Thoughts on new workstation/server using Haswell CPUs

[lh3]

I would push RAM to 128GB at least. You are going to use this machine for several years. The sequencing throughput will be much higher. You may also work on new applications or data types, or use better but more memory hungry software which might assume 128GB is the norm by then. It is safer to bet on more RAM than on faster CPU.

[atcghelix]

Sorry it's not too clear above--that setup is for two 32GB RAM quad-channel sets for 64GB total. The only reason for the extreme edition is it's the only 8-core processor in that lineup.

We currently have a machine with a 3930k 6-core and 64GB of RAM, and it seems like it's usually enough for what we're doing. I think we're usually CPU and I/O bottlenecked in the stuff we do.

[GenoMax]

Is there a reason to get the extreme edition processor (are you going to overclock it)? Why not get the 6-core i7 5820K that is a step down and use the money to bump the RAM up to 64 GB (you will need another ~$200 after the price difference)? I would rather have enough head room on the RAM than the fastest CPU available.

[atcghelix]

Does anyone have opinions on the suitability of the new 8-core Haswell 5960X processor from Intel for a bioinformatics workstation/server? We have about $4,000 to spend, and we need to order everything early this week. I'm considering the setup below, but my experience is limited to building single-processor PCs. I've never built a dual-processor Xeon system, so I'm not really sure how the below setup would stack up against a Xeon setup for the same cost (if it's even possible to build a similar Xeon setup for under $4,000).

The system will mainly be used for things like read mapping, reduced-complexity de novo assemblies (not mega RAM-intensive, see http://ibest.github.io/ARC/), and population genomic analyses (often using ANGSD).


Intel Core i7-5960X Haswell 8-Core 3.0GHz LGA 2011 140W Desktop Processor BX80648I75960X - $1050
EVGA X99 FTW (150-HE-E997-KR) LGA 2011-3 Intel X99 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Extended ATX Intel Motherboard - $310
2X Crucial 32GB (4 x 8GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 2133 (PC4-17000) Desktop Memory Model CT4K8G4DFD8213 - $818
SAMSUNG 840 EVO MZ-7TE1T0BW 2.5" 1TB SATA III MLC (SSD) - $470
4X Seagate Desktop HDD.15 ST4000DM000 4TB 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive Bare Drive - $600
Cooler Master HAF 932 Advanced Blue Edition - High Air Flow Full Tower Computer Case with USB 3.0 and All-Black Interior - $140
CORSAIR HX Series HX850 850W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI CrossFire 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply New 4th Gen CPU Certified Haswell Ready - $150
ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - $20
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU cooler- $35

==$3,941 including tax and shipping==

Please let me know if you have any thoughts. Thanks so much!