It has been 9 years since I last updated my PC...but recent hardware failures and near data loss meant it was high time for an upgrade.
The new machine is a beast: based on an AMD Threadripper 3970x CPU
I re-processed some old data to give me a handle on real-world processing times. This re-pro image was the result of a 600 frame, 16bit 6Mp .avi stack that used to take half an hour to process.
The Threadripper got it done in a mere 2 minutes.
It's Pixinsight benchmark was equally impressive at 20755.
While I've been putting off my solar imaging for a time due the endlessly long processing times caused by my newer 9.0Mp and 18Mp cameras
...this about to change.
Looks like Moore's law is still alive and well
Last edited by Peter Ward; 18-08-2020 at 01:31 PM.
Reason: typo
FYI, you'll get even faster performance if you add one or more NVMe hard drives to your system and use them for PI swap files.
I've got a lesser Ryzen 9 3900X with 12 cores/24 threads and while my CPU is nowhere near your Threadripper in terms of PI benchmark, the overall performance is similar because my swap performance is 2.5 times better than your benchmark.
You don't need a large NVMe drive for swap - I've installed 2 x 250GB Samsung 970 EVO Plus drives. You will probably get a lot of the benefit from having one.
You've invested quite a bit in the CPU so it's a shame to hold it back by slow swap performance.
You'll also get a significant boost using Linux over Windows. A couple of years ago, I got the Threadripper 1950X which I assume is significantly less powerful than the 3970x. My PI benchmark was around 25 - 26000, while similarly specced systems running Windows struggled to get 18 - 19000.
I did fine tune my system for the benchmark, but a baseline linux setup was still in the low 20Ks.
Not much excuse to use Windows any more when the better option is Linux.
FYI, you'll get even faster performance if you add one or more NVMe hard drives to your system and use them for PI swap files.
I've got a lesser Ryzen 9 3900X with 12 cores/24 threads and while my CPU is nowhere near your Threadripper in terms of PI benchmark, the overall performance is similar because my swap performance is 2.5 times better than your benchmark.
You don't need a large NVMe drive for swap - I've installed 2 x 250GB Samsung 970 EVO Plus drives. You will probably get a lot of the benefit from having one.
You've invested quite a bit in the CPU so it's a shame to hold it back by slow swap performance.
ps...nice SOL also!
Interesting. I actually have 2 NVMe 2Tb Corsair drives and thanks to your heads-up , have now pointed the swap files to them. The performance certainly improved! ....but does not match the swap performance of your system. I guess the Samsung's are a faster drive.
I think the transfer rate varies with drive size, even for the same brand. From my research 500 GB seemed to be the sweet spot. There are also a few generations of NVMe. Mine are gen 3 and you can now get gen 4.
I think the transfer rate varies with drive size, even for the same brand. From my research 500 GB seemed to be the sweet spot. There are also a few generations of NVMe. Mine are gen 3 and you can now get gen 4.
Yep...I'm running Gen4.0
I did some tinkering and added in 2 extra swap file directories. While I fail to see how this can make a difference, it did! ....seems to peak out at 27K or so...as to the how/what/where/why ...a mystery to me.
I've found that the optimum for my setup has been 4 swap files. Hasn't made any difference with more than four and there wasn't much of an increase from 2-3.
You've shaved 5.5 seconds off your original 22.7 seconds to complete the benchmark test. That seems like quite a nice improvement for zero cost. I found 8 swap files on each SSD - 16 in total gave the best benchmark result for my setup.
You've shaved 5.5 seconds off your original 22.7 seconds to complete the benchmark test. That seems like quite a nice improvement for zero cost. I found 8 swap files on each SSD - 16 in total gave the best benchmark result for my setup.
Seems my system's optimum is 6 swap files per SSD. Results attached.
Last edited by Peter Ward; 20-08-2020 at 01:54 PM.
You'll also get a significant boost using Linux over Windows. A couple of years ago, I got the Threadripper 1950X which I assume is significantly less powerful than the 3970x. My PI benchmark was around 25 - 26000, while similarly specced systems running Windows struggled to get 18 - 19000.
I did fine tune my system for the benchmark, but a baseline linux setup was still in the low 20Ks.
Not much excuse to use Windows any more when the better option is Linux.
Unfortunately there is an ocean of Windoze stuff I still need to run, so still pay Bill for his crappy OS.
I see what you mean with regard to Linux: the Pixinsight benchmark community has a 3970X running running LinuxOS at a whopping 43,847
So more solar imaging on the way for you now hey? 
I guess the Samsung's are a faster drive.
