New Cruncher Online

[Steve Bohlen]

I have a new cruncher online, a Dell PowerEdge 2650 (dual core Xeon @ 3.20Ghz) rack server. I know it's an older machine and only 32-bit, but the price was too good to pass up...it was cheaper than any desktop I've seen with the same power. Better known as 'hulk', he's currently crunching Primaboinca so I can see just how much better the crunching is with him in the farm. This is my first multi-core cruncher so I'm excited to see what he can do.

I was having some issues getting RAID turned off and Bok was awesome in helping out. I sent him a long PM for help and he replied with just a one sentence answer that had the clue I needed to get through the troubleshooting effort. Bok, you rock!

Another cruncher coming online soon (thanks to Bok for the hardware starter). I have a feeling my days of single core crunching will soon be over.

[DrPop]

Let me be the first to welcome you to . . . The FARMING CLUB! hehehe, this stuff can be addicting, so watch out, my friend!

Seriously, though - welcome to the club. If you would, run a CPU-Z on that thing and let me know what version the XEON is. Also, is it 2 CPU? I'm curious, because until last winter, I had 2 of those older Dell PowerEdge Xeon servers at my office.

[JerWA]

It's this one I believe:
http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Xeon/I...3200EU%29.html

1 core, hyper threaded, 32 bit only. That's the only one I can find with the RK80532K string in it (there's one other but it's just a stepping change I think).

[Bok]

Did your package arrive Steve ?

[Steve Bohlen]

Did your package arrive Steve ?

Yes, it did! Just last night. Thanks again, Bok. Will be tackling those parts soon.

As for the Xeon, it is dual core, hyperthreaded @ 3.2Ghz. Just quick paste from one of the project pages:

Intel(R) Xeon(TM) CPU 3.20GHz [Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 5]
(4 processors)

He's a bit loud, but I've read that the fans can be adjusted. Not too worried about that at this point though. Just want it to crunch for a bit.

It does have a few PCI-X slots so I'll now have the opportunity to play with GPUs for the first time as well. Eventually.

[Dandasarge]

I miss the ole 2650, Great computers make a lot of heat.

[Fire$torm]

Yes, it did! Just last night. Thanks again, Bok. Will be tackling those parts soon.

As for the Xeon, it is dual core, hyperthreaded @ 3.2Ghz. Just quick paste from one of the project pages:

Intel(R) Xeon(TM) CPU 3.20GHz [Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 5]
(4 processors)

He's a bit loud, but I've read that the fans can be adjusted. Not too worried about that at this point though. Just want it to crunch for a bit.

It does have a few PCI-X slots so I'll now have the opportunity to play with GPUs for the first time as well. Eventually.

I think you will run into a problem with GPUs. No company that I'm aware of currently makes GPUs for PCI-X except the CAD/Workstation hardware. But that stuff has a very high price tag. I wonder if there is a PCI-X daughter board that accepts PCIe cards???

Anyhow, have fun with the new hardware. Crunch on mate!

[Crazybob]

Congratulations Steve! Nice addition.

[JerWA]

Even if you could "convert" the slots, the power reqs are way different.

PCI and PCI-X are both dead slots. On the plus side most PCI stuff is compatible (because PCI-X is backwards compatible), so if you DO find a PCI GPU it should work.

[Fire$torm]

Even if you could "convert" the slots, the power reqs are way different.

PCI and PCI-X are both dead slots. On the plus side most PCI stuff is compatible (because PCI-X is backwards compatible), so if you DO find a PCI GPU it should work.

OH, see this old dog can learn new things... LOL. I did not know about that compatibility option in PCI-X. Good to know.