Adding a 3rd render node (AMD with Intel) okay?

[marksmanguy]

Hey guys, I currently have a main workstation with a 3930k, a rendernode with dual Xeon 2680 v3, and would like to add a 3rd cheaper node to help render as well.

Two questions:

1. Is it okay to mix amd and intel cpus in the mix of nodes?

2. Is this an okay setup for a node? --- http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xNFknQ or would ou suggest going intel?

What would you recommend as an affective node for around $1,200-$1,400?

Thanks guys!

[marksmanguy]

Or perhaps this? http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qjjxmG

I just read that intel is better for rendering because of the hyperthreading.

[alexyork]

Maybe things have changed over the years but my understanding is that AMD and Intel processors handle certain calculations relating to random number generation differently, so when it comes to things like procedural maps these two processors can generate a slightly or radically different result, leading to different buckets/frames.

Maybe this has changed, but whatever the case I would recommend against a mixture, since it becomes much easier to diagnose issues when all your systems are based around the same/similar tech.

[Morbid Angel]

Yeah same here, either all amd or all intel, in fact I don't think all amd would perform bad either I hear they are quite fast and also not that expensive. But I stick with intel - since that's what works for me.

[marksmanguy]

Great, thanks for the advice guys. I'll be safe and go Intel.