New hardware specs needed

ET_ · 2009-12-20, 14:48

My old, brave PC died yesterday.

I need a new box, ready to run 64 bit for GIMPS and factorization tasks.

I learnt a lot here: Intel i5 are the best (and cheapest) for LL, while AMDs work better with GMP.

My preferred software:

- mprime/Prime95
- msieve/GGNFS
- PFGW
- fermatGMP
- Sievers that use GMP/Geoff's implementation

I also noticed a big growth in GPU programming, so I could be interested in buying a graphic card on the leading edge (maybe I'll wait for GX300 to be released)

Limitations:

- 64 bit Linux should be run from a USB key.
- I have 2 GB of RAM DDR2-800 that I would like to maintain, eventually taking the system to 4GB.
- I must preserve my old Windows XP-32 bit partition, or upgrade it to 64 bit after the building of the system (My old HDs with Nero32 should keep as they are now)
- I would like to avoid spending money on the last, fastest CPU, and stay on the best bank-fro-buck system.
- I usually choose ASUS motherboards.

What I need:

- Some information about motherboard/CPU pairs giving their best with DDR2-800 and with PATA disc controllers.
- Some information on mounting XP86-64 over my old XP-32 without reinstalling the system from scratch (if ever possible).
- Comments and ideas...

Thanks to you all!

Luigi

moebius · 2009-12-20, 14:53

May he rest in peace, he certainly has done good service.

henryzz · 2009-12-20, 19:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by ET_

- Some information on mounting XP86-64 over my old XP-32 without reinstalling the system from scratch (if ever possible).

the upgrade version of windows 7-64 might install over xp-32 but i doubt xp-64 will install over xp-32
the retail version of vista ultimate(and quite probably win 7) had(maybe has still) an option to upgrade from 32-bit to 64-bit
i would recomend a new install though
edit: if you end up needing to leave xp skip vista and go straight to windows 7

nucleon · 2009-12-21, 12:58

You can't use DDR2 with corei5/i7s. Memory is cheap. i5 platform + DDR3 = win.

Win7 technically can install over vista but not XP, but it's like for like. Win7-32 over Vista-32 OR Win7-64 over Vista-64. But no one upgrades over the top anyhow - danger danger Wil Robinson. Of all the web pages I've read and people I've talked to - it's re-install if you want to upgrade windows version.

I haven't seen a motherboard over the last couple of years that can't boot from usb device.

I have a gigabyte ud5 mboard for my corei7-9xx, and it has a PATA port (I've also used it to boot from usb key). But I must admit, I only connect a CDrom up to the PATA port.

-- Craig

ET_ · 2009-12-21, 15:19

Thank you for your replies.

I'm biased towards the following system:

Asus P7P55 Deluxe
Intel Core I5 750
4 GB of DDR3 PC8500 RAM

Any links where I can study CUDA and GTX video boards use for distributed computing?

Luigi

2009-12-20, 14:48	#1
ET_ Banned "Luigi" Aug 2002 Team Italia 2·7·347 Posts	New hardware specs needed My old, brave PC died yesterday. I need a new box, ready to run 64 bit for GIMPS and factorization tasks. I learnt a lot here: Intel i5 are the best (and cheapest) for LL, while AMDs work better with GMP. My preferred software: - mprime/Prime95 - msieve/GGNFS - PFGW - fermatGMP - Sievers that use GMP/Geoff's implementation I also noticed a big growth in GPU programming, so I could be interested in buying a graphic card on the leading edge (maybe I'll wait for GX300 to be released) Limitations: - 64 bit Linux should be run from a USB key. - I have 2 GB of RAM DDR2-800 that I would like to maintain, eventually taking the system to 4GB. - I must preserve my old Windows XP-32 bit partition, or upgrade it to 64 bit after the building of the system (My old HDs with Nero32 should keep as they are now) - I would like to avoid spending money on the last, fastest CPU, and stay on the best bank-fro-buck system. - I usually choose ASUS motherboards. What I need: - Some information about motherboard/CPU pairs giving their best with DDR2-800 and with PATA disc controllers. - Some information on mounting XP86-64 over my old XP-32 without reinstalling the system from scratch (if ever possible). - Comments and ideas... Thanks to you all! Luigi

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2009-12-20, 14:53	#2
moebius Jul 2009 Germany 1010100000₂ Posts	May he rest in peace, he certainly has done good service.

2009-12-21, 12:58	#4
nucleon Mar 2003 Melbourne 5·103 Posts	You can't use DDR2 with corei5/i7s. Memory is cheap. i5 platform + DDR3 = win. Win7 technically can install over vista but not XP, but it's like for like. Win7-32 over Vista-32 OR Win7-64 over Vista-64. But no one upgrades over the top anyhow - danger danger Wil Robinson. Of all the web pages I've read and people I've talked to - it's re-install if you want to upgrade windows version. I haven't seen a motherboard over the last couple of years that can't boot from usb device. I have a gigabyte ud5 mboard for my corei7-9xx, and it has a PATA port (I've also used it to boot from usb key). But I must admit, I only connect a CDrom up to the PATA port. -- Craig

2009-12-21, 15:19	#5
ET_ Banned "Luigi" Aug 2002 Team Italia 2·7·347 Posts	Thank you for your replies. I'm biased towards the following system: Asus P7P55 Deluxe Intel Core I5 750 4 GB of DDR3 PC8500 RAM Any links where I can study CUDA and GTX video boards use for distributed computing? Luigi