, have been generated by Google Searches and I feel *some* responsibility to keep "our collective conclusions" (and debate) as current and as accurate as possible.

So ... What about X58? ... Is it STILL worth it? ...

Well, it still kicks the snot out of AMD's best (overall) and, as pricing comes down, it may become even yet more attractive (to me, at least), ...

... But pricing vs. benches vs. "connectivity/bandwidth" (number and speed of ports and lanes) will make choosing a ws somewhat confusing, between now and Q4 (for me).

I am glad I do not have to make this choice, right now ... but it's all good and, the X58 is as good today as it was, yesterday ...

The OTHER confusing issue is the questions of "how much", "when", and "under which conditions" the sandy bridge architecture/features of the on-die graphics and transcode will contribute to a discreet nVidia GPU ...

It does not help that media renderring/transcode benches are either "scant" or "absent" from most/all benches and analysis, here, on TGG (Tom's Gameboy Guide) ... Sorry, THG, but you know, very well, you deserved that. ... I do understand that gamers drive the bulk of kit-sales but, even that is (partly) your fault.

So ... If we, the builders of graphics ws, should find some excellent deals/discounts/combos, that make the X58 cost MUCH closer to an AMD hex ?? ... Heck, AMD would be feeling more pressure.

It is really as much up to mobo makers, as it is up to INTEL ... X58 boards could prolly be priced cheaper, now that the original sales have "paid for" the (old) initial production setup (equipment, etc.) costs.

The Vertex3s are still prohibitively pricey ... I would love to see ~$1.50/GB, by Q4 (or even less?).
Currently, the 240GB V3 is selling for ~$550 (@eggtown) = ~$2.30/GB (USD) ...
... Personally, I would need to see that same drive selling for at-or-under $375 = ~$1.56/GB, before *I* would consider buying one, for my own "general media" project studio and it would have to be priced at between $300 and $350 (i,e, average=$325= $1.35/GB before I would "require inclusion" for a generic "Alvin Smith world+pup" gws certification. ... i.e., Before I would start "demanding" that my clients (graphics pros and grads) include them.

I do/will, still, "stick to my guns", tho, when it comes to boot SSDs ... Even a slow/small 64GB SSD Boot drive is MUCH preferred, to a spinner, in my book, at whatever price, because the integrity of "commercial data" (or even graduate thesis/projects) absolutely demands *that* degree of integrity/dependability/fault-tolerance). The only folks I would let off the hook are those who could not afford to build, at all, unless a boot spinner (compromise) was the ONLY way to "meet budget".

Sounds (again) like Halloween (Late October) would be the best time to do a "robust" 2011/X79/Vertex3 build ... This year. (Just as it would have been the best time to have built an X58/Vertex2 build, last Halloween).

It would be fun (but not really helpful) to see a bench comparison of last year's "X58 halloween build", compared to THIS years X79 build (benches-vs.-cost).

AND/BTW ... For those who "missed it" ... the old 45nm Vertex2 drives, were great, but they have been replaced (without public notification) by a newer 2xnm "Vertex2" series, which truly SUCKS !!! (Bait & Switch).

I would go as far as to recommend (almost) "anything else" (i.e. "anything other than" the current V2s).

 

[Alvin Smith]

I try to avoid double-posts but, I want to get this recent info posted, for the sake of forward vision, and as a "heads up".

It now appears that the Socket 2011/X79 platform, to be released this Q4, will NOT include PCIe 3.0 ... WTF?!

This is very sad news, for those who would need this bandwidth for (Blackmagic type) HD3D/2K+/SDI dense format codec protocols ... Just FYI ... Looks like Intel will not implement PCIe 3.0, until NEXT EFFIN YEAR !! ... OWCHIE !!!

Intel's Ivy Bridge Chips to Get DirectX 11, PCIe 3.0
http://www.pcworld.com/article/225120/intels_ivy_bridge_chips_to_get_directx_11_pcie_30.html

=DOH!=

 

[Taylor422]

I try to avoid double-posts but, I want to get this recent info posted, for the sake of forward vision, and as a "heads up".

It now appears that the Socket 2011/X79 platform, to be released this Q4, will NOT include PCIe 3.0 ... WTF?!

This is very sad news, for those who would need this bandwidth for (Blackmagic type) HD3D/2K+/SDI dense format codec protocols ... Just FYI ... Looks like Intel will not implement PCIe 3.0, until NEXT EFFIN YEAR !! ... OWCHIE !!!

Intel's Ivy Bridge Chips to Get DirectX 11, PCIe 3.0
http://www.pcworld.com/article/225120/intels_ivy_bridge_chips_to_get_directx_11_pcie_30.html

=DOH!=

Oh, for fucks sake. Looks like we're waiting longer than we thought. Oh well.

 

[Alvin Smith]

Oh, for fucks sake. Looks like we're waiting longer than we thought. Oh well.

Well ... The X79+SB certainly does provide significant (practical/useful) enhancements, not the least of which is MANY *NATIVE* SATA-III ports !!!

At the very least, this should further mitigate the compulsion/need to put a slot-SSD-drive, on the cardbus ... AND ... *MORE* (14?!) SATA-III ports will be available for arrays and "special purpose" SSDs (scratch/write, piped-apps/suites, etc.).

Putting high-speed sorage, where it belongs, will free up (at least) several lanes, for SDI/3D capture cards and other hi-banwidth connectivity solutions.

But, as CUDA/GPU power is further exploited, by newer sw, PCIe 3.0 will be a very welcome (~60%) increase, in cardbus bandwidth ...
... Higher rez video codecs, as well as 3D, are "asking for" PCIe 3.0, even now.

For guys (prosumers), like me ... With our cameras and codecs topping out at AVCHD 24mbits/sec, at ~4 layers, we can "hobble" along, with an Athlon-IIx4core(OC), and (even) an 890 chipset, without too much pain ...
... CS5+, tho, with Premiere/MPE/AE/3D require MUCH more and could make good use, of the extra lanes, for Blackmagic Design SDI capture products, right now. ... I would not mind going to an 8-slot mobo, with a few extra dummy "slot-plates", even right now, to accomodate FW800 and extra USB ports ... But the trend seems to be for fewer card-slots, but more integrated ports.

Getting much harder to complain, lately (as a video editor) ... "We" have come SO FAR, since a single 4xAGP platform, and PCIe (simple), was causing the entire PCI bus to be saturated by RAID+Firewire contention.

Even now, with a robust AMD build, we can (easily) use external RAID+FW+4xdisplays, without breaking a sweat ... not bad, for starters.

I have stated, here, and elsewhere, many times, that this is not JUST a another product cycle ... We are (now/this time) experiencing a MAJOR platform shift which, IMO, WILL NOT be complete, until PCIe3.0 is fully available, to the common consumer. ... AND, I will make this/my AM3/890 platform last, at least, until PCIe3.0 can be had for "today's prices". ... To me? ... "THAT" (stipulation), is just, plain, common sense, given the expensive, initial outlay, and the pace of obsolescence ... eh? (Amen?).

Give me PCIe3.0 and a big/fast SSD, @under $1.50/GB, and you will definately have my full attention/endorsement, for gws certs.
(I will re-open my own purse, for "all that").

I am sick of the bus bandwidth TRAILING requirements! ... I want PCIe3 slots, 18 months BEFORE the need becomes "critical" ... Huh?, INTEL ?

 

[someone19]

Alvin, do these TGG (loved that, and I fully agree) articles help any witht the whole quicksync debate with sandys? Apparently in the followup article, they say that you can do quicksync without needing to have a monitor plugged into the onboard video.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/z68-express-lucidlogix-virtu-ssd-caching,2888.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/lucidlogix-virtu-gpu-virtualization,2877.html

Also according to 'egg, sandybridge xeon's and companion boards have been released for sale. I haven't seen any reviews or benchmarks, but I know that the xeons tend to be the highdollar path towards graphics workstation work.

Processors:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100008494%20600048485%20600126647&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&Order=PRICE&PageSize=100

Strike that - the boards listed don't seem to have very much available in terms of graphics card slots. This one from Asus
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131725
seems like it might be something to consider, but now we're back into x58 territory I think.

Sounded good to look into, but perhaps not.

 

[Alvin Smith]

I'll look into your suggestions/sources, in short order, but I do not intend or profess to be some "industrial oracle" ...
... I "feel" that *my* unique contribution is to limit myself to what the common man can afford, that he/she may accomplish some very UNcommon "feats of content-creation", on an independent budget ...
... If you want a true Hollywood render rig, you have the budget to hire an IT wrangler, for your project ... have fun!

Even "Slum-Dog Millionaire" was fairly expensive to make (2K workflow).

Slumdog Millionare - Official Jai Ho Music Video (HD)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRC4QrUwo9o

And , note that (even) this 2K production was reduced to 480P-wide, for webcast!

If there is not much chance of *ME* ever being able to justify the cost, for my own projects/budgets, then I am not likely to spend my own time (resources) doing someone else's job (for free!) ...

... But I gladly offer my own research/findings/conclusions (for FREE), to others who, like me, would simply like to be ready and able to tackle an ambitious project-opportunity, (an amazing script? ... An emerging musical group (this is Austin) ? ... Or a great idea for a local TV advertisment, etc).

I would say that ~$5K is about the max budget ($5,375?) that I, or the clients which I cater to, might entertain and, given the pace of product/platform cycles (time-to-market), I really think that any more monies could not be justified, for average graduate 3D design students and Engineer/Architects, Local Independent Videographers and "Photogs". (as was clearly re-iterated, ad-nauseum, during my early conversation, with puff, on this (his) thread) ... SO ...
... If you would like to return, to pages one-thru-six, of "Puff's mega-thread", we COULD do all that ... but ... Most of that would be redundant, even in light of recent developments, and pricing.

 

[JimZ]

To be clear ... The correct 1155 (sandy) socket solution (mobo) is $100 more, ... It supports a full 32GB of RAM and does have dual gigabit ports, built in (very handy, for voluminous media environments) !

Man, Folks ! ... Drop a Vertex3 and 16GB Dram ? ... Cookin' with gas !
=Alvin=


Alvin, great to have your valued input here again. For better or worse, I'm going the Sandy Bridge 2600K route with your suggested 16GB Ram and SSD drive for os. Can't wait any longer for the next gen. Motherboards are bewildering these days to us who dabble in this mostly when it comes time to build a new unit. One item not on the MB you suggested is at least one rear esata port. I've been using that on my X58 unit for some time and have been happy with transfer speeds and would like to have it on the new configuration without adding a card or using a pass through so that hotswapping is possible. Would you or anyone else have a suggestion for a similar board with one?

At this time I intend to use only one higher end graphics card.

Thanks in advance,

Jim

 

[someone19]

To be clear ... The correct 1155 (sandy) socket solution (mobo) is $100 more, ... It supports a full 32GB of RAM and does have dual gigabit ports, built in (very handy, for voluminous media environments) !

Man, Folks ! ... Drop a Vertex3 and 16GB Dram ? ... Cookin' with gas !
=Alvin=


Alvin, great to have your valued input here again. For better or worse, I'm going the Sandy Bridge 2600K route with your suggested 16GB Ram and SSD drive for os. Can't wait any longer for the next gen. Motherboards are bewildering these days to us who dabble in this mostly when it comes time to build a new unit. One item not on the MB you suggested is at least one rear esata port. I've been using that on my X58 unit for some time and have been happy with transfer speeds and would like to have it on the new configuration without adding a card or using a pass through so that hotswapping is possible. Would you or anyone else have a suggestion for a similar board with one?

At this time I intend to use only one higher end graphics card.

Thanks in advance,

Jim

I just assembled my machine last night with an ASROCK Extreme4 p67 and an i7-2600k. Went well except for a DOA PSU, I guess the Egg will get another RMA... ANYWAY.

The motherboard I got has the Esata port, and its actually shared with one of the marvel ports internally. (meaning that you loose one of the sata3 ports internally when you use the esata). On my board, and I believe this extends to most if not all p67 setups, all 8 of the sata ports support hotswap. 6 from the p67 and 2 from a marvel sata3 controller. I'd go read the manual for the board Alvin recommended, and others with the NF200 chip that enables 16X/16X graphics, which is the primary reason for his recommendation to see what their specific hot swap capabilities are. If your never going to run more than one PCI-e 16X card, you may be able to go with a different board.

 

[Alvin Smith]

I just assembled my machine last night with an ASROCK Extreme4 p67 and an i7-2600k. Went well except for a DOA PSU, I guess the Egg will get another RMA... ANYWAY.

The motherboard I got has the Esata port, and its actually shared with one of the marvel ports internally. (meaning that you loose one of the sata3 ports internally when you use the esata). On my board, and I believe this extends to most if not all p67 setups, all 8 of the sata ports support hotswap. 6 from the p67 and 2 from a marvel sata3 controller. I'd go read the manual for the board Alvin recommended, and others with the NF200 chip that enables 16X/16X graphics, which is the primary reason for his recommendation to see what their specific hot swap capabilities are. If your never going to run more than one PCI-e 16X card, you may be able to go with a different board.

Well, sure, I think you will be way happy, with "all that" ...
eSATA is/was just not as "popular" (with users or drive makers) as had once been hoped/envisiaged ... It is a good interface but never became the main standard, as USB2/3 were more portable and discreet controller cards offered more speed and "true hw" RAID, etc. ... I will be a little surprised if eSATA survives the next iteration, but will be glad, if it does.

MANY/MOST pro gws are moving beyond "just" two display monitors ... and CUDA combined compute is coming on strong ...
... I would not (do not/will not) recommend a mobo (for anything that might be called a graphics or media-project workstation, that would not support dual PCIe2.0 x16 slots (plural)).

It sounds like you know exactly what you do and do NOT want ... If you are willing to live with those limitations, with your eyes "wide-open", then "hey", ... More (well conditionned) power TO you !! ... BUT, I would not recommend "that" solution under the "title/auspices" of this, PUFF's GRAPHICS "pro"WS THREAD". Deviate from the recommended path, at your own "peril" ... or, with full knowledge of what "doing so" entails ... as YOU HAVE.

I am really not liking the "prudent choices" that are currently available, in the SSD arena ... The Vertex3s are great but are WAY pricey ... And most of the good-ol' last gen drives are now dissapearing ... For now? ... OCZ agility and Crucial 300s, when available ... I am hoping that pricing and availability will improve, within 8 weeks (Ahhhrg!). Time will tell.

I'll stick by my guns ... You knew there was no way I would certify your mobo, but you also know exactly why ... cool beans.

 

[JimZ]

While I don't plan to use two "graphics cards" at this time, I would like to have the option to add a raid card to the second slot that might benefit from the second 16 slot. Folks at the Adobe forum totally agree with your assessment. Was hoping there was a board that offered that as well as esata. If not I'll make do and work around. The better move might be to go with the Asus board and make do without the built in esata for now. All the input here is greatly appreciated.

 

[Alvin Smith]

While I don't plan to use two "graphics cards" at this time, I would like to have the option to add a raid card to the second slot that might benefit from the second 16 slot. Folks at the Adobe forum totally agree with your assessment. Was hoping there was a board that offered that as well as esata. If not I'll make do and work around. The better move might be to go with the Asus board and make do without the built in esata for now. All the input here is greatly appreciated.

There are plenty of x1 PCIe controllers that have eSATA !

Like ...

HighPoint Rocket 622 PCI-Express 2.0 x1 Low Profile Ready SATA III (6.0Gb/s) Controller Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816115073

I could list others, but I am only recommending this one (will work real good). It was the only candidate which specifies 2TB capacity/compatibility and is has as much bandwidth (speed) as any (mobo) integrated controller port (uses one lane, in the same way).

BTW ... Don't let the idiot reviews throw you off ... This works for Win7 PCs.

An x1 PCIe slot has as much practical bandwidth as any "mobo integrated" SATA-III or eSATA-III port. More lanes are not gonna provide ANY advantage, to a mechanical drive !! (read: "none/zip/zilsch/nada").

I doubt that even two large 10K RPM Raptors, in RAID ZERO could even come close to saturating a single PCIe 2.0 lane, so do not worry.

There is not a controller or array, on the planet, that can saturate an x16 slot, ...not even the largest/fastest industrial SLOT SSDs ...

DROOL!
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227517&cm_re=ocz_ssd-_-20-227-517-_-Product

Any/ALL SATA/eSATA ports/devices are hot-plug, by design spec, and you will not saturate the bandwidth.

You CAN "have it all" !

=Alvin=

 

[Alvin Smith]

PS and BTW ...

Due to the internally RAIDed architecture, of ALL the new SSDs, and the almost ZERO power consumption, of SSDs ...

... DESKTOP RAID-0 WILL BE OFFICIALLY "DEAD" (not a practical upgrade) within ONE year's time ...

... Quote me and mark my words ... The PRICE of SSDs is the only barrier, now, and one year will bring SSDs below ~$1.50/GB ... Spinners will be for ext backup or internal archives, only.

Only professional video codecs are keeping desktop RAID-0 alive, and only for about another year. RAID-1 (mirror) still does/will make sense, for a 2TB media archive/server ... and will prolly make sense, until, say, the year 2014, MAYYY-BE.

 

[JimZ]

An x1 PCIe slot has as much practical bandwidth as any "mobo integrated" SATA-III or eSATA-III port. More lanes are not gonna provide ANY advantage, to a mechanical drive !! (read: "none/zip/zilsch/nada").
=Alvin=

Well this is enlightening for sure! I had assumed (WRONGLY) that integrated would be better than "adapted". I've been using a similar card for a while with no issues but will bookmark that particular one for next time. I don't think I'll bother saving the info on the second though....

Thanks so much for the knowledgeable info and your time!

 

[Alvin Smith]

Thanks so much for the knowledgeable info and your time!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT1yGXK3etA

😗

 

[r352alit]

High End Server....? Use Xeon or Opteron, Thats why they created for. Why use the core i7 anyway?

Budget for $ 3,8 K you'll get :

Proc: Xeon X3430 2400 Ghz 8 MB Sock 1156
Mobo : Intel S3240GP series (prefer the S3240GPV Series) ATX version single socket Xeon LGA 1156
RAM : Corsair ECC (Unregistered) DIMM 4x2 GB DDR3 PC8500/10600 (or 4x4 GB version) or any type memory you like as long as ECC U-DIMM
Graphic : nvidia Quadro 2000
HDD : (Optional) using the SSD, ES Series or Raptor series
Case : Pick you like, you can use Enlight, Corsair, Thermaltake, Cooler Master.
PSU : Roughly total system less than 500 W (using High RPM Sata ex. WD Raptor).

All that only cost about 900 - 1 K. if you want some more power, than can change to dual Xeon, Quadro 4000 or anything. But for th3 3d max, and other application you want to run. this should be just fine. It's works great, i have it on my house. right now it's process 8000x7500 adobe photoshop CS 5 Extended.

 

[JimZ]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT1yGXK3etA

😗

I am looking at that board at "the egg" along with ram combos. Seems none of them are on the QVL from Asus..... in fact it appears only one approved for it in a 16GB configuration. I know they don't list all that will work but I did see a comment or two that the board was a bit touchy on which ram and to be sure it was on the list. They have combos with these reasonably priced sets (first with 16GB and second with 8)... I'd just have to order an extra set of two separately.

Oh, I do also have a CM 212 cooler that it would be nice to be able to put on if these sticks fit ok. I'm totally open to other ram suggestions as well.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231429
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231445

Thanks again,
Jim

 

[Alvin Smith]

Well, *JIM*

... I rarely see RAM clearance probs, any more ... especially if the ram sinks are not "way tall" ... the hyper212+ plays nice with any "reasonable DDR form factor ...

As far as the QVLs ... Prior to socket 1155 (i.e. with 1156), ... Especially with ASUS, ... Typically, any mainstream value kits could generally be relied upon to function in dual ch mode ... tho, sometimes below rated timings (a non issue, IMO, given that 3 steps of CAS are roughly equal to 0.1GHz of proc speed, in the ram scaling bench comparisons.) .

BUT ... never hurts to be conservative, and go with the explicit recommendation. I normally do not put much credence in what one, single reviewer says, unless credibility seems particularly high. ... Your call. (personally? ... I would not worry about the QVL, if the generic kit was , say, G.Skill, Mushkin, Kingston, Corsair, or Geil ... But OCZ sticks tend to be "flakey on arrival", if the owner reviews are to be believed ... and ... I prefer to stick with those five vendors ... especially G.Skill and Corsair.

I would not waste my money on anything faster than 1600c7 ... but 1333c9 is fine, even if it only can be stable at 1066c7 or c8 ... so long as it is running in DUAL CH MODE.

Please SEAR it into your memory that slight/incremental dram voltage increases may be required to get (any) ram stable, in any system, ... especially if more than two slots are populated.

Also ... MORE ram will make your system much faster than FASTER ram ... if that makes sense.

Good luck !!

 

[Alvin Smith]

@r352alit,


Dude, you need to go back to page one and read thru page four ...
... Your bogus assumption is how this thread began ...

... Further ... We are talking about WORKSTATIONS ... Where in all these pages did anyone say they were trying to build a server? ...

Lastly ... Show us your proposed build, with active source links, pricing, and a total ... and benchmarks, of course ...
... Don't start flappin' your lips unless you intend to back up your claims, on a cost/iops basis. The price totals you "quote" do not seem realistic (way off), to me ... show me links (part by part) with prices ... current kit ...
... current prices ... full build ... all parts.

We've been over all this ... and we have built and tested half a dozen systems, running the actual (various) apps, since last Christmas ... Perhaps you should start your own thread. The OP (Puff) seemed to agree.

Further ... Our (limited) tests, (by Illya), here, showed that the much less expensive CUDA GTX cards outperformed the quadros, by a significant margin.

READ THIS WHOLE DAM THREAD !

High End Server....? Use Xeon or Opteron, Thats why they created for. Why use the core i7 anyway?

Budget for $ 3,8 K you'll get :

Proc: Xeon X3430 2400 Ghz 8 MB Sock 1156
Mobo : Intel S3240GP series (prefer the S3240GPV Series) ATX version single socket Xeon LGA 1156
RAM : Corsair ECC (Unregistered) DIMM 4x2 GB DDR3 PC8500/10600 (or 4x4 GB version) or any type memory you like as long as ECC U-DIMM
Graphic : nvidia Quadro 2000
HDD : (Optional) using the SSD, ES Series or Raptor series
Case : Pick you like, you can use Enlight, Corsair, Thermaltake, Cooler Master.
PSU : Roughly total system less than 500 W (using High RPM Sata ex. WD Raptor).

All that only cost about 900 - 1 K. if you want some more power, than can change to dual Xeon, Quadro 4000 or anything. But for th3 3d max, and other application you want to run. this should be just fine. It's works great, i have it on my house. right now it's process 8000x7500 adobe photoshop CS 5 Extended.