Typically the best value is found somewhere in the middle ground,
but where exactly?; Which items are worth buying in bulk when
starting to build a bang-for-buck home built renderfarm from
scratch, with economical future expansion being a key
consideration?
Its far easier to compare apples with apples, but we have to look
at the sum of the parts here. Starting from scratch, would you
build many or few machines, and with what type/quality of components?
If we put our heads together, we could probably save many people in this
arch-viz community from investing in hardware set-ups that don't
expand well or represent good value.
A concept for a scale-able farm isn't always straightforward, for example, we can ask ourselves:
(assuming that space and aesthetics are not a concern, but that
good value raw render power is paramount)
CPUs
Considering the context of the overall hardware configuration:
What presents better value computing capability, e.g. lots of i7s,
multiple pairs of Xeons?; Bottom of the range, Middle, or Top?
GPUs
Considering the context of the overall hardware configuration:
Discreet graphics are probably good enough - right? Probably depends on the
motherboard?
PSUs
Considering the context of the overall hardware configuration:
Lots of cheap ones, or one really powerful PSU?; Which makes more
economic sense?
MOTHERBOARDs
Considering the context of the overall hardware configuration:
Are two single Motherboards ultimately better value than one dual
CPU board?
SSDs
Considering the context of the overall hardware configuration:
One OS for every CPU/or two, does not seem very practical.
CASEs
Considering the context of the overall hardware configuration:
One huge/or custom case or lots of separate boxes?
AND... then there is COOLING as well!
Finally, what is the best value private render farm solution you've seen? and/or propose?
(The concept is key. The exact specs are secondary).
