3 x 3930K (or 4930K) vs. dual Xeon E5 2680

[Dariusz Makowski (Dadal)]

Hyea

Just an idea but on Ebay you can get entire quad /6 core servers for around 300-400£ second handed. For the price of 4 i7 3930k you can get like 10+ servers with the same power non OC rigs. Its way better buy than i7 tbh...

[JezUK]

Actually I have already bought 4 machines wiht 3930K. Working really nicely.

Hi baastyan,

Can you give me the specs for your 4 machines please ?

I'm pricing up my first homebased rendernodes and would like ideas for what I'm letting myself in for in terms of price, hardware and software as well.

(I build my own machines, currently using a 4930k oc'd to 4.25ghz, but this is a new branch out for me).

Thanks.

[bennyboy]

Thanks Duke, I've got one.
BTW, I've got an i7...a few unexplained crashes the last month or so...had Xeon's before, never remember a single blue screen, at least not until my fans burned. Happened yesterday on a tight deadline...kinda sucks having say, "sorry for the delay, but we're having technical difficulties". Point is, there REALLY is something to be said for reliability over power - to a certain point, of course.

[bennyboy]

That's a very unspecific question that really doesn't have an answer....it's like asking if living organisms walk, if I say yes, then you might get the idea that all living organisms walk.
Basically, at the top end Xeon's out perform the i7's core for core. Dollar for dollar, upper end i7's can't be beat by Xeon's with an equal processor/core config. Xeon's are typically more stable because you can't OC them, but that's why u pay a lot for clock speeds that equal i7's.
But stability and reliability is really what you're paying for with Xeon's, core for core. Also, dual processors, 48 core config, etc can't be bought with i7's
If you're looking at an i7 vs a Xeon, go with i7... cause I can sorta tell by the question that you're looking for a dollar for dollar value, vs the power-by-order-of-magnitude when your buying nodes with dual processors, legions of cores, and 24/7 reliability, which is really what Xeon's are all a about. i7 will out perform a Xeon bought with the same money, especially if you push them.

at least, that's how I see it.

[snivlem]

Are Xeons faster than i7s at raytracing?

Would've thought the E5 2680 would've been a winner here vs the i7s

[duke2]

If you're having temp problems, might I suggest this:

http://www.cplonline.com.au/hydro-se...pu-cooler.html

It's a self contained water cooling unit. I was skeptical and stayed away from water cooling, but my old i920 @ 4.2ghz was just getting far too hot and overheating in the summer, so I bit the bullet. Incredibly happy with it! ~15C cooler and quiet as a mouse.

[Dariusz Makowski (Dadal)]

70-average save- 80 bad save- 85 - u all will die.

[bennyboy]

my 4930k is currently running 4.5 stable for about 6 months and temps never get over 65c

I'm curious what you all consider safe temps...I've heard everything from 60-90c from various threads and sources...seems hard to pin down.

[Jason Stewart]

Great, glad the setup is working out well. I am trying to convince myself I don't need a node but it may happen sooner than later.

Here is a link where you can check out the protection plan. They will replace any boxed processor for the 3 year warranty even if the damage is due to overclocking.
http://click.intel.com/tuningplan/

For some reason the 3930k is $35 instead of $25 I guess because it is a older generation and you would probably get a 4930k when you exchange?

[baastyan]

Actually I have already bought 4 machines wiht 3930K. Working really nicely.

Tuning protection plan? That sounds really good. Where did you get this?

[Jason Stewart]

The higher overclocking potential of the 3930k is confusing. Yes, the typical 3930k chip will OC higher than the typical 4930k chip but several people have tested and with lower clock speed the 4930k will still outperform the 3930k. I would say it is probably a wash in the end but my 4930k is currently running 4.5 stable for about 6 months and temps never get over 65c while rendering with a Noctua NH-D14. I did purchase the intel tuning protection plan or whatever for $25 so if I do burn the chip up fast I can send it in and get another one no problem.

I would say the 3930k or 4930k system with 2 nodes would be the way to go. That would be a nice in house setup.

[baastyan]

roboxx

As I mentioned I have already overclock my 3930K to 4,5 Ghz and it is working fine ... no blue screens so far

[roboxx]

Hi,

i would also go with the "old" 3930K, because of it`s slightly better overclocking possibilities, You should easily reach 4.3 Ghz with moderat temps on that one.
If you don`t oc, i would go with the 4930K because of the mentioned lower power consumption & 10 % speed improvements on rendering.

Robin

www.3Duo.de

[baastyan]

Yes, 3930K also supports the new embree SSE4.2 system. But as you mentioned we now nothing about longevity of the 4930K (with the 22nm manufacturing process). I am aware that it is more efficient than Sandy Bridge-E core (eg. 3930K) but the difference is not that big and I would rather go for older architecture of 3930K but already tested for over 2,5 year

BTW which Xeon do you have?

[bennyboy]

Does 3930 support the new Embree feature? 4930 does. Check SSE4.2 compatibility. I found Embree to have an incredible boost in my render speed, though I really have no idea what it is.