Running CPU type processes on GPUs?

[CTho9305]

hey, i didn't say it was cost-effective . they also make complete macs that fit in 5.25" drive bays or something, and have some other stuff.

 

[McCarthy]

No, that card itself isn't cost effective for most DCers, but I'm having fun imagining the idea above Not kidding about it at all. As efficient as G4's are for Seti (if my memory's holding up) it'd be great to do the same thing with them, but being practical, sticking to all X86 chips would keep the software side so much simpler, just need to get the card somehow.

Needed to reply to subscribe anyway...

 

[Swanny]

Originally posted by: McCarthy
No, that card itself isn't cost effective for most DCers, but I'm having fun imagining the idea above Not kidding about it at all. As efficient as G4's are for Seti (if my memory's holding up) it'd be great to do the same thing with them, but being practical, sticking to all X86 chips would keep the software side so much simpler, just need to get the card somehow.

Needed to reply to subscribe anyway...

I think G4's really rock at RC5 too.

 

[Sukhoi]

I think G4s rock at anything.

 

[m0ti]

I can't seem to find it on the web, but I saw something about a card a year ago, that had six chips on it, I think that they were designed for missile guidance or something, with each chip running a small linux kernel and Seti for about $500.

 

[CTho9305]

Originally posted by: m0ti
I can't seem to find it on the web, but I saw something about a card a year ago, that had six chips on it, I think that they were designed for missile guidance or something, with each chip running a small linux kernel and Seti for about $500.

that was a hoax. I dont know if the link I posted is real or not, but its been around for a while.

 

[jeebus19]

Originally posted by: McCarthy


Now if Asus/Abit/Soyo/Shuttle/ECS/whoever would make a bare socket A or socket 478 board for $30, you supply your own ram and CPU how many would you guys buy?

Hmmmmm.

Since each would be transfering data across the PCI bus in the same format you could use up your old Duron 900 on one card along with that 1.6A OC'd to 2.4 in the slot next to it while your regular CPU does it's own thing. And when it's busy for games or whatever the others could still be going full bore. Ok, two slots away for cooling. But still...hmmmmm. Be a great way to use up old hardware and continue to get use out of it till for pennies without keeping entire systems, and as far as the software needed to do it I wouldn't think it'd be any more complicated than the GPU idea, actually quite a bit less. Just need to get people focused on talking one board manufacturer into supplying the PCI cards.

Make sense to anyone else, fatal flaws?

--Mc

I dont know but my heatsink is rather large? and to start putting one on a pci card? there goes 3 slots.

 

[McCarthy]

Another reason G4's would be nice, but I don't even know if you can buy just the CPU and besides, that goes completely against the 'keep it, cheap, use up existing hardware' concept.

That said, this is something easily overcome as well. Either by using low profile rack mount type sinks and fans or you only have one extra per system, which even if it took up 3 slots worth of space would still work for a lot of people. Actually I'd prefer to do it with low profile sinks, say like the SVC goldengates, but with the top covered off, have a blower mounted on the floor of the case in that usually open area in front of the lower case fan, duct from the blower to the side of the heatsink, exhaust out the back of the case, if you have two cpu-cards then run two ducts. Still talking 2 PCI slots then by the time you get the socket, chip and any manner of sink, but that's less than 3. How many you could do with a single blower would depend on how big of a blower you used. Nice thing is they more a lot of air without a lot of noise. I know, talking somewhat customized cooling methods now, but using off the shelf parts and only for those who want to maximize space.

Anyway, doesn't matter, one of these days I'll learn to keep my daydreaming to myself. Seemed like a nice idea the other day, but...

--Mc