Dream Build

cappy95833 · 2014-03-27, 23:14

I have noticed that my system isn't quite up to snuff when it comes to doing really big numbers for mersenne primes. It is esimated that it will take about 30 days for me to do an LL test for ~69mil exponent.

I am in the process of getting a new computer and just wanted to know, if money was no object. what would be the best setup for raw number crunching for programs like prime95 or other mersenne testing programs? Would it be something like a server with 30+ cores and 100's of gigs of ram or is there a performance bottleneck right now that is a virtual limit on performance? just wondering so I don't waste money on a computer if a $2000 machine will do the same as a $20,000 server build.

kracker · 2014-03-28, 00:03

My two cents, wait a few months for Haswell-E to come out. Also, are you going/planning to use GPU's?

cappy95833 · 2014-03-28, 00:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by kracker

My two cents, wait a few months for Haswell-E to come out. Also, are you going/planning to use GPU's?

I think it would be cool to have a few of the nVidia Tesla K40 compute cards in the computer (if I was dreaming, lol)

But right now, this is just more for dreaming to see what people think would be the best setup for prime hunting and if there people think there is a limit to how fast the computer could process primes with unlimited compute power. (I.E. is there a place at which adding more ram/processer speed stops making a difference in how quickly the tests will run)

Thanks for the quick reply kracker.

Batalov · 2014-03-28, 02:26

...but if one can dream a dream computer, then the next thing one dreams of is finding that coveted largest prime number in the world and then wakes up and has a wonderful day! All one needs is a positive attitude.

"If you want to be happy, be so." (Frequently misattributed to Count Leo Tolstoy. Actually, this aphorism is Prutkov's.)

axn · 2014-03-28, 07:31

Probably the sweet spot for high-end crunching is i7-4930K, paired with fast DDR3-2400 RAM. http://ark.intel.com/products/family...essors/desktop

tha · 2014-03-28, 08:26

Unfortunatly, each dollar spent quickly becomes wasted. Supercomputers will only work for four to five years and than have to go to the shredder. It will be cheaper to buy a new machine than to continue using the old one, because of electricity use.

So, if you want to optimise for GIMPS the best strategy would be to write off your system in four years time. (My most current system is about 7 years old now.)

But indeed, Haswell-E is what everyone is eager to see and have been eagerly anticipating for quite some time now. Of course, in combination with a X99 chipset motherboard to remove the memory bottleneck

kracker · 2014-03-28, 08:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by tha

But indeed, Haswell-E is what everyone is eager to see and have been eagerly anticipating for quite some time now. Of course, in combination with a X99 chipset motherboard to remove the memory bottleneck

Huh? There are other chipsets for Haswell-E? Also, the chipset has nothing directly to do with performance of the CPU. Think "features"~~(And that includes quad memory but you get my point)~~.

EDIT: Ah, screw that, the chipset has nothing to do with the memory controller, it was put on the CPU from the chipset for Haswell.

Chuck · 2014-03-28, 13:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by tha

Unfortunatly, each dollar spent quickly becomes wasted. Supercomputers will only work for four to five years and than have to go to the shredder. It will be cheaper to buy a new machine than to continue using the old one, because of electricity use.

So, if you want to optimise for GIMPS the best strategy would be to write off your system in four years time.

GPUs do extend the working life a bit — my now old i7-970 is only half the speed of a new machine BUT I have upgraded the GPU(s) three times from GTX480 to GTX580 to 2 GTX 690 and the machine is still a top producer.

TheMawn · 2014-03-28, 17:39

GPU's are your best bang for buck. Grab $300-$400 worth of GPU's and you'll be in the top-100 yearly pretty quick.

The next generation of Intel's enthusiast processors will be nice. Make sure to get fast memory as that is pretty much the bottleneck. But overall, more, cheaper machines are a better idea than some super ultra mega computer.

kracker · 2014-03-29, 05:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck

GPUs do extend the working life a bit — my now old i7-970 is only half the speed of a new machine BUT I have upgraded the GPU(s) three times from GTX480 to GTX580 to 2 GTX 690 and the machine is still a top producer.

Hey... a i7-970 isn't bad at all!

Chuck · 2014-03-29, 15:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by kracker

Hey... a i7-970 isn't bad at all!

I think I will get a Haswell-E and then I can revive the GTX-580 that is resting in the closet.

2014-03-27, 23:14	#1
cappy95833 Mar 2014 3₁₆ Posts	Dream Build I have noticed that my system isn't quite up to snuff when it comes to doing really big numbers for mersenne primes. It is esimated that it will take about 30 days for me to do an LL test for ~69mil exponent. I am in the process of getting a new computer and just wanted to know, if money was no object. what would be the best setup for raw number crunching for programs like prime95 or other mersenne testing programs? Would it be something like a server with 30+ cores and 100's of gigs of ram or is there a performance bottleneck right now that is a virtual limit on performance? just wondering so I don't waste money on a computer if a $2000 machine will do the same as a $20,000 server build.

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2014-03-28, 00:03	#2
kracker ἀβουλία "Mr. Meeseeks" Jan 2012 California, USA 100001111001₂ Posts	My two cents, wait a few months for Haswell-E to come out. Also, are you going/planning to use GPU's?

2014-03-28, 02:26	#4
Batalov "Serge" Mar 2008 Phi(4,2^7658614+1)/2 10010000101110₂ Posts	...but if one can dream a dream computer, then the next thing one dreams of is finding that coveted largest prime number in the world and then wakes up and has a wonderful day! All one needs is a positive attitude. "If you want to be happy, be so." (Frequently misattributed to Count Leo Tolstoy. Actually, this aphorism is Prutkov's.)

2014-03-28, 07:31	#5
axn Jun 2003 1001011101101₂ Posts	Probably the sweet spot for high-end crunching is i7-4930K, paired with fast DDR3-2400 RAM. http://ark.intel.com/products/family...essors/desktop

2014-03-28, 08:26	#6
tha Dec 2002 1100100011₂ Posts	Unfortunatly, each dollar spent quickly becomes wasted. Supercomputers will only work for four to five years and than have to go to the shredder. It will be cheaper to buy a new machine than to continue using the old one, because of electricity use. So, if you want to optimise for GIMPS the best strategy would be to write off your system in four years time. (My most current system is about 7 years old now.) But indeed, Haswell-E is what everyone is eager to see and have been eagerly anticipating for quite some time now. Of course, in combination with a X99 chipset motherboard to remove the memory bottleneck

2014-03-28, 17:39	#9
TheMawn May 2013 East. Always East. 11·157 Posts	GPU's are your best bang for buck. Grab $300-$400 worth of GPU's and you'll be in the top-100 yearly pretty quick. The next generation of Intel's enthusiast processors will be nice. Make sure to get fast memory as that is pretty much the bottleneck. But overall, more, cheaper machines are a better idea than some super ultra mega computer.