Let's buy GIMPS an Opteron! - Page 5

Wacky · 2003-08-16, 00:38

In the long run, you need to consider two things
(1) Does the platform allow the developers to test their code which is tailored to that class of systems?
(2) If you really want a fast system implementation, are you getting the maximum effective memory speed?

We can design around cache sizes, etc. But the fundamental design consideration is effective use of the registers and effective memory bandwidth.

clowns789 · 2003-08-16, 23:12

Looks like Opterons are pretty slow, and besides, you don't want a lot of them just piled up in the garage. Obviously you can't get a Cray, but I found an alternative.

http://www.dell.com/us/en/bsd/products/model_pedge_pedge_6650.htm

ColdFury · 2003-08-17, 00:14

The whole reason for buying the Opteron is to optimize for it. What use is buying a Xeon server going to do? George already has a P4 platform to test optimizations on.

clowns789 · 2003-08-17, 03:31

Well if you get bored overclocking and get a lot of money it would speed it up a lot more than Opterons. It's not a server it's a thingy that has high sustained floating point operations which GIMPS needs. But for now you should read this article.

http://www.amdzone.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=1299

Xyzzy · 2003-08-17, 05:42

I recently upgraded my Mom's hard drive from 15GB to 40GB... Her "old" hard drive has passed a 24 hour "torture test" so if we use that we can save a bit of money to be applied to more memory or something... Once the system is loaded up the speed of the hard drive shouldn't be super important, even during a compile... (Actually, this drive is reasonably fast... Mom just needed more room for her MP3s!)

I don't plan to reboot the system except when the power goes out, which is just a few times a year...

It is a 7200RPM Western Digital... The model number is WD153BA...

If anyone thinks this is a bad idea let me know... Remember, I'm trying to maximise our bang for the buck here! (And it's free!)

ThomRuley · 2003-08-17, 23:07

Why not use it? If the goal is to build an Opteron system for as little as possible, then a free hard drive is the way to go (assuming it works).

Wacky · 2003-08-17, 23:44

I disagree. You shouldn't use any "free" components. If your mother wants to contribute the HD, then give her credit for the "fair" value as both a contribution and an expense. I suggest that US$1/GB is a fair value. (You certainly could not purchase a drive for less than $15).

QuintLeo · 2003-08-18, 02:51

I've SEEN Registered DDR333 from at least a couple places - and I think I remember seeing registered DDR400 from one somewhere.

Also, the Opteron does NOT access it's RAM via the Hypertransport links - it's got an on-CPU memory controller, and accesses the RAM directly - which is most of the reason it needs so many pins on the CPU. The Athlon-64 will be the same way, but the 754-pin version will only have a single memory controller channel, as opposed to 2 of them on the Opteron and the "939/940 pin Athlon-64" versions.

Xyzzy · 2003-08-18, 12:59

$805.13 in donations... $249.63 spent...

I just ordered the memory...

http://www.ec.kingston.com/shop/partsinfo.asp?ktcpartno=KVR333X72RC25/256

Two sticks cost us $162.64 with free shipping...

We got lucky and got PC2700 for just about the same cost as PC2100...

Like I mentioned earlier, I usually buy from Crucial, but I have ordered from Kingston quite a bit in the past... Both are reputable vendors...

(Boy these PC1600/2100/2700 numbers are awkward! I much prefer DDR200/266/333!)

Xyzzy · 2003-08-18, 17:48

$895.13 in donations... $476.33 spent... $418.80 left...

I just ordered the motherboard... It cost us $226.70 delivered...

Newegg just got in the 142 CPU ($320) today so hopefully they will get the 140 in soon...

All we need is the CPU now... There honestly isn't any reason to get a faster CPU than the 140... I'm not sure how to explain that, but Wackerbath and I discussed it this weekend and it made sense when he explained it to me...

We will have a bit of money left over... There are a lot of things we can do with the extra money... We could refund a percentage back to everybodyor we could buy more stuff or we could set the money aside for another project in the future... To be honest, I didn't expect to get in more donations than we needed so I never planned for this. (I don't think we need to buy any more stuff, either!)

Ideas would be appreciated!

outlnder · 2003-08-18, 18:48

If there is enough left over to buy the 142, get it.

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2003-08-16, 00:38	#45
Wacky Jun 2003 The Texas Hill Country 3²·11² Posts	In the long run, you need to consider two things (1) Does the platform allow the developers to test their code which is tailored to that class of systems? (2) If you really want a fast system implementation, are you getting the maximum effective memory speed? We can design around cache sizes, etc. But the fundamental design consideration is effective use of the registers and effective memory bandwidth.

2003-08-16, 23:12	#46
clowns789 Jun 2003 The Computer 401 Posts	Looks like Opterons are pretty slow, and besides, you don't want a lot of them just piled up in the garage. Obviously you can't get a Cray, but I found an alternative. http://www.dell.com/us/en/bsd/products/model_pedge_pedge_6650.htm

2003-08-17, 00:14	#47
ColdFury Aug 2002 2⁶·5 Posts	The whole reason for buying the Opteron is to optimize for it. What use is buying a Xeon server going to do? George already has a P4 platform to test optimizations on.

2003-08-17, 03:31	#48
clowns789 Jun 2003 The Computer 621₈ Posts	Well if you get bored overclocking and get a lot of money it would speed it up a lot more than Opterons. It's not a server it's a thingy that has high sustained floating point operations which GIMPS needs. But for now you should read this article. http://www.amdzone.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=1299

2003-08-17, 05:42	#49
Xyzzy Aug 2002 21D2₁₆ Posts	I recently upgraded my Mom's hard drive from 15GB to 40GB... Her "old" hard drive has passed a 24 hour "torture test" so if we use that we can save a bit of money to be applied to more memory or something... Once the system is loaded up the speed of the hard drive shouldn't be super important, even during a compile... (Actually, this drive is reasonably fast... Mom just needed more room for her MP3s!) I don't plan to reboot the system except when the power goes out, which is just a few times a year... It is a 7200RPM Western Digital... The model number is WD153BA... If anyone thinks this is a bad idea let me know... Remember, I'm trying to maximise our bang for the buck here! (And it's free!)

2003-08-17, 23:07	#50
ThomRuley May 2003 2·3·7² Posts	Why not use it? If the goal is to build an Opteron system for as little as possible, then a free hard drive is the way to go (assuming it works).

2003-08-17, 23:44	#51
Wacky Jun 2003 The Texas Hill Country 3²×11² Posts	I disagree. You shouldn't use any "free" components. If your mother wants to contribute the HD, then give her credit for the "fair" value as both a contribution and an expense. I suggest that US$1/GB is a fair value. (You certainly could not purchase a drive for less than $15).

2003-08-18, 02:51	#52
QuintLeo Oct 2002 Lost in the hills of Iowa 111000000₂ Posts	I've SEEN Registered DDR333 from at least a couple places - and I think I remember seeing registered DDR400 from one somewhere. Also, the Opteron does NOT access it's RAM via the Hypertransport links - it's got an on-CPU memory controller, and accesses the RAM directly - which is most of the reason it needs so many pins on the CPU. The Athlon-64 will be the same way, but the 754-pin version will only have a single memory controller channel, as opposed to 2 of them on the Opteron and the "939/940 pin Athlon-64" versions.

2003-08-18, 12:59	#53
Xyzzy Aug 2002 2×3²×13×37 Posts	$805.13 in donations... $249.63 spent... I just ordered the memory... http://www.ec.kingston.com/shop/partsinfo.asp?ktcpartno=KVR333X72RC25/256 Two sticks cost us $162.64 with free shipping... We got lucky and got PC2700 for just about the same cost as PC2100... Like I mentioned earlier, I usually buy from Crucial, but I have ordered from Kingston quite a bit in the past... Both are reputable vendors... (Boy these PC1600/2100/2700 numbers are awkward! I much prefer DDR200/266/333!)

2003-08-18, 17:48	#54
Xyzzy Aug 2002 21D2₁₆ Posts	$895.13 in donations... $476.33 spent... $418.80 left... I just ordered the motherboard... It cost us $226.70 delivered... Newegg just got in the 142 CPU ($320) today so hopefully they will get the 140 in soon... All we need is the CPU now... There honestly isn't any reason to get a faster CPU than the 140... I'm not sure how to explain that, but Wackerbath and I discussed it this weekend and it made sense when he explained it to me... We will have a bit of money left over... There are a lot of things we can do with the extra money... We could refund a percentage back to everybodyor we could buy more stuff or we could set the money aside for another project in the future... To be honest, I didn't expect to get in more donations than we needed so I never planned for this. (I don't think we need to buy any more stuff, either!) Ideas would be appreciated!

2003-08-18, 18:48	#55
outlnder Aug 2002 2×3×53 Posts	If there is enough left over to buy the 142, get it.