Adding a new budget system. Should it be GPU or CPU focused?

[bdwilson]

I am thinking about buuilding a cheap new sub $500 system for folding. I'm just wondering, as far as the science goes, would it be better to use a cheap processor and put most of the money in a good quality ($300+) video card, or would it be more useful to use a cheap video card and put the $$ into a high end CPU? I've heard that video cards get more points per day, but my question is..Do the points per day on CPU vs GPU accurately reflect the value of the science being done? What is more useful to the project?

[k1wi]

Personally I'd go with a cheaper CPU and a $300 GPU, I can't talk about beta projects and PPDs going on there, but I'm sure you can have a look and see for yourself...

Officially, the points equal the scientific value being done and the new core being developed is about making the GPU able to do everything that the CPU currently can, but with the much greater power of the GPU. That's as best a statement for where things may be headed, but of course there is no such thing as a forecast in the F@H arena!

[beer]

if I was going to build a new system now it would look like:
ASUS B85M-G
Core i7 4770S
2 gb ram
300 wath 80 Plus Bronze
Debian stable
it gives around 20.000 points and does not consume too much electricity

[Jesse_V]

There's been a big push recently by the researchers for GPUs, and a number of statements indicating that they really want more GPUs to be folding. GPUs deliver a significant speedup to F@h due to hardware optimizations that CPUs simply can't deliver.

[beer]

last time I looked at it, there were large differences in PPD / W on the GPU and CPU and then the system will run for a long time so be extra costs for electricity is also included when you buy a new system
That is why I did suggest a CPU over a GPU but Jesse_V proberbly more about this than me

[7im]

The performance pendulum appears to be swinging in the direction of the GPU at this time, but there are things on the horizon to swing it back in the direction of the CPU. Just be aware the best answer today could change a little or a lot in the future, just like it appears to be changing now.

[Michael_McCord,_M.D.]

Just like your money, it pays to diversify!

[HaloJones]

Think very carefully about TCO not just the initial outlay. My four folding systems with five GPUs folding are costing a fortune to run. Replacing all of them with a single 7990 or Titan would increase my output and massively reduce my running costs and probably pay for the Titan within a year!

[Nathan_P]

if I was going to build a new system now it would look like:
ASUS B85M-G
Core i7 4770S
2 gb ram
300 wath 80 Plus Bronze
Debian stable
it gives around 20.000 points and does not consume too much electricity

I would swap out that bronze PSU for a gold/platinum - will help cut down running costs.

[mdk777]

I would swap out that bronze PSU for a gold/platinum - will help cut down running costs.

Ditto that.

There are some very reasonably priced 450-550 watt PLAT units available. They will be extremely efficient if only running the CPU, but also allow you to run any single high end card in the future if you want to pick up the additional 100K ppd on the rig.
If not, you haven't lost anything by planning ahead. The extra $20 spent on the PSU will pay for itself running the cpu client in a year or so.(verses the bronze unit)

[Jesse_V]

I would swap out that bronze PSU for a gold/platinum - will help cut down running costs.

Ditto that.

There are some very reasonably priced 450-550 watt PLAT units available. They will be extremely efficient if only running the CPU, but also allow you to run any single high end card in the future if you want to pick up the additional 100K ppd on the rig.
If not, you haven't lost anything by planning ahead. The extra $20 spent on the PSU will pay for itself running the cpu client in a year or so.(verses the bronze unit)

Indeed. There's a time to cut costs, but sometimes it's better to just pay a bit more to get a quality product that will pay for itself down the road in many different ways, as you say.

[7im]

Me two, er is that 3, no 4!