New to folding! Hello!

[WestX64]

Okay, what do you all think about this?:

Case = Corsair Obsidian 750D
Motherboard = GIGABYTE GA-Z97X-SOC
Motherboard link = http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813128705
GPUX4 = FOUR EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti Superclocked (does not use 6 pin power connector)
PSU = Rosewill TACHYON-550 550W 80 PLUS PLATINUM
Memory = G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 1600Mhz
CPU = Intel Core i7-4790S
CPU Cooler = Noctua NH-U12S
SSD = SAMSUNG 840 EVO 120Gb

Would four GTX 750 Ti fit in that case? Think I should throw in some extra case fans with that many cards? Would that PSU be enough? In total, this build would cost $1,600 and would have FOUR GPU slots and ONE CPU slot (CPU:4). So there would be FIVE slots folding total...

[jrweiss]

280 Watts for the GPUs + 65 W for the CPU = 345 W for major components. Call it 400 W total. That's 72% of its rated 550W continuous load -- well within the 80% desirable max.

Dunno if 4 x 750 Ti's will work. If you try, I'd add at least 1 140mm intake fan in the bottom. You might want to add an exhaust fan in one of the top slots, too.

[WestX64]

Dunno if 4 x 750 Ti's will work.

Why do you say that? Just because of the heat output? I see people with quad SLI configurations with GTX 780 Tis, how do they keep it cool enough? And I do plan to have a bottom intake fan, probably a Noctua running at 100% all the time.

[jrweiss]

I doubt the heat will be a problem. OTOH, I suspect all those 780s exhaust through their backplanes...

I just have no experience with multiple GPUs, nor do I have any experience with the 9-series chipset and its PCIe layout.

[WestX64]

I see... I would really like to try it as that machine would handle many more slots and pump out way more PPD at a rather marginal price increase (considering). However, I'm afraid to try it as then I'd be out $1,600 =/

[jrweiss]

Looking at specs only, you should have no trouble with 3x 750 Ti's. It appears the 4th PCIe slot might not be v3, but that may only be Newegg's translation of the specs. If quad-SLI is doable by others, I suspect you can do what you want.

[WestX64]

Hmmmm... Perhaps it would be wise if I met right in the middle and only used 3 GTX 750 Tis instead? Do you know of any good motherboards with three PCIe slots for that job?

[jrweiss]

I haven't been shopping, and haven't looked into the 9-series MoBos. Just a quick glance at the first-page feature comparison on http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ent ... ,3893.html indicates the 3x PCIe 3.0 + 1 x PCIe 2.0 setup is common. Looks like you'll have to go to an X99 board for 4x PCIe 3.0 slots (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ent ... ,3893.html).

Logic indicates you'll have no problems using the Z97 setup for non-SLI Folding, since the cards don't have to talk to each other at all. Might have a slightly lower PPD out of the v2.0 slot, but I doubt you'll see a marked difference.

[WestX64]

Well, thanks for that input, jrweiss! Also, I just configured a new set of parts:

CPU = AMD Athlon 5350 Kabini Quad-Core 2.05GHz Socket AM1 25W ($65)
Motherboard = MSI AM1I AM1 Mini ITX ($33)
GPU = MSI GTX 780Ti GAMING 3GB ($560)
Memory = G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 4GB DDR3 1600 ($40)
PSU = Antec EarthWatts Platinum Series EA-550 90-PLUS Platinum ($90)
SSD = SAMSUNG 840 EVO 120GB SATA III ($82)
Case = BitFenix Prodigy Mini-ITX Tower ($60)
OS = Ubuntu 14.04.1 LTS

Total = $930

This would basically be a GPU feeder build with the high end GTX 780 Ti. However, the CPU would have three extra cores available to do some minor folding on the side as well. The GPU calls for a 600W minimum PSU but with the minimal power draw from the rest of the components in the build, I'm thinking the 550W PSU might still work, don't you? Also, I know the PCI-e slot in the motherboard is only a PCI-e 3.0 X4 slot, but from what I've been reading online, that probably won't affect folding performance all that much. Is that correct?

[jason403]

Why not the new GTX 980?

[WestX64]

Why not the new GTX 980?

Oh my gosh! I hadn't realized those were out yet! Time to do some research!

[WestX64]

Okay, yeah, wow, this is a no brainer... For the SAME PRICE as the 780 Ti, I could get a GTX 980. It would be faster (about a 12% average performance boost from what I'm seeing in benchmarks), use much less power (dropped to a 165W TDP), and runs cooler so I wouldn't have to worry about the heat in my case so much! For the same price!

Thank you very much jason403 for pointing this out to me!! Anyway, what do you all think about my most recent build for a folding build?

[Napoleon]

Thank you very much jason403 for pointing this out to me!! Anyway, what do you all think about my most recent build for a folding build?

I stand by my original recommendation, posted not too many days ago.

viewtopic.php?f=16&t=26738&start=60#p268746

Start cheap, pay your dues, get your bearings with the 750Ti, then purchase a 9x0 if you still feel like it. Adapt as applicable.

Expensive hobby, this is, but it sure beats (mini)golf.

[WestX64]

I stand by my original recommendation, posted not too many days ago.

Noted. I like your original recommendation.

Start cheap, pay your dues, get your bearings with the 750Ti, then purchase a 9x0 if you still feel like it. Adapt as applicable.

Expensive hobby, this is, but it sure beats (mini)golf.

Well, I wouldn't be putting anything on credit. I would ensure I have the money to splurge on this equipment and just pay it all up front while also being able to pay all the other bills and not touch any of my savings. That's why this would probably be months out. But yeah, it sure is an expensive hobby!

Oh! I have great news (and I'm excited about it)! I've just hit 1,459,751 points, have completed over 100 WUs now, and am ranked 30733!

[bruce]

I stand by my original recommendation, posted not too many days ago.

Noted. I like your original recommendation.

Start cheap, pay your dues, get your bearings with the 750Ti, then purchase a 9x0 if you still feel like it. Adapt as applicable.

We can amend Napoleon's previous recommendation since the preliminary reports are in for Maxwell Gen2. See also viewtopic.php?f=38&t=26757&p=268836#p268836

As soon as your cash-on-hand budget supports a single 750Ti, I'd get one and plan to move to the full system when you can. I saw recent sale prices of $130 after MIR.