Suggestions for a very stable RAM/CPU/MOBO combination

High-Performance Computing Workstations & Servers
1

I am looking into getting a surprise upgrade for a system that will be used for scientific computing and programming. I am wondering if anyone has experience with very low error X99 systems with a budget of about $800.

Wendell’s video about prevalent recoverable PCI-E related errors make me wonder which boards and CPUs on the platform are better suited for heavy compute. And given its burn in will be computing a new kind of sequence I’m researching and various transformation operations on it, compute power and accuracy are very important to its completion.

Also, first time on here. Be gentle.

2

Will this have just a CPU or will there be a powerful GPU along with it?

Asrock has a server grade mobo and there are some CPUs out there. You will want an sevre mobo so you can take advantage of ECC ram. I'm not on my computer so I cant build a pcpart list.

3

More of my work tends to work better with CPU power, so I'll be reusing my R9 270X.

4

Here's what I have at the moment:

https://pcpartpicker.com/user/anadon/saved/#view=Dr9Pxr

5

Hmm, and i7-XXXXK will not be needed, if you don't OC, it'll be useless, if you do, you will introduce errors.

The best thing to do is to grab something like this: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/TVb6Vn

I'm having a ton of trouble working within your 800 USD budget. I'd personally want ECC ram too.

6

If need be, I'll just have to spend more. I don't have space for an EATX case at the moment, so WS mother boards aren't a real option.

Does this look better?

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/zXWdWZ

7

Are you sure...? I assume error free means error free, which ECC would help with.

That build looks a lot more reasonable.

8

OH CRAP -- forgot that option when picking RAM. LPT -- your judgement is worse after extended sleep deprivation.

9

I'm just going to have to suck up paying more. Here's the build: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/yR7BHx

10

Is there anything else I should know about the build or what it'd doing? I feel that 64 GB of RAM might be a little bit of an overkill, unless your simulations are larger than I expect them to be.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/bdmpnQ

Here is a revised version of yours, I cut the mobo down to a Extreme 3, and gave you a 1x16GB RAM kit, that you can upgrade as you need more. Cheap but reliable PSU, cheap but decent CPU cooler, dead cheap case that I would never use (I'd personally salvage one if you can, lol), and an SSD. If you are nice to the rig, and don't install games or whatever on it, the SSD should serve you just fine, and act as a decent overflow for your RAM until you can upgrade. I assumed that you can get an OS and the peripherals on your own.

Damn, this rig would be nice to render on.

11

This is an upgrade, not a replacement. Alot of what I'm doing already is compilation and combinatorics computing. I have use for TB's of RAM, so 64GB is nice, but a pittance when a program goes awry.

I already have graphics, primary storage (SSD), secondary storage (RAID 1 BTRFS 4TB drives), video card, CPU cooler, 750W PSU, H440 case, etc. It's purely a CPU, MOBO, RAM upgrade.

Once this gets chugging along, I have a few million tests to run and collect data for.

12

Ahh, got ya. Then your previous build is perfect, though you can still go to an Extreme 3 if you are strapped on money.

Wonderful case choice by the way, freaking love the H440, but my Antec 900 hasn't self destructed yet, so no upgrade. :P

13

There are some changes I wish they made to the H440. I'd like a scratch resistant glass pane with small wires going through it rather than the acrylic, support for EATX, and more room behind the MOBO tray for cable management. OH, and an integrated fan controller, not the ON/OFF one they provide.

I'd like to keep with the extreme 4 for USB 3.1, but it may not be that big of a deal TBH.

14

Thanks for the help!

15

No problem~