So, I have been just spinning around a couple of ideas.. (All AMD, don't ask why)

One is to get an A10 7850K and combine that with R7 250.. Which at first seemed like a reasonable idea, until I read some reviews. And started thinking, that maybe trying to get A10 to work crossfire is a bad idea, and should just pair it up with a "better GPU" (haven't thought of any yet).

And then there is the door number 3.. Forget about trying to fit GPU and CPU on same die, and just get, say a FX and a "better GPU"..

Maybe I might get more out of a system with an Intel CPU, but for some irrational reason I prefer AMD. I have had nothing but AMD's for a long time, and they have allways been good.

I would say that an on-CPU-chip GPU is ok for casual computing, but I would distrust it for heavy use (like BOINC projects or gaming) because of the extra heat generated. Too many eggs in one basket. Like the Intel Haswell chips, which moved the power regulation function on-chip, and run way too hot.

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I would suggest a FX CPU with a decent GPU.

I have a FX 8350 running with a HD 7970.
It performs very nice.

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With each crime and every kindness we birth our future.

How much you think to spend?

If you think to run SETI, why not use an AMD MB (FX CPU´s are fantastic and relatively cheap) with a NV GPU? You could build some very powerful crunchers, with relatively low price.

Not forget the PSU, big crunchers needs big PSUs, not make economy on that.

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If you absolutely have to have an AMD then go with the FX. But I can tell you that I have both an FX AMD (8 core) and and i5(4 core). When I bought that FX it was top of the line for a new build. The i5 was in a store bought computer. What have I seen? The i5 is more than twice as fast as the FX AMD in crunching both MB and astropulses. Given what I have seen over the past 5 months, I'd go back and make all my chips intels, even though they tend to run hotter. Now, if you are not planning on using the chip for crunching or if you are only going to use it partially, then as Juan says, go with some good Nvidia GPUs. I have both an AMD 4 core and AMD 8 core. I plan on upgrading my 4 core to and 8 core plus put in a liquid radiator cooler just like my other 8 core. That way I have 4 cores just to feed the 4 GPUs and 4 left over to do some crunching. The AMD 4 core I found isn't cutting it so now I'm going to stop all CPU work units till then. Which Nvidias? Depends on how much you want to spend and how many slots you have on your Motherboard and/if you plan on doing any modifications once you get it. This is where you tell us what you are thinking...Beware that the FX chips only work on a select few Motherboards.

For the PSU, I like the following link. Here you can play with the different options and see what your unit will need as far as power.

http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

PS... Crossfire and SLI aren't important in Seti, so don't worry about those things.

My own personal preferences on GPUs. I have a couple of GTX 650 Ti Boost but they don't make those any more. Now I'm really excited by the GTX 750 Ti Superclocked (have some of these too). They are relatively cheap, don't use a lot of power (get power from the PCI-e slot) and are as fast or in 1 case faster than my 650s. If cost is not an issue..then GTX 780's Ti are top of the line, GTX 770 next then the GTX 660s.(These will require extra power in the form of 6-8 pin connectors from your PSU) What are your thoughts?

Zalster

If you absolutely have to have an AMD then go with the FX. But I can tell you that I have both an FX AMD (8 core) and and i5(4 core). When I bought that FX it was top of the line for a new build. The i5 was in a store bought computer. What have I seen? The i5 is more than twice as fast as the FX AMD in crunching both MB and astropulses. Given what I have seen over the past 5 months, I'd go back and make all my chips intels, even though they tend to run hotter. Now, if you are not planning on using the chip for crunching or if you are only going to use it partially, then as Juan says, go with some good Nvidia GPUs. I have both an AMD 4 core and AMD 8 core. I plan on upgrading my 4 core to and 8 core plus put in a liquid radiator cooler just like my other 8 core. That way I have 4 cores just to feed the 4 GPUs and 4 left over to do some crunching. The AMD 4 core I found isn't cutting it so now I'm going to stop all CPU work units till then. Which Nvidias? Depends on how much you want to spend and how many slots you have on your Motherboard and/if you plan on doing any modifications once you get it. This is where you tell us what you are thinking...Beware that the FX chips only work on a select few Motherboards.

For the PSU, I like the following link. Here you can play with the different options and see what your unit will need as far as power.

http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

PS... Crossfire and SLI aren't important in Seti, so don't worry about those things.

My own personal preferences on GPUs. I have a couple of GTX 650 Ti Boost but they don't make those any more. Now I'm really excited by the GTX 750 Ti Superclocked (have some of these too). They are relatively cheap, don't use a lot of power (get power from the PCI-e slot) and are as fast or in 1 case faster than my 650s. If cost is not an issue..then GTX 780's Ti are top of the line, GTX 770 next then the GTX 660s.(These will require extra power in the form of 6-8 pin connectors from your PSU) What are your thoughts?

Zalster

The GTX760 is just slightly slower than the GTX670.

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This site gives give comparison on different gfx cards and I am not sure how accurate it reflect on S@H. It would be good if those who has many gpx cards telling us how accurate it is compare with real life performance.

http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/directCompute.html

First of all I would like to thank everyone for posting your comments.. Interesting to read.

About crossfire & such, I know it doesn't really matter with Seti. I was just thinking about the A10.. But seems like it just isn't worth it. At first it seems like a nice idea, but then you have to face the reality.. I think one major problem is the DDR3 vs GDDR5. Now as I think of it, I just don't see how to beat a GPU + GDDR5 with integrated GPU + DDR3. Something would have to change radically before GPU on CPU would start to make sense, in anything other than a budget computer, and even then it will be hard to beat low to midrange dedicated hardware. It might be interesting to see, if AMD could someday make it a working consept, but right now it's just not there yet.

Having said that, it pretty much leaves me with either the FX, or Intel..

How much am I planning to spend.. Well, haven't decided yet. And it is possible I might make the uppgrade in stages, and replace just MB and CPU first.. But that would depend on what I can find, and at what price.. And if I can use existing PSU (500 W) or not (when replacing GPU)

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FX chips tend to run from 125 W up to 250 W for the top of the line chip. That's going to eat into that 500W PSU. If you plan on going with top end GPUs then you are definitely going to have to upgrade that PSU. Use that calculator I posted above to figure out what you will need. It take into account HardDrive, USB, chips, gpus, Ram, fans,dvd or blu-ray drives, etc.. Let us know what you are thinking and we can try and help you out.


Zalster

FX chips tend to run from 125 W up to 250 W for the top of the line chip. That's going to eat into that 500W PSU. If you plan on going with top end GPUs then you are definitely going to have to upgrade that PSU. Use that calculator I posted above to figure out what you will need. It take into account HardDrive, USB, chips, gpus, Ram, fans,dvd or blu-ray drives, etc.. Let us know what you are thinking and we can try and help you out.


Zalster

Well, FX CPU is definately quite power hungry.. 125 W for FX-8350.

Did toy around with the calculator, and results seem to be around ~500, a bit more or less, depending on GPU.. So it is definately borderline. Still, one might just find one that will work and be happy with that. Anyway I'm quite sure, anything one can buy is faster than what I have right now (Dual core Athlon 3800+ & Geforce 9500 GT).. The PSU I've got is quite new. Replaced a broken one in a hurry, so didn't use much time for planning. Throwing out a brand new PSU would seem like a waste.. But I have to think about it, maybe I could use it back at the office (and buy one "for the company")..

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If you don't want to get a new PSU, those GTX 750 Tis only use about 60 Watts (if they are one of the modified ones, then they need a 6 pin connector for more power {75W}) They are reasonably fast. MB in 15 minutes, astropulse in 56 minutes on my 4 core AMD. Just a thought

Zalster

Now a thing about that PSU, if it's a single 12v rail type then you shouldn't have any problem with running a GPU that gets all its power from the PCI-e slot.

If its 1 of the more common dual 12v rail types then you will have problems trying to run a GPU that gets all its power from the PCI-e slot so in this case you will need a card that takes most of its power from a 6 pin connection.

Cheers.

Now a thing about that PSU, if it's a single 12v rail type then you shouldn't have any problem with running a GPU that gets all its power from the PCI-e slot.

If its 1 of the more common dual 12v rail types then you will have problems trying to run a GPU that gets all its power from the PCI-e slot so in this case you will need a card that takes most of its power from a 6 pin connection.

Cheers.

The PSU in question is a Fractal Design "Tesla".. I think it was single rail type.

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If you don't want to get a new PSU, those GTX 750 Tis only use about 60 Watts (if they are one of the modified ones, then they need a 6 pin connector for more power {75W}) They are reasonably fast. MB in 15 minutes, astropulse in 56 minutes on my 4 core AMD. Just a thought

Zalster

Sounds nice.. Right now MB ones complete about in 1-2 hours..

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