Ultimate folding Build

[notaniel101]

After visiting my grandfather who suffers from alzheimers recently over the holidays, I am reinvigorated about folding. I am not sure if it has been done before on here (ltt) but I am curious as to what you would build to be the ultimate folding machine. I am not currently planning on using the suggestions from this thread for a build but I might in the future.

 

• Price point will not have a budget, but also somewhat within reason (ie 10 780's or cpu equivalent won't work)
• Not sure if server cpu or gpu would be better since you could get big adv with cpu. 
• Hdd/ssd, os, and peripherals can be ignored.

 

[kristaps552]

A 4p build with a 690(or 790 when it comes out)

[Cwazywazy]

Im not sure, but I think it would be better to just donate the money instead of using it to buy a folding machine.

[Levent]

multiple 4p build will be better and will consume less power

[chaozbandit]

As the minimum requirement for even qualifying for bigadv WUs is going up to 32 cores going forward, that would be the best route for "future proofing" your ultimate folding rig. I wouldn't even bother with GPU folding as CPU folding is by far more efficient for large point payouts. A 4P, G34 socket based system would be the way to go (AMD Opterons for either 32 or 48 total cores via Magny-Cours, Interlagos, or Abu Dhabi series CPUs).

[Judahnator]

Build a 4p machine and skip the GPU's.

 

That will run you about 2k for a good machine, and you can use it for other things also.

[notaniel101]

Build a 4p machine and skip the GPU's.

 

That will run you about 2k for a good machine, and you can use it for other things also.

how long do you think it would be until cheaper g34 stuff starts coming up on ebay?

[chaozbandit]

how long do you think it would be until cheaper g34 stuff starts coming up on ebay?

 

The bigadv requirement changes are going to live in different stages; the stage where 32 becomes the minimum isn't expected to occur until April 17. Until then, expect a bunch of people to part out with their current 2P / 4P systems and start looking for G34 gear really early on before the demand rush hits. [H]ardforum is a great place to pick up G34 hardware from other folders and is a trusted resource by the community; I suggest you check it out (though you'll have to do a bit of research to find what you need). Depending on whether you want to get into this long-term or short-term and exactly what your budget is, your hardware requirements will change respectively.

 

Link to Stanford regarding changes to bigadv: http://folding.stanford.edu/home/changes-to-the-bigadv-threshold/

[Whaler_99]

Right now most powerful system is a Intel 64 core system - but that costs a LOT of money - on the price to PPD ratio, a 64 core, AMD Opteron is the solution you want to go with. 

[Dave :)]

Hidden comments relating to nothing but that meme. Unless you have something useful to say, please do not just post memes. 

[tobben]

Right now most powerful system is a Intel 64 core system - but that costs a LOT of money - on the price to PPD ratio, a 64 core, AMD Opteron is the solution you want to go with. 

one thing i have been wondering about though, yes sure, doing bigadv with a 4p build will reward ALOT of more points due to it being niche, but will it actually do more  work or accomplish more than 2-3 gpu's, aside from just giving you more points per watt will it actually contribute more? in theory a gpu should get more work done? while only on specific things and projects designed for it ofcourse.. 

 

btw the "ultimate" folding machine would be stupidly expensive no matter how you look at it, so a budget for the best performance to $ is definitely needed , you can get a solid 4p system ALOT cheaper than most people because you live in the us.

[Xsilent(X)]

i wouldt go with GPU foldiing get a few 290X or 7970's and fold with them.

[Whaler_99]

You will get more "work" done via GPU folding - but at a cost - power and heat. Although at [H]ard they have been doing some calculations and looks like now if you went for like a top end 5 GPU solution you would pay about the same as the top end G34 and could almost generate as much PPD - but at much more power consumption. 

 

And in the end, the BA projects are special ones that even GPU's cannot churn out...

[tobben]

You will get more "work" done via GPU folding - but at a cost - power and heat. Although at [H]ard they have been doing some calculations and looks like now if you went for like a top end 5 GPU solution you would pay about the same as the top end G34 and could almost generate as much PPD - but at much more power consumption. 

 

And in the end, the BA projects are special ones that even GPU's cannot churn out...

i was thinking more maybe 2 gpus that consume roughly the same ammount of power versus a 4p machine, regardless cpu folding still has it's place.

[notaniel101]

I am still planning on building a large folding rig, but it will have to wait till after college since then I will hopefully have a nice steady job and a better way to pay for it than summer savings

 

thanks for the help, even though it will probably all be different in a couple years