Bang for buck

[Joelaff]

I would think just the opposite as my time is worth a lot more than the render node's time. If I'm sitting waiting for something to finish on my workstation it's delaying me and costing me money because I can't do anything else . If the renderfarm is taking a little longer to finish a animation and I can get onto something else so be it. Of course DR rendering gets fuzzy because speed everywhere helps for that. Regardless, I don't think either is a bad choice. The extra $ for the 5960 isn't really that big of deal compared to the performance you get.

Valid points. I meant if you already have a good workstation and want to add render nodes to a farm. Then I think the 5960x is the way to go.

If you only have one machine you want it to be as fast as you can get (taking into account what you are going to use it for, and single threaded speed vs. multi-threaded speed).

[jacksc02]

For render nodes at the moment the 5820k is the best bang for buck.
I am building 5 5820k render nodes with water cooling next week

[Joelaff]

We built 6 5960x machines last month to add to the farm. Given all the other costs per machine we felt like they were worth the extra $$.

Just make sure you don't use a single water cooling loop for all of them, or you lose your whole farm if it goes down. I would like to convert all of our render farm to individual water coolers with radiators outside the building. But that is not going to happen any time soon. Perhaps as we build new machines.... But I think the savings in electricity cost for cooling the server room will outweigh the per unit water cooling rig. Our workstations pretty much all use H110 closed-loop water coolers. They work well, though giant air coolers are better in most of the tests I have seen, but not by much.

[jacksc02]

The 5960x are 3x the price of the 5820k's so for me I can build 2 5820k nodes for the price of 1 5960x.

[glorybound]

Well, technically you would be able to build 3 QUOTE=jacksc02;646221]The 5960x are 3x the price of the 5820k's so for me I can build 2 5820k nodes for the price of 1 5960x.[/QUOTE]

[jacksc02]

No I can't as it is just the CPU that is 3x the cost.

[Joelaff]

Once you figure in all the other components, plus a VRay license, plus possibly a Deadline license for us it made more sense to get the faster chips.

Also the 5960x is only 2.7x the cost (at NewEgg right now). We also got four of those chips at $989 on sale. So even less.

Bobby, you have to take into account a good mobo, a good cooler, a really good PSU, a case/fans, memory, etc.
You must also take into account that the 5960x will be useful for about a year longer than the cheaper chip. In other words, in 3 years or so these machines are no longer fast enough to justify their power usage in the farm. The faster the machine is to begin with the slower it depreciates in value.

[Joelaff]

You can really build two for one for a $660 difference? What components are you using? A good PSU alone is another $200 or so. We have learned to pay for quality PSUs. Burned out far too many in the farm. PSUs lose power output over time when stressed like a render node. Overclocking also demands tons of rock solid power.

Don't forget the Windows tax too...

I am sure you will enjoy your new nodes!

[jacksc02]

On this side of the world we pay "Australia Tax"
CPUs
5820k = $539
5930k = $799
5960x = $1419

[Joelaff]

Ah... Brutal.

[Morne]

On this side of the world we pay "Australia Tax"
CPUs
5820k = $539
5930k = $799
5960x = $1419

Yes we have the same issue here in SA. Makes no sense to pay double for a CPU, for only a 10 to 15 percent increase in speed