Recommend the most cost efficient computer to run SETI

[IsOs]

What would be the most cost efficient SETI cruncher you can recommend. It has to be stable and must work in a non-airconditioned office.

Please describe in details and give cost.

Mahalo

 

[GtPrOjEcTX]

a dell.

one of my crunchers is a Dell 8250 2.4Ghz w/ 256Mb RDRAM (512 would be nicer)

the thing runs so quiet and cooler than any of my other crunchers.

albiet not as fast as my overclocked 2.4c, but quite cooler and quieter.

 

[Engineer]

I agree on the Dell models but am not sure they they are cost efficient in terms of purchasing unless you get in on one of those deals that happens no-and-then (Like I did last year). The Dell uses 120MM fan and pulls air across the CPU heatsink and out the back of the case which makes it incredibly quite...and they are fast too.....but there are no (little?) utilities for adjustment of speed or voltage!

Love the Dell's...

 

[titanmiller]

lets see...all prices from newegg
Abit NF7-S Revision 2.0 - $123.00
Amd Athlon 1700+ OEM - $44.00
TT Volcano 9 Heatsink/fan - $24.99
Corsair XMS PC3500, 256mb - $92.00
30GB Maxtor - $55.50
56x CDROM drive - $15.75
32mb GeForce2 MX400 - $22.99
Cheap case with 300W PS - $22.00
Total cost = $400.23...Of course you can always tweak the parts, and you migh have some spare stuff laying around like video cards, HDD, CDROM which would take you to $300
This should be able to get you somewhere around 11WUs/day (2:30)
I think thats about all you need with the exception of a mouse and keyboard. With any luck you should be able to get that 1700+ up to 2ghz or so by running it at 9x230.
I would imagine that it could fair fairly well with out AC as long as you put in a couple fans.
Total shipping on the above comes out to $31.00

 

[GtPrOjEcTX]

Originally posted by: Engineer
I agree on the Dell models but am not sure they they are cost efficient in terms of purchasing unless you get in on one of those deals that happens no-and-then (Like I did last year). The Dell uses 120MM fan and pulls air across the CPU heatsink and out the back of the case which makes it incredibly quite...and they are fast too.....but there are no (little?) utilities for adjustment of speed or voltage!

Love the Dell's...

Like the above mentioned $70 machine

 

[BofRA]

MOtherboard: Shuttle AN35N Newegg 63.00 shipped Mwave 53.50 +shipping
Processor: Barton 2500 retail Newegg 92.00 shipped
Memory: Geil PC3200 ultra Newegg 50.00 shipped
Cheap powersupply/case SVC/Newegg 20-30 + shipping
Harddrive/video Cheap on FS/FT Forums or really cheap from a TeAmmate who is willing to donate for the cause.

 

[IsOs]

Thanks for the replies.

$400.23/11 wu = initial investments of $36.39/ wu. What's the initial investment for Dell that was mentioned above?

 

[IsOs]

Also, the computer will be run in Hawaii. Is Dell shipping to Hawaii for free or additional cost?

ReaganCRW, can you tell what's the $/wu ratio? You probably have to add at least $50 for shipping cost to Hawaii.

 

[titanmiller]

Originally posted by: IsOs
Thanks for the replies.

$400.23/11 wu = initial investments of $36.39/ wu. What's the initial investment for Dell that was mentioned above?

I just remembered that the 1700+ only runs on a 266mhz bus which means that cheaper memory can be used. In that case XMS PC3200 256mbshould do fine. It cost $59 compaired to $92, so you can knock $33 off of the first price.

You must remember though that in order to benifit from the parts I suggested you must be willing to overclock.
The 1700+ is designed to run at 11x133, If you run the memory at 200mhz and the multiplyer at 7.5 you processor clock will remain nearly stock, but your memory bandwidth will be greatly increased (2.128GB/sec - 3.2GB/sec). However, the 1700+ is susposed to be a great overclocker so raising the multiplyer to 9 or 10 should be possible yielding a clock speed of around 2Ghz. Of course if you choose to go with the more expensive memory (PC3500) you should be able to get the fsb up to 217mhz.


Yet another option is to scrap both the 1700+ and the TT heatsink and go for a retail 2500+ barton, this would only add about $23 to the cost. The 2500+ also overclocks like crazy and with that I would recommend the PC3500. You could run the FSB at 217 and the multiplyer at 10.5 (2.278Ghz) With this set up you are almost guarantied to see some sub 2:00 WUs (very close to 12WU/day). Now that I have thought about it this is the way to go.

$423.23/12WU = 35.27/WU

 

[GtPrOjEcTX]

Originally posted by: IsOs
What's the initial investment for Dell that was mentioned above?

well for my system it was $880 minus $710 in rebates.

Now it would be about the same price, but without the rebates.

 

[BofRA]

Looks like around 315 shipped including video and cdrom all that would be needed is a harddrive, which if all it does is SETI then a 2-6 gig off FS/FT would work. This should do around 10 (or more depending on overclock) a day if I remember correctly. This chip should easily hit 10x200 if not 11x200. I have a 1700 runnning at 10x200 and it does about 10 a day. This chip should do more with the larger cache.

 

[GtPrOjEcTX]

for around $500 you could get a 2.4C w/ hyperthreading, OC it fairly well and put out 17-21 WU a day. ($25/WU)

 

[IsOs]

Originally posted by: GtPrOjEcTX
for around $500 you could get a 2.4C w/ hyperthreading, OC it fairly well and put out 17-21 WU a day. ($25/WU)

Can a single P4 2.4c cpu hyperthreading really produces 17-21 wu a day, running 24/7? Is there a place I can confirm this data?

 

[Wiz]

hmmm... and my little (from Newegg) 1700+ is sitting here running at 440mhz ddr = 2.2Ghz doing 2 hr WU's like they are going out of style.
Not bad for a $40 cpu eh?

Oh, and the 256 meg PC3200 Twinmos I got here on AT FS forum for $40 (thanks again Adeno) sits here & runs at timings of 3-2-2-2.0 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sure, you can get get faster more expensive cpu's & computers - but if you can get a refurb 8RDA+ for $65 - $70 & a 1700+ for $40 and some good quality ram for $40 you can't really go wrong there.
I put my old GF2 64meg vid card that runs 215/420 in there when I bought myself a GF4 Ti4200 for my main rig. The kids are pretty happy & I see no degradation in seti times no matter what they play.

Hyperthreading is very cool, but aren't those cpu's/mobos still kinda expensive?

 

[titanmiller]

How hot does it get in Hawaii? Air or even water cooling might have a tough time keeping it cool if the ambient temperature is 100º.

 

[Engineer]

The "cheapest" bang for the buck is usually Newegg "refurbs"...but there's always a chance that you could get a dud!

I picked up an XP2400 for $54.00 shipped....a GigaByte GA7-DX+ for $21.00 shipped and a 400 power supply for $13 shipped. Add in "Free after Rebate" ram from OfficeMax and a $12.00 HD purchased from For Sale/For Trade and the $8.95 SK6+ heatsink (already had fans)...and I've got a pretty cheap crucher (no case, rack mount) that is averaging 9 WU's per day (so far)...and that's with conservative memory timings and no overclock!

 

[Smoke]

Originally posted by: Engineer

....a GigaByte GA7-DX+ for $21.00 shipped ....

Ack, I just got one delivered yesterday and it is DOA except I paid $29. Now I have to pay to ship it back.

 

[MrBadidea]

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=637014

XP1700+ "B" cores, if one trace on top is cut, yous got a XP2400+ @ 2GHz...

12GHz for < $1300

I'm currently hunting for UK equivilent components & prices but I'm having trouble finding the motherboards atm.

 

[Bleep]

Look if all it is going to do is crunch Setu WU just a motherboard with everything onboard a small hard drive 128K memory and a CD temp hooked up for loading the OS, no case needed, if someone could figure out a way to run it on Knoppix you dont even need a hard drive. $150.00 or less.

Bleep

 

[IsOs]

Originally posted by: Bleep
Look if all it is going to do is crunch Setu WU just a motherboard with everything onboard a small hard drive 128K memory and a CD temp hooked up for loading the OS, no case needed, if someone could figure out a way to run it on Knoppix you dont even need a hard drive. $150.00 or less.

Bleep

It's going to be a work computer. That's why it needs to be stable. I'm trying to convince them to get/have build the fastest possible machine. No budget is setup, just whatever the owner will approve at presentation time.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[Bleep]

What would be the most cost efficient SETI cruncher you can recommend. It has to be stable and must work in a non-airconditioned office

from your starting post.

This

It's going to be a work computer. That's why it needs to be stable. I'm trying to convince them to get/have build the fastest possible machine. No budget is setup, just whatever the owner will approve at presentation time.

The last post puts a whole new perspective on what kind of system. No homebuilts, no refurb stuff for a office machine buy whatever will deliver the programs that is needed for the workplace and the crunching a secondary consideration

Bleep

 

[RaySun2Be]

MicroCenter here is selling refurb Compaq Presario 6410nx PCs, AMD XP 2ghz processor, 256M PC2100 DDR RAM, 60Gb HD, CD-RW/DVD with XP Home for $349.00 and they have a $5 off coupon, making the total without tax of $344.00.

Hate their laptops, but we used the Deskpro series of desktops, and they were solid. don't know about the Presario models.

 

[IsOs]

Thanks for all the info and replies.

The usual room temp in the office is in the mid 80F during the day. I tried to run one of the dual 1800+, they're ok and produces about 12 workunits a day. It did raised the temp to the 90s F by the desk that the computer is setup.

Will the Pentium 4 with hyperthreading enabled produces more workunits without raising the room temp?

 

[IsOs]

Based on the information provided by the people that replied to this thread, I've decided to give the Intel Pentium 4 2.4c a try. It will probably not going to be overclocked to the max, but would be run at the most stable state possible in a room without AC.

Is googlegear a wise place to order the RETAIL Intel cpu?

Again, Mahalo Nui Loa to all

 

[networkman]

Check your PM IsOs.