FX-8370E for distributed computing

brandishwar · June 23, 2015

I'm kind of torn on something. I have a spare 990FX mainboard laying around from when I did a mainboard swap on my main system that I'd like to put to use for BOINC or Folding@home. All I need to do this is a processor. And I'm debating on getting an Opteron 3280 or FX-8370E. The former I found a supplier selling for $90, while the latter I can get at Micro Center here in KC for $120 plus tax. Both are 8-core processors.

My concern is temperatures. Currently I have an AMD X2 4200+ running in a 2U chassis for the last 12 hours as of when I write this, and the temperatures on its cores are holding steady in the mid to upper-40s with both cores maxed out -- cooled by a Noctua NH-L9A. That's pushing me to the Opteron as the X2 and Opteron 3280 are both 65W processors. The 8370E is a 95W processor, meaning it'll have more heat I'll need to consider. I'm planning to put this mainboard into a 3U or 4U chassis anyway, which will allow for a larger cooler or AIO, provided the temperatures can be kept relatively stable -- 40s to low 50s under continuous operation. But the 8370E will provide for more performance over the Opteron -- in some GFLOPs measurements I've seen, it's a pretty significant difference between the two.

I would like to get the 8370E to put more performance at this, but again temperatures are my concern here. So if you've run an FX-8370E (or other FX processor) for extended periods of time with all cores maxed out -- I'm talking at least overnight if not at least 24 hours -- how high have the temperatures climbed in doing so, and hat are you using for cooling? I'd like an idea of what kind of cooling I might need for planning out this build, or whether I should go for the Opteron, which would sacrifice performance, but if it'll provide better temperature stability for round-clock use, I'll prefer it.

Tedster · June 23, 2015

I'd have to go with the 8370E. It can't be that bad for temperatures. The FX-6100 has a 95W TDP and it's pretty much okay on the stock cooler, just loud. You should be fine with the NH-L9A.

And here's some evidence showing that the FX performs better:

Nena Trinity · June 23, 2015

8370 & E model is best models to go with but for extended use go for E!

My Hyper 212 Evo lets me use it 24/7 but I would not think of the climate!

brandishwar · June 23, 2015

For cooling I'll likely be going with the Noctua NH-L12 instead of the L9a. It should fit into a 3U chassis, and it'll easily fit into a 4U chassis if I decide to go that route. If push really comes to shove, I have an AIO I can use with that -- the only downside with using an AIO with a rack chassis is getting the heat out of the case. Anyway...

Both of you basically said what I was thinking, that the heat won't be as huge a deal as I was thinking. I was already aware of the significant performance difference, it was the temperatures that had my concern. Given my observations with the NH-L9A, I think going with the NH-L12 will keep the heat on the FX-8370E well in check given the fan setup in the 3U and 4U chassis I'm considering. So thanks for alleviating my concerns.