my thoughts exactly.

There's also a Windows 2003 Evaluation Kit that can be used for free for 6 months.

Okay, an updated shopping list-

$95 Shuttle MN31N
$23 128Mb PC2700 cheap generic
$75 Athlon XP 2100+
$27 Fortron 120 mm
$10 GC69+ NMB

This adds up to the original $230 a node, with better performance, and if I can't find another PCMCIA network card, that adds another $20.

Lapping the GC 69 for an hour to save $25 is a better value than what I get paid at work, especially if you account for the money I don't spend while I'm busy for the hour If I didn't use the GC 69, I'd get the AX-7 which would add $10 to the price per node, so I'd like to avoid it. If the NMB is too low air flow I can always duct the fortron intake

And I'll stick with linux, at $0 the price is perfect

oh oops I went to the Windows TS2 Presentation, got a coupon for a NFRS copy of Win2k3 w/ 5 licenses, just wanted to know if I could find a source for the academic version of 2000 Professional ... but man, M$ charges $1,014.00 for this copy ... and you picked up one for $100+ ...

I thought you were going to use Linux? Why do you need Windows? Newegg has it.

That Shuttle Board looks neat.

Well, I havent acutually bought it yet. But being as I still qualify for about 4 more years I'm in no hurry.

My recommendation on farm:
Cheap combo CPU & MB (athlon) with onboard NIC. (XP 1800+ would suffice) + 128MB RAM (SD-RAM works fine with these cheap MOBO)
Make sure the NIC is compatible for boot from LAN, etc on Linux environment. PSU whatever is cheap. SVC.com has 350W for $10 nowaday (RAIDMAX).
You will want one master to controll the boot from LAN. And run linux on all nodes. (free/faster). According to my calculation that should come out roughly $130-150 a node. (I've seen above mentioned MB/CPU combo for about $100 on fry's...) You could bother oc'ing but probably better to leave it stock as many nodes could case heat issues
I believe Mark @ sudhian was running above setup so you might want to browse their forum on how to do it... He is a monster farmer high up there in rank
Good luck. I couldn't find a place in my apt to put above config in and live with (Have 3 desktops/1 notebook running as is now)

You couldn't find room in your apartment? weakling! You are not worthy of this team!

Okay maybe thats exagerating a bit, but you need to work on dedication. I'm planning on fitting 6 computers, included a 2 node folding farm, in my DORM ROOM. I don't know if you've seen a college dorm recently, but its not exactly spacious... quite frankly, I don't know how I'll fit everything without the computers... but I will do it anyways, even if I have to sleep in the fetal position to make room!

Hey, I've got a 600 square feet, 3 bedroom apartment, which I share with 2 roommates. I've managed to fit this:


This is as big as the farm is ever going to be. In a few weeks its purpose for life will be over and we'll start selling it for scrap. It's a pity that now that it's in its most impressive form it isn't being used for folding. It's busily cranking out animations and renderings for my (and my roomie's) master's thesis work.

The final tally of computing power is:
1, 1.0Ghz Tbird render server
1, XP2100+ Oc'd to 2.0Ghz (my main machine)
1, XP2400+ (2.0ghz) workstation (the roomie's screaming monster)
1, XP1900+ (1.6Ghz) renderbox
8, XP2000+ (1.66Ghz) renderboxes
1, XP1800+ (1.53Ghz) renderbox
1, P4 1.8Ghz renderbox
1, PIII 866Mhz renderbox/data storage (with almost half a terrabyte of whining harddrives!)


For a grand total of........24 Gigahertz of computing power.

Dang it, Rusty! I can't see your picture!

uh oh. It seems to work on my end. Try copying and pasting the link: http://rkinder1.tripod.com/thefarm


Does it work for anyone else?

It works for me.

BTW, your roomies must love that farm. Unless they are benefitting from its power.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Are we losing Rusty075?!

Crap. My Browser must be FUBAR. That link doesn't even work for me. And it hates Java pop-up windows too! I have to click and click and click and then MAYBE it will open them. Sometimes not at all.

Just make sure you sell them for scrap very slowly...

I'm not going anywhere, just the folding guggernaut is leaving.

I didnt mean you leaving, just us losing your computer farm!

rusty- I sent you an e-mail a few days ago, but no answer. You alive or just ignoring losers like me?

Check you email Zhentar

Gee, thanks

Unfortunately the hard drives are a necessity. The rendering software I use (VIZ 4 and Bryce 5) only runs under windows. Combine that with a 400 meg job file and the 150meg executable and an HDD becomes a much simpler solution than setting up a network boot.

Using conventional cases is actually much cheaper than going the rackmount route. $20 for a case, including PSU, compared to $100 for a 4U rack mount case, not including the PSU or the rack to hold them in. Running that many boxes so close together without cases doesn't work either, the EMI gets really intense. Conventional cases are also easier to sell off later.

Although it turns out the farm won't be going on the auction block after all. We've gotten a freelance render job for it that'll keep it busy for a couple of months. Thankfully my partner in this venture has agreed to take the whole monstosity with him to his new job in Phoenix.
(sorry Zhentar, I was waiting to get this confirmed before I wrote you back )

Thanks Radeonman, but he's got family in town out there, and I'm pretty sure he already has a place of his lined up.

Well, I've started working a bit this week, and I plan on starting to mod my current case this weekend.... in a couple weeks I'll probably buy 2 nodes from newegg.

Be careful Zhentar, it's a slippery slope.

Does this mean it will still be able to fold?

Not at all for the next couple of months, after that, who knows?

I just wish I could live up to rusty.. but I think between my "job" (tech work at my parents office) and "limited" space (college dorm room) it won't be possible