Building an computer out of old parts

Message boards : Number crunching : Building an computer out of old parts
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Message 1725958 - Posted: 15 Sep 2015, 14:10:03 UTC

I have tons and tons of old parts laying around at home. I was thinking about building a computer to do some chrunshing.

I have a few GPU's ( GFX carts) Laying around. Would there be any idea in installing more then one? They are all nvidia cards, but not the same model.

Will Boinc still be able to work on all of them?
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Ulrich Metzner
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Message 1725967 - Posted: 15 Sep 2015, 15:04:50 UTC

As always, it depends... ;)

First check if the GPUs support CUDA: https://developer.nvidia.com/cuda-gpus
Then check out the compatibility issues with older (pre Fermi) GPUs here in this forum.
Finally you have to configure BOINC to use all GPUs.

But i think the biggest problem is to get enough slots and current supply for the GFX cards, because most boards only support one GPU.
I myself have 2 Nvidia cards running, one in a PCI-Ex16 slot and another in a (plain) PCI slot. They both play well together.
Aloha, Uli

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Message 1725970 - Posted: 15 Sep 2015, 15:10:55 UTC

One thing to be aware of, is that older cards/systems tend to use more power. More modern devices have a higher output for less electricity. There is always a balance of cost of new equipment vs a higher electric bill. I higher electric bill is a lower up front cost, but continues as long as crunching continues. New equipment costs more up front, but is more cost effective and crunches more in the long run. Each situation is different.

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Message 1727807 - Posted: 22 Sep 2015, 7:46:25 UTC - in response to Message 1725970.  

One thing to be aware of, is that older cards/systems tend to use more power. More modern devices have a higher output for less electricity. There is always a balance of cost of new equipment vs a higher electric bill. I higher electric bill is a lower up front cost, but continues as long as crunching continues. New equipment costs more up front, but is more cost effective and crunches more in the long run. Each situation is different.

Steve

yeah, that doesn't work so GOOD for GPUs...& new CPUs!
they are efficient about doing a job right...but are POWER HUNGRY also!
;)


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Message 1727891 - Posted: 22 Sep 2015, 14:24:10 UTC - in response to Message 1725970.  

One thing to be aware of, is that older cards/systems tend to use more power. More modern devices have a higher output for less electricity. There is always a balance of cost of new equipment vs a higher electric bill. I higher electric bill is a lower up front cost, but continues as long as crunching continues. New equipment costs more up front, but is more cost effective and crunches more in the long run. Each situation is different.

Steve

In doing the hardware to power cost. I normally find that the power savings take much longer to "pay" for the new hardware then the time it would be used. At least for single machines. Upgrading a small fleet of old hardware could possibly save enough money to pay for itself quickly.
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Message boards : Number crunching : Building an computer out of old parts


 
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