Computer Upgrades

[sreilly]

Currently I need to start thinking about upgrading my observatory computer and to do so seems like a good time to consider upgrading the image processing computer and let its cpu and MB go into the observatory's computer. The CPU and MB in this computer is a 1st Gen i7-2600K 3.40GHz and ASUSTeK Computer INC. P8Z68-V PRO Rev 1. Currently I have 32GBs of RAM installed but if the new CPU's MB will use it I can re-install the 16GBs RAM I used before. So my real question here is what is the best of the newest CPUs available now for processing in PI? I use to base my selection on number of cores and GHz ratings but it seems that so much of the market seems to be based on gaming, of which I have no interest in. I suspect my best choices are between the newest i5s and i7s but again I'm interested in PI's optimization so I don't need two or three video card slots but would like to have several full PCI slots and several PCIe slots for add-on cards as needed. Most of the MB I've looked at are multiple video card enabled which to me is a waste of slots and expense. If and when the CPU and MB would migrate out to the observatory I would need to add at least one PCI 4 port serial card to handle the hardware and possibly some additional USB ports via an add-on card as I don't like using any USB hubs. The CPU choices have gotten a bit muddied for me to fully understand the best choices so any suggestions would be welcomed. I prefer to buy Intel CPUs and not the Extreme models that seem to be made for gaming.

Thanks,

[NGC7789]

The one thing you don't mention is budget. Assuming you have some constraint, I would say the i7 5930k is the best bang for the buck. PI can really use the 6 cores and the higher memory bandwidth. The memory in your current PC will not be compatible however. Hard drives and SSDs would be.

Are you building from scratch? You certainly don't have to put more than one graphics card in.

If you want integrated graphics you can go with the i7-6700K but then you've only got 4 cores.

Remember that just because something is marketed for gamers does not mean it is not useful for PI.

I would also consider Linux for maximum PI performance.

[sreilly]

The first problem I see is the lack of PCI slots on these MBs. While I have a respectable budget I can't see $200+ that has little expansion possibilities and this points at the gaming aspect. Most of these boards have 3-4 video card slots and maybe 1 PCIe slot if you're lucky. Most will support 64-128GBs of memory which I wonder if you can even get matched memory for that amount. I had to wait a very long time to get 32GBs matched.

[NGC7789]

Not sure what motherboard you are looking at but I'm pretty sure the slots for graphics cards and SSDs are the same slots. You can even find ITX boards that support the 5930 like this one:

http://m.newegg.com/Product?itemNumber=N82E16813157588&Keyword=2011%20v3%20mother%20boards%20itx

[sreilly]

The SSDs I use, Samsung Pro, use the SATA connectors.

[NGC7789]

Then it certainly sounds to me that you should be looking at mico-ATX or ITX motherboards for your needs. From your description you are looking at full ATX or even larger boards.

[lucchett]

Hi, Yes, micro atx should be fine.
Mine has 5 pci.
Just check the dimensions of your video card

Gaming usually means that a mb is fully over clockable and usually very performing.
With your nice cpu I don't think you need to overclock.
Just ensure you configure properly your Ram, disks/pci disks.

pS: this is my idea but an external sub hub is not very different from a pci hub. I prefere to have a 200€ industrial , wide temp range, external hub than rely on pc usb.this is a mith created by device makers to justify timing issues. Pc native sub ports are wired to an on board hub worths 20$.

[mads0100]

I run the high end 4k Imac.  32 gb of RAM... works really well and crushes my imaging.