CPU speed and cache size for SETI AMD vs Intel

[Octoman]

I realize that the FFTs that are running are all math intensive, and I understand that more cycles means more operations taking place in a given time. However, what I am unsure of is the importance of the on die cache size roll in working on the operations. I know that most ram is slower than the CPU freq. and therefore more cycles would be unutilized by waiting for the CPU to get data back and forth to the memory. This is where a larger cache would help correct, specialy in the case of SETI crunching.

So which is better for SETI crunching AMD or Intel? Memory issuses aside, boards for both can be found with DDR and I have seen one Slot1 board with RIMMS.

Which CPU is better at crunching the math for SETI?

Secondly enter the XEON with at least 1mb cache, i have seen P3 500s going for $105, would the cache make that much difference, such that less time is waisted back and forth between memory that a 500mHz CPU would crunch the math better for SETI?

Thanks, and sorry for all the questions, I'm still a n00b:)

[JigPu]

I saw a review of how cache affects SETI times. They were runing a XENON I think, and they said that after (once again I think) 2Mb of cache, it makes no difference. They assume that SETI can just load all the stuff it needs to right into the cache, and never bother with your RAM. I saw it at Tom's Hardware Gude, or one of those other review type sites.

As to your question of AMD vs. Intel, I don't know. I haven't ever used an AMD processor, so I can't do any side-by-side Mhz comparisons. I believe that the AMDs would do better though because of their higher bus speeds. Higer bus = Faster SETI.

JigPu

[Morpheus]

this is a sticky wickett anyway you look at it...

So which is better for SETI crunching AMD or Intel? Memory issuses aside....

Memory issues are what determines "which is better"... Let it suffice to say that MEMORY BANDWIDTH is second only to CPU speed when crunching SETI.... rather than looking at AMD or Intel, you might want to find the best memory bandwidth performer... (this will most likely be a combo of CPU, mobo chipset & RAM)... DDR, RIMM, on die cache... who knows...

Alphas are still the king of the CpF... big old 4 & 8 meg cache on those CPUs..

Happy Hunting!!!

Kris

[TC]

Both are important, but I'd have to lean a little towards having large L2 cache. Even with the recent advancements in system ram, such as DDR and Rambus, L2 cache is generally faster, and the more you have the less you depend on the system bus and ram. Xeons and Alphas with large cache are still the most efficient, even though GHz+ Athlons can muster faster completion times. Right now I'd have to say the Athlon is the best cruncher. Yes I do have a P4 @ 2GHz that can beat any of my Athlons, but the cost is quite a bit higher. When Intel does the die shrink on the P4 it's probably going to ramp very easily to serveral GHz over the next year. Those will definitely crunch Seti like mad, but of course AMD is planning a .13 die shrink as well, so who knows what will be best in 6 months to a year. I think the cpu choices are going to get interesting again - thanks to AMD.

[Morpheus]

So... being a die-hard Intel fan, I am going to get a Taulatin... 512k server, maybe i'll see if they are going to issue much beyond the 1.2G (before they neuter these babies and create the Celery3)...

I would REALLY like to find out if ANYBODY has "the mobo" yet for taulatins... anybody?

Kris

[TC]

Check this out: Dual P3 Tualtin 512K cache (http://next.night.net/acb/showdetl.cfm?&DID=22&Product_ID=905920&CATID=2)

cancelled my Dell server oder and bought this :D - thanks to Mictlan BTW.

[Morpheus]

If I could just knock off one of those "0"s... like 150, rather than 1500... LOL

Kris

[piffdog]

Is that with, or without the processors?
If its with the processors that might be a little reasonable.

[TC]

That's with motherboard, 2 cpu's, heat sink and fans, and ATI video card.

[Mictlan]

Originally posted by TC
Check this out: Dual P3 Tualtin 512K cache (http://next.night.net/acb/showdetl.cfm?&DID=22&Product_ID=905920&CATID=2)

cancelled my Dell server oder and bought this :D - thanks to Mictlan BTW.

You are very welcome.

I was messing with the idea of ordering the dual tualatins also, as I wanted to install them into an Iwill DVD-266. But, I just received an e-mail from Iwill Support stating that they won't be upgrading the DVD-266 with the VIA Apollo 266T. So no Tualatin support. :mad:

Well, I still might buy this mobo just to get a 1.1 GHz Cumine there, and pray for the FCPGA-FCPGA2 adapter down in the road.

[TC]

Mine shipped out today - should be here in a few days. I have a feeling the server works chipset is going to hinder the overall performance. Looking into finding a better board, but I don't think that's going to be easy.

[Morpheus]

Tim...

I remember the first benches on dual Cu-Ts were puttin' the dual P4s to shame.. I never thought a dualie would even see the light of day... (I think Tom's did the review & Ed linked to it... around the time Joe went to the show in Taiwan... If memory servers me..??) Wonder what they were using for a board to do those benchies?

Anyway... you have suitable bragging rights :) & I will just have to sulk... but, hey, I got my P-166s to push 43 hour WUs.. not bad for those old hunks of silicon ;)

You gonna build a new box, or upgrade?

Happy Cunching!!!

[TC]

I'm buying this mostly as a novelty item. It will replace a dual 1GHz P3 box - soon to be up for sale. Any takers? Anyway I don’t expect this to rival the performance of a dual palomino setup. I think I’ll add one of those when they get the speed up, or somebody offers a dual athlon board with overclocking features. Anyway it will be interesting to see how this new equipment works. If anything it will add more variety to my fleet.

[LuKE]

on that mp athlon thingie, anandtech has a nice post on their new 1U mp athlon box. it's very nice and they have some great pics on it also. my check it out, it's on their front page under something like what's going on an anandtech.

[Morpheus]

hmmm... tempting... you talking the core, or the whole box?
Are they SECC2? Are they actually 1 GHzs or OCed to 1G? I need details :)

Yes... "novelty" is a good analogy... to little too late on the part of Intel... (could you imagine if they had offered the Cu-T, rather than the failed 1GHz?... oh, and been able to actually produce it in quantity :) )

I imagine it will be plenty speedy though... definetly some room for leading-edge OCing...

I better go, I am starting to drool... :)

Crunch on!!!

[TC]

Yeah the new Anandtech server is pretty sweet, but can you imagine the noise :eek: Anyway to answer Kris' question - I'm not too sure if I want to sell the case et al, or just the board and cpu's. The new Tualatin board is extended ATX form factor, and I think the Lite on fso20 case I have now is the only one it will fit in. Actually I don't even know if it will fit in that case. Also, I have two dual P3 boxes. One is using the MSI 694D with pretested 700's from Outside Loop. They have been reliably clocked at 1GHz + since I got them (Alpha coolers by the way). The other dual box has a VP6 with real 1GHz P3's. The overclocked 700's outperform the 1000EB's for obvious reasons. If you're really interested - drop me an email and tell me what you're most interested in. I probably won't be able to make up my mind what I need to do until I get the new equipment, which looks to be Thursday. I'm open to selling either platform, but as far as case and all the other odds and ends I'm not sure yet. They're both high quality setups though. If you do want it I'll make sure you've got the best components for overclocking.

Edit - forgot to say they're both using FCPGA 370. And I just noticed an error in my signature :)