Decided it was time to build my first PC. I want something that will run Seti@Home fast and efficiently when I'm not using it. Have a few questions if anyone can help. Will more memory, say 16GB+, make SAH run faster? I'm guessing that an 8 core AMD will help. And I'm planning to add a GeForce GTX 580 for the CUDA capability. Any suggestions will be welcome as I'm a complete novice.

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In order of importance to SETI@Home crunching is:

FPU speed (CPU speed)
FSB/HT/QPI speed
RAM speed
Hard drive speed


Each SETI@Home workunit only uses about 32-64MB of RAM per task, so even if you had a 24 core beast, you'd only use 768-1536MB of RAM. Obviously an 8 core machine would only use 256-512MB of RAM. So no, having more RAM will not help the speed with which you process tasks.


Also, a thing to note, the latest AMD processors such as the AMD "FX" processors, have one FPU shared for every two ALUs. I.E.; an 8 core AMD FX processor only has 4 FPUs, which means the latest AMDs are not number crunching beasts by any means.

In order of importance to SETI@Home crunching is:

FPU speed (CPU speed)
FSB/HT/QPI speed
RAM speed
Hard drive speed


Each SETI@Home workunit only uses about 32-64MB of RAM per task, so even if you had a 24 core beast, you'd only use 768-1536MB of RAM. Obviously an 8 core machine would only use 256-512MB of RAM. So no, having more RAM will not help the speed with which you process tasks.


Also, a thing to note, the latest AMD processors such as the AMD "FX" processors, have one FPU shared for every two ALUs. I.E.; an 8 core AMD FX processor only has 4 FPUs, which means the latest AMDs are not number crunching beasts by any means.

Actually, top of the list is GPU speed and count (graphics card). Make certain that it is of the right kind though.

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BOINC WIKI

To even begin to ballpark a build for you we need to know a budget, and whether or not you'll be using a GPU and if so, more than one?

I always build a system around it's intended design.

If your building a "crunching" machine I'd say you'd want a GPU and two if you could afford it. You need to make sure you buy a motherboard that can support whatever you intend to build.

As far as RAM, (always choose your RAM based on your motherboard) for windows 7, 8GB of ram is more than enough. You could probably use 4GB without much performance loss

Some other ideas for a first time builder, don't cheap out on the power supply, don't buy a case that comes with one either. buy a cheap case (unless you want to waste money), and buy a GOOD power supply. (Also cheap case fans can be noisy so I usually spend 10-15$ per build on some quiet fans.)

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#resist

In order of importance to SETI@Home crunching is:

FPU speed (CPU speed)
FSB/HT/QPI speed
RAM speed
Hard drive speed


Each SETI@Home workunit only uses about 32-64MB of RAM per task, so even if you had a 24 core beast, you'd only use 768-1536MB of RAM. Obviously an 8 core machine would only use 256-512MB of RAM. So no, having more RAM will not help the speed with which you process tasks.


Also, a thing to note, the latest AMD processors such as the AMD "FX" processors, have one FPU shared for every two ALUs. I.E.; an 8 core AMD FX processor only has 4 FPUs, which means the latest AMDs are not number crunching beasts by any means.

Actually, top of the list is GPU speed and count (graphics card). Make certain that it is of the right kind though.

I made the assumption that GPU would be the obvious fastest choice.

In order of importance to SETI@Home crunching is:

FPU speed (CPU speed)
FSB/HT/QPI speed
RAM speed
Hard drive speed


Each SETI@Home workunit only uses about 32-64MB of RAM per task, so even if you had a 24 core beast, you'd only use 768-1536MB of RAM. Obviously an 8 core machine would only use 256-512MB of RAM. So no, having more RAM will not help the speed with which you process tasks.


Also, a thing to note, the latest AMD processors such as the AMD "FX" processors, have one FPU shared for every two ALUs. I.E.; an 8 core AMD FX processor only has 4 FPUs, which means the latest AMDs are not number crunching beasts by any means.

Actually, top of the list is GPU speed and count (graphics card). Make certain that it is of the right kind though.

I made the assumption that GPU would be the obvious fastest choice.

Often assumptions don't work well. They only work if both people are on the same page of the playbook.

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BOINC WIKI

In order of importance to SETI@Home crunching is:

FPU speed (CPU speed)
FSB/HT/QPI speed
RAM speed
Hard drive speed


Each SETI@Home workunit only uses about 32-64MB of RAM per task, so even if you had a 24 core beast, you'd only use 768-1536MB of RAM. Obviously an 8 core machine would only use 256-512MB of RAM. So no, having more RAM will not help the speed with which you process tasks.


Also, a thing to note, the latest AMD processors such as the AMD "FX" processors, have one FPU shared for every two ALUs. I.E.; an 8 core AMD FX processor only has 4 FPUs, which means the latest AMDs are not number crunching beasts by any means.

Actually, top of the list is GPU speed and count (graphics card). Make certain that it is of the right kind though.

I made the assumption that GPU would be the obvious fastest choice.

Often assumptions don't work well. They only work if both people are on the same page of the playbook.

Since nearly everyone can see that nVidia GPUs rule the roost around here, and the OP said they were going to buy a GTX 580, I believe it was a safe assumption.

Thank you all. This is excellent info and exactly what I was looking for. I haven't really set a budget but I know those GPU's can be expensive. I appreciate the help!

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not to steal the thread, but will GPU's with larger memory crunch more than one task at a time (per GPU) or do they just get through a single task faster?

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not to steal the thread, but will GPU's with larger memory crunch more than one task at a time (per GPU) or do they just get through a single task faster?

Not really. If they don't have enough memory, they will not crunch at all. Faster processors on the graphics card will make performance better, and more processors may help. If you have enough processing power in the GPU, you may be able to do processing for BOINC while you are active at the keyboard. Most GPUs are not capable of this feat.

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BOINC WIKI