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A Look Inside Virginia Tech's New Super Computer

Posted by Cliff on from the taking-a-peek dept.

Mr Bob "The original" bougert brings us "...a video of the Virginia Tech super computer centre. How many people think that super computer centres like this, with their reasonably cheap cost should be created in more places? This video of the infamous super computer should be interesting to some and pretty to look for others." It views like an ad for Apple, but Virginia Tech has scored quite an achievement with this milestone, and this should serve as a decent introduction for those unfamiliar with the project.

6 of 420 comments (clear)

  1. Imagine... by Zelet · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ...what they could do now for the same cost using the new Xserve dual 2 Ghz G5.

    Dual 2GHz PowerPC G5
    512K L2 cache/processor
    1GHz system bus/processor
    512B DDR400 ECC SDRAM
    80GB Serial ATA drive
    Dual Gigabit Ethernet

    All for only $3000. They could really built a small, inexpensive cluster with a couple thousand of those.

    --
    ...And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me." - Martin Niemoeller (1892-1984)
    1. Re:Imagine... by bedmison · · Score: 5, Interesting
      The rumor here on campus is that Apple is going to let them trade the G5 towers for G5 XServes, 1:1. So if you are wondering where the first 1100 XServes are going, look no further than Blacksburg.

      There is some question as to whether they are going install more nodes than the 1100 they have. Given that there are 96 52-U racks currently housing the 1100 towers, they will have plenty of space for more XServes. We did get an email saying the info systems building will be without power over the coming weekend as new power lines are installed...Coincidence? I think not.

  2. The most telling statistic for me by dgrgich · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I was amazed at the cost/performance ratio that they were able to achieve with Big Mac. Over at Barefeats.com, they point out that a Dual 2ghz G5 is roughly 17% faster AND more expensive than a Dual 1.8 G5 - keeping the cost/performance ratio fairly equal. Taking this out to supercomputer levels, the #1 supercomputer is three and a half times faster than Big Mac but cost 60x as much money!!! Amazing.

  3. Pricing by TechnoWeeniePas · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The video states that the top two cost in the hundreds of millions to build...but never says how long ago. Dont get me wrong the Mac cluster is quite impressive and inexpensive but the price to power ratio has been changing quite rapidly just in the last few months! So if you rebuilt the top two today how would they rank pricewise?

    1. Re:Pricing by lquam · · Score: 5, Interesting

      The Earth Simulator (#1) and Asci Q (#2) were both completed in 2002, although I know planning on the Earth Simulator goes back to the mid-90s. No idea on when Asci Q was planned, but it's 8192 1.25GHz Alphas (SC45 servers) which is current technology for the Alpha line. But with TES you're talking about something that's nearly two orders of magnitude more expensive than VT's X. If you could build it today for the same price or perhaps 75-80% and get another 10-20% performance out of it it would still be way more expensive on a $ per GFlop basis.

      More interestingly, #4 on the list in the NCSA's Tungsten with 2500 3Ghz P4s. It's about 15% slower with 300 more desktop procs than X and was also made operational in '03. I suppose if they were to run around plugging 3.2 GHz processors into their 1250 Dell boxes one could perhaps sneek up on X, but you'd likely have to wait for the 4 GHz P4e to actually steam past it.

      Basically, the supercomputers which were completed most recently ARE the ones at the top of the list. X just happens to be insanely cheap compared to the ones above it.

      Len Quam

  4. Re:Virginia Tech purchased those Macs at full pric by Vaystrem · · Score: 5, Interesting

    "Apple doesn't place a giant markup on its products. They put a lot of money into product and industrial design. Therefore, Apple computer's cost more."
    Wrong. Anyone who has sold computers or has industry experience will probably let you in on a little secret: there is a tiny markup in computers. Period. Money is made in accessories and service plans.

    And for (hopefully the last time)Macintoshes are not more expensive! This point has been made many many times on Slashdot. But to make it one more time (IANAMU [I am not a Mac User]):

    $6,174.00
    Dual 2GHz PowerPC G5
    4GB DDR400 SDRAM (PC3200) - 4x1GB
    2x250GB Serial ATA - 7200rpm
    ATI Radeon 9800 Pro
    56k V.92 internal modem
    SuperDrive (DVD-R/CD-RW)
    Apple Keyboard & Apple Mouse - U.S. English
    Mac OS X - U.S. English

    $6,634
    Dell Precision Workstation 650
    2 xIntel(R) Xeon(TM) Processor,3.06GHz,512K Cache
    Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP Professional
    Hyper-Threading feature preset to "ON."
    Memory: 4GB,DDR266 SDRAM Memory,NECC
    Keyboard: Entry Level, PS/2, No Hot Keys
    Mouse: PS/2,Dell, 2 button w/no scroll
    Monitor: No Monitor Option
    Graphics Cards: nVidia, Quadro NVS 280, 64MB, dual monitor VGA capable
    Speakers: Internal Chassis Speaker
    Productivity Software: Dell Precision Workstation
    4X DVD+RW/+R AND 16XDVD-ROM,DVD Decode/Sonic SE(for Professional Authoring) DRWDV4X
    2x250GB SATA, 7200 RPM Hard Drive with DataBurst Cache(TM) SARC RAID
    Floppy Drive: 3.5 inch 1.44MB Floppy Drive

    So what was that about macintoshes being more expensive?

    (Note I had to reformat the Dell Quote so that it would look ok)