Is your dual-socket server a rackmount one? If not, there's no reason it shouldn't be quiet too. What model is it (motherboard if it's not an OEM box)?
I see no problem with your setup if it's stable and doesn't slow down your machine too much. Like you might have read, the current batch of GPU beta units are a lot more rewarding on AMD's graphic cards. There's little reason to rush getting another Nvidia card right now. Save your money and wait at least until they release official units with bonus for Nvidia-made GPUs again.
I personnally wouldn't invest too much in a four-years-old computer, server or not. That machine, while still quite capable, won't produce more than 10K points per day, I believe. That's about as much as a Sandy/Ivy Bridge Core i5. The server will consume significantly more electrical power and while you can reduce the noise of the CPU/board cooling, the PSU fans and SAS drives will still produce a significant amount of noise. I would use it for other purposes than running the FAH client or sell it and replace it with something less disturbing in a house environment if not needed otherwise.
One idea would be to install it on a wall with the front downward so it pushes hot air bottom-to-top, much like DDrueding did with his coffin. You could put noise-insulating panels around it and only leave a bottom and top openings for the air to circulate.
On a different subject, Mark passed the 70 million points milestone, an unmatched amount in our team.
Have there been any significant breakthroughs, attributable to F@H , that have led to something of useful to society to warrent the expense you guys have incurring over the years? Or is it just for "fun" ?
Congratulations to Bozo for overtaking Fushigi.
And Mark has decided to give me trouble rejoining him at the top of the team. I have less GPU than he does, but my CPU should still give me the edge.
My setup :
1x Core i7 3770 [Linux - Lubuntu 12.10]
1x Core i7 2600K [Windows 8 Pro]
1x Core i7 960 with a GeForce GTX 570 (originally had 2, but one died) [Windows 8 Pro]
1x Xeon 5570 (almost like an i7 940) with a GeForce GTX 580 [Windows 7 Pro]
1x GeForce GTX 580 in a box with an Athlon II X3 435. Only GPU folding on this one. [Windows 7 Pro]
Yes, I spent more than Mark on my FAH farm. None are overclocked, even if I should do it on the 2600K.
Try adjusting the number of cores to 6.
How do I do that on the new client 7.3.6? I knew how to modify this on the console client, but I've not been following much the options on the GUI interface. I suppose i have to modify the CPU slot, but with what line? "client-type" "SMP:6"?
I think I've found a way to restart my contribution on the Xeon X5570 system. It still isn't working ok, but as long as I don't need to restart it, it is stable enough to run the client. I hope it will help me to keep the pace with Mark and maybe eat some of his lead too.
Handruin, are the GTX 560 Ti and the i& 860 on the same machine?
Use the systray folding-icon to load the Advanced-Control (used to be called FAHControl). From there, click configure and go to the slots tab. double-click on the CPU slot and adjust the number of threads/cores from -1 (auto) to 6 and save.