Crunch: Footstool Folder - Overclock.net

*CyberDruid* · 04-16-06

Meet Crunch. Crunch will be a tool to Fold for team 37726 at a fabulous rate. 4 DualCore CPUs in one box. Simple yet effective. Yes I realise there are
workstation mobos that will do this--but those mobos cost a fortune--as much as one entire folding rig--require ECC RAM and are huge. And they don't
use inexpensive Dual Core CPUs. Since this is strictly a folding rig--server grade hardware is not required. I figure 4 decent dual cores shouldn't cost
more than $2000 for everything--one full blown Tyan K8WE rig with all the trimmings is at least that...

I'm currently working up the drawings for the custom case that will fit 4 microATX mobos, 4 PSUs, 4 HDDs--that's it--onboard video and sound, no
frills. I may use a switch so that only one monitor is required. As these are only folding--I can use the network to access the rigs for storage, etc...so
being hooked to a keyboard and monitor after being configured is not all that critical. No way can I see 4 keyboards, 4 mice, etc. It's a blind humming
box that crunches WUs--and maybe acts as a network resource.

The layout is a cube--with eachside mounting a removable mobo/HDD/PSU tray. This gives easy access and the option to add a board as funds permit,
rather than trying to sink $2000 all at once into something this ridiculous. Ridiculous expenditures are much less painful incrementally (take your cable
bill for instance).

In this http://www.overclock.net/overclock-n...lding-rig.html Folding Thread I am researching the ultimate Folding
Rig and the results of those discussions will determine the hardware for Crunch. There is no reason all the boards have to be the same or all the
processors for that matter--I think a pair of AMDs and a pair of Intels would be a good quad. Maybe an X2, an Opteron, a Pentium D and/or an HT
Pentium. MicroAtx would be the limiting factor. If I could figure how to reliably mod a single monster PSU (like a PC Power and Cooling 1000 watt) to
power up 4 boards that would be ideal. But in reality 4 Seasonic 380 Watt PSUs would be cheaper than one PC Power & Cooling Kilowatter. Seperate
PSUs would give the option of mounting the PSU onto the Mobo/HDD tray.

Watercooling would be a good thing if Crunch is going to live inside--because no one really wants to hear that many fans in one box 24/7. A monster
rad might be the deal--top mounted behind a protective grill/noise baffle with 4 120s mounted to the bottom of the case sucking cool air in from below
through a foam filter. Keeping the fans away from the top opening should help lower the sound.

I already have the sides made up from some left over composite panel I used on a yacht --I made them before we moved while I still had shop--we
were packing boxes and I'm frantically epoxying up a PC case...for kicks I decided to make this case out of wood and core material. I used epoxy to
laminate 1/4" by 2"strips of teak seperated by 1/4" by 1/4" wenge onto the outside of each panel. It will look like an ottoman (foot stool) when
finished--complete with a padded leather top and short legs with casters. The mobo backplanes will be facing down--so the cords and cables will feed
from under the case--no expansion cards--so the center of the case is mainly open for air flow through the chipset HSs and the top mounted radiator. As this is still in layout I have yet to precisely determine where the PSU and HDD for each board will be mounted--but logic dictates placing them in the airstream.

I have the corner post materia lmilled--it is some extremely dense wood: Ipe--and looks enough like teak. The corner posts form the legs--super simple cabinetry here. The posts will also extend above the sides about an inch to support the padded leather top--leaving a convenient air slot on each side at
the top. The padded top will be held in position with dowels on the corner posts so that it simply lifts off--the rad will have to be hinged with enough of
a service loop in the plumbing to make accessing the guts easy. A single pump and four CPU WBs are the rest of the WC loop.

Including a battery backup in the build would be stunning but then the footstool starts growing into a file-cabinet--so a simple surge protector
powerstrip will live in the case so only one power cord emerges from the base.

What do you think about Crunch? Is it worth doing?

EDIT: here is a thread with pictures.... http://www.overclock.net/case-mod-wo...r-edition.html

**pjlietz** · 04-16-06

Sweet, this is a great idea man. Maybe I can convince the g/f to let me build a rig in the foot stool.

*CyberDruid* · 04-16-06

I got the idea after having one of my rigs under the desk for a while--I was putting m feet up on it all the time and I thought--this is where a PC should be...at the time I was cutting the parts I made it large enough for an ATX mobo--but it would just fit 4 microATX mobos one to a side--even aircooling should work--since all the HS fans will be in the center...Zalmans aren't too bad--but I was thinking it only makes sense to OC the rigs into the strosphere--so WCing would do the trick. Regardless I will be fussing around with that tomorrow for a while--if I can locate the digital camera I will post up some pics...

pbasil1 · 04-16-06

WOW.... If you have the money to throw at Crunch, i say go for it!

My suggestion woiuld be on the WC idea, have one large radiator for one large loop to all 4 cpu's, just have 4 pumps for each cpu. As for the radiator, maybe use a large oil/tranny cooler for a heavy duty truck, and have 4 sperate lines meet into 1 to go into the rad. then split back to 4 lines to go to all 4 cpu's.

Im a little confused on the box desighn u have and some pics would clear this up realy fast for me.

Anyways its a great idea to me, though IMO it sounds like a waste of cash, but its your money and if you want to do it.... why not? It will be a neat project and fun for all of us to watch you build and fold with.

Hmmm i was just thinking about the name... Crunch is a sweet name, but if you had only 3 cpu's you could call it Trifold? lol i dunno im just rambling on here....

**bigvaL** · 04-16-06

Man this sounds so awesome! Crunch is such a good name too lol! I say go for it man!

wowza · 04-16-06

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbasil1

My suggestion woiuld be on the WC idea, have one large radiator for one large loop to all 4 cpu's, just have 4 pumps for each cpu. As for the radiator, maybe use a large oil/tranny cooler for a heavy duty truck, and have 4 sperate lines meet into 1 to go into the rad. then split back to 4 lines to go to all 4 cpu's.

4 pumps? Shouldn't need more than 2.

*CyberDruid* · 04-16-06

Yeah that name just makes me want to do it. I might be flexible on the guts--since I just got a lead on a dual Xeon set up...but the case and the name are set in stone. I will start on that case tomorrow and get the cabinetry underway--got some more drawings coming!

pbasil1 · 04-16-06

Quote:

Originally Posted by wowza

4 pumps? Shouldn't need more than 2.

Well thats what i was initially thinking, 2 good pumps would work, but that could be more expensive than 4 cheap ones that would move the same amount of water...I wasnt sure how much $$$ cyber has to spend on this beast.

**pjlietz** · 04-16-06

If you want to w/c, I'd have to say one d5 or mcp655 should do the trick for the pump with a triple rad and low db fans in a push pull with shrouds.

*CyberDruid* · 04-16-06

Top View picture attached--as far as cash goes...over time enough to fill the box with parts--you think 2 D5 pumps would do it?

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Crunch: Footstool Folder