Supercomputer Kits from Virginia Tech

MacRumors · Nov 5, 2003, 07:35 PM

As mentioned in a previous report, Virginia Tech will begin offering Supercomputer Kits beginning early next year.

These kits will provide plans for institutions to create their own PowerMac G5 clusters with off-the-shelf components. The Virginia Tech PowerMac G5 cluster currently ranks #3 in the world based on preliminary results. Final rankings are due in mid November.

Techweb.com reports that, amongst others, the National Security Agency and the Argonne weapons laboratory have expressed interest in the plans. Previous comments from Dr. Srinidhi Varadarajan noted that we could "expect to see a lot more G5 clusters."

TheFish · Nov 5, 2003, 07:38 PM

GREAT NEWS! so uhh, when can i get one?

gwuMACaddict · Nov 5, 2003, 07:39 PM

santa, i want a supercomputer for xmas

sethypoo · Nov 5, 2003, 07:40 PM

I'm buying one! I'd be the only person on my floor with a 2000 node G5! Great.

ITR 81 · Nov 5, 2003, 07:48 PM

G5 kit means alot folks must want one. I figure in the next yr Apple will be selling alot more G5's just for this purpose.

Good news for Apple and maybe Va Tech should be the new switcher commerical.

mistersquid · Nov 5, 2003, 07:49 PM

I, for one, welcome our new G5 cluster ovevrlords.

gwuMACaddict · Nov 5, 2003, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ITR 81
maybe Va Tech should be the new switcher commerical.

i like this idea a lot- high profile success story with apple. blows the old rumor that dell can always do things cheaper.

JohnGillilan · Nov 5, 2003, 07:54 PM

This may sound stupid, but what is a "supercomputer" even used for?? Is it partially just for bragging rights, or do these clusters have practical purposes??

blueBomber · Nov 5, 2003, 07:58 PM

I guess it would make sense that the NSA would want to get away from Windows

isd_glory · Nov 5, 2003, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mistersquid
I, for one, welcome our new G5 cluster ovevrlords.

*smack*

You've been hanging around slashdot too much

freemidnight · Nov 5, 2003, 08:10 PM

I imagine Crae, HP, Next and the rest buying in secret G5 and saying that their cluster is one of the fastest on the planet!

Rocketman · Nov 5, 2003, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sethypoo
I'm buying one! I'd be the only person on my floor with a 2000 node G5! Great.

I am waiting for the day, perhaps minutes from now, when a set of dorm residents form a cluster in the common area with individual G5's and each resident has a login to a true supercomputer.

Rocketman.

Students are ALWAYS on the bleeding edge.

rt_brained · Nov 5, 2003, 08:22 PM

I ordered one of these kits from Virginia Tech and all I got was a case of duct tape, a couple miles of wire and a briefcase full of hundred dollar bills.

What am I supposed to do with all that?

rdowns · Nov 5, 2003, 08:29 PM

What would the kit do for my Mac SE, LC II, IIsi, Performa 6300 and iMac? I also could get an SE/30, IIcx, PowerBook G3 and beige G3.

Sun Baked · Nov 5, 2003, 08:44 PM

This is one the first non-Apple killer Apps to come down the pipe in quite awhile.

I bet Dr. Srinidhi Varadarajan didn't think he was writing a killer app when he was putting the software and the cluster together.

Took 4 years, but the real supercomputer on your desktop finally shipped.

tny · Nov 5, 2003, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JohnGillilan
This may sound stupid, but what is a "supercomputer" even used for?? Is it partially just for bragging rights, or do these clusters have practical purposes??

Number crunching: modeling processes of complex systems like the weather, cryptographic work (which would explain the NSA's interest), etc. Lots of things. There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy, Horatio.

punter · Nov 5, 2003, 09:35 PM

I keep hearing stories of new cards (PCI?) that are basically for floating point operations and give you a super computer on a card. Does this mean the super computers of tomorrow (which, quite literally could mean tomorrow) will just be a couple of clustered machines with stacks of these cards?

Or am I way off the mark? If these cards are the future then I hope they slot into the G5!

Snlhobo · Nov 5, 2003, 10:30 PM

Let's Go Hookies... VAtech forever...i knew they would do it, they make me proud to be a Virginian.

3-22 · Nov 5, 2003, 10:49 PM

Supercomputers are valuable tools for modeling, simulation, and number crunching. Processing time is rented for research...

Looking at the top500 list, this guy who did this must be one smart cookie. Ranked 3rd in the list is pretty impressive, especially pullling it off with such a low price. VT will sure stand out, surrounded by these big DOD sites on the list.

Analog Kid · Nov 5, 2003, 11:09 PM

Seems to me Apple should offer preconfigured setups from the Apple store. Maybe 100, 500, 1000, 5000, 10000 node clusters with the infrastructure appropriate for each size.

Analog Kid · Nov 5, 2003, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by punter
I keep hearing stories of new cards (PCI?) that are basically for floating point operations and give you a super computer on a card. Does this mean the super computers of tomorrow (which, quite literally could mean tomorrow) will just be a couple of clustered machines with stacks of these cards?

Or am I way off the mark? If these cards are the future then I hope they slot into the G5!

As a rule, ignore it when anyone says "supercomputer in a *".

A digital watch is a supercomputer depending on what standards you're measuring against.

itsbetteronamac · Nov 5, 2003, 11:12 PM

I find it kinda scary that a weapons company is looking into somthing with that much proceessing power. I mean think of what low-cost Supercomputers in the wrong hands can do.

Just my thoughts

srobert · 11:18 PM

Interesting... on the top 500 supercomputer list's site, you can query the list with many differenent search criteria, including manufacturer... however... Apple is not included in the 25 choices you have for manufacturers. Guess that they did not see that one coming. I guess I could always browse using the "self made" search criteria.

hmmm... they don't even have G5 or anything apple for that matter in the dozens of choice you get for the computer type criteria.

Hell! their list is oudated! They don't even list the Virginia Tech Cluster:

http://www.top500.org/list/2003/06/?page

Tulse · Nov 5, 2003, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Hell! their list is oudated! They don't even list the Virginia Tech Cluster

That's because it's from June of 2003. The list has yet to be officially updated -- it will be at the end of November (I believe).

xDANx · Nov 5, 2003, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by itsbetteronamac
I find it kinda scary that a weapons company is looking into somthing with that much proceessing power. I mean think of what low-cost Supercomputers in the wrong hands can do.

Just my thoughts

yeah...they could start marketing G5 clusters as 'PowerMac G5 WMD Edition'...somehow it all doesn't quite jive with eating granola, wearing turtle necks, and hugging sarah mclachlan.

Nov 5, 2003, 07:35 PM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	Supercomputer Kits from Virginia Tech As mentioned in a previous report, Virginia Tech will begin offering Supercomputer Kits beginning early next year. These kits will provide plans for institutions to create their own PowerMac G5 clusters with off-the-shelf components. The Virginia Tech PowerMac G5 cluster currently ranks #3 in the world based on preliminary results. Final rankings are due in mid November. Techweb.com reports that, amongst others, the National Security Agency and the Argonne weapons laboratory have expressed interest in the plans. Previous comments from Dr. Srinidhi Varadarajan noted that we could "expect to see a lot more G5 clusters."

Nov 5, 2003, 07:38 PM	#2
TheFish macrumors member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: The south, the deep south	GREAT NEWS! so uhh, when can i get one? __________________ Id rather be rich than stupid. -Jack Handey

Nov 5, 2003, 07:40 PM	#4
sethypoo macrumors 68000 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Sacramento, CA, USA	I'm buying one! I'd be the only person on my floor with a 2000 node G5! Great. __________________ Weeeeeee!

Nov 5, 2003, 07:48 PM	#5
ITR 81 macrumors 65816 Join Date: Oct 2003	The G5 cluster looks like it's going to be popular. G5 kit means alot folks must want one. I figure in the next yr Apple will be selling alot more G5's just for this purpose. Good news for Apple and maybe Va Tech should be the new switcher commerical.

Nov 5, 2003, 07:49 PM	#6
mistersquid macrumors newbie Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Athens, OH	WELCOME I, for one, welcome our new G5 cluster ovevrlords. __________________ mistersquid

Nov 5, 2003, 07:39 PM	#3
gwuMACaddict macrumors 68040 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: washington dc	santa, i want a supercomputer for xmas __________________ *"if everyone is thinking alike, then someone isn't thinking"*

Nov 5, 2003, 07:54 PM	#8
JohnGillilan macrumors regular Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Los Angeles	This may sound stupid, but what is a "supercomputer" even used for?? Is it partially just for bragging rights, or do these clusters have practical purposes?? __________________ "If you've got beef, eat a porkchop." -- Coolio

Nov 5, 2003, 07:58 PM	#9
blueBomber macrumors regular Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Minneapolis, MN	I guess it would make sense that the NSA would want to get away from Windows __________________ "I am a ninja. My life is lonely and difficult." "Fry to the rain forest and save the nature!" "Yes Sir!" - a Neo Geo Classic

Nov 5, 2003, 08:10 PM	#11
freemidnight macrumors newbie Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Quebec	I imagine Crae, HP, Next and the rest buying in secret G5 and saying that their cluster is one of the fastest on the planet!

Nov 5, 2003, 08:22 PM	#13
rt_brained macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Creativille	I ordered one of these kits from Virginia Tech and all I got was a case of duct tape, a couple miles of wire and a briefcase full of hundred dollar bills. What am I supposed to do with all that?

Nov 5, 2003, 08:29 PM	#14
rdowns macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Jul 2003	What would the kit do for my Mac SE, LC II, IIsi, Performa 6300 and iMac? I also could get an SE/30, IIcx, PowerBook G3 and beige G3.

Nov 5, 2003, 08:44 PM	#15
Sun Baked macrumors 603 Join Date: May 2002	This is one the first non-Apple killer Apps to come down the pipe in quite awhile. I bet Dr. Srinidhi Varadarajan didn't think he was writing a killer app when he was putting the software and the cluster together. Took 4 years, but the real supercomputer on your desktop finally shipped. __________________ May you be plagued by images of Richard Simmons flouncing through you brain, and squat thrusting his way though all waking thoughts.

Nov 5, 2003, 09:35 PM	#17
punter macrumors 6502 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Australia	I keep hearing stories of new cards (PCI?) that are basically for floating point operations and give you a super computer on a card. Does this mean the super computers of tomorrow (which, quite literally could mean tomorrow) will just be a couple of clustered machines with stacks of these cards? Or am I way off the mark? If these cards are the future then I hope they slot into the G5!

Nov 5, 2003, 10:30 PM	#18
Snlhobo macrumors newbie Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Boston, MA/Richmond,VA	Let's Go Hookies... VAtech forever...i knew they would do it, they make me proud to be a Virginian. __________________ Proud Owner of a: 1.8 Ghz G5 1gig Ram 250 Gb. hard drive

Nov 5, 2003, 10:49 PM	#19
3-22 macrumors regular Join Date: Nov 2002	Impressive... Supercomputers are valuable tools for modeling, simulation, and number crunching. Processing time is rented for research... Looking at the top500 list, this guy who did this must be one smart cookie. Ranked 3rd in the list is pretty impressive, especially pullling it off with such a low price. VT will sure stand out, surrounded by these big DOD sites on the list.

Nov 5, 2003, 11:09 PM	#20
Analog Kid macrumors 68000 Join Date: Mar 2003	Seems to me Apple should offer preconfigured setups from the Apple store. Maybe 100, 500, 1000, 5000, 10000 node clusters with the infrastructure appropriate for each size. __________________ "Quick to judge, quick to anger, slow to understand... Ignorance and Prejudice and Fear walk hand-in-hand." --Peart

Nov 5, 2003, 11:12 PM	#22
itsbetteronamac macrumors regular Join Date: Apr 2003	Yikes I find it kinda scary that a weapons company is looking into somthing with that much proceessing power. I mean think of what low-cost Supercomputers in the wrong hands can do. Just my thoughts

Nov 5, 2003, 11:14 PM	#23
srobert macrumors 68020 Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Montreal, Canada	Interesting... on the top 500 supercomputer list's site, you can query the list with many differenent search criteria, including manufacturer... however... Apple is not included in the 25 choices you have for manufacturers. Guess that they did not see that one coming. I guess I could always browse using the "self made" search criteria. hmmm... they don't even have G5 or anything apple for that matter in the dozens of choice you get for the computer type criteria. Hell! their list is oudated! They don't even list the Virginia Tech Cluster: http://www.top500.org/list/2003/06/?page Last edited by srobert : Nov 5, 2003 at 11:18 PM.

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