josmabones Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 I want to build my first box. I need a processing slave for 3D rendering. Can anyone suggest the most pared back system with the most processing power and the least cost - easy ask eh? 1. Do I even need a video card? The software I use for networked rendering doesn't use open GL to render - only processors, the machine will be accessed with remote desktop so do I even need a video card? Could I set up the machine using the GTX 285 out of my mac pro then pull it out when it's all up and running? I have no idea what happens to a machine with no video card - can it even render a desktop for VNC? 2. Don't need a DVD/CD rom 3. What kind of processor vs price? Am happy to balance processor performance/price. Although I have noticed my macbook pro's i7 is only a little bit slower than my Mac Pro's 8 core Xenon which is awesome but I understand that will come at a price. 4. How many processors can I fit into one box? More cores the better. Am I better off setting up two boxes with cheaper pars? 5. Networking Would prefer wifi so I can put the box anywhere in the studio, do I need ethernet for set up? 6. Sleep I would like it to seep and wake via WOL is this possible? 7. Hard Drive I have a spare 250gb HD lying around, I believe its 3GBs SATA Or, can you run the system off a USB stick? - small quiet, cheap to run 8. RAM I only need 2 or 4gb to start with - the render software is 32bit so It'll only access 2gb anyway 9. Audio none 10. Software 10.8 ideally Thanks for looking! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3.14r2 Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 1. You could get a MB with a build-in VGA (some Intel buiild-in cards do work in OS X). 3. Ideally Xeons, or i7 with 4-6 cores, if on tight budget when i5 (it all depends on how often you would use it and how complicated render scenes are). More info here. 4. AFAIK you can only use Xeon CPUs for multi CPU system (one MB with multiple CPUs on it). i7, i5, i3 are not designed (intentionally I guess) to be used side by side on a single MB. IMO it is better to have one PC with 4 cores CPU, then two PCs with 2 core CPU each. And it would be cheaper (consider the price to pay for a double quantity of parts needed for two separate PCs). 5. AFAIK LAN is better (speed wise) over WiFi when transferring big single files (like 4Gb DVD ISO image or some backup image). Most likely WiFi would do. Sure if you are concerned about security, then LAN is a way to go. On the other hand most MBs come with a buil-in LAN. Some may have WiFi as well. 6. HDD would be better then USB. Not sure if SSD would make any sense in here. Just my 5cnt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josmabones Posted February 1, 2013 Author Share Posted February 1, 2013 awesome thanks for your thoughts, I'm researching as we speak Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josmabones Posted February 4, 2013 Author Share Posted February 4, 2013 Okay I've done some more research, does anyone think I'll have any problems with the below components? Or suggestions if there's a faster, cheaper, more compatible option... MotherBoard $120 MSI Z77MA-G45 http://www.newegg.co...902415&SID= Processor $289 Core i7-3770 http://www.newegg.co...N82E16819116502 I decided on this processor - great bang for buck, should be as fast as my 8 core xeon mac pro by the look of CPU bench marks Case $30 Rosewill FBM-01 http://www.newegg.co...N82E16811147123 PS $18 LOGISYS Computer PS550ABK http://www.newegg.co...N82E16817170010 Is this going to be loud and horrible? it's pretty cheap. I figure if I buy a larger PS I can put a video card in the box later If I want to. RAM $89 CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB DDR3 1600 http://www.newegg.co...N82E16820233310 Decided to use more ram incase I decide to render frames with the 64 bit camera, and this way I can add another 16 in the future. I don't really know about what brand is good or {censored}, any suggestions? I want to keep it cheapish though. HD I have a few 250gb SATA drives sitting around Cooling? There is no GPU but do I need any extra cooling?? The case has 1 x Rear 80mm Fan 1 x Front 120mm Fan, is this enough? Do I also need CPU Heatsinks? Total price so far. $546 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3.14r2 Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 The PSU doesn't seem quite good to me (I'm tad paranoid about power supplies as too many had failed on me) . How about this one? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371030 It has 3 years warranty. And it has a big fan (should be quite). There is no GPU but do I need any extra cooling?? The case has 1 x Rear 80mm Fan 1 x Front 120mm Fan, is this enough? Do I also need CPU Heatsinks?I guess these stock fans should be enough (though I bet they will be quite noisy). CPU usually come bundled with heatsink/fan, so no need to buy any additional unless you plan do overclocking or need a silent cooling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josmabones Posted February 4, 2013 Author Share Posted February 4, 2013 thanks I'll take your advice about the PSU - and it's grey so it might look better if I get round to putting the whole thing inside my old g5 box Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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