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Message boards : Number crunching : Reliability of computer brands

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Profile robertmiles
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Message 29664 - Posted: 4 May 2013 | 6:26:13 UTC

I'm thinking of buying another computer. One possibility is an HP with one GTX 680; another is a Cyberpower with two GTX 680s. Do any of you have enough experience with at least one of these brands to comment on their reliability, when subjected to heavy BOINC usage?

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Message 29670 - Posted: 4 May 2013 | 10:15:18 UTC - in response to Message 29664.
Last modified: 4 May 2013 | 10:17:46 UTC

That's difficult to say, as OEM PCs are usually not build for continous load. And you don't want to step up to professional workstations, as these are easily 2 - 3 times more expensive.

You'd certainly want to watch out for god case cooling, though. either preinstalled fans or at least mounting points for additional ones. If the machine doesn't have them, forget it. EDIT: but no need to go for excessive amounts of fans. 2 to 3 fans with about 120 mm diameter at ~1000 rpm should do the job. The larger the better, i.e. the less fans you'll need and the better the airflow-to-noise ratio.

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Message 29727 - Posted: 7 May 2013 | 13:31:06 UTC - in response to Message 29664.

I'm thinking of buying another computer. One possibility is an HP with one GTX 680; another is a Cyberpower with two GTX 680s. Do any of you have enough experience with at least one of these brands to comment on their reliability, when subjected to heavy BOINC usage?

Find someone who builds computers in your area (or do it yourself). You'll need a good case with adequate airflow, a high quality power supply and a MB that has 2 properly spaced PCIe slots to start. Factory built boxes are generally substandard in the attributes listed above.

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Message 29728 - Posted: 7 May 2013 | 13:54:18 UTC - in response to Message 29727.
Last modified: 7 May 2013 | 13:57:32 UTC

I, for example, charge a fixed 40 bucks for building computers. Too bad I'm a bit far away.

Edit: Just read OP is an electronic engineer. No help needed from an electrical engineer lol

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Message 29801 - Posted: 10 May 2013 | 19:56:40 UTC

Extra cooling fans for OEM PCs? I just take off the side cover.
(These are used PCs in a very low-dust basement that only crunch Boinc projects)

My latest problem with a refurbished PC was not having enough power connectors for the GPU. But if that is all I have to deal with, I'll be very happy!

Also, back to the original question, I do not see any longevity differences between brands (HP, eMachine, etc.) Refurbished Dells tend to fail sooner, but I think they were used harder (offices) before they got to me.

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Message 29803 - Posted: 10 May 2013 | 21:32:43 UTC - in response to Message 29727.

I'm thinking of buying another computer. One possibility is an HP with one GTX 680; another is a Cyberpower with two GTX 680s. Do any of you have enough experience with at least one of these brands to comment on their reliability, when subjected to heavy BOINC usage?

Find someone who builds computers in your area (or do it yourself). You'll need a good case with adequate airflow, a high quality power supply and a MB that has 2 properly spaced PCIe slots to start. Factory built boxes are generally substandard in the attributes listed above.


+1

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Message 29808 - Posted: 10 May 2013 | 21:44:21 UTC - in response to Message 29801.

Extra cooling fans for OEM PCs? I just take off the side cover.
(These are used PCs in a very low-dust basement that only crunch Boinc projects)

My latest problem with a refurbished PC was not having enough power connectors for the GPU. But if that is all I have to deal with, I'll be very happy!

Also, back to the original question, I do not see any longevity differences between brands (HP, eMachine, etc.) Refurbished Dells tend to fail sooner, but I think they were used harder (offices) before they got to me.


Here is a little "mod" that can help keep the dust bunnies out when running with the side cover off. Go to your local Loews, HD, hardware store, whatever and buy some window mount type a/c filters. ( They look like very thin sponge about 1/4 inch thick)Also buy a roll of velcro tape. Place the prickly side of the velcro tape around the edges of your case. Place the a/c filter over the coverless side and press it into the velcro to hold it in place. Trim off any extra with scissors. If the case is too large for one filter glue 2 of them together. It ain't pretty but it works very well and won't restrict the cooling.

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Message 29915 - Posted: 14 May 2013 | 3:26:33 UTC

It might be a little bit off topic and better placed in Graphic Cards section, but I was not quite sure if I shall open a new thread, so I post it here:

A few days ago I stumbled over the news that PowerColor announces Radeon HD 7850 SCS3 Edition (passive cooling solution) on http://videocardz.com/41344/powercolor-announces-radeon-hd-7850-scs3-edition. As I life in a quite humid city and will move to the waterfront of the pacific shortly (even worse), I was wondering how I keep my clothes try in the wardrobe with BOINC. I used to dry my damp clothes in my study with the computer 24 h crunching climateprediction.net years ago, but they do not have constant workflow anymore, and the study will be gone, so the computer shall be in the “walking closet” in the bedroom, so it has to be a very silent solution. By the way a lot of people just put a 100 W light pulp in the wardrobe, but I thought it might be better to “burn” the 100 W by doing useful work for BOINC.

So I do have some specific questions: 1) Does anybody know if any Nvidia and its makers do have a passive cooling solution as well? 2) As this card is quite new and I do understand that some of you use ATI cards in other projects, I was wondering if there is some expediencies with “PowerColor Go! Green Series” (something like AX6750 1GBD5-NS3DHG) with a 24/7 BOINC application: Positive / negative?

And finally I was mulling over the possibility to buy a small fanless PC, and do some malariacontrol.net work, but there I am afraid that the 20 to 30 W for the hole system might not keep my clothes dry and budget is also a constraint. I do have some old PC which might be silent with a better/stronger PSU and the right CPU cooler, and such a passiv cooled GPU.

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Message 29918 - Posted: 14 May 2013 | 4:53:30 UTC - in response to Message 29915.
Last modified: 14 May 2013 | 4:56:16 UTC

It might be a little bit off topic and better placed in Graphic Cards section, but I was not quite sure if I shall open a new thread, so I post it here:

A few days ago I stumbled over the news that PowerColor announces Radeon HD 7850 SCS3 Edition (passive cooling solution) on http://videocardz.com/41344/powercolor-announces-radeon-hd-7850-scs3-edition. As I life in a quite humid city and will move to the waterfront of the pacific shortly (even worse), I was wondering how I keep my clothes try in the wardrobe with BOINC. I used to dry my damp clothes in my study with the computer 24 h crunching climateprediction.net years ago, but they do not have constant workflow anymore, and the study will be gone, so the computer shall be in the “walking closet” in the bedroom, so it has to be a very silent solution. By the way a lot of people just put a 100 W light pulp in the wardrobe, but I thought it might be better to “burn” the 100 W by doing useful work for BOINC.

So I do have some specific questions: 1) Does anybody know if any Nvidia and its makers do have a passive cooling solution as well? 2) As this card is quite new and I do understand that some of you use ATI cards in other projects, I was wondering if there is some expediencies with “PowerColor Go! Green Series” (something like AX6750 1GBD5-NS3DHG) with a 24/7 BOINC application: Positive / negative?

And finally I was mulling over the possibility to buy a small fanless PC, and do some malariacontrol.net work, but there I am afraid that the 20 to 30 W for the hole system might not keep my clothes dry and budget is also a constraint. I do have some old PC which might be silent with a better/stronger PSU and the right CPU cooler, and such a passiv cooled GPU.


You could try liquid cooling.

EDIT: Forgot to mention, there are nvidia card with passive cooling, but you do need adecent airflow to remove the heated air from the fins (thus, noise). And if you plan to run GPUGRID on it... no way.

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Message boards : Number crunching : Reliability of computer brands

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