Folding Computer

[catacon]

Hey everybody,

I finally have some money to put into a new folding computer. My original plan was to just build a barebones computer just for folding, but it seemed kind of waste to build a computer just for folding, so here's my plan. I will take my current computer (E4400, 2x1GB DDR2667) and move it into my family computer. This way I can reuse the case, hard drive, PSU, DVD drive, and video card. Then I will purchase the parts listed below and put them into my computer of which I can reuse the case, PSU, hard drive, DVD drive, and video card. So here is what the result will be:

Family Computer

CPU: C2D E4400
RAM: 2x1GB DDR2667
MB: Intel something
VGA: PCI-E x16 Radeon X1300
PSU: 430W (don't know the brand, but I know it is a good one)
HD: Western Digital 80GB IDE
DVD: Lite-On DVD Burner

My Computer

CPU: C2Q Q6600
RAM: See below
MB: Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3L
VGA: PCI-E x16 Radeon X1650PRO
PSU: FSP 450W
HD: Western Digital 160GB SATA
DVD: Lite-On DVD Burner

So question time:

1. Does the family computer look decent? It is essentially my computer will different drive, VGA card, and PSU.

2. On my computer, the Motherboard can handle DDR2 1200(OC), 1066, and 800. Which speed is best for stability? I will be trying to overclock the CPU.

3. Is the motherboard good for overclocking? I have read that it has issues with remembering the voltages, but there is a BIOS upgrade that fixes that and also not installing the energy saving features helps. Anyone have experience with it?

4. Will the power supply in my computer handle overclocking the Q6600? If not, that is OK, it will still fold well.

The family computer will be used for internet, email, and stuff like that. My computer will be used for light gaming, photo editing, CAD, and other more basic stuff. Both will be running F@H SMP.

Thanks!

[liambl]

1. More than enough for office and internet. HDD size could be a problem for media files though.

2. DDR2 800 Cas 5 RAM would be stable enough to get the Q6600 to 1600MHz FSB (3.6GHz core clock)

3. I have heard good things about that motherboard and overclocking, and if you encounter voltage problems, just get the BIOS update.

4. As long as you don't increase the vCore on the Q6600, power consumption will remain relatively the same as stock and the FSP should handle it. Although if you want really high clock speeds you will have to increase the vCore which will increase power consumption and heat output.

If you are really into folding though, you might wan to consider picking up an 8800GT (real cheap now) and a new PSU and run a GPU2 client on it for about 5000PPD. You could also run a SMP on 2 cores of the Q6600 (the GPU client needs a core dedicated to it).

[catacon]

I think I'll pass on the GPU client for now. I don't think I can afford it unless I can pass on the new PSU. Although it would be nice to get those extra 5000PPD Would a 9600GT be decent for folding?

[catacon]

Well I have some new ideas. If I can keep my same PSU, maybe I could get a cheap 9600GT and then bump the motherboard down to the Gigabyte GA-EP31-DS3L. Would that still work and fold pretty well?

[liambl]

Unfortunately the 9600GT suffers on folding ability with its 64 stream processors, I get about 3600PPD on a good day, usually around 3400PPD.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814133232

That 8800GT is around the 9600GT price mark and also comes with a game.

The GA-EP31-DS3L should still be a good motherboard.

[catacon]

So I'm trying to buy an open box motherboard to save some money (not ideal I know, but I can handle it), but each one I want keeps disappearing. So will the Gigabyte GA-G31M-S2L or a GA-P31-S3G still be a good choice for DDR2800 Ram and overclocking a Q6600? Right now I'm leaning towards the P31, I just hope it doesn't go away.

[catacon]

Well I just ordered the following:

Gigabyte GA-EP31-DS3L
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz
Kingston ValueRAM 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
PNY GeForce 8800 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16

Should be pretty nice for Folding. Look out shadow, I'm coming to get ya!

By the way, I went with a Retail motherboard. For only a few bucks more I could get the security of working board and all the accessories.

[shadowpr]

Sounds like someone is calling me out.

Let's see what you can do.

[catacon]

Parts arrived today. I should have it up and running tomorrow and folding soon after that.

[RevCLB]

Gitter done Boy!!

[catacon]

Well, I'm posting from the new build. Everything is good so far. I haven't tried any overclocking yet, but I will do that soon.

[catacon]

So I'm pretty new to the overclocking thing and I'm having some trouble. I can't overclock at all, not even 1Mhz. Anytime I change anything, it just resets to the default value. Are there settings I need to change so it will keep the overclock?

Thanks!

[shadowpr]

I assume you're saving the changes in bios after you make them.

Are you making only slight increases in the fsb?

What is your voltages at?

Ram settings?

What mb, and cpu?

[catacon]

I'm using the Gigabyte GA-EP31-DS3L with a Q6600.

I left all the voltages the same and even a 1Mhz overclock gets reset. There are two settings that vary the CPU FSB and Multiplier depending on the load and I had those turned off, but I read that having those on might actually allow to overclock to stick, so I will try that.

[shadowpr]

Ok. Try that, and post back.

[catacon]

No luck there. Interesting though, I bumped the memory up .1V and it stayed while everything else reset. When this would first happen, the computer would turn off, then start, then turn off again, and then boot up. But it's stopped doing that now. (With and without the power stepping features on)

By the way, only the overclocking values reset, all the other settings stay the same (Boot order, etc.), so it's probably not a bad CMOS battery.

[shadowpr]

Ok. Are you setting the pci frequency? I think it should be set o 100, or 101.

Set clock ratio to the max.

Set the memory speed and timings and voltage manually to manufacturer specs.

Save the bios like that, and see if those changes stick. If they do, then try to raise the fsb slowly.

[catacon]

Well, still no success. I uped the multiplier to 9 (max) and set the memory timings to 5-5-5-15 and that worked OK. Setting the PCI-E to 100 or 101 causes the system not to POST and I have to reset the CMOS. So I left the PCI-E MHz alone and set the CPU to 266 (default FSB) manually and I have to reset CMOS. There are two settings that I left at auto which might be causing issues: PCI-E permance enhance - adjusts PCI-E to best performance. Options - Auto, Fast, Turbo. And then a CPU enhancer which can be set to Standard, Turbo, and Extreme. It says that leaving on Standard will give more stability after overclocking, but I haven't noticed any difference.

After I reset the CMOS it bumps the Multiplier to 7 and I can change it back with no problems. I also can move it down with no problems.

[shadowpr]

Hmm. Something's not right.

If you manually set everything to stock setting without using auto, it should work fine.

Let me download your mb manual, and i'll get back to you later in the day. (Need to watch some football today. )

[catacon]

I think the BIOS I have is the F3 version and the version on the Gigabyte website is FB. I wonder if flashing the BIOS would yield better results?

[shadowpr]

I would probably flash to the newest bios before overclocking.

Worth a try.

[catacon]

I updated to the F4 BIOS (FB is apparently for another motherboard). Still no luck. I can adjust memory timings and voltages, and multiplier, but the system hangs whenever I adjust the FSB manually.

[catacon]

Man this is pissing me off. This seems to happen a lot with Gigabyte motherboards, there are tons of reports of the P35 board having the same problem. Some have said disabling USB Legacy Detection fixes it, I had no luck. Another guy used a restart, shutdown sequence that got the mobo out of the crash loop. Still no luck for me. This is really obnoxious.

Here's the second guys thread: http://www.overclock.net/intel-gener...-causes-1.html

Just curious, if I exchange this board, what kind should I look at instead? I've kind of been turned off of P31 boards and especially Gigabyte boards.

Thanks!

[shadowpr]

Wow. That was definately a good thread. If you can't get it to work after following that, then I don't know.

If you're looking at a different board, I like asus. P35 chipset is good. That would put you at the P5K series.

If you just want a really basic board, I just did a build with a P5KPL-CM. It has a G31 chipset. Good budget board. I have a q9450 in it, and oc'd it a bit. Not a lot of options in bios to oc at all though. For more options, look at the G33. The P5K-VM is good. I have a q6600 in one of those oc'd to about 3.2 or 3.3 I think.

[catacon]

Yeah I thought for sure that thread would solve my problems. Even other people in the thread had problems, though. It doesn't seem like there is a clear cut fix to this problem. Some people try different graphics cards, removing USB devices, and some don't have any problems at all.

If it were you, would return the MB for a different one? That's what I'm leaning towards now.

[shadowpr]

Do you really need to oc? If so, then sure, return it.

If not, then keep it. It sounds like it works perfectly fine at auto settings.

[catacon]

Yeah, it does, but I was really interested in the overclocking capabilities. How much of an effect does it have on folding performance? I can get a P5K Pro for about $70 which is what I payed for the Gigabyte.

[shadowpr]

P5k pro would be good.

[catacon]

Yeah, I think I will be pretty disappointed if I can't even manual set the stock speed. While everything does work fine, it would nice to have a motherboard on which all the features work. I will RMA tomorrow and order the P5K.

Thanks for attempting to help. At first I thought this was my inexperience, but I think there is just a bigger problem.

[catacon]

Would any of the P5K series be good overclockers (Pro, SE EPU)? What about the P5Qs and P5Bs?

Thanks!