I Need a New PC - Please Reccommend

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Profile Donald Bosso-Locquiao

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Message 1903085 - Posted: 27 Nov 2017, 3:08:31 UTC

I need a new pc that will crunch through Seti@Home projects but I need it to not break the bank.

I'd like a quad core pc for under $300.00 that has a good GPU card, at least 3.0 GHZ processor, at least a TB of HDD or Solid, and at least 8GB Ram purchasable through Amazon.com.

Thanks
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Profile Brent Norman Crowdfunding Project Donor*Special Project $75 donorSpecial Project $250 donor
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Message 1903086 - Posted: 27 Nov 2017, 3:23:57 UTC - in response to Message 1903085.  

It would be nice if your computers were not hidden so we could see what you have to start with, and what could be improved upon.

A 'good' GTX 1050Ti will cost you $160, $40 for a drive
On eBay/Amazon you should be able to find used LGA 1150/1151 i5 or i7 board/cpu/ram/cooler pull outs quite reasonable that would fit in most computers with the existing power supply.

That is if you don't mind doing it yourself.
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Profile Donald Bosso-Locquiao

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Message 1903098 - Posted: 27 Nov 2017, 4:26:23 UTC - in response to Message 1903086.  

I didnt know it was hidden. How do I unhide it?
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Profile Donald Bosso-Locquiao

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Message 1903105 - Posted: 27 Nov 2017, 4:59:26 UTC - in response to Message 1903098.  

It is now un-hidden. Apologies. I am blind and it took me a minute to find the location to unhide it.
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Grant (SSSF)
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Message 1903109 - Posted: 27 Nov 2017, 5:22:03 UTC - in response to Message 1903105.  

It is now un-hidden. Apologies. I am blind and it took me a minute to find the location to unhide it.

Still hidden.
After editing the setting, you have to press "Update preferences" for it for it to take effect.
Grant
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Message 1903110 - Posted: 27 Nov 2017, 5:33:04 UTC - in response to Message 1903109.  

It is now un-hidden. Apologies. I am blind and it took me a minute to find the location to unhide it.

Still hidden.
After editing the setting, you have to press "Update preferences" for it for it to take effect.

It can also take around an hour for the change to take effect too. ;-)

Cheers.
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Profile Donald Bosso-Locquiao

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Message 1903113 - Posted: 27 Nov 2017, 5:39:58 UTC - in response to Message 1903110.  

Ack!

I found this one on Amazon for about 200.00.
Would it be a good addition to the search for life in the universee?
Lenovo IBM M90P Small form factor Business Desktop Computer (Intel Dual Core i5 Up to 3.46GHz Processor) 8GB DDR3 RAM, 2TB HDD, DVD, Windows 10 Home (Certified Refurbished)
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Message 1903117 - Posted: 27 Nov 2017, 6:01:55 UTC - in response to Message 1903113.  

Lenovo IBM M90P Small form factor Business Desktop Computer

The problem with many of the smaller form factor computers is that there isn't enough room for an addon video card, or the Power Supply isn't good enough to power even the more basic of addon cards.
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Message 1903131 - Posted: 27 Nov 2017, 7:32:59 UTC

The system still isn't showing here, but on one of your other projects it is.

G2020 @ 2.90GHz
Intel(R) HD Graphics (1400MB)
3985.6 MB

If it has a spare PCIe slot, and the Power Supply is rated at 350W or better and there is physically room for it, you could add a GTX 1050 or GTX 1060 3GB and that would process a lot of Seti WUs. However it would be good to see it's details here at Seti as it has an extremely low RAC- i'd expect a much higher RAC from that system. But it does depends a lot on how much time it spends on each day, and how much time when it is on it is actually crunching. If it's extremely low RAC is due to limited crunching time then adding a good low/mid level card would put out quite a bit of work. If it's due to other issues then an addon card will probably just make things worse.
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Message 1903140 - Posted: 27 Nov 2017, 8:45:04 UTC - in response to Message 1903131.  

Donald posted in another thread that he has a Lenovo Desktop PC H520s (57312711) Pentium G2020 (2.90 GHz) 4 GB DDR3 1 TB HDD Intel HD Graphics Windows 10, for which I found its Maintenance Manual, where it does show it is cramped inside its case. Although the motherboard does have a couple of PCIe slots, it's anyone's guess whether a) a full size present day GPU fits next to the hard drive/DVD enclosure, and b) the case is full size (if this is the same case, according to Amazon it's 11.54 x 3.94 x 15.75 inches inches. Is 3.94 inches enough for a present day full size videocard?)

In the Lenovo forums someone asked about upgrading their videocard and he was answered The Lenovo H520s has a low profile PCI Express x16 ver 2.0 expansion slot where you can add a discrete graphics adapter. So a low profile PCIe slot then. The PSU in the present K520s may only be as high as 180W, so he'd need a new PSU then as well.

Donald could also replace the CPU on it, but requires a Sandy Bridge for it. Those are difficult to find.
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Message 1903141 - Posted: 27 Nov 2017, 8:51:47 UTC - in response to Message 1903140.  

The PSU in the present K520s may only be as high as 180W, so he'd need a new PSU then as well.

So just not worth the effort then. Would just be an exercise in frustration.

Best option would be a basic system in a full sized ATX case (if you want a half decent addon video card at some stage).
Grant
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Message 1903144 - Posted: 27 Nov 2017, 10:38:59 UTC

Maybe something like this would be of interest?
Dell Optiplex 990 Desktop Minitower Intel Quad-Core I7-3770 (3.40 GHz) // 16GB RAM for $365. It comes with Windows 7.

It's small but usable for crunching video card would be upgradeable in the future.
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Message 1903180 - Posted: 27 Nov 2017, 18:21:02 UTC

While it may sound attractive to buy a second user system great care must be exercised. Companies like Dell tend to build systems to a price and thus are not the easiest to upgrade (read not cost effective).
I haven't costed this, but it may not be as expensive as one would expect:
Start with fairly basic ATX midi case
AMD processor, the Ryzen processors are good value for money when compared to Intel. Go for a low core core count.
Add at least 4Gb of RAM, 8 would be better ut might blow the budget.
GPU, nothing fancy required, a low end GTX9XX will suffice, or the old faithful GTX75O.
PSU. Yes you will need one, a it of careful shopping and you will find packages of PSU and case at little more than the cost of either.
Finally a hard disk. You don't need anything fancy as neither BONIC nor SETI are demanding on either hard xisk space or performance.
Operating syztem - don't waste money on Windows when for a cruncber it has many features you don't need, and Linux is free.
Bob Smith
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Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?
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Message 1903324 - Posted: 28 Nov 2017, 9:59:47 UTC
Last modified: 28 Nov 2017, 10:00:23 UTC

I got a couple of SeaSonic psu from Newegg for about 50 USD each. 620 Watt, modular (no extra cables cluttering the insides). It is dual rail, that might be an issue with two or more gpu. The one I use now is powering old Q6600+GTX750Ti SC just fine, this system has a second GTX750 but it turns off from time to time. So if you have just one gpu, you will be fine.

Newegg often have them on sale with mail in rebate, but I don't trust rebate system so I never quote those prices: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151095

The surprising part about this psu is that it is completely modular. Usually for that price+quality+power you get semi modular.
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Message boards : Number crunching : I Need a New PC - Please Reccommend


 
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