Virginia Tech to Build Top 5 Supercomputer?

hype7 writes "ThinkSecret is running a story which might explain exactly why the Dual 2GHz G5 machines have been delayed to the customers that ordered them minutes after the keynote was delivered. Apparently, Virginia Tech has plans to build a G5 cluster of 1100 units. If it manages to complete the cluster before the cut-off date, it will score a Top 5 rank in the Linpack Top 500 Supercomputer List. Both Apple and the University are playing mum on the issue, but there's talk of it all over the campus."

Just imagine,...

[Anonymous Coward]

...a Beowulf cluster of....

Oh wait, it is a cluster. DAMN!!!!!

Agriculture!

[Anonymous Coward]

I suppose this gives new meaning to the term Computer Farm!

is that so?

[carpe_noctem]

there's talk of it all over the campus ....and we all know how reliable campus rumors are! C'mon guys, don't forget to say hi to the Olson twins when you see them on campus next year!

Hmmm...

[Undaar]

"Both Apple and the University are playing mum on the issue, but there's talk of it all over the campus."

Must be a pretty boring campus...

Run Photoshop !

[orthopodreloaded]

Are they gonna run Photoshop on that supercomputer ?

1100 G5s still can't...

[Anonymous Coward]

play Doom III.

That's just Hokie

[leviramsey]

And it'll get skunked by 40 teraflops by Duke's supercomputer every year!

Problems with my supercomputer.

[Anonymous Coward]

I don't want to start a holy war here, but what is it with you with you G5 zealots? Ive been sitting at my 1100 CPU G5 supercomputer for 20 minutes as it computers a fast fourier transform of an 8Ghz guassian. 20 minutes! At home, on my 60 cpu linux beowulf cluster, the same operation would take 2 minutes if that. Also, while this operation is takiing place, Doom III won't start, and everything else grinds to a halt, even my multithreaded emacs is struggling to keep up as i type this.

My Sun Enterprise 5000 is faster than this machine at times. Super computer addicts, flame me if you want, but I'd rahter hear some inteligent reasons why I should use the G5 supercomputer over cheaper, faster clusters.

Re:Problems with my supercomputer.

[Anonymous Coward]

Doom III won't start

Doom III isn't out yet.

flame me if you want

'kay. Wanker.

but I'd rahter hear some inteligent reasons why I should use the G5 supercomputer over cheaper, faster clusters.

Well, you see, 5 is a bigger number than 4, and intel is stuck at 4, so ours is better. And AMD doesn't even *do* numbers!

Talk of it all over campus?

[Control-Z]

there's talk of it all over the campus

Yeah, chicks dig massive...computers.

No wait, no they don't!

Re:Problems with my supercomputer.

[carpe_noctem]

Are you buy any chance the guy emailing out these spams [aboleo.net]?

Re:Problems with my supercomputer.

[Rosco P. Coltrane]

even my multithreaded emacs is struggling to keep up as i type this.

May I suggest you stop emacs to free resources for your FFT?

Fucking A

[waldoj]

Damn, I've been at this school for a week and I haven't found a single redeeming value. Finally, a cause to hang in there for the next couple of years.

-Waldo Jaquith

XServe?

[diesel66]

This won't help sell their clustering hardware:

http://www.apple.com/server/clustering.html

Re:As a VT student...

[Anonymous Coward]

I guess he meant to say there's talk of it all over Apple-users on campus. All 6 of them.

Re:is that so?

[daeley]

C'mon guys, don't forget to say hi to the Olson twins when you see them on campus next year!

Wow! Imagine a Beowulf cluster of...

Er, ah, forget I said anything.

Re:Problems with my supercomputer.

[Viadd]

I don't want to start a holy war here, but what is it with you with you G5 zealots? Ive been sitting at my 1100 CPU G5 supercomputer for 20 minutes as it computers a fast fourier transform of an 8Ghz guassian.

And what's with having only 1100 mouse buttons? At the price they're charging, why didn't Apple provide 2200 mouse buttons and 1100 scroll wheels. And why did they use a dead operating system like BSD anyway?

Re:Poor choice on Apple's part

[Glonoinha]

-I'm about to buy another in a day or two...

You mean you are about to order another in a day or two ... there is a pretty big gap between asking for one and actually getting one. Tell you what, let me finish this gig I got happening in Virginia and then we can start dealing with the customers that want to order G5 machines in the onsies - twosies quantities.

Sincerely,
Steve.
[e-mail]

PS - Seven Mac's in ten years isn't hardcore. 1100 units ordered on one purchase order before they even ship (August, 2003) ... now THAT is hardcore.

Won't someone please think of the social sciences?

[Decaffeinated Jedi]

Ah... now all the budget cuts to Virginia Tech's Department of Political Science make sense. ;)

DecafJedi

Re:MOD PARENT DOWN

[ZackSchil]

That first column says "Report as Error" It's a link to report the number as an error if it is unusually high compared to its neighbors, not to state that the actual figure is an error. Click the link, it will explain the system to you. I must be off because being a homosexual, a Macintosh user, and a priest takes a lot of my time! At least the slashdot trolls seem to think so! Toodles!!

Bragging Rights

[Michael_Burton]

I've been tempted to order a dual G5. I've resisted the temptation by realizing that my only real reason for wanting it would be to awe friends and co-workers. Pretty shallow. I was ashamed.

What a surprise to find that the folks who buy multi-million dollar supercomputers seek some of the same shallow satisfaction that moves me--bragging rights.

Still, if a single order for 1100 units causes significant delays filling orders for other customers, Apple must not have been expecting to sell many of these things. Maybe I should place an order just to help out.

It's true.

[Mekabyte]

For those unbelievers, here's a little proof [vt.edu] and maybe a bit more [vt.edu]

Here's an official word [vt.edu] (search for Teraflop).

Also, here's the original e-mail that went out (a month ago) They never mentioned Apple though:

> Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2003 17:36:46 -0400
> From: Jason Lockhart <[e-mail]>
> Subject: Terascale Assembly Assistance
>
> Hello all,
>
> As you may know the College of Engineering in conjunction with the
> university Information Systems and Computing organization are
> building
> a 10 TeraOp, 1100 node supercomputing cluster. We are in need of
> volunteers to assist in three areas of assembly; cabling, RAM and PCI
> card install, and machine racking. We would like to get as many
> volunteers as possible.
>
> Some logistical things, there is not adequate parking for every
> volunteer to drive and park at the Computing Center. We
> would ask that
> volunteers either carpool (4 or more to a vehicle) or take the BT.
> Initial cabling will be done with the power cables beginning this
> coming Friday, August 1st. We have yet to set a start time,
> but I want
> to get an idea of who is available to assist on that day as well as
> availability for the weekend and early next week. I will forward the
> time to arrive as soon as I nail it down...should be tomorrow. The
> power cabling represents one third of the overall cabling that will
> need to be done.
>
> I need to get a list of those who will be assisting to the facilities
> people at the ISB as soon as possible. This list will be
> used to allow
> volunteers access to the building and the machine room. If
> you're not
> on the list you will not be allowed in! We want to have at
> least 30 to
> 40 people working at any one time on the project. If you know others
> that will be interested in assisting, please have them email me so I
> can get them on the roster.
>
> Thank you for your willingness to participate, and please respond and
> have others respond with "Terascale" in the subject so I can
> filter the
> volunteers properly.
>
> Thanks.
(E-mail signature removed)

Re:AltiVec

[tealover]

Uh, no. 2 years ago, my roommate...

I thought you guys preferred the term "life partner" these days.

Re:That's just Hokie

[bencvt]

Yeah, in basketball at least... but the football score difference will be about the same. :-)

Re:Problems with my supercomputer.

[darc]

You idiot! A google search would have solved all of your questions and comments. You should have visited the google usenet groups. alt.supercomputers.help.1100CPUG5, like, duh.

All these newfangled newbies posting dumb questions to ask slashdot. Sheesh. Next thing you know, they'll be asking legal advice.

Re:Hmmm...

[danielobvt]

Must be a pretty boring campus...
Says the person posting a comment on slashdot on the weekend.....
Was that tinkling sound the noise of your glass house falling down? ;)

Re:I, for one...

[scrod]

... welcome our... oh wait... I hate MACs...

Damn, ethernet controllers must really piss you off then, huh?

Bragging rights...

[ca1v1n]

As long as they put it on Legion [virginia.edu], U.Va. will get to maintain state bragging rights. I don't keep up with the football rivalry, but this is much cooler anyway.

Re:is that so?

[ReallyQuietGuy]

Er, ah, forget I said anything. it's too late!!!! a beowulf cluster of Olsen Twins!?!?!? OH MY GOD!!!!!

Re:Problems with my supercomputer.

[Lars T.]

Sure AMD does numbers, they even add a +.

NERDS!

[Anonymous Coward]

Unless the entire campus consists of five dateless wonders, I don't believe the entire campus is talking about it.