Best cheap GPU for folding... Or not...

[TheAmazingDave]

So having figured out the GPU passthrough on my ESXi server, I'd really like to upgrade the pitiful GT 720 that it's currently running for somoething that will actually crunch some numbers.

 

The catch is that the rig only has physical x8 slots that are not notched to accept bigger cards. So since server motherboards are more expensive than graphics cards, I'll be cutting half the bus off of whatever card I get to fit the server. That said, I don't want to spend a bunch of money on a nice card.

 

I'm looking at probably a GTX 780 Ti, but I'm curious what else may be out there in terms of price v. performance.

 

Any suggestions?

[minibois]

Depends on what you can find I suppose and also how much you value power consumption in the cheapest option.

This sheet should get you started on knowing performance:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vcVoSVtamcoGj5sFfvKF_XlvuviWWveJIg_iZ8U2bf0/pub?output=html

 

RX 480/580 cards could be an alternative for 780 Ti cards.

[Metallus97]

Here is a nice PPD Chart: https://www.overclock.net/forum/55-overclock-net-folding-home-team/475163-gpu-projects-ppd-database.html

[TheAmazingDave]

Sooo I was naughty... After looking at that chart and realizing cheap isn't gonna crunch numbers like I hoped, I bit the bullet and bought a 2080ti for my workstation...  I've never had a top-shelf GPU before, my GTX 970 when they were new was the closest I've ever been, so I said screw it.

 

So since I just bought a used 970 to match what I had in the workstation, and they're going to need a new home, I found these on NewEgg for $10 shipped that will save me from cutting any cards.

 

 

Pretty stoked! I pick up the 2080 tomorrow, and the risers should be here in a week or two. I'll have to make some custom harnesses for the 970's in the PowerEdge, but it has dual 800+ watt supplies so tapping power off of the SAS backplane shouldn't be too big of a deal.

 

 

[QuintLeo]

13 hours ago, Metallus97 said:

Here is a nice PPD Chart: https://www.overclock.net/forum/55-overclock-net-folding-home-team/475163-gpu-projects-ppd-database.html

Unless you're doing some significant overclock on your cards (recommended AGAINST with the new Core 22 client), that chart tends to be somewhat optimistic.

It IS a very good reference for RELATIVE performance of cards though.

[Gorgon]

13 hours ago, TheAmazingDave said:

Sooo I was naughty... After looking at that chart and realizing cheap isn't gonna crunch numbers like I hoped, I bit the bullet and bought a 2080ti for my workstation...  I've never had a top-shelf GPU before, my GTX 970 when they were new was the closest I've ever been, so I said screw it.

 

So since I just bought a used 970 to match what I had in the workstation, and they're going to need a new home, I found these on NewEgg for $10 shipped that will save me from cutting any cards.

 

 

Pretty stoked! I pick up the 2080 tomorrow, and the risers should be here in a week or two. I'll have to make some custom harnesses for the 970's in the PowerEdge, but it has dual 800+ watt supplies so tapping power off of the SAS backplane shouldn't be too big of a deal.

 

 

Nice, but in a pinch, if your careful, you can just cut a notch in the existing connector.

 

x8 will not bottle-neck your new shiny 2080Ti