Considering building a PC/server for factoring/projects

Plutie · 2021-01-23, 00:34

I've got a part list, but would like to know if this is reasonable for running fast ECM/NFS jobs. The CPU is old, but performance is still extremely good compared to my current PC.

https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/list/VcG6PV

Advice would be appreciated (especially if there's a similar setup for better performance or price), since this would be my first very high-power build.

VBCurtis · 2021-01-23, 03:49

What you've got there is nearly exactly my HP Z620 workstation. They go for about $1000 on ebay in similar configuration (though not with dual 4TB drives, more like a 1TB or 750GB).

I'd trust a used HP for quality and component durability over building my own, especially if I could save $300ish doing so. I've run a Z600 (sandy bridge generation, 6-core per socket max) for about 3 years now, and the Z620 has run for 2 yrs.

If you have the budget for it, Z640 is haswell-generation and DDR4; I'd buy a dual-CPU one of those, or a Z840, if I wanted to spend $1000-1200 on a NFS machine right now. The Z840 is a bigger case with more DDR slots but the same CPU family.

ECM runs pretty well on anything- it's not very memory-bandwidth hungry, and it makes good use of hyperthreads. It's pretty reasonable to get an old Xeon for the tasks you're interested in- and I'm not just saying that because I made the exact-same choice for silicon.

Plutie · 2021-01-23, 04:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by VBCurtis

What you've got there is nearly exactly my HP Z620 workstation. They go for about $1000 on ebay in similar configuration (though not with dual 4TB drives, more like a 1TB or 750GB).

I'd trust a used HP for quality and component durability over building my own, especially if I could save $300ish doing so. I've run a Z600 (sandy bridge generation, 6-core per socket max) for about 3 years now, and the Z620 has run for 2 yrs.

Thank you for the recommendation. I would personally rather build it myself, but if I can find a good enough deal, then I will probably get one. I have pretty specific things I am looking for in a system though, (extra RAM, more disk space) so I may stick with a custom system if I cannot find any decent deals for other PCs.

VBCurtis · 2021-01-23, 05:04

I just noticed your location in Montreal, and the partpicker page was Canadian. If those prices were Canadian (as one would expect), then your parts list is about $1250 USD and by the time an $1100 USD Ebay machine is shipped across the border you won't save anything, let alone the $300 I thought you would.

Sorry for not paying closer attention.

2021-01-23, 00:34	#1
Plutie Dec 2020 Montreal 2⁴ Posts	Considering building a PC/server for factoring/projects I've got a part list, but would like to know if this is reasonable for running fast ECM/NFS jobs. The CPU is old, but performance is still extremely good compared to my current PC. https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/list/VcG6PV Advice would be appreciated (especially if there's a similar setup for better performance or price), since this would be my first very high-power build. Last fiddled with by Plutie on 2021-01-23 at 01:01 Reason: clarification

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Factoring projects algorithms - What is Aliqueit ?	Romuald	Factoring	75	2016-08-27 09:46
Links to Factoring Projects	rogue	Factoring	20	2014-11-19 01:08
Server Factoring	Complex33	PrimeNet	3	2003-10-13 16:45
Memory usage of various factoring projects...	Xyzzy	Factoring	3	2003-08-23 21:10
ERROR 7:Server has run out of exponents to assign(factoring)	dsouza123	Software	4	2003-01-14 11:10

2021-01-23, 03:49	#2
VBCurtis "Curtis" Feb 2005 Riverside, CA 4,673 Posts	What you've got there is nearly exactly my HP Z620 workstation. They go for about $1000 on ebay in similar configuration (though not with dual 4TB drives, more like a 1TB or 750GB). I'd trust a used HP for quality and component durability over building my own, especially if I could save $300ish doing so. I've run a Z600 (sandy bridge generation, 6-core per socket max) for about 3 years now, and the Z620 has run for 2 yrs. If you have the budget for it, Z640 is haswell-generation and DDR4; I'd buy a dual-CPU one of those, or a Z840, if I wanted to spend $1000-1200 on a NFS machine right now. The Z840 is a bigger case with more DDR slots but the same CPU family. ECM runs pretty well on anything- it's not very memory-bandwidth hungry, and it makes good use of hyperthreads. It's pretty reasonable to get an old Xeon for the tasks you're interested in- and I'm not just saying that because I made the exact-same choice for silicon.

2021-01-23, 05:04	#4
VBCurtis "Curtis" Feb 2005 Riverside, CA 1241₁₆ Posts	I just noticed your location in Montreal, and the partpicker page was Canadian. If those prices were Canadian (as one would expect), then your parts list is about $1250 USD and by the time an $1100 USD Ebay machine is shipped across the border you won't save anything, let alone the $300 I thought you would. Sorry for not paying closer attention.