the ultimate cruncher

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

How would you build the ultimate cruncher? I'm in the planning stages of my next project, and I can't decide what to do. I have the planning done for a file server, but the cost alone is scary, and I'd like my next project to be able to crunch like crazy.

I thought about getting a rackmount cabinet, and getting 6 - 10 of these, and I think that the rack would crunch rather well. (Not to mention, the term "crack rack" would be so perfect"). But then I thought about getting a few of these PSUs, and getting whatever systems could be powered by them, and mounting them literally on the wall. That would be cool too.

But the truth is, I don't know what is more effective at crunching... Several "slower" machines in the P3 class, or fewer, more powerful machines. Power consumption is a concern, but that's about it. Money and time doesn't matter, as there is no time frame on this project. And my wife's only concern on this will be that she get's half of the credits that the machine(s) generate.

Ya'lls thoughts?

 

[Wolfsraider]

IMHO

1 C2D could out crunch 8 of those p-3's I would bet, as well as do it at least 50.00 a month cheaper (power bill).

I have a p4 3.2 prescott that gets half the wu's finished that an e6600 per day (clocked at 2.7)

Initial cost is (those machinces couls be bought over time vs the full cost of a c2d upfront) What makes it seem better in my mind but 10 months or less and you start seeing the value of the c2d in energy savings.

In the end its your money and Racks (All racks ) are AWESOME!!!

HTH's

Mike

 

[BlackMountainCow]

Stay away from the PIII. As Mike said, a C2D or X2 will outperform them by far with less energy usage. Especially with X2s dropping below 100$, it's really easy these days to build a crack rack with good output.

 

[ProviaFan]

I'll third what Mike and Christian have said. As cool as racks are, a couple of barebones C2D or X2 systems could outcrunch a rack of dual PIIIs. Aside from that, they would also use less power.

 

[lizardth]

OOh how exciting!!! I think he is trying to sneak around behind my back. FMC has said nothing of this to me!

 

[Coquito]

Originally posted by: lizardth
OOh how exciting!!! I think he is trying to sneak around behind my back. FMC has said nothing of this to me!

Warden! Warden!

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: lizardth
OOh how exciting!!! I think he is trying to sneak around behind my back. FMC has said nothing of this to me!

ROFL. My wife doesn't worry about me cheating on her with another woman behind her back--she just worries about me crunching behind her back. LOL.

 

[BlackMountainCow]

:laugh:

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Well, after doing some research, as well as taking into account the advice offered thus far in the thread, I figured I'd considate the ultimate cruncher and the file server...

 

[petrusbroder]

I am also considering of building a cruncher - have decided on a C2D system with 2 GBytes RAM, a monster ATI-card (for F@H) and I hope that I can run BOINC and F@H at the same time ...

 

[The Borg]

My 2 cents. I love this topic!!!

I used to run about 16 old machines. Anything I could get my hands on. From a P1-133 up to P3's - this was almost 2 years ago. Then I realised that the power to SETI WU was not good, so I decided to go all out and buy bare bones machines. I was also fed up with trying to get all the old components to play nice together.

I looked at a price / perfomance thing and at the time (Nov 2005) decided on P4 3.0 machines, 256 meg ram, mATX board with on board graphics and 80gig drives (a file server will help, even lan booting or flash drives etc). Each one landed up costing me about ZAR3500 (about $300).

I have literally stacked then one on to of the other. I put threaded rods throught the mounting holes, nuts to hold the boards in place. Wooden board to mount the hard drives and PSU's. Irrigation tubing to insulate the threaded rods. The first part consists of 7 machines and stands just under 1-m high. I am busy extending it with another 5 machines (compliments of Amd.borg - Johan). This thing stand over 2-m high but has a footprint of a wide tower and only a power and network cable leaving it. Makes a noise (over 80 fans when complete) and is hot.

Next expansion would be Intel Quads, but I will wait for th prices to drop.

Would love to show you guys a few pics, but I don't know how to do that.

the way I see it is that the more power (with in reason and that is easy to work out) you put on one board, the better. Yo then only have to buy one board, one set of memory, one PSU, etc. and BOINC scales to more processors perfectly, not like games and other thread based stuff.

This thing gives me about 9000 credits per day.

 

[BadThad]

Definately with the C2D idea or even some X2's.

When you start thinking of building a massive crack-rack, you better start thinking about your electric bill. Spending $100-300 a month just to run a DC project is insane IMO. Now, I'm not one to talk because I have a fairly large DC herd at home, 6 PC's, but I guesstimate it's only costing me about $50-$80/month to feed them. Not to mention they all get used for other purposes daily.

I've recently replaced two systems with C2D's (and I have another coming soon) and I've disposed of all my CRT's in favor of LCD's......just trying to get my power usage down some. This becomes even more important during the summer months when my power usage goes up (to keep my house cool). You'd be surprized how much a PC can heat up a bedroom!

 

[BlackMountainCow]

@ The Borg: Any pics?

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Well, I spent the night before researching and planning, and I took forth my plans to my lovely wife, and she gave her approval for the proejct. The machine is going to be our file server / ultimate cruncher. It will be purchased over the course of the next year or two, and I will be adding to it for some time...

Specs as currently planned:
SuperMicro SATA enclosure (2)
Corsair 1gb DDR2-667 FB-DIMM (2)
Intel Xeon E5310 1.6GHz quad core (2)
Supermicro X7DVL-E-O mobo
Areca ARC-1130, 12-port PCI-X
Western Digital 320gb SATA (15)
Silverstone ST75F 750w PSU (2)

I'll be using my 23-bay Enermax case that I already have (from the retired Fullmetal Chocobo), and it could be outfitted with another 2 Supermicro SATA enclosures for a total of 25 hard drives...

Dual quad-core Xeons... Should crunch quite well. And it will use 1/2 the power of my previous dual Xeon setup.

DESIDERATA: "Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans"

 

[Wolfsraider]

Ooh Nice sounds great drool

Especially this part

And it will use 1/2 the power of my previous dual Xeon setup.

WOOT!

 

[CupCak3]

Sounds like you have a nice setup put together Chocobo!

 

[ProviaFan]

Yikes, octocore! :shocked:

Sounds like a fun build, though. :thumbsup:

 

[The Borg]

BMC: I will try publish some on my web siteover the weekend.

FMC: That is A LOT of storage space!!!

 

[The Borg]

Hi all,

As promised, pics of 'The Borg'. Be warned, they are large files. I have not cut the size down. Each about 1.5 meg. This will allow you to see the details nicely.

During construction of first phase - Rear view.

During construction of first phase - Front view.

Completed fisrt phase. Wiring mostly complete.

From bottom to top is Borg 01 - Borg 07.
Borg 01 - 06: P4 3.0 GHz machines, 256 meg RAM, 80 GB HDD. Intel boards so no OC :disgust:
Borg 07: AMD64 3500+ OC 2.475 GHz, 1G RAM, 80 GB HDD
8 port switch.

During construction of second phase - Rear view.

Completed Crack Rack - View 1.

Currently sitting in my daughter's room, but when she visits me every 2 weeks, she sleeps in my room. She is only 2 years old. Her comments to this monster is - "shoe-shoe"

Completed Crack Rack - View 2.

Close up of Borg 05 - 09, the switches and the wiring.

From bottom to top (of phase 2) is Borg 08 - Borg 12.
8 port switch.
Borg 08 - 12: P4 3.0 GHz machines, 512 meg RAM, 160 GB HDD - SATA. Mostly OC'ed to about 3.25 GHz

I still need to finish off the wiring of the second part, but I am waiting for a 16 prot switch and I need to put the second part on the gound next to the first part. As it is at the moment, the rack stands over 2-m high, so I cannot get it out the door, and it is not that stable.

The LED's and switches are just for ease of use and indication.

Well, that is what a 8000 or so credit's per day supercomputer looks like.

 

[BlackMountainCow]

Wow, many thx for the pics borg! :beer:

 

[Wolfsraider]

Great Job

thats a sweet looking rack!

 

[BadThad]

Originally posted by: The Borg
Hi all,

As promised, pics of 'The Borg'. Be warned, they are large files. I have not cut the size down. Each about 1.5 meg. This will allow you to see the details nicely.

During construction of first phase - Rear view.

During construction of first phase - Front view.

Completed fisrt phase. Wiring mostly complete.

From bottom to top is Borg 01 - Borg 07.
Borg 01 - 06: P4 3.0 GHz machines, 256 meg RAM, 80 GB HDD. Intel boards so no OC :disgust:
Borg 07: AMD64 3500+ OC 2.475 GHz, 1G RAM, 80 GB HDD
8 port switch.

During construction of second phase - Rear view.

Completed Crack Rack - View 1.

Currently sitting in my daughter's room, but when she visits me every 2 weeks, she sleeps in my room. She is only 2 years old. Her comments to this monster is - "shoe-shoe"

Completed Crack Rack - View 2.

Close up of Borg 05 - 09, the switches and the wiring.

From bottom to top (of phase 2) is Borg 08 - Borg 12.
8 port switch.
Borg 08 - 12: P4 3.0 GHz machines, 512 meg RAM, 160 GB HDD - SATA. Mostly OC'ed to about 3.25 GHz

I still need to finish off the wiring of the second part, but I am waiting for a 16 prot switch and I need to put the second part on the gound next to the first part. As it is at the moment, the rack stands over 2-m high, so I cannot get it out the door, and it is not that stable.

The LED's and switches are just for ease of use and indication.

Well, that is what a 8000 or so credit's per day supercomputer looks like.

Damn! I can hear the power meter spinning from here! LOL Nice rack man! :thumbsup:

 

[The Borg]

Lucky for me I live in South Africa. We apparently have the cheapest electricity price in the World. I used to work for the main power utility (no, I did not get it cheaper), and it may be true that is is generated cheap, but the municipalities sure take their share. Anway, it is still cheap and it is my fun.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Oh wow, that's sexy. Absolutely beautiful...

 

[daniel49]

Originally posted by: Fullmetal Chocobo

Originally posted by: lizardth
OOh how exciting!!! I think he is trying to sneak around behind my back. FMC has said nothing of this to me!

ROFL. My wife doesn't worry about me cheating on her with another woman behind her back--she just worries about me crunching behind her back. LOL.

lol too funny.:laugh:
was just looking at some of the upper members on a team i joined (USA)and I seen one guy that showed 187 machines how do you compete with that????
but Im up to #27 already on that team and then I found out pclinux has a team which is the distro I use and of course this team here at andantech...wish I had enough machines to join em all....my wife would love that.:evil: