I will comment on specific features you might look for in a crystallographic workstation, rather than brand names. I usually build from parts rather than buy intact machines.

CPU: 3+ GHz per compute core is good these days. For a standard single user desktop, 4 CPU cores is fine. More cores will allow you to run multiple independent jobs, but will not speed up a single job. Server chips may have 6 or 8 cores (or maybe even more, but then they start cutting the clock speed). It's up to you to decide what kind of workload this machine is likely to experience. (Those server CPUs will lack on-chip graphics, but see the next point)

Graphics:
1) First question: do you want stereo 3D? If so, that places restrictions on which graphics cards and which monitors are supported.

2) If the answer to 1 is no, then you have more freedom. I would not recommend on-CPU graphics for a couple reasons. a) Better graphics performance with separate graphics cards. Any mid-range or better card should do. b) An add-in graphics card will allow the CPU to run faster. This is because the "turbo" feature built into modern CPU/GPU chips will slow down the compute cores based on the total thermal load of all CPU/GPU cores.

Monitor: Get one with LED backlighting. Lasts longer and is more efficient.

RAM: More RAM is good, and it is relatively cheap at present. 8 GB minimum, recommended 16 GB.

Storage ("disk" is now an anachronism): I strongly recommend a quality SSD, at least for the OS. It makes a noticable difference in speed. 120 GB or more for the OS. If you need multi-terabytes of storage space for data (and who doesn't?), get hard drives for that.

Ports: Gigabit (at least) ethernet to get on the network.
USB3.0 for connecting peripherals like portable drives. By next year I will be recommending USB3.1, which will have higher data throughput, higher power throughput and convenient symmetrical connectors.

Cheers,


On 11/11/14 08:27, abhishek jamwal wrote:
Dear ccp4 bb members,

I need to buy a desktop workstation for the purpose of running crystallography related applications. I have short-listed HP's Z420 and Dell's T7600, I chose this because their configuration description looks impressive (8 cores, 16 threads, 3.6 GHz processor etc.). However, I have no practical idea about their performance.

Can anyone , who has experience with these workstations comment on performance ? And whether these workstations are optimal/suboptimal for the desired purpose ?

what other options do I have apart from dell and hp ? Please suggest.

*Is desktop iMac a good option for this purpose ?*


many thanx in advance


abhishek







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All Things Serve the Beam
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