16-core 2x Xeon E5-2670

tinu80 · November 15, 2016, 04:52

Hi everyone,
I am looking for an affordable way to speed up my CFD calculations (Openfoam, so number of parallel is not limiting for me), Meshes up to maybe 5-10M. What do you guys think of the following config?

CPU 2x Xeon E5-2670
MB Asrock Rack EP2C602
RAM G.Skill F3-1866C10Q2-64GZM (8 x 8GB)

Any hints are highly appreciated! I am quite lost in this topic...

Martin

flotus1 · November 15, 2016, 05:23

Since these processor are available for less than $100 they are indeed a good way to get a powerful CFD workstation for less than $1000.
You mentioned DDR3-1866 non-ECC memory. Be aware that the CPU only supports DDR3-1600. I would not take any risk here and use 8*8GB DDR3-1600 reg ECC. At least you should not spend extra money for the faster memory. DDR3-1600 reg ECC sells quite cheap on ebay aswell.

tinu80 · November 15, 2016, 05:40

Hi flotus1,
Thank you very much for your quick reply! This has helped me a lot.
Could I also take 1600 non-ECC? Or is there no performance improvement vs ECC in this specific configuration?

Regards,
Martin

flotus1 · November 15, 2016, 05:52

You can use non-ECC memory with his motherboard. But there is no reason to do this unless it is cheaper than ECC. 8GB DDR3-1600 reg ECC cost less than $20 on ebay.
There is generally no significant performance penalty using ECC memory with the same specifications as non-ECC memory. Maybe somewhere in the order of 1-2%.

tinu80 · November 15, 2016, 14:38

Thanks again for your help! I feel much more confident now, since the last PC I built was a 486 DX2-66 with 8M RAM...

flotus1 · November 15, 2016, 16:13

One last piece of advice: You need a Case that can hold "E-ATX" motherboards. And a power supply with an additional "8-pin EPS" power connector. Most cheap PSUs lack this connector.

tinu80 · November 16, 2016, 09:28

Flotus1,
I could get some 8 x 8 GB 1600 DIMM3 2-Channel reg ECC for a good price. Is there a point in buying 4-Channel RAM for my config instead?
Best regards,
Martin

flotus1 · November 16, 2016, 14:59

There is no such thing as dual-channel or quad-channel DIMMs.
Populating 4 (preferably identical) DIMMs correctly on the motherboard will lead to a quad-channel memory configuration, provided the CPU has a quad-channel memory controller.

tinu80 · December 2, 2016, 04:21

Just to report back, successfully built this PC, and it seems to run fine.
I anyone is interested, I used the following components:
CPU: 2x Xeon 2670 from eba* (Seems like you should look for the "SR0KX" label in offers)
MB: Supermicro X9DR3-F
RAM: 8x8Gb Kingston reg ECC 1600 Mhz
Case: Be careful when choosing, because the X9DR3-F needs SSI-EEB or the full E-ATX dimensions. I have seen many cases offering "E-ATX" but they do not fit this MB.
Again, thanks to flotus1 for your help!

flotus1 · December 2, 2016, 05:23

I also found out the hard way that Supermicro boards labeled "E-ATX" are actually SSI-EEB. In my opinion the specifications from Supermicro are misleading. But the only difference should be the positions of some mounting holes, the board should still physically fit in any E-ATX case.

November 15, 2016, 04:52	16-core 2x Xeon E5-2670	#1
tinu80 New Member Tinu Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 11 Rep Power: 10	Hi everyone, I am looking for an affordable way to speed up my CFD calculations (Openfoam, so number of parallel is not limiting for me), Meshes up to maybe 5-10M. What do you guys think of the following config? CPU 2x Xeon E5-2670 MB Asrock Rack EP2C602 RAM G.Skill F3-1866C10Q2-64GZM (8 x 8GB) Any hints are highly appreciated! I am quite lost in this topic... Martin Last edited by tinu80; November 15, 2016 at 04:53. Reason: typo

November 15, 2016, 16:13		#6
flotus1 Super Moderator Alex Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Germany Posts: 3,427 Rep Power: 49	One last piece of advice: You need a Case that can hold "E-ATX" motherboards. And a power supply with an additional "8-pin EPS" power connector. Most cheap PSUs lack this connector. tinu80 likes this.

November 16, 2016, 14:59		#8
flotus1 Super Moderator Alex Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Germany Posts: 3,427 Rep Power: 49	There is no such thing as dual-channel or quad-channel DIMMs. Populating 4 (preferably identical) DIMMs correctly on the motherboard will lead to a quad-channel memory configuration, provided the CPU has a quad-channel memory controller. tinu80 likes this.

December 2, 2016, 04:21		#9
tinu80 New Member Tinu Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 11 Rep Power: 10	Just to report back, successfully built this PC, and it seems to run fine. I anyone is interested, I used the following components: CPU: 2x Xeon 2670 from eba* (Seems like you should look for the "SR0KX" label in offers) MB: Supermicro X9DR3-F RAM: 8x8Gb Kingston reg ECC 1600 Mhz Case: Be careful when choosing, because the X9DR3-F needs SSI-EEB or the full E-ATX dimensions. I have seen many cases offering "E-ATX" but they do not fit this MB. Again, thanks to flotus1 for your help! flotus1 likes this.

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November 15, 2016, 05:23		#2
flotus1 Super Moderator Alex Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Germany Posts: 3,427 Rep Power: 49	Since these processor are available for less than $100 they are indeed a good way to get a powerful CFD workstation for less than $1000. You mentioned DDR3-1866 non-ECC memory. Be aware that the CPU only supports DDR3-1600. I would not take any risk here and use 8*8GB DDR3-1600 reg ECC. At least you should not spend extra money for the faster memory. DDR3-1600 reg ECC sells quite cheap on ebay aswell.

November 15, 2016, 05:40		#3
tinu80 New Member Tinu Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 11 Rep Power: 10	Hi flotus1, Thank you very much for your quick reply! This has helped me a lot. Could I also take 1600 non-ECC? Or is there no performance improvement vs ECC in this specific configuration? Regards, Martin

November 15, 2016, 05:52		#4
flotus1 Super Moderator Alex Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Germany Posts: 3,427 Rep Power: 49	You can use non-ECC memory with his motherboard. But there is no reason to do this unless it is cheaper than ECC. 8GB DDR3-1600 reg ECC cost less than $20 on ebay. There is generally no significant performance penalty using ECC memory with the same specifications as non-ECC memory. Maybe somewhere in the order of 1-2%.

November 15, 2016, 14:38		#5
tinu80 New Member Tinu Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 11 Rep Power: 10	Thanks again for your help! I feel much more confident now, since the last PC I built was a 486 DX2-66 with 8M RAM...

November 16, 2016, 09:28		#7
tinu80 New Member Tinu Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 11 Rep Power: 10	Flotus1, I could get some 8 x 8 GB 1600 DIMM3 2-Channel reg ECC for a good price. Is there a point in buying 4-Channel RAM for my config instead? Best regards, Martin

December 2, 2016, 05:23		#10
flotus1 Super Moderator Alex Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Germany Posts: 3,427 Rep Power: 49	I also found out the hard way that Supermicro boards labeled "E-ATX" are actually SSI-EEB. In my opinion the specifications from Supermicro are misleading. But the only difference should be the positions of some mounting holes, the board should still physically fit in any E-ATX case.