CGTalk - MB and chip advice for Render Slave

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Mahlon

11-24-2002, 02:04 AM

I'm going to have two computers built just as render slaves. App is 3ds max 5/Windows 2000.

My question is: do you guys have recommendations for a motherboard and cpu given the fact that I don't need absolutely bleeding edge performance here? Or would dual channel ddr do give me any performance with just a render box?
They're just going to be chugging away in the background round the clock. I'd like to get as fast as I could without spending extra money needlessly, as I will want to upgrade mb and cpu as time goes on.

My eye so far (based on comments on this board) is on the Asus A7N266 and Athlon XP 2100. Does this sound good for a render box, or should I move up a notch?

Thanks,
Mahlon

S(oWh@nD

11-24-2002, 06:25 AM

I have Asus A7M266-D Motherboard with 2x1.7 ghz Athlon Xp processor, with 2x512 Mhz DDR. I come from 1ghz Athlon, and the difference is very impressive.

http://www.asus.com.tw/mb/socketa/a7m266-d/overview.htm

loop29

11-24-2002, 09:49 AM

I would recommend some Pentium III Tualatin dual cpu boards, low cost, great performance, that should give you enough power for rendering, but Athlon XP 2100 is still a good decision and dual DDRAM channel is better for rendering, if you can afford go for it.

regards

GregHess

11-24-2002, 04:40 PM

http://us.shuttle.com/specs2.asp?pro_id=155

Shuttle makes a bunch of minipc's that make excellent render slaves.

Their the size of small shoeboxes, very quiet...and have integrated USB 2, Lan, Firewire, Video, Sound. The boxes come with motherboard, case, power supply, exhaust fan, and a cpu cooling system.

Front and rear USB/firewire/sound mounts..

Just add cpu, hd, ram and a rom.

There is also a Pentium IV version, if your worried about excessive heat production.

They also make an older model which uses tualatin.

Mahlon

11-24-2002, 06:01 PM

Thanks for the replies. Those little Shuttles are swa-heet. Pretty cool.

Mahlon

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