8-core monster crunchers
14 Apr 2008 17:14:25 UTC
Topic 193629
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Awhile back there were a few articles written about 8-core systems that should be ready soon for home PCs. Does anyone here know when they will be ready for us crunchers to start upgrading to these new monster crunchers?
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8-core monster crunchers
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Hi!
In the meantime until native 8 core CPUs are ready, we can always use 2 x 4 core systems ==> http://einstein.phys.uwm.edu/top_hosts.php. Amazing performance indeed.
CU
Bikeman
Yeah, I assume you're talking
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Yeah, I assume you're talking about Intel's "Nehalem" processor line. It's a fairly big change and more than just a small evolution of Core 2, but they're currently forecasting production beginning Q4 '08. I highly doubt that will immediately include the 8 cores though... probably we'll see 2 and 4 core versions out first.
Factoring in that info, the assumption that "nothing ever goes as planned", etc. I'd guess that you'll first start to see 8-core Nelahem (by that time with a spiffy new retail name) available about a year from now.
Most of the architecture changes look like they'll provide an appreciable benefit to E@H (and many other BOINC projects) so it should be interesting. :)
Bikeman's idea works if you have a whole LOTTA cash laying around and really really want those 8 cores in one box. I looked up the Intel "Skulltrail", which is their 'enthusiast' (not professional) motherboard/CPU platform using the Core 2 Extreme QX9775 (5 at the end denotes that it fits the Xeon socket) and for only $660 for the motherboard and (are you sitting down?) ~$1500 each for the processors, you can build one! Oh, have to use fully buffered DIMMS on it though, and 8Gb of that will set you back about $500...
So, for only $4,000+ you can have bare guts ready to add disks, a case, power supply, monitor, etc. etc. (hehe... no thanks, I think I don't need it) ;)
RE: Yeah, I assume you're
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If anything I'd think the oposite. There's more money to be made in the extreme eds than the normal consumer ones. I expect the 6/8 way chips out first to soak as many early adoptors as possible before the mainstream chips hit the market. Besides the smaller ones won't hammer nails into the AMD coffin nearly as well as the big ones, and after the A64 scare of a few years back that has to be one of chipzillas highest priorities.
In this case, more is less I
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In this case, more is less I would think at least in the beginning. Unless you have the serious coin to put down ... the better bet is to get the dual quad (like in my Mac Pro) where you get 8 processors working.
Granted 16 will be better ... but, the first couple years that is going to be seriously expensive ...
Cheaper to get two boxes with dual quads of roughly the same speed ... yeah the high end will still shade you some ... but at what cost?
RE: In this case, more is
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I was talking to a friend the other day who mentioned putting 4 dual cores on a mobo for gaming. Sounds great, but going on that idea, why not build a 4 quad system and get 16 cores? It does make me wonder here if this would be a heat pump in the making, let alone expensive for electricity bill! Apart from that, can you even make a 4 quad system?
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RE: RE: In this case,
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On Cebit`08 i had seen a 2 or 3RE-unit i believe from SUN with 4 copperblocks in shifted layout. Each block with dimension from ~12cm length x ~8cm width and ~3cm hight. My eyes brightened in the same color!
The guy behind that beast talks also about the support from max 128GB Ram socked in a 32 (counted!) slots-unit with 2 foldable handles above the cpu-sockets and support for Core2 Xeon-Quad's.
I was on 7th heaven something between Marry Poppins and The Wizard of Oz.
add:
Damned, i forgot also to ask him for prices.
RE: RE: In this case,
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You can, but you'd have to use a server motherboard and server processors. (Meaning, either quad-core Xeons or quad-core Barcelonas.)
Are there any 4 way server
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Are there any 4 way server boards with PCIe slot configurations suitable for gaming use, or would the putative godbox be strangled by a single card chungging through a 4/8 slot?
RE: Are there any 4 way
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I didn't think to check on that. But, Newegg carries multi-processor server boards, if you'd like to look for yourself.
Do a search for an S7000FC4UR
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Do a search for an S7000FC4UR by Intel.
The 7xxx series Xeons can be used in enterprise systems with up to 32 sockets! Try one of those on for size!