Help with super computer idea

[Budginut]

Hey all,
I want to update my PC but don't want the norm. I was thinking of buying cheaper CPU's and mobos and trying to run them as one. So far with a bit of research I've found out that it can be done and the software to run it would either be a PVM or MPI program. Idea being to build a really powerful home PC. Anyone had any experence with this or know of it been done and might have a little step by step to get me going.

Thanks all

 

[1Tanker]

Hey all,
I want to update my PC but don't want the norm. I was thinking of buying cheaper CPU's and mobos and trying to run them as one. So far with a bit of research I've found out that it can be done and the software to run it would either be a PVM or MPI program. Idea being to build a really powerful home PC. Anyone had any experence with this or know of it been done and might have a little step by step to get me going.

Thanks all

Depending on what you plan to due with this cluster, Linux has several distros for clustering. ParallelKnoppix would be a good starting point as it's a live cd, and you can try and see if you like the idea.

http://pareto.uab.es/mcreel/ParallelKnoppix/

Beowulf clusters are popular, and the Beowulf website can give you some good info to help you build a cluster, and set it up.

http://www.beowulf.org/

This page gets you into the good stuff.

http://www.beowulf.org/overview/howto.html

Just realize, that having several PC's running in the same room will require good cooling measures, and the energy bill could get nasty.

PS. No, i haven't tried it, but was very interested in it, and have researched it a bit. I just can't afford the electricity, and cooling costs at this point in time. GL

 

[AngryClown]

I read an article in a PC magazine years ago (sorry, not sure who) that did a cluster of 4 bleeding-edge pc's running at some silly speed. 10 or 11 GHz. It worked, but they had a heck of a time setting it up. A team of techs had a tough time with it. Something to think about.

8O

 

[MagicPants]

Just out of curiousity what are you planning on doing with your super computer?

I ask because there are some apps for which this would be great, but most home apps simply won't work well distributed.
This would be great for things like seti@home, raytracing, compiling, predicting weather patterns, etc... but awful for games and web browsing.

 

[nobly]

Some free clustering software is the NPACI Rocks.
I think its setup so that you just install it on the computers and it figures itself out over the network. Looks like it works w/ all kinds of OS's.
http://www.rocksclusters.org/wordpress/

I've never used it before but I think it was used to build a supercomputer out of like 100 computers in a few hours or something. Can't remember... too long ago.

 

[yourmothersanastronaut]

What's your budget? If you have infinite disposable income, go ahead and try it. I don't think it would work, but you're free to try it.

If your primary use is gaming, forget this idea. It'll only waste money and you'll get crap performance. If this is a workstation-type cluster, such as folding@home or crunching some serious numbers, it would be pretty useful, assuming you could get it working.

I heard about some guys clustering tons of PS2s together to make a supercomputer - google that and see if it's possible.

You may want to devote a room to this project...it's gonna take up a lot of room even with SFF parts.