Will a toaster make a good DC machine?

[Poritz]

I am seriously considering either one of those 14" iBooks or perhaps one of those Shuttle brand toasters. Don't anyone get started about the Mac. I have always liked them and so there is no need to use this or any other thread to argue a futile point. The toaster I might be more interested in if they had say an AGP slot available for the socket A model.

Now I may goes this route, however, I have thought of buying a 14" iBook and then waiting for a Hammer based toaster. I wanted some in put on whether or not the toaster would make a good machine. I am thouroghly disinterested in gaming. I prefer to do something productive or creative. If I want to play a game that is what soccer is for. I wonder, I might be waiting a long time (in excess of 6 months) for a Hammer based toaster. On third thought, waiting six months might mean that the kinks would already have been worked out for me.

I need some input!

-Poritz

 

[Evadman]

If I were me, I would not run a DC project on noe of those toaster style PC's without watching the temp like a hawk. Having only one 80mm fan for cooling gets me worried.

 

[Poritz]

That is an interesting point Evadman. I guess I didn't know how demanding to the system a DC project can be. I would be running UD or some other DC project that has medical benefits. I guess I thought that SETI was the only one that could really heat things up. Of course I would not over clock the machine.

-Poritz

 

[Crazee]

All of the DC projects utilize all the idle CPU cycles so they will all heat it up. I am with Evadman, if you are looking at one of the toasters, you better be careful with the temps. As for the MAC, they are not good with some of the DC projects. I don't know how well they running folding@home or UD (I actually asked awhile back and no one could answer for me) but I know they are extremely slow in Seti. You may want to go over to the MacAddict forums and ask them if they have some times on the UD and F@H projects for the MAC.

 

[networkman]

Well, depending on the available slots on the case, perhaps you could use something like THIS to keep the case cool.

 

[Confused]

Originally posted by: Poritz
Will a toaster make a good DC machine?

Am i the only one who thought he meant an actual toaster...for heating/crisping up bread.....



:Q



??

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: networkman
Well, depending on the available slots on the case, perhaps you could use something like THIS to keep the case cool.

Good point. That would pull from rigth next to the cpu socket if instazlled in one of the newer ones. the AGP port and PCI slot are switched, so you could still run a sweet graffix card in there.

And $10? ow!

 

[Poritz]

The iBook I really didn't intend for DC, just for audio processing with Pro Tools, MOTU Digital Performer, et al and general computing. I am apprehensive about puting a fan like that in computer that is supposed to be super quiet.

-Poritz

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Confused

Originally posted by: Poritz
Will a toaster make a good DC machine?

Am i the only one who thought he meant an actual toaster...for heating/crisping up bread.....



:Q



??

I did too, figured he was a netbsd user...

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Poritz
The iBook I really didn't intend for DC, just for audio processing with Pro Tools, MOTU Digital Performer, et al and general computing. I am apprehensive about puting a fan like that in computer that is supposed to be super quiet.

-Poritz

The one I have isnt all that loud. Dont really notice it in fact.

 

[Poritz]

Well I think I have made up my mind on the certain things. I will buy the Mac before I buy any new PC. When the Hammer comes out we will all see the real verdict. Regardless of the Hammer outcome I will still be able to get an inexpensive AthlonXP by that time. Perhaps a mobo maker will do everyone the great service of providing a board that supports both. I suppose we will all see, won't we. Anyone else have any comentary?

-Poritz

 

[MoFunk]

Nope, me too. I still dont know what is meant by toaster. Oh well.

 

[networkman]

Truth be told, my first thought about "toaster", considering it is a computer question, was in regard to the Video Toaster available for the Amiga computers not that long ago.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: networkman
Truth be told, my first thought about "toaster", considering it is a computer question, was in regard to the Video Toaster available for the Amiga computers not that long ago.

Isnt that what they used to make Babylon 5?

 

[networkman]

You got it!

 

[Poritz]

I know that everyone has figured out what I meant by toaster. AnandTech has there most recent article on them here. You can go to THG and get even more information about the AMD Platform toasters here.

I simply don't need all the expansion slots normal form factors offer when most of what would take up a slot is already integrated. The two things that would most need a dedicated card are audio and video. And well the toaster has two slots. Problem solved. I really wonder if all you power users need all those slots either. I am confident that there are those who do have legitimate need. But a few others still think bigger is better. I have always been disgusted with the whole concept of a LAN party but others don't seem to think so and with a small machine like this you could cut down on so much unneccesary mass being lugged from one all night caffine fest to the next!

Anyway I think I just started ranting and raving right then so I think that's enough of that. These little machines are probably the next big thing. Apple tried and failed and I believe that was because they left absolutely no options for internal upgrades. This is a bit bigger but has huge potential. What are the TeAm member's thoughts?

-Poritz

 

[n0cmonkey]

I only have 2 32bit pci slots and both are filled. It stinks because I would like to put another pci card in it.. All I have left are 64 bit slots (and one is filled with a 64bit scsi card).

 

[ShotgunSteven]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: Confused

Originally posted by: Poritz
Will a toaster make a good DC machine?

Am i the only one who thought he meant an actual toaster...for heating/crisping up bread.....



:Q



??

I did too, figured he was a netbsd user...

Here I was thinking they were shipping toasters with CPUs now, and you guys were trying to figure out how to utilize the spare cycles not used for calculating how much to toast the bread.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: ShotgunSteve

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: Confused

Originally posted by: Poritz
Will a toaster make a good DC machine?

Am i the only one who thought he meant an actual toaster...for heating/crisping up bread.....



:Q



??

I did too, figured he was a netbsd user...

Here I was thinking they were shipping toasters with CPUs now, and you guys were trying to figure out how to utilize the spare cycles not used for calculating how much to toast the bread.

DC people think just like the NetBSD people

 

[Poritz]

I should have known better than to have been so assuming in my statements. I also should have made the NetBSD connection before posting. Oh well. Thanks everyone. I know that when they start making toasters with CPUs, and they will, Team AnandTech will be ready to build a cluster of toasters ready to tackle anything.l

-Poritz

 

[Confused]

Originally posted by: Poritz
I should have known better than to have been so assuming in my statements. I also should have made the NetBSD connection before posting. Oh well. Thanks everyone. I know that when they start making toasters with CPUs, and they will, Team AnandTech will be ready to build a cluster of toasters ready to tackle anything.l

-Poritz

Well, if you believe my computer science teacher, toasters and microwaves already have desktop grade CPUs in them (equivelent to a P3 supposedly), cos it's a lot cheaper to use them than design new chips, or use discrete components for the same task.......

I always

when he said that

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Confused

Originally posted by: Poritz
I should have known better than to have been so assuming in my statements. I also should have made the NetBSD connection before posting. Oh well. Thanks everyone. I know that when they start making toasters with CPUs, and they will, Team AnandTech will be ready to build a cluster of toasters ready to tackle anything.l

-Poritz

Well, if you believe my computer science teacher, toasters and microwaves already have desktop grade CPUs in them (equivelent to a P3 supposedly), cos it's a lot cheaper to use them than design new chips, or use discrete components for the same task.......

I always

when he said that

They probably use smaller, slower embedded chips.