[Beowulf] Better C2D or Quadcore

[Jeffrey B. Layton]

amjad ali wrote:
> Hello,
> I planned to buy 9 PCs each having one Core2Duo E6600 (networked with 
> GiGE) to make cluster for running PETSc based applications.
>  
> I got an advice that because the prices of Xeon Quadcore is going to 
> drop next month, so I should buy 9 PCs each having one Quadcore 
> Xeon (networked with GiGE) to make cluster for running PETSc based 
> applications.

What will you be doing with PETSc? It has lots of options and 
capability. What
type of problems will you be solving?

BTW - I'm still getting some information, but if you drop back to 8 
systems, I
know of an inexpensive 8-port Infiniband switch (SDR). You can also find
inexpensive IB SDR NICs. When you go above 8 ports you have to either
switch to a large switch or start looking at using several tiers of 
small switches
(the guys at aggregate.org can help there).

Jeff