New Box!

[seadave77]

Well, I pretty much convinced the boss at work that we need one powerful machine, not a bunch of small ones. So I worked up some specs and we ordered it. It finally came in yesterday and I got it setup today. Pics tomorrow when I have my camera.

SPECS
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CPU: Dual Quad-Core Intel Xeon 5410 (2.33 GHz, 45 nm, 1333 MHz FSB, 12 MB L2)
RAM: 8 GB FB DDR2 (Expandable to 48 GB :eek:)
HDDs: Two 500 GB SATA Hotswap (Room for 8 more)
NICs: Two 1000Mb Onboard
PSU: Two 970 watt redundant
Fans: 6 that I remember
Sounds like a jet engine at startup? Check

This thing is BAD! Bad as in freakin' sweet! And guess what...I thought it would be a good idea to stress test this thing. Naturally, I could only one program that could stress it enough to my satisfaction...

SETUP
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OS: Ubuntu Linux 8.04 w/ VMware Workstation

4 VM's setup, each with two cores and 1024 MB RAM. Windows XP Pro on those running FAH SMP 5.91.

Loaded it up and let it run overnight. I just checked on them and loaded Fahmon to check the production.

1272 ppd/instance for a grand total of 5,088 ppd! That's triple to quadruple my current daily production!

BAD NEWS
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I can't run it like that forever :( Hey, it's for work. But I hope to run one or two instances while we grow into the system. We won't use the full potential right away anyway.

Anyway, I couldn't wait to share the news! This is the most beefy system I've ever worked with. I'll have some pics tomorrow.

I am interested if anyone knows of a better way to get better ppd on this thing. I will be running some instances on it for a little while at least. Comments and critiques are welcome, I'm always interested in what you all have to say.

[=ACID RAIN=]

I have one request, and this is probably most peoples' sentiments:

PICS!

:D

[klear]

sounds like a nice machine, lets see some pics!

[Adak]

Congrats on the new monsta box, Seadave! Hope earplugs are supplied. :D

Make sure it's OK to put FAH on there, please. One folder getting fired for it, was quite enough. :cry:

Enjoy that big baby and, and . . .

"Oh No! There goes Tokyo!" "Go, Go, Go, Godzilla!!"

:burn: :burn: :burn:

[WarriorII]

hehehe....

I caught myself reading the specs going: "Ooooo....Ahhhhhh....."

LMAO!

Congratz!

[silent bob]

Congrats on the new monsta box, Seadave! Hope earplugs are supplied. :D

Make sure it's OK to put FAH on there, please. One folder getting fired for it, was quite enough. :cry:

Enjoy that big baby and, and . . .

"Oh No! There goes Tokyo!" "Go, Go, Go, Godzilla!!"

:burn: :burn: :burn:

who got fired?

oh and sweet little rig you got there

[Adak]

Woods did. :(

[xsuperbgx]

wouldnt it make more points running smp in linux vm's?

[harlam357]

I've been waiting on an occasion to use this... :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v663/harlam357/smileys/needpics.gif

[Adak]

wouldnt it make more points running smp in linux vm's?

Yes, certainly it would. Can't do that because it is a work rig - you can't use it's resources in the way that smp, or smp + vm's would.

Cute smilies, H. :clap:

[sno.lcn]

That's a pretty nasty rig you guys got there man :beer:

Would love to see some wprime scores with that bad boy :drool:

[veryhumid]

Can't wait to see a pic of that beast!

[deadlysyn]

Woods did. :(

I thought Woods had permission for that borg? Nice rig seadave. Any chances of seeing that monster in action for the chimp challenge?

[Adak]

I thought Woods had permission for that borg? Nice rig seadave. Any chances of seeing that monster in action for the chimp challenge?

He had informal permission, (but nothing in writing, nothing known by others), from his Supervisor. When it came time to step up, when it seemed obvious that the company was looking to fire the guilty party for violating their "company policy", then of course, the Supervisor is not going to step up and take the heat for it.

So Woods was fired.

It was noted that Woods may be better off with another company, anyway. Such an over-reaction.

[seadave77]

Pics as promised :santa:

BACK
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http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/8003/skynetbacklv1.th.jpg (http://img186.imageshack.us/my.php?image=skynetbacklv1.jpg)

Redundant power supplies on right side, 2 Gb NICs, No PS2 ports.

SIDE
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http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/7774/skynetsidepw9.th.jpg (http://img389.imageshack.us/my.php?image=skynetsidepw9.jpg)

That is an 18" ruler to give is some perspective.

FRONT
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http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/750/skynetfrontbu4.th.jpg (http://img389.imageshack.us/my.php?image=skynetfrontbu4.jpg)

LCD at top for info, 10 hot swap HDD bays (has 500's in first two bays)

INSIDE
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http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/6659/skynetinsideqj6.th.jpg (http://img264.imageshack.us/my.php?image=skynetinsideqj6.jpg)

7 120mm fans (you can see 6), CPUs are underneath fans in bottom center

FAN
------

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/2104/skynetfanra2.th.jpg (http://img208.imageshack.us/my.php?image=skynetfanra2.jpg)

POWER SUPPLY
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http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/4582/skynetpowersupplyzs1.th.jpg (http://img208.imageshack.us/my.php?image=skynetpowersupplyzs1.jpg)


I do have permission to run F@H here. They are pretty cool about it because most of the time the machines are idle anyway. As long as it doesn't interfere with work. I made absolutely sure after I read what happened to woods.

[Hazaro]

Mmm 116CFM * 7...

[seadave77]

Oh, I forgot to give the pic of the system monitor screenshot.

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/3569/screenshot1ki2.th.png (http://img84.imageshack.us/my.php?image=screenshot1ki2.png)

I did I tell you that we named it SKYNET? LOL

[pejsaboy]

That'll be a sweet addition for the chimp challenge, glad you got permission! hehe, skynet... better keep an eye on that one ;)

[ChasR]

I too am curious as to why you'd set up four WMs and run XP as a guest with Linux as a host. You would get far more ppd with Linux/VMware/4 x Linux SMP. In fact you may well find that you get more ppd running 3 x Linux SMP, two with affinity set and one more to soak up unused cycles accross both cpus. I'm thinking 4 instances may use all available ram bandwidth and create a bottleneck that slows everything down.

When you put the machine to work, perhaps running one native Linux instance would be the best ppd, without being a noticeable drain on resources. You could expect about 2500 ppd on almost all the available WUs.

[seadave77]

I was setting up the XP VM's anyway because that is what we are going to use for work. I just figured I'd try folding on them to max out the system for a little bit. Thanks for the advice on the configuration. Once it all gets setup and working, I'll have more time to tweak it for F@H.