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Virginia Tech to Build Top 5 Supercomputer?

Posted by michael on from the computer-hogs dept.

hype7 writes "ThinkSecret is running a story which might explain exactly why the Dual 2GHz G5 machines have been delayed to the customers that ordered them minutes after the keynote was delivered. Apparently, Virginia Tech has plans to build a G5 cluster of 1100 units. If it manages to complete the cluster before the cut-off date, it will score a Top 5 rank in the Linpack Top 500 Supercomputer List. Both Apple and the University are playing mum on the issue, but there's talk of it all over the campus."

6 of 460 comments (clear)

  1. What? by thedogcow · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Slashdot posting vaporware news from an unreliable (Thinksecret et al) source?

    Get the fuck out of here.

    --
    Yes! I listen to NYC Speedcore and do math at 3AM. I suggest you try it too.
  2. Poor choice on Apple's part by SuperBanana · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Ok, so let's get this straight- Apple just screwed 500 customers for the sake of getting their name on some supercomputer top-500 list? I know if I had ordered my G5 and found out my machine was a month further away than I thought it was, I'd be spitting mad; the only people who have that kind of dough are people who really need the speed for business purposes. Not to mention this could be the straw that breaks the camel's back WRT Apple executive credibility with analysts- Steve said the G5's would be shipping by the end of August, and this cute little Virginia Tech deal will push that up almost a month.

    I'm a diehard mac fanatic, have been for years- I've bought something like 6-7 Macintoshes over the last 10+ years, and I'm about to buy another in a day or two...but sometimes Apple management just completely stuffs its head up its ass.

    As for Virginia Tech, this couldn't possibly be an efficient choice for a cluster; AMD Opertons in rackmount configurations maybe- but not G5's. For about $1k less than the dual G5, you can get a dual opteron system similarly spec'd out, and you can fit a couple of them in the same amount of space as one G5. No, this sounds like a publicity stunt more than anything else...

    --
    Please help metamoderate.
    1. Re:Poor choice on Apple's part by Glonoinha · · Score: -1, Flamebait

      -Universities don't spend millions on a 'non efficient choice'.

      Yes they do. Look at the football teams of most colleges.

      I think you vastly overestimate the cognitive prowess if the administrative personnel at your college. Statistically speaking, 85% of the people making important decisions were C students and scored less than 600 on the math portion of their SAT (of a 800 possible max.)

      I also imagine you haven't actually sat in on any high level focus and direction meetings at the CxO level or even the Director level. Most of the time these people are not NASA quality rocket scientists and engineers, and often decisions are made not on the technical merits of a particular issue but on how charismatic the individual proponents of that solution are - presented correctly in a smooth manner, serving three day old turkey chopped up into little pieces in turkey tetrazzini is something college level administrators will consider, and possibly even do.

      My advice - when you are in a Director level focus and direction meeting as a technical resource, resist the urge to dream up the stupidest, lamest idea you can and present it as if it was a wonderful idea because they honestly don't know the difference and you will be pulling coax and converting your system back to Token Ring-16, unable to convince them that you were just kidding. No shit.

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      Glonoinha the MebiByte Slayer
  3. Re:MOD PARENT DOWN by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    wow. I was looking at a lifestyle change and thought I'd see if I could become a complete and utter shithead. I thought to myself "hey, you could do really good at this" but looking at your post I see I'm beat before I even started.

  4. 1100 Nodes.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    And still only one mouse button

  5. Re:Macs ? by mslinux · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Would anybody know why Powermac G5s are a better choice here?

    They aren't a better choice. This is nothing but a *huge* waste of money by the CS Dept. Head who is a *classic* Mac fanatic that has been influenced by the Steve Jobs reality distortion field. The drinking of the poison koolaid is next on his list of things to do right after making x86 a forbidden platform in the dept.