Low Budget PCs for CFD

Brian_P · February 16, 2010, 18:17

Hello all,

I am a new graduate student modeling wind turbine blades. I am currently simulating Fluent on a dell xsp 435mt system. The simulation is run in parallel with 2 processes. The sim. usually requires 4-5 gigs of memory and cpu runs around 40%, and takes 8-10 hrs to converge. The dell has a 4 core processor with 8 threads, does this mean I can run 8 or 4 processes to speed up sim. time. We have an academic liscense, would that limit the number of processes?

Also have permission to buy a pc for CFD and wind tunell apps in the new lab, with bugdet around $1000. Any recomendations?

Also am thinking of upgrading PC at home for CFD, with a budget of <800$

Thanks

Brian

nhales · February 20, 2010, 13:35

Hi, I'm in a similar situation and was wondering about this. Trying to decide between a cheap Q8300 based system like this:
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/s....html?MBB-834G
or the more expensive i7 based system with hyperthreading.
I know hyperthreading can give you a boost if you have spare CPU cycles, but I don't know if you get spare cycles with CFD apps. You would need to specify 8 processes to use all 8 threads. Perhaps you could benchmark it for us on your Dell? Once with HT turned off and 4 threads, once with HT on and 8. HT turned on with only 4 threads would almost certainly slow it down.

Nick

Brian_P · February 20, 2010, 22:23

Hi,

The more I have read about the q8300( sounds like an end of the line part), the more I think may spend a bit more and go with i5 750, then I have something upgradeable. I have looked at building my own, dont think cheapest way to go, HP has some pretty discounts to go along with the student one. Can get into an i5 quad with 6 gigs for about $720.

Anyone see cheaper?

As far as the dell, I believe our academic liscense limits us to 2 processes, I have tried 4 but could not get software to run. I believe I can talk the advisor into upgrading the license. Then I can report results.

Thanks

Brian

Brian_P · February 21, 2010, 16:59

For cheapskates like me that are interested. Dell inspiron 580, i5750 6GB ram, 1 terrabyte hd, 1gb graphic card, 21.5"

$620

http://reviews.cnet.com/4504-3118_7-...68&id=33975471

I figure I can always upgrade motherboard if I need more than 8gb memory.

Brian

sazabi2001 · June 4, 2010, 12:28

I'm now using i7 920 + ASUS P6TD + 12GB DDR3

the whole system spent less than $2000~ (with a GTX280 + HP2275W for gamming -_-1#)

Planing to put another $2000 to get 980X and 24GB DDR3 in the same motherboard, hopefully it can double the speed and project size~

Brian_P · June 4, 2010, 14:30

I like my 620$ investment. Did buy a portable drive for backup, need to get speakers and probally increase memory. Still a cheap date though

tcarrigan · July 9, 2010, 20:16

Hi,

I'm also doing some wind turbine CFD and faced a similar situation early on. I managed to purchase a pretty beastly machine for my simulations for around $1000. I've listed the specs below:

- ASUS P7P55D PRO LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard
- Antec EarthWatts EA650 650W Power Supply
- Intel Core i5-750 2.66GHz Quad Core --->> Overclocked to 4.0GHz!!!
- CORSAIR XMS3 8GB (4 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM 1600MHz
- EVGA GeForce GTX 260 896MB 448-bit DDR3 Video Card
- Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200 RPM Hard Drive --->> CentOS 5.5 and Windows 7
- LG DVD Burner Black SATA

So this system is around $1000, and it works great. I've overclocked the i5 to 4GHz stable and replaced the stock cooler with a nice Coolermaster. I partitioned the hard drive and put CentOS and Windows 7 on it. I also managed to pick up dual 22" Acer monitors for an additional $340.

I'm continuously running Fluent simulations on all 4 cores and it never seems to get hot even with the overclock.

February 16, 2010, 18:17	Low Budget PCs for CFD	#1
Brian_P New Member Brian Polly Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 26 Rep Power: 16	Hello all, I am a new graduate student modeling wind turbine blades. I am currently simulating Fluent on a dell xsp 435mt system. The simulation is run in parallel with 2 processes. The sim. usually requires 4-5 gigs of memory and cpu runs around 40%, and takes 8-10 hrs to converge. The dell has a 4 core processor with 8 threads, does this mean I can run 8 or 4 processes to speed up sim. time. We have an academic liscense, would that limit the number of processes? Also have permission to buy a pc for CFD and wind tunell apps in the new lab, with bugdet around $1000. Any recomendations? Also am thinking of upgrading PC at home for CFD, with a budget of <800$ Thanks Brian

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
low budget hardware recommendations?	rparks	Hardware	1	October 18, 2009 22:58
Low Pressure, Low Temperature	Luke	CFX	0	August 4, 2006 19:36
Multicomponent fluid	Andrea	CFX	2	October 11, 2004 06:12
How low for low Reynolds model?	Jean-Luc	Phoenics	3	March 10, 2001 02:34
CFD code for very low Re Flow	Raj	Main CFD Forum	2	May 31, 1999 23:06

February 20, 2010, 13:35		#2
nhales New Member Nick Hales Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 1 Rep Power: 0	Hi, I'm in a similar situation and was wondering about this. Trying to decide between a cheap Q8300 based system like this: http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/s....html?MBB-834G or the more expensive i7 based system with hyperthreading. I know hyperthreading can give you a boost if you have spare CPU cycles, but I don't know if you get spare cycles with CFD apps. You would need to specify 8 processes to use all 8 threads. Perhaps you could benchmark it for us on your Dell? Once with HT turned off and 4 threads, once with HT on and 8. HT turned on with only 4 threads would almost certainly slow it down. Nick

February 20, 2010, 22:23		#3
Brian_P New Member Brian Polly Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 26 Rep Power: 16	Hi, The more I have read about the q8300( sounds like an end of the line part), the more I think may spend a bit more and go with i5 750, then I have something upgradeable. I have looked at building my own, dont think cheapest way to go, HP has some pretty discounts to go along with the student one. Can get into an i5 quad with 6 gigs for about $720. Anyone see cheaper? As far as the dell, I believe our academic liscense limits us to 2 processes, I have tried 4 but could not get software to run. I believe I can talk the advisor into upgrading the license. Then I can report results. Thanks Brian

February 21, 2010, 16:59		#4
Brian_P New Member Brian Polly Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 26 Rep Power: 16	For cheapskates like me that are interested. Dell inspiron 580, i5750 6GB ram, 1 terrabyte hd, 1gb graphic card, 21.5" $620 http://reviews.cnet.com/4504-3118_7-...68&id=33975471 I figure I can always upgrade motherboard if I need more than 8gb memory. Brian

June 4, 2010, 12:28		#5
sazabi2001 New Member YongQiang Chi Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 14 Rep Power: 16	I'm now using i7 920 + ASUS P6TD + 12GB DDR3 the whole system spent less than $2000~ (with a GTX280 + HP2275W for gamming -_-1#) Planing to put another $2000 to get 980X and 24GB DDR3 in the same motherboard, hopefully it can double the speed and project size~

June 4, 2010, 14:30		#6
Brian_P New Member Brian Polly Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 26 Rep Power: 16	I like my 620$ investment. Did buy a portable drive for backup, need to get speakers and probally increase memory. Still a cheap date though

July 9, 2010, 20:16		#7
tcarrigan Senior Member Travis Carrigan Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 161 Rep Power: 16	Hi, I'm also doing some wind turbine CFD and faced a similar situation early on. I managed to purchase a pretty beastly machine for my simulations for around $1000. I've listed the specs below: - ASUS P7P55D PRO LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard - Antec EarthWatts EA650 650W Power Supply - Intel Core i5-750 2.66GHz Quad Core --->> Overclocked to 4.0GHz!!! - CORSAIR XMS3 8GB (4 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM 1600MHz - EVGA GeForce GTX 260 896MB 448-bit DDR3 Video Card - Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200 RPM Hard Drive --->> CentOS 5.5 and Windows 7 - LG DVD Burner Black SATA So this system is around $1000, and it works great. I've overclocked the i5 to 4GHz stable and replaced the stock cooler with a nice Coolermaster. I partitioned the hard drive and put CentOS and Windows 7 on it. I also managed to pick up dual 22" Acer monitors for an additional $340. I'm continuously running Fluent simulations on all 4 cores and it never seems to get hot even with the overclock.