Message boards : Number crunching : Quad P3 Xeon....any suggestions ?
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Perle
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Message 8701 - Posted: 19 Jul 2005, 14:02:14 UTC

I just purchased for $150 a Micron NetFRAME Quad P3 550 xeon server. I got this mostly just to play with and for BOINC.
I know that Micro$oft 2003 will work but would Linux be a faster OS for BOINC?
I have never worked with Linux....but this seems the perfect machine for it.

I have also seen 8 processor P3 xeon servers for under $500.......good for boinc? or just a waste of electricity (208 volt power consumption) versus a new AMD 64 X2 4400 system for about $850.

Old age and treachery VS. Youth and vigor
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Message 8702 - Posted: 19 Jul 2005, 14:26:27 UTC - in response to Message 8701.  

> I just purchased for $150 a Micron NetFRAME Quad P3 550 xeon server. I got
> this mostly just to play with and for BOINC.
> I know that Micro$oft 2003 will work but would Linux be a faster OS for
> BOINC?
> I have never worked with Linux....but this seems the perfect machine for it.
>
> I have also seen 8 processor P3 xeon servers for under $500.......good for
> boinc? or just a waste of electricity (208 volt power consumption) versus a
> new AMD 64 X2 4400 system for about $850.
>
> Old age and treachery VS. Youth and vigor
>

Go for amd dual core! 4 times 550 MHz Xeon definately will not be able to create as much credit as 2 x 2.2 GHz will.... no matter what credit/clockspeed/hour rate you think about.... PLUS!!! the amd cpu will use less power!
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Perle
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Message 8703 - Posted: 19 Jul 2005, 14:41:29 UTC

I agree Power consumption vs. WU ratio is a serious consideration.
Picking up a new X2 4400 with a meg of L2 for each proc in relation to the power consumed by the big slow 4 or 8 way box.....would probably pay for itself.

Especially with the 8 Xeon box requiring a 220v outlet.....thats like running your clothes dryer 24/7.

But just for uber geekiness.......8 processors.....that rules almost as much as tater tots do !!!

The 4 xeon box was cheap and its a 110v box. If it doesnt work out...there is always Ebay....somebody else would prolly want it.


Purchasing it kinda helps out the other guy who has fallen on some hard times.

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Henry Nebrensky

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Message 8712 - Posted: 19 Jul 2005, 22:25:20 UTC - in response to Message 8701.  

> I have also seen 8 processor P3 xeon servers for under $500.......good for
> boinc?

How much memory is in them? 1 Gig split 8 ways leaves you only 128Meg for
each job, which might be a problem for some projects.

H
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Message 8720 - Posted: 20 Jul 2005, 2:18:04 UTC

Most of the systems I was looking at had plenty of ram 2-4 gig and several HD's if not a functioning OS.

The geeky allure is the 8 xeon procs with nothing to do but crush numbers.
That task is something that these proc's do well.

But to balance the cost of the unit+shipping+electricity to operate 220v Old Iron
Does not equate to the cost of a modern system, for example a AMD 64 X2 4400 or 4800 divided by WU credit production.

I like the coolness of a 8 xeon box crushing away...but a modern Dual Core AMD is way more productive than 8 P3 xeon 700's. right?

The quad 550 xeon is about a week away.
I will share the numbers that are generated as a perspective.
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Profile Paul D. Buck

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Message 8737 - Posted: 20 Jul 2005, 11:25:39 UTC
Last modified: 20 Jul 2005, 11:26:19 UTC

Hey, we can race with my two Xeons ... :)

Of course, mine only have 2 CPUs ...

Do those you have do HT? Or are they old enough that they are still single threaded?

Still, they might be especially good on the shorter work units in Predictor@Home and SETI@Home.
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Message 8740 - Posted: 20 Jul 2005, 13:35:37 UTC
Last modified: 20 Jul 2005, 13:36:36 UTC

Ya, but you have modern Xeons.
Mine are the older Slot 1 style.
Single threaded is a bit of an overstatement......single stranded is prolly more appropriate !


To build a new dualie Xeon or Opteron box, not so bad, under $2000.
Wait...um these would have to be water cooled, of course....okay $2500.
I love my Koolance systems.

8]


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Message 8742 - Posted: 20 Jul 2005, 14:18:05 UTC - in response to Message 8720.  

> I like the coolness of a 8 xeon box crushing away...but a modern Dual Core
> AMD is way more productive than 8 P3 xeon 700's. right?

I would think so. Even my Athlon XP 3000+ does as much (BOINC) work as my quad Xeon 700, but at a third of the power consumption (it's in an old case with 250W P/S).

If a single Athlon XP 3000+ can keep up with a Quad Xeon 700, an Dual Core Athlon 64 should be able to keep up with (or outpace) an 8 x Xeon 700.
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cjohnston1158

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Message 8986 - Posted: 28 Jul 2005, 2:16:46 UTC - in response to Message 8701.  

> I just purchased for $150 a Micron NetFRAME Quad P3 550 xeon server. I got
> this mostly just to play with and for BOINC.
> I know that Micro$oft 2003 will work but would Linux be a faster OS for
> BOINC?
> I have never worked with Linux....but this seems the perfect machine for it.
>
> I have also seen 8 processor P3 xeon servers for under $500.......good for
> boinc? or just a waste of electricity (208 volt power consumption) versus a
> new AMD 64 X2 4400 system for about $850.
>
> Old age and treachery VS. Youth and vigor
>

where are you getting these from?
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Message boards : Number crunching : Quad P3 Xeon....any suggestions ?


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