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New analytics machine -- how does this parts list look?

Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2020 5:45 pm
by cfOH
Hey, all. I'm building a new system for handling analytics duties. It's used mainly for running simulation software, statistical analysis on large datasets, and other memory- and processor-intensive uses. Based on discussions here and elsewhere, based on a $2000 max budget, here's the parts list I've put together:

[[link removed]]

Any thoughts on that? Most importantly, did I overlook any component incompatibilities? This is not a gaming machine -- I need it to drive a couple of large monitors, but not at crazy framerates -- so the GPU is purposefully underpowered compared to everything else. I've also gone with 2x16GB RAM so that I can add another 32GB later on if I run into memory limits with the tasks I throw at it.

Thanks in advance.

Re: New analytics machine -- how does this parts list look?

Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2020 5:59 pm
by meerkt
Awfully expensive parts, I think.

$360 mobo, $100 CPU cooler, $170 for a 4TB HDD, $190 for a 1TB SSD...

And are you going to use the GPU for compute? If not, you can go much cheaper. If yes, you could, or should, go more powerful.

Re: New analytics machine -- how does this parts list look?

Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2020 8:50 pm
by JustAnEngineer
You would definitely get better performance and reliability with a pair of less expensive hard-drives (e.g.: Toshiba X300) in a RAID1 mirror or with a single less expensive drive and off-site backup.
$179 8 TB Toshiba HDWF180XZSTA 7200 rpm SATA internal
$130 8 TB WD WDBWLG0080HBK-NESN 5400 rpm USB external

I'd also get less expensive RAM without huge decorative RGB heatsinks attached.
$150 2x16 GiB PC4-28800 G.Skill F4-3600C16D-32GVKC (DDR4-3600, 16-19-19-39, 1.35 V)

Re: New analytics machine -- how does this parts list look?

Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2020 8:44 am
by just brew it!
Yeah, basically what the previous posters said. Spending the extra $ for high-end enterprise/gamer class gear is a matter of diminishing returns.

The motherboard and CPU cooler are massive overkill, and you're paying an awful lot for that "enterprise" HDD with the only significant benefit being a longer warranty. A pair of cheaper drives in RAID-1 would be more reliable in practice. The blinged up LED RAM just adds cost, and may even get in the way of mounting your CPU cooling solution since they are taller than normal DIMMs; you obviously don't care about the LED effects since you're getting a non-windowed case, so what's the point? And yeah, if your workload can leverage GPU compute you may want to step up the GPU; otherwise, it is massive overkill since this system will not be doubling as a gaming rig.

Aside from the potential RAM/heatsink interference issue, I see no obvious compatibility problems.

Re: New analytics machine -- how does this parts list look?

Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2020 10:01 am
by cfOH
Thanks, all...greatly appreciate the feedback. The mobo choice was mostly about future-proofing -- I tend to keep machines a long time -- but the point about it being overkill is a good one. I'm not planning on OCing it, in order to maximize reliability, so can probably dial that back a bit.

Very valid point about the bling-y RAM...will look for some without the disco (the G.Skill rec'd above looks great...thanks!). The HDD was chosen for reliability, but you're right -- I've already got an external RAID setup for long-term storage and backup. Can save a few bucks there as well.

Any suggestions on cheaper/less-capable video cards, but ones that should still get driver support for a long time? And no, most of the software I rely on doesn't use the GPU as a processor...only the CPU, and nearly all are multi-threaded now (thankfully).

Thanks again!

Re: New analytics machine -- how does this parts list look?

Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2020 10:42 am
by JustAnEngineer
Once you take gaming performance off the list as your #1 criterion, shopping for graphics cards becomes easy. Something like this Radeon RX570 4GB card would be more than sufficient. This card features 3x DisplayPort 1.4 , 1x HDMI 2.0 and 1x dual-link DVI outputs.
$110 ASRock Phantom Gaming D Radeon RX570 4G

Re: New analytics machine -- how does this parts list look?

Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2020 11:55 am
by Igor_Kavinski
cfOH wrote:
Any suggestions on cheaper/less-capable video cards, but ones that should still get driver support for a long time?


https://www.amazon.com/GIGABYTE-Radeon- ... B082BXNYCQ

It's more recent and the price is pretty good. If you prefer Nvidia, then this is the most recent low-end GPU from the green team:

https://www.amazon.com/MSI-GeForce-128- ... B082XK5NDK

This case looks nice: https://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Tr ... B07Q8VJ17J

Re: New analytics machine -- how does this parts list look?

Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2020 1:47 pm
by cfOH
Terrific suggestions...thanks again, gents!

I've been building PCs for >30 years now and it never ceases to amaze me how fast things evolve. :-)

Re: New analytics machine -- how does this parts list look?

Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2020 11:25 pm
by Flying Fox
cfOH wrote:
[[link removed]]

Why? Is your build that secretive that no one should copy? :roll:

Re: New analytics machine -- how does this parts list look?

Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2020 10:16 pm
by cfOH
Flying Fox wrote:
cfOH wrote:
[[link removed]]

Why? Is your build that secretive that no one should copy? :roll:


After I emptied the list into my shopping cart on Amazon, I deleted the list. Then I realized that broke the link here, so I removed it. Sorry.

Re: New analytics machine -- how does this parts list look?

Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2020 10:28 pm
by meerkt
I'm not sure expensive mobos would be more future-proof. Just have enough PCIe slots.
But perhaps something else to think of: ECC memory?

Re: New analytics machine -- how does this parts list look?

Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2020 12:02 am
by Flying Fox
cfOH wrote:
After I emptied the list into my shopping cart on Amazon, I deleted the list. Then I realized that broke the link here, so I removed it. Sorry.

Appreciate if you can post your final parts list for others' information.

I'm kind of pondering on a high-ish end build myself and can use some samples.