CPU Choices

[Ron Chen]

Some interesting articles:

Floating-Point Compiler Performance Analysis 
============================================
http://www.aceshardware.com/Spades/read.php?article_id=40000189

Workstation Battle Royale
=========================
(The Top Dual Xeon Workstations and the Dual Athlon
MP)
http://www.aceshardware.com/Spades/read.php?article_id=45000195

 -Ron

--- Craig Tierney <ctierney at hpti.com> wrote:
> On Fri, Sep 21, 2001 at 10:35:25AM -0000,
> n.gregory at garageflowers.co.uk wrote:
> > (sorry if this gets posted twice)
> > Hello,
> > I am doing some research into the configuration of
> a 32 1U node Beowulf cluster 
> > and have a question regarding CPU configuration.
> > 
> > The current choice is between Intel P4s as
> Itaniums seem a little bleeding edge at 
> > the moment, or the latest AMD chips.
> > 
> > AMD seem to be getting a impressive performance
> for the price, but I?m a little 
> > concerned about the lack of mature multiprocessor
> chipsets and their heat issues.
> 
> Have you run your code on an AMD and P4?  Alot of
> the published
> reports show AMD as faster, but mainly for codes
> that I don't care
> about and that havenot been recompiled.
> 
> For the codes I am interested in a dual P4 1.7 Ghz
> is 30% faster
> than a dual Athlon 1.2 Ghz when using the Intel
> compiler for Linux.
> SSE support is better in the Intel compiler than the
> Portland Group 
> Compiler.  I didn't seem much improvement using
> Portland Group and SSE
> than non-SSE.  With the Portland Group compiler the
> two systems perform
> similiary (within 5%).
> 
> You are going to spend probably 150K (or more) on
> hardware, but aren't
> willing to shell out $1k (or less) for commercial
> compilers?  For the 
> Portland Group compiler, you only need to buy a
> license for the nodes you
> are going to compile on (Front ends).  I do not know
> about the
> Intel compiler, but I hope it is the same.  Anyone
> know?
> 
> 
> Craig
> 
> > 
> > Intel on the other-hand have the MP chipsets but
> seem to be falling down with 
> > current lack of (non-commercial ) complier that
> support MMX and SSE, and the 
> > whole issue of Rambus Vs DDR memory.
> > 
> > I would be grateful for any insight into a choice
> of CPU and its configuration in 
> > terms of price/performance/expandability, or any
> other factor I should be 
> > considering.
> > 
> > Thanks
> > Nick
> > 
> > _______________________________________________
> > Beowulf mailing list, Beowulf at beowulf.org
> > To change your subscription (digest mode or
> unsubscribe) visit
> http://www.beowulf.org/mailman/listinfo/beowulf
> 
> -- 
> Craig Tierney (ctierney at hpti.com)
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Beowulf mailing list, Beowulf at beowulf.org
> To change your subscription (digest mode or
> unsubscribe) visit
http://www.beowulf.org/mailman/listinfo/beowulf


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com