[AnhDL]

Dear CFD user,

I would like to build a PC (workstation) for my works:
1. Use Ansys Fluent (2D-3D simulation) about 2m cell
2. Run my own Fortran code (2D-3D) for multiphase flow (cavitation)
3. Run in parallel

I read the post in website:
https://www.cfdsupport.com/Newsletter_1604_en.html

The Hardware Configuration I am planning to build here:
1. 2 x CPU intel Xeon E2696 v2 (total 24 cores - 48 threads)
2. Ram DDR3 Samsung ECC 32 1600 (or 64GB)
3. Main: Asrock EP2 C602
3. Hdd 1TB and SSD 240gb
4. VGA GeForce GTX 1050Ti 4Gb GDDD5

This is the first time I build the PC for CFD purpose.
Could you please give me the advice on this PC: is that suitable for my works?

Thank you very much and look forward to hear from you.

Best regards,

[flotus1]

Maybe you already realized, but just to be sure, let me state the obvious:
These recommendations you found are very outdated. The CPUs you chose are almost 7 years old by now.
That does not necessarily make them a bad choice for a CFD computer build. In fact, systems like these have been one of the best budget options for CFD in the past. It just means that they are only a valid option when sourced very cheap through the second hand market.

[AnhDL]

Originally Posted by flotus1

Maybe you already realized, but just to be sure, let me state the obvious:
These recommendations you found are very outdated. The CPUs you chose are almost 7 years old by now.
That does not necessarily make them a bad choice for a CFD computer build. In fact, systems like these have been one of the best budget options for CFD in the past. It just means that they are only a valid option when sourced very cheap through the second hand market.

Thank you, flotus,

The budget is the problem. I have less than $1500 for this PC. In thats case, could you suggest other options for me.

Best,

[flotus1]

With a 1500$ budget, you might be able to get one generation newer than that.

The cheapest and easiest option would probably be a used OEM workstation like HP Z840 and the likes.

If you want to build it yourself for a better upgrade path in the future, here are some of the components you could use.

Motherboard: Anything Intel C612 with a reasonable layout for workstation use. For example ASRock Rack EP2C612, which goes for around 350$ new. There are some "dual X99" boards on aliexpress for less than 200$ that would also work.
CPUs: E5-2660v3, 2670v3, 2678v3. These go in the range of 100$ each. V3 Xeons can be unlocked to run at the highest single-core multiplier on all cores, in case you want to mess around with overclocking
8x8GB DDR4-2133 reg ECC. 250$ or less, depending on how good of a deal you can find.
Let's add 100$ for a case (Phanteks Enthoo pro), 100$ for a power supply (at least 600W with two 8-Pin EPS connectors), 80$ for a 500GB SSD and another 100 for a graphics card (1050TI, RX 570 8GB or similar), and 60$ for two CPU coolers.
That should still come out below the 1500$ mark, and leave some room for more storage.

[AnhDL]

Originally Posted by flotus1

With a 1500$ budget, you might be able to get one generation newer than that.

The cheapest and easiest option would probably be a used OEM workstation like HP Z840 and the likes.

If you want to build it yourself for a better upgrade path in the future, here are some of the components you could use.

Motherboard: Anything Intel C612 with a reasonable layout for workstation use. For example ASRock Rack EP2C612, which goes for around 350$ new. There are some "dual X99" boards on aliexpress for less than 200$ that would also work.
CPUs: E5-2660v3, 2670v3, 2678v3. These go in the range of 100$ each. V3 Xeons can be unlocked to run at the highest single-core multiplier on all cores, in case you want to mess around with overclocking
8x8GB DDR4-2133 reg ECC. 250$ or less, depending on how good of a deal you can find.
Let's add 100$ for a case (Phanteks Enthoo pro), 100$ for a power supply (at least 600W with two 8-Pin EPS connectors), 80$ for a 500GB SSD and another 100 for a graphics card (1050TI, RX 570 8GB or similar), and 60$ for two CPU coolers.
That should still come out below the 1500$ mark, and leave some room for more storage.

Thank for your suggestion.

[AnhDL]

Originally Posted by flotus1

With a 1500$ budget, you might be able to get one generation newer than that.

The cheapest and easiest option would probably be a used OEM workstation like HP Z840 and the likes.

If you want to build it yourself for a better upgrade path in the future, here are some of the components you could use.

Motherboard: Anything Intel C612 with a reasonable layout for workstation use. For example ASRock Rack EP2C612, which goes for around 350$ new. There are some "dual X99" boards on aliexpress for less than 200$ that would also work.
CPUs: E5-2660v3, 2670v3, 2678v3. These go in the range of 100$ each. V3 Xeons can be unlocked to run at the highest single-core multiplier on all cores, in case you want to mess around with overclocking
8x8GB DDR4-2133 reg ECC. 250$ or less, depending on how good of a deal you can find.
Let's add 100$ for a case (Phanteks Enthoo pro), 100$ for a power supply (at least 600W with two 8-Pin EPS connectors), 80$ for a 500GB SSD and another 100 for a graphics card (1050TI, RX 570 8GB or similar), and 60$ for two CPU coolers.
That should still come out below the 1500$ mark, and leave some room for more storage.

Hi Alex,

One more question, for my works as indicated in the first post, 1 xeon cpu is good enough or have to use 2 cpu?

Thank you.

[flotus1]

Do not use one CPU with this setup. There are better configurations for just one CPU.
Since all CPU-related resources are doubled in a dual-socket system, you get effectively twice the parallel performance with a second CPU.

[AnhDL]

Originally Posted by flotus1

Do not use one CPU with this setup. There are better configurations for just one CPU.
Since all CPU-related resources are doubled in a dual-socket system, you get effectively twice the parallel performance with a second CPU.

Thank you Alex,

I finished build the PC as your advice!
My fortran code run well. However, I see the problem in runing the serial and parallel code since no different calculation speed between those code.
With your experience, please give me the advice!

[flotus1]

So your own code does not scale well, or not at all...This issue can be caused by so many factors, hardware being the least of them.
This is definitely a question for a different thread. Be descriptive. Which algorithm did you implement? How do you parallelize the code? How do you compile your code? How do you run your code? And if you can: post your code.
Writing parallel code can be relatively easy. Achieving good scaling and overall performance is the harder part.

[AnhDL]

Dear Alex,

The code is quite long. If it is possible, please give me your email.
I also posted a new thread about this in main forume. Please take a look at the topic

[AnhDL]

Originally Posted by flotus1

So your own code does not scale well, or not at all...This issue can be caused by so many factors, hardware being the least of them.
This is definitely a question for a different thread. Be descriptive. Which algorithm did you implement? How do you parallelize the code? How do you compile your code? How do you run your code? And if you can: post your code.
Writing parallel code can be relatively easy. Achieving good scaling and overall performance is the harder part.

Dear Alex,

The code is quite long. If it is possible, please give me your email.
I also posted a new thread about this in main forume. Please take a look at the topic

[AnhDL]

Here is example of the code. The structure of the code is similar to this sample code.
The serial code obtains by removing all "!$omp...".
Similar, for 2D code, the "!$omp..." is added at outer loop.