Folding Forum

Dear all,

I have a Gainward GTX970 which is still working and which provides around 300k PPD: I would like to build a computer around it and dedicate it to F@H. What hardware do you suggest? The computer I was using the GTX970 on is configured as follows:

• CPU: I5-4670 3.4GhZ
  Mainboard: Asus TUF Gryphon Z87
  RAM: 16GB
  etc.

It is my old gaming computer. Now, I was wondering if it would make sense trying to purchase (on ebay) the same CPU as my old gaming computer as it seemed quite power efficient or if I should look for something different in terms of CPU, maybe something new which might very well be even more power efficient. 16 RAM are most probably overkill for folding.

Thanks a lot.
matitaccia

For a single GPU, almost any CPU will be fine, 16 GiB of RAM is more than you need --- although you might want to use the computer for other things.

Yeah, as long as you have one dedicated CPU core to folding, that will be sufficient. So, a dual core is all you need (one core for everything else, one to feed the GPU). You can get an idea of CPU efficiencies by looking at their TDPs (Thermal Design Power). Typically, power hungry gaming CPUs come in at 95-150 Watts. Basic desktop CPUs have TDPs around 65 watts. Low-power parts can get as low as 25 Watts. Your old i5 had a TDP of 84 watts, which suggests there is some headroom to make a more efficient system if you get a new power efficient dual core.

For putting together something on the cheap, check out processors like this (the link should provide you with a Newegg search showing dual-core processors with TDPs less than 35 watts).

https://www.newegg.com/p/pl?N=100007671 ... 0600039206

Going with a micro-ATX board will also keep background power consumption down a bit. 4 Gigs of RAM will be plenty (just need to run the OS + folding). I've folded on as little as 1 GB in Linux, 2 in windows. 4 is good though and it gives you some headroom.

You can pick up a really cheap 64 GB SSD (used on eBay for like $20) that will also sip power. For a power supply, try to get one with an efficiency rating of 80+ Gold or better. I recommend this:

https://www.newegg.com/seasonic-focus-s ... -_-Product

I got one of those used on eBay for $40 shipped and it cut about 20 watts of power consumption out, making my dedicated folding rig that much more efficient. Note that if you plan on adding another GPU in the future, you'd need a bigger PSU (and perhaps a full size ATX main board).

I have an even older computer lying around which I thought would not be useful as way too old (year 2007). It works with:

1. ASUS P5KE: Specifications on ASUS site
2. Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 2.66Ghz
3. 4GB RAM

The GPU requires PCI Express 3.0 x 16

The motherboard has one PCI Express x 16 but, I am not sure if it will allow the GPU to work at its full potential. I believe that PCI-E 3.0 is much faster than whatever version was installed on the motherboard. Am I wrong?

Thank you very much!

You're neither wrong or right. V3.0 of PCIe is faster than older versions, but that's not likely to be significant. Stick a GPU in the x16 slot and you'll be successfully using the hardware you have. The "full potential" isn't much different than what you'll be getting. (I'm assuming that the GPU you'll be using won't be the most expensive GPU you can buy.)

(I run a lot of older hardware, along with more recent purchases.)

Dear bruce,

thanks for your message.

The GPU I am going to use will be the Gainward GTX970, which of course is not the latest model, by far. It is though, much younger than the motherboard, this is why I was wondering if it would make sense to fit it on.

I understand that I will have to test it and see how it goes. In order to do that I will have to buy a power supply as the current one does not have the required connectors.

I will install ubuntu as operative system. Hopefully everything will work out of the box, as I am not an experienced linux user. It would be awesome to use linux in command line only, as I believe that this could produce some more points, but... I am not there yet!

bye!

If there are two x16 sized slots, you want the blue one. The black one is sized for x16, but electrically it is x4.

Correct, thanks!

Minimum requirements for folding on that GPU, all you need is a 1,5Ghz single core cpu, with 512 MB of RAM, and 8GB of disk space on lubuntu, to fold at 90% of your GPUs capability.

I would recommend to get an older pc, dual core (with HT if possible), 2-4GB of RAM, and a cheap $10 64GB SSD; if possible the motherboard having 2 full size PCIE slots, for future upgrades. And invest in a better GPU, for your next upgrade.



Once the bug bites, you'll really want to buy a modern motherboard with 8GB of DDR4, 2x or 3x full size pcie slots, and a quadcore of ~3Ghz, and up to 4x RTX GPUs.
That way you can upgrade

Just a little update. The PPD is well below what the card should be able to supply (300k).

https://folding.extremeoverclocking.com ... =&u=836742

I am afraid I will have to upgrade motherboard and CPU.

Are you using a passkey? Without one you will not get bonus points and will not make that 300K PPD no matter what you do for a motherboard and CPU.

Hello Joe_H,

I have the passkey, absolutely. I have created a new one for that new "user".

I will be looking for some used hardware and see what I can come up with.

Best, m.

I looked up the user Phosphor shown in the EOC stats, it showed no bonus and no passkey being used. You might want to recheck your configuration in the folding client and see that the passkey is entered.

P.S. I noticed you said your "created" a new passkey, that is not necessary. I also bring this up because a person folding in the past made up their own passkey, and then wondered when they did not get the bonus points. A passkey needs to be applied for on the folding site, it gets sent to you by email.

You'd be surprised how little cpu/mobo/ram can be used to drive powerful GPU. I have a B150 motherboard with a G4400 and 4GB RAM running Mint driving a 1070 and a TitanX, getting around 1.5-1.7m pod depending on the units.

ram nowadays has increased by a bit.
Each project needs about 500MB of RAM.
So if you're running Windows, on 2 GPUs, and 4GB of RAM, things might start to get tight (memory wise).