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Chess Computer

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Hi everyone,

I am looking to build a computer used mostly for serious chess analysis. All the chess programs I use are "deep" versions, meaning that they support multiple processors. I don't need any fancy graphics or sound cards. I just need what it takes to crunch the numbers, so to speak. I believe I can handle parts like hard drive, mouse, keyboard, and so on, but I'd like to hear what you guys think regarding processors. For everything, I'd like to keep it around 2000$ or so. Thanks!

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Um, I was under the impression chess computers these days don't actually require that much hardware.

Give us an idea of the sort of processing power needed and whether or not it benefits from CUDA.

As far as CUDA goes, I don't think it's relevant, because:

1. Floating-point performance is not very relevant for a chess engine, which works a lot more on bit-fiddling, branches and random memory access.
2. The type of parallelism that is the heart of the massive performance you can get from such solutions is less useful for a chess engine, where there are many interdependencies between the calculations.
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As far as CUDA goes, I don't think it's relevant, because:

1. Floating-point performance is not very relevant for a chess engine, which works a lot more on bit-fiddling, branches and random memory access.
2. The type of parallelism that is the heart of the massive performance you can get from such solutions is less useful for a chess engine, where there are many interdependencies between the calculations.

As far as the computing power, I want to go as high as possible while staying in budget. Maybe the 980X if possible, or the AMD x6, or 2 Quad cores, whatever everyone deems best.

Optical
Lite on $20
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

MOBO
ASUS P6X58D-E LGA 1366 $210 w/ promo code
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

SSD
X25-M 80 GB $195
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Case + Storage HD
HAF 922 and 7200.12 500gb $120
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite...

GPU
5770 $160 w/ $10 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

CPU/RAM
i7-980x and G SKill Pi 6 gb DDR3 1600 7-8-7-24 $1160
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite...

PSU
Corsair 650TX $81 use promo code w/ $20 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Total: $1945 before $30 MIR, free ship on all

HSF is you wanna OC
$30
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002G1YPH0/ref=s9_simh...

batuchka said:
On the mainstream desktop platform (single CPU config mobos) nothing can touch the i7 980X but you pay for top dog ^^



agreed, you do get the fastest cpu by quiet a bit, but your looking at maybe a 30-40% increase in performance over an X6 but, that also comes at 5 times the cost of a 1055T

Thanks very much guys, super helpful stuff, really appreciate it.

Is there any way to chop down the other components such that I can get all the components (monitor, keyboard, anything else not on banthracis' list) for around $2000?

If this is not going to be used to play any type of graphic intensive game, then I have this recommendation...

1. Drop the 5770 GPU and go for some cheap $40-$50 GPU that will basically light up your monitor

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... - $45 after rebate

2. I don't know how much HDD space you need, but you could drop the HAF922 and the 1TB and go with something very simple for a case...like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... - $30 + shiping after rebate

3. PSU - you could drop down to this...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... - $50



With those few changes you can save roughly $230 for other hardware

With that you can throw in the OS (Win 7 Home Premium, Keyboard, Mouse, and a cheap monitor...cheap given the fact of the GPU selected above)

^ Agreed drop the GPU down. Antec 200, imo is a bit too small.

My recommendations:

Intel version:
i7 920/930
P6T SE
500GB Samsung F3
6GB DDR3 1600 (GSkill,etc)
ATI 4550 (You don't need DX 11,etc unless gaming)
Decent case like an Antec 300
DVD RW
Corsair 450VX or 550VX or better

AMD
Phenom II X6
2*2GB DDR3 1600 GSkill Ripjaws
ASUS AM3 EVO 790X
Every thing else the same to Intel build

@OP: If your program benefits a significant amount from HT then you may want to get the i7, else get the X6. Also, if you live near a Microcenter you can grab the X6 or the i7 quite cheaper than at Newegg. Also, have you considered OCing?

If u want to drop down to i7/nehalem then i'd say forget it - Thuban all the way as Thuban/Nehalem about dead rubber for Chess and going with a native SATA 6GB/s with USB 3.0 va NEC chip 880G saves u even more $$ on the GPU which Chess has no use for ^^ Sandy Bridge looming 2011 as well and for AM3 platform no point splashing on 700 series CFable mobo either Last hurrah on LGA 1366? Gulftown if u can afford it hehe
http://www.overclockers.com/intel-replace-lga1366-socke...
Quote:
Intel’s current high-end socket for consumer processors, best known as LGA1366, is supposedly set to be replaced by a new part in 2011. According to information obtained by Bit-Tech, the new socket would come in the second half of 2011 and with it several new features to accommodate future processors. Along with the new part, Intel will inevitably be releasing a new chipset to be at the center of the new platform.

If manufacturer Intel stands true to its actual naming scheme, the new chipset should be called X68

^ That is speculation. I doubt Intel would kill off the LGA1366 considering the Xeons use the same socket.

It all comes down to if the OP will notice a difference between 8 threads vs 6 threads and/or real cores vs. virtual cores.

Hello all,

Here is what I've got so far from combining your suggestions. Let me know what you think, and I really appreciate it!

CPU: $970

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B003922WES/ref=s... 1&condition=new

MOBO: $239

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... -

OPTICAL DRIVE: $20

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

GPU: $45

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

PSU: $65

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

HARD DRIVE: $75

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

SSD: $160

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

CASE: $65

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

INPUT DEVICES: $194

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite...


Total – 1833 W/O SHIPPING

UPDATE:

CPU: $970

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B003922WES/ref=s... 1&condition=new

RAM: $140

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

MOBO: $209

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

OPTICAL DRIVE: $20

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

GPU: $45

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

PSU: $65

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

HARD DRIVE: $80

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

SSD: $160

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

CASE: $65

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

INPUT DEVICES: $194

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite...



With no extra cooling options, am I going to run into problems? You can expect this chess computer to be running a CPU intensive program overnight and such.

Also, is the chosen power supply good enough?
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