Best Bang for the buck

[TLN]

Hi all.

Looks like pulling a trigger on T20 was not really good idea, at least I have some doubts about it now.
So, I'm looking into building new system, serving as NAS, some VM PCs, and some lab stuff.

Now I have HP Microserver G8 with E3-1265LV2, E3-1230V2, and T20 with possible upgrade to E3-1230V3.
I have 16 gigs for each microserver, but might move it to T20.
So this will be baseline for performance and quietness.

Now, if I want to upgrade, where I go?
Looks like E5-2670 is pretty popular: cheap and fast. I do really want a dual CPU system, but I don't really need one.
Wonder what are the other options?
What I need:
1 or 2 CPU. mATX case preferred for 1CPU.
32Gb ram or more (4 slots).
3-4 PCI-Slots, (x8 or x16). Two will be used for videocards, one for RAID Controller. 4th - for possible upgrades.

Another big question is the case: Good looking, quiet, space for 5-6 3.5" drives.
I have Microserver G8 and it's quite silent for me. I will probably put some better coolers/fans.
I'd also like to have horizontal mobo placement, but it seems there are only a few cases who can do it (corsair carbide, caselabs, thermaltake).

So, should I go for 2670 or there's some other options?

 

[Ramos]

Hi all.

Looks like pulling a trigger on T20 was not really good idea, at least I have some doubts about it now.
So, I'm looking into building new system, serving as NAS, some VM PCs, and some lab stuff.

Now I have HP Microserver G8 with E3-1265LV2, E3-1230V2, and T20 with possible upgrade to E3-1230V3.
I have 16 gigs for each microserver, but might move it to T20.
So this will be baseline for performance and quietness.

Now, if I want to upgrade, where I go?
Looks like E5-2670 is pretty popular: cheap and fast. I do really want a dual CPU system, but I don't really need one.
Wonder what are the other options?
What I need:
1 or 2 CPU. mATX case preferred for 1CPU.
32Gb ram or more (4 slots).
3-4 PCI-Slots, (x8 or x16). Two will be used for videocards, one for RAID Controller. 4th - for possible upgrades.

Another big question is the case: Good looking, quiet, space for 5-6 3.5" drives.
I have Microserver G8 and it's quite silent for me. I will probably put some better coolers/fans.
I'd also like to have horizontal mobo placement, but it seems there are only a few cases who can do it (corsair carbide, caselabs, thermaltake).

So, should I go for 2670 or there's some other options?

- Does wattage mean anything in the setup?

If not, then the 2670v1 sounds like your deal or you can even run it as a single CPU setup and add the other if the Wattage is justified, right?
(According to Patrick et.al they do scale down quite well though, but its still 2 x 120W TDP)

If yes, I would probably get a E3-1260L v5 and matching board. Its 310 euro/$ for 4 x 2.9/3.9turbo (damn!) @45W TDP.

- Is it (also) for gaming or are the gfx cards for GPU programming? (M-L, Folding etc)

There is the option of a 5820 CPU, little gamer little server little workstation. Add a SM boardAnd kinda cheap for the 6-core delivery at the top end. Will also eat ECC RAM iirc. 5820 should have enough lanes (28) for 2 gfx cards in SLI, but if you wanna add 3-4 later (mining rig or extreme gaming) then get a 5930 out the gate.

Edit: Case, I am partial for being in love with the Air 540. I love that cabinet from "the outside", but I don't own one. Yet.

 

[TLN]

- Does wattage mean anything in the setup?

If not, then the 2670v1 sounds like your deal or you can even run it as a single CPU setup and add the other if the Wattage is justified, right?
(According to Patrick et.al they do scale down quite well though, but its still 2 x 120W TDP)

If yes, I would probably get a E3-1260L v5 and matching board. Its 310 euro/$ for 4 x 2.9/3.9turbo (damn!) @45W TDP.

Yes, and no.
I don't feel like I want another 500W system for 24/7 in my small apartment. On the other hand it will scale down without load. Need to find balance between those two.

Currently I have HP with 1265Lv2 and T20 with possible 1230V3 upgrade.
1230V3 will be definitely faster, but there are options like 2670 which is way more powerful for pretty much same money. Add cost of ram RDIMM vs UDIMM and this gets quite complicated.

- Is it (also) for gaming or are the gfx cards for GPU programming? (M-L, Folding etc)

Two videocard for display output from 2VMs. This will be low-end videocards, now I'm using Dell Radeon HD8490.

There is the option of a 5820 CPU, little gamer little server little workstation. Add a SM boardAnd kinda cheap for the 6-core delivery at the top end. Will also eat ECC RAM iirc. 5820 should have enough lanes (28) for 2 gfx cards in SLI, but if you wanna add 3-4 later (mining rig or extreme gaming) then get a 5930 out the gate.

Need to check the prices, this probably fits between systems based on e3-1230v3 and e5-2670v1. I'd probably go for low and quiet or powerful and pricey.

Edit: Case, I am partial for being in love with the Air 540. I love that cabinet from "the outside", but I don't own one. Yet.

But how can i put say 6x3.5" drives there and keep em cool?

 

[Ramos]

Currently I have HP with 1265Lv2 and T20 with possible 1230V3 upgrade.
1230V3 will be definitely faster, but there are options like 2670 which is way more powerful for pretty much same money. Add cost of ram RDIMM vs UDIMM and this gets quite complicated.

How about selling the T20 and getting a E3-1260L v5 rig then? ... It can run hot when it needs to and scale down to 45W when idling. I just made a test build on paper for myself and it comes in at just under 900 euro/usd/WesternMonies per machine (assuming 250GB 950 Pros so it can probably get down to about 600 monies) . The MB said it had 11 CPU phases, which means (afaik) that it will get way less hot on the MB itself, requiring less cooling and thus less noise and total wattage.

If you wanted to go 2670v1, you could just buy 1, leave one on a shelf and see how it goes with power consumption vs need and load on cores and then make up you mind after watching that for a month if you wanna plug the other one in at all or sell it?

But how can i put say 6x3.5" drives there and keep em cool?

Air 540,

I like it cause finally the PSU can sit out of the way and not have GPU and PSU blow air in the way of each other. It is also built for high airflow and it's cubic so you can use it as a stand/table with mods.

6 x 3.5 HDD, I use one of these that eats 2x 5.25 in my old case (not a 540), and gives me 3 x 3.5. The Icydock 973 one.

But since you probably aren't gonna swap 3.5 HDD disks like they were big diskettes/cartridges from the 1990s you might wanna use another case entirely. I just read "emphasis on cool" and my mind flicked to that cage before realizing it isn't the best for 3.5's. I just hate cases where the PSU and GPU fight each other to breathe.

Try a cheap server barebone thingy with 8 slots for 3.5s?

Others on this forum have way more experience with those than I do, so I hope they can recommend a good case for that.

 

[TLN]

How about selling the T20 and getting a E3-1260L v5 rig then? ... It can run hot when it needs to and scale down to 45W when idling. I just made a test build on paper for myself and it comes in at just under 900 euro/usd/WesternMonies per machine (assuming 250GB 950 Pros so it can probably get down to about 600 monies) . The MB said it had 11 CPU phases, which means (afaik) that it will get way less hot on the MB itself, requiring less cooling and thus less noise and total wattage.

1260L v5?
I doubt this will outperform 1230 v3 (non L). Even if it will be faster I need to but DDR4 memory(pricey).

If you wanted to go 2670v1, you could just buy 1, leave one on a shelf and see how it goes with power consumption vs need and load on cores and then make up you mind after watching that for a month if you wanna plug the other one in at all or sell it?

Looks like this is the only other option.

I like it cause finally the PSU can sit out of the way and not have GPU and PSU blow air in the way of each other. It is also built for high airflow and it's cubic so you can use it as a stand/table with mods.

6 x 3.5 HDD, I use one of these that eats 2x 5.25 in my old case (not a 540), and gives me 3 x 3.5. The Icydock 973 one.

But since you probably aren't gonna swap 3.5 HDD disks like they were big diskettes/cartridges from the 1990s you might wanna use another case entirely. I just read "emphasis on cool" and my mind flicked to that cage before realizing it isn't the best for 3.5's. I just hate cases where the PSU and GPU fight each other to breathe.

I totally like that idea too.
I like the idea of window in case, especialy for dual CPU systems.
I was thinking of V21 vs Corsair 240 vs Caselabs S5 or X9 vs Corsair 540 vs caselabs S8.
I also like the horizontal mobo placement in TT or caselabs: PSU and extra stuff in botton part, top part for motherboard + GPU. Drives take all the panel in front, top or bottom with SAS backplane (less cables). This would be my perfect case.

 

[Ramos]

1260L v5?
I doubt this will outperform 1230 v3 (non L). Even if it will be faster I need to but DDR4 memory(pricey).

Hmm, hadn't thought of that, it just sounded fast for the wattage. I have been hammered on the electric bill for years now with a TDP 130W CPU, to way more than was invested in the system, so biased heavily towards low watts myself.

Is the local price for DDR3 vs DDR4 really that bad in the US, or do you buy it used?

My market (mainly Germany) is, when searching for 32 GB kits and above, while sorting for lowest €/GB price, I get the following Top list for the 3 main categories,

Standard
DDR4 - €101
4x8 Crucial DIMM Kit 32GB, DDR4-2133, CL15 (CT4K8G4DFD8213)
DDR3 - €110
4x8 Mushkin Essentials DIMM Kit 32GB, DDR3-1333, CL9-9-9-24 (994017)


ECC
DDR4 - €195 (193 as 64 GB in 4x16)
2x16 Crucial DIMM Kit 32GB, DDR4-2133, CL15, ECC (CT2K16G4WFD8213)

DDR3 - €195
4x8 Kingston ValueRAM Intel DIMM Kit 32GB, DDR3-1600, CL11, ECC (KVR16E11K4/32I)


Reg ECC
DDR4 - €181 (Slightly cheaper as 64)
2x16 Crucial DIMM Kit 32GB, DDR4-2133, CL15, reg ECC (CT2K16G4RFD4213)

DDR3 - €195 (191 as 64 GB in 4x16)
2x16 Kingston ValueRAM DIMM Kit 32GB, DDR3-1333, CL9, reg ECC (KVR13R9D4K2/32)


LRDIMM - €432/2 = 216 (Only avail in 64+)
2x32 Crucial LRDIMM Kit 64GB, DDR4-2400, CL17, ECC (CT2K32G4LFD424A)

 

[TLN]

Hmm, hadn't thought of that, it just sounded fast for the wattage. I have been hammered on the electric bill for years now with a TDP 130W CPU, to way more than was invested in the system, so biased heavily towards low watts myself.

Well, I see a difference between dual CPU @130W and single CPU @80W.
But I don't think it will be a huge difference between single CPU @80W and single CPU @45W.
Considering it will be idle pretty much all the time.

Is the local price for DDR3 vs DDR4 really that bad in the US, or do you buy it used?

I've bought new UDIMM DDR3 ECC: 16Gb for $100-120 (I got two). Say $240 for 32Gb
RDIMM DDR3 is for sale 64Gb for 185$ on ebay now.

DDR4 is around $470-500 for 64 gigs.

So i can grab twice as much memory for same money, and faster.

If there's MATX LGA2011 boards with 4 full length PCI slots? I'm leaning towards single CPU matx solution at this point.