trash bound server, to epic gaming/workstation

[Digitaldog12052]

I am currently in the process of deciding how I want to build my next workstation. I currently have a laptop setup as a dual monitor for my work load in coding, 3D objects, and rendering. Being its a laptop I know I will need to go for a baller/expensive rig, or an old server revived. Since I use high graphics card intensive workloads, with programs like AutoCAD, Meshroom, Blender etc. Eventually I will buy a workstation for my work and a render server when the budget allows for a proper upgrade. Or I could buy a used server and make it both for the time being. this is where my question stems from:

 

I have come up with two plausible ideas and would like to have some feedback. I noticed you used a GPU mining card with no output and that's why I believe that you and your staff would be the best candidates to answer this question.

 

Since I would get the gains from a multi core system I have settled on a dual 6 core 3U server. For 400$ just needs video card/s (Yes it has PCIe x16 and two of them). I thought of the server grade tesla by nvidia, more specifically the k20, in a virtual machine for rendering. (Since meshroom requires a cuda core GPU, and Meshroom would me take a video, or photos and turn it into a virtual walkthrough for real estate agents or realistic scenes from real world places in a game.) An AMD RX 480 for my video output in dual monitor configuration, is my looks great on paper idea. When I saw you took a cryptominer card, and with some driver modification, was able to get a boost from the crypto card. You did specifically say you don't recommend doing it. But in that show you proved my theory enough, that I decided to reach out and run the idea past you. I have watched a ton of your shows, and know you to having a familiarity in frankenstein builds.

 

Thus my idea is truly splitting the two cores into 2 machines (6 cores, 12 threads, 32GB ECC ram each, from Dual Six-Core Intel XeonX5650 2.66GHz, 24 threads, 64gb ECC ram total.)  Only one of them needs to able to play games due to designing them from the renders and the other for rendering the next scene from images/video with photogrammetry, CAD designs, blender, etc.

Is this possible while keeping it in the 3u rack and all the server grade power supply, cooling, and redundancy? Or do I need to just buy 2 nvidia 1060's, g-sync monitors, a new case, power supply, etc. ?  eventually I would like to make it's only job a render server, in a server tower as a living memento and the reason why I would like to keep it inside the server case. But for the time being I figured I could get dual use out of it till I can afford a top tier workstation.

 

As a recap of what I was asking: is it plausible to buy an old Dual Six-Core Intel Xeon X5650 2.66GHz 3U server, keep it in the server case, split it into to machines for seperate workloads with a server class nvidia GPU for virtual use (no display needed) and a AMD for display(@1080p 50+fps). Or do I have to buy matching GPU's and and new case etc. I'm just trying to build this a cheep as possible and be more build specific later on when I can afford it.

 

Thanks for taking the time to read this long winded question, I appreciate any input, and hope to hear from you soon.

[pbx2]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

 

x5650s are reasonably good CPUs (about equal to a Skylake i5 6400) and I don't see why a 3U case wouldn't support a GPU, You just need to make sure they don't stick up higher than the top of the PCIe brackets and have the power connectors on the back, Otherwise you will need to upgrade to a 4U/desktop case.
 

This is the exact same concept as LTT's 2 gamers 1 CPU so you'd probably want to use Unraid.
I'm not 100% sure if you can use AMD gpus but I think you might be able to.

[Digitaldog12052]

22 minutes ago, pbx2 said:

Hi and welcome to the forum.

 

x5650s are reasonably good CPUs (about equal to a Skylake i5 6400) and I don't see why a 3U case wouldn't support a GPU, You just need to make sure they don't stick up higher than the top of the PCIe brackets and have the power connectors on the back, Otherwise you will need to upgrade to a 4U/desktop case.
 

This is the exact same concept as LTT's 2 gamers 1 CPU so you'd probably want to use Unraid.
I'm not 100% sure if you can use AMD gpus but I think you might be able to.

Thanks for your feedback and yes similar to 2 gamers 1 CPU. I am planning on two different GPUs: One having no output to be used like it was meant for and render large computations without the need for output to a monitor, only data (I found one under 60$ and less than half of the cost of a 1060 like the new video: "nvidia said we couldn't game on this"). The other requiring outputs to have output at all and use it as my beside my desk workstation. Or I would be required to do hosting like linus did in 8 gamers 1 PC, and that seems a little further down the line when I make it a true render server.

 

I want to be sure your agreeing it looks great on paper but you aren't sure about the AMD card, and I might need to go with a 4U for clearance.

 

Yes, I've been looking into the clearance issue and looking at low form factor card that doesn't touch the top and short out. In that aspect: I totally agree and looking into that.

I believe what were are coming to the conclusion of: I might need matching cards. hmmm..... I wonder if I could even get away with a 1060 and a Tesla K20 since they are both nvidia, and they are each others equivalent? Or do they have to be the exact same in every way? I was hoping to have the nvidia for the computation side and AMD for the FreeSync since I already have an Acer EB243Y A, that could potentially take advantage of that feature.

 

Again thanks for your input!

[pbx2]

6 hours ago, Digitaldog12052 said:

I might need matching cards. hmmm.....

I know for a fact that you don't need matching cards for unraid, I've just never seen an AMD one passed through (but research shows it works!)
Basically I see no reason why your plan wouldn't work, Other than the 3U case and the need to buy unraid.

I also can't remember if x5650s have integrated graphics which you'd need for unraid.

[Digitaldog12052]

TY!