goals review some basic concepts and terminology

Transcription

1 goals review some basic concepts and terminology understand the major components of a computer and issues surrounding selection CPU motherboard (mainboard) and chipset storage and other high-performance I/O memory CPU cooler GPU PSU case figure out when we are going to do the builds final exams will probably complicate this 1

2 CPU branding and relative strengths Intel i5 budget, often no SMT or virtualisation i7 enthusiast, often with SMT and virtualisation, overclocking i9 large core count (response to AMD), fast stock clocks Xeon server, significant I/O advantages, multi-processor support AMD Ryzen 3 budget, few single-threaded cores Ryzen 5 typically 6 cores, 12 threads Ryzen 7 enthusiast, 8 cores, 16 threads Threadripper productivity, huge number (32) of SMT cores Epyc Intel vs. AMD performance Intel server, 8-channel memory, multi-processor support AMD expensive lower cost for given performance better single-thread performance better multi-thread performance = gaming = productivity IGP lags AMD performance IGP can play games decently 2

3 CPU symmetric multiprocessing (SMT) 3

4 CPU socket type 4

5 mainboard socket type must match CPU socket type Intel PGA: older CPUs (Pentium, Core Duo) LGA: in (1150, 1151, 2066), Xeon (3647) AMD PGA: almost all (AMn, FMn,...) except LGA: epyc (SP3), threadripper (TR4) PGA puts delicate stuff (pins) on CPU damage = replace expensive part LGA puts delicate stuff on mainboard damage = replace much cheaper part 5

6 must be compatible with CPU motherboard chipset high-end CPUs come with only one choice of chipset Intel = X299, AMD = X399 choice can affect maximum supported memory overclocking options (for unlocked processors) number and types of I/O ports available availability of integrated network, audio, graphics, etc. quality of PCI support (up to 50% more capacity from Intel chipset) as a rule, AMD has more I/O capability than Intel multiple GPUs plus PCI SSDs Intel can make up some of the difference using a high-end chipset more PCI lanes better chipset or use AMD 6

7 motherboard chipset 7

8 CPU memory channels more lanes equals more bandwidth slower processors benefit more pentium large gains i5, i7 much smaller IGP 50% faster quad channel also exists almost no improvement over dual channel 8

9 memory buy the right modules for the motherboard buy as much as you can afford web browsers, VMs, etc., gobble memory DDR = double data rate data is transferred on both edges of the clock DDR 2, 3, 4 are just faster versions of DDR little difference between DDR 3 and DDR 4 ECC = error correcting code more reliable (self-correcting), more expensive usually only for servers (Xeon, Epyc) with 24/7/365 uptime registered/buffered = synchronising flip-flop inserted between memory and bus supports more modules (less electrical load on bus), slower (extra cycle delay) usually only for servers with large memory (> 64MB) 9

10 memory will also specify the bus speed proportional to transfers per second memory get the fastest your motherboard can support actual speed can be auto-detected or configured by BIOS correct timings (RAS, CAS, CL) used to be important too BIOS now usually auto-configures the correct speeds very little performance difference for normal workloads very confusing labelling (invented by MBA marketing droids) PC = DDR3 at 1333 MHz (divide quoted number by 8) PC = DDR4 at 2400 MHz (divide quoted number by 8) typical motherboard now supports 2666 MHz or even slightly more 10

11 CPU mainboard size EATX = servers; quad GPU ATX = high-end desktop/gaming µatx = compact gaming; HTPC miniatx = portable larger boards more memory eight sticks instead of four (or even two) more PCI slots multiple GPUs high quality sound cards specialised I/O (firewire, 10/100 gigabit ethernet,...) 11

12 PCI devices peripheral component interconnect (PCI) 32-/64-bit parallel interface PCI express (PCIe) 1 to 32 bits wide interface (throughput directly proportional) socket depends on width (second 16 may be 8, depending on chipset!) PCIe 4 PCIe 16 PCIe 1 PCIe 16 PCI 12

13 PCI devices many functions available storage (solid state), wi-fi, network, USB, other I/O normal PCIe slot vs. M.2 (miniature) PCIe slot M.2 card and slot must have compatible length the numbering scheme is in millimetres width and length 13

14 memory PCI devices wi-fi 14

15 storage configuration RAID, etc., is up to you (and the BIOS and/or the OS) SSD fast, small, expensive; HDD slow, large, cheap SSD cache between CPU and HDD makes best of both worlds usually done with M.2 storage sometimes restricted to only the boot disk (Windoze) 15

16 CPU cooler thermal design power (TDP) tells you how much heat your CPU can generate (indirectly) how much it will cost (in electricity) to run it CPU socket determines screw layout for cooler mounting bracket many coolers have universal mounting hardware AMD CPUs (some Intel CPUs) come with a stock cooler small, air, easy to mount perfectly sufficient for normal workloads aftermarket coolers can decrease temperatures decrease noise 16

17 CPU cooler quieter air cooling: noctua expensive (2 ) very quiet must fit in space available case has sufficient space cooler allows access to RAM, etc. water cooling need huge fans anyway unreliable (the cheap, closed-loop ones) water cooling is something you do once, so that you can understand you should never do it again. signature spotted in a PC builders forum 17

18 GPU integrated graphics built into CPU (Intel has UHD graphics, AMD has APU and Vega graphics) fine for normal work and casual gaming (AMD is currently better than Intel) get a discrete card for serious: gaming, 3D CAD, AI/ML, GPGPU physics, etc. single and double-width double width occupies two PCI slot spaces card length better cards are longer, smaller cases may not have room 18

19 modular is best for cable management PSU plug in only the power cables that you need 19

20 PSU must be capable of supplying the total power required add everything up, multiply by 1.5 or so beware split rail supplies (where each rail has its own limit) watts = volts amps some graphics cards need 240 watts (20 amps at 12 volts) if each rail is limited to 15 watts, the PSU cannot possibly work 20

21 fit all devices case 21

22 cable management case why? looks professional, much easier to maintain, and... airflow! 22

23 airflow hot air rises make the airflow back-to-front, if you must, but bottom-to-top is not negotiable 23

24 purpose purpose influences component choices gaming single-thread performance, GPU performance AI/ML multi-thread, GPU or other compute unit server, VM multi-thread, virtualisation support, memory general purpose a bit of everything, but especially memory 24

25 easy option: use PC parts picker compatibility (in)compatibilites automatically dealt with e.g: pick a CPU you can view only compatible motherboards, then you can view only compatible coolers and memory etc. 25

26 planning resources google (gaming sites/forums, reviews: tom s hardware, anandtech, techradar) user reviews (newegg.com) benchmarks (PassMark, google for cpu charts, gpu charts, etc.) recommended builds, guided build design (pcpartpicker.com) timing: not good ( bitcoin rush is doubling or tripling component prices) budget: TBD, maybe as much as US$1000 per machine design, ordering, delivery build schedule period immediately following final exams? 26