Hello all,
I just joined the forum as a member and look forward to contributing.
I currently have a Dell T5500 workstation with dual X5690 (3.46GHz) and 72GB of RAM (DDR3) (~1575 cb) that I use for the following tasks:
- scientific computing (parallel c++, python with MPI)
- finite element simulations (usually several long simulations in parallel)
- video editing
The processors are pretty much loaded 24/7 these days. Everything works great but I know the cpus are many generations behind current cpus and the power consumption (~300W 24/7) makes me think about possibly upgrading.
I definitely need the processing power and multiple threads.
I am considering getting a Ryzen 7 1700x system with 64GB of RAM to replace my dual-X5690 machine, the new system would give me pretty much the same processing power with less power consumption, a more recent CPU architecture and more future proof system.
Do you think it would be a good upgrade or I owuld barely see the difference and should hold on to y current workstation?
Any additional drawbacks/advantages in going with a Ryzen system?
Thanks for your help and advice.
Phil.
pjmssm,
If the applications are heavily threaded / parallel, the better solution is going to be to use a dual Xeon system with both a high core/thread count and if possible a higher clock speed to run the single-threaded components. There needs to be plenty of RAM and a fast disk system. In simulation and analytics, there is the need for high double precision, so, as others have commented, ECC RAM and a workstation GPU are importnt. Because video editing is GPU based and not CPU based- as is single image rendering- the application demand add up to having a system that has strong performance in every subsystem. Note the limitation of Ryzen in the number of PCIe lanes.
My earlier solution to this kind of system was to upgrade a Dell Precision T5500:
Dell Precision T5500 (2011) (Revised) > 2X Xeon X5680 (6-core @ 3.33 / 3.6GHz), 48GB DDR3 1333 ECC Reg./ Quadro K2200 (4GB ) / PERC H310 / Samsung 840 250GB + WD RE4 Enterprise 1TB / M-Audio 192 sound card + Logitech z313 speakers /> 875W PSU > Windows 7 Professional 64 > HP 2711x (27", 1920 X 1080) /
[ Passmark system rating = 3844 > CPU = 15047 / 2D= 662 / 3D= 3550 / Mem= 1785 / Disk= 2649] (12.30.15)
Note that this system uses a PERC H310 RAID controller that converts the disk system to 6GB/s
> And that may resemble your current system somewhat.
However, for Matlab, Wolfram Mathematica, and various mech'l /thermal simulations, I needed more cores, higher clock speed, greater memory bandwidth, faster disk, and etc.
I purchased for $270:
HP z620_1 (Original) Xeon E5-1620 (4-core @ 3.6 /3.8GHz) / 8GB (1X 8GB DDR3-1333) / AMD Firepro V5900 (2GB) / Seagate Barracuda 750GB + Samsung 500GB + WD 500GB
[ Passmark System Rating=
2408 / CPU=
8361 / 2D= 846 / 3D =
1613 / Mem =1584 / Disk =
574 ] 7.13.16
> and upgraded this to:
HP z620_1 (2012) (Rev 4) 2X Xeon E5-2690 (8-core @ 2.9 / 3.8GHz) / 64GB DDR3-1600 ECC reg) / Quadro K2200 (4GB) + Tesla M2090 (6GB) / HP Z Turbo Drive M.2 (256GB) + Samsung 850 Evo 250GB + Seagate Constellation ES.3 (1TB) / Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium PCIe sound card + Logitech z2300 2.1 Sound / 800W / Windows 7 Professional 64-bit > 2X Dell Ultrasharp U2715H (2560 X 1440)
[ Passmark System Rating=
5675 / CPU=
22625 / 2D= 815 / 3D =
3580 / Mem = 2522 / Disk =
12640 ] 9.25.16 Single Thread Mark =
1903
[ Cinebench R15: CPU = 2209 cb / Single core
130 cb / OpenGL=
119.23 fps / MP Ratio 16.84x] 10.31.16
However, today for the GPU choice, I would recommend using one of the new Pascal Quadros which are as fast as NVIDIA GTX. For you use, a Quadro P4000 8GB.
I needed to consolidate the 3D modeling and simulation systems into a single system, with an emphasis on improving the single-thread performance for 3D modeling. A couple of months ago I built a new HP z620 from parts using a P2000 5GB and the results were very good:
HP z620_2 (2017) (Rev 1) > Xeon E5-1680 v2 (8-core@ 4.3GHz) / z420 Liquid Cooling / 64GB DDR3-1866 ECC Reg / Quadro P2000 5GB / HP Z Turbo Drive M.2 256GB + Intel 730 480GB + Seagate Constellation ES.3 1TB / ASUS Essence STX PCIe sound card + Logitech z2300 2.1 Sound / 825W PSU /> Windows 7 Prof.’l 64-bit > 2X Dell Ultrasharp U2715H (2560 X 1440) /
[ Passmark Rating =
6322 / CPU rating =
17178 / 2D = 852 / 3D=
9012 / Mem = 3032 / Disk =
14227 / Single Thread Mark =
2339 [7.3.17]
[ Cinebench R15 = cb1214 (CPU) /
153 (Single Threaded) /
150.77 (OpenGL) MP Ratio 7.92x / Accuracy 99.6% ] 7.21.17
Note that the Xeon E5-1680 v2 is one of the rare Xeon E5's that may be overclocked and with liquid cooling, it's possible to run it at 4.3GHz on all cores. A fellow in the UK is running one at
4.7GHz!
It is also possible to use a Quadro and GTX in the same system and using a Displayport switch, change to the GTX for video rendering.
In summary, I'd say that Ryzen will not be adequate for your needs- not enough cores, not enough PCIe lanes. Depending on the budget, consider upgrading a used dual processor Dell Precision or HP z620 or z820. If the budget is higher, look into the AMD Threadripper 1920X 12-core @ 3.5 /4.0Ghz (64 PCIe lanes), 64GB with room for an eventual 128GB of RAM, a Quadro P4000 or P2000 with a GTX 1080 Ti on a switch, and a Samsung 960 Evo 512GB M.2 boot drive- that kind of thing. From experience, I believe results will be better if the system can have a single processor. There is only one 1920X on Passmark, having a compute rating of 23575.7. Compare that to the 22625 of the 16 cores of the HP z620_1's dual Xeon E5-2690's. the difference is though, the Z620 case, chassia, motherboard/ power supply /OS cost $270- less than the Threadrippers motherboard alone would cost and the E5-2690 cost $310 for the pair while a Threadripper 1920X is $800.
What is your budget?
BambiBoom