KieX's 1m² crunching farm

[KieX]

I have a tiny room with only enough space for 2 or 3 computer towers max (Have 3 ATM). Heat builds up with no airflow in room. But I have the funds and want to maximise my WCG and F@H output.

Please give me your opinion/advice. Thanks for reading/voting.


Update: So you seem what I mean by 1m² space to work with you can see the space I'm talking about here:

Spoiler

[Bo$$]

undervolting CPU and other components may help to reduce heat, or/and leave a small fan by the door

[(FIH) The Don]

Originally Posted by Bo$$

undervolting CPU and other components may help to reduce heat, or/and leave a small fan by the door

you do know what subforum this is right?

[garyinhere]

On the crunching side I'm upgrading to i7 hex's myself... I watch my numbers everyday and noticed my productivity really wasn't where i wanted it.
You might check going Matx to save some space.
As far as folding i feel ya on the heat problem. I'm folding on 7 cards and have to split my farm up. Some in the living room and some in the bedroom.(Don't know if this is an option for you?)... I'm also working on upgrading cards so i'm running all 460's too. You don't need the 1G cards due to card memory plays no part in folding or ppd's! Hopes this helps!

[KieX]

Originally Posted by Bo$$

undervolting CPU and other components may help to reduce heat, or/and leave a small fan by the door

They're already running on 3.8GHz with as little as 1.23v and use a big fan blowing out the window. But what I'm really after is increasing the output within the small confines.

Originally Posted by garyinhere

On the crunching side I'm upgrading to i7 hex's myself... I watch my numbers everyday and noticed my productivity really wasn't where i wanted it.
You might check going Matx to save some space.
As far as folding i feel ya on the heat problem. I'm folding on 7 cards and have to split my farm up. Some in the living room and some in the bedroom.(Don't know if this is an option for you?)... I'm also working on upgrading cards so i'm running all 460's too. You don't need the 1G cards due to card memory plays no part in folding or ppd's! Hopes this helps!

Wish I could use other parts of the house, but no chance, not really my house (only room is mine). Yeah I'm folding on 768MB Cyclone 460's too and planning to get the Zalman aftermarket cooler for the 480.

mATX may be something to look into.. managed to fit one inside a NZXT Vulcan with decent temps. Cheers

[Techtu]

Wise move would be to upgrade to hex core's I believe

[(FIH) The Don]

Originally Posted by Techtu

Wise move would be to upgrade to hex core's I believe

if he does go with 2 hexs then he might as well go with sr2 board,

[KieX]

Originally Posted by (FIH) The Don

if he does go with 2 hexs then he might as well go with sr2 board,

Not so straight forward really. 2 hex is still cheaper than 2 hex + sr2 Not to mention I would have to have it would take up easily the space of my 2 cases atm.

[Techtu]

Originally Posted by (FIH) The Don

if he does go with 2 hexs then he might as well go with sr2 board,

Ahhh true, that would make more sense, shame it had to be pointed out to me

Originally Posted by (FIH) The Don

if he does go with 2 hexs then he might as well go with sr2 board,

Yup.

Sell the quads to defray costs. Use memory in new rig.

That's a lot cash to spend on rigs though, especially if you're going to get 2 hex cores. It's great for the team but personally, I still feel guilty about getting a 950 that I didn't really need. I'm not criticizing btw. Just trying to provide a different perspective is all.

[garyinhere]

Originally Posted by twilyth

It's great for the team but personally, I still feel guilty about getting a 950 that I didn't really need. I'm not criticizing btw. Just trying to provide a different perspective is all.

That's part of the fun i think... I only use one rig daily and the others just sit being monitored. Getting a good proc is kind of a win win anyways. Less maintance and easier oc's. I justify my costs by the amount of help for the research i'm doing! By all means stay within a budget though there is no reason to be eating romen noodle soup for this. Even a duo core puts out work for research!

[KieX]

Originally Posted by twilyth

Yup.

Sell the quads to defray costs. Use memory in new rig.

That's a lot cash to spend on rigs though, especially if you're going to get 2 hex cores. It's great for the team but personally, I still feel guilty about getting a 950 that I didn't really need. I'm not criticizing btw. Just trying to provide a different perspective is all.

This time last year when I started I was unemployed and spent the crappy money I had on a quad for crunching. This year I have a payrise and giving it what I can. Who know's my fortunes can change so I believe in doing what you can when you can.

Yeah selling the quads would be part of the upgrade for any hex stuff. My biggest nightmare would be selling Silverstone FT02's.. they're quite expensive in shipping and difficult to sell

[f22a4bandit]

Kiex,

I'd invest in a fan similar to this model.

I'm not going to lie, these fans produce great airflow in a room, and keep it nice and chilly. Set it to oscillate and you're golden.

[MoonPig]

Kiex, can i just ask if you have seriously low cost electricity? Or are these at a company?

[AlienIsGOD]

build shelves in the room to house more mATX rigs, when out of space... build UP!!!

[Completely Bonkers]

Kiex, I would advise on you buying a 19" rack e.g. rittal, new or secondhand. Get some secondhand rack server cases, transfer your CPUs to the racks. It will be much easier to manage thermally, as well as physically. If your room has a door, a small vent at the top and bottom will also help "chimney" heat out of the small room.

[KieX]

Originally Posted by f22a4bandit

Kiex,

I'd invest in a fan similar to this model.

I'm not going to lie, these fans produce great airflow in a room, and keep it nice and chilly. Set it to oscillate and you're golden.

Are they better than the traditional fan on a stick kind? Would be a cheap solution to try

Originally Posted by MoonPig

Kiex, can i just ask if you have seriously low cost electricity? Or are these at a company?

Naa, I wish. It's currently about £110 a month for my farm alone. Although I'm in a position where that isn't an issue (thankfully)

[Techtu]

Originally Posted by MoonPig

Kiex, can i just ask if you have seriously low cost electricity? Or are these at a company?

He bypassed the mains...

[MoonPig]

Originally Posted by KieX

Naa, I wish. It's currently about £110 a month for my farm alone. Although I'm in a position where that isn't an issue (thankfully)

Ah ok. Was wondering if you getting free (or cheap-as-chip) power, i would make a deal with you . Nevermind though.

[garyinhere]

I'm thinking of going this route on my farm. Cheap cases, Stackable!, pretty good airflow.
Thermaltake Black SECC Japanese steel LANBOX Lite ...

[f22a4bandit]

Originally Posted by KieX

Are they better than the traditional fan on a stick kind? Would be a cheap solution to try



Naa, I wish. It's currently about £110 a month for my farm alone. Although I'm in a position where that isn't an issue (thankfully)

They are significantly better because the fan is larger and covers more area than a normal stick fan. Stick fans have the fan sit on top, while this fan covers the entire vented area.

[AlienIsGOD]

HAHA..thats my situation MoonPig. Where Im living the electric/heat/water is incl in my rent (which in itself isnt very much). if i had more $$$ i would slowly build my farm from 2 comps to at LEAST 4 comps, Hence the TPU B/S/T spending spree at Xmas

[(FIH) The Don]

Originally Posted by garyinhere

I'm thinking of going this route on my farm. Cheap cases, Stackable!, pretty good airflow.
Thermaltake Black SECC Japanese steel LANBOX Lite ...

have you ever had one ?

ive had 2 of them now, exsact model

crappy airflow, you do NOT wanna use something bigger than a dualcore in that case, it gets SO hot, trust me

theres only a 80mm in the front and 2 60mm in the back, really really bad for i7s and cpus that produce heat, + it cant really fit any cpu coolers,

do not go that route, it will be a waste of money

[garyinhere]

Originally Posted by (FIH) The Don

have you ever had one ?

ive had 2 of them now, exsact model

crappy airflow, you do NOT wanna use something bigger than a dualcore in that case, it gets SO hot, trust me

theres only a 80mm in the front and 2 60mm in the back, really really bad for i7s and cpus that produce heat, + it cant really fit any cpu coolers,

do not go that route, it will be a waste of money

No i'm shopping for htpc's thanks for the heads up!

[MoonPig]

Originally Posted by AlienIsGOD

HAHA..thats my situation MoonPig. Where Im living the electric/heat/water is incl in my rent (which in itself isnt very much). if i had more $$$ i would slowly build my farm from 2 comps to at LEAST 4 comps, Hence the TPU B/S/T spending spree at Xmas

I can cope with the bill, kinda. I changed some bulbs to 9w ones and it's actally countered the usage! lol. But, i need somewhere in my house where i can leave this comp. Want it running 24/7 and it's too loud when people are in my room, just looks weird... haha.