Renderpockets - DIY Helmer Renderfarm

[artmaknev]

Hi all,

If you require extra render power and can build your own computer, then maybe you will be interested in this new product, it is still under development but should be available soon.  Renderpockets is basically an empty lasercut plexiglas case that fits inside Ikea Helmer drawer perfectly, this saves you alot of time if you wanted to build your own helmer renderfarm. 

To keep track of the project you can follow on facebook: www.facebook.com/renderpockets
Thanks,
Art

[artmaknev]

latest prototype:

[cecofuli]

Ohh.. very interesting =)
Can you tell us the maximum Ghz provided with your solution and the cost/node

thanks! =)

[artmaknev]

Sure, with i7-4770, you get 3.4GHz 4cores so thats 4x3.4 = 13.6 Ghz per node, but maybe somebody can correct me, with hyperthreading it will be 8 x 3.4 =  23.2 Ghz per node.

The cost per node is about $800, here is the list of recommended specs:

1. Intel i7-4770 3.4GHz 1150 84W - $310
2. Mini-ITX motherboard - $75
3. 16GB 240Pin DDR3 SDRAM 1600 PC3 12800 - $140
4. 64GB SATAIII - $50
5. SFX Form Factor PSU - $60
6. 2x60mm fans - about $20
7. Other (wires, fan grills, etc) - $50

[cecofuli]

Interesting price.
Why not the new Core i7 5930K (3.7 x 6 = 22.2 Ghz). Right now, it's be best CPU quality/price (about 500 euro)
It's near 2x faster than i7-4770 (255 euro)
So, with "only" 1600 euro, you have something like 2X speed in the same space. It's huge difference.
Also, is it possible to install 32 GB RAM?
All our nodes have 24 or 32 GB RAM. 16 isn't enough

Thanks

[artmaknev]

Core i7-5930 requires 2011 socket motherboard, which is about twice the size of 1150 socket, Renderpockets at the moment can fit only the mini-ITX board.  i7-5930 also consumes almost twice as much power as the i7-4770, so the cpu stays almost twice as hot, which will require better cpu cooler, and will not fit inside the helmer drawer..  So must make some sacrifice, if you want compact low power consuming 6 nodes renderfarm under your desk, or a very high power 2-3 nodes that are larger than entire helmer cabinet.. The 16GB is max yes, but seems to work quite well, there might be possibility to add micro ATX board which supports 32GB later.

Actually, there will be a possibility to maybe add core i7-5930 cpu later on, but will have to sacrifice 1 extra drawer for ventilation, so 3 rendernodes with i7-5930 instead of 6 with i7-4770!

Back to the drawing board!

Art

[arqrenderz]

Hi  artmaknev i have looked at this setup for a while, with the original ikea helmer but i cant find an atx plan for all the holes
Are you puting 2 pc on each drawer?
it looking so sweet!! it is acrilic or somethig like that?do you have some pic with the whole system ?

[artmaknev]

Hi  artmaknev i have looked at this setup for a while, with the original ikea helmer but i cant find an atx plan for all the holes
Are you puting 2 pc on each drawer?
it looking so sweet!! it is acrilic or somethig like that?do you have some pic with the whole system ?

Yes its 3mm acrylic, all the parts snap into each other so no need to use screws, its also very lightweight!

The 2pc in one drawer is possible with pico psu, but I wouldn't recommend it, even with 3 fans in the middle, it still got too hot when rendering...

Do you mean miniITX plan for the holes? I don't have the atx plan, it was actually hard to find, so I ended up measuring from the motherboard, some trial and error until got the exact location of the holes..

Here is the pic with system inside the case:

[artmaknev]

2 pc in 1 drawer (not recommended, but possible):

[Javadevil]

Whoa ! I want one, I can imagine it would get warm next to your legs and whats the noise like ?

[cecofuli]

Hi Art,
thanks so much for the explanations =)

[artmaknev]

Whoa ! I want one, I can imagine it would get warm next to your legs and whats the noise like ?

It gets a bit warm, its nice in the winter you don't need a heater.  The noise depends on what kind of fans you use, I recommend noctua fans or some other good brand, I bought cheaper fans and they were louder, then I switched to more high quality brand and it was more silent, but it doesn't get too loud, maybe I will post a video soon.

Art

[Juraj]

Not my cup of tea, but hats off :- ) Nice work !

[artmaknev]

Thanks Juraj

I see you are more of 1 powerful machine vs small budget rendernodes type of guy, tell me, if renderpockets was made bigger to fit the full ATX boards with dual xeons, would you be interested?

[Juraj]

Personally I won't, I do like the flexibility of boxes being ambigiously swapped in use (render node <--> workstation but also other) depending on current requirements, so I do move them around between rooms, people,etc.

I am not sure if you could fit E-ATX though with enough cooling factor.

But I do like how precisely you've created this, it makes it look really clean and well-thought.

[artmaknev]

It was designed and fabricated in Germany, -/+ 0.1mm accuracy :)

Its not possible to fit the dual xeon boards into helmer, thats true, but the idea is to use custom case, but thats just a thought..

What is your option about this motherboard: SRock Fatal1ty X99M LGA 2011-v3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157545

Some people requested microATX option, so I am just looking whats possible with those boards, this one seems like an impressive board for its size!  Xeon® 18-Core Processor support, that means if 3 ndoes with this boards are inside Helmer, you would get 162 render threads?! 64GB Ram!

[Juraj]

The issue with single CPU Xeon units is that you loose the biggest economic factor of it. 18-core Xeon is merely 2 GHz, meaning overclocked 4960X will almost outperform it at 1/4 of price. That's why no one outside of Apple is building their workstations like that.

Btw, every LG-2011 (1/2/3) platform supports whole range of architecture spectrum, so both i7 and Xeons E5 1xxx/2xxx v1/2/3 will fit into mainstream motherboard.


I guess the fabrication isn't cheap process. It looks so clean, is it laser cut ?

[artmaknev]

Yes its all lasercut, its not cheap lol, they charge by the minute for the lasercutter, and this design development took way too much time! But I love designing, and problem solving, so it was more relaxing to me than going to spa!

That was my understanding with Xeon's as well, they are preferred in dual setups. 

About the  microATX LG-2011 v3 boards, I am interested in those now, because they can fit the 5th generation i7, and will fit into helmer (somehow, very tightly..theoretically)

   

[Juraj]

mATX is as small as it will ever get, LG-2011 has larger chipset that could physically fit into mini-ITX, so I doubt we will see enthousiast miniITX in upcoming years. It would  be cool though :- )

Then tell them to be faster (Client from hell  :- D)

[artmaknev]

haha I tried! but faster means less precise!

mATX is definitely good to have as option then, but mini-ITX still nice for very compact builds!

[arqrenderz]

artmaknev are you going to sell them?i mean all the case to put all the hardware ?

[form]

This looks like a great little project

[artmaknev]

artmaknev are you going to sell them?i mean all the case to put all the hardware ?

Yes thats the plan, you can follow now www.renderpockets.com.

The case only, no hardware, but I will do video tutorial how to assemble everything in 15 minutes or less :)

[artmaknev]

Fully assembled final prototype:

[artmaknev]

[artmaknev]

And if you are interested, the case will be available for pre-order on February 15th! At Indiegogo:

[arqrenderz]

Sexy look!!! :)
I want one! the only thing is going to be shipping costs :(
i look for it on indie gogo but coudnt find it

[artmaknev]

It will be on indiegogo this Sunday, its not there yet :)

shipping will be from USA and from Germany, the case is not heavy (plastic) so hopefully shipping not too expensive..

[artmaknev]

Now supports certain size 32GB MicroATX mobo!

more pics of assembled mATX node to come soon:

[artmaknev]

32GB Node up and running!

[cecofuli]

32 GB!? Mmm... very SEXY!!! O_O 16 GB, IMO, in the 2015, i too low!

[artmaknev]

yes 32GB available now, but I am still using 16GB or less for my work :D   http://finalmethod.com/works.html

[artmaknev]

Technology moving fast!

2011-v3 on mini-itx board, holly crap, just hope now for 4 DIMMs version or DDR4 16gb single sticks  (i heard even 32gb ddr4 single coming this year possibly!)

http://www.anandtech.com/show/9081/asrock-to-debut-mini-itx-haswell-e-at-cebit-x99e-itx-ac-with-usb-3-1

[artmaknev]

Also this, new 8-core/ 16-thread Xeon-D embedded mini-itx mobo with up to 128GB ram, ONLY 45W!! holly crap.....

http://www.servethehome.com/intel-xeon-d-1500-platforms-supermicro-d-1540/

[Juraj]

8 core 16 thread processor running at 1.9-2.5GHz and with a TDP of 45w

There is no magic on how to squeeze more performance with lower TDP under same architecture. So this is no miracle, it is exactly what it is, a slow CPU.

[artmaknev]

yeah I know its not very fast... only about 2.0Ghz, but price is also quite low approx. $600.  Also in my case, for helmer farm, if I do all 6 nodes with this chip, I will get about 100Ghz for almost half the energy use, right now with 6 quad core i7 I get about 80Ghz.  I really like the 45W, even though its not fast, it is so easy to cool, might even consider passive cooling for silent renderfarm :)

The miracle part is, mini-itx with up to 128GB RAM!