Best Bang For The Buck Folding Machines

[RonindeBeatrice]

Originally Posted by H3||scr3am

what if we got some cheap quads (b3s used?) with some supported ATi cards to fold with...(I have a 9550 SE lying around (AGP) that I'd donate) these units could churn out some REALLY good ppd, @ a cool 3.3 GHz I turn out about 3000-3200 PPD (depends on assigned WUs, I have a B3) plus the additional GFX ppd would send this thing into orbit best way to build cheap units, skip the HD, use a USB thumbdrive with linux/windows preinstalled. Get about 1GB of RAM, no real need for anymore, cheap cases (maybe mod for airflow), and you can run them w/o a GFX card if you need...but SMP is where the points are.

If you're working for points, you'll want only smp. If you're actually looking to do good, you'll want to run as many GPUs as possible. The 9550 ain't going to cut it I'm afraid. The x16 and x19(really just this one) are the only cards which GPU folding works on currently.

[H3||scr3am]

thanks for the info Ronin, I;m an nvidia boy these days so i can't use it...

but can we jump on this?
http://www.overclock.net/sale/287114...0-shipped.html

awesome deal, $50 cheaper then the Q6600, higher thermal rating, and higher OCability, plus its server grade

[Havegooda]

Originally Posted by H3||scr3am

what if we got some cheap quads (b3s used?)

They could buy mine I wanna get a G0 anyways.

~Gooda~

[Bal3Wolf]

Well q6600 and linux probly the best idea or a e8400 clocked in high 4ghz running linux either one should push alot of units. My e6600@3500 in vmware does about 2700ppd a day.

[RickJS]

PS3 or x1900. And an 8800 when they finally support it. =[

[pbpenguins412]

Crossfired X1950XT's on a Crossfire compatible motherboard with a Q6600.

[lanky]

QuadFire( not sure about this ) but, a quad or octocore processors + 4 Ati graphics cards..

or
PS3 cluster .

[RonindeBeatrice]

crossfire (or quadfire for that matter) will only hinder GPU folding. You only need the required PCIe slots (4 on my motherboard for example) to get a powerful GPU machine up and running.

[Bal3Wolf]

And guys what ever happed to budget some of these ideas will run alot of cash.

[vtecjunkie81]

I just put my folding rig together yesterday for a total of $268 shipped.

Processor: Athlon 5200+
RAM: 1GB Kingston ValuRam PC6400
Drive: Asus DVD-ROM
MSI MBOX K9N6SGM-V Barebones Kit for the case, PSU, and mobo
HD: An old 5GB Seagate I had lying around

Loaded up Xubuntu 64-bit, installed lm-sensors, F@H smp client, and FahMon, and voila! I'm doing about 35 mins/frame, avg. right under 1200ppd