General Category > Hardware
Xeon-D the new king for rendering (to be more precise: render farm use)
sanakil:
Hey guys,
There was a topic on this forum about Render Pockets render farm build using Ikea Helmer case. At the end of the topic there was a question about Intel Xeon-D for rendering in such a cluster. I'm watching this CPU since beginning and finally got a small rack server from Supermicro to do some testing!
The server is build using this motherboard: http://www.supermicro.com/products/motherboard/xeon/d/x10sdv-f.cfm, 32GB of RAM installed with two DDR4 2133MHz Hynix memory modules and some Samsung SSD drives. This is the server I'm using for test: http://www.supermicro.com/products/system/1U/5018/SYS-5018D-FN4T.cfm
The last post is from March 2015 and conclusion from Juraj is that Intel Xeon-D is a slow CPU:
--- Quote ---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.
--- End quote ---
Well it's not. I'm blown away by the results. To add some context. My workstation is build on Intel Coore i7-4790K overclocked to 4.6GHz with Asus Maximus Hero VII motherboard and 32GB of DDR3 memory running at 2133MHz (Corsair Dominator Platinum). Everything is watercooled - after 24 hours on rendering CPU is at 62degC max. Now that is the result of rendering test scene with Corona 1.3 on my workstation:
With full load this workstation is pulling 340W from the wall socket with Titanium class power supply. Now prepare to be blown away! This is the same benchmark on Intel Xeon-D 1540 - 8 cores, 16 threads, 2.3GHz at all cores while rendering (potential is to go up to 2.6GHz single core).
4.4mln rays/sec! 10% more than my overclocked i7-4790K. And now the fun part - this whole server is pulling 95W from wall socket at full load with Gold class power supply. The CPU is only 35W TDP which means you can cool it with passive radiator only.
Why there is such difference? First of all i7-4790K is 22nm and Xeon-D is 14nm lithography which means that you can run it with smaller voltages and lower heat. Second thing is Xeon architecture - Xeon-D is designed for server with all the goodies like AVX2 which is lightning fast on this CPU.
Sorry Juraj - you were wrong ;) This is the new king for rendering if you consider performance per W and performance per $$$. I was hopping to get something cool from this CPU but newer expected to get so much performance!
Juraj:
--- Quote --- This is the new king for rendering if you consider performance per W ..
--- End quote ---
Yes, Broadwell Xeon is far more efficient than Haswell Xeon. That's exactly the very intended purpose of this 'side'-architecture. Never said anything else.
Also not blow away that 8x 2.3Ghz x 1.1 is 10perc. better than 4x 4.6Ghz.
--- Quote --- and performance per $$$
--- End quote ---
Well of course...let's look...
Xeon D-1540 = 600-900 dollars (Including motherboard, in fact, I wasn't able to find many available, most came up as bundle in Supermicro board)
Xeon E3-1230 = 300 Dollars
i7 4790 = 300 dollars
2-3 times more expensive.
What is price efficient here ? Because you got some special deal ? D-1540 is very expensive (it's still Xeon, just one to offer more specialized package to E5-2630) single-socket CPU, because it's intended into network, storage, and partly, micro-servers with low wattage while keep good performance (to rival ARM). It's not performance (rendering) oriented CPU like i7/E3-5 Xeon family.
If you want to pay 2-3 times more so you can use passive cooler for rendering machine, ..OK. But it doesn't make it price efficient for rendering box.
I have no understanding of this 'magic' thread : /
sanakil:
--- Quote from: Juraj_Talcik on 2016-01-29, 23:50:19 ---
Well of course...let's look...
Xeon D-1540 = 600-900 dollars (OEM, Intel, Amazon )
Xeon E3-1230 = 300 Dollars
i7 4790 = 300 dollars
2-3 times more expensive. For single socket CPU with no additional performance benefit. Why ? Because it's contender for ARM architecture, not desktops.
--- End quote ---
But is perfect for render farms like the one in Helmer case from Ikea. Maybe I should state this loud and clear.
--- Quote from: Juraj_Talcik on 2016-01-29, 23:50:19 ---What is price efficient here ? Because you got some special deal ? D-1540 is very expensive single-socket CPU, because it's intended into network, storage, and partly, micro-servers with low wattage while keep good performance. It's not performance (rendering) oriented CPU.
If you want to pay 2-3 times more so you can use passive cooler for rendering machine, ..OK.
--- End quote ---
Why are you comparing CPU only with motherboard + cooler + cpu? Add some workstation class motherboard, some cooling and the price is almost identical. In Poland difference between I7-4790k with motherboard + cooler and Xeon-D is only 20$ and you will use 3-4 time less energy during months of rendering.
--- Quote from: Juraj_Talcik on 2016-01-29, 23:50:19 ---I have no understanding of this 'magic' thread....
--- End quote ---
It's not magic. Its just numbers. Maybe I should call it "New king for render farms" to not confuse with workstation use.
Juraj:
--- Quote from: sanakil on 2016-01-30, 00:10:12 ---
Why are you comparing CPU only with motherboard + cooler + cpu? Add some workstation class motherboard, some cooling and the price is almost identical. In Poland difference between I7-4790k with motherboard + cooler and Xeon-D is only 20$ and you will use 3-4 time less energy during months of rendering.
--- End quote ---
4790K - 357 euros ( http://www.amazon.de/Intel-i7-4790K-Prozessor-Sockel-88Watt/dp/B00KPRWAX8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1454109228&sr=8-1&keywords=4970K )
(you can actually save 100 euros and go with 4670, they overclock almost identically)
Asus z97-a - 150 euros ( http://www.amazon.de/Asus-Z97--Mainboard-Sockel-Intel/dp/B00K80MMJ4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1454109469&sr=8-1&keywords=asus+z97-a )
Almost any tower cooler can get these up to 4.8+ Ghz - 50 euros
With 4790K= 550 euro total, with 4670K- 450 euro total
And I chose very high-end board to sustain some effiency under clocking.
Unless you can some great deal on very hard to get CPU, it's still twice cheaper. While you can get 4670K in 5 minutes from any local shop.
Juraj:
But ok, for the price premium, it will get more silent, less heat generating Helmer Box. For those whole like this amazing solution I guess it's OK.
And for all the saved electricity, they can go buy another legal bunch of licences (starting with Windows) ;- )
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
Go to full version